THANK YOU FOR NOT SMOKING (too late for me)

Image by HitnRunTony™ via Flickr

The smoking ban ordinance in Bowling Green takes effect in about 60 days and has been in the works since 2007.  Finally our city commissioners got together and made a statement that will effect the health of our people.

Both my mom and dad smoked when I was a child and I have suffered my whole life because of it.

WHY?

At least 69 of the toxic chemicals in secondhand tobacco smoke cause cancer (1, 5, 6). These include the following:

• Arsenic
• Benzene
• Beryllium (a toxic metal)
• 1,3–Butadiene (a hazardous gas)
• Cadmium
• Chromium (a metallic element)
• Ethylene oxide
• Nickel (a metallic element)
• Polonium-210 (a radioactive chemical element)
• Vinyl chloride

Other toxic chemicals in secondhand smoke are suspected to cause cancer, including (1):

• Formaldehyde
• Benzo[α]pyrene
• Toluene

I breathed these chemicals from the time I was an infant till I left the house for college.  MY own mother and father put me in harm’s way of these chemicals on purpose.

My own personal health problems that stem from second hand smoke exposer are respiratory (asthma)

Respiratory Problems

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported that secondhand smoke exposure increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. The EPA estimates that between 150,000 and 300,000 annual cases of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children up to 18 months of age are attributable to secondhand smoke exposure. Of these cases, between 7,500 and 15,000 result in hospitalization.¹²
• Infants whose mothers smoke are 50 percent more likely to be hospitalized with a respiratory infection during their first year when compared to infants with nonsmoking mothers. Infants whose mothers smoke in the same room have a 56 percent higher risk of being hospitalized compared to infants whose mothers smoke in a separate room. There is a 73 percent higher risk if mothers smoke while holding their infants and a 95 percent higher risk if mothers smoke while feeding their infants.¹³
• Early exposure to cigarette smoke is a likely significant independent risk factor for subsequent respiratory disease. It is likely that in utero damage is compounded by increased susceptibility to the effects of continued postnatal secondhand smoke exposure.¹⁴

Asthma

• Asthma attacks are perhaps the most well-known health effect of secondhand smoke exposure among children. Secondhand smoke exposure increases the frequency of episodes and the severity of symptoms in asthmatic children. The EPA estimates that 200,000 to 1,000,000 asthmatic children have their condition worsened by exposure to secondhand smoke.¹⁵
• Secondhand smoke exposure is associated with increased respiratory-related school absenteeism among children, especially those with asthma.¹⁶
• Maternal and grand maternal smoking may increase the risk of childhood asthma. Relative to children of never-smokers, children whose mothers smoked throughout the pregnancy have an elevated risk of asthma in the first five years of life. Children whose mothers quit smoking prior to the pregnancy show no increased risk.¹⁷
• Secondhand smoke exposure causes children who already have asthma to experience more frequent and severe attacks.¹⁸
• Maternal smoking, in utero and later, is significantly related to lifetime wheezing in offspring.¹⁹

Americans for Non-Smokers’ Rights

There are many more:

Secondhand smoke causes other kinds of diseases and deaths

Secondhand smoke can cause harm in many ways. In the United States alone, each year it is responsible for:

• An estimated 46,000 deaths from heart disease in non-smokers who live with smokers
• About 3,400 lung cancer deaths in non-smoking adults
• Other breathing problems in non-smokers, including coughing, mucus, chest discomfort, and reduced lung function
• 50,000 to 300,000 lung infections (such as pneumonia and bronchitis) in children younger than 18 months of age, which result in 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations annually
• Increases in the number and severity of asthma attacks in about 200,000 to 1 million children who have asthma
• More than 750,000 middle ear infections in children
• Pregnant women exposed to secondhand smoke are also at increased risk of having low birth- weight babies.

