It all adds up - Holistic Health - Medicine Blog - timesunion.com ...

1/2 bagel,? 1 Tbsp of butter, 3/4 cup of corn, 1/2 oz pecans, 20 cherries, 1 cup of scrambled eggs.

What do you suppose all of these things have in common?

Well each one of them contains about 100 calories.

Now 100 calories in the grand scheme of things really doesn?t matter much. Or does it?

There?s been considerable research into what contributes to weight gain once we hit our 40?s.? Some factors are simply the result of the body?s tendency to convert lean muscle mass to fat ? unless we really commit to our exercise routine.? Others stem from hormonal factors for women around menopause (ever hear of the meno-pot?), changes in thyroid function,? even the cumulative stress from day-to-day life can all conspire to pack on the pounds.

What we do have control over is what and how much we choose to eat.

Those extra 100 calories a day, each day, will add up a whopping 10 pounds of weight gain by the end of a year.? Pretty amazing when you think about it.

Certainly mindfulness always helps when it comes to food and eating.? Simply paying attention can go a long way to minimizing when, what and how much we choose to eat each day.? I?ve read that one of the reasons yoga is so helpful in preventing middle-aged spread is not so much that it?s a big calorie burner, but that the practice helps us to manage stress and pay more attention to what we?re consuming. When we?re relaxed, aware, and enjoying our meals we?re also tuned in to when we?ve had enough and are ready to push away from the table.

Fast food can sabotage any healthy eating plan. Those 100 calories translate to:

Try to make those calories count.? Two tablespoons of jelly beans and 3 ounces of shrimp might have the same number of calories, but they certainly don?t match up when it comes to nutrition!

Then again there?s always the equation of ?calories in and calories out?. There?s lots of easy ways to offset those extra pounds, and give yourself the physical and energetic lift of a little more exercise.? You don?t have to take up downhill skiing either.? Take the stairs instead of the elevator.? Dance around your living room to disco tunes.? Park your car further away from your destination and walk some extra steps.? And by all means, enjoy whatever it is you?re doing!

Peace- Judi England, RN, LMT, Kripalu Yoga Instructor ? yogajudi@aol.com ? 12/31/2012

Source: http://blog.timesunion.com/holistichealth/it-all-adds-up/10625/

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