Life Changing – Not Just For Humans

The Strength Of My Clients Is In Their Hearts

May has been transformative to say the least.  Two clients in particular, demonstrated enormous courage and strength – not only through fitness, but in how they treat others.  When I started in-home training, I got to meet spouses, kids, neighbors, and pets.  In one case, I got to meet a little tabi with an adorable face and a great personality.  He would sit quietly, happy to relax while his “mom” knocked out lunges, squats and push-ups.  His face made me smile.  As she exercised, she told me about his habits and the funny things he did growing up.  Her stories were great and it was clear to me how much she loves the little guy.  I don’t think she knows how much her love of this cat shows on her face.

Across town lives another client with two of the cutest dogs!  They bark and yelp when I pull up, so he let’s them see me and immediately, they calm right down.  They’re my welcoming committee.  Tiny but strong, their “dad” takes fantastic care of them and it shows.  Yet not far from his house lived a couple who were neglecting a black cat.  It pained my client to watch this poor cat waste away, his black hair falling out.  So when the couple decided to move, he left a note on their door asking if he could adopt the cat.

I was training him when the neighbor showed up.  If you could have seen the smile on his face when she gave him the cat, you would have lit up inside like I did.  My client was so happy to be rescuing the frail, weak cat from the elements.

A few weeks ago, the tabi passed away.  I was crushed for the whole family – but proud to know the woman who took such awesome care of him for all those years.  Her memories of him are great and she gave that cat an incredible life of health and happiness.  She trained through tears and I’m sure she’ll carry him in her heart forever.

Meanwhile, across town, that little black cat gained some weight and has since moved indoors – to live with the welcoming committee that greets me so ferociously.  Think about the transformation for that cat in one month.  From heat and mosquitos to a warm bed and consistent, healthy eating.

I knew I’d meet the families of my clients when I started training at their homes.  What I did not expect was being witness to the incredible level of compassion and love so many of my clients show their pets.  It is absolutely one of the best aspects of my job and I’m thrilled to know these wonderful people!  It reminds me every day that strength comes not from weights and exercise, it comes from the heart and this month, I wanted to thank those two clients who have shown compassion and love to something so vulnerable.  It makes me stronger to know you.

How a Client Changed Me

In the April edition of the Live Fit E-zine, I explain how one client helped change my perspective.  Enjoy!  Live Fit Ezine April 2011

Stepping Out!

Today, I am announcing an expansion of my services with A Betta Fit Mobile Fitness Coaching.  You can now train in the privacy and comfort of your own home or office at a time that’s convenient for you!  Additionally, I offer new services, including a Nutritionist, Massage Therapist and even the supplementation I take.  If you had remaining sessions with me at 24 Hour Fitness, please contact me anytime to discuss how we can transfer those sessions.

Your needs and comfort are my top priority including a flexible schedule and training we can do almost anywhere – in a park, garage, living room, etc.  With private in-home training, you no longer need to face traffic or find a babysitter.  (And yes, we can check your cupboards and help you make the best decisions about food!)  From cardio to stretching, resistance to nutrition, you can count on me to provide unparalleled fitness coaching.  In the coming days, you can expect a newsletter with all sorts of great information, offers and tips to help you get and stay in shape.  I value your business and friendship.  Thanks again for your support and I look forward to continuing our work together!

Results – Are YOU Ready?

She needed to lose about 180 pounds of fat just to be in the “safe”category.  That’s right, 180 pounds.  A tall woman, I was sad to see her beautiful face, trapped under sadness, anger, and resentment.  I could see the frustration in her eyes as she struggled to come clean about what was holding her back.  As I talked with her, it was clear something was seriously wrong.  Compassion and patience were all I could offer as I listened to her story.

Her daughter, an 11 year old would be watching her mother struggle with body image, dietary concerns and of course, health issues.

I thought…”How can I help this woman change her life?”  Something had to give as she wept about her struggle with weight.

She told me about the men who looked, the women who stared, the kids that poked fun.  She told me about how she outgrew her clothes and eventually wound up in enormous outfits she never dreamt she’d wear.  She told me about Doctors visits and how painful it was to hear that the scale could no longer bear her weight.

