The Surprising Health Benefits of the Cantaloupe

You might have read that I was recently hit with a bad case of food poisoning.  To say the least, the two weeks I lost because of it was not a highlight of my month.  But, with every con, there is a pro waiting to be discovered.  Luckily for me, I think I may have discovered it early.  Once I started to get back to my normal routines, I began to think about the food I was putting into my body.  More importantly, why I was putting it into my body.  After a short ponder, I realized I was no expert in this area.  Therefore, I did what most of my generation do when we need to know the answer to a question, I googled it lol.   

I choice to start my search with what I was currently eating at the time, a cantaloupe. 

The cantaloupe is a species of melon found in the Cucurbitacae family.  For those that like fun facts, sorry to say, that is my first and only fun fact about the cantaloupe that I will be sharing.  Now lets quickly fast-forward to the fun stuff, the great benefits of the cantaloupe.  

1. Great Source of Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene

If you are looking to incorporate vitamin A sources into your diet then cantaloupes will make a great addition to your diet plan.  In fact, cantaloupes contain concentrated amounts of beta-carotene. The body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A.  Both nutrients are essential for the maintenance of healthy eyesight.  In a study that included more than 50,000 women whose ages ranged from 45 to 67, it was found that those who consumed high amounts of vitamin A on a daily basis reduced their risk of developing cataracts by as much as 40%.  Those women who ate cantaloupes as a regular part of their diet also had a lower risk of surgery from cataracts.  On the contrary, women whose diets included a lot of salt, butter and unhealthy fats had a higher risk of cataract surgery.  Research has also shown that there may be a possible link between beta-carotene and cancer prevention.

2. Great Source of Vitamin C

Aside from being a significant source of vitamin A, cantaloupes are also good sources of vitamin C.  Vitamin C is an antioxidant which functions in the water-soluble parts of the body.  As you might know, antioxidants help fight free radicals in your body.  Free radicals spread damage to your cells, causing diseases and signs of aging.  Vitamin C also strengthens your immune system by stimulating your white blood cells.  Your white blood cells are responsible for killing viruses, bacteria and other foreign elements that seek to enter your body.

3. Promotes the Health of Your Lungs

A recent study showed that consumption of a vitamin A-rich food like cantaloupe is also beneficial to smokers.  If you’re a smoker or someone who is constantly exposed to second-hand smoke then you might want to make cantaloupes a regular part of your diet.  One of the carcinogens found in cigarette smoke reportedly created a vitamin A deficiency in the body.  When you start incorporating more vitamin A into your diet, the deficiency is reversed and you also lower your risk of developing lung diseases like emphysema.

4. Prevents Cardiovascular Disease

Cantaloupes are also rich in a compound called adenosine.  Adenosine is typically administered to patients who have heart disease since this compound has blood-thinning properties. When your blood is thin, you can prevent blood-clotting in the cardiovascular system.  The folate present in cantaloupes and all types of melons also help in preventing a heart attack.

5. Reduces Stress

Cantaloupe might also be an ideal fruit to eat during those times when you are feeling anxious and stressed.  Cantaloupe is rich in potassium which normalizes the heartbeat and promotes the supply of oxygen to the brain.  As a result, you feel more relaxed and focused.

Hope everyone found this interesting.  Stayed tuned for more about other foods, mainly their benefits lol.

   

SYMFIT Team hikes scheduled for the last Sunday of every month

If you're a reader from Vancouver, BC come join me and the SYMFIT team for our monthly hikes.  There is no charge to join in on the fun.  Come out and say hi, meet some new friends, and feel free to pick the brains of two elite personal trainers.       

Hiking Notes: Please Read

• Hikes begin at 10:00am from a predetermined place
• Preregistration is required: to register for a hike please email dj@symfit.com or leave me a comment (and i'll get back to you personally).
• All Levels Welcome (Black Tusk is available for intermediate-advanced hikers)
• All hikes and trekking require proper footwear, hydration packs, and are guided by one of your coaches

The Hikes:

Lions Hike | Sunday May 26, 2013
Chief | Sunday June 30, 2013
Black Tusk | Sunday July 28, 2013
Garabaldi | Sunday August 28, 2013 

For more info CLICK HERE - There is in fact a typo with the time on the page, it should  say 10 am.  Everything else on that page is correct.  Website is not 100% complete yet, we are slowly putting the final touches on it - check back soon!! 

