Where is the Republican plan for healthcare?

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/08/alan.grayson/#cnnSTCVideo

Heathcare?

The Circuit Training Phenomenon

The Circuit Training Phenomenon

by Juan Carlos Santana, MEd, CSCS, NASM-CPT
Combine cardio conditioning and functional strength training with FITMOVES!

FITMOVES circuits are the most effective way to combine cardio conditioning with functional strength training. We developed this unique circuit training in an effort to provide an alternative method of training that is safe, fun, efficient and effective. The FITMOVES format can be utilized by an individual, a small group or very large groups.
The circuit format consists of rotating stations composed of major movements that the body naturally recognizes — the four pillars of human movement. These four categories of movement are: (1) locomotion, (2) level changes, (3) pushing and pulling and (4) rotation. Since the four pillars are the basis of functional human movement, they are the foundation of the functional training behind the FITMOVES circuits. All four pillars are represented in the circuits via exercises that effectively enhance them.
Although functional human movement is the foundation of FITMOVES, various themes can be emphasized, such as cardio, hypertrophy, stability, balance or core work. The arrangement of the circuits, work-to-rest ratios, repetition schemes or the exercise selection can delineate the emphasis of a particular theme. A single theme can be represented through the entire class (45 to 60 minutes long), or several themes can be designed within a class.
The Rationale Behind FITMOVES Circuits

Most circuit-type formats (e.g., Spinning, Step, etc.) are designed around a specific fitness component, such as cardio, toning, flexibility, etc. The first circuit classes in the fitness industry were aerobics classes, which were made popular back in the ’70s and emphasized cardiovascular conditioning. Since then, many other group fitness classes have been developed, from Spinning classes to weight training (i.e., Body Pump) classes. To this day, no circuit class has been developed that encompasses the entire fitness spectrum, until now.
The FITMOVES circuits incorporate the best of Spinning, Body Pump, Step, Core and even “Boot Camp” classes. The use of various pieces of equipment (medicine balls, stability balls, dumbbells, sand bags, rubber tubing, balance equipment, etc.) and training methodologies allow unparalleled application and diversity. This diverse application allows the participant to partake in various cardio-related exercises that enhance motor skills and cardiovascular parameters: weight training exercises that build muscles and bones, calisthenics that improve flexibility and body awareness and balance and stability exercises that enhance postural awareness and body alignment.
Who Can Participate in the FITMOVES Circuits?

The circuits are designed for the asymptomatic, healthy individual. However, exercise intensity can easily be enhanced or reduced to match a participant’s level. Fitness professionals using FITMOVES can modulate exercise intensity by manipulating the speed of the exercise, the lever arm of the exercise and the base of support used during the exercise. Therefore, the circuits can be used by just about anyone individually or administered to a class consisting of athletes and non-athletes. Regardless of the population involved in training, FITMOVES provides safe, effective and consistent training.
Design Philosophy and Considerations

The philosophy of the FITMOVES circuits is based on Juan Carlos Santana’s Four Pillars of Human Movement. The Four Pillars model is a simple and effective way of looking at what the body does and providing specific and appropriate training.
The circuit stations represent each of the pillars to some degree. Pillar #1 (Locomotion) can be represented by a station consisting of a rockerboard balance, band-resisted running or a single-leg exercise. Pillar #2 (Level Changes) can be addressed by a station involving some form of squatting, stepping or lunging. A push-up or band-pull station can represent Pillar #3 (Pushing and Pulling). Finally, a station using rotational exercises with a band or medicine ball can represent Pillar #4 (Rotation).
Stations consisting of movements that combine any of the four pillars, such as a dumbbell squat curl and press, can add an infinite amount of diversity to the design of a class. The four pillars can also be represented with different emphasis. For example, Pillar #3 can be made more functional with a standing alternating band pull, or we can provide a hypertrophy emphasis with a bent-over dumbbell row or dumbbell curl. Pillar #1 lends itself to static balances for the frail population or the incorporation of plyometrics designed to increase locomotive speed and power in more advanced populations.
FITMOVES Circuit Prgressions (Tweaks)
All stations within a FITMOVES circuit can be tailored to meet the needs and capabilities of any individual. The “art” of modification and progression has been simplified so that any trainer or coach can supervise the circuit, especially when involved with large classes.
We use four basic “tweaks” to modify exercises. These tweaks can be delivered from across the room with one to three words. This simple approach allows the instructor to coach from a distance with minimal instruction, making the system very effective for fast-moving group classes.
The four major classifications of progression tweaks to use during FITMOVES circuits are: increase in speed of movement, increases in the resistance lever, reducing the base of support.
The Basic FITMOVES Home Circuits

