How many of you hate going to the gym because it’s too crowded, your intimated, or you don’t want to get stuck in a long term contract that you can’t get out of?? If you hate running on a treadmill like a hamster on a wheel, outdoor fitness boot camp might be for you. I know I would much rather be outside exercising and enjoying the beautiful New Orleans’ weather.  This is what outdoor fitness boot camps provide.

Fitness boot camps take fitness out of the gym and into our local parks and green spaces. At XLR8 Fitness Boot Camp we are outdoors jumping hurdles, running agility ladders, and meeting new friends who all have one purpose in mind; to get healthy.

A common misconception about boot camps comes from the words “BOOT CAMP”. People think “Am I going to get screamed at?” This is very far from the truth. There is no reason to be scared; you won’t find any screaming drill sergeants!!  You will find a support system with instructors who have an optimistic outlook that says, despite the odds and challenges of leading a healthy lifestyle, the future is promising. Some boot camps are for women only, but other boot camps, like our boot camp is designed for men and women of all fitness levels.

As a boot camp instructor/owner, most of the questions I get are from people who are new to fitness – they feel like they will hold the group back. The thing to know about boot camp is although it’s considered “group exercise” – the majority of boot camps are designed for you to be able to go at your own pace. Believe me, you can put your mind at ease, no one is watching or judging you…other people are worrying about their own ability to perform the best they can.  You do as many repetitions as you can within the amount of time, whether it be 3 or 30. Boot camp instructors are there to motivate you to do your personal best.

So I know you are wondering what types of things do we do in a  boot camp class. Each class is an hour in length. There are no two workouts that are the same.

Workouts include:

cardiovascular, muscular endurance, strength training with dumbbells and body bars. We also take campers through group challenges, partner resistance, medicine ball drills, agility hurdles and ladders, plyometrics and obstacle courses. Tons of repetitions will tone the muscles and the fast pace drills will keep your heart pumping.

RESULT = a serious workout and great calorie burner.

If you are looking for something that reaches Beyond the Gym to get motivated and inspired – you might really want to consider trying out one of the boot camps being offered around town.

When choosing a boot camp here are somethings to keep in mind:

1. Size: Be sure to ask about the size of your class.  If you are not comfortable in large groups and you want to ensure you get more personal attention, I recommend going with a boot camp that limits their class size. You can also check on instructor to student ratio.  It’s possible to have a larger group with multiple instructors.

2. Location: Most boot camps are early in the morning, you do need consider accessibility to where your boot camp class is being held.  A boot camp closer to home will be easier for you to get to…and the distance won’t be an excuse for you to not go.

3. Women or co-ed: Like I already alluded to, some boot camps are co-ed and some are for women only.  If you have a preference one way or the other – this will impact which boot camp you participate in.

4. Cost: Boot camps do vary in cost so ask around and find out what you’ll be getting for what you’ll be paying.

5. Duration: Some boot camps are 4 weeks long, some 6 weeks and some even longer…perhaps a shorter boot camp to try it out is better for you before making a bigger commitment or perhaps you already know you want to commit to losing weight in the next 6 weeks before a big event so you want a longer program.  Who knows! Just know you have options.

6. Read Reviews and Feedback: Do take the time to read reviews on third party sites like Be Fit NOLA to find out what others are saying about the boot camp(s) you are considering.

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Emily Eoffreceived her M.S., in Health and Exercise Science from Louisiana Tech University, as well as, her B.S. in Kinesiology and Health Promotion. She also holds her personal training and group fitness instructor certificates from some of the leading certification programs in the country. As a motivator, role model, and leader, Emily brings nine years of experience in the health and fitness industry to her XLR8 Fitness business.

Nearly 6 million American have diabetes and don’t know it.  Are you one of them??

Symptoms:

Type 1 Diabetes

• Frequent urination
• Unusual thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Extreme fatigue and Irritability

Type 2 Diabetes*

• Any of the type 1 symptoms
• Frequent infections
• Blurred vision
• Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
• Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet
• Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections

*Often people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms

One in five Americans is at risk for Type 2 Diabetes. You can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes through a healthy lifestyle. Change your diet, increase your level of physical activity, and maintain a healthy weight.

Diabetes is a very serious disease.  Today is American Association Diabetes Alert Day. Take the self-assessment test below and share it with others. Visit Diabetes.org for more information.

