The #1 Reason Why 80% of African American Women Are Fat

Eighty percent of African American women are obese or overweight. African American women rate the highest among other races according to Kaiser State Health Facts. The Kaiser study shows that the obesity/overweight rate among white women is 60.2% and 63.2% for Hispanic women.

The number one reason why African American women in this country are fat is lack of exercise.

The lack of exercise is also the reason behind many chronic health conditions such as heart problems, diabetes. Some of the reasons African American women give for not exercising are, being busy, lack of motivation, not knowing how to exercise and the famous “I just got my hair done”. However, the effects of lack of exercise are so serious that I recommend exercising at least four to five times per week for at least 30 minutes per exercise session.

Effects of Lack of Exercise:
Here are some of the effects of lack of exercise:

1. Chronic Diseases: The lack of exercise among African American women leads to chronic health conditions such as heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, increased risk of developing cancer and premature death

2. Depression: Lack of exercise can make anybody stressed, fatigued and depressed. Exercising releases certain hormones in the body, which reduces anxiety and depression. Lack of exercise, however, can make a person depressed and fatigued.

3. Obesity: Among all effects of lack of exercise, obesity is primary. 80% of African American women are obese or overweight is a very distrubing figure. Obesity is a condition where high amount of fat is accumulated in the body, which in turn can lead to several other health problems.

4. Lack of flexibility, balance: Lack of exercise can lead to a loss of flexibility, which can make performing daily tasks such as going up two or three flights of stairs difficult. Lack of exercise can also lead to loss of balance among the elderly.

5. Increased risk of falls, injuries: People who do not exercise are at an increased risk of falls and injuries¸, which may in turn lead to knee pain, lack of mobility and decreased self-esteem.

In the next article I will discuss how exercising can be done in many ways.

When Is The Best Time To Eat Dinner?

Studies have shown that eating early in the evening is better than eating late at night.

The highest percentage of the overweight people studied ate their dinners later at night than those of average weight. The reason for this appears to be the fact that their food does not get digested before they go to sleep.

Here is a tip - Your metabolism is at its slowest when you sleep. Undigested food that stays in your body overnight tends to build up fat and contributes to weight gain.

The best thing to do is eat five to six small meals throughout the day and a moderate dinner at a reasonable hour, generally three hours before you go to bed.

If you work at night or until a late hour and are in the habit of eating when you get home, try to change your eating and sleeping habits accordingly.

Remember to exercise three to five times per week and be sensible about when and how much you eat and you should be able to control your weight.

Surround Yourself With MVPs!

One of the key characteristics of successful people is that they avoid negative people and they spend the majority of their time surrounded by those who have already achieved success and want to achieve more success.

So if your goal is to lose 20 pounds by eating healthy, exercising and living an energy full life - then seek out others who already live a healthy lifestyle and want to lose weight .

If you are around person that has an negative attitude, than it most likely that your attitude will be negative.

Surround your self with another MVP (Most Valuable Person) and you will have the support that it takes to reach your goals.

Hanging out with a person who just talk about getting in shape but never take persistent action will ensure that you never reach your goal.

A True MVP Always Bounces Back!

We've seen the face of victory on many medal stands during the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

But what happens when we are faced with defeat and heartbreak.

A great example is U.S. track star Sanya Richards in the 400-meter dash. She was well clear of the field with a mere 80 meters to run when she suddenly lost her momentum, shortening up and finishing third.

Another example is of U.S. track star Lolo Jones, who had a clear lead in the women's 100-meter hurdles, but was knocked off-balance when she hit the next-to-last hurdle.

Jones had taken the lead and seemed to be pulling away when she hooked her right foot on the ninth hurdle and broke her stride, falling from first to seventh. The late blunder opened the door for East St. Louis native, Dawn Harper to win the gold medal.

Defeat and failure are a part of life and lessons we can learn from.

Defeat and failure teaches us that we need to learn from our mistakes. Defeat and failure also makes us stronger.

