Ergonomics

ERGONOMICS

Ten years ago, I heard this word for the first time at university and it became my favourite topic when I wanted to appear intelligent in public as nobody had heard of it.

Corporate companies have all started paying attention to the wellness of workers and now there are ergonomic consultants who focus on posture, office furniture and design. Spending one third of our day in a single space (and often a static position) calls for comfort and care of our bodies.

Ergonomics is the study of people at work.

I’ve recently started working in a communal office. It is the most academic environment with IT specialists who are either on the phone or working on their computers – or doing both (proof that some men can multitask). I’ve always had an active job and cannot sit still for longer than five minutes at a stretch (that is without getting up to stretch or make coffee or go to the loo or find any excuse possible to get away from the desk). After my first month on the job, I developed a backache that caused extreme discomfort leading to restless sleep, slouching and complaining more than usual. My core is strong so the backache manifests between my shoulder blades. The upper cross syndrome has a unique name on my body as the stress balls that hide under my shoulder blades are called “subscap”. They hide and grow and crack while I am in agony. I put my body through exercise, exercise demonstrations and carrying weights daily, but as soon as I sit down my body falls apart.

In my mind, ergonomics extends beyond a comfortable chair, oddly-shaped keyboard and a glare-free monitor. The other senses have an impact on office wellness along with the working environment.

I arrive at lunchtime to be greeted by the smell of every type of fast food imaginable. Even though I’ve just eaten, the smell stimulates my stomach juices and my mouth starts watering, making it difficult to concentrate on anything but the pizza being devoured across the room. Collegues arrive from the post lunch cigarette breaks have the smoke smell attached to their clothes and hair. The stale smells linger in the office mingling with the leftovers causing a nauseating stench that distracts me.

The noise from telephones are distracting for a person like me who has a short concentration span. Trying to listen to the conversations of others, while concentrating on your own work, is extremely difficult. The muffled music being played by earphones distorts and annoys fellow workers who crave silence.

Being an active person, I could get frustrated sitting at my desk and have developed a few distractions to keep the eyes open and the mind stimulated:

• Walk to the shop the long way – take the stairs, do not take short cuts.
• Do not eat at your desk – go to a different location to focus on eating instead of shovelling while looking at the screen. Split your lunch break in two if possible and save some food, thus keeping the metabolic rate higher.
• Pack healthy lunch to save time and avoid empty calories from pies, chocolates and fried foods.
• Suggest team builders such as action cricket or boot camp instead of restaurants, pubs and other sedentary activities.
• Walk to the co-worker instead of mailing, Skyping or calling.
• Go for walks with collegues to experience a change of scenery.
• Turn your entire chair and body when somebody speaks to you and look them in the eye instead of trying to focus on your work as well. That way when you really do not want to talk to somebody, it is evident in your body language.
• Find a focus that will lead to you thinking happy thoughts when work gets too hectic such as a view from a certain place in the office, a photo of your family or a sexy co-worker that provides suitable “eyecandy” without leading to a sexual harassment case.
• Activate your core muscles by pulling your shoulder blades together, pulling bellybutton to spine and sitting taller.

Ergonomically correct posture will not only lead to physical improvements such as better posture but psychological ramifications of a better mood and an improvement on productivity. These changes may not want to make you look forward to going to work if you hate your job, but it will make it easier to cope with stressors.

OFFICE MAIL

Everyone gets enough exercise jumping to conclusions, flying off the handle, running down the boss, knifing friends in the back, dodging responsibility and pushing their luck.

Exercise, eating and other addictions

Too often humans just sit back and wait for somebody else to take action, while we continue with our daily routine and complain about the problem without doing anything about it. This human habit rang true after the talk about steroids that was presented by a reformed addict.