Have you ever done a Detox before?  Have you been thinking about doing a Detox?  The other question to ask yourself is: what’s driving you to detox – quick weight loss? Kick-starting a new diet? Are you feeling sluggish? Do you get sick all the time? Have you finally had one too many Po-Boys, fried food and Daiquiris so you want to try and reset your body?

Our body’s main detoxification organs and systems are liver, colon, kidneys, gallbladder, lungs, skin, lymph, and blood. They help rid your body of wastes and toxins. However, our bodily functions were designed when the world were less polluted. Our detoxification organs get overloaded & we need to help ourselves push the “reset” button. In our lifetime, our bodies will process 100 tons of food… that’s 20 elephants! A detox can help you “reset.”

We also live in a world with much more toxins and pollution, our body organs and systems have to work a lot harder to rid the exponentially increased waste and toxins.

Detoxification is a “cleansing” of the body – to release toxins – and depending on the method behind the detox, results vary. Methodologies vary widely – from juice fasts to supplements to only raw foods or fruits. Some encourage chewing; some do not (to “rest” the gastrointestinal tract”).

What Is a Toxin?

Toxins can be small molecules, peptides, or proteins that are capable of causing disease on contact with or absorption by body tissues interacting with biological macromolecules such as enzymes or cellular receptors.

A toxin can create an irritating or harmful effect on your body; it becomes toxic when your body cannot effectively eliminate this toxin.

You may be surprised at the toxins we are in contact with every day – pollutants, smoke, pesticides, fertilizer, plastics, petrochemicals, and even pool water. We also are not fully informed of the toxins that exist in the process (chemically altered) food we eat. These affect all of us!

We all experience external and internal toxins through the air we breathe, the water we drink, the things we touch, the food we eat – not to mention the stress we experience. Over time, toxins can build up and overwhelm the body, weakening the immune system and leading to:

• Poor Digestion
• Fatigue
• Stress
• Skin Breakouts
• Stiffness
• Weight Gain
• Premature Aging

Note:  Children, pregnant or nursing mothers and the elderly should not participate in detoxification programs.  There are many detoxing systems and programs out there – it’s always recommended to consult with a physician before doing a detox.

Cons of Detoxing:

Some extreme detoxes cause people to lose weight too quickly, and once the detox is over, the weight returns immediately.

Others lack essential nutrients, and can cause the loss of electrolytes and poor nutrition.

Some side effects may include fatigue, headaches, vomiting, or nausea.

Death, possibly from detoxification triggering a heart attack, has been reported for some undergoing intensive detoxification programs. Those fatalities were linked to previous health conditions such as drug abuse and undetected heart problems so it is important to understand that these types of programs should not be taken lightly.

Pros of Detoxing:

Detoxification supports the body’s natural ability to cleanse and restore itself

Improve your immune functions

Scavenge free radicals and eliminate toxins

Strengthen body’s fight against cancer cells and generate healthy cells in your body

Increase energy and Focus

Cleanse mucous, congestion, fermentation, inflammation in our digestive tract

Improving circulation and purification of your blood

Reform your lifestyle addictions for sugar, salt, high glycemic carbohydrates, alcohol, junk foods, nicotine, etc

Doing a Detox once a year or every other year – can enhance the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle and create a better relationship between you and your body – raising your awareness of what you put into your body and what you come into contact with everyday.

Choosing to Detox

When and if you choose to detox, strive to find a plan that will increase elimination from the body, cleanse the colon, enhance circulation to clear toxic substances, yet still provide nutrients to support and protect the liver, the main organ involved in detoxification.

Do your research and pick a program that you know you will be able to follow and that has provided positive results for other people.

Don’t choose a detox created for weight loss. Weight loss is NOT the point of a detox.  Resetting your body and removing toxins from your body is the point of a detox.

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Alison is currently the owner of Self Confidence LLC, and is a District Manager/Independent Consultant with Arbonne International, a 30-year-old international health and wellness company. Experience includes 11 years with Ochsner Health System. Alison is the mother of 5-year-old twins, Cole & Cassidy…who led her to gain and then lose over 80 pounds…through diet, nutrition and exercise.

This week is National Sleep Awareness Week®, it’s is an annual public education and awareness campaign to promote the importance of sleep.

Though diet and exercise are critical components of healthy lifestyles, it’s also important to remember that sleep is inherently linked with how we eat (and how much), how we exercise (and whether or not we lose weight), and how we function on a daily basis. Getting the proper amount of sleep each night is necessary to face the world with your best foot forward. Sleep will help you on the road to good fitness, good eating and good health.