The equipment used for the FITMOVES circuit can consist of a medicine ball, an exercise band, a stability ball and an exercise step. Setting up the equipment is easy. Inflate the stability ball per the manufacturer’s guidelines. Attach the bands to a closed door or around a stable structure, such as a rail or fence. Set up the equipment so that it is in close proximity around the step.
There are two circuits in FITMOVES. Each circuit will have five stations: medicine ball, exercise band, stability ball, body weight and a step. You will perform 30 seconds of each exercise at each of the five stations. You will rest for 15 seconds while transitioning to the next station in the circuit.
The Basic FITMOVES Group Circuits

The circuit can be applied to a group of individuals. As a matter of fact, the original FITMOVES pilot study had 12 stations. Therefore, don’t get caught up in the number of stations and order of exercises; have some fun with it. As long as all of the four pillars are trained each day, the program will be effective, safe and fun.
The original FITMOVES circuit had 12 stations and a criss-cross pattern. The reason for this was that the equipment in our room was set up a certain way, and we had to tailor the flow to match the equipment setup. If you have the choice, set up in a clockwise fashion; participants have an easier time following the flow of the circuit when it flows in a clockwise fashion.
Our original FITMOVES has been modified many times since its original design, and we recommend that trainers and coaches exercise their creativeness to design circuits that are safe, fun and effective. Use the FITMOVES methodology as a guideline, not as a rule, and you will enjoy many years of excellent training.
Juan Carlos (“JC”) Santana is a highly acclaimed presenter, author and president of the Institute of Human Performance in Boca Raton, Florida.
This article was recently published in Perform Better The Magazine, a free publication that provides educational information to personal trainers, athletic trainers, coaches and physical therapists.

Neuromuscular Therapy 101: What is upper cross syndrome?

Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS), also called Upper Crossed Syndrome, is a collection of symptoms that express themselves as a postural pattern which might lead to pain, tension, and even permanent injury. But the use of the term “syndrome” may make people believe that little can be done to resolve it. This is not true.

Review of online literature

In their monograph Upper Cross Syndrome, Life Chiropractic College West describes the general symptomology as it expresses in the upper torso:

Upper Cross Syndrome describes a compromise in the musculoskeletal system which tightens or facilitates the anterior compartment of the “upper” torso while at the same time weakening the posterior.

However, the manner in which they describe UCS (e.g. “a compromise…which tightens or facilitates”) implies that this conditionhappens to people, which is not the whole truth.

For the most part, Life Chiropractic has a table which identifies the muscles involved.

(Note: Wikipedia is a good reference for anatomy pictures, if you want to see each muscle describe above.)

Life Chiropractic also describes one repetitive stress issue which may contribute to UCS:

Being that it is predominantly a postural issue, it is seen in individuals who work at a desk or are constantly leaning forward. Through postural adaptation, your body adopts the classical hunching of the upper thoracic spine, internal rotation of the shoulders, and anterior head carriage.

Unfortunately, they don’t discuss this process of “postural adaptation.” This is a vital omission that can make the difference between understanding how to empower yourself to heal. Quite simply, your body doesn’t adapt by happenstance. You adapt your body. You are in control. (More on this important difference later.)

This is why using the term “syndrome” can be seriously misleading. Oxford English Dictionary defines “syndrome” as:

A group of symptoms or pathological signs which consistently occur together, esp. with an (originally) unknown cause; a condition characterized by such a set of associated symptoms.

Unfortunately, the “unknown cause” part of the definition gets overused. By allowing a potential client to believe that UCS is due to an “unknown cause” (i.e. beyond your control) and thereby implying that the professional has some knowledge unattainable by mere mortals, health care practitioners can promote dependency and extended treatment plans (i.e. more income per customer).

