Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews

Don’t Hate Me Because I’m a 10

by Suzanne Andrews

Size 10 that is!

Don’t you despise the prejudice against fat in the United States?

Spending my young adult years in New York City, I was surrounded by the fashion industry bombarding me with media images of women who looked like their last meal was served in a starvation camp. Working in television, I knew many young models who starved themselves regularly. I don’t blame them.  It was either conform to the expected size or don’t work.

So my question is: why idealize a size that can cause osteoporosis, heart attacks and in some cases- death?  Do you know women are actually having their ribs removed to be thinner?  That’s crazy!!

As the host of a national series on PBS TV, Functional Fitness, I feel it is my duty to help you become ALL that you can be without the numbers on the scale dictating what kind of day you’re going to have. 

Stop comparing yourself to those photo-shopped images of anorexic waifs. You are so much more than your size.  For example, I’m a wife, a mother, grandmother, an occupational therapist, and producer. What are you? You’re a unique individual and yes -  you are BEAUTIFUL!   

Starving yourself is insane. I should know, I’m an expert at it.  I struggled with my weight for years.  Turns out I have Hashimoto’s disease which really slows down metabolism. 

I used to be a size 18 and dieted down to a size 4.  That’s impossible to keep and I’m just not going to do that to myself anymore.  Yet because I’m 5 foot 2, being a size 10 is larger than what the media considers attractive.  Well I don’t need to be a size 0.  I want to be a size healthy!  

How about you? Do you want to be a size healthy?  No starvation diets, no crazy insane high impact exercise moves that leave you feeling like you got hit by a truck.  If the answer is yes, Functional Fitness is for YOU! 

Suzanne Andrews founded Functional Fitness in 2008, the most popular fitness series for boomers and seniors broadcasting on over 159 Public Television stations throughout the US and Canada. Read Suzanne’s inspiring comeback story of how she survived a near fatal accident, From Deaths Door to Producing a National Fitness Series. Feel free to send Suzanne a message here.

Overcoming Death Defying Odds

by Suzanne Andrews

Overcoming Death Defying Odds: A True Story

This is a fairly personal blog. But I hope it inspires you to keep going, to never give up on your dreams.
You might know me from my DVDs like 30 Day Bladder Fix or from my PBS TV series, Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews®.
But today I'd like to share something that you might not know about me...

Twenty years ago, I left a safe great paying job to start this crazy dream of producing a fitness show. I wanted to inspire people and help them improve their lives. I didn't really know how, but as I always say 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.' Even if that first step has some pretty big bumps that included:

• A car accident that injured my neck and back (that’s where the Back and Neck DVD came from).

• Surgery complications that resulted in eerily similar circumstances like the late Joan Rivers surgery gone wrong- a lady I had worked with while at CBS studios in New York City. (died on the operating table)!

• A work accident while treating a patient that made my left shoulder totally useless – I couldn’t lift it one inch! (the patient lost control of her power wheelchair and the force from holding back her chair so she wouldn’t get crushed tore up my shoulder). It took me a year to regain function of my left shoulder and just one week later, my right shoulder tore while working with another patient. Another year that included surgery and lots of therapy. The most painful recovery you could ever go through.  Worse than child birth.

At that time, no one knew me. TV studios turned down three of my proposals, hordes of potential sponsors didn’t return phone calls. Many were kind. Some were cold. None believed. Imagine the frustration of everyone telling you NO. For some reason, I just didn't let their opinions dictate my potential.

My first DVD, Beginners Dynamic Yoga was a DVD about releasing stress and accomplishing your goal and I knew I would accomplish my goal to help women over 40 regain their health with programs that were not like anything you see anywhere else. While Beginners Dynamic Yoga was the first yoga video that you didn’t have to be a contortionist or require you to get on the floor, I still wanted to add another dimension to my workouts.

At that time, there weren’t other programs that offered two to three fitness levels for specific health conditions.  And degreed medical professionals showing exercises in both sitting and standing was simply unheard of! Other fitness programs didn’t have doctors giving health tips and again I was the first.  Being the first is not all it’s cracked up to be because you have to convince the powers that be that there is a strong need for your idea. People who sit in offices and despise exercise.

Yet I knew there was a need for a corrective exercise program that helped people overcome health challenges like overactive bladder, arthritis and osteoporosis in the comfort of their home and so I persevered.