Easiest Thing You Can Do for Your Health Is Sleep. Or is it?

An estimated 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, a sleep-related breathing disorder that leads individuals to repeatedly stop breathing during sleep. Not only does sleep apnea seriously affect one’s quality of sleep, but it can also lead to health risks such as stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure and excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea is often associated with people who are overweight – weight gain leads to compromised respiratory function when an individual’s trunk and neck area increase from weight gain. These interacting problems of weight gain and sleep apnea make it difficult to help oneself off the slippery slope of health problems. Read More

(Source: National Sleep Foundation)

Related Health Problems From Poor Sleep

Obesity. Women who reported getting five hours of sleep per night were nearly twice as likely to be obese as women who regularly slept about seven hours; those who got four hours were three times more likely to be obese, according to a 2005 study of more than 2,500 women under age 49. Sleep restriction increases your appetite by lowering your levels of leptin, a hormone that suppresses hunger, and raising your levels of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates it.

High blood pressure. People under age 60 who sleep five or fewer hours a night are twice as likely to develop hypertension as those who log seven to eight hours, according to a 2006 study of almost 5,000 men and women. Not sleeping enough strains the cardiovascular system and “resets” it to operate around the clock at an elevated pressure.

Diabetes. Studies have found an association between lack of sleep and a risk for diabetes as well as a 45 percent increased risk of heart attack and a 15 percent increased risk of death from all causes. Read More

(Source: Ladies Home Journal)

Keys to a Good Night’s Sleep

• Change Your Day to Maximize Sleep
• Wake up and go to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends.
• Limit your intake of alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco products during the day, especially in the hours before sleep.
• Finish eating 2 to 3 hours before bedtime, avoiding big meals.
• Exercise regularly. Finish your exercise a few hours before bedtime.
• Eliminate napping or limit the duration to 20 to 30 minutes.

Create the Best Possible Sleep Environment

• Remove electronics like computers and televisions from your room.
• Keep the room cool, comfortable, quiet, and dark.
• Use a comfortable mattress and pillows.
• Use the bed only for sleep and intimacy.

Prepare for Sleep

• Establish a relaxing bedtime routine: take a bath, read a book, listen to relaxing music before bed.
• Don’t watch the clock—it can cause anxiety about sleep.
• Get out of bed if you can’t fall asleep within 15 to 20 minutes. Only spend time in bed when you are actually sleeping.
• Write down concerns that keep you awake, creating a “to do” list for tomorrow. Also keep a sleep journal to help you see patterns in your sleep.

Living a healthy lifestyle includes NO smoking.  But what if you don’t smoke but others around you do?!?

The facts are Secondhand smoke causes cancer

Secondhand smoke is classified as a “known human carcinogen” (cancer-causing agent) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. National Toxicology Program, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization.

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
• 150,000 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.

(Source: American Cancer Society)

If you are conscious about your health – you don’t want to be exposed to second-hand smoke but I’m sure you also don’t want to be stuck at home because people smoke in most bars and night clubs.  That is why you need to check-out Let’s Be Totally Clear.

As a consumer, you have a lot of power – you should exercise that power to support Smoke-Free Establishments and encourage stronger smoke-free air laws that protect all Louisianans from secondhand smoke and help others in your community understand the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure.

You are at risk when exposed to secondhand smoke but the people constantly at risk are those who work in bars and casinos that can still allow smoking due to current local and state laws – bartenders, waiters, casino dealers, maintenance workers, entertainers, DJs and musicians. Let’s be totally clear: all Louisiana employees deserve protection from secondhand smoke

Join Let’s Be Totally Clear on Facebook

Questions:
* Do you prefer breathing clean, smoke-free air versus toxic secondhand smoke?
* Do you hate going to bars or going out to hear live music because of all the secondhand smoke?
* Are you a musician, bar or casino worker who wishes Louisiana would protect all workers from secondhand smoke exposure?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Let’s Be Totally Clear is for you and your involvement can change things!

I joined the Pound for Pound Challenge 8 weeks ago because I wanted to lose 20 pounds…I won’t lie that 8 weeks ago when I joined; it was all about losing 20 pounds so I could fit in a size 6 again and look fabulous this summer.  It was quite superficial of me.

I gained the 20 pounds because I stopped focusing on living a healthy lifestyle and got carried away with living like a tourist on an endless vacation in New Orleans…lots of indulging and because of injuries, no exercising.