This is not to say that a good practitioner isn’t an excellent resource, but they serve as a guide rather than a magician.

Bangor University placed an UCS video on Youtube. The first four minutes contain a good anatomy lesson, including a diagram showing the general postural pattern associated with UCS. It also contains a good example of passive range of motion testing, where the practitioner slowly moves a limb through its range of movement. This highlights zones where the joint “sticks,” which can indicate muscle tension restricting the joint from complete function.

Reece Haettich’s article, Rotator Cuff Stability and “Upper Cross Syndrome”, makes some excellent points on how posture affects shoulder function. Most importantly, he explains what you can do to improve your posture. While his target audience is triathletes, his core principles are valid for everybody:

· Have a reasonable idea of your body’s anatomy and how it moves. (It’s your body; read the owner’s manual.)

· Proper exercise helps build stability and balance in your structure.

Exercise is like putting money in savings; not exercising is like constantly withdrawing from your account. When traumatic injuries occur, or when repetitive stresses begin to wear at you, the interest you earned on your investment (exercise) can help you out. If your account is already drawn down, you may desperately seek to borrow against the future. This desperation often manifests in expensive treatments which may have been reduced or avoided by a regular exercise program. In other words, we pay now by exercising, or we pay later, with interest.

In the final analysis, you are in the best position to care for yourself. Other people may be sympathetic, but you are the one suffering. Others may be able to help, but what you do for yourself, or to yourself, on a daily basis will prove to be the overriding factor, for better or worse.

Next: Additional symptoms and analysis of Upper Cross Syndrome

Internet articles are never a substitute for appropriate medical advice.

*********************************

Howard Nemerov is the developer of the Nemerov Method of neuromuscular therapy.

The Real Deal About The Medicare 2006 Plan…. any improvement in 2009?

Nearly one year after congress passed the Medicare and prescription drug plan, both sides are still debating its supposed benefits, or detriments. Unfortunately, many of the people who will be affected by the Medicare changes still don’t know where to turn.

What follows is an initial analysis of what will happen January 1, 2006.

Our conclusion:

Regardless of whatever else you’re hearing, the Medicare Part “D” prescription drug plan has many loopholes that are harmful to seniors with low to moderate incomes.

The Analysis:

First, you will pay a monthly insurance premium of $35 per month, or $420 for the year.

Secondly, the first $225 you spend will make up your deductible  no help from Medicare
Thirdly, the next $2,000 in coats ($226 to $2,225) is 25% your cost, 75% Medicare.
Fourthly, and this is referred to as the donut hole, you have to pay 100% again for all dollars spent between $2,225 and $5,100  no Medicare help.
Lastly, any dollars spent for prescriptions above $5,100 in one year will be 5% yours, 95% from Medicare  this is called Catastrophic Coverage.

Your 2006 Medicare Coverage Costs:

Your Prescription Costs/What It’ll Cost You/You Pay/You Save

$225————————-$645————-100%—$0
$1,000———————–$839————-84%—-$161
$1,500———————–$964————-64%—-$536
$2,000———————–$1,089———–55%—-$911
$3,000———————–$1,920———–64%—-$1,080
$4,000———————–$2,920———–73%—-$1,080
$5,000———————–$3,920———–78%—-$1,080

Final Thought:

Beginning January 1, 2006 your Medicare costs, as detailed in the new plan passed by congress and the current administration, may increase significantly.

We believe congress should have done better than this for our seniors.

Remember, it’s only after you spend $5,100 in Medicare-cover healthcare costs that the catastrophic support starts. Even then, you’d still be responsible for 5% of your costs.

As it stands, it will take about $800 of prescriptions in a year just to break even! Then, your out-of-pocket expenses go down. However they come right back up once you hit the donut hole, where you pay 100% again.

Ladies this just in……..America is bored! Here is how to get more excited about exercise and getting the health you deserve!

by Josh Trent NASM-CES

Ladies,

If you know you MUST exercise, your brain switches into ‘necessary evil’ mode! Like cleaning your room, we come to think of moving our bodies as a chore.

When we realise that we can enjoy exercise for health’s sake, not just because people in shiny lycra tell us to, our brain will switch into ‘necessary but I like it’ mode!

