Laughing Thru Pain

"Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions 

that can impact your body 

by bringing more stress 

into your system 

and decreasing your immunity. 

In contrast, 

positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides 

that help fight stress 

and potentially more-serious illnesses....

...Laughter may ease pain 

by causing the body

to produce its own natural painkillers. 

Laughter may also break the pain-spasm cycle 

common to some muscle disorders."

-  Mayo Clinic: Stress relief from laughter

When physical therapy was over today, I turned to Dr. Joe and asked, "Is that it?"

He said, "Haven't you had enough self-punishment for one day?"

I laughed. 

He gets me.

I may be his only patient that asks to do more than what's required of me.

We did all kinds of new scary things today.

I balanced on a rocker board.

I balanced to and fro 

then back and forth

doing 16 reps each way.

I was only required to do 15.

I did one extra just to show

Dr. Joe I was determined.

He already knew I was determined.

I stepped forward on one leg

with bended knee

onto a big blue cushy surface-y square.

Balancing in that position was hard enough,

but there was an added element.

I had to throw a giant yellow medicine ball

at a springboard and catch it 20 times

for each leg.

Dr. Joe held his arm out for support.

I wouldn't take it. I wanted to balance on my own.

I also did the recumbent stepper

and two directions of leg press.

Dr. Joe always hovers near me with his

student intern in tow.

They talk about TV and pop culture

(We both like The Office, Louie, 

True Blood, and edgy comedy).

He involves me and tells me funny stories.

He makes me laugh.

At one point he even asked me,

"Isn't it easier when I'm distracting you?"

Yep.

Much easier.

Even better when I'm laughing.

When I was on my third set of one of my leg presses he was doing a great job of making me laugh by repeating some German comedian's jokes from Twitter. I heard Lady Gaga's Edge of Glory come on the radio in the background. Gaga and that particular song are a source of strength for me. 

I almost told Dr. Joe to let me listen to the song so I could get through my reps,

but his stories were getting me through with a lot less pain than if he'd left me alone on the machine listening to music. 

The laughter made the pain better.

It was like my brain couldn't register the pain and the funny simultaneously. Focusing on the funny forced my brain to register less pain.

Why is there no laughter therapy in hospitals and nursing homes? 

Maybe if we could bill insurance for it or big pharma could profit from it...

like at the end of Monsters, Inc.

we'd have much less suffering in the world.

Imagine if I had some humorless drill sergeant-type yelling at me to push through the pain? I'd be suffering more.

I lucked out with Dr. Joe.

I hit the power ball.

*Lisa's Video Pick of the Day*

Whoa, you can manually pump a muscle to give it nutrients? I have so much to learn. I'm going to ask Dr. Joe to pump my psoas lol.

Now that I see Josh doing it, I see that Dr. Joe does something similar.

Similar but not nearly the same.

click here or click below

Becoming the person you want to be...part 1

I am giving up coffee.
This is as big as it sounds.
starting tomorrow I will be drinking tea...herbal tea.
Why?
I don't know...
Yesterday, I was driving in my van, and looked down and thought.
I am done with coffee.
I think it makes me want to eat.
I have insomnia.
I don't know if it is the caffiene or what...
But the thought went through my head.
I am giving up coffee.
And I didn't even feel a pang.
None.
No panic, no wondering.
I asked my oldest daughter "If you could wake up tomorrow and have the perfect day...what would it look like."
And she told me.
Now I am going to ask me the same question.
And figure it out.
A lot of things were taken from me when Iwas small...
and I don't know where I got the idea that I couldn't create the life I didn't have then, now.
But obviously I bought into it...the idea that for some things it is 'too late'.

You can start anytime, anywhere.
So I am starting tomorrow.
Hugs,
Chris out.

The big 50!

That's right I turned 50 today :)

I ended up choosing a Garmin heart rate monitor for my birthday and a foam roller. I see lots of pain in my future :) Just kidding, kind of, sort of...... I'll take a picture tomorrow!

So Ralph and I have birthdays within 5 days of each other so I decided rather than going out to eat I was going to make an awesome dinner!! Beef tenderloin, lobster tail with melted butter, baked fries, chocolate dipped strawberries and wine :) Absolutely fantastic!!

Hope your having a great day too!!

Hot Topics Pt I

During yesterday's Facebook chat we burned up the boards with lots of questions and answers. Don't have time to read the entire chat? Here are 3 of the hottest topics grains, belly fat & SEX... I will share another 3 tomorrow:

Grains:
Do we eat them? Am I intolerant? How much? There were lots of grains questions. The main thing to remember about grains is that it is best to limit them if we're

Techniques to Improve Concentration

Distractions and inattention decrease the performance of a person and can be a cause of poor performance at home, work and academic work, recognizing this problem is good start to change harmful habits and exercise the ability to focus the thoughts in one direction.

Every human being who wishes to acquire some new knowledge, mastery of a discipline or specialized activities, will require dedication and "willpower" to achieve their goal, but this is not enough. Many times we just happen to read a chapter of a book and we realize that we have not retained any of its content, which "lose track" of a conversation or have to brake suddenly our car because we realized that the traffic lights had the red light on these and other circumstances, we say, rightly, that we were "distracted".