For the last 8 weeks I’ve also been blogging about health and fitness every day…and had my own awakening moment about my size and health.  During those 8 weeks; I’ve stopped indulging and refocused on living a healthy lifestyle. Although I’ve lost little weight, I can say that I’m living a healthy lifestyle. I eat healthy. I get my daily recommended fruits and vegetables servings, I eat a low sodium diet, I drink a gallon of water a day and I take a multi-vitamin each and every morning.  I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and I haven’t had chocolate in weeks (that was my vice).  I’m exercising, meditating and getting my 8 hours of sleep a night. I am healthy; low Blood Pressure and Cholesterol and not currently at risk for any kinds of health diseases.

I was at a networking event a couple of weeks ago and a lady who was sitting next to me (although I had already introduced myself to her) made an announcement to the table about this fabulous diet supplement, which was supposedly all natural, she had heard about.  I simply had to butt-in and talk about how important it is to focus on life changes and living a healthy lifestyle – NOT quick fixes or solutions because losing weight is a result of living a healthy lifestyle.

An estimated 80 million Americans go on diets every year, spending more than $30 billion annually on programs and products. I’d love to take a survey of those 80 million Americans to find out how many of them are actually putting their health has the #1 reason for wanting to lose weight??

Thankfully we are in LA – Louisiana and not L.A. – Los Angeles so we don’t feel or have a huge pressure in our community/city to be stick figures with a perfect tan, but there is still a big stigma attached to being big so there is still societal pressure for wanting to be slim.

What society needs to put pressure on and what we need to focus on in New Orleans are: living healthy lifestyles, having healthy habits and enjoying good health and healthy bodies, minds and spirits.

Being healthy is what prevents:

Diabetes
High Blood Pressure
Hypertension
Obesity
Heart Attacks
Cancer

It’s not being slim or slander.  A skinny person isn’t necessarily healthy – for all you know he or she might be smoker with high cholesterol on the verge of having a heart attack or lung cancer.  We normally don’t think that when looking at a skinny person…but slim does not equal healthy.

No matter what size you are, living a healthy lifestyle will prolong your life and help you enjoy life a lot more.  Make changes and create new routines and habits that support living a healthy lifestyle.  If  you happen to need to lose some weight – living a healthy lifestyle will take care of that along the way!! And Yes, you better believe it that we’re right here with you to help!!

The layers of reasons why people in the U.S. and here in our own city of New Orleans live unhealthy lifestyles are many and rather complex.  I’ve been dwelling on them for a couple of weeks now – you could almost say that I have been losing sleep over it because it’s such an intricate matter.

Billions of dollars are spent on education, research, lobbying, and regulations in order to reverse the current health trends in this country…so what are the major reasons why we still have the same (and increased) problems with obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, etc.

Is it a matter of education, accessibility or poor decision making?

I haven’t found the answers or solutions to explain why…but I narrowed it down to those three components.

Education

There are still plenty of Americans who don’t know the difference between good unsaturated fats and bad saturated fats or appropriate caloric and salt allowance; they still can’t read food labels.  They don’t get the negative effects process foods have on our health. Many folks also still don’t get all the benefits of daily exercise, taking a multi-vitamin, getting adequate sleep and stress management.

To some extent, it’s hard to understand this fact because of how readily available all of this information is…it’s on the news, TV shows, magazines, newspapers, blogs, radio…pretty much everywhere.  But it is a reality that for some people; the concept of living a healthy lifestyle which includes a balanced diet and exercise is completely foreign.

Accessibility

Accessibility is an entirely different issue.  We really don’t have to look very far for an example and the difference accessibility makes.  Let’s for example look at Uptown compared to the Bywater (Upper 9thWard)  and Lower 9thWard.  The comparison of accessible fitness establishments and grocery stores in the Uptown area compared to the Bywater and Lower 9thWard is astounding.

Nationwide, USDA estimates that 23.5 million people, including 6.5 million children, live in low-income areas that are more than a mile from a supermarket. Of the 23.5 million, 11.5 million are low-income individuals in households with incomes at or below 200% of the poverty line. Of the 2.3 million people living in low-income rural areas that are more than 10 miles from a supermarket, 1.1 million are low-income.

If you have no accessibility to healthy options…or your neighborhood isn’t safe for walking or sports and there are no fitness facilities or you can’t afford a membership to a gym – what are you suppose to do?  This is definitely the type of initiatives and problems that the Tulane Prevention Research Center is tackling with support of the Federal Government and the local Government.  Hopefully, they will get  more support from the local Government once our new Mayor, Mitch Landrieu,  is sworn in.

