Saturday, February 27, 2010

Transfered

I transferred my blog account to www.wordpress.com/isobreathing. You can go to www.isobreathing.com and click on blog and it will take you to all of my articles. It is easier to work with than this blogger account and I am all for easy:)
Ellen

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Menopause- Ladies do we really have to gain weight?

This is for all of you ladies out there who are experiencing the peri-menopausal weight gain. Some of you are feeling “off your game” with a poor night’s sleep, being more tired than usual, moody, and somewhat depressed and watching the numbers on the scale slowly creeping upwards.

I fall into this category with I am sure many of you. In general I watch what I eat, exercise regularly with isometric exercise and full range of movement, get in some relaxation, but the numbers are still creeping upward on the scale.



I did have blood work and saliva work done. My numbers are not where they should be so specific vitamins were recommended to hopefully get me back on track. I do try (depending on my schedule) to get in aerobic activity 4-5 times a week for at least 30-60 minutes.(again depending on my schedule) I do perform a multitasking morning routine when I do not have time for my regular workouts ( my book soon to be released) but the weight is still creeping upward.

With that said I also do try to swim every afternoon just to do something extra. I have put on my pedometer again just to make sure that I am getting in my movement every day. I park as far away from the door of where ever I am going and add in those extra steps.

I do practice what I preach and I am going to fight this weight gain tooth and nail. It is now recommended by my doctor that I get off all white foods, alcohol, caffeine, and other varied items. I am hoping that in three months time I will be able to take the weight off and feel more energized. By adding in magnesium (calm) in the evenings before bed I am getting a better night’s sleep. I do recommend that you do seek out an individual that believes in the natural path versus hormones so you can be tested to see where you stand so the proper vitamins can be recommended to you.

I know that any of us can do something for three months. I would like to challenge everyone out there going through this to answer this blog and let’s see how we can help each other out. Sometimes we all need that little extra encouragement so let me hear from you.

Ellen is a certified Fitness Practitioner and Personal Trainer and has been teaching obtainable lifestyle changes for over 20 years. Ellen writes and produces fitness DVD’s of the IsoBreathing program. The DVD’s are now being sold through the IsoBreathing website world wide. She has been awarded Innovator of the Year 2006 by City Business and 2008 Best Of Mandeville in Exercise Programs by USLBA. www.isobreathing.com and she can be reached at Ellen@isobreathing.com

Coming soon Stretches for those who Knit and Crochet in booklet form

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Always looking to help

I have received many emails with individuals looking for help. That is what I am here for. I want to help individuals lead a healthier lifestye. I want to see a reduction in obesity not just with children but with adults. It does start at home and children do copy their parents.

I want to be able to continue to get the IsoBreathing program to as many individuals as I can. I have helped so many but yet there are still so many out there that need my help. If you happen to know anyone that is in need of weight loss please send them my way.

There are snippets on youtube of the IsoBreathing program and segments that are not on the videos. I have written many articles that you can get to from my website. I try to give out useful information to all. Of course this program is not for everybody. I have found that it is mostly teenagers and the individuals in their teens and twentys that reject this program. The music is not hip hop or rock. It is classical to make sure that you are performing the program slowly.

I have written this plenty of times and it is on the website that this program at this time does not contain aerobic exercise nor is the breathing aerobic. It is not meant to be. There are no suppliments that you need to take or diet pills. This is a learning program to teach you how to breathe slow, deep and diaphramatic with a twist and to learn proper body positioning when you work out so that you can obtain results.

I hope that this helps some of you get a better understanding of what isobreathing is all about.

Burn Calories While You Knit

Most individuals are trying many different exercise programs and diet programs without success. The bottom line is to reduce your caloric intake and increase your caloric output. When you are just sitting without movement your body burns very few calories. Watch a thin person sitting. They are always moving something such as a foot or leg. They are burning those few extra calories constantly. Those calories add up by the end of the day. When you knit both hands are moving so you are burning calories. If both hands are busy then you cannot be eating at the same time.
Most individuals tend to eat when they are bored or not busy or are stressed. By knitting you are doing double time by not eating and you are moving. To burn even more calories while knitting work your abdominal muscles. Sit tall and place both feet on the floor. Make sure that your lower back is supported by extra pillows behind you if it is needed. Tighten your abdominals and hold them in as tightly as you can for as long as you can. As you hold your abdominal muscles in that is considered an isometric exercise. The longer you hold the contraction the more intensely you work your abdominal muscles. By performing isometric contraction you are burning additional calories. Don’t forget to breathe. Never hold your breath or you will become light headed.
You can practice your new isometric exercise throughout your busy days. You can perform this simple task while sitting in traffic, or a car pick up line or waiting for the microwave to go off. You can perform an abdominal isometric exercise anywhere any time.
Knitting will help you with boredom, it is also a great stress reliever and if you donate your knitted items even better for your sole and giving back to others. When you are finished with your knitting for the day or evening don’t forget to stretch your tired achy muscles. “Stretches for Knitters and Crocheters “ contain many stretches for a variety of tired muscles.
Ellen is a certified Fitness Practitioner and Personal Trainer and has been teaching obtainable lifestyle changes for over 20 years.
Ellen writes and produces fitness DVD’s of the IsoBreathing program. The DVD’s are now being sold through the IsoBreathing website world wide.
Ellen writes for her monthly newsletter, North shore counseling and wellness and New Orleans Wedding Magazine. She has been awarded Innovator of the Year 2006 by City Business and 2008 Best Of Mandeville in Exercise Programs by USLBA. www.isobreathing.com and she can be reached at Ellen@isobreathing.com