Indeed, only when we act with care, i.e. by unifying purposes, ideas, feelings and actions favorable outcomes in every action we perform, whether simple or complicated, also concluded in a short time and without wasting energy, so fatigue is reduced. Not always know how to do this, so that usually occur despair and frustration, but it is also true that there are some techniques to cultivate a balanced mood that will address the world and its challenges with greater advantages. Join us to learn some of them ( swamiramdevmedicines.com/herbal-remedies/divya-medha-vati.html ).

Sleeping and eating good
Food is important for all our body to function properly, but in particular the consumption of sugar (glucose) helps the brain to focus and better direct the thinking about the work they perform.

The same situation is observed in humans, so scientifically confirms the idea that to stay well concentrate is recommended a diet rich in fruits, grains, vegetables and honey, but also considered it worth eating something sweet situations in which our performance begins to fail.

On the other hand, is already known that poor sleep, either by voluntary sleeplessness, insomnia or other factors, affects low productivity, trouble thinking clearly, increased risk of accidents, irritability, increased susceptibility to disease, decreased quality of life and even premature death due to lack of sleep affects the immune system, which is responsible for combating viruses and bacteria that cause disease.

Through various studies, scientists have determined that during sleep the brain is removed so-called free radicals, which are atoms or molecules that damage cells and are responsible for premature aging of our tissues and organs. In this way, it is thought that if the concentration problems are due to constant anxiety and disturbed sleep / wake cycle, altered habits and make an effort to relax the time our body requires, which averages between 7 adult and 8 hours without interruption.

Some exercises
Also feed and rest, we can help fix the attention of the mind on a single activity through simple practices like that follows, perhaps during the first attempts were frustrated by the apparent experience dispersion with that act, but the pace decided to give constant results than imagined.

Picture. One should think of a simple geometric shape (square, triangle or circle) and mentally represent as closely as possible, the important thing is that the idea remains and is not erased by the flow of ideas about the day's events, liabilities or pending. Aim for a short time to hold the image in the mind, and when you do you can combine with others: a circle within a square or a rectangle triangle that houses, among others.

Color . Similarly, you can view a color previously established, think about it 30 seconds and gradually increase this time, until, for example, five minutes. Now with practice, can bring colors and geometric shapes: "observe" a red triangle surrounded by a white circle on a green background, for example.

Brow . Focus all your attention on one's forehead, hold it there as closely as possible and avoid stress and rambling. Persevere to unify their thinking.

Point . Draw small black circle on a card or sheet of paper, stare into it for a few minutes, then close your eyes and hold in your mind the image you just watch.

Sounds . Focus on a constant sound, like the song of a bird in a park or the ticking of a clock; show yourself attentive to sound and silences that are created.

Bodily sensation. Focus on sensory perception (smell, touch texture, aroma) and avoid putting names or describe, only experience it. This exercise is excellent and avoids digressions.

Living in peace
Although there are various techniques from various mystical traditions around the world, meditation has similar qualities that combine body positions and other practices that prevent the wandering of the mind, i.e., promote concentration. Many people have benefited from such disciplines as yoga and meditation, among others, and highly recommended because it provides sustained practice required to facilitate relaxation and enhance memory and observation skills mental organization, however, since ancient times for meditation techniques have distinguished it, gradually, provide visible results for better concentration, peace of mind and learning capacity.

Focus is fun
The game is certainly the main route through which children approach the world, but it is also valid than any other individual draw upon it to acquire new skills, abilities and knowledge, even when it refers to increase our ability to concentrate.

Virtually every board game, plus you can contribute to family or friends, you can fix the attention and help to improve memory and intelligence, that because all participants must follow a set of instructions faithfully and pursue a particular goal without distractions.

One of the most recommended to start is the "memory", which involves placing cards on a table in the far side have different pictures (people, animals, objects, fruits, artwork, etc.). All cards have an identical pair, each participant shall seek to accumulate points, only has a chance to flip two cards to locate them, and be more careful who is usually the winner.

These games are important for these purposes, chess which is necessary even cultivate silence to focus thoughts and strategize, and one more questionnaires are problems of logic and mathematics, where there are often amazing solutions, droll or very developed. Another exercise more is that they are looking for differences between two images that at first glance look identical.

Can be seen that only through practice learn to control our mind and focus your attention on a single line of thought, and this is within reach of every human being who so desires. However, when the difficulties of maintaining attention are severe and constant, so that they dramatically alter the social or work life, you need to see a specialist (psychologist or psychiatrist) to conduct an assessment on the case, issue a diagnosis and provide appropriate support.

Read more on yoga for mental health and remedies to Improve Memory Power techniques. And more about Techniques to Improve Concentration

Techniques to Improve Concentration

Distractions and inattention decrease the performance of a person and can be a cause of poor performance at home, work and academic work, recognizing this problem is good start to change harmful habits and exercise the ability to focus the thoughts in one direction.

Every human being who wishes to acquire some new knowledge, mastery of a discipline or specialized activities, will require dedication and "willpower" to achieve their goal, but this is not enough. Many times we just happen to read a chapter of a book and we realize that we have not retained any of its content, which "lose track" of a conversation or have to brake suddenly our car because we realized that the traffic lights had the red light on these and other circumstances, we say, rightly, that we were "distracted".