As New Orleans continues with her re-building efforts, we have an opportunity to make sure every neighborhood; no matter the level of income of the residents, has accessibility to a proper grocery store and health and fitness facility.

Poor Decision Making

Although tackling the accessibility issue is a major undertaking – I somewhat believe this particularly issue of constant and repeated poor decision making is more disheartening.  The culprits of this issue normally have both the education and access but choose to make the wrong choices.

We’re sadly talking about people who don’t take care about themselves and therefore choose to live unhealthy lifestyles.  People who either work too much, “are too busy”, don’t care, party too much, and are full of excuses as to why they can’t take care of their health.

In reality, these are the people who have no excuses but choose to kill themselves instead of prolonging their lives by making healthy decisions.  How do you get someone to care about their health who knows about all the risks they are putting themselves in…but still don’t want to change?

I don’t necessarily have any answers or solutions…I just wanted to share what is starting to keep me up at night. What are your thoughts on the matter?

I am amazed a how little my clients and boot campers know about nutrition but, I don’t blame them for it. How is anyone supposed to know what’s good for them when they have Taco Bell Drive Thru Diet telling them they will lose weight if they eat Taco Bell everyday. You need to read the fine print for example: Drive-Thru-Diet® is not a weight-loss program. For a healthier lifestyle, pay attention to total calorie and fat intake and regular exercise. Taco Bell’s Fresco Menu can help with calorie reductions of 20 to 100 per item compared to corresponding products on our regular menu. Not a low calorie food. For complete nutritional information please visit TacoBell.com.

I feel nutrition is an essential part of anyone looking to live a healthy lifestyle. I take the time with my clients and boot campers to answer any questions they might have about general nutrition and refer them to a dietitian if they would like specific meal plans.  I require all my clients to do a food journal for me so I can see  what they are eating and give them healthier options to their favorite foods. I even take trips with them to the grocery store of their choice to show them how to shop for healthy foods.

I believe 80% of what you look like is your diet. You can workout all day long, but you will not truly reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle unless you change your eating habits.  You will not lose weight by exercise alone if you’re going to go to McDonald’s and order a  Big Mac (540 calories and 29 grams of fat) or those Zapp’s Potato Chips that we all love so much! My clients tell me all the time “You don’t understand; it’s easy for you, you don’t ever eat anything unhealthy.” WRONG! I like unhealthy food as much as the next guy; I do live in New Orleans the capital of yummy fried food and creole cuisine.  I just understand those foods need to be eaten occasionally and in moderation. I try to educate people on how food is meant to be used as fuel for your body. If you eat unhealthy, you will feel unhealthy.

Nutrition and exercise go hand in hand, so it is important to be knowledgeable about what you are putting into your body. Are you fueling it, or dragging it down? In order to answer this, you must go straight to the source – the nutrition label. Looking at a nutrition label can be overwhelming, so here is what you need to know!

Where to find it:

This can be found on the side of a product, or on its original packaging. If for some reason you cannot locate it, or threw out the wrapper, check online. Many products’ websites have nutritional information listed on them.

Start from the top:

Serving Size: This amount will tell you how much of a particular food product constitutes as one serving. Keep in mind that the nutrition facts that follow will reflect only one serving. If you eat more than one serving of the food item, you must multiply the nutrition facts to receive an accurate account of what you are consuming.

Servings Per Container: How many single servings the packaging contains.

Calories: The total number of calories in a single serving. This includes calories from fat, carbohydrate, protein, and alcohol.

% Daily Value: For each nutrient there is a DV, a %DV, and dietary advice or goal. If you follow this dietary advice, you will stay within the recommendations of public health experts. Keep in mind these values are based on a 2,000 calorie daily diet, which may vary for each individual.

Calories From Fat: How many calories in a single serving come from fat. Fat contains 9 calories per gram. Notice : foods higher in fat are higher in calories.

Total Fat: How many grams of fat are in a single serving. Always work to limit or eliminate your trans or saturated fats.

Cholesterol: How many milligrams are in a single serving. Typically the body can make all the cholesterol that is needed. Consuming excess amounts of cholesterol is what may lead to heart problems. The American Heart Association recommends that you consume less than 300 mg of cholesterol each day, and if you have heart disease, less than 200 mg.

