YMCA cuts through the fat
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Article source: http://golackawanna.com/news/local-news/468782/YMCA-cuts-through-the-fat
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Categories: Fat Loss Diary Tags: YMCA
YMCA cuts through the fat
Search Times Leader Classifieds to find just the home you want!
Real Estate
For Sale
Real Estate
For Rent
Article source: http://timesleader.com/news/local-news/468782/YMCA-cuts-through-the-fat&source=RSS
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Categories: Fat Loss Diary Tags: YMCA
How to keep slim now the wallet’s not so fat
The Irish Times – Monday, January 14, 2013Killian Hurley in the YMCA gym on Aungier Street. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
CONOR POPE, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Apart from South African holiday homes, pre-Christmas shopping trips to New York, brand new Mercs and Johnny Ronan there are few things that scream “Celtic Tiger excess” more loudly than gym membership.
During what we imagined were the good times, fitness centres with all manner of high-end aerobic equipment and moodily lit swimming pools with gold-leaf tiling and flatscreen televisions proliferated as the cubs sought to tone up. Fees were high – sometimes in excess of €1,000 for an adult – and the terms and conditions ridiculous and printed in a font so tiny you’d need a magnifying glass to read the various ways the clubs could screw you if they so chose. But still thousands of people paid gym fees without complaining. Some even went to their s regularly.
The riches we thought we had may be gone but the gyms are still here – almost 600 of them – and they have rarely been as popular as in recent weeks as thousands of people have filed through their doors seeking to work off Christmas pounds.
But joining a gym in January or February is never a good idea. The drop-out rate of those who seek professional help getting fit in the early part of any year is about 60 per cent. What is worse is many of those who sign up this month and next won’t read that tiny print and will, as a result, be locked into expensive contracts for at least a year. According to one survey, about 350,000 Irish adults are gym members but less than half return to the treadmill once the initial flush of enthusiasm wanes.
January resolutions aside, are Irish gyms still being used or have sensible folk turned their back on such high-cost luxury spending in favour of a brisk walk of an evening? And do gyms ever represent value for money?
Paying to belong
Pricewatch asked people on Twitter last week if they could still afford gym membership in Austerity Ireland. We fully expected a chorus of nos but within an hour we had quite the opposite response from scores of readers, with most insisting their gyms represented great value for money.
“I only go sporadically but go to Ben Dunne’s Jervis gym, which is only €200 a year so I still think it’s worthwhile and pretty good value,” says Tara Walsh.
Joyce Minogue, another Dunne fan, pays €235 a year, goes twice a week and describes it as “fantastic value”.
Ciara Carroll agreed and said that while a gym “seems expensive” it is “excellent value” if you are “serious about health. Stay in one night a month to fund it.”
Maria Daly insisted the key was interaction with instructors. “If you use the gym smartly they become personal trainers. Take classes as well for value,” was her take.
“Have joined gyms in the past,” said Andy McGeady. “Hardly went. Find pay-as-you-go options like the Markievicz [on Dublin’s Townsend Street] much better value.Another reader, Peter, disagreed. “I do pay-as-you-go, and I added it up at the year-end. Crazy money. I should have joined.”
There were some who had surrendered their membership. Niamh O’Shaughnessy dropped hers “to go for walks on a nearby beach instead. Much more enjoyable and refreshing, and it’s free.” Julie Farrell said she would “definitely choose a boot camp over a gym. Better results.”
While you can get as fit for free by running or walking, a gym has its merits. It is a handy one-stop shop – everything you want is in one place, cardio machines, resistance training and classes – and it is nicer to train in a gym in poor weather.
Some gyms still insist on long contracts and high pricesbut Pricewatch has come across one with a very different philospohy. When you read the letters Y M C and A, chances are visions of the Village People will dance across your eyes. But it’s about a whole lot more than dodgy leather chaps, Indian head dresses and infuriatingly catch 70s disco classics.
The Dublin YMCA runs a very good-value gym on Aungier Street that is free of restrictive terms and conditions. What’s best of all is all profits go back into the local community through a creche, accomodation and youth outreach programme.
A year’s access to the gym and its many fitness classes is €400. It can be paid in monthly direct debit instalments of €35while pay-as-you-go access is €5 with Pilates, spinning and boot-camp classes costing €6-8. It also has classes for older people, which cost just €4 with a sandwich and cuppa thrown in.
