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Dear
Athena: I am in my late 20s and feel my body is starting to store fat, which is
bothering me. My work is in the business world, but manage to hit the gym on the
weekends. I know, even as a guy, I need to focus on my food intake. Can you suggest
some points for me, thanks. P.B.
Dear P.B.: Men have as much interest
in food intake as women. The way we eat and how we exercise, or use our body,
during the week can make a big difference each year.
Today, younger people
are more aware of the importance of eating more carefully, for better health.
Here
are a set of rules to follow each day. You will be surprised how easily your habits
will develop - when you are serious about your health.
1. Keep it simple.
This is a good start. The more processed and refined food is, the fewer natural
ingredients, nutrients and fiber it contains. Often, it contains more fat, as
well. Here is why you choose whole wheat bread, rather than white, and a baked
potato rather than a bunch of French fries.
2. Learn to eat regularly.
Skipping meals is not good. Even if not very hungry, manage to enjoy some fruit,
or veggies. Munching on carrots, or celery takes time and can be filling, which
is fine.
3. There is a school of thought that says a person should eat
good food, and do not overeat. This means choosing items that are nourishing,
but eating just enough - when we are 75 percent full. This means we could easily
have a dessert, but we stop at that point before feeling bloated.
4. Observe
fat content. If we began observing the fat content in food early on, we could
educate your systems to select the foods that are healthy, and good for us. The
more we pursue taste, we soon become educated to the richness of fat. Plain food
does not appeal to many of us - so, naturally, fat wins that battle as we crave
it.
5. Unfortunately, little by little, fat accumulates around the waistline,
it clogs our arteries, does a job on our appearance and our health.
6.
The American Heart Association recommends getting no more than 30 percent of our
daily calories from fat, but it's probably better to get far less - say 20 or
even less. As a young healthy man, it is a good time to begin observing fat content
in your food.
7. Needless to say, water bottles have become a way of staying
in good health. Offices have their standard equipment, so use the cooler often.
Remember, to keep small bottles or water in your car while going from work to
the gym, and drink enough water after working out.
8. Your mindset is the
key. Aim for the ideal look and feel of good health. We program ourselves with
our desires, whether we know it or not.
Join Athena on "High Noon
with Athena" on WXBR AM 1460 radio, on Fridays, from 11 am - 1 pm. Athena
will discuss how we can develop a peaceful mind and body - at any age. Or, write
her, P.O. Box 218, Holbrook, MA 02343, or by e-mail AthenaPark@aol.com |  |
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Dear
Athena: Can you tell me why some people seem to be so lucky in everything they
do? My husband has been trying to get his business started and gets discouraged
often. He works hard, still he seems to be stuck. R.G.
Dear R.G.: The
age-old question keeps coming up each time success is mentioned.
Does anyone
know the long hours and dedication people put into a successful business? Achieving
fame and fortune, in any field has never been easy.
Ask about the workload,
missing important family gatherings, and possible unrest in their personal relationships.
Yes, the price is paid - in many ways.
Special skills seem to be last on the
list. A person's business acumen is necessary, all agree, but somehow, people
seem to believe luck has everything to do with it.
The right person, the
right time, the right set of circumstances - small details that can make a world
of difference when striving to achieve a goal in business.
A person who is
determined to make it in business must be innovative, morally compelled and be
philosophically geared to "make it" - as they feel it in their "gut".
What
happens is interesting. This energy attracts and draws inspired, skilled employees,
they feel the positive strength and know they are with a company that is headed
for success.
This unspoken attitude is difficult to copy, or create when
it is not surging within the person. This very strong belief cannot be created
in any form in a person - when you know someone who has lived their dream from
square one, to utter success - their unshakable belief cannot be described.
Today,
this "luck" factor lives within some very young people. It is exciting
to see how they handle this vision, how they keep it cooking within, a goal they
have been inspired to achieve - in many fields, and with determination and luck,
they make it to the top.
These successful people will agree, it was tough.
The workload is ridiculous, they forgo all the casual, daily jaunts and most important
they miss quite a few emotional times with family and friends.
Vision
is required, and many say it goes deeper.
They believe, in their heart, they
were meant to do what they have set out to achieve in this lifetime.
One
old-timer once said,"You get what you put into this life. All you need to
do is make up your mind in what direction you want to go. Easy living with very
few problems is great, but if you feel you need to make your life worth living
and put everything you got into it, then, you have laid out your plans."
