Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews

What Big Pharmaceuticals and Urologists Don’t Want You to Know

by Suzanne Andrews

My love of helping women reach their best health runs deep and is very personal. Few people know the journey I took to arrive at what I consider, my most private battle in my adult life - overcoming urinary incontinence without drugs or surgery.  How did I do it?

As I mentioned in part 1 and part 2 of My Pelvic Floor Journey blog, you know that pee problems plagued me since I gave birth. I thought that only happened to old people! It really affected my social life.

Let’s face it, going to the bathroom constantly and being afraid to laugh, cough or sneeze, isn’t fun.

Before I became a clinician that teaches other women to stop peeing when they cough, sneeze or jump and control their overactive bladders, I tried all kinds of crazy products.

I remember one product in particular that you were supposed to insert into your ladyparts and squeeze.  “OUCH” That contraption hurt!

And the “medicine”?  A study done at the University of Minnesota found that 50% of women stop taking urinary incontinence medicine within one year because of the side effects. The most common side effects are dry mouth, constipation, dry skin, dry eyes, and upset stomach. And older people who use incontinence medications with antihistamines are more likely to experience abnormal heart rhythms and sudden death. As if that’s not enough, the medicine only stops incontinence in 2 out of 10 women and because constipation – a side effect of the medicine- increases urinary incontinence – you may be worse off after taking the medicine.

And Surgery? My urologists nonchalantly suggested I go through with the vaginal mesh procedure like she was mentioning the weather.  The thought of allowing someone to cut my vagina – No way!  Besides the side effects from the surgery can be:

• Erosion or protrusion of the mesh from the soft tissues
• Pain, including pain with intercourse
• Infections in the area of the mesh
• Urinary tract problems
• Bleeding from the mesh site
• Damage to nearby organs

I’ve heard recent reports that these complications “only” happen in one out of thirty women.  Only? If you’re THE unlucky one out of thirty, that’s too high in my book.

My experience with urinary incontinence forced me to revisit overcoming expensive pads, bathroom mapping and did I mention the fear of smelling like a urinal? I learned that there is so much more to a successful program than just Kegels. Today, thanks to the complete pelvic floor program in 30 Day Bladder Fix ™, I and thousands of my patients all around the US, are pee accident free – without drugs or surgery! The drug companies won’t be happy and the urologists who perform costly surgeries won’t appreciate this simple cost effective program to cure urinary incontinence, but that’s OK.  I’m making it my mission to help all women who suffer in embarrassing silence because like I said, my love of helping women overcome urinary incontinence is very personal.

Suzanne Andrews is a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician with 30 years exercise expertise. Airing to over 49 million on Public Television, Suzanne Andrews, a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician, (they specialize in function) creates evidenced based fitness programs for specific health conditions. Originally created in 2008 with it’s first run on WDSC TV, Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews broadcasts on 113 Public Television stations.

Five Food Categories to Reduce Overactive Bladder

by Suzanne Andrews

Suzanne Andrews is a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician with 30 years exercise expertise. Airing to over 49 million on Public Television, Suzanne Andrews, a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician, (they specialize in function) creates evidenced based fitness programs for specific health conditions. Originally created in 2008 with it’s first run on WDSC TV, Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews broadcasts on 113 Public Television stations.

My Pelvic Floor Journey: Overcoming Urinary Incontinence Naturally

by Suzanne Andrews

(Part 2)

Glassy eyed from five days of intensive pelvic floor anatomy and physiology, it’s time to take what we learned and put it into practice with fellow rehab therapists.

I sit on the chair with my heels and knees touching each other, “Ok now squeeze like you’re holding back pee,” my colleague says with a giggle. I try not to laugh because that will just make me pee. I never thought in a million years that laughing would mortify me. But peeing my pants at work in front of my physical and occupational therapy colleagues is not an option. I’m grateful that the exercises don’t require any jumping or the floodgates would really open. It wouldn’t be the first time I would be embarrassed from leaking.  The day I knew I needed help happened at the studio filming my PBS series, Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews®. 

“Lights, Camera’s, Action” barked the director over the Godspeaker, (that’s a speaker that comes from the control room).  After the warm up, I guided the Fat Burning Workout moves.  There it was - an uncontrollable leak coming out of my lady parts and there was nothing I could do about it. Oh how I wished I was doing the seated version!  Twenty people on set and five cameras on me – leaking!  Now I’m not an actor, but at that moment, I managed to somehow keep my composure and called for a break. Fortunately I had another identical pair of workout pants and we resumed taping. No one knew or they were just really diplomatic.

