interesting comments

I was playing around on the computer looking up all different things that are associated with IsoBreathing. I came across a sight where individuals were rating the IsoBreathing program. I really did appreciate all of the comments mentioned. www.dietblogtalk.com/isobreathing

Some were positive and some negative. What I was amused at were the negatives and I truly understood their comments. This program is not for everyone. It is a learning process without the hip hop music and fast "booty" movements.
I designed the IsoBreathing program to teach individuals that exercise does not have to hurt to work. IsoBreathing is the Kindergarten of exercise. You need to start someplace and this program is your starting place. It teaches proper body positioning with a number of exercises so once you learn body positioning you need to move forward and increase intensity and perform different exercises. There are alot of great programs out there but I have found when watching individuals perform different exercises their body positioning was off.

The biggest complaint that I received from new clients that belonged to gyms was that they were not obtaining results. I worked with them for one week and changed their body positioning and they felt their muscles working where they did not feel them work before. For some I had to change their eating habits and for others they needed to include aerobic activity. This program is not aerobic. It is for strength training.
I hope that this will help others that are considering the IsoBreathing program. I have helped thousands get on the right path to a healthier lifestyle and I want to help you.

IsoBreathing a household word

I was given a challenge by my husband the other night. My goal is to have IsoBreathing become a household word. In 2008 my goal was to help one million individuals with the IsoBreathing program. I did come up short but I still have a smile on my face because I have helped many individual change their lifestyles to become healthier. (not everyone needs to be a size 2) I was short in 2008 but I love a challenge so my goal for 2009 is to help ten million individuals change their lifestyles to become healthier, stronger and lead a more productive life.

I placed a snippet on www.youtube.com/isobreathing because of this new challenge that I was given. I was told that it would take thousands and thousands if not millions of dollars to make IsoBreathing a household word.I am a small business owner and do not have that kind of funds. SO…..

The question now is why would you want to help me. My answer to that is I am not doing this to make money. If you check out my website at www.isobreathing.com I actually do donate a good portion of my proceeds to a few charities. Cancer Crusaders which is based in New Orleans where 100% of its proceeds go to cancer research. (it is a volunteer organization that I was part of for many years)

I also donate funds to Fontainebleu High School in Mandeville Louisiana to their media program. The reason being when Katrina hit New Orleans I was just celebrating 10 years in Mandeville. I am stubborn and would not allow my business to fold. My son Josh went to his media instructor and asked if he could take on a project. The instructor was delighted, I became a mentor for the program, and I was able to revamp my program and place it all on DVD’s. (I did hire a company for volume one and I am telling you that the kids did a better job with filming and editing)

With all the new sales I want to donate funds to feed America, and still contribute to the other two charities. This day with so many out of work and difficult times there is still no reason that individuals and children should go without food.

As you can see I am passionate about what I do and I love to teach and I do that through speaking engagements and writing articles. I write for The New Orleans Wedding Magazine, my newsletter and Northshore Counciling and Wellness. I am asking all of you to check out yourtube and to go on to the isobreathing website. If this program is not for you maybe it is for someone that you know.

The IsoBreathing program is different than any other program out there because this is geared specifically toward those individuals that do not workout on a regular basis. I have been called the kindergarten of exercise because I start with isometric exercises. Everyone needs to learn what muscles they want to work and make sure that it is the group of muscle being targeted and not a different muscle group. ( if you are working the bicep you do not want to feel it in your lower back) Body positioning is everything if you want to obtain results.

Others that benefit from this program are the obese, those with physicial limitaitons and the elderly. This program is performed mostly in a chair. As you go on to level 4 there is some standing and floor work. But look at all the other levels you need to go throught to get to level 4.

I truly believe that you need to stay in a comfort zone but still challenge yourself. This is not The Biggest Loser but The Biggest Winner. (I love to keep things upbeat and positive) Everyone wins even if you only use the breathing technique. You will help yourself reduce your stress.

I also like to think outside of the box and have developed stretching programs for those that knit and crochet and my newest e-book stretches for gardeners. I also have a program for those that sit behind a desk all day and a CD that is for stress reduction.

Besides having great testimonials on my website I also have a number of them on linkedin on my home page. www.lindedin.com under IsoBreathing Ellen Miller.