Join
Athena on "High Noon with Athena" on WXBR AM 1460 radio, on Fridays,
from 11 am - 1 pm. Athena will discuss how we can develop a peaceful mind and
body - at any age. Or, write her, P.O. Box 218, Holbrook, MA 02343, or by e-mail
AthenaPark@aol.com | | | Dear
Athena: A few years ago, my doctor questioned my health, in fact it was my heart.
It turned out to be nothing serious, but made me sedentary, and now I am sorry.
I don't blame the doctor, he was using caution. I am 58 years old, and in fairly
good physical condition, but totally out of shape. Any help for me? R.B.
Dear
R.B.: Being in good health, with a sound mind and body is what we aim for, and
you have the right idea about moving the body.
Your question should be
directed to your present doctor. Today, medications have helped many live a normal,
active life.
Once a doctor gives you the go-ahead sign, promise to take
their advice.
Dr. Philip Watkins, medical director of the Mitral Valve Prolapse
Center of Alabama advises those who have medical problems, and have not exercised
will find regular exercise can be the key to dealing with their medical problem.
They become out-of-shape and need exercise.
Medical problems come in various
shapes and sizes. Making sure a person's particular problem warrants complete
absence of exercise is very important.
The ideal thing is to find a professional
who can advise you and make a program viable for your particular time-frames.
As
in all things that are programmed for our good health, it is suggested a person
plan their week according to their schedule.
Try to do at least 2 1/2 hours
of cardiovascular activity each week. That is about 150 minutes. Break it up to
fit your schedule and your peak performance. Some like early morning, others prefer
afternoons.
Remember, easy does it. Your fitness level is the guide. Ten-minute
sessions are fine, if that is all you can handle. Walking up and down stairs in
an office building, or strolling with determination through a shopping mall is
fine.
Keeping a schedule is very important. This will tell you how you are
handling the activity.
An interesting thing happens to us humans. Our deep-seated
wishes seem to drive us to our goals - no matter what. Check your true feelings
about this new event in your life, if you truly resent it - forget it. Or, change
your attitude and enjoy a physically fit and happy existence.
Join Athena
on "High Noon with Athena" on WXBR AM 1460 radio, on Fridays, from 11
am - 1 pm. Athena will discuss how we can develop a peaceful mind and body - at
any age. Or, write her, P.O. Box 218, Holbrook, MA 02343, or by e-mail AthenaPark@aol.com | | | Dear
Athena: Are there any secrets to losing weight? How can the stars lose so much
weight - overnight? I look at those pictures in the magazines and wonder. T.S.
Dear
T.S.: If you had the means, money, and connections those people have, you too,
could enjoy instant change - no sweat.
Today, there are so many options
in the diet-reducing fields, it is staggering.
Once upon a time, I am speaking
about the 50s and 60s, there were diet experts and people who were connected with
salons in the major cities, and brought to the clients the latest in reducing
techniques, plus the newest methods of skin treatments.
I remember a salon
on Newbury Street in Boston. They had this gal from New York, originally from
Paris, (who had an accent you could slice with a dull knife) come for 4 days and
perform her magic on clients in a hotel. There was privacy, and women loved it.
She
specialized in skin peel treatments. This was in the 60s, when the restrictions
by the industry were not as firm as they are today. The results were obvious,
but had the women known what could have gone wrong - I doubt any would have attended.
Going
back to the original thought. Yes, it does start out in Hollywood where appearance
is No. ! and has been for as long as we can recall - as early as the 1930s.
The
slant board started out there. The movie stars were provided with comforts, as
the sets were changed.
They rested, relaxed and did not touch their appearance.
When ready to go on the set for the next scene, their makeup was touched up, and
their hairdo was arranged.
I have spoken to Larry Jacoubs out in Hollywood,
he is busy writing about the slant board and how it became an important part of
the movie star's secret of looking good. Larry is in the slant board business.
He
believes the reverse angle of gravity is the point. We humans do not take time
to reverse the pull of gravity which does a job on our insides and, obviously,
on our faces.
I have the original metal slant board of the late 1950s.
I, then went to a lightweight aluminum frame, and now, I have a foam slant unit,
that is literally "light as a feather". This is over 50 years of reversing
aging.
Does this piece of "equipment" do something for us?
The
feeling of the shifting of the weight inside, is unbelievable. We have no idea
how we press our flesh to the limit, when we should be aiding it, in any way we
can.
I will be talking to Larry this week, and will have some information
about his book.