“We are a working gym and part of the community,” says the YMCA’s Killian Hurley. The gym offers a monthly direct-debit payment system but people can leave when they wish. “We understand people’s circumstances change and they may need to cancel. That is never a problem,” Hurley says.
Checklist: Picking the best gym or app for you
If you are going to join a gym, find out what is included in your membership and make sure the facilities meet your needs. Be wary of smooth-talking sales patter, and keep a close eye on the terms and conditions, particularly the length of contracts, the rolling direct debits and the cancellation policies.
Ask yourself what time you are most likely to use the gym and if you will be able to get on the equipment without a wait. If you plan to use the gym between 5pm and 7pm – the peak hours – there is little point getting a tour when it is quiet, as this will create a distinctly misleading impression.
Press the gym on what level of assistance you will get from staff when you sign on. Membership fees are getting cheaper in most gyms but some gyms charge extra for their instructors.
While you might think you know how the machines work, most of us need to be shown what to do and need new stimulus every six weeks.
Rather than going from gym to gym in search of the best value, visit
gyms.ie, which has a comprehensive list of gyms around the country, as well as details of special offers.
Technology can also replace the gym. GPS watches can track your runs and there are all manner of smartphone apps to help you out. The Couch-to-5k app does exactly what it say on the screen and is very popular, while the new Run City from Unislim allows you to run through vertical cityscapes without leaving your living room.
There are plenty of apps out there to keep track of your running achievements, such as MapMyRun, Adidas’s MiCoach and Nike+ GPS.
If running isn’t your thing, you could try Nike Training Club, which has 85 custom-built work-outs covering everything from toning up to losing body fat. All for free.
Article source: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/pricewatch/2013/0114/1224328800762.html
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Categories: Fat Loss Diary Tags: Aungier Street, Julie Farrell, money, YMCA
How to keep slim now the wallet’s not so fat
The Irish Times – Monday, January 14, 2013Killian Hurley in the YMCA gym on Aungier Street. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
CONOR POPE, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Apart from South African holiday homes, pre-Christmas shopping trips to New York, brand new Mercs and Johnny Ronan there are few things that scream “Celtic Tiger excess” more loudly than gym membership.
During what we imagined were the good times, fitness centres with all manner of high-end aerobic equipment and moodily lit swimming pools with gold-leaf tiling and flatscreen televisions proliferated as the cubs sought to tone up. Fees were high – sometimes in excess of €1,000 for an adult – and the terms and conditions ridiculous and printed in a font so tiny you’d need a magnifying glass to read the various ways the clubs could screw you if they so chose. But still thousands of people paid gym fees without complaining. Some even went to their s regularly.
The riches we thought we had may be gone but the gyms are still here – almost 600 of them – and they have rarely been as popular as in recent weeks as thousands of people have filed through their doors seeking to work off Christmas pounds.
But joining a gym in January or February is never a good idea. The drop-out rate of those who seek professional help getting fit in the early part of any year is about 60 per cent. What is worse is many of those who sign up this month and next won’t read that tiny print and will, as a result, be locked into expensive contracts for at least a year. According to one survey, about 350,000 Irish adults are gym members but less than half return to the treadmill once the initial flush of enthusiasm wanes.
January resolutions aside, are Irish gyms still being used or have sensible folk turned their back on such high-cost luxury spending in favour of a brisk walk of an evening? And do gyms ever represent value for money?
Paying to belong
Pricewatch asked people on Twitter last week if they could still afford gym membership in Austerity Ireland. We fully expected a chorus of nos but within an hour we had quite the opposite response from scores of readers, with most insisting their gyms represented great value for money.
“I only go sporadically but go to Ben Dunne’s Jervis gym, which is only €200 a year so I still think it’s worthwhile and pretty good value,” says Tara Walsh.
Joyce Minogue, another Dunne fan, pays €235 a year, goes twice a week and describes it as “fantastic value”.
Ciara Carroll agreed and said that while a gym “seems expensive” it is “excellent value” if you are “serious about health. Stay in one night a month to fund it.”
Maria Daly insisted the key was interaction with instructors. “If you use the gym smartly they become personal trainers. Take classes as well for value,” was her take.
“Have joined gyms in the past,” said Andy McGeady. “Hardly went. Find pay-as-you-go options like the Markievicz [on Dublin’s Townsend Street] much better value.Another reader, Peter, disagreed. “I do pay-as-you-go, and I added it up at the year-end. Crazy money. I should have joined.”