Fitness professionals work in an industry filled with addictions from eating disorders (anorexia to binge eating) to compulsive shoppers (those girls who never wear the same gym gear twice) to supplementary drugs (fat burners to steroids). The biggest addiction is vanity as these people are punishing their bodies to look good and receive praise. They live for the compliments and enjoy the attention they receive when people admire their bodies. We are all envious of the girl with the six pack or the guy with the striations on their muscles that look like road maps, but every body comes at a price. While some of us are addicted to long term exercise and wellness, others are addicted to the quick fix of a fat burner or a finger down the throat.

As personal trainers, we are not equipped to deal with psychological issues, but we can have a strong moral standing about the abuse of drugs and the abuse of food. While we can offer advice about eating plans, supplements, vitamins and minerals we cannot take on the role of dietician, psychologist, councillor or mother. We should have a list of health professionals that we can refer clients to and we should trust these people and not be getting a financial kick back.

We can make a difference by refusing to deal with people who use steroids and stop referring our clients to dieticians who prescribe a pill before wholesome food. I cannot approach the muscle man in the weights area and tell him to stop injecting himself because I will get “dondered  or moered” (the Afrikaans word is so much more descriptive), but I can stop complimenting him on his physique as I will feel better than I am not stroking his ego. Another thing I can do is to educate myself on the effects of certain steroids and supplements and be able to explain the long term dangers to my clients when they enquire about supplementing their diet. These people who are taking the quick fix make the personal trainer’s hard work on clients seem like a long way to a better body.

The illegal personal training in our gyms can stop if we inform our clients about the need to check our qualifications and the rent we pay to be able to use the facility. We can also stop being two faced by not acknowledging this person who is making a mockery of our livelihood. The Tableview gym where I see my clients has a member-trainer-evangelist-hypocrite who irritates all the staff, yet people still speak to this man who has a different training partner every week and he is a different size every month.

Our profession will never be taken seriously if we do not show the world that we are professionals and that we do not believe in cheats, pills, short cuts or illegal substances. We should always endorse a lifetime of healthy eating, consistent exercise and balanced lifestyles and set the example in our own lives. Personal training starts with our bodies and minds and should show the world that we exercise healthy decisions and that we do not believe in cheating.

Women Worriers

Humans have enough problems to worry about without stressing about the things that cannot be changed.

Listen to any older person like a mother-in-law or aunt who constantly comments and complains about the weather. It is always too hot or too cold and they are never comfortable with nature. The only effect of their complaints will be to cause a stormy mood for the listener while the wind continues to blow.

Motivational speakers encourage positive thinking and stress that we should focus on the controllable aspect of our lives that we can improve such as financial status, moods and interactive skills instead of sweating the small stuff.

Being women, we try to control most things on a daily basis, but we need to accept that certain aspects of our lives are slightly more difficult to control than a screaming child or a moody man. Good news to know that certain things are manageable while the five uncontrollable things (listed below) are impossible to change. The new expression on the radio is the best advice: build a bridge and get over it.

1.   WEATHER

If it is meant to rain on your wedding day, the drops will fall from the sky and the best wedding planner cannot limit the damage if you insisted on a garden ceremony. Weather forecasts are as close as we get to control the climate and even the television reports are inaccurate. Murphy plays a sly role in the weather as it usually rains on Easter weekend (most public holidays and weekends when we make plans to be outdoors) or after a carwash. Weather: we like it or not, the elements will not be instructed or tamed for our benefit.

2.   AGEING

Time stands still for nobody and while it is said that true beauty stands the test of time, we will do our best to avoid wrinkles, sagging and gravity as much as possible. New products and procedures try to stop nature’s clock, but only stall the lines for a few years. Most people dread the effects of losing hair, memory and bone density, but ageing is inevitable. We gain experience and wisdom with every facial crease and worrying about getting older just adds to the wrinkles. My granny vainly refuses to wear spectacles as she complains that it makes her look ninety, but does not realise that squinting will make her eye area look a hundred years old. She should be proud of nearly having a century’s life experience, but instead tries to dye her hair and hide her wrinkles that she can hardly see in the mirror because she is not wearing her spectacles.