Indeed, only when we act with care, i.e. by unifying purposes, ideas, feelings and actions favorable outcomes in every action we perform, whether simple or complicated, also concluded in a short time and without wasting energy, so fatigue is reduced. Not always know how to do this, so that usually occur despair and frustration, but it is also true that there are some techniques to cultivate a balanced mood that will address the world and its challenges with greater advantages. Join us to learn some of them ( swamiramdevmedicines.com/herbal-remedies/divya-medha-vati.html ).

Sleeping and eating good
Food is important for all our body to function properly, but in particular the consumption of sugar (glucose) helps the brain to focus and better direct the thinking about the work they perform.

The same situation is observed in humans, so scientifically confirms the idea that to stay well concentrate is recommended a diet rich in fruits, grains, vegetables and honey, but also considered it worth eating something sweet situations in which our performance begins to fail.

On the other hand, is already known that poor sleep, either by voluntary sleeplessness, insomnia or other factors, affects low productivity, trouble thinking clearly, increased risk of accidents, irritability, increased susceptibility to disease, decreased quality of life and even premature death due to lack of sleep affects the immune system, which is responsible for combating viruses and bacteria that cause disease.

Through various studies, scientists have determined that during sleep the brain is removed so-called free radicals, which are atoms or molecules that damage cells and are responsible for premature aging of our tissues and organs. In this way, it is thought that if the concentration problems are due to constant anxiety and disturbed sleep / wake cycle, altered habits and make an effort to relax the time our body requires, which averages between 7 adult and 8 hours without interruption.

Some exercises
Also feed and rest, we can help fix the attention of the mind on a single activity through simple practices like that follows, perhaps during the first attempts were frustrated by the apparent experience dispersion with that act, but the pace decided to give constant results than imagined.

Picture. One should think of a simple geometric shape (square, triangle or circle) and mentally represent as closely as possible, the important thing is that the idea remains and is not erased by the flow of ideas about the day's events, liabilities or pending. Aim for a short time to hold the image in the mind, and when you do you can combine with others: a circle within a square or a rectangle triangle that houses, among others.

Color . Similarly, you can view a color previously established, think about it 30 seconds and gradually increase this time, until, for example, five minutes. Now with practice, can bring colors and geometric shapes: "observe" a red triangle surrounded by a white circle on a green background, for example.

Brow . Focus all your attention on one's forehead, hold it there as closely as possible and avoid stress and rambling. Persevere to unify their thinking.

Point . Draw small black circle on a card or sheet of paper, stare into it for a few minutes, then close your eyes and hold in your mind the image you just watch.

Sounds . Focus on a constant sound, like the song of a bird in a park or the ticking of a clock; show yourself attentive to sound and silences that are created.

Bodily sensation. Focus on sensory perception (smell, touch texture, aroma) and avoid putting names or describe, only experience it. This exercise is excellent and avoids digressions.

Living in peace
Although there are various techniques from various mystical traditions around the world, meditation has similar qualities that combine body positions and other practices that prevent the wandering of the mind, i.e., promote concentration. Many people have benefited from such disciplines as yoga and meditation, among others, and highly recommended because it provides sustained practice required to facilitate relaxation and enhance memory and observation skills mental organization, however, since ancient times for meditation techniques have distinguished it, gradually, provide visible results for better concentration, peace of mind and learning capacity.

Focus is fun
The game is certainly the main route through which children approach the world, but it is also valid than any other individual draw upon it to acquire new skills, abilities and knowledge, even when it refers to increase our ability to concentrate.

Virtually every board game, plus you can contribute to family or friends, you can fix the attention and help to improve memory and intelligence, that because all participants must follow a set of instructions faithfully and pursue a particular goal without distractions.

One of the most recommended to start is the "memory", which involves placing cards on a table in the far side have different pictures (people, animals, objects, fruits, artwork, etc.). All cards have an identical pair, each participant shall seek to accumulate points, only has a chance to flip two cards to locate them, and be more careful who is usually the winner.

These games are important for these purposes, chess which is necessary even cultivate silence to focus thoughts and strategize, and one more questionnaires are problems of logic and mathematics, where there are often amazing solutions, droll or very developed. Another exercise more is that they are looking for differences between two images that at first glance look identical.

Can be seen that only through practice learn to control our mind and focus your attention on a single line of thought, and this is within reach of every human being who so desires. However, when the difficulties of maintaining attention are severe and constant, so that they dramatically alter the social or work life, you need to see a specialist (psychologist or psychiatrist) to conduct an assessment on the case, issue a diagnosis and provide appropriate support.

Read more on yoga for mental health and remedies to Improve Memory Power techniques. And more about Techniques to Improve Concentration

Danger of Obesity and Overweight in Older Age

Obesity and overweight are defined as excess body energy reserves, mainly as fat, if it is known that in both cases the health is at risk, the risk in older adults increases. This may be the time to take action to prevent future problems, do not you think?

Risks in them
One of the main causes for the mature woman gains weight is the decrease in the generation of sex hormones after the menopause (last menstrual period), as this alters the mechanism to regulate the distribution of adipose tissue and the ratio between muscle and fat. To this we must add that the body it is much more difficult to metabolize lipids and lipoproteins as before, i.e., assimilation, utilization and disposal of fats, leading to overweight.

