I was going to comment on the controversy surrounding the K-E diet, featured in the New York Times last week, but there already has been a conversation.  If you do not know what I am referring to, this is a diet used by brides as a quick way to meet their wedding weight loss goal.  While it is fairly new in the United States, it has been popular for many years in Italy and Europe.  Essentially, for the price tag of approximately $1,500, a nasogastric tube (a tube is inserted through the nose, down the esophagus, and into the stomach) is used to provide nourishment (with no carbohydrates) for ten days.

There Are NO Short Cuts! (Photo from www.someecards.com)

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Do you truly live your life to its fullest?  This is much more than completing a bucket list.  I am talking about taking care of your body and not taking it for granted.  We are only given one chance in this lifetime, so why would you not treat each day with care?  These thoughts are brought on by the passing of my uncle last week.  He was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer about three years ago.  I remember the day when I found out.  My mom called me as I was walking to catch the bus.  I stopped in my tracks, refusing to believe it and did not understand why.  You hear about people being affected by cancer all the time.  But, until it affects you personally, you really do not put too much thought into it.

Uncle Andy (Photo by Essence Photo & Video)

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I recently had a conversation on twitter with my friends Desiree and Mindy on starting an exercise program.  Some of you may remember Desiree from my profile on her (TIP TUESDAY: Be Passionate About Your Lifestyle).  As usual, Desiree and I were geeking out over TRX exercises.  Mindy comments on how she has no idea what we are talking about, but that it just sounds scary.  She said she is just glad she can get through running a short distance without stopping.  Desiree and I advise her to start somewhere, no matter how small.  If you look at the long climb to your goal, rather than all the steps leading up to it, you can potentially set yourself up for failure or just get discouraged.  With a strong foundation, you can effectively build your strength.  Being patient takes time, hard work, and dedication, but will prevent injuries in the long run.

We Could Not Say It Better! (Photo from www.pinterest.com)

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When you workout, do you stay in the same plane of motion or do you change it?  What do I mean by this?

In our daily activities and in sports, we tend to move in multiple planes of motion.  However, traditional forms of exercise, specifically resistance training, limits our planes of motion.  This poses a problem, especially as we get older.  If a joint is not utilized in a certain plane, it can potentially lock from underuse.

Anatomic Planes (Photo from www.neurosurgical.com)

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