Join Athena on "High Noon with Athena" on WXBR
AM 1460 radio, on Fridays, from 11 am - 1 pm. Athena will discuss how we can develop
a peaceful mind and body - at any age. Or, write her, P.O. Box 218, Holbrook,
MA 02343, or e-mail AthenaPark@aol.com | | | Dear
Athena: I have noticed my grandson has a lot of black and blue marks all over
his body. While tending to both my grandkids recently, I saw him deliberately
strike his lower leg. He did not yell out, did he not feel it? Can you please
tell me what is this behavior? Grandma
Dear Grandma: Parents are usually
so busy, someone like yourself has noticed this happening.
Deliberate and
repeated self-harm is usually a way of coping with issues within young children's
environment.
Perhaps you need to call attention to this incident - which
can be a blessing in disguise.
There are quite a few ways a youngster can
get the desired result, like hitting a wall, taking chances on skates, challenging
others to reach a destination, first.
The interesting point is, there is no
pleasure as the end result in their behavior.
In fact, there is a negative
result and a morbid ending for self-injurers. They seem to have the say in what
they do, what they say and how they do things. Is this a power play?
If
this situation occurs in your family, it is vitally important to seek help. This
is a way a young person has power over those who cannot understand their behavior.
It
is found that nearly two-thirds of self-injurers also have eating disorders. A
complex package, I am sure.
They are in desperate psychological distress,
and they do not know how to handle the situation.
I have always observed,
no matter what age, girl or boy, no matter how many children in one family, each
one is an individual. Each comes with the whole package of emotions.
In
this fast-paced age, when both parents are working, and there is no time for meals
together, these behaviors are not noticed as easily - unless someone calls attention
to it.
It is disturbing, but sometimes, it is an outsider who can see what
is happening.
Today, there are groups that can help. Just make that call and
let things get straightened out.
Join Athena on "High Noon with Athena"
on WXBR 1460 AM radio on Fridays, 11 am - 1 pm. Athena will discuss how we can
develop a peaceful mind and body, at any age. Or, write her, P.O. Box 218, Holbrook,
MA 02343, or by e-mail AthenaPark@aol.com | | | Dear
Readers: Yes, we are living longer. Those of us who think back to the "good
old days" wondered what things would be like when we reached a ripe old age.
Little
did we know, all things change.
Nobody gave us a clue, in fact living to
be 75 - 85 was not the usual thing, back then.
People do not speak about
it, but there is a small fear that haunts us all as we grow older. It is a fear
that comes into focus every time we see an elderly person, a shadow of themselves,
stooped over, shuffling weakly, or suffering from dementia.
We are told
there are strategies to help us look and feel younger than we are.
The first
thing that appears to diminish is our mental state. Studies have shown that mental
acuity and sharpness can stay high if you keep challenging your brain as you age.
Those
who have remained in the business world seem to keep this level of sharpness going.
If it is necessary to stay in the game, then, it is an effort well-spent, and
it can be rewarding for the person.
Others find ways to "train"
their mind. If they are crossword puzzle fanatics they are doing well. If they
have a strong desire to solve difficult problems in various fields, that may be
the answer to the brain activity.
Scientists believe the brain does not
need to degenerate.
1.) Believe it or not, physical exercise is one place to
begin. Our brain needs oxygen to remain healthy. When a person exercises and brings
more oxygen to the brain - even moderate aerobic exercise, like a long walk, or
climbing stairs works well.
Gerry Gottschalk often talks about resorting
to climbing stairs when the weather is bad and his walking outdoors is out of
the question. As we all know, most steps to the second floor are about 10 - 12
steps. How many times he goes up and down, I do not know, but, I am aware of my
climbing up and down at least 10 - 12 times a day, if not more. It sure does the
job!
2.) Never stop learning. Take a class you have always wanted to take.
Take a home-study course, or teach yourself a skill. Dig into the stock market,
something that always was fascinating, or even get into investments. This is how
you give your brain great mental stimulation.
3.) Mental exercises like
word games, jigsaw puzzles and more complex puzzles are good. Challenge your brain
as you get older. Do not think: "I can't do it!."
4.) Take a
writing class or even the challenge of learning a new language. This is definitely
a way to get the energy going.
5.) Go to public lectures and talks on subjects
that stimulate your thinking and interest. Expand your horizon in ways you can
grow into a positive way.
6.) Subscribe to weekly news and magazines of
your choice. This can stimulate your brain and keeps things in order - mentally.
Join
Athena on "High Noon with Athena" on WXBR AM 1460 radio on Fridays,
11 am - 1 pm. Athena will discuss how we can develop a peaceful mind and body
- at any age. Or write her, P.O. Box 218, Holbrook, MA 02343, or by e-mail AthenaPark@aol.com | | |
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