StrongWomen Newsletter
Issue 127, April 2009
I hope you find this newsletter helpful, and that you share it with your friends. Feel free to forward, post or reprint it – but please credit strongwomen.com for the information and don’t change the content.
By Miriam E. Nelson, PhD
Author of
Strong Women Stay Young
Strong Women Stay Slim
Strong Women, Strong Bones
Strong Women Eat Well
Strong Women and Men Beat Arthritis
The Strong Women’s Journal
Strong Women, Strong Hearts
Strong Women, Strong Backs
Founder of www.StrongWomen.com
IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE
- Reflections on a Visit with Michael Pollan
- Upcoming StrongWomen Workshops
- Reader Questions and Answers
- Fitness Programs
- Arthritis and Holding Weights
- Success Stories
- Recipe - A Visit to the Market
REFLECTIONS ON A VISIT WITH MICHAEL POLLAN
Almost a year ago, the Center I direct at Tufts University embarked on developing a strategic plan to guide our work. As part of the process, we were eager to gain insight from leaders around the country whom we felt were changing the nutrition landscape; people who were really innovative. I immediately thought of Michael Pollan.
Mr. Pollan has been challenging traditional nutrition dogma with his writings in The New York Times and as the author of In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto and (my favorite) The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals.
I wrote to Mr. Pollan and invited him to come to Tufts. He was most generous with his time and spent the entire day with us. He must have felt like he entered the "lion's den" - visiting a school of nutrition! I agree with almost all of his writings and am pleased a journalist such as he can get the public's attention regarding how our foods are grown and what we eat. The fact that most of the foods for sale these days don't even resemble food is very discouraging. And the fact that repeated processing creates profit for companies is really a problem for those of us who promote real, whole food. Bringing together the environmental movement and good nutrition will be a key factor in improving our food in the future.
I encourage you to read one of Mr. Pollan's books or his articles in The New York Times. It's good to have someone outside the nutrition world shake things up!
BeWell!
Miriam E. Nelson, PhD (Read Mr. Pollan's letter to President Obama in The New York Times last October: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/magazine/12policy-t.html)
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR CHILDHOOD OBESITY PREVENTION Colleagues of mine who lead our Children in Balance initiative at Tufts are hosting a Community Leadership Institute for Childhood Obesity Prevention on July 21-23, 2009, Boston, MA.
The three-day leadership training institute is targeted to professionals and advocates who wish to further childhood obesity prevention efforts in their communities with a focus on elementary-aged children. Participants will leave the training prepared and empowered to create healthier community environments for children, encouraging better nutrition and more opportunities for physical activity.
For more information on the Community Leadership Institute and an application, visit www.childreninbalance.org
Applications are due by April 27th.
UPCOMING STRONGWOMEN WORKSHOPS
The following information is for upcoming StrongWomen Program workshops. In order to be eligible for StrongWomen training, you must be actively strength training right now, and you must have a firm commitment to starting a program in your community. This training teaches you how to "lead" a StrongWomen Program, and should not be attended simply for informational/personal purposes.Click Here for additional upcoming workshops.
Date: April 28, 2009
Location: Fayetteville, AR
Contact: LaVona Traywick, Ph.D.
Phone: (501) 671-2027
Email: ltraywick@uaex.edu
Registration Deadline: April 13, 2009
Although the deadline has passed, please continue to register.
Date: Thursday May 21, 2009
Location: State College, PA
Contact: Nancy Wiker
Phone: (717) 394-6851
Email: nwiker@psu.edu
Registration Deadline: May 6, 2009
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: I am 61 years old and about 65 pounds overweight. I am also dealing with other health issues such as high blood pressure and borderline high blood sugar. I am looking for a workout program to improve my health. I also have high triglycerides and low HDL. My doctor has given me orders to get into a fitness program so I can lose weight and improve my health. Which of your programs do you recommend?
A: I would recommend the StrongWomen: Weight Loss DVD. When it comes to weight loss, cardiovascular exercise and healthy eating is most important. The fitness program on this DVD is heavily focused on that type of exercise. In addition, it will also guide your eating plan and offer tips for success. The StrongWomen: Weight Loss DVD is available from Gaiam at the following link: http://www.gaiam.com/category/strongwomen.do
Q: I have bad arthritis in my thumbs and I have difficulty holding weights. What can I do to strengthen my upper body?
A: If your arthritis pain is causing you to have trouble gripping dumbbells, work out with adjustable wrist weights instead. These weights fit snuggly around your wrists and allow you to continue doing the same upper body exercises without experiencing pain. Another alternative is dumbbells with a padded grip.
FROM THE MAILBOX: SUCCESS STORIES FROM INSPIRING WOMEN
I have found your Strong Women, Strong Bones book a wonderful tool for gaining and maintaining my strength. My stamina when swimming has greatly improved due to these exercises.
~ Mollie
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
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