www.jcnews.comB2 ◆ THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2011

“It’s as easy as riding a bike”

SUSAN TAYLORContributor

You have probably heard this saying

your whole life, but usually as a metaphor referring to another task or activity.

Let’s think back to how this saying actually came to be. Most of us can remember as kids learning to ride a bike and the joy and freedom we felt as we fl ew down the hills and around the corner.

This new feature is dedi-cated to bringing the fun and exhilaration of bicycling to people of all ages and skill levels. Whether you ride for your health and weight loss, competition, commuting or just for fun, or even if you don’t ride at all right now, this is a place to learn about the great sport of cycling. There will be biking news and stories, tips and advice to make biking more fun and enjoyable, information on bike safety and awareness, informa-tion to help cyclists connect with each other, as well as ways to increase community involvement.

The goal of this column is twofold. One is to provide

a way for cyclists of all levels, from beginners to seasoned riders, to share information about all aspects of cycling, including safety, cycling events, group rides, and general bicycle knowledge and tips. We especially want to encourage new and prospec-tive riders who may feel intimi-dated or unsure of themselves as they are get-ting started. While cycling can be an elite sport, such as the “Tour De France” that is currently taking place, it is

fi rst and foremost a fun and healthy activity that can be enjoyed by all.

The second goal is to increase community awareness of bicycling, including educa-tion about roadway (traffi c) laws and safety, encouraging courtesy both on the part of the cyclist and motorist, promoting the health benefi ts of “riding a bike” for both children and adults and fi nally, discussing ways to make our community “bike friendly.”

There is also a new “Cycling in Gray” Facebook page started as a fi rst step to connect all those who are interested in

cycling in the Gray/Jones County area. Check for post-ings about group rides, both small and large. It is always safer to ride with someone.

We encourage participation both on the Facebook page and in con-tributing to this newspaper feature. This is not a “pro-fessional” column. It is just people who love cycling sharing ideas and information. Please share your cycling news, knowledge, stories and experiences.

Now, let’s ride…….

(ARA) - Susan Fishelberg grew up on processed food packaged for speed and con-venience, so it’s no wonder she quickly developed a weight problem as a child. She spent her adult years trying to shake those pounds, falling time and again for the quick fi x and “miracle” cure.

Fishelberg counted points, ate premade, portion-con-trolled meals and gobbled up 100 calorie snacks that were passed off as “healthy” and “natural,” though she had no idea what exactly was in them.

She kept her calories as low as 1,000 per day. She hit the gym with reckless abandon.

It all worked -- for awhile.When the pounds inevita-

bly began to creep back, she worked out harder.

“I would get up every day and work my butt off, fi guring that’s the way you lose weight,” says Fishelberg, of Plainview, N.Y. She attacked the ellipti-cal trainer with a vengeance, pushing her heart rate until she felt nauseous.

Fishelberg fi nally decided to talk to a personal trainer and nutritionist at Life Time Fitness. Their advice shocked her: She needed to slow down, and eat.

Metabolic testing showed that Fishelberg, who is petite but about 17 pounds over her desired weight, needed to increase her calorie intake and

decrease the pace of her exer-cise. She was starving herself fat on diet food.

Fishelberg is not alone. Almost one-third of U.S. adults are overweight, another third are obese. Americans spent an estimated $46 billion on diet products, much of it wasted on prepackaged food and fads. Forbes Magazine examined menus from the most popular diets and discovered dieters also spent 50 percent more per week on food, but 97 percent gained all the weight back in fi ve years.

Now Fishelberg thinks she’s found the key. Working with her Life Time trainer and nutritionist, Fishelberg underwent an assessment that measures a person’s resting oxygen rate to help them tailor their exercise to fi t their body. With help, Fishelberg received a personal program - she won’t call it a diet, it’s a new healthy lifestyle - and in 13 weeks has lost 11 pounds and, more importantly, 5 percent of her body fat.

Fishelberg replaced pack-aged foods with organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and fi sh. She takes herbal supplements to help with stress. A typical day’s menu might include a protein shake for breakfast, a snack of organic beef jerky and pistachios, a lunch of tuna, avocado, salad and a tortilla,

another snack and salmon and broccoli for dinner.

Now on her new program, Fishelberg has learned that “I don’t have to kill myself. My trainer sends me emails telling me what kind of cardio to do every week, and how many minutes I should work in each zone. Sometimes she says, ‘I don’t want to see you in the gym on Monday, and Tuesday I only want you doing yoga.’ I feel happy.”

Stories like Fishelberg’s are common, according to Tom Nikkola, director of nutrition and weight management for Life Time Fitness.

“The misconception is that it’s just about counting calories,” says Nikkola. “When people rely on processed foods, such as frozen or packaged meals, as the foundation of their diet, it’s pretty hard to make a conscious decision to improve consumption habits because most of those foods are designed to keep you eating them - and craving more.

“There is also the outdated concept that a healthy diet is a low-fat diet,” he adds. “When people are eating a lot of low-fat foods, their blood sugars are going to be up and down all day, and that’s going to con-tribute to cravings. Instead, if they would just focus on eating quality foods, they would be a lot more satisfi ed.”

Weight loss is more than just counting calories

Susan Fishelberg, who is petite but about 17 pounds over her desired weight, learned she needed to increase her calorie intake and decrease the pace of her exercise. She was starving herself fat on diet food.