There is no doubt in my mind that Sanya Richards and Lolo Jones will pick themselves up from the canvas and come back fighting better than ever.

A true MVP always bounces back!

We must do the same in our everyday lives.

Learn from our adversities, become stronger in courage, work harder, get better and become a MVP!

The Qualities of a Gold Medal Winner

The Olympics is grabbing every one's attention. Great athletes like Micheal Phelps, of the United States , won eight gold medals in swimming and Usain Bolt, of Jamaica won the gold medal in the 100 meter dash with a blazing time of 9.69.

All of the Olympic athletes have five qualities in common: (We can use these same qualities to reach your fitness goals.

1. Commitment - A great athlete will make a promise to accomplish a goal that they have set for themselves
2. Have a Plan - A great athlete also follows a set plan and is dedicated and sticks to his plan
3. Attitude - A great athlete always has a positive and winning attitude.-
4. Mustard Seed Faith - A great athlete knows that it takes faith to be a winner.-
5. Prayer - A great athlete always knows where his or her strength comes from and believes that it takes the will of God to be a world class winner.-

If you follow these five qualities you can become a gold medal winner in your fitness goals. Remember, with hard work, dedication and our Heavenly Father on our side, we too can be gold medal winners!

Training for a 5K Race the MVP Way

Training for a marathon or a triathlon takes a lot of hard work, dedication and most importantly a lot of time.

I commend those who are marathoners and triathletes, but if you are like most people, your time is very valuable, but at the same time working out and exercising is very important. That is why I suggest that you train for a 5K run.

Here are three reasons why I love training for a 5K race.

1. It does not take up a lot of your time - the program below has you running on an average of only 9.5 miles per week.
2. It is less taxing on your body – It takes me a long time to recover after running a marathon. I can recover from a 5K in a day or two.
3. It is a way to track your progress – You can try to improve your time during every race.

I strongly feel you will be able to complete your first 5K and be clocked at a competitive time within eight weeks, if you follow my 5 K training program.

I have added two days of strength training on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Saturdays will be your most challenging day. The workout consists of a combination of running and strength training. I recommend that you run first then follow it up with a 30-45 minute strength training routine.

You will have two rest days, Monday and Friday. This will give you enough time for your body to recover.

The other days are filled with road work. Remember to wear proper clothing while running outdoors.

Also, remember to drink plenty of water, eat right and get 7-8 hours of sleep.

Are you ready to get started! I hope you are excited. Training for a 5K will give you confidence and character. It will also relieve the stress, and boost your attitude.

Get off to a running start! Remember, exercising allows you to add more years to your life and add more life to your years.

The MVP 5K Beginner Training Schedule

Week 1
Sun: 15 min EZ run
Mon: Rest
Tues: 1.5 m run
Wed: Strength Training
Thurs: 1.5 m run (race pace)
Fri: Rest
Sat: 2 m run/Strength Training

Week 2
Sun: 20 min EZ run
Mon: Rest
Tues: 2 m run
Wed: Strength Training
Thurs: 1 m run (race pace)
Fri: Rest
Sat: 2.5 m run/Strength Training

Week 3
Sun: 25 min EZ
Mon: Rest
Tues: 2 mi run
Wed: Strength Training
Thrus: 1.5 m run (race pace)
Fri: Rest
Sat: 2.5 m run/Strength Training

Week 4
Sun: 30 min EZ run
Mon: Rest
Tues: 2.5 m run
Wed: Strength Training
Thrus: 1.5 m run (race pace)
Fri: Rest
Sat: 3 m run/Strength Training

Week 5
Sun: 35-40 min EZ
Mon: Rest
Tues: 3 m run
Wed: Strength Training
Thurs: 1.5 m run (race pace)
Fri: Rest
Sat: 3 m run/Strength Training

Week 6
Sun: 40 min EZ run
Mon: Rest
Tues: 3.5 m run
Wed: Strength Training
Thurs: 1.5 m run (race pace)
Fri: Rest
Sat: 4 m run/Strength Training

Week 7
Sun: 40 min EZ run
Mon: Rest
Tues: 3 m run
Wed: Strength Training
Thurs: 1.5 m run (race pace)
Fri: Rest
Sat: 4m run/Strength Training

Week 8
Sun: 40 min EZ
Mon: Rest
Tues: 3 m run
Wed: Strength Training
Thurs:2 m run
Fri: Rest
Sat: 5K Race!

