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OXYCHAT!
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August 21, 2002

Welcome to the OxyChat! Newsletter, a weekly publication to help you in your quest for the body you want and deserve!

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*A* When Life Gets Crazy, You REALLY Need Oxycise!
*B* Changes (Still) Coming Soon in the Message Room!
*C* Oxycise! Challenge Report
*D* New OxyPals!
*E* Q & A
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"Oxycise! will definitely help with anxiety. I use the deep breathing learned from doing Oxycise! whenever I am in a stressful situation. It helps tremendously." ~ Jackie

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*A* When Life Gets Crazy You REALLY Need Oxycise!
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When life gets stressful and unpredictable, our daily plans and good intentions may get cast aside, and we may not take the time to do an Oxycise! workout. But Oxycise! can actually help you get through stress and tough times, and it can be done "on the go" if necessary. You'd be surprised how doing some deep Oxycise! breathing can help calm even the biggest anxieties!

If you get in the habit of breathing deeply when you feel stressed, you may actually help your body avoid health problems. Many illnesses are believed to be related to stress, including coronary heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, diabetes, eczema, asthma, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, allergies, ulcers, and colitis.

You are most likely to breathe shallowly when you feel stressed. The good news is that you can do the Oxycise! Basic Breath any time for instant stress relief!

An article on the Arnot Ogden Medical Center website explains:

"When you're under stress, your muscles tense, and your breathing becomes shallow and rapid. One of the simplest (and best) ways to stop this stress response is to breathe deeply and slowly. It sounds simple, and it is. Most of us, however, do not breathe deeply under normal circumstances, so it may help to review the mechanics of deep breathing and how it helps us to relax.

"When prehistoric humans were in danger of attack, their muscles tensed and their breathing became rapid and shallow, as they prepared to run or fight. Their high level of tension was a means of preparing their bodies for optimum performance. Today, the causes of our 'stress' are different, but our stress response is the same. However, since we're not running or fighting, our tension has no release and our stress response builds. One way to counteract the stress response is to learn how to breathe deeply and slowly--the opposite of how we breathe when under stress.

"Deep breathing is not always natural to adults. Watch the way a baby breathes: the area beneath the chest goes in and out. Most adults breathe from the chest. This is shallower breathing, so less oxygen is taken in with each breath. As a result the blood is forced to move through the system quickly so that enough oxygen gets to the brain and organs. Higher blood pressure results.

"Deep breathing can reverse these effects. Take some time to practice this kind of breathing each day, especially when you're under stress. You can be sitting, standing, or lying down, but it helps to wear loose, comfortable clothing. Begin by breathing in through your nostrils. Count to five, silently saying the word 'in,' and let your lower abdomen fill with air. Then count to five, silently saying the word 'out,' as you let the air escape through pursed lips. Do this deep breathing for two minutes or more each time. With practice, you will be able to count slowly to ten or higher. You can increase your relaxation if you imagine breathing in ocean air, the scent of flowers or forest air.

"By helping you let go of tension, deep breathing can relieve head-aches, backaches, stomach aches, and sleeplessness. It releases the body's own painkillers, called endorphins, into the system. It allows blood pressure to return to normal, which is good for your heart. Deep breathing can also allow held-in emotions to come to the surface, so your emotional health benefits from deep breathing, too. Use deep breathing any time, anywhere. It's one of the best techniques for relieving stress."
(http://www.aomc.org/HOD2/general/stress-TAKE.html )

So even if you can't do a whole Oxycise! workout every day, take time to BREATHE!

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Julie Gudmundsen,
OxyChat Editor
mailto:julie@oxycise.com
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Here's another good site that discusses stress and deep breathing:
http://www.uiowa.edu/~shs/stress2.htm

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*B* Changes (Still) Coming Soon in the Message Room!
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That new Message Room we hoped to have ready for you last week is still
undergoing some "finishing touches."

Thanks for your patience... we hope to see you there soon!

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*C* Oxycise Challenge Report
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*** LEA ANN ****

Oxycise! Challenge -- Week TWO!

(Lea Ann started her Oxycise! Challenge on August 11th, as announced in last week's newsletter. Here's her latest update -- down 6 lbs and 4-1/4 inches!)

August 19, 2002

"1 week down! WooHoo!! As of yesterday my stats were as follows:

Weight 289 lbs (-6lbs)
Chest 49 1/4 inches (-1/4 inch)
Upper abs 46 inches (-3/4 inch)
Waist 51 inches (-3/4 inch)
Lower abs 59 1/2 inches (-1/4 inch)
R. Thigh 29 1/4 inches (-1/4 inch)
L. Thigh 29 1/2 inches (-1/2 inch)
R. Arm 17 inches (-1 inch)
L. Arm 16 inches (-1/2 inch) I must have worked one arm harder than the other!
Neck - no change

"Not too bad for 1 week. I can't say I was good all week either. Most of the week I stuck to fruit and veggies and fish and chicken. I Oxycised at least once a day except for 3 days when I did two routines. Saturday night though, I splurged. I went out to dinner with some friends and drank a few beers. But you know what, I didn't feel guilty! Normally, I would beat myself up and then fall totally off my diet. But I figured one night wasn't going to hurt, especially since I did two O! routines on Saturday morning.

"I am also noticing a difference in my energy and sleeping patterns. Normally, I am just about ready for bed when I get home from work. But I have been up 'til almost 10 pm every night!! I am also sleeping very well.

"So....on to week 2!!!"

Lea Ann
Oswego, IL

(To be continued!)

* Individual results will vary.

Your Oxycise! experiences can inspire and motivate others! Please share your progress with us! Email mailto:oxytalk@oxycise.com or see "Share Your Story" at http://www.oxyciseplus.com/Success/share.htm

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How Do I Get Started With the Oxycise! Program?
Visit www.oxyciseplus.com/getstarted.htm
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*D* New OxyPals!
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We have just added six new "OxyPals" to our website -- from California, Arizona, South Carolina, Utah, and Australia. All of them are looking for email "penpals" and Oxycise! support.

You can "meet" these "OxyPals" and many more at http://www.oxyciseplus.com/oxycenter/oxypalsindex.htm

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*E* Q & A
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QUESTION: How can I find articles from past newsletters?

ANSWER: Go to our website at www.oxyciseplus.com. Then click on the link for the "OxyCenter." Once you are in the OxyCenter, click the link to the "Index to OxyChat Newsletters" -- here's the URL : www.oxyciseplus.com/Newsletters/index.htm

QUESTION: I'd also like to get involved doing my own Oxycise! Challenge, like Lea Ann. How can I do that?

ANSWER: First, make a commitment to yourself. We recommend that you plan to do at least one Oxycise! workout per day, at least 5-6 days per week... but you can customize these "terms" according to your own fitness level and preferences. Then visit our new Message Room (in a few days when we have our new site set up) and share your goals and plans in the "Goals" forum under "Oxycise! Challenge". You can then use the "Daily Report" section to report your daily workouts, and the "Weekly Report" section to share your progress. Others who join in on the "Challenge" will help remind you to stick to your plan!

Or if you prefer not to post publicly on our message boards, you could team up with your own OxyPal... or a trusted family member. Either way, we'd love to share your progress here in our newsletter, so please share your results with us! (But we won't post your results in the newsletter without your permission.)

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REMEMBER: You have a magnificent body. Treat it right!
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Jill Johnson
Oxycise! International, Inc.
8170 S. University #110
Littleton, CO 80122

OxyChat Editor
Julie Gudmundsen

Questions and Comments: mailto:oxytalk@oxycise.com
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Customer Service: 303-224-0586

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