In hindsight, pee problems have plagued me since I gave birth. I thought that only happened to old people!  During the urinary incontinence courses, the professor told me that urinary incontinence is not a normal part of aging.  So I really don’t have to live with this problem!  Don’t need surgery. Have you heard all those law suits about the mesh?  Don’t have to take pills that just make you constipated, give you headaches, upset stomach, dry mouth and eyes.  According to Web MD, “The researchers estimate that for every 1,000 women who were treated with the drugs, less than 200, or 20%, achieved continence on the medications. Most women stop taking the medicine because of the side effects.” That means the medicine doesn’t work in 8 out of 10 women. Besides after the pharmacology courses I took, I vowed not to take medicines unless it was absolutely necessary.

Back in class the professor instructed, “now I started you all with these because they are the exercises everyone has heard about for getting control of urine. They are called Kegels, but Kegels alone are not going to work.  You must do the other pelvic floor exercises too.  What, there’s more?

Suzanne Andrews is a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician with 30 years exercise expertise. Airing to over 49 million on Public Television, Suzanne Andrews, a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician, (they specialize in function) creates evidenced based fitness programs for specific health conditions. Originally created in 2008 with it’s first run on WDSC TV, Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews broadcasts on 113 Public Television stations.

Freezing Knee Pain: How to Stop Cold Weather from Irritating Knee Arthritis

by Suzanne Andrews

When winter comes, arthritis sufferers brace for the accompanying pain. Why does the cold make knee arthritis worse? Is there any way to help ease the pain? To uncover the mystery surrounding cold weather knee pain, read on.

Why it Happens
There is a great deal of speculation in the medical community as to why cold weather exacerbates knee arthritis. According to Dr. James Fant, this can be partially explained by barometric pressure increases. The increased pressure causes swollen tissues to shrink, which in turn pulls on nerves and causes pain.

It is also known that decreased activity, which is common in areas with a cold winters, can cause joints to stiffen and become painful. Undoubtedly this is a contributing factor to the winter knee pain.

What to Do About it
While the precise mechanism remains unknown, there are ways to lessen those winter knee aches. A truism among physical and occupational therapists is "movement is the best medicine.”  While it might be tempting to curl up under a blanket and hibernate, it is important engage in gentle movement and stretches to help alleviate some of the pain.

Introducing some warmth to the affected knee is also a good way to stave off pain. Whether this is done using a heating pad, warm bath, or just sitting close to a fireplace, heat is known to help ease discomfort.

Simple changes like stretching and flexing of the knee before getting out of bed in the morning will make that first step less agonizing. Careful exercise can strengthen the muscles around the knee, which helps keep the joints in place. It also helps the knee release synovial fluid, a kind of kind of joint nutrient and lubricant.

It is also a wise idea to set up living spaces with the goal of minimizing painful movement. This could mean organizing commonly used items so they are at waist level, keeping objects away from table edges to keep from having to pick them up when they fall down, and leaving heavy lifting to others.

While cold weather is seldom enjoyable for knee arthritis sufferers, with some planning and preventative measures, it can be a lot more bearable.

Get moving for the rest best of your life and let me know if you have any questions. I’ll be with you every step of your way to a pain free life!

P.S. I got the idea for this Halloween video promo (below) because I feel like this until I do my morning workout.  Check it out and leave a comment on Collage Video Facebook. Feel free to share it with your friends.

Suzanne Andrews is a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician with 30 years exercise expertise. Airing to over 49 million on Public Television, Suzanne Andrews, a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician, (they specialize in function) creates evidenced based fitness programs for specific health conditions. Originally created in 2008 with it’s first run on WDSC TV, Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews broadcasts on 113 Public Television stations.

Back from the Brink: The Power of Meditation

by Suzanne Andrews

At 5’2”, a tremendous strain was placed on my knees and hips from excess weight. The simple act of walking was an arduous task. Since walking places a force of 3 times your body weight on the critical joints of your body I had 528 pounds of pressure with every excruciating step. I developed bursitis in my hips creating an inflammation so severe that I couldn’t walk. My condition had gotten so severe that I couldn’t even play with my newborn.  Exercise was out of the question. I could barely see my toes—being able to touch them was a fantasy. I used the pain as an excuse.

