Health & Fitness
by James W. Lewis
to get a good walk. While inside, take the stairs vice the elevator or escalator. Climbing
stairs can be a great calorie burner. During breaks, try short walks or calisthenics such
as squats or pushups to keep the heart happy. And if you’re gung ho, keep a set of 10 lb.
We should draft a law to add more hours to the day. Hard-charging professionals
dumbbells near your desk. You can do curl-ups while speaking to a client on the phone.
keeping a business afloat deserve extra ticks on the clock, especially.
Before hitting the bed, squeeze in sets of crunches, pushups, squats, jumping jacks,
Twenty-four hours short changes sleep-deprived entrepreneurs with constant negative
whatever calisthenics you prefer. Better yet, you can perform each exercise while
balances of time. Maybe change the number from twenty-four to twenty-eight. Or
watching your favorite bedtime TV show. If you remember the aerobic one-two steps
even thirty.
from High School gym classes, you’ll have more than enough exercises. Be careful,
A twenty-four hour allotment doesn’t seem to cut it for business owners with a trillion
though. You may find the time to exercise, but what about your food intake?
things wrapped in personal and professional issues. Deduct sleep and you’ve lost about
Although physical activity burns fat and builds muscle, not eating the right foods can
six to eight hours. Throw in work-related demands of staying in the black and you’re
counteract your efforts. Eat too many fatty foods and you can become... well... fat. Pile
down another eight to twelve hours. With four to six hours left, the remaining time
on calories and the excess becomes... well... stored fat. Around your waist. And hips.
sounds like enough, but stir family, school and other miscellaneous
And thighs. In other words, you become what you eat.
activities in the pot and precious “me” time digests in Father Time’s
belly. Before you know it, you hit the bed to meet Mr. Sandman, then
Well-balanced meals packed with fruits and vegetables keep your
wake up a few hours later; ready to start the rigmarole all over again.
In Today’s
“engine” running efficiently. Your body needs steady fuel to help
burn fat. Six small meals a day can provide the motor fluids it
According to federal health-related statistics, approximately 32% of
world, people needs, but to rev that motor up to start your day, you should not
Americans tip the scale way too far over. For African-Americans,
skip breakfast. Too often, busy-bodies bypass breakfast and head
stats hover around 48%. Not good. So how do you make room
to Starbucks instead. If you have time for Starbucks, you have time
for staying fit? want things
for an apple and bagel.
With a lack of physical activity contributing to obesity, heart disease,
To reduce stops at fast-food joints--aka factory makers of heart-
hypertension and diabetes, keeping the heart pumping can help fend quick, hand-
haters like high cholesterol and saturated fat--recall the good-ol’
off enemies of our temples. In other words, to lose fat and maintain
days of elementary school and pack a lunch. Kill the munchies with
health, professionals must find time.
delivered and
low-calorie snacks like raisins, almonds, bananas and crackers with
In today’s world, people want things quick, hand-delivered and
tuna. These snacks can also help you meet your six-small-meals-a-
ready for use. No assembly or repair - we want it yesterday. That
ready for use.
day quota. And beware of sodas.
includes a body ready made with washboard abs and granite biceps.
Sodas are packed with empty calories. It’s not unheard of to down
No wonder attaining a figure weight scales can appreciate falls off
ten Mountain Dews a day. Drink more water instead. Each time
the things-to-do list, sometimes before an attempt gets off the Start line. We can’t get
you pass a water fountain, take a sip. Since our bodies are made up of approximately
that slim waist fast enough. Too many obstacles blocking the way; too convenient to
40-60% water, might as well give your temple what it needs, right? Eight to ten glasses
hit McDonalds on the ride home; too easy to slide into the Lay-Z Boy and say, “screw
a day should do the trick (you may need to hydrate more often during the summer).
it, I’ll find time tomorrow to work out.” Well, tomorrow becomes tomorrow again.
Finding the time to exercise and good nutrition can be challenging, but not impossible.
The cycle repeats again and again. How can we break that cycle? Well, if you want it
With preparation and a little creativity, you can attain your physical and entrepreneurial
bad enough, you will find time to break it.
goals at the same time. Your heart and waistline will love you for it.
Take a sample of that inner fire that drove your entrepreneurial goals and apply it to
exercise and good nutrition. You found time to create a business; you can find time to
work on your fitness and eat right.
Be creative and plan ahead. Little tricks can go a long way. For example, if you prefer
the gym after work or during lunchtime, pack a gym bag in your car the night before
each workout day. The bag should include not only your workout gear, but common
essentials like a towel, bottled water or Gatorade, IPOD and change of clothes, if
needed. If into sports, pack the balls and equipment in the trunk.
If you can manage early morning workouts, you may need to wake up at least a half-
hour early. Sleep in your gym clothes and you’re half-ready. Once you wake up, throw
on the tennis shoes then off you go.
A workout partner can help you stay on the path toward your physical goals. Find an
ideal sidekick on the same page; someone you trust to inject that “boost” you might
need to whip you back on track if you slip. A partner helps break monotonous routines,
too. A strong support system from friends and family makes the road to health that
much better.
Throughout the work day, opportunities for exercise present themselves, so take
advantage of cracks in “work” time. Park as far as you can from your office entrance
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2  NAPTURAL ROOTS  13
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30