There were some who had surrendered their membership. Niamh O’Shaughnessy dropped hers “to go for walks on a nearby beach instead. Much more enjoyable and refreshing, and it’s free.” Julie Farrell said she would “definitely choose a boot camp over a gym. Better results.”
While you can get as fit for free by running or walking, a gym has its merits. It is a handy one-stop shop – everything you want is in one place, cardio machines, resistance training and classes – and it is nicer to train in a gym in poor weather.
Some gyms still insist on long contracts and high pricesbut Pricewatch has come across one with a very different philospohy. When you read the letters Y M C and A, chances are visions of the Village People will dance across your eyes. But it’s about a whole lot more than dodgy leather chaps, Indian head dresses and infuriatingly catch 70s disco classics.
The Dublin YMCA runs a very good-value gym on Aungier Street that is free of restrictive terms and conditions. What’s best of all is all profits go back into the local community through a creche, accomodation and youth outreach programme.
A year’s access to the gym and its many fitness classes is €400. It can be paid in monthly direct debit instalments of €35while pay-as-you-go access is €5 with Pilates, spinning and boot-camp classes costing €6-8. It also has classes for older people, which cost just €4 with a sandwich and cuppa thrown in.
“We are a working gym and part of the community,” says the YMCA’s Killian Hurley. The gym offers a monthly direct-debit payment system but people can leave when they wish. “We understand people’s circumstances change and they may need to cancel. That is never a problem,” Hurley says.
Checklist: Picking the best gym or app for you
If you are going to join a gym, find out what is included in your membership and make sure the facilities meet your needs. Be wary of smooth-talking sales patter, and keep a close eye on the terms and conditions, particularly the length of contracts, the rolling direct debits and the cancellation policies.
Ask yourself what time you are most likely to use the gym and if you will be able to get on the equipment without a wait. If you plan to use the gym between 5pm and 7pm – the peak hours – there is little point getting a tour when it is quiet, as this will create a distinctly misleading impression.
Press the gym on what level of assistance you will get from staff when you sign on. Membership fees are getting cheaper in most gyms but some gyms charge extra for their instructors.
While you might think you know how the machines work, most of us need to be shown what to do and need new stimulus every six weeks.
Rather than going from gym to gym in search of the best value, visit
gyms.ie, which has a comprehensive list of gyms around the country, as well as details of special offers.
Technology can also replace the gym. GPS watches can track your runs and there are all manner of smartphone apps to help you out. The Couch-to-5k app does exactly what it say on the screen and is very popular, while the new Run City from Unislim allows you to run through vertical cityscapes without leaving your living room.
There are plenty of apps out there to keep track of your running achievements, such as MapMyRun, Adidas’s MiCoach and Nike+ GPS.
If running isn’t your thing, you could try Nike Training Club, which has 85 custom-built work-outs covering everything from toning up to losing body fat. All for free.
Article source: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/pricewatch/2013/0114/1224328800762.html
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Categories: Fat Loss Diary Tags: Aungier Street, Julie Farrell, money, YMCA
How to keep slim now the wallet’s not so fat
The Irish Times – Monday, January 14, 2013Killian Hurley in the YMCA gym on Aungier Street. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
CONOR POPE, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Apart from South African holiday homes, pre-Christmas shopping trips to New York, brand new Mercs and Johnny Ronan there are few things that scream “Celtic Tiger excess” more loudly than gym membership.
During what we imagined were the good times, fitness centres with all manner of high-end aerobic equipment and moodily lit swimming pools with gold-leaf tiling and flatscreen televisions proliferated as the cubs sought to tone up. Fees were high – sometimes in excess of €1,000 for an adult – and the terms and conditions ridiculous and printed in a font so tiny you’d need a magnifying glass to read the various ways the clubs could screw you if they so chose. But still thousands of people paid gym fees without complaining. Some even went to their s regularly.
The riches we thought we had may be gone but the gyms are still here – almost 600 of them – and they have rarely been as popular as in recent weeks as thousands of people have filed through their doors seeking to work off Christmas pounds.