So I am now asking you if you would kindly contact all individuals that you know and send them to youtube or my website so that I can help those individuals that want to be helped with my fitness expertise.

I wish all of you a wonderful day. Remember dont just Breathe IsoBreathe.

Ellen Miller is a Fitness Practitioner/personal trainer and the originator of the IsoBreathing program. She has been teaching lifestyle changes for almost 30 years. Sign up for her newsletter at www.isobreathing.com. Her email address is Ellen@isobreathing.com and she does answer all emails herself.

Forgot how to log in

If you are like me you have a few sights that you have to keep a list of what site you are on and what passwords to use.

Enough excuses it is time to move on and take control. Spring time is here and most of us start to put a smile on our faces when the sun is shining. I was out jogging this morning and it is amazing how individuals will not even look at you or even acknowledge that you are even present. I am used to smiling at people and trying to get them to smile back. It just makes for such a pleasant day when someone smiles back at you. I encourage you to just try it. Just try to be nice to someone. If you are in your car allow an individual to go ahead of you. If you are walking by and someone needs help give them a helping hand. Open the door for someone or give up your seat on the bus or train for someone elderly. It is amazing what just a little niceness will do not just for the other individual but for yourself. You will feel good about yourself and that alone will place a smile on your face.
I wish you all a wonderful day.
Ellen

Getting Started

I received an email from a gentleman who states that he is obese. He has tried many times to start a fitness program and diet program but always fails. Help!!

My first question to him is are you ready to change. We all hear individuals state that they are "going to start." If you are going to start you will always be going and never accomplish what you want. You must state "As of today I am eating healthier choices and I am exercising and I am feeling fantastic"

You must keep it positive and in the present.

When you are mentally ready to start a life style change then you need to take it one step at a time. With the new year here and many resolutions made- many will be broken before the end of January.

This is what I recommend for you to stay on track:
1. do not go out and purchase lots of fruits and vegetables- we all have good intentions but end up throwing out most of what was purchased. Only purchase enough fruit and veggies for 3 days at a time. Most likely it will last you the week.
2. Listen to your body no matter what exercise program you start. Your body will let you know if the weights are too heavy (your body will start to swing to get the heavy weights lifted), you are moving too fast(you will feel your body positioning getting out of wack), and if you are not in proper alignment you will start with little aches and pains ( if you are working biceps and you are feeling it in your lower back something is off).
3. Your aerobic activity will burn calories. Start out slow. Walking is the best but if you have bad knees - I placed on youtube under isobreathing a snip - it on chair aerobics. Just another way to burn calories.

I can not tell you how many times I hear from individuals that want to lose like they do on the biggest loser. Well I tell them work out for 8 hours a day, be strict with your food intake and you will need a massage therapist because you will not be able to get out of bed the next day.

Personally I perform strength training 15-20 minutes and will get in aerobic activity 30-40 minutes 3-5 days a week. that is for maintainability of weight. To lose weight you must get in aerobic activity 5-6 days a week but it can be broken up into 10 minute segments- 3 times a day. Strength training is a must to build muscle fibers. The more fibers you have the more calories you will burn.

We all have good intentions when working out and most of the time over do it and the next morning you can barely get out of bed.

You all need to understand that I have been there and have done all of that over the years. I prefer the IsoBreathing program myself. I vary the isometric exercises with full range of motion exercises and continue with the breathing technique. Proper body positioning is everything. No matter what program you choose add variety, listen to your body and make sure that you are having fun. If you are not having fun then you will not stick with your life style change.

Ellen

New Year

With the New Year comes new things. This section is going to be changed to Ask Ellen. I want to be able to help as many individuals as I can. Each of you have different questions and areas of your body that you want to strengthen and reduce. I love interaction so instead of just blogging I wanted a little more. Most individuals were just emailing me at ellen@isobreathing.com and asking questions. Yes I do answer all questions myself and wanted to share some of the questions that are being asked. I also do receive questions from my snippits on youtube. I will transfer those questions here so you can also benefit from those individuals questions also.


The first questions asked was is there a way to avoid the exercise and lose weight. My response was it can be done but.. to lose weight efficiently you will need to incorporate healthier portion sizing with food, some form of aerobic activity to burn calories and some form of strength training to gain more muscle fibers that burn more calories.

What I did not add in is yes in order to lose weight without exercise you will have to cut your calories way down. What then occurs to your body is a slower metabolism, you will become tired, sluggish, and cranky. Not my choice of weight loss.