3.   THE JONES’

The neighbour who has the financial advantage to buy two fancy cars, a collegue who has the idyllic family life and a friend who has the perfect family will always be part of our life. These successful counterparts are there to remind us to strive for a more balanced life, but they do not deserve to be the target of envy or maliciousness because we feel they do not deserve the promotion that life has awarded them. We cannot judge or change the fact that somebody will always be more prosperous. Remember that for every person who is richer than you, there is another who suffers. Use the Jones family as mentors and seek advice to build a better relationship.

4.   REACTIONS

Working with people is a valuable experience and trying to predict the way another person will react to a situation is almost impossible. Regulating our own behaviour is difficult enough without foreseeing how many people will attend your party or buy a product. Moods, comments and reactions make every person unique and this can be best illustrated when the family that we think we know will surprise us.

5.   PARTNERS (ie. men)

They cannot be changed. Training is possible, taming is achievable and acceptance is our only reaction to certain traits in a partner.

Having read this article, stop frowning (lose the wrinkle between your eyes when looking into the sky), smile (increase the laugh lines that indicate a happy life), laugh at our faults and accept that some things cannot be changed as easily as our underwear. Changing our mind about certain things is easier than worrying.

Personal trainer types

One of my colleagues has a fat-phobia and he hates training large clients as he maintains that they are lazy and eat too much. Needless to say, his client base is very mixed, but he tends to attract businessmen and pretty girls. Not an obese person in sight. It sounds like the ideal combination of clients, but what about the ordinary or overweight people?

My weakness is patience – I have very little and tend to roll my eyes often when other people can see my frustration. My resolution for the year is to be more patient and serene and not get upset when a member does not understand how to perform a lunge with a shoulder press in one combination. Testing my weakness, I have landed some clients who are moody, demanding and difficult, but I am going to push through and grow my character. You may wonder where I am going with this confession, but I spent some time thinking about how my client base encompasses mainly women who want to lose weight. Each personal trainer will target certain types of people, whether it is their intention or not.

MODEL MOULDER - There are always the guys who chat to the pretty girls and enjoy toning their young bodies that are not very faulty to begin with. These sessions are much of a spectator sport as other trainers share comments or compliments while trying to wipe away the drool. There is usually much cleavage or cosmetics or both.

PLYO MANIAC – This is the athlete trainer who schedules clients around their training schedules and tend to train triathletes, runners and cyclists. There is much jumping, balance and core work involved in their routines and the clients can manage high repetitions without breaking too much of a sweat.

GAY GROUPIES – Whether it is the “fag hag” that the pretty boys love training with or the gay personal trainer that makes other homosexuals feel comfortable, there is a definite gravitation towards these trainers.

PROBLEM PEOPLE PULLERS – When watching these sessions, sympathetic looks in the trainer’s eyes communicate silently with their colleague who has to endure moaning and bitching from the client. Objections to doing exercises, complaining about instructions and loud panting can be heard by the clients, but the trainer patiently waits for the exercise to be completed. These clients think they are better qualified than the trainer and it is a wonder they have asked for help at all. One unlucky personal trainer seems to attract the difficult clients.

MAKE OVER EXPERT – This trainer tends to find the fattest, unhealthiest client they can source and change their life and waistline within a few months. The success story is great advertising for the trainer and it enriches the client’s life.

CHAT COACH – This is the personal trainer’s other role as psychologist and listener. The stories of the client are long and drawn out and take more than half the session.  After a few sessions, the client wants to know why they are not seeing results. This is when you mention their skinny cheekbones from all the talking.

CORPORATE COACH – The businessperson who does what they are told with little emotion and complaint. They either are the most dedicated clients (as they are determined not to be a failure) or they always cancel because work takes priority.

MOMMY MOVERS – These women tend to share the same trainer as the referrals are high in this group. Just one good result and all the ladies want to look like that one yummy mummy.

GROUPIES – Teaching group training classes exposes the trainer to a whole different aspect of the membership base. This is the place they pick up clients instead of walking the floor.