Sodium: How many milligrams of sodium are in a single serving. Individuals should aim to consume less than 2300 mg of sodium per day.

Total Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates contain 4 calories per gram. Dietary fiber and sugar also fall under this category. Aim to keep the fiber content high, and the sugar content low.

Protein: Protein contains 4 calories per gram. Protein is not only good for your muscles, but keeps you feeling fuller, longer!

Vitamins: The percentage of your daily recommended value that is in a serving will be listed. Look for foods that have a wide variety of vitamins and minerals that you need for the day.

Ingredients: The most prominent ingredient in the product will always be listed first, followed by the second most prominent, etc. Therefore, if the ingredient list begins with “high fructose corn syrup”, it probably isn’t the best choice. Always read the ingredients on a product before you buy it!

Remember:

Always look for a well rounded food item. If the sugar content is very low, but the sodium content is, say, 1,500 mg, it still isn’t the best for you! Make sure most, if not all areas of the label are healthy!!

Helpful Websites:

FDA Food Labeling/Consumer information

CalorieKing.com

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Emily Eoff received her M.S., in Health and Exercise Science from Louisiana Tech University, as well as, her B.S. in Kinesiology and Health Promotion. She also holds her personal training and group fitness instructor certificates from some of the leading certification programs in the country. As a motivator, role model, and leader, Emily brings nine years of experience in the health and fitness industry to her XLR8 Fitness business.

Willpower After Eycken by Tim Brown

Here’s a quick recap from Part I of this series on Willpower. Studies show human beings only have a limited amount of willpower and if overtaxed…you will run out of willpower and the ability to say no to temptations or yes to things you must do but hate doing.  This means that if you’re planning to survive the Super Bowl, Mardi Gras and living in New Orleans by relying on your willpower to not over eat and over drink…you are guaranteed to eventually give in and fail.

No One Wants to Be a Failure

There nothing good or appealing about failure.  Failure is demoralizing, depressing and discouraging. We’ve all heard the saying “You don’t plan to fail – You fail to plan”.

If Not Willpower Than What!??!

If you can’t rely on your willpower to live a healthy lifestyle…than what can you reply on?  What can you do, a mere human being, to be able to withstand New Orleans and all her temptations?

Plan, Structure and Boundaries

Without a plan, structure and boundaries you have a bit of chaos and free for all.  You keep yourself open and vulnerable to every temptations and weaknesses you have.

In order to not overtaxed your willpower – you need to craft a plan, establish some structure and set boundaries in order to create an environment where you are no longer exposed to constant temptations and your weaknesses.

From within the comfort of your plan, structure, and boundaries you can strive and achieve your goal of living a healthy lifestyle.

Can you see it now!?! Starting to?  Not at all…

Willpower Meter

Have a look at that list of everything that was taxing your willpower meter in a 24 hour period.  Can you see how, if you had a plan, structure and boundaries you would forego quite a few things on your list?

Going to give you some time to think about it; we’ll pick this conversation back up next week!

Haven’t made a New Year’s Resolution yet?  Or you’re willing to add one more to your list?  We have one for you!! Resolve to help Be Fit NOLA make New Orleans a healthier city to live in.  We’re not asking for drastic changes nor are we looking to change the core traditions or customs of our wonderful city – what we want to do is highlight the healthy people, events, happenings and opportunities in the city and we can’t do that without the community helping us.

How can you help?

1. If you are on Twitter, you can follow Be Fit NOLA and take part in letting the world know we have active, healthy people and things to do in New Orleans. #befitnola your tweets each time you are exercising, participating in a sporting event (p.s. watching a sport does not count!) or when you have a health tip to share.
2. Let people know about Be Fit NOLA – let your friends and family know where they can get information, advice, pointers and assistance with living a healthy lifestyle in the Crescent City.
3. Contact us if you want to get involve.  We’re looking for people interested in blogging about cycling, running, and yoga in New Orleans (to name a few) – folks who know where to get the best healthiest and nutritious meals in the city or anything else that you know and do to live a healthy lifestyle in New Orleans.

We want to show another side of New Orleans to the world.  Our city is full of so much diversity and has more to offer than just about any city in the world but part of being diverse is also being well rounded. New Orleans is still recovering but she is also experiencing a Renaissance…a re-branding; she has the opportunity to become greater than she’s ever been before. Help us, help the city, by showing that there is so much to the city than partying, boozing, and fried food.

We thank you in advance for sticking to this resolution – don’t be shy to let us know who you are and what think!!