Finally an executive saw the wisdom in my proposal.  But it didn’t come easy: I volunteered numerous hours working 7 days a week and risked my finances to achieve my dream. The show became a success with PBS, and broadcast on 159 stations.
The reality is it's okay that those professionals doubted me. My past didn't reveal anything about me becoming a #1 Best Selling DVD producer with 30 Day Bladder Fix DVD, COPD DVD and the award winning Arthritis DVD. (I've designed from conception to completion 35 shows with 10 more not yet released).

Nothing about my circumstances back then would indicate my series would reach an area of 49 million on Public Television. No one imagined my DVDs would be on Collage Video, my favorite fitness DVD site.

I simply BELIEVED that if my intention was to serve and I demanded the best of myself every day then things would turn out well.

Luckily, they did. And so I say this to you my friend... Never let rejection, ridicule or doubt from others slow you down. Wake up each day and follow your heart and dream. When you're starting out - they'll reject you. When you're successful, they'll reject you. So what's going to keep you going? When you find the answer to that question – don’t let go of your dream.  BELIEVE in YOURSELF. I believe in you!

Suzanne Andrews founded Functional Fitness in 2008, the most popular fitness series for boomers and seniors broadcasting on over 159 Public Television stations throughout the US and Canada. Read Suzanne’s inspiring comeback story of how she survived a near fatal accident, From Deaths Door to Producing a National Fitness Series. Feel free to send Suzanne a message here.

Baked Apple A La Mode Weight Loss Recipe

by Suzanne Andrews

The hardest part of being on a diet isn't watching what you eat, it's watching what everyone else eats! Our family events often focus on food and being Italian, that means a plethora of delicious treats.  

Since I have a thyroid disorder that makes staying at my optimal weight very difficult, I came up with recipes that taste totally fattening and also help improve your health.  I sneak these recipes into my families diet so they don't know it's actually good for them!  Even my college age son doesn't know :)  Just make sure to work out as that is 1/2 the weight loss battle. If you've read that weight loss is all about what you eat - that's simply not the whole story, you must exercise to lose weight and if you have a thyroid condition there's no and, if's or but's about it.

The walking workout in my new Get Stronger Bones DVD will burn off this delicious dessert and speed up your metabolism so you burn fat - even in your sleep. Thanks for taking the time to be with a very important person - YOU!  

Baked Apple A La Mode Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 chopped apple per crust
• Sprinkle of cinnamon sugar
• Pre-made pie crusts 
• ¼ cup Low-fat vanilla yogurt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees
2. Assemble apples in pie crusts (one apple per crust)
3. Bake the Apple A La Modes in the oven for 20 minutes
4. Cool off before adding a dollop (or two!) per pie crust
5. Serve and enjoy!

Suzanne Andrews founded Functional Fitness in 2008, the most popular fitness series for boomers and seniors broadcasting on over 159 Public Television stations throughout the US and Canada. Read Suzanne’s inspiring comeback story of how she survived a near fatal accident, From Deaths Door to Producing a National Fitness Series. Feel free to send Suzanne a message here.

Creamy Potato Egg Casserole for Osteoporosis

by Suzanne Andrews

Calcium Enriched Creamy Potato & Egg Casserole

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cups of grated cheese
• 2 links of turkey sausage
• 3 large potatoes, sliced
• 3 hard-boiled eggs
• 4 green onions
• 1 TBSP low fat butter or margarine
• 1/4 cup fat-free milk
• 1/4 cup of flour
• 1/4 cup low-fat light sour cream

1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
2. Heat butter or margarine in a skillet and add onions.
3. Add flour, milk, let it reduce, and then add the sour cream.
4. Add more milk as needed. Take off heat.
5. In a large casserole dish, spread sauce and layer potatoes, sausage, eggs, cheese, and cream sauce.
6. Place casserole in oven.
7. Occasionally mix the casserole to ensure proper cooking.
8. Once your fork easily goes through the potatoes, sprinkle cheese on top (optional).
9. Serve and Enjoy!

Serves: 6 people

Get Stronger Bones NOW!

Suzanne Andrews founded Functional Fitness in 2008, the most popular fitness series for boomers and seniors broadcasting on over 159 Public Television stations throughout the US and Canada. Read Suzanne’s inspiring comeback story of how she survived a near fatal accident, From Deaths Door to Producing a National Fitness Series. Feel free to send Suzanne a message here.

Celebrity Weight Loss Secrets

by Suzanne Andrews

Every time I see a magazine featuring a celebrity who lost weight quickly, I wonder how many people think that if they did whatever the celebrity is promoting, it would work for them too?