Ladies - African American Hair Care For Exercising

Foxy 95.5 radio personality, Niecy, admits that one on the most popular excuses that African American women use for not exercising is "I just got my hair done."

The hardest time part about exercising is knowing you are going to sweat your hair out and you will have to spend 30-40 minutes repairing fixing your hair. Plus, you may wear a short, sexy style so you can't just wash and go.

I understand that you spent a lot of money on your hair and looking good is very important. But the lack exercising can hurt you in the long run. The obesity rate among African American females is 70%. The reason why is poor eating habits and not exercising.

Here are 8 tips on how to stay fit and keep your hair tight and right at the same time.

1. Work out before bed, then you just need to shower and get your hair to a sleeping point

2. Wear an Underarmour cap, if may wick the sweat

3. Change your hairstyle to something more low-maintenance

4. Wear a wig

5. Wear a head band and pull your hair back

6. Wear braids

7. Put on a shower cap after your workout and hop in the shower and then just touch up your hair with the straightening iron afterwards.

8. Make getting fit a priority and try your best to work around your hairstyle

MVP Boot Camp Teams Up with Foxy For Foxy Fitness Night

Please join us along with St. Louis Radio Station, Foxy 95.5 on Wednesday, July 23rd for a FREE MVP Boot Camp Demonstration.

Radio DJ, Niecy of Foxy 95.5 will be there to get her workout on.

The Foxy Fitness Night will take place at Hazelwood Central High School, located at 15875 New Halls Ferry Rd in Florissant.

The warm-up lap will begin at 7:15 sharp!

Please bring a exercise mat, a bottle of water and lots of energy.

MVP Boot Camp is fitness program designed to help you lose weight, burn fat, feel great, improve your energy and health.

The program has helped hundreds of people lose pounds and inches for the last three years. You will quickly find out that our Boot Camp program is a fun and challenging workout. It will also help you:

- Improve Your Strength
- Improve Your Endurance
- Improve Your Flexibility
- Improve Your Body Fat
- Improve Your Physical Fitness Assessment Testing

To register for the Foxy Fitness Night go to http://www.mvpfitness.net/

Come out on the 23rd and take part in one of the most unique physical fitness programs in St. Louis.

Tips For Working Out Outdoors

MVP Boot Camp is a great outdoor workout, exercising outdoors in warm weather can be fun, especially since you have spent winter months inside.

However, understanding how to exercise in the heat is important.

Here are a few tips for working out in the heat

1. Drink plenty of water. It’s extremely important to stay hydrated before and during exercise. Be sure to drink throughout the day (stay away from coffee and soda).

2. Eat regularly. Try to eat small meals 5-6 times per day. Include lots of fruits and vegetables.

3. Wear light, loose fitting clothes that can breath. Cotton is always a good choice. If your outdoor activity produces a lot of perspiration, consider clothing that is designed to wick the sweat away.

4. Cover your head. Wear a loose, billed baseball or golf hat to cover your face from the sun.

5. Listen to your body. Stop exercising if you begin to experience muscle cramps, nausea, headaches, goose bumps on the upper body and unsteady footing.

MVP Client Debora Kellom Loses 15 Pounds in 7 Weeks!

One of the things MVP Boot Camp Clients consistently want to know is how they can lose weight.

It's pretty simple really. But it requires getting out of your comfort zone and working hard in MVP Boot Camp, exercising on MVP Boot Camp off days and eating right.

Most people would rather find out some magic formula.

MVP Boot Camp Client Debora Kellom is off to successful start. She has lost 15 pounds in 7 weeks and will continue to lose more!

Debora is kicking butt and is making it happen.