As noted above, the risk of problems focus on women's bone machine, but also affected others, the most important: Osteoarthritis. Degenerative disease characterized by wear or destruction of cartilage and deformation of the surface bone of one or more joints. In general, aging and stress cause the cartilage to wear out, so the joint loses its natural cushioning system and bone deformities have slight manifested through pain and limited movement, affects mostly weight-bearing joints or who have excessive movement, such as hips (specifically in groin and inner thigh), knee (on the inside) or feet.

Osteoporosis. Skeletal disease characterized by decreased bone mineral density (calcium and collagen) due to imbalance in the cycle of bone reconstruction (less formed bone tissue is destroyed), which causes bones to become porous, thin and fragile, therefore, susceptible to fracture at the slightest effort or not. This disorder is very common in the elderly, and affects mostly postmenopausal women due to lack of estrogen, hormones that the body stops producing when given the last period.

What about them?
The older men tend to increase in heart disease from the accumulation of fat; hence we can talk about problems like high cholesterol, fatty compounds that our body gets from two aspects: one, food and the other that makes the body itself.

Cholesterol is required to perform many functions, such as hormones, assist in the formation of bile and vitamin D, and maintain the body's cellular structure. However, when levels are elevated in the blood of the compound health problems arise, the main: Atherosclerosis. cholesterol tends to accumulate on the walls of the arteries, which adds to waste and muscle cells and blood calcium causing atherosclerotic plaque is called, which reach a size that hinders the passage of blood causes the disorder, which usually occurs in the coronary arteries (which carry blood to the heart muscle) in the aorta (the most large body), and in the brain and limbs, especially thighs and legs.

When athermanous plaque partially or completely cover the arteries, causing decreased or total lack of blood flow, which causes the organs do not receive enough oxygen to work or not have it at all (complete occlusion), resulting in the death of cells. The latter is what is called an infarct and, as is known, can occur anywhere in the body where the blood stops circulating. Thus, infarction occurs in heart, brain, eyes, intestines and legs (herbalcureindia.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-pills.htm ).

Moreover, it is noteworthy that there are other conditions that are common to men and women for the overweight, among which we mention: Gout. As part of the daily renewal of the cells that make up our body discards each day a compound called uric acid, which naturally is excreted in urine, but when this happens, it accumulates in the blood and gradually settles in the joints, as crystals, causing inflammation and severe pain. Among the causes of uric acid is not removed properly can include obesity and diabetes, diseases that cause kidney malfunction, leading to accumulation and determines the appearance of calculi (stones formed by mineral salts and discarded).

Hypertension. High blood pressure affects one third of people over 60 years, this disease is that the smaller blood stream narrowed or the arteries lose their elasticity, which forces the heart to pump harder to supply blood to all organs. A major cause is the accumulation of fat in blood vessels, constant situations of stress and distress, kidney ailments and diabetes, sedentary lifestyle (with very little physical exercise), eating too much salt, snuff and alcohol.

Diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is a syndrome characterized by excessive accumulation of glucose in the blood due to a deterioration in all or part of the secretion and action of the hormone insulin, produced by the pancreas and is responsible for maintaining normal blood sugar levels. If left unchecked can lead to complications such as blindness, kidney and vascular damage and leg amputations.

There are two types: the first develops in people in which insulin production is low or nil. Most patients with this condition develop it before age 30.

In contrast, type 2 or mellitus occurs when the pancreas continues to produce insulin but the body develops resistance to its effects. Generally, this type of diabetes occurs after age 30.

Cancer. Quite simply, this condition can be explained as a failure in the mechanism that regulates the development of cells that are found throughout our body, made to appear that some of these causes to grow without altering their genetic control, and thus are most likely to develop cancer. One of the factors that can accelerate the accumulation of fat in the body as well as polluting compounds, viruses and ultraviolet radiation from sunlight.

Actions to be taken
Although the elderly require special care naturally, we must take particular care when overweight or obese, so that attention to the following precautions:

Hormone replacement therapy. It is not uncommon for many menopausal women continue hormone replacement therapy, i.e. artificially receive estrogen that your body no longer produces, among other benefits it helps to prevent weight gain, however, receive is of Hormones discussion in the scientific community, it is associated with cases in which women develop cancer. Is indicated consulted gynecologist about risks and benefits administration.

Exercise. For more happens in the body energy expenditure is necessary to promote exercise. With this, it will increase muscle definition, improve insulin sensitivity and decrease cholesterol levels. The walk, for example, is excellent sport, and you do not need physical condition or special accessories.

Eat and chew. Chew slowly lets shred food into a bolus perfectly digestible otherwise, the organs involved in digestion working at top speed, generating indigestion, stomach pain, gas emissions and inadequate metabolism fat.

