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Lean Team Challenge Week 4: Fit Thon Coming This Saturday!

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By Julie Follansbee Editor and Publisher Macaroni Kid Johnstown/Laurel Highlands/Altoona February 11, 2016
Week 4 of the Greater Johnstown Community YMCA's Lean Team Challenge.

I LOVED Debi's presentation this week! "Size Matters". It was about not only food portions but also beverage portions. For this one, you may be inspired to get out your tape measure and measuring cup and start figuring out the capacity of your plates and drinking glasses!

You can only gain awareness of how much you are eating if you know what the proper portion sizes are. Debi had some great visuals so that anyone could figure it out without a scale or measuring cup. For example, the standard fish portion is the size of a checkbook and the recommended portion of cheese would be the size of 2 pairs of dice. Serving of Meat=the size of your palm. YOUR palm. Everyone's hands are different so a man would naturally have a larger portion than a woman. A child even smaller. Size matters.



What was a real revelation for me was when Debi brought out the measuring cup and an array of drinking glasses from wine glasses to water tumblers. We are aware of calories and portions of food but did you ever consider your beverages?

She filled each glass with water and asked us how much we thought each glass contained. Coffee cup...or mug. I'm embarrassed to admit that most times I was wrong. I grossly underestimated the amount of liquid each glass or cup held. If you have no idea what a recommended serving size is, then you may be drinking way too many calories. Think about your coffee...do you measure your creamer by the color your coffee becomes when you add it? You may be surprised when you begin to measure how much you actually use. Does all that extra creamer really add to the taste?

My take away this week was. Awareness. Measure your plates and glasses. Are you eating off of a 12"plate? Of course your food will look miniscule! Try a smaller plate and you'll feel like you are eating more. Measure your glasses. You may be drinking 2 or 3 times a serving size. Think about the tiny juice glasses from long ago. That's the proper serving size.

Get your kids involved! Have them pour the water into your glasses and then back into the measuring bowl to see how much liquid it actually holds. Talk about appropriate serving sizes with them. Make it a game!
Size DOES matter!

There are still 6 weeks to go in the challenge and these workshops are one of the many resources the Y offers to help members reach their goals. There is room for YOU! Come join us!

Ever wanted to try out some of the incredible classes the Greater Johnstown YMCA has to offer but weren't sure where to start? This Saturday some of the most popular classes are available for anyone between 10:00 AM and 1:15 PM during the annual Fit Thon.

Fit Thon is open to members and nonmembers alike. Bring a friend and introduce them to the wonderful resource we have in the Greater Johnstown Area YMCA!


* I received my Lean Team Challenge entry fee for the purpose of this review.


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