Look for opportunities to stretch your legs. Simple things like taking the stairs instead of the escalator and walking to the train station is a good start.

Walking is the easiest exercise to do, but the boredom factor can be a big turn off. Here’s some tips to make it a bit more exciting:

- take a different route every night
- take a walkman and walk in time to the beat of songs
- if you have a CD walkman, catch up on those new songs you haven’t had time to listen to yet.
The gym has been hijacked by fashion, but a lot of them are now catching on to the fact that people actually go to the gym to get fit, not show off the latest stretchy gear!

If you’d like to join a gym, do your research and find one without the attitude. They are around. Avoid ones with “fatbusting” posters and leaflets for weight loss products. Check out-

http://www.wavehouseathleticclub.com/?page_id=5
If the gym idea doesn’t suit you, grab a couple of friends and start a walking group.The competitive nature of humans makes it fun!

Buy some good walking shoes and wear comfortable clothing. Your comfort is the issue here.

Take advantage of walking trails and paths in your town. If you don’t have any, then pester your local council into getting them.

Don’t launch into a full scale power walk – allow yourself a moderate 5-10 minute warm up walk first. Stop and stretch any areas feeling tight. And do a ‘cool down’ walk near the end. Walk the last kilometre a slower pace and finish by stretching your body.

Above all else give your self the time, it is your most precious gift, and watch what you can accomplish!

Josh

Rotator Cuff Exercises – How to Help Cure Your Shoulder Pain!

Are you feeling the pain that most do from injuries to their rotator cuff or shoulder areas? These tendons and muscles are small and very delicate so injury is pretty normal over time. The pain is no fun, however there are rotator cuff exercises that you can do to help cure the pain and reduce it over time. Here are some things you should know about shoulder and rotator cuff exercises.

First, you do not want to lift much weight when you do these exercises. If you lift too much weight you risk further injury, which could require surgery and/or physical therapy. This could take you months to years to fully recover from if you ever fully recover. This is not what we are after so do your rotator cuff exercises with light weight and high repetitions. You want to do sets of 15 to 25 repetitions each.

Second, you need to be performing your exercises at least 2 times a week and you are better off doing your routine 3 to 4 times a week. Make sure you give yourself one day of rest in between each routine to give your muscles and tendons a chance to heal and grow stronger. This is how you make them stronger to prevent future injury and to help cure the pain you are currently going through.

Last, you will want to use ice and heat therapy to help relieve the pain and swelling. This is very important because if you do not ice and heat your shoulders you will be in pain, especially when you sleep. You need to ice your shoulders each day for two periods of 20 minutes each followed by 20 minutes of heat after wards. This will help the shoulder muscles and tendons heal faster and will relieve the pain you feel.

source- Doc Melson

Why do some people stop exercising before they even start?

Why do some people stop exercising before they even start? This is a question that has been on my mind for some time. It’s common place for some people to enthusiastically pledge to get fit but after a few weeks give up and return to their previous lifestyle. Why is this so? In this article I’ll discuss some of the possible reasons why people give up on exercise. I will also offer suggestions to those people who have suddenly discontinued their exercise regimen.

Commitment

Many people fail to fully commit themselves to exercise. They see other people going to the gym, jogging, bicycling, etc. and think it would be great to get into shape but fail to consider what it requires to get started. Becoming physically active requires work. It’s as simple as that. You have to do physical work to make your body stronger and healthier. This means that you will need to set up a regular schedule to participate in physical activity. You will have to set aside time to go for that half an hour walk, get the bike out to go cycling at the park, work out at the gym, etc. You will have to postpone watching that sit com on TV, or taking the snooze on the couch. If you are a person who has become comfortable in your old routine, developing a new habit maybe difficult, but it begins in the mind. You have to make the conscious decision to do something different. And then do that activity again and again. Eventually- and this only happens if your mind is really into it- you’ll come to accept this new routine without much thought. In other words, you’ll have undergone a lifestyle change and exercise will become part of your identity.

