If you’ve been following me on Twitter or Facebook, then you’ve heard me talking about operation muffin top. Operation Muffin Top is my quest towards a more toned physique before I go on vacation in September. I’ll settle for a 4 pack, but a 6 pack would be lovely on the beach in a bikini. Don’t laugh, a girl can dream can’t she? Although I don’t have a goal weight, I do have a fitness goal. We should all have a fitness goal. Even those of you who think “Big Boned” is a medical term for carrying extra weight. And before you go looking at me like the lady at Lane Bryant did last Christmas when I was shopping for a gift for a friend, so called skinny girls can have lifestyle habits that jeopardize their health and fitness too. We all can do better when it comes to our health.
African Americans are predisposed to certain chronic health conditions such as cardiac disease, diabetes and high cholesterol. Some of which are driven by unhealthy and others can be heredity. According to the Office of Minority Health, the death rate for African Americans was higher than Whites for heart diseases, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and homicide.
Join me in Operation Muffin Top
If you think I included those stats to scare you, you were right. We have got to do better and be an example for our children. I am not asking you to become the epitome of health overnight, it takes time. Start with baby steps. Here are a few things you can do to start thinking about health that take less than 10 min. Once you start thinking more healthy, you’ll begin to behave that way and develop healthy habits. Remember, it's about small changes over time. Start with one or two things on this list, then see how many things you can do on this list everyday.
Until next time stay strong, smart and powerful!
African Americans are predisposed to certain chronic health conditions such as cardiac disease, diabetes and high cholesterol. Some of which are driven by unhealthy and others can be heredity. According to the Office of Minority Health, the death rate for African Americans was higher than Whites for heart diseases, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and homicide.
- African American women were 10% less likely to have been diagnosed with breast cancer, however, they were 34% more likely to die from breast cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white women.
- African Americans were 2.2 times as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to die from diabetes.
- African American men were 30% more likely to die from heart disease, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
- Although African Americans make up only 13% of the total U.S. population, they accounted for 49% of HIV/AIDS cases in 2007 and African American women were more than 20 times as likely to die from HIV/AIDS as non-Hispanic white women.
- African Americans had 2.3 times the infant mortality rate of non-Hispanic whites
- African American males are 60% more likely to die from a stroke than their White adult counterparts.
Join me in Operation Muffin Top
If you think I included those stats to scare you, you were right. We have got to do better and be an example for our children. I am not asking you to become the epitome of health overnight, it takes time. Start with baby steps. Here are a few things you can do to start thinking about health that take less than 10 min. Once you start thinking more healthy, you’ll begin to behave that way and develop healthy habits. Remember, it's about small changes over time. Start with one or two things on this list, then see how many things you can do on this list everyday.
- Do 15 sit-ups
- Read the health news headlines of the day
- Straighten your posture
- Eat an apple
- Stand up and stretch
- Tell a friend about one of the health headlines you read
- Cut out one of your sugary snacks
- Do 10 lunges
- Drink a glass of water
- Smile
- Put a package of oatmeal in your pocket or purse for a healthy breakfast or snack
- Throw a bottle of water in there as well
- Ask to have your salad dressing on the side
- Open a window
- Take a deep breath
- Wake up 10 minutes earlier
- Share a healthy recipe
- Wash your hands
- Check your blood pressure
- Jog in place for 9 minutes
- Take a canvas tote bag to the grocery store
- Ask a friend to join you for a healthy dinner
- Put down the remote control and get up to change the TV channel
- Replace your next cup of coffee with a cup of tea
- Lay out your clothes for the next day
- Take a 10 minute break
- Take a quick walk
- Skip your late evening grocery store run
- While watching TV, do 5 push-ups during the commercial
- Read this list over again and increase the number of things you’re willing to do by one
Until next time stay strong, smart and powerful!
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