 My wake-up call came two years later, at my son’s birthday party. When I saw the videotape of the celebration, I didn’t even recognize myself. It was time to make a change. I understood why I had no energy. Staring me in the face, right there on the screen was the reason my hips and back ached so terribly. Every day was another dose of my harsh reality. Commuting to work on the bus was a humiliating experience, as I had to endure the cruel snickers when I couldn’t fit into the seat. I had enough. It was time for a change.

 While I was working at CBS Television, a guest panelist and psychologist told me about how meditation could benefit me. I was skeptical, but desperate to try anything that would make me feel whole again. I needed to be there for my son. I decided to give it a try. At first I didn’t understand how a sedentary activity like meditation could help me to lose weight. It was not long before I discovered the secret---during meditation your mind is the CEO and your body the dutiful employee. You tell your body what it needs to do and it follows suit.

The ritual of meditation was the spark that jumpstarted my weight loss plan. I felt energized to exercise daily, choose healthier options and control my portion sizes. The meditation motivated me in ways I never thought imaginable, helping me lose the excuses and get on the track to better health. I started with gentle yoga combined with what is now my TV series, Functional Fitness. This not only helped me start shedding pounds, but also made my day-to-day tasks more manageable.

Meditation even saved my life, and prevented my son from becoming motherless at 10 years old. The same breathing techniques that I used to control my appetite and regulate stress delivered me from the brink of death, when a medical miscalculation caused my heart to stop on an operating table. As doctors frantically performed CPR, my body started to shut down, turning my lips, hands and feet a chilling blue. Near death, I was transported by ambulance to the intensive care unit. My body was on the verge of giving up. My kidneys shut down and my veins constricted so tightly that doctors could not administer a lifesaving intravenous line. My body and my spirit were determined to live. I would not die. I would live. I would see my son again. I started to meditate. After five minutes of willing myself to survive and using my meditation skills, my body started its journey back from the edge. My kidneys started functioning again. My pulse strengthened and my veins opened up. Later, my cardiologist would proclaim in amazement, “I’m an Indian doctor and my patient is teaching me how great meditation is!”  The News Journal heard about it and did a story.

After that day, I had a renewed sense of purpose. I had to motivate others who were struggling with their health. My weight could have been a death sentence, but meditation and determination was my pardon. I’ve made it my mission to help others on their journey to finding the healthy and slim person within. You are the CEO of your health. Exercise and be healthwise!

Suzanne Andrews is a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician with 30 years exercise expertise. Airing to over 49 million on Public Television, Suzanne Andrews, a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician, (they specialize in function) creates evidenced based fitness programs for specific health conditions. Originally created in 2008 with it’s first run on WDSC TV, Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews broadcasts on 113 Public Television stations.

5 Top Foods To Ease Arthritis Knees

by Suzanne Andrews

Help! I Have Knee Pain, but Don’t Like Taking Medicines to Workout

5 Top Foods To Ease Arthritis Knees that Work The Same As Medications!

According to recent studies, arthritis suffers can relieve pain in their knees by eating five unique foods. Each item has the same pain-fighting properties as over-the-counter medications.

1. Red Grapes

Red grapes have a strong compound that eliminates specific enzymes that cause tissue degeneration. Although unprocessed grapes can ease tension around the joints, your pain symptoms will reduce faster if you drink a glass of red wine or red grape juice instead. The pain-fighting compound absorbs quicker in a liquid form.

2. Ginger

 Ginger is commonly used to improve digestion. However, it can also relieve severe knee pain. Studies have shown that a ginger extract reduces soreness after a workout.

3. Soy

 Soy-based products can decrease pain symptoms by nearly 20 percent. Scientists at Oklahoma State University discovered that typical patients will need less pain medications if they eat 40 grams of soy for 90 days. Soy milk and tofu are very effective, but patience is required because the anti-inflammatory properties will not take effect until two or three weeks later.

4. Coffee

 Most over-the-counter medications that treat headaches and cold symptoms have caffeine. According to doctors, caffeine has properties that enhance the effectiveness of painkillers. This is why patients who consume caffeine moderately reduce joint pain by nearly 50 percent following an intense workout.

 Caffeine can also increase your pain threshold. However, if you drink too much coffee, minor health problems may occur. To achieve the best results, drink one cup before each workout session.

5. Fish

 Fish has omega-three fatty acids, which can manage inflammation that is caused by rheumatoid arthritis. At the University of Pittsburgh, 60 test subjects experienced less muscle tension after they consumed fish oil for 90 days. Many of the patients did not take any pain medications throughout the trial.