Pain

We have evolved to seek out that which gives us pleasure and avoid that which gives us pain. Exercise is no different. If a person has just started an exercise program after a long hiatus, the first workout is often the hardest. You’ll work muscles that are not accustomed to the sort of physical exertion you’re putting them through. So when you’ve finished the workout you’re likely to feel very sore. Most people are unprepared for this and quickly give up exercise. This soreness is actually quite normal and there’s even a scientific name for it: delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) . You can minimize soreness by stretching, or warming up before you work out (1). If you’re feeling soreness after an intense workout, take a warm shower. The warm water will soothe the muscles that have tensed up as a result of the physical stress put on them. Also, allow those sore muscles time to recover; when you next go to the gym (which, hopefully, will be within the next day or so following your first workout) work different muscle groups. For example, if you’ve worked out on the leg press machine today, work your back and shoulders tomorrow. Then the next day, instead of legs, back and shoulders, work your abdominal muscles. By performing your exercises in this way, you allow your muscles to rest and become stronger while at the same time maintaining physical activity by working different muscle groups. On the other hand, if you feel sharp or intense pain this is most likely an injury. In this case, stop what you are doing and seek medical attention. Always remember to use common sense when you’re working out.

Doing Too Much Too Soon

Some novices have a tendency to lift more weight than their body is ready for. This can lead to injury and embarrassment. The key is to start with light weights and increase the amount in regular increments ( 5 – 10 pound increase per week is recommended) thereby building strength and familiarity with the exercise. If you’re new to working out and train at a gym or fitness center, there are staff on hand who would be able to assist you with proper form and technique. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for help. Even those of us who train using heavy weights (lifting amounts in excess of 100 pounds or greater than our body weight) ask for help. I know this first hand because when performing some incredibly demanding strength exercises I’ve asked for spots and spotted others. It makes no sense to show off and risk serious injury, follow the motto “safety before vanity” and enjoy your workout.

Unrealistic Expectations

It’s important to set exercise goals but make sure they’re realistic. Some people mistakenly believe that all they have to do is join a gym, workout for a week or two and magically have the body of a professional athlete or fitness model. Sounds good, doesn’t it? But there’s a major problem with this line of thought: it’s unrealistic. The truth of the matter is that strong, toned, fit bodies are not made overnight. It takes effort, dedication, hard work, time and patience to achieve lasting results. In other words, it means you must workout for the rest of your life. There is nothing wrong with desiring a well sculpted body, as a matter of fact this is great as a long term goal. In the meantime, though, take gradual steps to achieve what you want. Each person responds differently to exercise, some people develop faster than others. Don’t rush it, take the time to learn the intricacies of good form and proper training and if properly applied you’re more likely to see pronounced results in two or three months.

How is functional training different from bodybuilding?

Any individual who says that either “functional”, bodybuilding or any other single format for exercise is the only or the best way to train either does not understand the concepts of the various forms of training or is too close-minded to recognize new possibilities. Unfortunately, there are too many individuals who tout the benefits of one form of training over another without determining the true needs of the body as it coincides with the goals of the individual.

The question is what is the body:
1. capable of doing?
2. meant to do?

A good balance must be drawn between these two concepts. Too often choices are made based upon what an individual would like to do contrary to their current capabilities, overlooking what the body was meant to do. Just because the body can move in a given direction does not necessarily mean that it should be reinforced through repetitive movement patterns, with explosive tempo and heavy loads. The body should be properly evaluated before making those type of choices.

Functional training does not deny the benefits of traditional bodybuilding. Functional training does not deny the benefits of most theories of training. Training should be goal oriented and individual specific. Many training programs sacrifice functionality and skip efforts to improve function to meet aesthetic goals. Whether the goal is aesthetics or performance, functionality should improve both goals.

Sample video-

Traditional bodybuilding alone is simply not sufficient to enhance function and improve performance. There is only so much hypertrophy muscles can handle before function is impaired by overuse. For example, the muscles surrounding the shoulder complex or so called glenohumeral joint are often very small and thin. With prolonged or excessive loading for building size or strength of the upper body, the shoulder can take quite a beating. Every movement involving the arms or upper torso affects the shoulders.

Overuse or excessive heavy loading may create the visual effect of greater muscular size and an increased temporary ability to move heavy loads, but smaller muscles such as those of the rotator cuff and scapular musculature were not meant to handle such loading. When damage is done to connective tissue, the result could be a loss of muscular strength some time down the road. Movement impairment is also likely to occur due to overuse. Choosing an exercise or motion based purely upon feel is not an acceptable rationale. The body is intelligent and will accommodate most requests regardless of whether this action is detrimental to the continued functioning of joints, muscles, and connective tissue.

