I need help.....

Sara, I was wondering if you would post the points next week? I will be out of town and away from a computer from the 21st to the 27th and Matt is the only one with admin rights or maybe Matt would do it.

If that doesn't work let me know and I will get Wenona to give someone else admin rights.

Since I will be canoeing several days next week I better get a head start on points and post my picture and struggle:

I have struggled to lose a whole lot of weight in the past several months and have wondered why but then came across this really interesting article in the doctors office today: "Supercharge your metabolism" by Sari Harrar

She said that your metabolism slows down quite significantly when you reach your 40's and we have to do things to increase our metabolism to continue to lose weight. We need to be doing these things:

1. Lose weight slowly (GOT THAT ONE COVERED!)- it burns off fat instead of muscle tissue. So a 1200 - 1500 calorie diet is best.

2. Checking your body fat - if it's in the 30% or higher you should be concerned!

3. Drink skim milk it does something to the muscles or burns more fat (can't remember now)

4. Up your protein - chicken, fish, lean meat - it contains leucine, an amino acid that protects muscle loss.

5. Do strength training 2x/week for 40-60 min. - this is not cardio exercise, it's pumping iron, pushups, etc. it actually tears your muscles a bit which prompts muscles to rebuild

6. Switch it up in your exercise rountine. Your muscles get used to doing the same thing so they become efficient, which means they aren't burning as much fat - add bursts of speed to your regular walk, biking, running, etc. Do more of an interval workout. "When you push hard in short bursts, it reactivates nerve fibers, builds new capillaries, and forces your body to repair the muscle. All of that burns a tremendous amount of calories - long after you've completed your session.

7. Eat a healthy breakfast! Munch more in the hours before noon and less in the later hours.

8. Sleep more and Stress Less: Meditate 1 and 1/2 hours a week or go for a walk in the quiet woods. Get at least 7 hours of sleep each night.

Did you know that stress sends out hormones that make you crave high fat and high carb foods? I didn't but I believe it! Everytime I'm stressed I eat those kinds of foods. CRAZY!

Okay - enough lecture. I just thought it was an interesting article, especially for those of us in our 30's and 40's and beyond.

Chris