LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS –
Health and fitness expert Larry North visited the Kelly Field Club Oct. 18 to give some tips on how to survive the holiday season and reach a goal of lifetime health.
Mr. North had a rough childhood that included his own battles with weight problems.
"I have a unique background," Mr. North said. "My mother was a member of overeater's anonymous. I even have photos of obese family members from the 1800s, and photos of me being overweight as a child.
"There are a lot of interesting things that I can cover on genetics versus habits," he said.
Because of his background, including nearly 25 years to speech making, Mr. North's program has a unique way of not only emphasizing physical health, but also emotional health.
"I don't just teach fitness, but also emotional fitness, which I believe is often neglected," Mr. North said.
"People need to have courage, humility, discipline, self-forgiveness and commitment to lose weight. People quite often aren't working on their emotional fitness," Mr. North added.
The fitness guru believes a military community produces an incredible audience to speak to because of the stresses that come with the nomadic lifestyle and separation issues that military people face.
"It's a great audience to be in front of," Mr. North said. "Food isn't the big culprit. Dealing with life is. Stress and emotions are a big contributor to being overweight."
According to the American Obesity Association, approximately 127 million adults in the U.S. are overweight, 60 million obese and 9 million severely obese.
"Nothing wakes me up in the morning like doing a live presentation," Mr. North said. "It doesn't matter if it is 20 people or 3,000 people. Strangers to me are just friends I haven't met yet, and I can't wait to get out there and meet new friends and help them change their lives."
Here are a few of Larry North's tips for a healthier life:
· Don't miss meals.
· When you make a bad food choice, get right back on your healthy eating program for the next meal.
· Don't try to lose weight during the holidays. Instead, make it your goal not to gain any weight.
· Eat a healthy meal right before a holiday party.
· When eating out, keep it simple by ordering your food grease free.
· Keep your focus and stick to your exercise routine.
· Beware of free food during the holidays because it is everywhere.
· Double up on your cardio.