And then she shocked me.  She wanted no training.  She wanted to maintain her weight.

Her reason was simple.  She knew that if she got fit, her knees would be strong enough to allow her to dance.  If she was fit, she would be able to hit the dance floor and enjoy the body she had, as she had done when she was younger.  Yet her husband didn’t like to dance.

This woman, this wonderful person who hurt so deeply, told me that the reason she did not want to lose the weight was because if she did, she believed she would eventually meet a man who liked to dance and she would leave her husband.

 

You read that correctly.  She remained morbidly obese so that she would not lose her husband!

 

I felt terrible.  And none of my motivational techniques worked.  I was angry, sarcastic (I’m good at being sarcastic), honest, and of course, compassionate.  Yet nothing worked.  This woman wanted nothing to do with being fit.

As she and I parted ways, I wondered how difficult it must be to live like that.  As always, the same thoughts came to mind…I can’t change people – they can only change themselves.

As a Trainer, I guide people.  I help them get fit and I show them the way to fitness.  I don’t lose weight for them.  I don’t do the exercise, the cardio or the eating.  Instead, I work to show them how to get the results they want and, in some cases, need.  The bottom line is…this is up to you.

As you work towards your goal, keep in mind that you will face some obstacles.  Overcome them.  One of my favorite quotes is a simple statement “The obstacle is the path.”  Whatever you come across, find a way around it, through it or over it.  Keep your eye on the goal and the obstacles will become insignificant.  If you’re ready for results….I’m happy to lead you to them!

 

Why You’ll NEVER look as good as this …

Last week, images were posted on the Ann Taylor website revealing a sad problem.  I’ve included the image, showing both the original and retouched version.  The glitch has been fixed and Ann Taylor issued this apology:  ”We want to support and celebrate the natural beauty of women, and we apologize if in the process of retouching that was lost.”

Retouching?  I don’t believe they care one bit about the “natural beauty of women”.  I think they care about selling as much as they possibly can.  Does “natural” beauty even need to be retouched?  The problem I see is the exceedingly impossible expectation women are supposed to achieve.  Yes, the same thing happens to guys.  However, in our society, I think the pressure on women is far greater – especially in the area of appearance.  I’m not picking on Ann Taylor either – this happens everywhere.

In this case, they took out some of the wrinkles on her shirt (was that even necessary) and shrunk her body down a bit.  Her waist is smaller and so are her hips.  The changes aren’t dramatic, but I think the issue is.  With photos like this, women are working to achieve the impossible.  Sorry, you’ll never look as good as the photoshopped image because it’s not real, it’s not “natural”.

I train a lot of women who’s goals are appearance based rather than a health or sport specific goal.  The vast majority of my clients are women seeking to lose weight.  When we start, I recommend to most of them that they get a photo of a model, athlete, celebrity or someone else who’s body they really like.  I ask them to learn about that person’s diet, training program and anything else they do to get their body to look like that.  After all, baseball players bodies generally don’t look like basketball players bodies.  Figure skaters bodies are more sleek than hockey players.  In other words, we can train specific ways to get specific looks.  Marathon runners work just as hard and long (sometimes longer) than bodybuilders. But a bodybuilder will have thick, massive muscles wshile the marathon runners muscles will be sleek, efficient, lean.  The difference is in how they train, eat, sleep, etc.

Yet when I suggest modeling their training after a person who’s body they want to emulate, I also explain that we all have strengths and weaknesses.  If you were a supermodel right now, other people would be doing all they could to look like you – so celebrate your uniqueness.  Take your strengths into consideration and enjoy what you have.  After all – chances are great you’ll never look as good as your favorite supermodel – because neither does she.  She’s been altered by an artist.  Her flaws were removed – and now, she’s “perfect”.

I wouldn’t mind if altering the image included improved lighting or work that ensured continuity among the photos on the site or magazine.  Some alteration is acceptable to remove reflections or glints of light that detract from the purpose of the photo.  I realize that Ann Taylor is image based, but if they really are worried about the “natural beauty of women”, they should celebrate the model as she is.

