My name is Senior Master Paul Leitzke and I own and operate Confidence Martial Arts in Wilmington, NC. I’ve had the privilege to teach and help others pursue and achieve a healthier lifestyle.
We aren’t talking about being fanatical but rather starting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It’s about moderation, healthier food choices, and consistent exercise. Being healthy is a part of our lives not our entire lives.
Here are some ideas to help you get started or to improve maintaining your good health.
1. The best exercise is the one you will do consistently and that is one that you enjoy. I am partial to martial arts as it has provided me with many benefits. Among them are: going at your own pace, being taught and guided by a professional marital arts instructor, increased confidence and self-esteem, learning self-defense and being surrounded by positive and supportive people (we are with whom we associate) , it’s fun and you get fit in the process! One of the beauties of martial arts training is that it helps to develop self-discipline to make exercise a healthy habit.
2. Increase your daily intake of fresh vegetables and fruit. Our bodies were made to function efficiently by eating whole foods and not packaged or processed food. Making healthier food choices greatly impacts and influences how we feel and maximizes the benefits of our exercise program.
3. Read labels and do most of your shopping in the perimeter of your supermarket. I make it a point to fill my cart with between 80-90% whole foods (ie food close to nature). But moderation is the key to success. Having the occasional cookie, piece of dark chocolate or treat is okay! You won’t feel deprived and it will be easier for you to maintain your new healthy lifestyle.
4. Drink more water. Being well-hydrated is important for bodily functions such as good digestion and elimination. Also many times when we feel hungry between meals is in fact due to being dehydrated. Drink a refreshing glass of water with a squeeze of lemon. Aim for at least 8 glasses of water spread throughout the day. Bring a bottle of water with you wherever you go. At confidence martial arts, we encourage our students to stay hydrated by having water breaks during our classes.
5. Make exercise a family or couple activity. Martial arts classes or other family activities are a good way to re-connect after work or school. Many families enjoy taking classes with Confidence Martial Arts, as it is part of their healthy lifestyle and a family activity they all can enjoy together. In addition, the parents are reassured that they are equipping their children with knowledge of safety measures (eg prevention) and physical and emotional self defense (eg self confidence as predators choose those who appear to lack self-esteem).
6. Eat a healthy breakfast.This is vital and importantjust as is making exercise a priority inyour life. Start your day with some protein, healthy carb and fat, such as a protein shake) with a piece of fruit and a few nuts, or yogurt (low sugar) along with a piece of whole grain toast with a smear of nut butter are a few excellent choices. You will feel much more sated, energized and alert than if you skipped breakfast or ate a sugary food such as a donut. In addition, you will be less inclined to gorge and indulge at lunch thus helping you to stay healthier
7. Have healthy snacks at your home office, in your car or bag. Good choices are nuts (in moderation), cut-up carrots and celery, nut butter smeared on a few slices of apple or pear, or a piece of dark chocolate (about the width of your middle three fingers). This will also help keep your metabolism going and you from indulging too much in unhealthy snacks. As martial arts instructors, we can teach 5 classes back to back. Having healthy snacks helps sustain my energy to teach dynamic martial arts classes.
8. Do not starve yourself. It adversely affects your metabolism and may thus cause you to GAIN weight. Not eating or eating too little will cause you to be more inclined to eat the first thing you see which many times is something unhealthy.
9. Surround yourself with supportive and positive people. At confidence martial arts, students and instructors provide a supportive, healthy and motivating social network that helps empower you. Some of your acquaintances may not like to see these new changes in you but it is YOUR life, not theirs. Stay the course. Remember: you are worth it!
10. Health is not a number either on the scale or the tag on our clothes. It’s choosing to do healthy things for our bodies, mind and soul. Good physical and emotional health will come as a result. It comes down to choice. What choice will YOU make for YOUR life?
Senior Master Paul Leitzke has over 30 years experience in martial arts. He teaches ATA Taekwondo, ground fighting, Krav Maga and martial arts weapons at his Confidence Martial Arts in Wilmington NC. Students are kids and adults of all ages and ability levels. His goal is to keep America strong and healthy one Black Belt leader at a time!
Visit Senior Master Paul Leitzke at this website: http://confidencmartialarts.com or call at (910) 399-1950.
