Letting Go!

The following quote was in my local newspaper as the daily cryptoquote
"Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong. Sometimes it's letting go" by Sylvia Robinson

We must all learn to let things and sometimes people go, to pass on out of our lives. This can be a very painful time in a persons life. There are things that happen in our lives that just must be let go for our own mental and physical health. Keeping hurts bottled up can cause high blood pressure and stress, which in turn can lead to heart condition and many health issues.

Personal experience has taught me that letting go takes time and effort. You might need to find a friend, or a professional to help you deal with the issue.
I have found that exercise and writing in a journal helpful.

If you have found a special way to deal I would appreciate hearing from you.

Spare the oil.

Using an olive oil sprayer is a great alternative
to adding small amounts of oil to a dish. A two
second spray will distribute about ½ teaspoon of
oil versus the 2-3 teaspoons you may pour out of
a bottle. This will save you approximately 100
calories.
Source: The Internet

Canada's fattest and fittest

We’ve got the lowdown on Canada’s fittest and fattest cities – how do you measure up?

Western Canada
British Columbians, give yourself a pat on the back – you are one of the nation’s fittest provinces. Vancouver ranked the lowest out of all the Canadian cities, with only 12 per cent* of their population suffering from obesity. This is great news, not only for the fitness and well-being of Vancouverites, but also since all eyes will be on the city in two years, as they host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

The rest of the major western cities did not measure up to the healthy examples Vancouver has set. Sixty-two percent of Edmonton residents are either overweight or obese, and Saskatoon is just as alarming at 64 per cent. Regina and Winnipeg rank slightly below, closer to the national average, with 58 per cent of their populations being either overweight, or obese.

Central Canada
The news doesn’t get better as we move across the country, into our central provinces. In fact, the fattest city in all of Canada is located in Ontario. Hamilton residents had the highest amount of both overweight and obese residents - 74 per cent. Kingston wasn’t far behind, with about 70 per cent of its population being overweight or obese. Both Toronto and Montreal were moderately lower with each sitting at 51 per cent. On a positive note, only 15 per cent of Torontonians were dubbed obese. Sherbrooke was similar to Toronto and Montreal, with 52 per cent of its residents being overweight or obese.

Eastern Canada
Halifax residents can take pride in knowing they are the healthiest on the East Coast – only 18 per cent of these residents are considered obese. This is good news, especially when compared to Saint John, where an alarming 7 in 10 citizens in this city are either overweight or obese. St. John’s is equally as shocking with 71 per cent of its population being in the overweight or obese category.

How does your province measure up?
Here’s a chart with several provinces and their estimated population and per cent of overweight or obese residents.

Province	Estimated Population	Overweight/Obese
British Columbia	4,413,973	59.0 %
Alberta	3,497,881	60.9 %
Saskatchewan	1,006,644	68.1 %
Manitoba	1,193,566	62.5 %
Ontario	12,861,940	58.6 %
Quebec	7,730,612	56.3 %
New Brunswick	751,250	64.4 %
Nova Scotia	935,573	59.7 %
P.E.I.	139,089	66.5 %
Newfoundland	508,099	71.0 %

*All data courtesy of Statistics Canada. Source: Regional differences in obesity. Statistics Canada, http://www.statcan.ca/english/studies/82-003/archive/2006/17-3-c.pdf, June 2008.

Why are we so fat?
Over the last 30 years, there has been a dramatic rise in obesity. Our culture shift is primarily due to the fact we consume foods which are too high in energy density, yet with little nutritional value. Fast food is at our fingertips. All it takes is one easy phone call to have a greasy meal delivered directly to your door step. This becomes especially tempting for those who believe preparing a healthy meal takes too much work. Movies, television, video games, and yes, even the internet, have made us lazier. We are more likely to spend our free time catching up on our favourite TV programs than putting in an hour at the gym, or going for a walk around the block.

The statistics are undoubtedly shocking, and there is a necessity for change. Carrying extra fat around your tummy, bum, or thighs is more than just a nuisance - it’s a serious health hazard for many Canadians.

Body mass index (BMI)
Body mass index is a simple calculation that is used worldwide to measure ones health. It is important to remember that BMI does not take muscle mass, or bone density into consideration. For example, a muscular fit person may have a high BMI, but not actually be overweight.

To calculate your BMI, divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared, then multiply that number by 703. The equation would look like this: (pounds) / (inches2) x703.

Source: Sympatico MSN By Lisa Felepchuk