Tighten Your Tummy While Knitting

Did you realize that you can work your abdominal muscles while you are knitting? I have gone to many knitting groups to speak and have seen lots of slumping bodies in chairs and couches. I have heard lots of complaints of lower back discomfort and shoulder and neck discomfort. I am going to help you get rid of your lower back discomfort and help you work your abdominals at the same time you are knitting.
First thing is posture. Plant both of feet flat on the ground. If your back is not touching the back of your chair then you can use a small step stool to prop your feet up and sit all the way back or place pillows behind your lower back so that your body is moved forward and your feet are touching the ground. With weaker lower back muscles you need to strengthen your abdominal muscles.
Sit tall and elevate your ribcage. Some of you may feel a pulling in your abdominal muscles. This is normal and means that your abdominal muscles are tight. While you are sitting tall pull in your abdominal muscles as tightly as you can. Keep on breathing. See how long you can hold in your tummy and breathe at the same time. Can you get threw a whole row of knitting? (I usually knit king sized blankets.)
What will end up occurring is a mental awareness of better posture (keeping your ribcage elevated) and keeping your abdominal muscles tight. The more you tighten your tummy and hold (isometric exercise) the better your abdominal results will be. (tighter muscles that help support your lower back) The longer you can hold your isometric exercise the more intensely you will be working your abdominal muscles. With this simple isometric exercise of holding in your abdominal muscles and you can start seeing results in a few weeks. (a tighter flatter tummy)
So knit away and have fun but remember to sit tall and tighten your tummy. As time goes on this will become easier and easier for you to accomplish. When you start out you may not be able to hold this contraction for long. Time will pass and you will be able to hold the contraction of your abdominal muscles longer and even tighter which will work your abdominal muscles even more intensely.
Don’t forget to stretch after you finish knitting. “Stretches for knitters and crocheters” contain a number of different stretches to help you reduce your tight achy muscles from hours of knitting.
Ellen is a certified Fitness Practitioner and Personal Trainer and has been teaching obtainable lifestyle changes for over 20 years.
Ellen writes and produces fitness DVD’s of the IsoBreathing program. The DVD’s are now being sold through the IsoBreathing website world wide.
Ellen writes for her monthly newsletter, North shore counseling and wellness and New Orleans Wedding Magazine. She has been awarded Innovator of the Year 2006 by City Business and 2008 Best Of Mandeville in Exercise Programs by USLBA. www.isobreathing.com and she can be reached at Ellen@isobreathing.com


Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Time Flys

It has been awhile since my last writing. Since then I finished my semesters oil painting class and learned what I needed to learn. I went to Virginia to watch Michelle in the Mrs Virginia pageant. By the way she came in second runner up and received an award for Community Service. I also started a welding class so that I can make a sculpture for my back yard.

That was my fun stuff. As far as www.IsoBreathing.com I have written a few more articles and answered hundreds of questions that are asked of me daily. I finished my booklet Stretches for Gardener's in paper format not just an e-book. I am finishing up my Stretches for Knitters and Crocheters booklet. Not everyone wants it in DVD format. I am also working on two more booklets. One is for balance and the other one will deal with multitasking.
Being that these booklets will be written on paper I decided to support Trees for the Future at www.plant-trees.org. It is a great organization that helps to replant trees that all of us use on a daily basis.

I have gone to a number of gardening facilities and gardening groups and asked if I could perform a demonstration of the stretches that are included in the booklet and got turned down at most of them. It is mostly related to lawyers and insurance. I then preceded to ask if they would keep the booklet next to the cash register for those individuals who would like to purchase them and even give the companies a percentage of the booklets that they sell. (No monies out of their pockets to keep them at the register) So far it has been a big no. I have not given up. I am writing to a number of companies that have sites on line. You never know who may want to sell these.

I am going to do the same with the other booklets. If any of you have any ideas of how to get the booklets distributed I would love to hear from you. So far it is just the website or at a speaking engagement which I am always looking forward to the next one. I can be reached at ellen@isobreathing.com and let me know if it relates to this article. Otherwise I may end up deleting it. I get lots of spam. Thanks for your help. Till next time.
Ellen

Monday, April 13, 2009

Why do you I need to be a size 0?

I do play around on the Internet and came to this forum section. Of course I was curious and ended up looking up IsoBreathing. I love to see what individual have to say about the program. Well the comment that struck me was- How can you believe this program when she is overweight. I believe that each individual is entitled to have their own opinion. When it comes to me I actually laughed at the comment. Why do individuals feel that to be a personal trainer you have to look like a bodybuilder or be a size 0 to encourage individuals to become healthier and fit. I am 5'2 and a size 6. I am happy, healthy and strong.? Why should I diet and become a size 0 or work out for hours a day to look like a bodybuilder? I find that too many individuals have a very odd perception on what healthy really is. If I was a size 12 and was still fit would that mean that I didn't have the same knowledge to help others become healthier and fit?

I think that individuals forget that the IsoBreathing program is not geared toward bodybuilders. It is geared to get individuals motivated and feeling good about themselves with a kindergarten approach with exercise. Remember that exercise should not hurt to work. That is why I designed this program to get back to basics and start with isometric exercise. This program is not for everybody and that is understandable. But if you know someone that is looking for a starting point this is the program for them.