If you want to reach your fitness goals here is my advice:

1. Work hard
2. Stop thinking negative
3. Start taking action
4. Set individual goals
5. Eat the proper foods
6. Get motivated, be persistence and believe in yourself

Remember, if you want to reach your fitness goals, you've got to want it. And you've got to want it bad.

MVP Client Diane Phipps Arm Wrestles Radio Personality

Diane Phipps is in the best shape of her life.

But, Tony Scott of KMJM Majic 104.9 thinks he can take her in an arm wrestling battle. He is so wrong!! Listen to it unfold. Hilarious!!

Copy and paste to your browser to listen.

Click on Tony Arm Wrestles a Woman

http://www.kmjm.com/cc-common/podcast.html

Treatment for Muscle Soreness

Some of you may be experiencing some muscle soreness.

This soreness is called DOMS. DOMS stands for: Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness is a feeling of muscle pain and soreness that is felt 12-48 hours following exercise, particularly at the beginning of a new an exercise program.

Here are five tips to recover from DOMS

1. Use active recovery techniques. Perform some easy low-impact aerobic exercise to increase blood flow. Such as walking, riding a bike, a light weight lifting routine. This will help diminish muscle soreness.

2. Get a massage. A massage is effective in easing the pain of DOMS by approximately 30%. It will also reduces the swelling.

3. Pain medicine. Use aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce the soreness temporarily, though they won't actually speed healing.

4. Ice it. Use ice bags, cold packs or even a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel to provide cold to the sore area for no longer that 15-20 minutes. Cold can provide short-term pain relief. It also limits swelling by reducing blood flow to the sore area.

5. Gentle Stretching. A nice light stretching routine will improve your circulation, improve your range of motion, decrease your joint stiffness and decrease your muscle soreness.

Remember, DOMS is a normal when starting a new fitness program. But I urge you to stay with it. The soreness is generally at its worst within the first 2 days following the activity and it will go away in the next few days.

PMA

MVP Boot Camp is a program that prides itself on living life with a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA)!

How is your PMA?

Here are 4 tips to improve your PMA.

1) Always Believe in Yourself. If you think you can`t do it, you are right! . When you are doing 60 seconds of sit ups, concentrate on performing the exercise with good forum and believe that you will get the job done.

2) Have Confidence. The main reason that some people don't even have goals is lack of self confidence. You have to believe that you can accomplish anything that you set your mind to. Have a positive attitude. Believe in your skills and talents.

3) Strive to Improve Everyday. For the mind, read self-improvement books. For the body, enroll in MVP Boot Camp and eat right, and for the soul, attend church, pray and read the Bible. Never stop improving!

4) Always Work and Play at Your Best. - Life is too short. Live your life to the fullest. Live everyday like it is your last day on earth. Compete against your own personal best at work and at MVP Boot Camp, and try to achieve that.

You must posses a Positive Mental Attitude not only during the good times, but during the bad times as well.

Remember, PMA is what separates a great person from an average person. In a tough and hard situations, the person with PMA is the MVP.

Being Overweight

According to Black Enterprise Magazine over 80% of African American females are overweight.

Causes of being overweight.

1. Eating too much.
2. Not being active.
3. Your metabolism is too slow.
4. Lifestyle
5. Illness and medicine.

Here's how you can fight off weight gain.

1. Lose weight gradually and safely - 1/2 - two pounds per week.

2. Do not go on fad diets.

3. Eat Well.
- Start your day with breakfast
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Eat less meat
- Drink less soda, sweet tea and "red" kool aid

4. Choose a hairstyle for an active life.

- Natural hairstyles hold up to frequent shampoos
- Short hair is easy to wash and wear
- Locks are wasy to care for
- Long hair can be pulled back for a new and sexy look

5. Exercise 30-60 minutes - four to five times per week.
- For an intense, fun and challenging workout, enroll in MVP Boot Camp.
www.mvpfitness.net

Here's 4 Ways to Get Faster Results

The summer is right around the corner, which means you have the chance to show off your shape by wearing shorts, tank tops, and sun dresses.

