Teachers at Ranger are Getting Healthy

Teachers at Ranger and Murphy schools are on board for Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less! I believe in this program and am very excited to have so many participants involved for the next fifteen weeks. Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less is dedicated to encouraging people to eat better and move more! Participants decide on their own personal goal, weigh in each week, and participate in class discussions about strategies to achieve their goal. We discuss the importance of realizing that involvement in this program is a life-long commitment. With all the demands that families must juggle on a daily basis, it is often difficult to carve out the time to take care of yourself. For optimum health benefits, it is recommended that we try to be physically active for about 300 minutes a week. This could be interpreted as working out an hour a day for five days. Making time to exercise for an hour each day, Monday through Friday would leave the weekends free! Of course, we still need to be diligent with our food intake. I also think that it is important to practice moderation. Depriving yourself completely of any one food will make that particular food become almost obsessive. However, if you really are craving chocolate, permit yourself to eat a very small amount, just enough to curb the craving. Now, don ‘t tell me that your craving for chocolate can only be satisfied with a pound of chocolate! Discipline, discipline, discipline is the name of the game. It may take a week or so for your metabolism to get on board with your new daily routine. If you have not been exercising for a while, your muscles will probably be a little sore at first. This will pass. Your digestive system might also be a little upset if you suddenly change your eating habits. An increase in fiber may upset your system a little. Soluble fiber is found in your fresh fruits and vegetables and is a great way to insure that you feel full. Insoluble fiber is found in many of the peelings and in some of the fiber cereals. While your system does not directly absorb insoluble fiber, this fiber does help remove your body’s waste efficiently. I am very proud of the Ranger teachers who have completed several weeks of ESMMWl. After their first week the seventeen participants lost a total of 44 pounds. This was a fantastic achievement since the recommended safe amount of weight to lose per week is 2 pounds. The group seems to be dedicated and having a fun time so far. Good luck teachers!