According to doctors, arthritis suffers should eat about two meals that contain a fatty fish every week. Typical options include trout, snapper, tuna, sardines, and mackerel. If you do not like fish, consider taking a supplement that has DHA and EPA. Consult a doctor before consuming any omega-three supplements because the EPA and DHA can increase the effects of certain medications.

The other 50% of relieving pain is to do evidenced based exercises demonstrated in therapy because they are medically proven to ease arthritis pain.

Suzanne Andrews is a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician with 30 years exercise expertise. Airing to over 49 million on Public Television, Suzanne Andrews, a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician, (they specialize in function) creates evidenced based fitness programs for specific health conditions. Originally created in 2008 with it’s first run on WDSC TV, Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews broadcasts on 113 Public Television stations.

Help I Want to Stop Shrinking in Height But Don’t Know How!

by Suzanne Andrews

On a good day, I’m 5 foot 2 inches tall. I sometimes treat sweet little old ladies who claim that they are 5 foot 2.  What I don’t have the heart to tell them is that they were 5 foot 2 and now they’re 4 foot 8.  I took a medical certification course to see if there is anything us ladies over 40 can do about vertical shrinking and here’s what I learned….

It's been said the two things you can count on in life are death and taxes. It turns out there's a third thing that is nearly universal as we age: shrinking. That's right, most people begin losing height after the age of 40.

Shrinking with age has two major causes. The first is directly related to a combination of gravity and the discs in the back. The second is a disease known as osteoporosis. In both cases, poor posture can lead to an even shorter appearance by presenting a look of being slouched over.

Gravity and Discs

The discs in the back are composed of flexible, fibrous tissue that acts as a lubricant and a shock absorber for the spine. Each of the discs is positioned between two vertebrae, giving the spine the flexibility it needs for bending, twisting and turning.

As we age, the discs lose some of their flexibility and gelatinous nature. They also dry out, shrink and become hard over time. The lack of disc volume results in a natural loss of height in the same way pulling bricks out of a wall would reduce its overall height.

Keeping your bones strong as you age is the smartest and best thing to do for a good quality of life. Since a bone density test is the only way you’ll know if you have osteoporosis (thinning bones) or osteopenia (pre-osteoporosis) it’s important to talk with your doctor to see if you need one.

Other people who should undergo a bone density test include anyone who needed to use corticosteroid drugs for longer than three months, anyone with a family history of osteoporosis, people with chronic arthritis or kidney disease and those who have had any type of hormone treatment in the past. It's also a good idea to have a bone density test if you are a woman who has gone through menopause at an early age, or anyone who has noticed that they've lost at least an inch of height in a short time or who smokes or drinks heavily.

Osteoporosis happens as people age and bones become weaker and more brittle. There are steps to prevent osteoporosis fractures and to strengthen bones in anyone who has already been diagnosed in the early stages of osteoporosis. When a person with osteoporosis falls, bones not only break more easily, breaks can be more severe and fatal hip fractures can occur.

Most people are aware that getting extra calcium in the diet as we age is a good preventive measure. What most people aren't aware of, however, is that weight training also helps to strengthen bones and to keep the onset of osteoporosis at bay. Walking and other weight-bearing exercise is always recommended for overall good health. In addition, training by using and lifting weights a specific way also helps to increase strength and to strengthen bones and build more bone mass.

Because rehab therapists go through years of education and continue that education with medical certification courses using evidenced based techniques that demonstrate not only how much weight should be used, how many repetitions a person should do to see the most benefit, but also the correct speed at which the weight should be lifted for the most bone gain with the least injury risk.  So get going and put a deposit in your bone bank today!

Suzanne Andrews is a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician with 30 years exercise expertise. Airing to over 49 million on Public Television, Suzanne Andrews, a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician, (they specialize in function) creates evidenced based fitness programs for specific health conditions. Originally created in 2008 with it’s first run on WDSC TV, Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews broadcasts on 113 Public Television stations.

Tips to Keep Going

by Suzanne Andrews

I Start Working Out, but keep Stopping and Re-Starting – Any Tips to Keep Going? 

Staying or getting in shape isn’t always easy.  Whether you’re beginning or beginning again, here’s an inspiring behind the scenes story filming my last DVD, to help you keep going when the going gets tough!

Scary turbulent plane ride, brutal weather, computer crashes, my series producer, Glenn Poyer, recounts the harrowing behind the scenes events filming Arthritis Relief Walking Workout… 

When Suzanne Andrews read Amazon’s Vine Voice five star review (by Deborah Broadhurst) of Arthritis Walking Workout, tears of joy streamed down her face, as it was the realization of a dream 10 years in the making – “one that had been diverted many times,” says Suzanne, who consulted with several doctors during the six month writing and research process that goes into each and every Suzanne Andrews Functional Fitness DVDs. “There were two, maybe three times that this walking program never got made.”

