Where you live may affect your waistline.
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A new study that was published recently by the American Journal of Epidemiology compares the density of fast food restaurants to a high walking traffic city. Click here to read the original article Link to original article.
The bottom line was not shocking- if you live where there are a high density of fast food restaurants, you are more likely to gain more weight and be “fatter” than the people who live in high walking traffic areas.
I was interviewed for Demo Dirt Gold about this article and I thought I would share some of the tips I gave to her.
“Personal fitness trainer J.J. Flizanes (www.invisiblefitness.com) advises people who live in high-density fast food areas to keep healthy, non-perishable snacks in the car. “Often if people are very hungry, they will say they are starving, and can’t think straight, and they will fall into the habit of not caring what they eat,” she explains. “They will get headaches, mood swings, and a desire for fat and sugar.”
“Get a shoebox, a plastic shoebox, that you can buy for a dollar, and fill it with nuts, dried fruit, and protein bars. If you’re feeling really hungry, you can maintain your blood sugar to get yourself by between meals,” Flizanes advises.
Whatever you do, she warns, “Avoid fast food. Fast food means fat people.”
The other key? Flizanes says that who, not just what, you are surrounded by will affect you. “Surround yourself with positive people who have the same goal,” she says.”
What I said was “Friends don’t let friends drive through”
If you live in a city where there is an overwhelming amount of fast food, you need to prepare yourself.
1. Stick that plastic shoe box in your car filled with good, healthy, non perishable snacks. This can help curb your hunger in between meals so you don’t head to the drive through. You should be eating something every 4-5 hours to maintain blood sugar so you do not crash.
2. You are what you eat and what you are surrounded by. You are the sum of the 5 people you hang around most and you are the sum of the 5 habits you keep. Iron sharpens iron. If you want to change your habits, find people and places that support you in doing that because they want the same thing. If your spouse or house-mate have opposite habits, it may be more challenging for you to stay disciplined. Find ways to have support , get new friends or move! J
3. Vision Board: This is a place where you can paint the life you want and use visual reminders of it every day. I have food on my vision board- Organic Produce Delivery! I want to be delivered fresh, organic produce weekly to support my healthy lifestyle!
4. Make a date to walk. Find a place near home or work that you can walk to 2-3 times a week. It doesn’t have to be that far, just practice saving money on gas for an errand or two and walk. You will save money on gas, help the environment, burn some calories and inspire others to do the same.
5. Change the way to relate to junk food and fast food. I was once in line for Del Taco late at night after dancing. I had an apple next to me but I was in the mood for cheese. I battled driving through but I had such a craving that it took over. As I was in line, I saw a very large women walk out of the restaurant and THAT was all I needed to see to turn around and leave. I had cheese at home. Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.
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by J.J. Flizanes, Director of Invisible Fitness
Named by Elite Traveler Magazine as their 2007 Global Black Book pick of Best Personal Trainer in Los Angeles , JJ has been lauded by Shape Magazine as one of the top 6 fitness trainers in 2003.
http://www.invisiblefitness.com
800 571 5722