Here are Four Ways to Get Faster Results with MVP Boot Camp.

1. Make Nutrition a Priority - Eat 5-6 times per day. Do not allow your blood sugar levels to drop, in between meals.

By eating more often and eating the right types of foods that are on the low end of the glycemic index, you can keep your blood sugar levels more even throughout the day, and ensure that you are not getting those mid-afternoon yawns and also help keep the excess weight off.

Remember that when you spike your blood sugar by eating simple sugars and refined carbohydrates, this will potentially cause your body to store fat.

2. Drop Soft Drinks - Want to effortlessly drop 30 lbs in one year?

Millions of people drink an average of 2 regular soft drinks a day, which is a total of 300 calories. When you add these extra 300 calories up over a year, they result in over 30lbs of weight gain! Say no to soft drinks, and say goodbye to your unwanted pounds.

3. Set Goals - Have specific goals. Get a photo (or several) of what you WILL look like when you reach your goal, and then focus only on that image. Quickly erase any negative beliefs or images that may enter into your mind during your day.

4. Don't Miss Boot Camp - Take advantage of your most important investment- YOU. MVP Boot Camp is your appointment with your personal trainer in a group setting.

MVP Boot Camp is a fun and challenging workout that will help you reach your fitness goals.

For more info go to http://www.mvpfitness.net/bootcamp.html

Five Common Mistakes to Avoid In Your Fitness Program

Here five mistakes to avoid when starting or maintaining your fitness program.

1. Not warming up. Your muscles need time to adjust to the demands exercise places on them. Rather than hitting the treadmill running, for example, take a few minutes to walk, build up to a light jog, and then hit your stride.

2. Not cooling down after your workout. Too many people wrap up their workouts and head straight to the showers or to their car for the drive home. Instead, take a few minutes to lower your heart rate and stretch your muscles.

3. Not stretching enough. The best time to stretch is immediately before and after your workout. Pre-exercise stretching: take a few minutes to warm up first; not stretching properly can cause injury. Warmed up muscles are far less likely to be strained or pulled than tight ones. Make sure to stretch all of your major muscle groups, after your cool down.

4. Lifting too much weight. Lifting more weight than your muscles can handle is the best way to guarantee an injury. Being patient is a far more effective - and safe - way to increase muscle strength. Take your time when lifting weights. When it comes to strength, in general, the slower you go the more benefit you get.

5. Exercising too intensely. This is common with the "weekend warrior", the individual who tries to fit a week's worth of exercise into a Saturday afternoon. It's more effective to sustain a moderate workout schedule (a 45 minute workout, three times per week) than to exercise intensely for only one day for three hours.

At times, people choose a fitness program because it's the latest trend or "in" thing to do. Choose fitness program you enjoy, a program you are passionate about. Always remember to keep your workout fun, and you are more likely to stay with it.

The Latest Fitness Trends

Exercising is great for the mind, body, and soul and helps us look good, feel youthful and energetic.

Exercising helps reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels; it helps keep bones strong, improve concentration and sleep, and even provides benefits for the immune system.

Sometimes many exercisers get bored and fall into a slump with their fitness plan. There are a number of fitness crazes and trends, ranging from group exercise classes to equipment type to help keep you motivated. Here are some of today's popular fitness activities and what they can offer you.

Boot Camp

What: Boot Camp is a four week program of fitness instruction and motivation. Exercises include: calisthenics, sprints, resistance band training, jump roping, crunches, assessment testing, hill running, agility and power drills, sports drills, stair climbing and partner drills.

The Take: “I have dropped pounds, inches and actually enjoyed every minute of my boot camp time,” says Shelia Simmons of St. Louis. “And the people are fun to be around and there was really great camaraderie.”

Pluses: You work out with a fitness expert who offers tips throughout the class on proper form and techniques. Equipment is provided and is a great way to burn calories. For more information on MVP Boot Camps in St. Louis, go to http://www.mvpfitness.net/.

Minuses: Aching muscles are likely.