I have found over the years is those individuals following the isobreathing program which is a way to introduce exercise to someone - they will continue to follow a portion of the program.
Some follow body positioning, others just the breathing, and for some they follow the isometric program and then will go into full range of motion for more variety.

I am here to help you out so please just ask.
You are welcome to tell your friends about this site and if they are not sure tell them to go to youtube and look up isobreathing.

Till next question- I wish you all a very Happy Healthy and Safe New Year.

back from vacation

It has been awhile since I have written anything. I have been on a fantastic 3 week much needed vacation. For my 30^th anniversary my husband and I took a 12 day cruise visiting the Mediterranean and spent an additional 5 days in Italy. We were kept very busy with a different port each day. Talk about hectic schedules. I came home and needed another vacation plus I had major jet lag.

In October my newsletter will be about how to lose weight on a cruise. Most individuals do gain weight- my clients and myself included ended up losing weight. Yes I did eat and no I did not live in the gym. Actually I only visited the gym once.

Today I am going to write about do you believe everything you read. As a business professional I do check out my listings and standings on line. Almost every day I see two specific programs We know diets and Sensational diets. They are paying for advertising and they have write ups about the various programs out there. I did get a kick reading what they wrote about IsoBreathing. Of course they did not read all my pages and they did assume a lot. The biggest thing that I got a kick with was that I was not selling their weight loss products, so of course my program can not possible work. Personally I do not believe in taking any diet enhancement or supplements and yes I do read a lot of articles and scientific information on the herbal supplements and other pills, powders, and liquids that are available for weight loss.

I believe in the old fashioned weight loss method- watch your portion sizing with food, get in some form of strength training and some form of aerobic activity every day. The IsoBreathing program is geared toward those individuals that need a starting place. I have been called the Kindergarten of exercise programs. You need to start somewhere and you need to wake up the next morning feeling good and be aware that you worked out but not sore and charley horse so you can barely get out of bed.

Yes there are many theories out there and each trainer will tell you something different. I am sorry but the old saying no pain no gain –well I guess I am too old to want to wake up sore. Who would want to get out of bed sore and then put yourself through the same grueling routine again just knowing that you are going to be sore the next day again.

When my children were younger I had a neighbor that had a difficult time getting back to the gym. I asked her why and her answer was -I know that I am going to be sore for awhile and I just cant get myself to get started knowing that. I asked her why she needed to be sore and she told me no pain no gain. What could I say but ok. If I woke up sore why would I want to go back to the gym and put myself through the same thing again. I am sorry when I was in my early 20’s I did do that. If you could touch a muscle group with your finger and you didn’t say ouch you did not work out hard enough. So I have been there and done that. I like to think that I have gotten wiser with age. I still workout and get quite a good workout but feel good and energized when I am finished not exhausted.

Before starting any program do your research. Read up on the varied programs that you want to get involved In. I do encourage variety and that is what one of my other articles in ezine is about. Variety is a must.

So I am now almost 100% back from major jet lag and I should be writing more often.

Don’t forget to sign up for the IsoBreathing newsletter. You will find additional articles in the newsletter.

Ellen

From the Radio Show

First I had a blast being the host on WGSO 990 am talk radio. During my segment on childhood obesity - I received a call asking for easy recipes for kids and parents for cooking together.
I am going to give you some of my kids favorites.

Shelly's Easy Mashed potatoes

1 frozen box of Spinach or broccoli- (stick in the microwave and cook- then drain off extra liquid)
milk
low fat cheese 1/2 cup
potatoes
You can use baking potatoes or do what I did and use instant- Follow the recipe on the box for 6 servings. and use milk in the mix.
When the potatoes are cooked add in the cooked spinach or broccoli
Mix in the cheese and Use 1/2 cup save a drop for the top of mixture

When all is mixed together bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes or until the top is golden

First serve some cut up veggies then a single serving size of the potatoes.


Becky's Chicken

Chicken breast cut in bite size pieces
bread crumbs
Italian dressing low fat or egg whites work just as well

place chicken in dressing or egg whites and then in the breadcrumbs

place on baking sheet and bake 350 for 20-25 minutes

Serve with salad and or veggies

This is a starting point
I will be happy to continue to add in more recipes

Ellen