[ MAUKA MAKAI ]
BURL BURLINGAME / BBURLINGAME@STARBULLETIN.COM
Nancy Christenson is finally ready to get fit and revamp her relationship with her scale.
Get fit and The other day I had a life-changing experience. I brushed my teeth ... naked. There I was, brushing vigorously away, and I glanced up and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Horrified, I stopped brushing. Parts of my body kept moving -- and not just the parts that are supposed to!
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Being fit can truly change your life
By Nancy Christenson
nchristenson@starbulletin.comWomen shouldn't look like stick insects or, God forbid, adolescent girls. Not long ago, American culture celebrated the natural female form. Imagine Marilyn Monroe without her full (and silicon-free) chest, rounded tummy and shapely hips and bottom. Yes, curves are sexy. But I didn't see Marilyn in the mirror.
Neither did I see the strength, good muscle tone and confidence of contemporary women like Madonna, or Venus or Serena Williams.
That's why I'm finally ready to get fit. It just takes a good look in the mirror. At 5 feet 5 inches and 142 pounds, I'm pretty close to being the average American woman, whom researchers have found to be 5 feet 4 inches and 140 pounds. But I don't want to be average.
The start of the new year, and the end of holiday snacking, seems like an ideal time to get fit. I want you to do it with me.
Start The incredible shrinking (we hope) Nancy
Height: 5 feet 5 inches
Weight: 142 pounds
The goal: Lose 20 pounds by April 15The program I've chosen is called "Body for Life," a 12-week program which emphasizes nutrition, weight and cardiovascular training. The Bill Phillips book is a bestseller, and there's additional information at the bodyforlife.com Web site.
For those who want to be competitive about it, you have until Jan. 20 to sign up online for the program's $1 million challenge.
Body for Life combines good nutrition, weight training three days a week and three 20-minute cardio workouts three days a week. I really like this program. But virtually all such programs boil down to exercising more and paying attention to what you eat. Check on your current health condition with your doctor and, together, choose whatever the two of you determine is right for you.
If you're ready to feel and look better, I hope you'll start some kind of exercise program, whether it's an intense program like Body for Life, or just walking or running or swimming.
I'll keep track of my own progress here, as public ridicule is a strong motivator. But we can do this together. Please write to me at getfit@starbullletin.com. I'll share your comments with other readers -- you can also remain anonymous if you wish -- and we'll build our own fitness community for support, ideas and to help one another stay on track.
I'll share my progress, and some of yours, with Star-Bulletin readers once a month.
I'll be on vacation until Jan. 21, so I'll answer your e-mails at the time. This will give you a little more than a week to plan and prepare to welcome a new you in 2003.
What you'll need
>> Motivation: To get you started. If you think you might be ready but you're not sure, don't start. You're just setting yourself up for failure. If you know you're ready to take control, then do it. Get in shape because you want to, not because someone else is nagging you. Do it for yourself, not somebody else.>> Commitment: To stay focused on your goals and to do what it takes to achieve them. Write down your fitness goals, and look at them every day when you get up. Your goals might be, "lose 30 pounds," "gain muscle definition," or "fit into a size such-and-such by April 1" or even "inspire someone else to get fit" (that's one of mine!).
>> Nutrition: To fuel your body and help it gain energy and strength. Don't starve yourself, and NEVER skip a meal.
Getting started
>> As I mentioned before, check with your physician before changing your diet or starting a new exercise routine.>> Take a "before" picture of yourself wearing a bathing suit. (This probably will be the hardest part of your fitness program.) Write the date you start on the back of your photo; look at it whenever you're tempted to eat something your body doesn't need or skip a workout.
>> Get some equipment. Chances are, if you're still reading this, you may have a gym membership that's going to waste. Use it for access to aerobics classes and exercise equipment.
Those who don't have memberships should consider signing up for one until you get accustomed to a regimen. Later on, you can save a lot of money by buying your own bench and free weights. Shop around; don't get suckered into buying something you don't need. If you do the Body for Life program, use the book to find out what you need to get. Essentially, you need free weights for your upper body and a good bench to help work your upper and lower muscle groups. A treadmill is great if you can afford one; otherwise, if you're walking or running, do it in the early morning or evening.
Of course, another reason we're lucky to live in Hawaii is that outdoor exercise is free. You may find simply walking works for you, and swimming works on many muscle groups.
>> Listen to music if it helps, and it probably will. I can run a lot longer listening to an upbeat groove or rock 'n' roll.
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Seeking support
If you need group support in getting fit, here are some options:Ashtanga Yoga
Ongoing classes from 6:30 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday at Purple Yoga Hawaii, 2615 S. King St., third floor. Cost: $60 per month. No experience necessary, though registration is required. Call 485-0230 or visit www.purpleyoga.com.Chi-Lel Qigong Class
Ongoing classes. Reduce stress, increase energy and discover self-healing. 8 to 9 a.m. Thursdays at Kapahulu Center, 3410 Campbell Ave. Cost: $5. Call 396-9080.Dahnhak Classes
Ongoing Taorobics-Brain Respiration classes. Free. 942-0003 or e-mail taorobic@pixi.com.Hatha Yoga in the Shadow Style
Ongoing classes from 4:45 to 6 p.m. and 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. at Purple Yoga Hawaii, 2615 S. King St., third foor. Cost: $88 per course; a new course starts every month. No experience necessary, though registration is required. Call 485-0230 or visit www.purpleyoga.com.Latin Aerobics and Kickboxing
6 to 6:45 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Kuhio School cafeteria. Cost: $1 per class. Call Cheryl at 735-5755 or 377-5132.Seniors Exercise Class
Ongoing light stretch and aerobics classes for seniors at the Art-of-Dance Studio, 2851 E. Manoa Road, Suite. 1-207. Call 224-4777 to register.Stretching & Toning
Classes meet in Manoa from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays. Cost: $10 per class or $32 monthly. Call 778-8443 for registration and meeting place.Taichi quan
Classes with Master Alex Dong at Queen's Medical Center. Beginners meet 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Advanced students meet 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. All levels: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Cost: $40 per month. 949-5774 or visit www.dongtaichi.com.Yoga Works Hawaii
5 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Kapiolani Park, across from the Waikiki Natatorium. Bring a towel and relax with Iyengan Yoga. Cost: $10 donation suggested. Call 366-4836.
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