Personal Training

What: A personal trainer is someone whose entire job is to provide one-on-one fitness training to their client.

The Take: Trainers will assess your individual fitness level and help you set goals, whether it's to build muscle by weightlifting, lose fat with cardiovascular workouts, or both.Once you hire a personal trainer, you will usually meet them for hourly sessions one, two or three times a week. It's possible to work with a trainer more often, but most people can't afford the cost. Single sessions cost between $25 and $90.

Pluses: Great way to stay motivated and learn new techniques. The trainer also pushes you so your body achieves maximum results.

Minuses: Cost.

Boxing Gyms

What: A high-energy cardiovascular workout set to upbeat music. Participants punch and kick a heavy bag, jump rope and do push-ups.This is a full-body workout geared to tone and slim the arms, legs and waist, while burning hundreds of calories.

The Take: The Boxing workout is a fun class with a party atmosphere. It includes bouts of intense intervals with easy to follow combinations, kickbox-specific strength and endurance training, ending with cool-down.

Pluses: You'll love the camaraderie and the music.

Minuses: The class moves at a fast pace and for those who are not coordinated or aren't familiar with the basic moves, it can be intimidating.


Kettlebells

What: Kettlebells are taking the world of Strength and Conditioning by storm. Athletes are overwhelming their opponents with unrelenting strength and endurance.

The Take: A Kettlebell is a traditional Russian cast iron weight that looks like a cannonball with a handle. A Kettlebell work out is better suited for developing strength and flexibility simultaneously.

Pluses: An excellent way to for athletes to get stronger and faster.

Minuses: Expense and availability. Kettlebells are hard to find in fitness specialty stores and in most cases must be ordered. A pair of 35 pound Kettlebells will cost $75.00 plus, add on another $50 for shipping.

Five Ways to Spring Into Fitness

Sixty-six percent of Americans are overweight or obese and an alarming 80 percent of African-American women are either overweight or obese.

This is a very dangerous trend, because obesity is linked to unhealthy conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer.

Life should be full of joy, happiness and success, but don’t cheat yourself by living a life that has you lying on your back because of an illness.

Here are five ways that will help you build a stronger mind, body and soul.

1. Reduce the Pressure - Stress can be an incredibly powerful drag on your fitness and health and study after study has found that when a person is stressed, the body reacts. Results of stress can lead to high blood pressure, tension headaches, upset stomachs, and many other ailments. Exercise is probably the most effective defense against stress in your life. You are in the middle of a high intensity interval bicycle workout... Are you thinking about being stressed? NO!! You are just trying to survive this training session. So keep your stress in check with good quality well balanced exercise program.

2. Flush it out - Water does the body good when it comes to good health. Water helps flush out toxins and other unwanted things lingering in your body. Water also replenishes fluids that help lubricate the internal body, while keeping you hydrated, lowering your desire to eat, and also helps keep your skin looking smooth and young. I know it's hard to drink lots of water, but find bottled water you enjoy the taste of or filter your tap water and keep it chilled in the refrigerator. You should be drinking at least eight to 12 glasses of water each and every day.

3. Sodium and your Diet - Who doesn't like the taste of salt? As a way of lowering your blood pressure, keeping salt in your meal plan in check is another important way to support your overall health. If you are craving salt, try enhancing your food flavor with fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice or some NO sodium or low sodium seasoning.

4. Rest and Re-energize - Not enough sleep can dramatically affect your current and future health. While you sleep, your body is recovering and resting from all the things you have done during your day. Your body becomes relaxed, and your mind is allowed to clear itself in preparation for the next day's events. If you are not getting enough rest, you will begin to notice it in a physical way. While there is no perfect number in terms of hours of sleep, 8 hours should be your target each and every night.

5. Read the Bible - The Bible may never help you lose weight, but it can help in many areas of your life. Those that read and study the Bible regularly have discovered that God’s word has power. It gives us comfort, it fills us with peace, it teaches us forgiveness, and it reveals to us God’s love and mercy.