Identify yourself in these categories and realize that most clients fall into some type of category. This is an internal top secret document that can never be shared with the client.

Wellness specialists

SPECIALISTS AND REFERRALS

Along with the new supplements, equipment and exercises being invented every day, it seems there are more occupations and qualifications that are being introduced to the sports science field. Along with these specialists, personal trainers need additional qualifications to deal with special populations and know the proper professionals who can assist in this field that seems to be growing by the day.

From childhood to old age, there are different advisors in all forms, but it is quite ironic that they play on balls throughout. From coaches and kinesiologists to physiotherapists, there are many special needs in the general population to prevent injuries, improve performance or mobility. 

Before the birth of a child, the gynaecologist usually approves the type of exercise that the mom-to-be should undertake. All personal trainers should know the basics about pregnancy, even if they do not have a pregnancy qualification because the pregnancy problems (hernia, ruptured muscles and pelvic floor weakness) often remain a problem after the baby weight is reduced. 

The children’s fitness market is full of income generating possibilities as parents are often willing to spend money on their offspring that they would be hesitant to spend on themselves. I’ve had female clients cancel sessions because they would rather use the money for their children’s motor skills development than their own exercise. It even costs money for children to partake in supervised play groups and these classes involve simple tasks that improve co-ordination, motor skills, balance and reactivity. The child kinesiology therapists focus on movement patterns as children develop to prevent injuries and imbalances later in life. Once a child starts playing sport, the coaches may refer their good athletes to personal trainers, pilates instructors and specialist coaches, but this is seasonal.

When an injury sets in, the course of action is usually decided by the type of injury and the severity, but the opinion of the personal trainer is often relied upon. While we are not equipped to deal with serious injuries, we can refer to a medical professional. There is much debate between biokineticists (rehabilitating injuries through stretching, muscle activation and exercise), physiotherapists (rehabilitating injuries through manipulation and massage), chiropractors (rehabilitating injuries through manipulation of the spine and correcting alignment) and sports doctors (using postural assessment,

There are also professionals who work on specific body parts. A podiatrist works with feet, while an orthotist can build inners for the shoe and focus on gait correction.

When we examine an injury, it is critical to employ a wellness approach and focus on the physical and the psychological and recommend the services of a massage therapist, psychologist, body stress release practitioner, wellness coach or councilor. Each specialist has a different type of qualification and will appeal to a certain type of person.

Holiday hideways OverBerg

HOLIDAY HIDEAWAYS ALONG THE OVERBERG

When the hussle of the big city gets too much, there are many places that are less than two hours from Cape Town. Take a drive over the mountain pass, away from traffic and crowds and experience the scenery of a lovely drive and a quiet destination.

Hermanus is popular among tourists and it is not the average quiet seaside village as many businesses and industries resemble city living, but the beaches and small guesthouses offer privacy and ocean views that will drown the noise of the town. There are also lovely places on either side of Hermanus and the best part about getting there is the drive itself.

When leaving Cape Town on the N2highway and climbing up Sir Lowry’s Pass, it is like going into another world of farms, quaint towns and tree-lined roads. Stopping at Grabouw’s farm stall is always a good experience and it is the first indicator that a holiday or road trip is about to begin. The smell of the fresh bread and the crisp fresh fruit is enough to relax the most stressful person. There are lovely walks and mountain bike trails in this area and the farms of Elgin are an adventure to explore. There are apple factories to visit and farm stalls en route to please a hungry traveler. Camping along the Overberg coast is very popular and the towns of Kleinmond, Hangklip, Hermanus and Betty’s Bay are always busy over the festive season when families celebrate Christmas at the sea. Waking up to the roar of the ocean and ending each day with a beer and braai is the best way to end a busy year for South Africans. In Kleinmond, the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve has more than 1600 species of fynbos and a large indigenous forest to explore. The drive from Cape Town along the R44 is known as the Whale Route and it is a scenic drive that winds along the coast. Whale watching and fishing is very popular.