Food. Possibly the main point which shows many problems, hence the need to pay attention to:
* Eat little but often, a well distributed supply allows you to lose excess fat, while only one meal a day promotes fat storage.
* Drink 2 liters of water a day to rehydrate the skin and digestive tract.
* Avoid salt, because it facilitates the formation of small balls or lumps of fat in artery walls. Instead, try to incorporate garlic into your meals, it prevents the formation of small balls (like grapefruit) and promotes good blood circulation.
* Say goodbye to the snacks and replace them with fruit or vegetables (cucumbers, carrots, etc..), Since no fat and suppresses appetite.
* Compare the calories, protein, fats and sugars you eat all their food and seek balance. Make simple evaluation on our tables of essential food groups, minerals, vitamins and proteins (located in section diagrams, the left side of the screen).
* Use olive oil for cooking and seasoning, as this product reduces the concentration of harmful cholesterol, while increasing the so-called good.
* Eat in moderation tortilla, bread made with refined flour (substitute whole wheat bread in small amounts), sweets and alcohol.

Beyond the cosmetic issue for many people a lot of weight, obesity should be treated in the elderly, since this will be gaining in health have no doubt about it.

Read more on natural slimming pills and how to lose weight fast. And more about how to prevent cellulite to loose extra fat & be in shape...

Danger of Obesity and Overweight in Older Age

Obesity and overweight are defined as excess body energy reserves, mainly as fat, if it is known that in both cases the health is at risk, the risk in older adults increases. This may be the time to take action to prevent future problems, do not you think?

Risks in them
One of the main causes for the mature woman gains weight is the decrease in the generation of sex hormones after the menopause (last menstrual period), as this alters the mechanism to regulate the distribution of adipose tissue and the ratio between muscle and fat. To this we must add that the body it is much more difficult to metabolize lipids and lipoproteins as before, i.e., assimilation, utilization and disposal of fats, leading to overweight.

As noted above, the risk of problems focus on women's bone machine, but also affected others, the most important: Osteoarthritis. Degenerative disease characterized by wear or destruction of cartilage and deformation of the surface bone of one or more joints. In general, aging and stress cause the cartilage to wear out, so the joint loses its natural cushioning system and bone deformities have slight manifested through pain and limited movement, affects mostly weight-bearing joints or who have excessive movement, such as hips (specifically in groin and inner thigh), knee (on the inside) or feet.

Osteoporosis. Skeletal disease characterized by decreased bone mineral density (calcium and collagen) due to imbalance in the cycle of bone reconstruction (less formed bone tissue is destroyed), which causes bones to become porous, thin and fragile, therefore, susceptible to fracture at the slightest effort or not. This disorder is very common in the elderly, and affects mostly postmenopausal women due to lack of estrogen, hormones that the body stops producing when given the last period.

What about them?
The older men tend to increase in heart disease from the accumulation of fat; hence we can talk about problems like high cholesterol, fatty compounds that our body gets from two aspects: one, food and the other that makes the body itself.

Cholesterol is required to perform many functions, such as hormones, assist in the formation of bile and vitamin D, and maintain the body's cellular structure. However, when levels are elevated in the blood of the compound health problems arise, the main: Atherosclerosis. cholesterol tends to accumulate on the walls of the arteries, which adds to waste and muscle cells and blood calcium causing atherosclerotic plaque is called, which reach a size that hinders the passage of blood causes the disorder, which usually occurs in the coronary arteries (which carry blood to the heart muscle) in the aorta (the most large body), and in the brain and limbs, especially thighs and legs.

When athermanous plaque partially or completely cover the arteries, causing decreased or total lack of blood flow, which causes the organs do not receive enough oxygen to work or not have it at all (complete occlusion), resulting in the death of cells. The latter is what is called an infarct and, as is known, can occur anywhere in the body where the blood stops circulating. Thus, infarction occurs in heart, brain, eyes, intestines and legs (herbalcureindia.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-pills.htm ).

Moreover, it is noteworthy that there are other conditions that are common to men and women for the overweight, among which we mention: Gout. As part of the daily renewal of the cells that make up our body discards each day a compound called uric acid, which naturally is excreted in urine, but when this happens, it accumulates in the blood and gradually settles in the joints, as crystals, causing inflammation and severe pain. Among the causes of uric acid is not removed properly can include obesity and diabetes, diseases that cause kidney malfunction, leading to accumulation and determines the appearance of calculi (stones formed by mineral salts and discarded).

Hypertension. High blood pressure affects one third of people over 60 years, this disease is that the smaller blood stream narrowed or the arteries lose their elasticity, which forces the heart to pump harder to supply blood to all organs. A major cause is the accumulation of fat in blood vessels, constant situations of stress and distress, kidney ailments and diabetes, sedentary lifestyle (with very little physical exercise), eating too much salt, snuff and alcohol.

Diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is a syndrome characterized by excessive accumulation of glucose in the blood due to a deterioration in all or part of the secretion and action of the hormone insulin, produced by the pancreas and is responsible for maintaining normal blood sugar levels. If left unchecked can lead to complications such as blindness, kidney and vascular damage and leg amputations.

There are two types: the first develops in people in which insulin production is low or nil. Most patients with this condition develop it before age 30.

In contrast, type 2 or mellitus occurs when the pancreas continues to produce insulin but the body develops resistance to its effects. Generally, this type of diabetes occurs after age 30.

