Work Out for Me

My actual Blog post this week is on YouTube. Hope you enjoy it

The Girl with the Black Sweater

Bulimia: An eating disorder, common especially among young women of normal or nearly normal weight, that is characterized by episodic binge eating and followed by feelings of guilt, depression, and self-condemnation. It is often associated with measures taken to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, the use of laxatives, dieting, or fasting. Also called bulimarexia, bulimia nervosa.

The girl in the black sweater,

her skin suffocates her frame.

In her face I see beauty,

In her face she see’s three hundred.

On the street she hides her body,

because she believes it should be hidden.

She looks in the mirror,

she hates herself.

All those who love her says she is beautiful,

she thinks its all a lie.

She covers the smell of her fluids,

using gum,mints, and mouthwash,

yet I know what it is.

She can not hide it much longer.

Her mother pays to help her.

She feels as if she needs no help,

as she denies accusations.

Time goes on

she do not know her body is shutting down,

neither does anyone else.

As she sits at the dinner table,

she is not aware this will be her last meal.

The bathroom is now her only friend, her last friend.

There is her very last release.

Never had a chance,

The girl in the black sweater.

 

Ditch the D

Diet: to restrict oneself to small amounts of food or special kinds of food in order to lose weight.

Now that you know the definition of diet let’s talk about all the different kinds of diets we can choose from. You can choose from so many like low carb, low fat, gluten free, vegetarian, etc. We could go all day talking about types of diets, but are we, no.

           I watch people try to diet all the time, I get upset for them. They set rules and count all the calories they take in for the day, it just seems like too much. Their diets almost never work, because they try to hard to eat nothing. When you go all day eating one peanut every two hours you will starve.

          In this day and age everyone is striving to be a size 2. Everywhere you turn someone is counting calories, eating salads for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and running until they pass out. I for one pity those people. Why, because they are putting themselves inside a bubble of stress that will never go away. Studies show that people who think they are dieting show higher cortisol levels than those who do not.

By:Petra

            Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is produced by the adrenal gland. This hormone is released in the body’s “fight or flight” in response to stress. The fact is that diet with stress is not a diet at all. You may think you are getting yourself healthy but if you are stressed you can forget about it. Stress can cause you to have heart problems, trouble with your immune system, and even the dreaded gray hair. Why go through all that?

 

There is a way to keep in shape without counting calories or trans fat. I have learned it is not what you eat, it is how much you eat at a specific time. Of course, I’m not telling you to go eat McDonalds for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, that will make you fat. I’m saying that you don’t have to eat petite if you do not want to.

 

           Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Jeff Lindstorm described your metabolism as a fire. He said to “Think of your metabolism as a fire. After a night’s rest you would have a small flame lit while the food is your “wood.” You need some wood in the fire to get it going! Keep in mind you aren’t going throw in a bunch of big logs right away!’ What he is saying is that in order to keep your body burning fat you have to keep food in your stomach. Many people say to eat like a king at breakfast, a moderate man at lunch, and a poor man at dinner.

 

          I am sure you are wondering what should I eat during the day then. Well, let us start by taking a look at the food pyramid and see how much of each food group you should take in per day.

 

 

 

 

   By:USDA

 

          I suggest that you use this food pyramid to plan every meal. If I were to follow my rules this would be my food plan for a day:

 

         For breakfast would choose to have an omelet, because of all the different things you could do with one. In mine I would put spinach, cheese, bacon, pepper, onions, and ham. Along with my omelet would have Pineapples(I love those) a piece of toast with butter, some yogurt with granola in it and a nice cup of coffee. As you can see I used the pyramid to plan my meal. I know this may seem like too much food, but like I said before a big breakfast is necessary.





By:avlxyz

 

           Lunch is a time to have yourself a moderate meal, while still considering the food pyramid. You do not have to have every food group on the pyramid in your meal. I would say you should always have some type of meat. For my lunch I would have a chicken pasta. with this you have bread, cheese, meat. Notice that I choose something easy to order at any restaurant or prepare yourself. Pasta is easy to take with you to a job or wherever you are spending your day. You may also choose to pick a nice salad. With a salad you will have many food groups also.

By: Dan Brian Gerona

For dinner I say eat like a poor man, but do not take this too literally. Dinner should always be eaten before 7 or 8 PM. My dinner would consist of baked or grilled chicken, some form of potato(baked, mashed, red potatoes),and some form of greens. These are just suggestions you may choose whatever you would like to eat depending on what your are trying to do. I hope I have helped you with this post.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR NOT DIET.



Beware of the UV

Summer is approaching and I know that we all are excited about it. I for one can not wait to hit the beach and have fun in the sun, but do not get too much sun. When you are over-exposed to UV rays we can develop skin cancer. Although there are different types of skin cancer they are all not bad, but some are worse than others.

          The first type of skin cancer is called Basal Cell Carcinoma. This type of skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed. This type of skin cancer shows up in places that get a lot of sun exposure such as the face and hands. This type of cancer grows slowly so is easy to treat. This cancer shows up mole-like, it can be black,brown,or blue.