But joining a gym in January or February is never a good idea. The drop-out rate of those who seek professional help getting fit in the early part of any year is about 60 per cent. What is worse is many of those who sign up this month and next won’t read that tiny print and will, as a result, be locked into expensive contracts for at least a year. According to one survey, about 350,000 Irish adults are gym members but less than half return to the treadmill once the initial flush of enthusiasm wanes.
January resolutions aside, are Irish gyms still being used or have sensible folk turned their back on such high-cost luxury spending in favour of a brisk walk of an evening? And do gyms ever represent value for money?
Paying to belong
Pricewatch asked people on Twitter last week if they could still afford gym membership in Austerity Ireland. We fully expected a chorus of nos but within an hour we had quite the opposite response from scores of readers, with most insisting their gyms represented great value for money.
“I only go sporadically but go to Ben Dunne’s Jervis gym, which is only €200 a year so I still think it’s worthwhile and pretty good value,” says Tara Walsh.
Joyce Minogue, another Dunne fan, pays €235 a year, goes twice a week and describes it as “fantastic value”.
Ciara Carroll agreed and said that while a gym “seems expensive” it is “excellent value” if you are “serious about health. Stay in one night a month to fund it.”
Maria Daly insisted the key was interaction with instructors. “If you use the gym smartly they become personal trainers. Take classes as well for value,” was her take.
“Have joined gyms in the past,” said Andy McGeady. “Hardly went. Find pay-as-you-go options like the Markievicz [on Dublin’s Townsend Street] much better value.Another reader, Peter, disagreed. “I do pay-as-you-go, and I added it up at the year-end. Crazy money. I should have joined.”
There were some who had surrendered their membership. Niamh O’Shaughnessy dropped hers “to go for walks on a nearby beach instead. Much more enjoyable and refreshing, and it’s free.” Julie Farrell said she would “definitely choose a boot camp over a gym. Better results.”
While you can get as fit for free by running or walking, a gym has its merits. It is a handy one-stop shop – everything you want is in one place, cardio machines, resistance training and classes – and it is nicer to train in a gym in poor weather.
Some gyms still insist on long contracts and high pricesbut Pricewatch has come across one with a very different philospohy. When you read the letters Y M C and A, chances are visions of the Village People will dance across your eyes. But it’s about a whole lot more than dodgy leather chaps, Indian head dresses and infuriatingly catch 70s disco classics.
The Dublin YMCA runs a very good-value gym on Aungier Street that is free of restrictive terms and conditions. What’s best of all is all profits go back into the local community through a creche, accomodation and youth outreach programme.
A year’s access to the gym and its many fitness classes is €400. It can be paid in monthly direct debit instalments of €35while pay-as-you-go access is €5 with Pilates, spinning and boot-camp classes costing €6-8. It also has classes for older people, which cost just €4 with a sandwich and cuppa thrown in.
“We are a working gym and part of the community,” says the YMCA’s Killian Hurley. The gym offers a monthly direct-debit payment system but people can leave when they wish. “We understand people’s circumstances change and they may need to cancel. That is never a problem,” Hurley says.
Checklist: Picking the best gym or app for you
If you are going to join a gym, find out what is included in your membership and make sure the facilities meet your needs. Be wary of smooth-talking sales patter, and keep a close eye on the terms and conditions, particularly the length of contracts, the rolling direct debits and the cancellation policies.
Ask yourself what time you are most likely to use the gym and if you will be able to get on the equipment without a wait. If you plan to use the gym between 5pm and 7pm – the peak hours – there is little point getting a tour when it is quiet, as this will create a distinctly misleading impression.
Press the gym on what level of assistance you will get from staff when you sign on. Membership fees are getting cheaper in most gyms but some gyms charge extra for their instructors.
While you might think you know how the machines work, most of us need to be shown what to do and need new stimulus every six weeks.
Rather than going from gym to gym in search of the best value, visit
gyms.ie, which has a comprehensive list of gyms around the country, as well as details of special offers.
Technology can also replace the gym. GPS watches can track your runs and there are all manner of smartphone apps to help you out. The Couch-to-5k app does exactly what it say on the screen and is very popular, while the new Run City from Unislim allows you to run through vertical cityscapes without leaving your living room.
There are plenty of apps out there to keep track of your running achievements, such as MapMyRun, Adidas’s MiCoach and Nike+ GPS.
If running isn’t your thing, you could try Nike Training Club, which has 85 custom-built work-outs covering everything from toning up to losing body fat. All for free.
