To my loyal YWN readers,

Although this space is normally used for my weekly columns on health, fitness, and weight loss, I will allow myself the liberty once a year to use this space for a personal message.

Hashem granted us the gift of a healthy body and expects us to do our best to take care of it. This requires healthful eating, exercise, the proper amount of sleep and an active lifestyle. We all are capable of helping ourselves. When we don’t take care of ourselves and watch over our health, the end result is illness and incapacitation resulting in our inability to perform the will of the Ribono Shel Olam. When we are sick, we can’t do chesed, learn, daven or take care of our own families. Our nefesh, our soul, functions best when our guf, our body, is at its best!

Many years ago, I was not a fitness trainer; I was anything but fit and healthy. I led a sedentary life style, ate whatever I wanted to in whatever amounts I wanted to and was overweight with slightly high blood pressure that became high blood pressure. As a former musician playing the wedding in circuit in the Greater New York area, eating at the smorgasbord at weddings was an activity I greatly looked forward to every evening. A few years after I relocated to Eretz Yisrael, I was fortunate to meet someone who changed my life around. I went from being sedentary with a poor diet to being active and healthy. I began eating right, walking, doing weights and stretching and after a short while, became a runner/jogger. My blood pressure went down, my old clothes fit again and I felt like a new person.  THIS IS SOMETHING VERY DOABLE!

As a personal trainer here in Yerushalayim for the past 15 years, I have been privileged to witness many people who have turned their health around. Even people in desperate straits, and with all types of health issues, have been very successful and no longer require medication for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Their weight is normal, and not only has their physical health improved, but they feel better about themselves.

Rosh HaShana is a time for thanking HaKadosh Baruch Hu for giving us life and health over the past year. It is also the time for praying that He will give us good health and long life for the upcoming year. At the same time, we must do our hishtadlus, our effort, in the area of health. Our non-Jewish brothers approach their secular new year with all kinds of resolutions that are never kept. We do T’shuva. We work hard to actualize real change. And if there is ever a time we CAN change, it is now. 

A little over two years ago, I began writing a health column for Yeshiva World along with other publications both online and print. I never dreamed I would get the responses I have gotten from all over the world, and the amount of inquiries and questions about health topics have been abundant. Baruch Hashem, these columns have been able to help and motivate many people to achieve good health and IY”H will continue to do so for a long time.   

It is also two yeasr since I teamed up with my associate, Linda Holtz M. Sc and opened the Lose It! Weight Loss and Stress Reduction Program. Its unique approach of integrating the three disciplines of nutrition, exercise/activity and just as importantly, behavior is a one of a kind. We have seen excellent results across the board in the area of weight loss, but just as important, in almost all aspects of life. With Hashem’s help, Lose It! will continue to be of key to success for many, many more people both here in Eretz Yisrael and in Chutz La’aretz, helping them to attain good overall health, lose weight permanently and attain a superior quality of life.  

After Succos, you will be able to see our new series on how exercise affects your mental health and can be used to help or even cure depression, anxiety, panic disorder and a host of other disorders that affect so many people.   

I wish you all a K’siva V’chasima Tova. May this be a year of health and abundant simcha for K’lal Yisrael.   

Alan Freishtat 

Alan Freishtat is an A.C.E. CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER and a LIFESTYLE FITNESS COACH with over 15 years of professional experience. He is the co-director of the Jerusalem-based weight loss and stress reduction center Lose It! along with Linda Holtz M.Sc. and is available for private consultations, assessments and personalized workout programs. Alan also lectures and gives seminars and workshops. He can be reached at 02-651-8502 or 050-555-7175, or by email at [email protected]   

Check out the Lose It! website at www.loseit.co.il. US Line: 516-568-5027