As happy and motivating Suzanne Andrews seems in Arthritis Walking Workout, you’d never suspect the founder of Functional Fitness on Public Television just completed one of the most harrowing projects of her career.  Sure, Arthritis Walking Workout, based on medically proven movements to ease arthritis pain, was shot at the most beautiful gardens in North America, the Butchart Gardens, with an exquisite plethora of flowers in the background, giving the viewer the image of serenity. But getting there was just the beginning of harrowing moves you don’t see on the DVD.

Before we were about to leave, Suzanne had a major accident while preventing a patient from literally getting crushed to death. The patient was OK but the 400 pound impact tore Suzanne’s rotator cuffs, leaving her with 0 function.  She couldn’t even lift her arms, dress, or wash her hair so how was she going to film a fitness video? After emergency surgery, she did three hours of therapy a day in excruciating pain.  It took one year to go from not being able to lift her arm at all to regaining 99% function.

During recovery, Suzanne interviewed many doctors for the project.  Because all the doctors mentioned reducing stress retards arthritis symptoms, Suzanne travelled 4000 air turbulent miles to add a stress releasing atmosphere to the workouts. A trip that should have lasted seven hours turned into twenty five harrowing hours!

Arriving just hours before the hair and make-up call time of 4 AM, the crew awoke sleep deprived to an atypical bitter cold rainy day for summer weather. Graham Bell, Public Relations director at the gardens, came to the rescue by providing umbrellas to protect the specialized light weight professional cameras that took three years of savings.   Suzanne Andrews, who is susceptible to the cold due to a thryoid disorder, kept moving - even in between takes - to stay warm. After continuous takes of three (8) hour days to film the two workouts (imagine exercising for 8 hours straight!) and six months of editing,  the finished editions went to our presenting Public Television Station to receive frame by frame scrutiny from the program director and the station engineer. Suzanne anxiously awaited their constructive critique. After one particularly long day of treating rehab patients, Suzanne opened up her email and began shaking.  The episodes were rejected. People were in the background and the station would not accept the film that way. After the initial shock, a serious problem solving session ensued and after another 4 weeks of specialized editing, the people in the background vanished.

The workouts were finally ready to be sent for DVD mastering and the unthinkable happened – the external hard drive with the entire edited workouts crashed.  All that hard work - gone! What to do? Were the raw clips on another hard drive? A huge sigh of relief.  All the raw clips were on another hard drive. The editing process began once again. The end result? A high production broadcast quality DVD featuring two walk workouts in the most beautiful garden in North America.

To say we are thrilled to introduce Arthritis Relief Walking Workout is an understatement. Getting a 5 star review makes us want to do the happy dance!

Have you gone through a tough time in your life?  How did you get through it?  Leave a comment and together, we can help each other get in the best shape ever!

Suzanne Andrews is a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician with 30 years exercise expertise. Airing to over 49 million on Public Television, Suzanne Andrews, a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician, (they specialize in function) creates evidenced based fitness programs for specific health conditions. Originally created in 2008 with it’s first run on WDSC TV, Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews broadcasts on 113 Public Television stations.

I Want to Lose Weight But How Do I Stop Pigging Out on the Weekends?

by Suzanne Andrews

I Want to Lose Weight But How Do I Stop Pigging Out on the Weekends?

Are You What You Eat?

Yesterday I received a phone call from a 95 year old lady who watches my show, Functional Fitness, on Public Television. Considering my audience is from 40 – 70, this was remarkable.  Even more remarkable - she does the standing version, not the seated version. She sounded healthy and vibrant.  She mentioned her secret to a long life was the pride she felt about her kids and no surprise here, she eats right and exercises regularly.

Have you noticed that after a weekend of wolfing down sinfully delicious foods you don’t feel at your most attractive? Maybe even felt “clogged” up? Wise old men (and women) have stated from ancient times that the stomach is the key to good health, i.e., you are what you eat.

You might be surprised at how much better you will feel by just changing your diet. Eating balanced, nutritious meals with moderate fat and caloric intake can help change your whole attitude and give you the energy to make further progress on creating a new you.