Article source: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/pricewatch/2013/0114/1224328800762.html
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Categories: Fat Loss Diary Tags: Aungier Street, Julie Farrell, money, YMCA
How to keep slim now the wallet’s not so fat
The Irish Times – Monday, January 14, 2013Killian Hurley in the YMCA gym on Aungier Street. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
CONOR POPE, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Apart from South African holiday homes, pre-Christmas shopping trips to New York, brand new Mercs and Johnny Ronan there are few things that scream “Celtic Tiger excess” more loudly than gym membership.
During what we imagined were the good times, fitness centres with all manner of high-end aerobic equipment and moodily lit swimming pools with gold-leaf tiling and flatscreen televisions proliferated as the cubs sought to tone up. Fees were high – sometimes in excess of €1,000 for an adult – and the terms and conditions ridiculous and printed in a font so tiny you’d need a magnifying glass to read the various ways the clubs could screw you if they so chose. But still thousands of people paid gym fees without complaining. Some even went to their s regularly.
The riches we thought we had may be gone but the gyms are still here – almost 600 of them – and they have rarely been as popular as in recent weeks as thousands of people have filed through their doors seeking to work off Christmas pounds.
But joining a gym in January or February is never a good idea. The drop-out rate of those who seek professional help getting fit in the early part of any year is about 60 per cent. What is worse is many of those who sign up this month and next won’t read that tiny print and will, as a result, be locked into expensive contracts for at least a year. According to one survey, about 350,000 Irish adults are gym members but less than half return to the treadmill once the initial flush of enthusiasm wanes.
January resolutions aside, are Irish gyms still being used or have sensible folk turned their back on such high-cost luxury spending in favour of a brisk walk of an evening? And do gyms ever represent value for money?
Paying to belong
Pricewatch asked people on Twitter last week if they could still afford gym membership in Austerity Ireland. We fully expected a chorus of nos but within an hour we had quite the opposite response from scores of readers, with most insisting their gyms represented great value for money.
“I only go sporadically but go to Ben Dunne’s Jervis gym, which is only €200 a year so I still think it’s worthwhile and pretty good value,” says Tara Walsh.
Joyce Minogue, another Dunne fan, pays €235 a year, goes twice a week and describes it as “fantastic value”.
Ciara Carroll agreed and said that while a gym “seems expensive” it is “excellent value” if you are “serious about health. Stay in one night a month to fund it.”
Maria Daly insisted the key was interaction with instructors. “If you use the gym smartly they become personal trainers. Take classes as well for value,” was her take.
“Have joined gyms in the past,” said Andy McGeady. “Hardly went. Find pay-as-you-go options like the Markievicz [on Dublin’s Townsend Street] much better value.Another reader, Peter, disagreed. “I do pay-as-you-go, and I added it up at the year-end. Crazy money. I should have joined.”
There were some who had surrendered their membership. Niamh O’Shaughnessy dropped hers “to go for walks on a nearby beach instead. Much more enjoyable and refreshing, and it’s free.” Julie Farrell said she would “definitely choose a boot camp over a gym. Better results.”
While you can get as fit for free by running or walking, a gym has its merits. It is a handy one-stop shop – everything you want is in one place, cardio machines, resistance training and classes – and it is nicer to train in a gym in poor weather.
Some gyms still insist on long contracts and high pricesbut Pricewatch has come across one with a very different philospohy. When you read the letters Y M C and A, chances are visions of the Village People will dance across your eyes. But it’s about a whole lot more than dodgy leather chaps, Indian head dresses and infuriatingly catch 70s disco classics.
The Dublin YMCA runs a very good-value gym on Aungier Street that is free of restrictive terms and conditions. What’s best of all is all profits go back into the local community through a creche, accomodation and youth outreach programme.
A year’s access to the gym and its many fitness classes is €400. It can be paid in monthly direct debit instalments of €35while pay-as-you-go access is €5 with Pilates, spinning and boot-camp classes costing €6-8. It also has classes for older people, which cost just €4 with a sandwich and cuppa thrown in.
“We are a working gym and part of the community,” says the YMCA’s Killian Hurley. The gym offers a monthly direct-debit payment system but people can leave when they wish. “We understand people’s circumstances change and they may need to cancel. That is never a problem,” Hurley says.