The muscular system has a remarkable ability to dramatically and rapidly adapt to the imposed demands from almost any stimulus. In most cases, adaptations such as changes in strength or size are considered to be beneficial. However, such adaptations can also be detrimental and lead to impaired movement to the most mobile joints in the body such as the hips, shoulders, and spine. With great mobility, like that of the hips and shoulders, comes great instability. Therefore extra care must be taken in performing any movement utilizing the shoulders and hips, in order to make sure that the surrounding muscles are not over emphasized. Such improper postural positioning may be detrimental to assistant movers, supporting and antagonist muscles which protect and provide efficient movement of those joints. Variety in range and path of motion, speed of movement, direction of movement loading, and muscular involvement are the keys to long term success. However like anyone who has had long term success will tell you, a solid foundation is key. And functional training provides that foundation.

5 Excuses Emotional Eaters Make

By Daniel b Adams

There are many excuses emotional eaters give for hanging on to their habit of overeating, even when it affects their mental and physical well-being. Below are 5 excuses that we often hear at Shrink Yourself.

I’ll never be as attractive as I want, so why bother losing weight at all?
So many emotional eaters paint themselves into a corner with this one. It’s defeatist thinking at its very best. It convinces you that since you won’t be Tyra Banks or George Clooney after you lose the weight you shouldn’t try at all. Just because things won’t be perfect at the end of your diet, and just because you won’t suddenly look like a runway model, doesn’t mean something positive isn’t going to happen. This excuse tries to prevent you from abandoning emotional eating by telling you that things won’t work out perfectly so there’s no point in trying.

I’ve failed before, so why try again?
Most dieters have failed to achieve their goals at some point. Either they quit their diet early, or gained the weight back after reaching their goal. These failures or relapses are often used as a justification for not trying anymore.

However, previous “failure” doesn’t predict future failure. Up until now, you didn’t know that emotional eating is the number one reason that diets fail. If you didn’t understand emotional eating there was no way you could have succeeded permanently. With a new understanding of emotional eating you could finally have all of the tools you need to succeed. It’s like a baseball player: just because he struck out the first time, it doesn’t mean he didn’t learn how to spot the pitchers curve-ball the next time. Just because you dropped your diet once, or hundred times before, it doesn’t mean you didn’t learn what it’s going to take to make it this time. This excuse is really just a way to justify not trying so you can hang onto emotional eating.

I’ll feel too deprived if I give up overeating!
Emotional eating is satisfying to the emotional eater. It leads to compulsive eating. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so hard to give up. But, just because it’s the only way you can feel satisfied now doesn’t mean it’s the only way you’ll be able to feel satisfied in the future, or the only way to feel satisfied, period, as some emotional eaters believe.

Think of a smoker. They can’t visualize living their life without the satisfaction of smoking. They can’t face the deprivation they imagine they would feel without smoking. Of course, to a non-smoker this just seems silly. There’s plenty of ways to feel satisfied without smoking. And, after a few months without cigarettes, many new non-smokers realize how little the tobacco offered in the ways of real satisfaction. Nearly all successful ex-smokers wonder what the heck they were thinking. They wonder, “Why on earth did I think I wouldn’t ever feel satisfied without cigarettes?” The same is true for emotional eating and overeating. Just like smoking, these habits do offer some temporary stress relief, but at a huge cost. And just like cigarettes, once you break the habit, you begin to realize overeating is not the only way to feel satisfied in life. This excuse is really just the habit trying to convince you that there is no satisfaction outside of emotional eating and uses this as a justification to hold onto your unhealthy eating patterns.

Losing weight won’t really impact my health, so it’s not worth it!
This excuse is just wrong no matter how you cut it. While losing weight won’t fix all your health problems, even losing a small percentage of your body weight will drastically improve your health. A small reduction in your body weight cuts your likelihood for heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, impotence and a whole host of other health problems.

If you catch yourself making this excuse, tell yourself that pursuing good health is not an all-or-nothing endeavor. Just because you can’t avoid all health problems, doesn’t mean losing even a little weight won’t drastically improve your health.