THANK YOU FOR NOT SMOKING

Related Articles

• Passive smoking ’causes one in 100 deaths worldwide’ (dailymail.co.uk)

Complex is really Simple

Just watched this awesome 3:43 video about Complexity and got me thinking real “simply”

Very simply the reason I get out of bed is to meet someone who’s health and well-being could benefit from my education and expertise in the human body and fitness.  That’s why I took out a business loan, that’s why I bought my own exercise equipment and that is the only reason I am spending my time writing this blog (THANKS for reading)

The  whole “obesity” problem boils down to one thing, If WE can get YOU to get up, get fit and get toned, then all of US win.  I promise that if you make a difference in your life, someone will notice and be motivated and so excited for you that because of you they will want to make change too!  We all want to be part of a  successful and prosperous group.

So back to my original thought – it simply starts with one person or family member to motivate another and we will all benefit from this connected effort to better health and well-being.

All of Us can, if You will

Thoughts on Fitness

-Being consistent over time is what matters most in fitness – not what you did 3 days ago.

-You can’t fall off the wagon if you were never moving in the first place

-Don’t put other people over yourself when you’re the one that hurts most

-You can make excuses and be miserable with what life hands you

- or Live to Give

IGOT SOME if You Need it

“Abs Day” is not about Abs

Quick thought before I go and do this Ab workout on Wed – (awesome morning session btw)

AB day is not about the Abs.  Abs day is on Wed, I like it on Wed bc it gives me a chance to see who’s been to workout the beginning of the week and who is getting their mind right for the weekend.  I can pick out the drinkers, the over eaters, and the coach potatoes left and right all day long.  Guaranteed on Mon the weight will be up on the same people  each week.

I hate redundancy – it kills me, I hate to see people losing the same 3-5 lbs every week.  I want to move on to bigger and better goals.  But it’s not about me it’s about You.

You choose to be healthy, You choose to workout, You choose to be an example for others.

To those of you who do Abs on Wed

Thank You

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Why I do, What I do

I just had one of those days, the kind that when it’s all over with and your glad to be home and done with.  You can kick back, relax and take the time to process it all in.

Today was that day – let me share

This mornings and evenings group came in and cut this “Ab” workout like it was chocolate cake.  I have this solid little core of people who have been busting ass all summer and have lost over 300lbs combined.  They have literally trained with blood, sweat and tears, not just to lose weight; that’s a result that takes place, they come train with me 3-5 days a week because they believe that as PARENTS, family, and friends they have a responsibility to make changes and maintain a standard of health to raise and grow their families, to be a producer in our society.

They believe in HEALTH AND FITNESS

I am so glad because one lady in particular has come full circle to the point she is breaking down FDA news articles for what they mean and not what they say!  So HAPPY she read the article today about “high-fructose corn syrup” being changed to “corn sugar” on package labels.  She made the connection that it doesn’t change the effects on peoples health, just the name on the label.

YESSS!!!! Took the words right out of my mouth, I almost hugged her neck!!!

That is why I get out of bed every day, to help educate people about what I learned through graduate research on the science of nutrition and human movement.

I think the human body is so amazing and to see people walk around diseased, malnourished, and so out of tune with their own BODY, it hurts me down inside.  So bad I want to smack some people just to wake them up, instead I make them row an extra 500m – 1000m!!

You don’t know what you don’t know.  I’m here to give you my opinion, with that and $.99 you can go out and get a cheeseburger.

What’s your opinion? Like belly buttons, (most) everybody’s got one.

Related Articles

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Luckiest Personal Trainer in Bowling Green, KY

Image by . SantiMB . via Flickr

I can not believe I am alive and well this present day!

Luckily enough I was born in the 1970′s and to make it all this way to 2010 and have access to the internet and social media,WOW!I say to people all the time no telling what my world would be like if I had text messaging when I was kid.

Being in the health and fitness business and to think back at all the great leaders and fitness trainers from the past and to see the healthy footprint they have left on society, by utilizing the very basics of human function and necessity (movement and food).   On the flip side it’s amazing to me the abundance of people who are either unaware or in denial about how they look and feel about themselves.

I’m here to change that.