5 Ways to Find More Time

So often, lack of time is used as a reason for not exercising. People often tell me they can’t spare an hour, 45 minutes or even 30 minutes to exercise each day. Time and time again, I see clients who train with me, but don’t train at other times during the week. Many can’t even find the time to eat properly! Preparing meals isn’t possible for so many, leaving processed, nutrient deficient foods as the only option.

So what can you do to get exercise and proper nutrition back in to your week? Below are some tips I share with my clients that I hope can help you too if you’re crunched for time.

1. Audio Books – Your iPod, iPhone, etc. can hold more than just songs. Put a few audiobooks on there too. If you need to, start with books that focus on time management. Getting Things Done is a great book that will introduce you to methods for streamlining your tasks to find more time. Start with Amazon.com and search for books that focus on time management. See what others have purchased and start out there.

2. Use a Calendar to “Find” Time – It might seem impossible at first, but if you sit down with the simple goal of finding one hour each day, you’ll likely be surprised how easy it is. Can you cut down on television, or watch it while you exercise? Can you arrange your appointments to get more done in a single activity and free up other days/nights for exercise? If you plan your week, you’ll start to see/feel control of your time.

3. Wash Your Produce – This tends to help a good number of clients who practice it. Wash all your produce as soon as you get it home from the grocery store. It’s a simple step that saves time later on when you’re looking at that fruit in the bowl – at least you know it’s been rinsed off. On that note, I also recommend washable produce bags, which are available here so you can quickly and easily put your produce in a bag and then simply wash it as is. Washable produce bags do not contain harmful BPA’s, so you can rest assured your produce isn’t absorbing any chemicals you wouldn’t want to consume.

4. Exercise During Chores - The crazy dog in this picture is Liberty. Liberty is blind in one eye and entirely deaf. It’s not possible to walk her in a straight line. She falls the ground when birds fly overhead because her depth perception is way off. She would chase cars, bunnies, squirrels and cyclists all day if she could. She has no sense at all about the dangers that are out there, so she’s always on a leash when we’re outside.

She’s absolutely adorable and a fun dog to have. However, walking her is no less than a full work-out. She’s always pulling one direction, then the other. I’ve gotten used to it and it no longer bothers me. A large part of her walks for me is simply protecting Liberty from herself. She’s likely to walk into walls, trees, shrubs, parked cars, anything…moving or not. In other words, I get in a good workout walking my dog. What can you do during your daily activities to make it more of a workout. Can you get some ankle weights to wear when you’re cleaning your house? Can you make housework an aerobic activity by timing it? Rather than driving to the grocery store, can you walk it? Or, could you adopt a crazy little dog who needs tons of attention and gives you a great workout when you walk her?

5. Re-Prioritize Yourself - We have cars, houses and iPhones. Our iPhones have protective sheets over the glass and are wrapped in a plastic shell. Our cars have airbags in the front and on the sides. Our houses have alarm systems. Everywhere we turn, we are all about protecting those things that are important to us. In Florida, we have Amber Alerts when kids go missing so everyone, statewide is made aware of a missing child. Now, Florida even has Silver Alerts – which alerts people when an elderly person has gone missing. Of course, we protect our accounts with encrypted passwords at home and at work. Even the colors of our clothes are “protected” with color “safe” detergents.

Yet with all that safety, we often prioritize ourselves last. We spend thousands on car, mortgage and credit card payments. But the thought of spending money on a gym membership or personal training seems ridiculous. While I’m the first to admit healthcare costs are insane, we also need to remember that our bodies and minds are the most precious resource we have. You’d think nothing of putting the best gasoline into a Ferrari or Porsche. So why not put the best fuel in you? You probably think nothing of maintaining your home. Now what about maintaining you? What can you do to prioritize yourself and take better care of your body? Take some time today to think about how important you are to your family, friends, co-workers, etc.

These are some simple ways to find more time so you can exercise and eat right! Enjoy.

What Does Ron Betta Eat?

So often, people ask me what foods are best for a given goal (fat loss or muscle gain).  Since so many people ask, I felt it would help if I put together a post on foods that actually support a healthy, fit lifestyle.  I may include a bit of sarcasm and perhaps even humor as I try to make this blog a bit more like me anyway.  So here goes.