Losing weight won’t fix anything…I’ll still have other problems to deal with!
It’s realistic to believe that reaching your goal weight won’t solve all of your problems. People that expect losing weight will solve everything set themselves up for disappointment. When you stop overeating, you’ll still have to contend with your spouse or job. That’s just a fact of life. When you eliminate eating as a coping mechanism, you start to learn how to tackle the real problems. You might see giving up the comfort of food as a loss but what you have to gain is being more effective in dealing with your life’s challenges.

Conclusion
In all the excuses above, there is an example of black-and-white thinking. “If things can’t be perfect, you shouldn’t try.” Believing in this all-or-nothing thinking is what gives these excuses their power. If you begin to see through this oversimplified assessment, you can begin to break these excuses down so they don’t convince you to hold onto emotional eating. Just because you won’t be a ideal model of health, or your life won’t be perfect afterwards, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pursue your goals. Don’t let these excuses get in the way of a new, thinner, healthier and happier you!

“GROWING PLACES” 2009 BENEFIT FOR SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD PROJECT!

PRE-SALE BEGINS TODAY FOR GROWING PLACES 2009 BENEFIT FOR SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD PROJECT!

STARTING JULY 22 – $7 PRE-SALE TICKETS FOR GROWING PLACES 2009

Pre-sale tickets will be available starting July 22 at the following fine San Diego businesses:

GROWING PLACES 2009 IS A BENEFIT FOR SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD PROJECT

AUGUST 1, 2009

GROWING PLACES!

1446 Front Street, fourth floor

SAN DIEGO, CA 92101

GROWING PLACES 2009 is an all-day benefit event for the SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD PROJECT.

The schedule of featured offerings for this nascent and vital benefit event include:

3:00–9:30 p.m. – SILENT AUCTION
Artists from throughout San Diego County have donated their art to be auctioned to the public to raise funds for the SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD PROJECT. All forms, shapes, and types of art will be present for the public’s viewing, two and three dimensional, sculpture, crafts, drawings, paintings, constructions of every kind.

3:30–5:00 p.m. – MAKE AND TAKE URBAN HOMESTEADING WORKSHOPS
Learn to make things like sauerkraut, hot sauce, ginger ale, and grind wheat into flour!

5:30–6:30 p.m. – TABLE TALK
A roundtable discussion featuring local business owners, local food and poverty advocates, and the public, about the triumphs and pitfalls of our city’s current relationships with food, and opportunities to celebrate and/or change that relationship.

7:00–10:00 p.m. ART+RESPONSE PROJECT
All guests at GROWING PLACES are invited to make art to hang on the wall of our central room as an ever-evolving public discourse regarding our notions of food and farming in San Diego.

7:30 p.m. – performance by UNUM

8:30 p.m. – performance by OLD MAN HANDS

9:30: – performance by the SKAVOLUTIONARY ORCHESTRA

SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD PROJECT (Roots) is a volunteer-based non profit actively pursuing a sensible food system for our city. Our intent is to encourage and assist people in growing their own organic healthy food, and to urge residents to support local business by buying more food from farms rather than grocery stores. Our goal is three-fold: return this region’s agricultural benefits to the people who live here, grow healthy, varied produce, and rehabilitate and maintain a community of food growers and real-food lovers within San Diego. Our projects include Victory Gardens SD, Food for Thought film series, urban farms at colleges and schools. Ultimately, Roots is seeking land for organic farming and education.

GROWING PLACES is a benefit event that will both raise money for the farmland and raise San Diegans’ public awareness regarding our food supply and our need for locally cultivated foods.

Admission donation is $10 at the door or less if you bring organic vegetable plants and/or non-perishables for the donation station.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE:

GROWING PLACES – http://www.myspace.com/growingplaces

SAN DIEGO ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD PROJECT – http://www.sandiegoroots.org

SKAVOLUTIONARY ORCHESTRA – http://www.myspace.com/skavolutionary

OLD MAN HANDS – http://www.myspace.com/oldmanhands

UNUM – http://www.myspace.com/weareunum

Jamaican Banana workers outside of Kingston, Circa 1920′s. Nourishing the nation with their labors. Press on workers, press on.