Next month, I’m giving a talk at a conference on autism and food. This very brief post focuses on a link that I found unexpectedly while doing some quick research on PubMed.
Apparently, autism is now referred to as autism spectrum disorder, a concept that developed as a result of the widely varied symptoms that may be involved. The disorder is absolutely not my field; I was asked to speak on sugar as a limiting factor in health. (I’m quite comfortable with that topic.)
While researching and preparing the talk, however, I ran across several articles in different science journals that describe a link between maternal metabolic conditions and the risk for autism spectrum disorder, developmental delays, and impaired development in their children.
The metabolic conditions investigated included diabetes, decreased insulin sensitivity, hypertension, high triglycerides, low HDL (good) cholesterol, high fasting insulin, and high fasting glucose. The presence of these conditions in pregnant women makes their infants more likely to develop disorders in the autism spectrum.
Researchers have concluded that increasing rates of obesity among the US population could make these findings significant and quite serious in terms of public health concerns.
For my part, I’m aware that obesity can and does cause insulin resistance, but it’s certainly not the only cause. A number of factors can lead to insulin resistance (IR), including diet. In fact, diet can play a major role, both as cause and in successful risk management, or even reversal. The metabolic conditions are the same and can occur no matter which factor triggers IR.
(As it turns out, research on lab animals has shown a link between poor-quality maternal diets and insulin resistance, but, for obvious reasons, that kind of research could never be done on pregnant women.)
Needless to say, I’ll let the conference attendees know about this link I just read about between maternal metabolic conditions and the autism spectrum, and also about the link between diet (emphasis on sugar that day) and those metabolic conditions.
Let’s say you have a student who is overweight or has any of the above metabolic conditions. If she is, or is planning to become, pregnant, it would be wise for her to work with you or with a nutritionist. (Obviously, I’m not suggesting working with nutrition at the expense of medical care. Everyone knows how important prenatal care is for pregnant women.)
My point is that eating better and getting the metabolic conditions under control as soon as possible could make a big difference for both mother and baby, and that’s clearly worthwhile.
I love when I find a track that will put my class on autopilot – one where I could close my eyes and ride, knowing all my riders will instinctively know what to do and follow along will little or no cuing from me!
Track two in my classes are normally where I take everyone through a series of accelerations to “open” their cardiovascular system. These are a series of pushes that increase in intensity – hopefully to threshold or just beyond.
Here's how it breaks down:
:0 to :51 building load
:52 to 1:50 standing run with resistance
1:51 to 2:17 recover/slow pedals
2:18 to 2:23 building leg speed
2:24 to 2:52 BIG EFFORT – PUSH
2:53 to 3:07 recover
3:08 to 3:53 standing run with resistance
3:54 to 4:17 recover
4:18 to 4:53 BIG EFFORT – PUSH
Taper until the end.
This free remix download is missing the early tempo changes and the actual timing is different, but the changes in intensity are all there for you and your class to enjoy 🙂
As the fonder of multiple fitness programs for Moms; Stroller Strides®, Body Back® and Fit4Baby® – Lisa Druxman knows all about creating a Tribe of people passionate about a fitness business.
Lisa Druxman created Stroller Strides in 2001 after the birth of her baby. With over 1,300 locations nationwide, it offers moms an opportunity to get in shape, meet other moms and have fun with their baby. Since then, we have released Fit4Baby, our prenatal fitness class and Body Back, our workout for any stage of motherhood. All of our programs give women the “Strength for Motherhood” and together create FIT4MOM.
Helping YOU to make strides in fitness, motherhood, and life! ®
Our Values:
We will help moms achieve their ultimate potential, both physically and emotionally.
We will offer support and education for moms.
We will inspire moms to reach optimal health and well being.
We will inspire children to emulate their moms and make fitness a part of their lives.
During the interview Lisa and I discuss the importance of Starting With Why – it's what your Tribe will connect to, Here's a presentation from author Simon Sinek where he explains the process of finding your Why!