There is no secret to eating well.  Here’s the bottom line….the closer the food is to nature, the better.  In other words, if it’s processed, it’s likely crap.  What’s a processed food?  Well, if it comes in a bag, box, is frozen, canned, bottled, pickled, packed or otherwise requires people to alter it between the place it originates and the grocery store, it’s processed.

Snickers are processed.  So are potato chips – even the healthy ones, meats, breads, pasta, pasta sauce, cereal, ice cream and just about anything else found in any typical American grocery store.  In fact, if you look closely at most foods, they are now genetically modified.  This means, even if the apple you pick up is fresh, it’s been genetically changed to exhibit certain characteristics.

To make matters worse, years ago, foods were rich with vitamins and minerals.  Today, thanks to over-farming and industrialization of the farm industry, the foods we consume lack vitamins and minerals that were once abundant.  For example, a conventional tomato (one that is grown using pesticides, genetic modification and other synthetic processes) contains 50% less vitamin C than tomatoes of 50 years ago.

As a result, we are getting less vitamins and minerals, leaving our bodies in a stressed out, depleted state.  This causes us to crave more foods with additional empty calories.  The added empty calories only add to increasing pounds and expanding waist lines.

The solutions are simple, requiring only small lifestyle changes.  Try your local farmers market for local fruits and vegetables.  Talk to the people who sell the products to determine if they are organic or not.  Invest in a quality multi-vitamin from Rainbow Lite, Apex or Publix.  USANA is a multi-level marketing company that sells high quality vitamins (if you don’t mind the business aspect).

Stop by your local health food stores and talk to the people who work there about getting better quality foods.  You can learn a lot from the people who deal with the foods every day and they can steer you in the right direction.

In terms of what I drink, I drink water.  Sometimes, I drink coffee, but I prefer tea.  I drink organic teas sweetened with agave nectar.  Organic agave beats other sweeteners.  For more info on sweeteners, try this.

They key to losing body fat is eating small, frequent meals.  Every 2-3 hours, you should be providing your body with quality, small portions of a carb, fat and protein.  Below is a list of snacks I enjoy.  I’ll provide more info on meal planning and a shopping list in the next post.

Apples and Pears – So many varieties!  Easy to carry and eat on the road.
Bananas – If you can get them speckled, they help alkalize your body too!

Berries – Loaded with anti-oxidants, berries of all sorts are great.

Oranges – Easy to keep and the skin acts as their own container.

Dried Fruit - Find quality dried fruits at farmers markets and health food stores.  Avoid the heavily processed, chemical rich

Granola - Bear Naked Granola is simply awesome.  Easy to carry and re-seal too.  Don’t worry about the fats found here, they’re all good for you!

Raw Almonds – Make sure you get raw and unsalted.

Hummus and Crackers – Hummus is easy to make and loaded with protein.  Search online for recipes you might enjoy.

Almond Butter on Celery – Takes some minor preparation.

Raw Cashews – Lots of great nutrition in cashews with many benefits.

Pumpkin or Sunflower Seeds: Great for being light, easy to pack and no mess.

Air Popped Popcorn – No fat, lots of fiber make this a great option.  No butter!

Odwalla Bars – An excellent choice, Odwalla is a leader in fast, quality nutrition.

Lara Bars – Very few ingredients and lots of flavor options.  My favorite!

Luna / Cliff Bars – These two brands are related and use soy based protein.

Carrots (raw) – Carry some organic baby carrots for a quick vitamin-rich snack.

Seitan – You can find seitan in health food stores for a great shot of protein.

Raisins – Go for organic because grapes are often loaded with pesticides.

Visit Your Local Health Food Store – Try a few snacks from your local health food store.  Find what works for you that can be easily packed for a great snack.  Work towards only foods with all natural ingredients and avoid anything that has artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors!

September 2009 – Live Fit E-zine Now Available!

Here is the latest edition of the Live Fit E-zine!  Enjoy and as always, please let me know what you think!  I look forward to hearing from you!