Onrus has a popular caravan park and many people have invested in holiday property near the ocean. There are houses to rent for week or two to get away from the world or bed and breakfast establishments will spoil the visitors. Aside from the coffee shops with homemade cakes and delicacies, there are small museums and other tourist attractions. Each town has something different to offer and exploration is enjoyable when driving through.

If camping and self catering is too primitive, then a few nights at the Arabella Golf Course will pamper the weary traveler. Bordering the largest natural lagoon in South Africa, the views are amazing and the luxury is unrivalled. There is a great restaurant, trendy bar and beauty salon to suit every need.

On the way past Hermanus, there are many little shops and places of interest and there is more to see on the other side of this town that is known for the Whale Festival. Driving along the Overberg is eventful and there is much to amuse the entire family.

Cancer concerns

The reaction to a cancer diagnosis is never the same and the victim is not always that person who has been inflicted with these evil cells. Friends and family are secondary sufferers and often the pain stems from the helplessness of not knowing what to say and do when your best friend or cousin has been diagnosed with a disease that randomly targets the healthy, obese, rich and successful.

My theory that bad things happen to good people gets proven over and over when I see active people being diagnosed and strong families reduced to insecure, unstable strangers when they cannot understand the curse of cancer. Trying to understand the source can cause more confusion with conflicting literature and some theories that suggest that cancer has emotional origins and is self inflicted. I believe that everybody who comes into contact with a disease should study the causes and treatments, but they should not judge or jump to conclusions about a disease that is changing so rapidly with scary statistics. If we were to follow the literature we would never drive in a car (carbon monoxide poisoning), take contraceptive pills (oestrogen increases could cause cancer), eat fast food (fatty acids and plastic wrapping increases cancer risk), eat fruit (pesticides that are sprayed on fruit has high levels of DDT) or stress. The irony is that when you are told not to stress about something, it becomes a worry. When I am told to “chill out”, I actually want to hit the person who utters those words. Radiation causes cancer, but radiation is a treatment to kill cancer. People have stopped smoking to avoid lung cancer, but non-smokers are becoming victims.

So, after confusing myself with all the information about cancer, I extract the facts, dismiss the tragic stories and follow the dietary and exercise advice. I also feel better knowing the stages or radiation and chemo and preparing myself for possible side effects that my friend may have after the operation.

It is difficult being supportive when somebody is not sick, but they are walking around with cells that are poisoning their bodies from the inside. You can’t tell them to “get well soon” as they are not in bed with flu symptoms. Often, the treatment will make them sicker than the disease and the more advanced the cancer, the worse the side effects. I stumbled on the fact that side effects from prescription drugs are among the top five reasons for death in the First World and cancer is less prevalent in the developing world so the poor are protected. The other side effect that is crippling is that cancer can cause people to become poor and the treatment is expensive and medical aids do not cover all expenses. My friend was trying to sort out the paperwork (which was enough to kill a forest) and I commented that the worst thing about having cancer was the administration. There are a panel of doctors and specialists involved in an operation and the gynaechologist, anaesthitist, surgeon and specialists must get consulted and paid.

As with all tragedies, there are good things that result from cancer. I have become more educated about the disease and people’s reaction to bad news and their unending support. Marriages are cemented, friendships are strengthened and self discovery is part of the process. I just hope that the medical advances continue to make detection and cancer management easier. There should be support groups for the supporters.

Cold

Forgotten New Year’s resolutions, winter hibernation and health niggles.

It’s time to sit back on the couch with your blanket and fat free hot chocolate and reflect on the past six months. The goals that were set with the countdown into 2007 have been forgotten as soon as the hangover wore off or when the winter weather replaced the long summer days.

Colds have replaced sinus from the pollen and increased the Kleenex usage. Just as there is no miracle cure for laziness, allergies and flu symptoms do not magically disappear. Getting out of bed is our first challenge for the day and the resolutions that seemed achievable are a sore subject.