I do not have a wife or kids but I was lucky enough to have two parents that raised me and my brothertill death did them part, and from that I have an appreciation for family, loyalty,  and respect.

There is also a wonderful group of various people that come together almost like family everyday to my studio and through a habitude  of nutrition and fitness they motivate themselves from what they once were, to go out and inspire and help make change in the lives of  friends and loved ones.

These people have a loyalty and respect for themselves and what it means to be a productive piece of  society for the betterment of our human kind.  People like these are looked up too and set apart to be made examples for others to follow, for that I commend them.

Today with Blogging, Facebook and Twitter like-minded people have the chance to meet others and together make an immediate impact in the health and well being of a whole group, city or state.

I know this because it is happening, and for somebody like myself, to be amongst and surrounded by some of the greatest people you could have ever met, in a city that has so much future growth and potential, I consider myself the luckiest personal trainer in Bowling Green, KY just to be here and a part of it all.

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KY Gov Beshear’s gets an “F” for failure to lead states in education reform

Image via Wikipedia

Ky Gov Steve Beshear failed to show that Kentucky is making strides to lead the way in education reform on a National level.  Kentucky’s economic and social despair will continue until something is done to show that we are indeed striving to make a difference.  Leadership has to step forward.

Who’s with me?  I believe the difference will come in health reform to make  our children leaders in:

• nutrition
• fitness
• overall standard of health

Setting health standards will directly effect the learning and productivity opportunities our children will receive by presenting themselves as distinguished individuals.

Talking about no child left behind, no child should be malnourished and limited in physical activity.   Under stimulated kids loaded on sugar with pent up energy is asking for trouble.  Blood flow does a body good.  Let the stress out.

Some local teachers and school officials are on board with personal health&fitness standards.  Its leaders like these that make nutrition & fitness education a lifestyle change and are motivating the children they come into contact with on a daily basis.

Now thats real reform!

_____________________________________________________________

If you know a teacher or school official/employee that sets an example of health and fitness tell them THANKS for me

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My weekend leisure time activity – getting a good laugh with my uncle Jeff

Watch this one handed super launch my uncle does on this mini remote control plane

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I want This – and you can have some too

Image via Wikipedia

I want to teach people about “body awareness” and how to lose body fat, which starts by “detoxing” the body of extra fats, carbohydrates and sugars.  A person has to be mindful of what goes into the body and how much they want vs. what they need.  There is no other way.

Eat to live, not live to eat.  Choose between quality and quantity.  Quality is more nutritious for the body.  Quantity is to hard on the body because of toxic fat stores.

You have to negate the extra calories (sugar/candy)from the diet if they can not be eaten with control.  You have to be a responsible cookie owner!!

You have to be in control and accountable for your self.  if you think you need help, help yourself.

Self help is the best help.

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Poverty – In My old Ky home

I live in KY, the frontline in the War on Poverty in America.

My belief is that for this state to make a turnaround we have to focus on women and children.  The percentages of low birth weight babies, children in poverty and children in single-parent families has increased over the past 10 years in KY.

IMHO, everything in the past 50yrs has failed us to a certain degree. Our education system, our industry, our healthcare and “common wealth” in general have all produced a state that is the lowest in every major statistical category. We are poverty in America.

In Kentucky, 102 babies are born with low birth weights, this has many problems

• respiratory problems
  
• difficulty feeding (malnourished, dehydrated)
  
• vision problems
  
• behavior problems
• learning disabilities
  
• mental disease
• also linked to obesity and diabetes
  

Kentucky has one of the highest rates of women who smoke during pregnancy. About 30.5 percent of Kentucky women who are of child-bearing age smoke.  Smoking while pregnant leads to low-birth weight babies.

Obesity can also lead to low birth weights because obese woman typically require premature delivery due to health complications of the fetus and delivery.

To prevent low birth weights, women should stop smoking, practice healthy eating habits, and get regular physical activity before becoming pregnant.

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• Preterm births higher among overweight and obese mothers (eurekalert.org)
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