Live Fit Ezine September 2009

Are Cell Phones Hurting Your Kids

Perhaps you haven’t noticed.  Inside the front cover of your cell phone manual is a little warning about radiation.  Yes, radiation.  I don’t blame you if you didn’t look at yours….I didn’t look at mine.  My fingerprints were all over my iPhone as soon as it came out of the box and any manual that came with it was quickly tossed in a pile of papers.

Before I dive in here, please understand that I’m not a conspiracy theorist.  I don’t think there’s any reason for phone companies to hide clear facts about the dangers of cell phone radiation.  If there was a clear and present danger, they’d install a solution and use safety as a selling point.  We’d see ads saying “Ours is the safest phone in the world” and that would be the end of it.  Right?

I do however, believe that it’s quite possible there’s not enough data yet on the dangers.  That lack of data clears companies to sell them to us as “safe”.  Because they don’t know enough about the dangers yet, there’s no need, in their minds, to assume there is a danger.

On each side of my computer are a set of tiny speakers.  When my phone is near them, they emit this annoying static-like sound.  It only happens when my phone is near them.  Maybe the same thing happens to you when you put your phone next to a t.v. or your car stereo.  When that happens, the phone is sending and receiving data – even when it’s not in use.  It’s basically looking for the cell phone tower and finding out where it is.

The phone emits more radiation when you’re on a call or using it for any number of tasks depending on the application.  Besides phone calls, there’s wi-fi and bluetooth.  In all these cases, radiation is being emitted.  Now here’s the rub.  The closer that phone is to your body, the more your body absorbs the radiation.  That’s right…right next to your ear, or in your pocket, etc.

There is evidence of cell phone radiation being dangerous and more is likely to come.  Why?  Because we’re now seeing more and more kids using these devices.  Their tissues are younger and are developing alongside this radiation.  Making matters worse, many kids are on these phones even more frequently than adults.  Think about how much you used your phone when you were teen?  Now imagine having that phone anywhere you go.

I can imagine that the first round of health concerns likely to emerge will come from today’s kids in the next few years.  We may not have the data for years to come, but I can imagine it will show a danger from cell-phone radiation.  If it does, it will spawn a round of hearings in Congress and changes in the technology.  Perhaps some corporations will be accused of hiding the dangers.  I’m not a pessimist – I’m a realist.  I’m not hoping for this, but I have my own experiences here and that leads to my concerns.

Years ago, I kept my phone in my right pocket.  Over the period of several months, I noticed a slight “itch” on my right thigh.  The itch was localized to exactly where the phone sat in my pocket.  At first, I considered it a result of the friction of the phone rubbing my thigh.  However, I noticed that the rash was not going away and getting worse – even when the phone wasn’t in my pocket.  I removed the phone and guess what….the rash went away.  It took a while though.   Can I prove that was radiation from the phone?  No.  Can I say I’m confident it was?  Yes.  I don’t have samples of my skin and the phone is long gone, but back then, I was certain something was up.

There is data on this issue.  The people speaking out about it are real experts with real evidence.  These links show you some interesting facts:

SevenNews has some great information about the dangers of cell phone radiation.

Larry King Live has some guests with great insight and a common sense approach.

Cell Phones and Cancer demonstrates the need for more research into this relatively new technology.

I’m not here to tell you to stop using your phone.  I use mine all the time.  It’s either in my pocket or next to my ear.  I use it for mail, texts, Twitter, this blog, games, and listening to the Yankees on MLB.com.   It’s also a phone, but I use it for music, checking weather, as a camera and storing data.  I still talk on it all the time, it’s just become a feature filled partner in my business and personal life.   I don’t know what I did without it.  Sadly, the more features, the more radiation because it requires more power to run those apps.

They are fun and convenient.  In fact, a friend of mine even told me he read my book Outstanding You while sitting under the Eiffel Tower on his iPhone using the Kindle App.  How cool is that?  He read my book in Paris on a phone.  The technology really is very cool!  Again, I want you to use your phone but use it safely.

I also want you to have a way to protect your kids and yourself from the harmful radiation.  I want us to prevent problems before they start (that’s why I’m a Fitness Coach!).  I also want to make sure we prevent problems for kids – they really are at risk!  Their delicate tissues are no match for radiation and we must work to prevent damage now – rather than work to help them later when real problems pop up.