Cold can be an adjective (it will be a cold day in hell before we get out of bed to go to gym), verb (we are getting cold) or illness.

The winter cold relief - most over-the-counter cold preparations contain aspirin or paracetamol, and a decongestant which reduces nasal stuffiness and dries up secretions. However, a risk of the rebound phenomenon is associated with the use of decongestants: after the action of the agent is over, the secretions recur worse than before. Pseudoephedrine should not be taken if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, prostrate problems, diabetes or thyroid problems.

Avoiding the cold - drink herbal tea, eat garlic and consume probiotic foods to help boost immunity.  The antibacterial properties fight infections and flu.

Warming up from the cold - there is nothing better than a vigorous exercise session to warm up the body for hours instead of snuggling in bed, trying to stop your toes freezing.

Controlling the cold – keep moving throughout the day. The cold tends to target idle bodies that are static. Prevent the icicles growing on your body by getting up and walking around at regular intervals to keep the heart rate slightly elevated.

Overcoming the cold – remember that summer will be here in four months and the layers will have to be shed to prepare for the holiday season. Hopefully, clothes will be the only thing that will need to be removed when the weather heats up and not excess kilos from the extra calories and exercise strike during the winter hibernation.

Kill the Diet

KILL THE DIET

When the burger joint knows your name and order by the sound of your voice as soon as you call them, it is time to make a few adjustments to your eating plan.

The only time I “dye-it” is when my hair changes colour. Any educated person knows that a diet is a short-term fad that leads to a long-term effect that is physically, mentally and socially detrimental.

Eating plans become part of a balanced lifestyle while eating disorders leave physical and psychological imbalances in most cases.

I live alone, do not cook and I enjoy junk food. While my exercise routine is regular and stable, eating patterns are governed by time, cravings and budget.

I want to lose the extra fat that no amount of exercise can remove from my active body. I’m training for half marathons, cycling and a toned body and the only kilos I can afford to add should be to my mileage, not my midline.

My main problem involves balance. I’m out of balance when I run, placing more emphasis on one side of my body to do all the work. When it comes to eating, my impression of a balanced diet involves having some form of food in each hand. Coffee and muffin, beer and snack, chocolate and bubbly. I also make the mistake of trying to alter the balance by putting a book or magazine in one hand and when I’ve finished the chapter, a packet of chips has also disappeared! The other hand is to blame.

My conclusion is that most eating “sins” can be controlled by the mind and I’ve formulated these tips to reduce consumption:

Ø  Buy deep, narrow cookie jars and buy small packets of cookies – this will ensure that you cannot reach your favourite biscuits once you’ve eaten the top layer.

Ø  Never eat alone – always make eating a social occasion. This has a dual purpose: avoidance of messy fast foods such as pizza and burgers and eating more slowly (like the experts recommend) while chatting as it’s rude to talk with your mouth full.

Ø  Take a doggie bag when dining out – this can lead to less hassle to make lunch for work the next day or the car guard at the restaurant can get an edible tip.

Ø  Finish chewing before taking the next bite. Think of exercising those jaw muscles optimally by chewing as slowly as possible. If only spot fat reduction were possible I would be gaunt from chewing carefully and talking a lot.

Ø  Rather have desert with lunch than with supper to give it more time to settle. Have a low calorie drink, like a skinny capucino for desert instead of cake.

Ø  Include protein in all meals to improve satiety and feel fuller.

Ø  Cheat foods should not be lying around the house calling your name whenever you are too lazy to cook.

Ø  Take the fast food outlets and delivery services off your speed dial and remove the menus from your fridge.

Ø  Drink water with meals and avoid carbonated drinks and alcohol.

Ø  Be conscious of everything that you put in your mouth. Remember when you cheat and whether it was worth the empty calories that must now be exercised away.

Changing your lifestyle should not be drastic or compulsive, but being aware of food choices and snacking improves eating habits and leads to a better balance with both hands raised in victory after achieving your goal.