Cancer. Quite simply, this condition can be explained as a failure in the mechanism that regulates the development of cells that are found throughout our body, made to appear that some of these causes to grow without altering their genetic control, and thus are most likely to develop cancer. One of the factors that can accelerate the accumulation of fat in the body as well as polluting compounds, viruses and ultraviolet radiation from sunlight.

Actions to be taken
Although the elderly require special care naturally, we must take particular care when overweight or obese, so that attention to the following precautions:

Hormone replacement therapy. It is not uncommon for many menopausal women continue hormone replacement therapy, i.e. artificially receive estrogen that your body no longer produces, among other benefits it helps to prevent weight gain, however, receive is of Hormones discussion in the scientific community, it is associated with cases in which women develop cancer. Is indicated consulted gynecologist about risks and benefits administration.

Exercise. For more happens in the body energy expenditure is necessary to promote exercise. With this, it will increase muscle definition, improve insulin sensitivity and decrease cholesterol levels. The walk, for example, is excellent sport, and you do not need physical condition or special accessories.

Eat and chew. Chew slowly lets shred food into a bolus perfectly digestible otherwise, the organs involved in digestion working at top speed, generating indigestion, stomach pain, gas emissions and inadequate metabolism fat.

Food. Possibly the main point which shows many problems, hence the need to pay attention to:
* Eat little but often, a well distributed supply allows you to lose excess fat, while only one meal a day promotes fat storage.
* Drink 2 liters of water a day to rehydrate the skin and digestive tract.
* Avoid salt, because it facilitates the formation of small balls or lumps of fat in artery walls. Instead, try to incorporate garlic into your meals, it prevents the formation of small balls (like grapefruit) and promotes good blood circulation.
* Say goodbye to the snacks and replace them with fruit or vegetables (cucumbers, carrots, etc..), Since no fat and suppresses appetite.
* Compare the calories, protein, fats and sugars you eat all their food and seek balance. Make simple evaluation on our tables of essential food groups, minerals, vitamins and proteins (located in section diagrams, the left side of the screen).
* Use olive oil for cooking and seasoning, as this product reduces the concentration of harmful cholesterol, while increasing the so-called good.
* Eat in moderation tortilla, bread made with refined flour (substitute whole wheat bread in small amounts), sweets and alcohol.

Beyond the cosmetic issue for many people a lot of weight, obesity should be treated in the elderly, since this will be gaining in health have no doubt about it.

Read more on natural slimming pills and how to lose weight fast. And more about how to prevent cellulite to loose extra fat & be in shape...

Balanced Diet for Children

Studies show that consumption of fruits and vegetables in children and adolescents do not meet the required amounts. How to ensure that they get the percentage that allows them to have a balanced diet?

It is known to work and encourage parents to teach good eating habits in children, and make every moment enjoyable meals and family. However, in recent years there has been a change in the most households, now both parents work and family meals are limited to weekends.

Highly nutritious edible
Fruits and vegetables are the primary source of important nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and fiber. Therefore, their consumption is weak risk factor for the development of various chronic diseases: atherosclerosis (deposits of fat in the bloodstream), irritable bowel syndrome (produces diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain), anemia (low red blood cell production almost always due to lack of iron) and constipation, among others.

It) is intensifying its efforts to encourage healthy eating habits among which promote the consumption of five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

Doctors recommends consuming 400 grams of fruit and vegetables each day (equivalent to five servings, approximately) as invaluable help to prevent chronic diseases, including cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes type 2 (high blood sugar levels) and obesity.

Problems and solutions
It is common for children, especially preschoolers, have a special aversion to certain foods, like vegetables. Although preferences for meals must be respected and considered when planning meals, do not let the infant make its will.

"In this sense, it is important that the variety of foods that are cooked at home is very wide, in this way, children will have more options and less likely to reject. Furthermore, the above also enables them to understand the need and importance of eating all kinds of food, "suggests by the specialist.

Keep in mind that eating habits acquired by the child from earliest childhood, marked the habits for the rest of life. ( ayurvedicherbalcure.com/Herbs/guduchi.html )Few advise:
* Presenting the dishes in a fun way, with ingredients that provide colorful and attractive, it is a "hook" for children and young people because it draws attention and is palatable.
* Seek to start the day by eating some fruit, either chopped or juiced; also have the advantage that they can be easily carried to all places.
* Include lunch or lunch in a bowl of fruit or vegetables. And if it works, you always have these foods visible at home and reach the kids, keep in minds that if seen, are more likely to eat them.
* Always add a side of vegetables or fruit, whether in a salad or mashed, to the dishes prepared with meat.
* Use pureed vegetables to thicken soups and add flavor.
* Prepare desserts with vegetables (carrots, squash) and fruits.
* Cut food into curious shapes.

Helping children to eat more fruits and vegetables do not have to represent daunting task. In their school lunches can add different fruit each day of the week for which we have many options. At meals with vegetables and salads make colorful fruits, and always keep in mind that creativity before serving will be your best ally.

Right Food
A proper system to keep in perfect health and at the same time, enjoy a full welfare state. For this it is necessary to comply with the following characteristics:
* Complete. It is necessary to combine different food groups to get all the nutrients we need.
* Varied. Our body requires about 40 different nutrients, which can only get by exchanging foods found within the same group.
* Enough. Remember that each meal must meet the energy needs and not to omit any.
* Balanced. The diet should contain between 60 and 65% carbohydrates, 10 to 15% protein and 25 to 30% fat.
* Harmless. Does not involve health risks.