This group was formed in 2002 at Wesleyan University and has a psychedelic rock feel. The original version gives way to a grinding climb at 56 rpm's. It reminds me of a 70's tune (psychedelic alright!) with a modern feel. We've been grinding it out for 5:27 toward the end of our ride and I've been coaching the group to ‘let it go', or as the song says, ‘Do what you feel now….'
My youngest daughter, Carly, is home from college for the summer. She smelled really good the other day. So good in fact, I asked her what she was wearing. Imagine my surprise when she told me it was her self tanner!
Usually known for their pungent smell and sticky feel, self-tanners are not my favorite lotion / potion. I only use them for the color they give and sins they hide! 🙂
Carly found Nip + Fab 365 Body Glow Clear Tanning Gel Medium on clearance at Ulta for $2.49, but it's still a steal at the regular price of $9.99. (Ulta no longer carries it, but Walgreen's does).
I'm not sure what makes it smell SO much better then any of the other (much more expensive) self-tanners out there, but something in it does the trick.
The color and wearability is every bit as good as the more expensive brands. I'm a fan and have a new favorite self-tanner I feel like I can wear out in public and not get dirty looks for how terrible I smell!
I'd love to hear from you if you have a favorite product, or something you'd like me to write about. You can reach me: amyjo@groupfitnessradio.com
Can't say I'd blame anyone for wanting to ride outdoors.
Are you faced with this dilemma, now that Summer is here?
Hello John,
Thanks for your speedy response.
Here is my question with a little ‘back brief' first; I live in Bend, Oregon and teach indoor cycling classes (and other types of GX as well) at the premier health club facility in my region. I have taught here for many years and can confidently say that we experience a seasonal trend in class attendance that is affected by the onset of beautiful weather! Much more so than I have seen while teaching in my other home, Southern California.
Management typically responds to this trend by cutting classes until the Fall to save on payroll. As an instructor I have learned to accept this and indulge myself in other, more self focused, activities; but in all honesty it is disheartening. Other instructors concur. I wonder if this topic is familiar to you? Have you had similar conversations with other instructors? Any insight you, or others might offer?
Really appreciate your time and expertise, and I want to say that I am a huge fan of ICI/PRO! So glad I discovered you while podcasting 🙂
In Health,
Tina
In a bit of serendipity… I received this email from my Dept Head only a few hours after Tina's.
John,
I am reaching out to get your thoughts on if you think it is worth/ideal to offer both the 6am and 5:30pm indoor cycle classes for June-August? The last think I want to do is disappoint any of our members, but I also want to be realistic with the horrific winter we have all experienced. I am not 100% sure what the participation has been like for both classes lately?? I do feel/think that many would rather be outdoors once the sun and heat really arrive.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Thank you.
Tamara
I can understand how you could feel disheartened Tina. I've experienced a cutback in classes during the Summer for as long as I have been an Instructor, so this email to me was expected. You almost have to start from scratch again, building your class in the Fall. I find myself needing to re-learn many names after the Summer and it typically takes me weeks to get back the level of rapport I enjoyed the previous season.
My response was to agree to drop the evening class at the end of May, leaving me with just one class a week. This could be a problem as Life Time has a two class per week minimum to retain your status as an employee. Thankfully in my case it isn't. I lead two scheduled outdoor rides each week (Saturday and Sunday – join me if you can) and those rides are counted as classes.
If they won't come to you inside > could you go to them outside?
If getting outdoors, after a (I'll use Tamara's words) horrific winter is what your members really want, then why not applya little bit of “out of the box” thinking here Tina? And by “out of the box” I mean it literally – is there a possibility you could create a class that's held outdoors and not in the studio?
Your participants still want to be active, so how about…
Holding your Indoor Cycling class – outside?
You're a Group Fitness Instructor – could you offer a park class?
Maybe a Summer boot camp with all the activities help outdoors?
If you ride outside, why not start a group ride? Or find a group you could join?