 By: Klaus D. Peter

         Another type of skin cancer is Squamous Cell Carcinoma. This type of skin cancer can appear on the lips,face and back. This skin cancer can spread quickly. This skin cancer can appear as scaly, rough, flat, or lumpy. Blood vessels can be in these lesions which causes it to bleed easily.  

Modified by:Jmh649.

         The third type of skin cancer is Melanoma. This is a growth of melanocytes(specialized skin cell that produces the protective skin-darkening pigment melanin).

By: Unknown Author

       What are the risk factors of skin cancer? Well exposure to UV radiation,skin color, sun sensitivity etc. Staying in the sun too long without sunscreen will cause you to be more likely to get skin cancer. I’m sure you are wondering what I mean by skin color. Those people who have fair skin are more vulnerable to UV light. People with freckles, light eyes, red hair, and caucasians are at a higher risk to get skin damage that may turn into skin cancer.

By:Eddy Van 3000

How can we prevent skin cancer? There are some simple rules that you should follow in order to avoid skin cancer. Find the shade, between the hours of 10AM and 4PM, when the sun rays are the strongest. Do not burn, every time you get a sunburn you are increasing your chances for skin cancer. Avoid tanning, and tanning beds. Cover up with Clothing , brim hats ,and UV-blocking sunglasses. Where bright or dark colored fabrics. A white T-shirt lets in 1/5 of UV rays. Lastly use sunblock of 15 SPF everyday. With these simple rules we can have healthy skin and avoid skin cancer. HAPPY SUMMER!

By:d0ndy



Five Letter Word

Lupus: to us this is just another word in the english language but how do those who are affected by this five letter word feel about it. To truly understand it we must first know what it is. According to Medical News Today Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue. Lupus causes the immune system to be unable to know the difference between antigens and healthy tissue. This disease is a very serious one and should be recognized as such.

Many people are affected by this small word. I myself am affected by it. My best friend has this disease. I watch her go in and out of the hospital every month. I witness all the pills she has to take every morning, 6-8 pills a day just to keep it under control. It is sad for me because I know that one day it will consume her and that is nothing I want to have to think or go through. Having lupus at any age is tragic, but I feel as if it is very tragic to have it as a young person.

So how many people in America actually get this disease. About 40 out of 100,000 Northern Americans and 200 out of 100,000 blacks. As you can see these are large numbers especially in blacks. What is even more shocking is that women are diagnosed 9 times more than men. It is also very common is people between the ages of 15-45. When I think about these numbers I am appalled, as I’m sure you all are also. Those people affected are mothers,fathers,sons, and daughters; all by this small five letter word, lupus. Lupus can cause many things in your body to become dysfunctional. This disease can cause your blood to clot, your kidneys to fail, and even give you other health problems.

         There is one type of lupus I would like to focus on and that is lupus nephritis,which is a kidney inflammation due to lupus. Symptoms of this type of lupus are: foamy urine, bloody urine, high blood pressure, and swelling of any area of the body. This affects 3 out of every 10,000 people. In kids with lupus nephritis at least half will have kidney complications. There is no prevention of this disease.

By: Pubmeth Health

 

 

 

           

This is the type of lupus my friend has. This disease has turned her life around 360º. SInce she was diagnosed in the year of 2009 she has accumulated arthritis and anticoagulant blood,meaning your blood clots more than needed, due to complications with lupus. Since she has anticoagulant blood she has to take blood thinners for the rest of her life. She has a blood clot in her leg that has traveled to her lungs and can be fatal. This blood clot is called a pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism is a sudden blockage in a lung artery, which is caused by a blood clot in the leg that has broken loose and travels through the bloodstream. This can cause permanent lung damage, low oxygen level is the blood, and damage to other organs due to lack of oxygen.



By: Medline Plus

 

          The medicine that she takes is to suppress the immune system in other words make it weak so that it does not attack itself, which makes her more prone to infections and being sick.
         With this disease she is always fatigued,and has to take pills to give her energy. Also this affects her diet. A low sodium diet is required so that she does not swell up. Due to her lupus complications she had to start chemotherapy and has to drive to Birmingham, Al which is two hours from where we live.

        With this inconvenient disease it is hard for her to be young. It is hard for her to do everyday things such as brushing her own hair due to her arthritis. I find inspiration in her because even though she has this disease she still manages to be a full time student and a full time big sister to her sister who also has lupus. I really love my bestfriend and would hate to lose her to this disease.

Bibliography

(C.White,personal communication, March 4,2013)



Get in Shape Without the Workout Room

We all want to be in shape and healthy right? I know that you said yes in your head, but lets face it we do not want to go to the gym and get on the elliptical or the dreaded treadmill. We also do not want to get out and run or at least I do not. 
   