Read more on herbal remedies and natural health supplement to boost immune system to prevent health diseases.

Toddling

Has anyone seen this Fwd? (click here)

A friend sent it to me

(and other of his ladyfriends)

thinking I'd find it funny.

I didn't.

It triggered me so badly

I cried every time I thought

about it for the rest of the day.

I've been wanting to blog about it

but every time I  start to

I think I'm overreacting

for being so god-awful insulted.

Maybe it is funny

and I'm just too sensitive in my

snapping turtle.

I need to let my ego settle before I

say anything more about it.

Just know, it's been weighing

heavily on my mind.



So for now, rather than be a snarky

humorless douche,

I'm going to talk about

being a toddler again...



I can't believe I have to learn to walk again.

My feet are so weak, Dr. Joe had to teach me

exercises to strengthen my arches.

We call them TV exercises.

I have to do them

while I sit and watch TV at night

(or sit anywhere for that matter).

They're really difficult.

It took me a few tries to get the

"form" just right.



When you have weakness in certain

body parts they're hard to control.



He didn't intend to give me those exercises.

We started with me at the barre

attempting to relevet (these are ballet terms.

Dr. Joe uses actual physiological terms).

I could hardly rise up on my toes.

I told him that I knew he couldn't see

my feet through the sneakers but

that I swore I was actually doing

the rises.



He told me to stop.

There was no point in doing an exercise

that I couldn't do effectively.

That's when he showed me the arch curls.

When I got up to walk afterward,

my arches were

burning from the new attention.

I walked back to the work table

like I had stepped in something icky.



Whenever he sees me in discomfort

he checks up to make sure it's

productive discomfort.

Soreness for soreness' sake

is not a mark of achievement.

Some pain is ok

as long as it's constructive.



I deeply, deeply appreciate that he works this way.

He works me hard but smart.

The smartness makes me willing

to work through the pain.



He sent me home with stretchy bands

with which to do my TV exercises.



I'll be watching my Joshua McKinley

and stretchy-banding my feet and lower

legs back into some sort of shape

tonight.



Talk about square one.

I'm a toddler again.

Well, I worked my way up from

toddling to running

once before.

No reason I can't do it again,

right?



*Lisa's Video Pick of the Day*

Josh Rubin is not a fan of cardio

for people like me.

Did I watch this one already?

Well, until I understand "catabolic"

and "anaerobic" I guess

I should watch it again.

click here or click below

Things that make me smile!

Just a few things that have made me smile lately! In no particular order:

1. Ralph doing the dishes :)

<3

2. My kids Jennifer and Alex (is on the left)

3. Snuffy just being snuffy

4. Anne

5. My first cup of coffee! And my brekkie of course :)

6. Comments left on my blog :)

so sorry to hear about the ankle oh Suzi of the Spunk!!

You always have such fun and very often beautiful scenery in your pictures! It really shows your inner beauty and happiness! LOVE IT!

7. Oats

8. One of my favourite songs
Paolo Nutini- New shoes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eullRZSuJbw

9. Blogging

10. My new planner

11. Volunteering

well...wake me up when september ends...

got a tax bill today...apparently we underpaid in 2008.
by 200 dollars.
fun.
btw...in case you all were wondering, I am a conservative.
I am just done, done, done with the cretins in washington.
They aren't conservatives.
They are just politicians.
Heck...the more I think about it, I think I am less a conservative and more a
"get the hell out of my life" person.
My friend and I (who is, I think, a little more liberal than I am) were talking about the government the other day.
And on one side you have people who think they need to legislate morality.
And on the other side you have people who want to pick  your pocket and take your money.
Both of them equal  opportunity offenders.
 I am not sure when we began handing our liberty over to a bunch of bureaucratic dipsh*ts
But I think it's time we stop.
Think about  it...that 200 dollars I am going to send in to the government..
will it go to do anything positive?
or will it simply line the pockets of someone's special interest?
The latter, I believe.
And so..
A little something I do believe.


Good evening america,
The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
This is the last I will speak of this.
Have a great night guys,
Chris out.

My knees and The Human Experience

Documentary filmmaker Jeffery Azize and Lisa Sargese

at the screening of The Human Experience

at Montclair State University 9/27/11

"I look at those memories. 

I look at those moments. 

Everyone lives differently. 

When you go somewhere 

out of your own comfort zone, 

out of your own realm,

and you enter someone else's, 

that's learning."

- Jeffrey Azize of Grassroots Films 

in 'The Human Experience'

"Suffering

is a journey 

deeper into 

the heart 

of life...

...Even in the deepest suffering, 

there is significance. 

There is a meaningful process

of positive possibilities. 

We have to recover 

the language of humanity. 

We cannot understand 

suffering without it... 

there's this struggle in life 

in every class of people... 

it's what we do with it that matters."

- Dr. William B. Hurlbut

in 'The Human Experience'

I've been showing this film in my classes ever since receiving the DVD as a gift from the Catholic missionaries of Newman Campus Ministry at Montclair State University last year.



It's one of those life changing movies that puts suffering into perspective.