Let's face it, finding time to cook healthy and exercise is hard. If you're like the rest of us, you don't have a cook, a maid, a driver, a make-up artist, hair stylist and a personal assistant who takes care of your daily chores.

Because I've worked with numerous celebrities, traveled with them and been in their homes, I know the reason they can lose weight with greater ease is because they have employees take care of the day-to-day chores. All they have to do is focus on work. Can you imagine if you had someone taking care of everything for you and all you had to do was get up and go to work?  You wouldn't have to shop, cook, clean or run around doing errands on your lunch hour and after work.

You may be thinking, "Suzanne, you're on national television, don't you have a cook, a maid and a personal assistant?" Far from it. Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews® is a labor of love to help people like yourself get healthy, stay healthy and put the personal in personal training.  I designed the workouts to be quick and effective so people like us don't have to spend hours at the gym.  I mean really - who has time? Most of us have been trained to think we have to jump up and down and exert ourselves until we're in pain to lose weight.  I lost 60 pounds by working out to Functional Fitness and Yoga moves just 30 minutes a day.  Because the workouts were smart, not hard, I wasn't  sore the next day.  That meant I could work out every day if I wanted to and that's what you need to lose weight - consistency with your workout and your nutrition plan.  

Functional Fitness began as a public service to my community. Why would I sacrifice 12 hour days, often 7 days a week without pay to help others take charge of their health? Because as an Occupational Therapy practitioner I've seen countless preventable lifestyle diseases and it just breaks my heart to see people suffer needlessly. If I can help you avoid the pain and frustration of a preventable illness, than I know I've done something valuable with my life because your life is priceless!

Love and Healthiest blessings,

Suzanne Andrews

Suzanne Andrews founded Functional Fitness in 2008, the most popular fitness series for boomers and seniors broadcasting on over 159 Public Television stations throughout the US and Canada. Read Suzanne’s inspiring comeback story of how she survived a near fatal accident, From Deaths Door to Producing a National Fitness Series. Feel free to send Suzanne a message here.

What Does Your Body Say About Your Health?

by Suzanne Andrews

Did you know your reflection is an echo of what your body is trying to tell you?  Find out what your body is saying to you now!

Belly Fat = increased risk of heart attack, diabetes and back pain.

So what do you do when you want to eat health sabotaging foods? Redirect yourself with a healthy distraction. Take 3 deep breaths, go for a walk, call a friend for moral support. The craving will pass and you'll feel so much better! 

Wide Hip Bones = normal part of aging.

Don't fret, it's not your imagination, your bones really do widen as you age. I gained 2 inches of width! What you should be concerned with is if you have excess fat over your hips as that can cause hip, back and knee pain. According to the Arthritis Foundation, every pound of excess fat exerts four pounds of pressure on your knees which is another great reason to get the weight off if you're having knee pain.  You may even save yourself the cost, time and pain of knee replacement surgery! Not sure what exercises to do that are safe for arthritis and help you lose weight?  Check out Arthritis Walking Workout.

Arm Fat = risk of shoulder injuries.

Shoulder injuries are one of the most painful types of injuries. How do I know? I injured myself working working with a patient that required over 400 pounds of muscle power to save her from getting crushed. I had accident two when I saved a patient from a fall. I needed surgery on my shoulders. As bad as it was, the doctor said it could have been much worse. My arms were strong before the accident and I went from 0% function to  a full recovery with consistent therapy, determination and a mindset to work through the pain during therapy and just trudge through to regain full use of my shoulders. You need a well rounded arm workout to remain functional and strong -not to mention if you want to wear those sleeveless dresses!

Thanks for spending time with a very important person...YOU!

Love and healthiest blessings,
Suzanne Andrews
www.healthwiseexercise.com

Suzanne Andrews founded Functional Fitness in 2008, the most popular fitness series for boomers and seniors broadcasting on over 159 Public Television stations throughout the US and Canada. Read Suzanne’s inspiring comeback story of how she survived a near fatal accident, From Deaths Door to Producing a National Fitness Series. Feel free to send Suzanne a message here.

Is Political Correctness Causing Weight Gain?

by Suzanne Andrews

Is political correctness sabotaging your weight loss goals?  Let’s face it, having to watch every word we say is a huge stressor that can provoke your stress hormones into overdrive. When stress happens, so does cravings for comfort treats.  I call them “C-Foods” - cakes, cookies, chocolate, chips and creamy foods.