Finding Your Groove Again When Your Training Gets Disrupted

Sometimes we can find a groove in our training, during this time we’re motivated to workout every day, we’re feeling optimal and hitting our fitness goals – what could be better! – And then everything comes to a screeching halt.  Any number of unforeseen events can come along and pull you away from your groove: Getting an illness, an injury, a family emergency, personal crisis, prepping for a special event, moving, your favorite running route getting blocked off, or a relaxing holiday that becomes extra relaxing.

When this happens, best advice I can give - Go easy on yourself.  Many people tend to revert to berating themselves when they lose the path.  Beating yourself up is not going to get you any more motivated.  There’s nothing more taxing that feeling guilty and ashamed.  Instead, you can choose to embrace it and find a way through it.

Recently, I acquired an illness that disrupted my whole system.  My favorite physical activities - yoga, running, & fitness were inaccessible to me for a few weeks, after having been in a comfortable groove for some time. I had a choice: I could wallow and think wistfully about the good old days, or… I could find a way through this. In choosing the latter, I was faced with the task of being willing to try new forms of movement that wouldn’t compromise my injury or cause me pain. It was an opportunity for growth, in that I practiced willingness, adaptability and stretched out of my comfort zone.

 Here are some lessons I benefited from (and teach my clients):

1. Reduce your attachment to one way of doing things.

Although you may be really connected to the routines you have, or one type of movement; it is really essential to apply a key life skill here: the ability to adapt. Shake things up every once in a while by squeezing in a different workout.

2. Create a backup fitness plan.

Think of a fitness back-up plan as an insurance policy: Our fitness activities keep us in top form (emotionally and mentally as well) for handling life’s events and challenges.  If you relied solely on one activity, then everything would fall apart if that gets disrupted in any way.  If your body is used to output, you may risk becoming a little depressed when it stops movement; so be sure to have a small list of alternative ways you can get movement in, and most importantly, practice these every once in a while.  Schedule in one “Plan B” workout every 2 weeks, even if it’s not your favorite.  It’s kind of like a ‘fire drill’ practice: its good to be prepared for anything.

3. Be willing to get creative within your limitations.

Even though you may have found what works for you, if you are disrupted or limited somehow, then it’s time to think outside the box. There are many, many opportunities for physical movement, or high-impact mini-workouts for those who face time constraints.  For instance, ask fit friends about their workout preferences.  Also, consider asking a personal trainer to help you discover new exercises or activities - they are great resources for bringing in new forms of physical movement into your life.  Don;t be afraid to ask me lol :)

4. Tolerate a learning curve for your new forms of movement.

If indeed you have said yes to an exercise back up plan, be aware that you may take some time getting used to it.  All mastery requires a stage of awkwardness.  Also, keep your ego in check.  It may convince you that because this new movement is awkward or difficult, that it’s not worth pursuing.  Ignore it and keep on moving.

"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” - Bruce Lee

All throughout life we will be faced with distractions, disruptions and unforeseen events. Nothing can ever stay comfortably predictable. The facts: committing to physical wellness involves much more than finding a routine you like and sticking with it.  The ability to adapt with the punches, combined with determination, topped with a consistent readiness to step out of your comfort zone -if need be- are traits of individuals who live active lifestyles.  Hope you found this interesting and helpful :)

A personal trainers workout: Post-Food Poisoning (I'm back bitches!!)

Before I begin, sorry that it has been a while since my last post.  Like usual, life has been busy.  Happy to say, that lots of work has been going into the SYMFIT website - it is almost finished!!!  Fingers crossed for end of the month :) 

As for the title - Part of my disappearance was due to an illness, this time around, food poisoning.  How bad was it - it took me out for nine days.  In fact, four of the nine days I couldn't even eat.  Once all the poison was gone, my body was left feeling very weak.   

After an hour of feeling crushed by this feeling, I quickly refocused and marched to the studio.  I knew there was only one thing to do about it - GO BACK TO TRAINING!

Here is what I did:

Hanging Lat Pull Ups
Olympic Clean and Press
Gravity Machine Jacknife & Pike
Followed By...
Battle Ropes & Agility Work down the rope and back 1-2-3
1= Alternating waves & Lateral in and outs hops with 180 spin half way through
2= circles waves & chris cross scissors hops with 180 spin half way through (meaning I move forwards and backwards)
3= Smash Waves & 360 Lateral forward and backward hops
And to finish it off... rope climb!!

I felt like I killed it like a champ lol -  3-4 sets of the first half, 2 sets of second half - all done under an hour!! Not bad for the first one in over two weeks. I'm back BITCHES!!!