Checklist: Picking the best gym or app for you
If you are going to join a gym, find out what is included in your membership and make sure the facilities meet your needs. Be wary of smooth-talking sales patter, and keep a close eye on the terms and conditions, particularly the length of contracts, the rolling direct debits and the cancellation policies.
Ask yourself what time you are most likely to use the gym and if you will be able to get on the equipment without a wait. If you plan to use the gym between 5pm and 7pm – the peak hours – there is little point getting a tour when it is quiet, as this will create a distinctly misleading impression.
Press the gym on what level of assistance you will get from staff when you sign on. Membership fees are getting cheaper in most gyms but some gyms charge extra for their instructors.
While you might think you know how the machines work, most of us need to be shown what to do and need new stimulus every six weeks.
Rather than going from gym to gym in search of the best value, visit
gyms.ie, which has a comprehensive list of gyms around the country, as well as details of special offers.
Technology can also replace the gym. GPS watches can track your runs and there are all manner of smartphone apps to help you out. The Couch-to-5k app does exactly what it say on the screen and is very popular, while the new Run City from Unislim allows you to run through vertical cityscapes without leaving your living room.
There are plenty of apps out there to keep track of your running achievements, such as MapMyRun, Adidas’s MiCoach and Nike+ GPS.
If running isn’t your thing, you could try Nike Training Club, which has 85 custom-built work-outs covering everything from toning up to losing body fat. All for free.
Article source: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/pricewatch/2013/0114/1224328800762.html
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Categories: Fat Loss Diary Tags: Aungier Street, Julie Farrell, money, YMCA
Dietitians’ advice: Cut the fat, savor the flavor in fall comfort foods
As the weather turns colder, we turn to comfort foods. But those favorite foods don’t have to have added calories, says Sarah Portenga, a dietitian with YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids.
In the column below, she suggests using herbs and spices to add flavor without calories.
By Sarah Portenga
Registered Dietitian, YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
Fall is here; there is no mistaking it. Along with the crispness of the fresh fallen leaves and chill in the air comes the desire to indulge in warm, savory, comfort foods.
This fall, instead of making comfort foods with added calories, discover the delectable benefits of cooking with flavorful herbs and spices.
They can add great variety to your meals and create an assortment of different mouthwatering tastes. Herbs and spices offer more than flavor; they are comprised of an impressive list of phytonutrients, natural oils, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that are essential for well-being.
So how can one reduce the fat, sugar and salt that we are used to cooking with and still get the flavor we crave?
Cut the fat
Removing a tablespoon of fat removes about 10 to 14 grams of fat and 90 to 126 calories. Herbs and spices are naturally low in fat and calories, so using them to flavor your food in place of breading, batters, gravies and sauces cuts the amount of calories and fat in your meal.
Reduce sugar
You won’t need to use as much sugar to satisfy your sweet tooth if you add these sweet-tasting spices to your recipe: allspice, anise, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mace or nutmeg.
Reduce salt
Use herbs and spices with robust flavors such as black pepper, garlic powder, curry powder, cumin, dill seeds, basil, ginger, coriander and onion in place of salt. These spices are the most effective in replacing the taste of salt.
If you don’t know how much of a herb or spice to use, start by adding 1/4 teaspoon of most ground spices or dried herbs. Use 1/8 teaspoon for spices that add heat such as cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes. You can always add more flavor, but you can’t as easily take it away.
A great resource to use if you would like more guidance can be found at spiceadvice.com.
Not quite ready for mixing your own blends yet? That’s OK; you can buy ready-made blends from Mrs. Dash. Mrs. Dash adds great flavor with the benefit of no added salt.
So this fall, instead of reaching for the salt, butter or sugar, reach into your spice cabinet and discover delicious, healthy concoctions instead.
For delicious, healthy recipes, go to pinterest.com/grymca.
Herbs and spices are naturally low in fat and calories, so (use) them … in place of breading, batters, gravies and sauces.
Article source: http://www.mlive.com/health/index.ssf/2012/11/dietitians_advice_cut_the_fat.html
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Categories: Fat Loss Diary Tags: Greater Grand Rapids, Sarah Portenga, YMCA
Obesity epidemic: 'F as in Fat' report shows how small changes offer hope
By
Sue Thoms | sthoms1@mlive.com
The Grand Rapids Press
on October 09, 2012 at 11:00 AM, updated October 09, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Brought to you by
Rick Spychalla works out at the Spartan Stores YMCA in Wyoming in this 2011 photo.
