Health and Fitness on TV.

There are many weight loss and fitness shows on television now a days, but nothing that has touched me as much as the Style Networks "Ruby". The show centers around a very loving, funny and intelligent woman, Ruby, who has struggled with weight for the majority of her life. She enchants her audience with her southern charm and tugs at our hart strings as she battles to save her life.

I love this show because I can relate. Yes, people think that Personal Trainers are perfect beings that are decedents of Hercules himself (I'm having a 300 movie flash back), but that's a total misconception. I don't have a perfect body, far from it.I have to make sure that I keep track of my nutrition and exercise routines because I was once an obese 250 pound teenager and I vowed to my self that I would never get back to that weight!!I became a trainer after losing over 100 pounds because I want to help those who want to lose weight and lead healthy lifestyles but need that extra push or motivation. When Ruby gets made fun of on the show I literally tear up because I know how painful it is, and I'm rutting for her!I recommend this show to anyone who is beginning or is currently struggling with an nutrition and exercise program. If I can do it, if Ruby can do it, then you can do it too!

Ruby airs on the Style Network Sunday's at 8pm Central. Re-runs air throughout the week for more information check your local lising or log on to www.mystyle.com

Personal Lows and Cardio Highs

I actually plan on writing an article with the same title, but since it is still a work in-progress....and I it's time to update the blog, I figured I would post some information on the mental benefits of exercise.
From a young age, I have suffered with clinical depression and anxiety. At first it was difficult to deal with especially as a teenager. I self medicated and ate my way through my emotional pain. It was during my teen years, the years that I suffered with depression the most, that I grew to a massive 250+ pounds. It's safe to say that I hated my body and my self-esteem was non-existent.

Years passed, I saw therapists and tried medications which worked, but I just didn't feel like that it was for me.

The event that changed my life was my father's wedding. I was hoping to find a nice dress to wear to the wedding and even asked a friend to come along and help me pick something out. I couldn't find anything, that I liked, that would fit me!! Devastated, I went down to Goodwill and found something that would hide my "rolls" to wear. The day of the wedding I vowed to myself that I would lose weight so I can wear what I want to wear and not have to worry about being embarrassed or disappointed when I go shopping.

The day after the wedding I stopped drinking soda and started eating healthier foods. I purchased a jump rope, a few exercise DVDs and began working out for at least an hour a day. Before I realized I had lost 50 pounds. This motivated even more, so I joined a gym and never looked back!

Today, even though I still suffer the effects of depression and anxiety they aren't as present in my life as they were before.

I'm not the only one who feels that proper diet and exercise has helped change and control my depression. Research shows at least 30 minutes of exercise a day for at least three to five days a week to significantly improve depression symptoms. But smaller amounts of activity - as little as 10 to 15 minutes at a time - can improve mood in the short term. "Small bouts of exercise may be a great way to get started if it's initially too hard to do more," Dr. Vickers-Douglas says.

Some evidence suggests that exercise raises the levels of certain mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain. Exercise may also boost feel-good endorphins, release muscle tension, help you sleep better, and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It also increases body temperature, which may have calming effects. All of these changes in your mind and body can improve such symptoms as sadness, anxiety, irritability, stress, fatigue, anger, self-doubt and hopelessness. (http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/exdepression)

So the next time you're feeling depressed avoid just laying around, for a quick mood booster (that will help you lose weight at the same time!) go for a run around your block, or just take the dog out for walk and get some fresh air. Trust me it helps!