Of course, again, it is not all that easy. If it was, then we would all be eating perfectly and not having any fat or other related problems. We all know how tempting unhealthy food can be. For whatever reason, the forces that be decided to make the unhealthiest foods also the most difficult to resist. A chocolate cake, from the standpoint of the health-conscious, is obviously the creation of the devil. Heck, they even have a version called Devil’s Chocolate Cake. (So delicious!)

Remember it’s not about willpower, it’s about want power.

Once you break the habit of overindulging in unhealthy foods, you often wonder how you were able to eat so much of that stuff in the first place. I’m not suggesting to never indulge.  Just do it less, instead of every weekend, plan on every other weekend or even once a month.  Many people say they lose tolerance for excessive sweets or fatty foods once they’ve established good eating habits over a period of time.

Just think of the end result when you are having difficulty dieting or exercising. Do you want to still look and more importantly feel like you got hit by a truck every morning? Or do you want to rediscover the person that you once were: someone you actually recognize when you look in the mirror? By concentrating on the end results, you can work through the inconvenience to get to the results to feel and look years younger!

*If you have chronic symptoms of upset stomach, excessive thirst or feeling like you’re full after eating very little, see a gastroenterologist as soon as possible.

Suzanne Andrews is a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician with 30 years exercise expertise. Airing to over 49 million on Public Television, Suzanne Andrews, a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician, (they specialize in function) creates evidenced based fitness programs for specific health conditions. Originally created in 2008 with it’s first run on WDSC TV, Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews broadcasts on 113 Public Television stations.

I Want to Lose Weight ‘But’ How Do I Overcome My Genetics?

by Suzanne Andrews

I Want to Lose Weight ‘But’ How Do I Overcome My Genetics?

If you want to get into a smaller pair of jeans with the genes you’ve got, this ‘visualization technique’ shows you how!

 Are these the excuses that keep you from losing weight?

• “Both of my parents had weight issues, so there is nothing I can do about it.
• “It isn’t my fault, it’s just genetic.”
• “My family has a history of low metabolism making it hard for us to lose weight, so why exercise?”

Great news! Recent research suggests that obesity is not genetic but learned behavior.  (Being 30 pounds overweight is considered obese). Genetics only play a part in how we react to the environment, not how much food we eat or how much exercise we do.

Each of us chooses whether or not to have just one more cookie or to say yes when asked, “Would you like to supersize that?” We choose whether or not to drive to the corner bakery for a donut or whether we walk to the park. That, of course, is not to say you should blame yourself or beat yourself up over the extra weight. Every single person makes mistakes and has weaknesses.  I’ll be the first to admit my weaknesses are ice cream and chocolate! 

When my husband comes home with ice cream, I melt. It is more difficult to start a fitness routine when your family’s behavioral inclinations have affected you. Daughters of obese mothers are ten times more likely to be obese, and sons of obese fathers are six times more likely. It is not easy to break the behavioral pattern, but you can move beyond that. Who knows, maybe once you start exercising and are fit, others in your family will come to believe that they can do it too. Set a good example for your family and prove to them that none of you are stuck being overweight. How? Consider any famous athlete, like the golfer, Tiger Woods whose ability to visualize exactly what he must do each time he swings his club is paramount to being the greatest golfer of our time.

  

Visualization Weight Loss Technique

• Close your eyes and visualize yourself at your goal weight while inhaling deep breaths in through your nose and exhaling out your mouth.

• Visualize what outfit are you wearing? Continue visualizing as you focus on slow, relaxing breathing exercises.  (If you have a thyroid disorder, the breathing exercises help to boost your metabolism).

• Now visualize an event you are attending as the slim you. How do you feel?

 Do each step for one minute every day.

 It may be that your particular genetics do in fact make you more susceptible to conditions that cause weight gain to be more likely. Hashimoto’s Disease is one example. (See last week’s blog to learn more).  If you believe you suffer from a genuine medical condition that is associated with weight problems, then get a physician’s advice. Once you are treating the condition, start exercising consistently. With the combination of treatment and exercise, you will be feeling like your younger self in no time and change the course of your life.

Take the next step now with Beginners Dynamic Yoga: Release Stress and Lose Weight where you’ll learn the same guided visualization techniques Suzanne Andrews used to motivate her to shed 60 pounds of stubborn fat!

 

Suzanne Andrews is a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician with 30 years exercise expertise. Airing to over 49 million on Public Television, Suzanne Andrews, a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician, (they specialize in function) creates evidenced based fitness programs for specific health conditions. Originally created in 2008 with it’s first run on WDSC TV, Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews broadcasts on 113 Public Television stations.