I have however, found a device that absorbs cell phone radiation.  I’ve even tested it using a radiation meter and the radiation is no longer detected with the device in place.  The product is called Cell Shield.  At only $19.95, they are a great investment in personal safety.  You can save an additional 10% by using promo code 00003. Simply click here to visit the site.  Cell Shield fits any cell phone, iPhone, Blackberry, etc. and there is absolutely no change to the signal of your phone.

As a Fitness Coach, it’s my goal to help people get in shape and live long, healthy, happy lives.  Because this issue impacts so many of us, please forward this blog to your friends and family so they can know about the danges of cell-phone radiation.  Remember, Cell Shield is not a cure, it is a safety net.  It’s like the seabelt in your car.  I want you to use your phone – and I want you to start using it safely.  Let me know what you think.   I’d love to hear what you think.

The Truth About The Flu Shot

Considering the regular flu shot?  Consider the ingredients involved in the shot:

• Egg protein and avian contaminant viruses
• Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen (cancer causing agent)
• Resin, a known allergen
• Thimerosal (mercury) in multi-dose vials
• Triton X-100 – a detergent
• Gentamycin – an antibiotic
• Polysorbate 80: an allergen that causes infertility in mice
• Sucrose – table sugar
• Gelatin – a known allergen

Some of the new H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines are going to be made by Novartis.  These shots will probably made in PER.C6 cells (human retina cells) and contain MF59, a potentially debilitating adjuvant.  MF-59 is an oil based adjuvant primarily composed of squalene.  All rates injected with squalene (oil) adjuvants developed a disease that left them crippled, dragging their paralyzed hindquarters across their cages.  Injected squalene can cause severe arthritis (3 on a scale of 4) and severe immune responses, such as autoimmune arthritis and lupus.

Reference (1): Kennedy, RT. Edleman, R. Survey of human-use adjuvants.” Expert Review of Vaccines. 2 (2003)p171.  Reference (2): Matsumoto, Gary.  Vaccine A: The Cover Government Experiment That’s Killing Our Soldiers and Why GI’s Are Only the First Victims of this Vaccine.  New York: Basic Books. p54.

Do Flu Shots Work?

NOT IN HEALTHY BABIES:  A review of 51 studies involving more than 294,000 children if was found there was “no evidence that injecting children 6 – 24 moths of age with a flu shot was any more effective than placebo.  In children over 2 years old, it was only effective 33% of the time in preventing the flu. Reference:  ”Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children.”  The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.  2 (2008)

NOT IN CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA:  A study of 800 children with asthma, half were vaccinated and the other half did not receive the influenza vaccine.  The two groups were compared with respect to clinic visits, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations for asthma. CONCLUSION:  This study failed to provide evidence that the influenza vaccine prevents pediatric asthma exacerbations.  Reference:  Effectiveness of influenza vaccine for the prevention of asthma exacerbations.”  Christly, C. et al. Arch Dis. Child 2004 Aug, 89(8):734-5

NOT IN CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA (2): “The inactivated flu vaccine does not prevent influenza-related hospitalizations in children, especially the ones with asthma…In fact, children who get the flu vaccine are three times more at risk for hospitalization than children who do not get the vaccine.” Reference: The American Thoracic Society’s 105th International Conference, May 15-20, 2009, San Diego.

NOT IN ADULTS: In a review of 48 reports (more than 66,000 adults),  ”Vaccination of healthy adults only reduced risk of influenza by 6% and reduced the number of missed work days by less than one day (0.16) days.  It did not change the number of people needing to go to the the hospital or take time off work.” Reference: “Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults.”  The Cochrane Database of Sytematic Reviews. 1 (2006)

NOT IN THE ELDERLY: In a review of 64 studies over 98 flu seasons of elderly living in nursing homes, flu shots were non-significant for preventing the flu.  For elderly living in the community, vaccines were not (significantly) effective against influenza, ILI or pneumonia. Reference: “Vaccines for preventing influenza in the elderly.”  The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 3 (2006)

Contact me now to learn how you can naturally boost your immune system naturally.  As always, I’d love to hear from you about your decision.