A recent report, “2012 F as in Fat,” projects that obesity rates in Michigan could rise to nearly 60 percent in the next 20 years, sharply increasing risks of diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses. However, Bev Thiel, the executive director of the YMCA, says the report offers hope, as well, by showing the positive impact small changes can make. She talks about the fight against obesity in the column below:
By Bev Thiel
Executive Director, Spartan Stores YMCA
For the first time ever in history, forecasts from the “2012 F as in Fat” report, are predicting that adult obesity rates could rise above 60 percent in 13 states, with Michigan growing to 59.4 percent. If we continue on our current path the number of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and arthritis could increase 10 times between 2010 and 2020 – and double again by 2030.
So the question stands, is there any hope in the fight against obesity?
Related: Michigan on track to hit nearly 60 percent obesity rate in 20 years
According to the new “F as in Fat” report, myself, and many others, yes. If BMIs were lowered by 5 percent, 294,113 people could be spared from the devastating disease of type 2 diabetes and 241,967 from heart disease in Michigan alone.
Bev Thiel
So what has been done to bring awareness to this ever-growing epidemic? For the first time in history, our first lady challenged a famous talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres, to a push-up contest broadcast on live television. We are having conversations of whether ones weight is an issue of concern when voting for president and consumers have pushed fast food companies for healthier options and calorie counts to be included on the menu.
Something more remarkable is that we now have risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. Today, we can go to our physicians and know whether or not we are on track to developing type 2 diabetes. And if we are, steps we can go about to change and prevent this eerie outcome.
So what can one do to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes?
• Reach and maintain a reasonable body weight. Even a 10 or 15 pound weight loss makes a big difference.
• Make wise food choices most of the time.
• Be physically active every day.
• Reduce your sodium and alcohol intakes.
• Surround yourself with supportive friends and family members.
• Develop and track goals, food intake, and activity in a tracker available through the National Institutes of Health.
• Talk with your doctor to develop your personal plan.
Making big changes in life is hard. The obesity epidemic did not just happen overnight and it will not go away overnight either. But if we all begin to make healthy changes we can begin to pave our path to a healthier future.
For additional health information go to: www.grymca.org
Article source: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/10/obesity_epidemic_f_as_in_fat_r.html
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Categories: Fat Loss Diary Tags: Bev Thiel, Bev Thiel So, Related Michigan, YMCA
Obesity epidemic: ‘F as in Fat’ report shows how small changes offer hope
By
Sue Thoms | sthoms1@mlive.com
The Grand Rapids Press
on October 09, 2012 at 11:00 AM, updated October 09, 2012 at 11:18 AM
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Rick Spychalla works out at the Spartan Stores YMCA in Wyoming in this 2011 photo.
A recent report, “2012 F as in Fat,” projects that obesity rates in Michigan could rise to nearly 60 percent in the next 20 years, sharply increasing risks of diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses. However, Bev Thiel, the executive director of the YMCA, says the report offers hope, as well, by showing the positive impact small changes can make. She talks about the fight against obesity in the column below:
By Bev Thiel
Executive Director, Spartan Stores YMCA
For the first time ever in history, forecasts from the “2012 F as in Fat” report, are predicting that adult obesity rates could rise above 60 percent in 13 states, with Michigan growing to 59.4 percent. If we continue on our current path the number of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and arthritis could increase 10 times between 2010 and 2020 – and double again by 2030.
So the question stands, is there any hope in the fight against obesity?
Related: Michigan on track to hit nearly 60 percent obesity rate in 20 years
According to the new “F as in Fat” report, myself, and many others, yes. If BMIs were lowered by 5 percent, 294,113 people could be spared from the devastating disease of type 2 diabetes and 241,967 from heart disease in Michigan alone.
Bev Thiel
So what has been done to bring awareness to this ever-growing epidemic? For the first time in history, our first lady challenged a famous talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres, to a push-up contest broadcast on live television. We are having conversations of whether ones weight is an issue of concern when voting for president and consumers have pushed fast food companies for healthier options and calorie counts to be included on the menu.
Something more remarkable is that we now have risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. Today, we can go to our physicians and know whether or not we are on track to developing type 2 diabetes. And if we are, steps we can go about to change and prevent this eerie outcome.
So what can one do to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes?