© Confidence Martial Arts 2011
My name is Senior Master Paul Leitzke and I own and operate Confidence Martial Arts in Wilmington, NC. I’ve had the privilege to teach and help others pursue and achieve a healthier lifestyle.
We aren’t talking about being fanatical but rather starting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It’s about moderation, healthier food choices, and consistent exercise. Being healthy is a part of our lives not our entire lives.
Here are some ideas to help you get started or to improve maintaining your good health.
1. The best exercise is the one you will do consistently and that is one that you enjoy. I am partial to martial arts as it has provided me with many benefits. Among them are: going at your own pace, being taught and guided by a professional marital arts instructor, increased confidence and self-esteem, learning self-defense and being surrounded by positive and supportive people (we are with whom we associate) , it’s fun and you get fit in the process! One of the beauties of martial arts training is that it helps to develop self-discipline to make exercise a healthy habit.
2. Increase your daily intake of fresh vegetables and fruit. Our bodies were made to function efficiently by eating whole foods and not packaged or processed food. Making healthier food choices greatly impacts and influences how we feel and maximizes the benefits of our exercise program.
3. Read labels and do most of your shopping in the perimeter of your supermarket. I make it a point to fill my cart with between 80-90% whole foods (ie food close to nature). But moderation is the key to success. Having the occasional cookie, piece of dark chocolate or treat is okay! You won’t feel deprived and it will be easier for you to maintain your new healthy lifestyle.
4. Drink more water. Being well-hydrated is important for bodily functions such as good digestion and elimination. Also many times when we feel hungry between meals is in fact due to being dehydrated. Drink a refreshing glass of water with a squeeze of lemon. Aim for at least 8 glasses of water spread throughout the day. Bring a bottle of water with you wherever you go. At confidence martial arts, we encourage our students to stay hydrated by having water breaks during our classes.
5. Make exercise a family or couple activity. Martial arts classes or other family activities are a good way to re-connect after work or school. Many families enjoy taking classes with Confidence Martial Arts, as it is part of their healthy lifestyle and a family activity they all can enjoy together. In addition, the parents are reassured that they are equipping their children with knowledge of safety measures (eg prevention) and physical and emotional self defense (eg self confidence as predators choose those who appear to lack self-esteem).
6. Eat a healthy breakfast.This is vital and importantjust as is making exercise a priority inyour life. Start your day with some protein, healthy carb and fat, such as a protein shake) with a piece of fruit and a few nuts, or yogurt (low sugar) along with a piece of whole grain toast with a smear of nut butter are a few excellent choices. You will feel much more sated, energized and alert than if you skipped breakfast or ate a sugary food such as a donut. In addition, you will be less inclined to gorge and indulge at lunch thus helping you to stay healthier
7. Have healthy snacks at your home office, in your car or bag. Good choices are nuts (in moderation), cut-up carrots and celery, nut butter smeared on a few slices of apple or pear, or a piece of dark chocolate (about the width of your middle three fingers). This will also help keep your metabolism going and you from indulging too much in unhealthy snacks. As martial arts instructors, we can teach 5 classes back to back. Having healthy snacks helps sustain my energy to teach dynamic martial arts classes.
8. Do not starve yourself. It adversely affects your metabolism and may thus cause you to GAIN weight. Not eating or eating too little will cause you to be more inclined to eat the first thing you see which many times is something unhealthy.
9. Surround yourself with supportive and positive people. At confidence martial arts, students and instructors provide a supportive, healthy and motivating social network that helps empower you. Some of your acquaintances may not like to see these new changes in you but it is YOUR life, not theirs. Stay the course. Remember: you are worth it!
10. Health is not a number either on the scale or the tag on our clothes. It’s choosing to do healthy things for our bodies, mind and soul. Good physical and emotional health will come as a result. It comes down to choice. What choice will YOU make for YOUR life?
Senior Master Paul Leitzke has over 30 years experience in martial arts. He teaches ATA Taekwondo, ground fighting, Krav Maga and martial arts weapons at his Confidence Martial Arts in Wilmington NC. Students are kids and adults of all ages and ability levels. His goal is to keep America strong and healthy one Black Belt leader at a time!
Visit Senior Master Paul Leitzke at this website: http://confidencmartialarts.com or call at (910) 399-1950.
© Confidence Martial Arts 2011