Hello Everyone,

Welcome to The Quest, a newsletter intended to inspire and inform those interested in experiencing optimal well being in body, mind and spirit.

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In this issue of The Quest:
1. The Quest Quote
2. The Quest Q & A – Interval training
3. Ginger Brew ~ Why should you drink this soothing root beverage?
4. News ~ Look for Deborah’s new article in the Winter 2002 issue of Ms. Fitness magazine.
5. Save on mail orders. To inquire about new discount pricing, click here.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1. Quote:
Compliments are the verbal nourishment of the soul. They generate self-esteem and in a very subtle way create a person in the full spectrum of his or her essence.
~Daphne Rose Kingma in The Book of Love

To practice this thought: Pay an acquaintance a compliment.

2. Question:
I have a client that is at a point in her workouts where she is not getting the results that she wants.  She runs 3 times a week, walks 5 miles with her dog daily, and works out fairly aggressively with weights 3 to 4 times a week.  I suggested she might try some interval training in her work out which she is open to.  Do you think this type of training could help her?
Thank you,
Debbie Douglass, Bermuda Dunes California
 
Answer:
Thanks for your question Debbie. Just a few things off the top of my head:

1) Diet: I would first look at her diet as the number one culprit to her problem.
What is she eating? If she is eating too few or too many calories, lacking protein, healthy fat or complex carbohydrates, then all of these factors can have a negative effect on training. How is her water intake? Does she take a daily multi vitamin and mineral?

2) By the look of her workouts, she is doing plenty—enough for almost two people. At what intensity does she exercise? If her intensity is too low, she may have reached a plateau. In this case, yes, I feel that interval training can often "shake up" a person's metabolism and help break plateaus.

3) Yet my real concern would be the opposite: over training. Has your client simply been doing too much? Ask, is she tired? How is her energy level when she is not exercising? Is she sleeping poorly? Or having a difficult time getting out of bed in the morning? Is her resting heart rate elevated?

When the body over trains and doesn't get the proper rest and food it needs, often our fitness improvements stop altogether.

I hope this can start you off in the right direction with your client. Begin by asking these questions first, then make some small changes, one at a time, one week at a time. Let me know in a few weeks what the two of you have discovered! For more on interval training, click here.

3. Ginger Brew from Dr. Weil

Soothing Ginger Tea
People throughout the world have learned to value ginger for it's warming effects and ability to stimulate digestion, settle upset stomachs, and relieve aches and pains. In recent years, a great deal of medical research, much of it in Japan and Europe, has documented remarkable findings. Ginger improves digestion of proteins, is an effective treatment for nausea and motion sickness, strengthens the mucosal lining of the upper gastrointestinal tract in a way that protects against the formation of ulcers, and has a wide range of actions against intestinal parasites.

To brew yourself a cup of ginger tea: Grate 1/2 teaspoon of fresh ginger; steep it into a cup of boiling water for 10-15 minutes; strain; add honey to taste, and enjoy. Serve hot or cold.

4. News

Look for Deborah’s new article in the Winter 2002 issue of Ms. Fitness magazine.

5. Save on mail orders. To inquire about new discount pricing, click here.

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The Quest for Peace, Love & a 24-Inch Waist

www.deborahlow.com