Just when I thought political correctness couldn’t go any further, I was hit with one of my videos being blocked because of political correctness.

That was enough to get me off the weight loss wagon and head straight for the chocolate. Then I thought better of it and went for a walk.  Instead of getting the “I shouldn’t have guilts,” I was actually proud of myself for resisting the urge to down a large Hershey’s chocolate bar. Especially since I tape my next Functional Fitness series in three months.

Obviously the person who blocked it had no idea the words, Urinary Incontinence is an actual medical diagnosis.  Many women are embarrassed enough about this problem, to say that helping women overcome this problem is offensive is ridiculous, don’t you think? 

I’m not just a rehab practitioner that teaches women how to naturally overcome urinary incontinence/overactive bladder and prolapse, I had this problem and find it offensive that someone took it upon himself to ban this video.  But that’s OK, I’m a big girl and I can take it!

Here’s the video that was banned. If you’re tired of political correctness, share it, post it and tweet it to your unpolitical correctness hearts content.

Suzanne Andrews founded Functional Fitness in 2008, the most popular fitness series for boomers and seniors broadcasting on over 159 Public Television stations throughout the US and Canada. Read Suzanne’s inspiring comeback story of how she survived a near fatal accident, From Deaths Door to Producing a National Fitness Series. Feel free to send Suzanne a message here.

What Body Part Does Weight Loss Begin With?

by Suzanne Andrews

When I tell people I lost 60 pounds, people often ask, "how did you do it?" Frankly, I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. I just decided that I'd had enough joint pain, fatigue and excuses that stopped me from being healthy.

But it took me a while to arrive at that destination. My wake up call came when I saw myself on video taken from my sons birthday party. Until that time, I justified all the usual excuses: too tired, not enough time, exercise programs were just too expensive, etc.

But once I committed to exercising just 30 minutes a day, the fatigue was replaced by tons of energy. I decided to stop watching the morning news and work-out instead. By beginning with changing my mindset, I made time for my health and felt so much better not hearing about the bad events first thing in the morning.

As far as expense, I was spending more money on one meal out than I was on an exercise program. I learned that by adjusting your thinking, you can lose weight and feel great! I also learned to work smart and not hard. No insane high impact moves that could hurt your joints. That was the beginning of Functional Fitness. I had no idea that it was going to be a national fitness series on PBS, but I knew there must be other people like me who preferred low impact moves with a choice of fitness levels, an instructor that didn't scream and exercises that were proven safe for various health conditions.

It's amazing what you can do when you set your mind to it!

Suzanne Andrews founded Functional Fitness in 2008, the most popular fitness series for boomers and seniors broadcasting on over 159 Public Television stations throughout the US and Canada. Read Suzanne’s inspiring comeback story of how she survived a near fatal accident, From Deaths Door to Producing a National Fitness Series. Feel free to send Suzanne a message here.

Get Stronger Bones

by Suzanne Andrews

Most of us ladies are aware that getting extra calcium in our diet is a good preventive measure against osteoporosis. However, what you may not realize is how often you should take calcium and exactly what you need to take it with for absorption. 

Check out today's post with my special guest, Dr. Heather Metchick who explains some surprising facts about calcium followed by a preview of the newest Get Stronger Bones DVD to help you strengthen your bones with three fabulous osteoporosis safe workouts! 

Suzanne Andrews founded Functional Fitness in 2008, the most popular fitness series for boomers and seniors broadcasting on over 159 Public Television stations throughout the US and Canada. Read Suzanne’s inspiring comeback story of how she survived a near fatal accident, From Deaths Door to Producing a National Fitness Series. Feel free to send Suzanne a message here.

Suzanne Andrews FREE At Home Balance Test!

by Suzanne Andrews

We begin to lose our balance beginning from the age of 40. Here's a balance test for you to check how you're doing. If it's too easy, do the test with your eyes closed. If you try it with your eyes closed, make sure to have someone standby for safety!

Get 3 workouts for stronger bones and stronger balance in Suzanne Andrews: Get Stronger Bones DVD

Suzanne Andrews founded Functional Fitness in 2008, the most popular fitness series for boomers and seniors broadcasting on over 159 Public Television stations throughout the US and Canada. Read Suzanne’s inspiring comeback story of how she survived a near fatal accident, From Deaths Door to Producing a National Fitness Series. Feel free to send Suzanne a message here.