• Reach and maintain a reasonable body weight. Even a 10 or 15 pound weight loss makes a big difference.
• Make wise food choices most of the time.
• Be physically active every day.
• Reduce your sodium and alcohol intakes.
• Surround yourself with supportive friends and family members.
• Develop and track goals, food intake, and activity in a tracker available through the National Institutes of Health.
• Talk with your doctor to develop your personal plan.
Making big changes in life is hard. The obesity epidemic did not just happen overnight and it will not go away overnight either. But if we all begin to make healthy changes we can begin to pave our path to a healthier future.
For additional health information go to: www.grymca.org
Article source: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/10/obesity_epidemic_f_as_in_fat_r.html
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Categories: Fat Loss Diary Tags: Bev Thiel, Bev Thiel So, Related Michigan, YMCA
Fat City: One Area Ripe for Rationing
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is at it again. This time, the government-appointed panel is on fat patrol. Its review of the medical literature found that diet and exercise combined with group counseling beat popping a pill when it comes to controlling weight.
For those with short memories, USPSTF is the government panel that in the midst of the health care reform debate had the temerity to suggest the evidence was iffy on the wisdom of mammography for women under 50. Check with your doctor before deciding if an early start to routine breast cancer screening was right for you, they said.
Conservatives had a field day. “We don’t know how far government will go in this bureaucracy,” cried Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., who a few months later launched her presidential campaign.”This is how rationing begins,” intoned Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.
When it comes to obesity, though, a little food rationing is just what the doctor ordered, according to the latest from the USPSTF. How one rations matters, however.
“With drugs, when people stop, they gain the weight back,” said David Grossman, a senior investigator at Group Health Research Institute in Seattle and chairman of the 16-member panel that issued the updated guidelines on obesity prevention on Tuesday. “This is a lifestyle problem. If you don’t change your lifestyle, drugs are not likely to provide a long-term solution.”
Michelle Obama wasn’t taking the easy path when she chose the obesity epidemic and childhood obesity in particular as her main cause. Since the late 1970s, the number of people considered obese grew by half and now totals 32 percent of men and 36 percent of women. One in 20 Americans are now considered morbidly obese. By 2030, if nothing is done, those numbers are expected to grow to over 40 percent obese with over 10 percent morbidly so.
The chronic conditions associated with lifelong obesity – heart disease, diabetes, increased rates of cancer – are one of the major reasons why health care costs are rising as fast as they are. And it doesn’t even help much. The chronically obese, even after a lifetime of treatment for their fat-related disorders, lose anywhere from six to 20 years in life expectancy.
Given its rising incidence, the drug industry has been pursuing new drugs to combat the obesity epidemic like Knights of the Roundtable pursuing the Holy Grail. But the field is littered with failure. Older drugs have been withdrawn for safety reasons (remember Fen-Phen, which caused fatal heart problems?) or failed to catch on because of nasty side effects (Orlistat).
Two new drugs being considered by the FDA will probably win approval soon. But they also have side effects (one has half the Fen-Phen combination). More significantly, according to USPSTF, there are still major questions surrounding the durability of results from taking pills to control weight.
While billions are poured into the search for a magic pill, health insurers and local groups like the YMCA are looking for more pragmatic, low-tech solutions like the one recommended by USPSTF. Although it is counterintuitive, it turns out that the counseling approach is most cost-effective, too.
At a recent briefing on Capitol Hill, a spokeswoman for Wellpoint described how her company was now paying for free counseling for kids identified as obese through targeted screening. The YMCA has turned the government-created diabetes prevention program (intensive one-on-one counseling) into a group counseling program that has succeeded in helping people lose 5 to 7 percent of their weight on average.
More significantly, fewer people with high blood sugar did not graduate into full-blown diabetes once in the program. “It’s saving so much money and really changing peoples’ lives,” said Katie Adamson, director of the program for the YMCA of the U.S.A.
The USPSTF gave the counseling approach to controlling obesity a ‘B’ rating, which means under the Affordable Care Act that insurers will have to cover its cost with no co-pays to the insured. It’s one of the major insurance coverage provisions that may get axed when the Supreme Court hands down its decision on Thursday.
Article source: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Blogs/Gooz-News/2012/06/26/Fat-City-One-Area-Ripe-for-Rationing.aspx
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Categories: Fat Loss Diary Tags: Fat City, Fen Phen, USPSTF, YMCA