There are ways that we can stay in shape that are fun but also give you results. The first way is going to the exercise classes. Zumba is a great way to stay fit and it is also fun. Zumba keeps your heart rate up and also you can get some rhythm while you are at it. There is also water zumba or aqua zumba, from what I hear it is a challenge but if you are up for it go for it. Zumba can help you with toning your arms, legs, and stomach. 

 

By:Cimm

 Another type of class that it offered is yoga. Now I know what you're thinking yoga that is boring, and guys it is not just for women. Yoga is also challenging because it test your balance and strength. This is a good alternative to lifting weights if you are trying to gain strength without looking bulky.Yoga is also a form of mention. 

By: jessebezz

 

             Men I know you are thinking well what about us, well a great class for men to take is kickboxing. Kickboxing is good for building strength and endurance. This type of workout will improve your speed and relieve stress. Kickboxing is a challenging workout, but the longer you do it the easier it will get.

By:Loura Conerney

 

           Have you ever heard of P90X? Well if you have not it is a series of workouts that build muscle and keep you in great health. The great thing about this workout is you can do it in the comfort of your own home. For this workout all you need is two dumbbells of your choice. If you are looking for something that will get you results this is the workout for you.

You may also exercise by just walking. You don’t have to walk alone take a friend with you. What my friends and I like to do is ,after eating we go to the mall or a shopping strip and walk off our meal instead of just going home and sitting down. I know that sometimes guys do not like the mall but you do not have to use the mall. Maybe go to a sports store or whatever you fancy. 
   

           Going swimming is also a good way to stay in shape, and I don’t mean just walking around the pool. When you go to the pool play games like marco polo or shark. These are fun games and will keep you moving in the pool. The pool is a great place to stay toned and get your metabolism up. The main thing is to just stay active. The more active you are the better off you will be.

Cancer is not always hereditary

When we think of cancer the first thing that pops into our minds is breast cancer maybe brain cancer. We tend to always do things for breast cancer, but what about the other cancers? Did you know that some cancer can be prevented by our actions? Like take lung cancer for example. The easiest way to avoid lung cancer is to not smoke. Simple right? the According to statistics only 5%-10% of cancers are inherited. This means that the other 90% has to be either you making bad life choices or just by chance you got some type of cancer.

 

As I said before there are ways to prevent certain strands of cancer. Some ways is just to eat certain foods or not chew tobacco.The type of cancer you can get from chewing tobacco is Oral Cancer. Oral cancer can show up in lips, tongue, cheeks , floor of the mouth , hard and soft palate, sinus and throat. This type of cancer can be life threatening if its not treated correctly.

 

How can this be avoided you may ask? That’s a great question but first you know what causes it. People who use dip, snuff, and other chewing tobacco are 50% more likely to get this type of cancer on their lips, or cheeks. Smokers may also get this form of cancer but are more likely to get lung cancer. My uncle is a smoker he smokes at least two packs of cigarettes a day. He has beggining stages of lung cancer. Our family has a history of cancer so this puts him at a greater risk to get lung cancer. This is the deadliest type of cancer for men and women. Cigarette smoke is the leading cause of this type of cancer. Another way to accumulate this type of cancer is to expose yourself to chemicals such as uranium, mustard gas, or even nickel. It’s not like we go and expose ourselves to this type of stuff everyday but if you do just know lung cancer is a possibility. A way to prevent lung and oral cancer is to just avoid smoking and chewing tobacco. I know that some people can’t avoid these things, and if you're one of these people please go to your physician on a regular basis so if you do accumulate it you can be treated.

 

Another cancer that people seem to overlook is colon cancer. This type of cancer is also at the top of the list in death from cancer. Colon cancer can start in the large intestines or in the rectum. Most all colon cancer start off as polyps that form into tumors.

Found at PubMed Health

 

You have a greater risk of accumulating colon cancer if you eat a lot of red meats throughout your life. What is a red meat? Well a red meats are beef, pork, and lamb. I know we all really like these types of meats but turkey is also really good. Turkey can replace most of these types of meats. Have you ever heard of turkey bacon or ground turkey? This is a healthy and delicious substitute for beef and pork and can also help you avoid a risk of getting colon cancer. I know from experience turkey products are good and better for you.
 

According to About.com about 200,000 people die of lung cancer each year. I personally do not know anybody who has died of lung cancer,but i’m sure this really affects many people in america. On the other hand about 50,000 people die of colon cancer. I know this does not seem like a lot of people when there is a zillion people in the U.S., but you never know what could happen. Cancer is the leading cause of death in children ages 1-19. A friend of mine who just turned 16 a few months ago was just sent to Saint Judes Hospital for cancer.

 

I am not here to tell you how to live your life, but I just want to let you know that there are ways to do things that will keep you in good health. Always go to your physician on a regular basis and watch what you eat I know it seems harmless now but in the long run it could be fatal. Last but not least please refrain from smoking or chewing tobacco,I don't want any of you to get oral or lung cancer.

 

 

 About.com