GR PRESS ARTICLE

I was honored on Tuesday to be featured in a Health Profile Section in the Grand Rapids Press called Vital Signs. Yay!! :)

Health profile: Jessica Oosting
Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Age: 26

Occupation: Owner of Valeo/Personal Training LLC, Trainer, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

Biggest health challenge: Getting enough sleep to refresh and energize my body and mind. I'm a night owl with an early-morning, physically demanding career; not the best combination.

Exercise routine: I try to do three moderate or longer runs and one speed workout each week. I bike 50 to 70 miles a week and, during the sprint triathlon season, I add swimming a few miles each week. I do a focused strength training session two to three days a week.

Exercise tip: Spice it up. It's lack of change in our routines that causes lack of change in our bodies; plus, it's fun. Safely progress in intensity and find ways to venture beyond the typical. Swap the treadmill for a run on the trails, or hit the stairs at the beach, then take a swim in the water to cool off. Sneak in strength training throughout your day, do core work during commercial breaks on TV, push-ups off the counter after you brush your teeth, or add some cardio with a run to drop off a movie at the rental store.

Dieting history: I've always maintained a healthy weight. I credit that to good genes, a consistently active lifestyle and being nutrition-conscious. I eat according to how and when I need to fuel or repair my body. Fruits, veggies, whole grains and lean proteins make up the bulk of what I eat, but I'm not adamant about avoiding the occasional junk food or treat. We eat for so many more reasons than physical hunger, so I make sure to fuel my body properly but allow leeway for the "just-because" foods.

Guilty pleasure foods: Brownies, cookies, pizza and, in the summer, ice cream

Favorite healthy foods: Dark greens (spinach, fieldgreens, asparagus), apples and natural peanut butter, anything on the grill

Breakfast today: A Juice Plus+ Complete protein shake with a banana

Daily doses: I take Juice Plus+, a whole-foods, fruit/vegetable supplement.

Healthy advice: Do the best with what you have. For most, this might mean shifting your health motivation from solely weight loss and to enjoying a breath of fresh, outdoor air, having the energy to play with your kids, being a force on the sports field, holding your head a bit higher than you used to, or simply moving and functioning better in everyday life. Have fun with the life God created you to live.