You can get it on Netflix. I highly recommend it.



The moment that gets me the most is when they're in Ghana talking to a woman who is dying of AIDS. They ask her if she would like to speak to the camera with a message for her children.

She begins to cry (as does the audience at this point).

She says she would tell them to be obedient to God.

If they are obedient to God's laws they will prosper.



Even in the depths of her suffering she had such faith.

Even in her circumstances she believed that prosperity was possible if one could be obedient to God; to love, to be charitable, to have mercy.



It didn't matter that she probably had been obedient and still was struck with her fatal disease. She still loved God enough to make that statement as the one most important thing to pass on to her children.



She's an ocean away, economically worlds away, probably has passed on by now, but I felt reassured by her.

I was not suffering alone.

I felt less lonely in my pain.



I do strive to be a good person.

I try so hard (crying now).

Doing the right thing is so important to me.

By comparison to hers my life is easy. I don't mean to diminish her experience by comparing her life to mine.

I'm comfortable in my suffering.

I get to suffer in the best hospitals under the best care.

I get to recover in a clean, quaint, comfortable, temperature controlled apartment surrounded by friends, fur babies, family, and good food.



But suffering touches us all no matter how good we have it

and suffering can be so lonely.

When we feel despair the closes people to us will try to cheer us up (and rightly so) but sometimes one just wants to hear "I know how you feel. I feel it too."



I had to hear "never again" today and my heart is broken.

I had been reading the brochure about my knee prosthetics (nice how I bother to do that months after the fact). It showed pictures of what one will never be able to do again safely after knee replacement surgery. One was twisting of the knee (I can twist it just not hard or repeatedly) and the other was jumping.



Jumping?

Like jumping rope or doing jumping jacks?



My physical therapist reassured me that he would create modified jumping jacks for me. He explained that I lost parts of my legs in the surgeries making certain movements dangerous. Two much of certain movements would loosen the prosthetics and necessitate corrective surgery, so don't do them.



No jumping?

No ballroom dancing?

No martial arts??



No.

Not in this life.

Not safely.



Hey, I'll do other things. My goal was Qi Gong. I kinda knew deep down that Kung Fu was a pipe dream (Don't even whisper the words Tae Kwon Do to me right now or I'll start choking-sobbing again. My eyes are swollen like frogs).



Doctor Joe is undaunted.

He believes in modification. He'll give me substitutes for any of the things I want to do but can't with the new knees. He won't let me miss out.



But the adjustment to that truth - the truth that I will never be able to do certain things - is kicking the ass of my soul right now.

I have these new knees because I couldn't stand the chronic pain of the old ones. I couldn't work past the disfiguring immobility. I wish I could show you my arthritic, bow-legged, exrays from before the surgery. You'd understand why I opted for titanium knees. I've lost some ability but gained so much more.



You know how I roll. I'll kick ass within the limits of what my replaced parts can do.

I don't need to be on Dancing with the Stars to get the most out of life.



Qi Gong IS a martial art after all. It's an easy discipline to modify for my ability level. By the time Sifu's "The Qi in Me" courses are up and running I'll be healed enough to take them. He wants to see me succeed. It will all be ok (I tell myself as I blow my nose for the 100th time today).



Have faith.

Be good.

Prosper.



I must have faith that my suffering will lead to the relief of suffering for myself and others.

Me and my not-bionic knees.



*Lisa's Video Pick of the Day*

When one is out of alignment with one's authentic self,

stress happens. Stress kills.

Be authentic.



click here or click below

Inside Photo Shoots

I'm always talking about a million different shoots that go on for a million different projects here at work, but have you ever wondered what it's really like? Behind all the glitz and glamour that you see in the image comes a lot of planning, organizing, strict eating and magic. While laughs and smiles often abound, it's not always as fun as it looks. Here's what it's really like...

Weeks to

Question day!

1. When you do a routine with weights what is your favourite exercise??

2. How would you describe a perfect meal?

3. How much water did you drink yesterday??

4. What are you going to do this week for fun?

5. Do you have fun trying to become healthy? Love cooking healthy food? Finding new recipes?? Or is it just me :)

What is my glitch?

"Fat is supposed to represent being 

ugly, 

needy, 

out of control, 

depressed, 

vulnerable 

and so on. 

Our culture teaches us 

to relegate these all-too-human feelings 

to the shadows of our psyches,

to strive to be everything that “fat” is not. 

So people work very hard 

at not being “fat” 

- all those virtuous meals and workouts

and sacrifices are designed 

to hold the things we fear 

at bay."

- HAES Files: When Health Speech is Hate Speech

I am not responsible for other people's choices.

I am not responsible for other people's mistakes.

Rinse. Repeat.

So, what do you do when someone's Facebook status declares that sugarless gum is so wonderful because it curbs the appetite and burns calories while you chew it?

Block them, right?

I don't  need to see that kind of eating disordered, pro-ana bullsh*t on my...

Wait.

Why am I so angry?

The person didn't put it on my wall.

I was not tagged in the post.

Their comment was not directed at me.

Why do I care??

Talk about a Lisa Life Lesson.

It's me.

That type of self-punishing, starvation-as-virtue, body-negating, pro-diet rhetoric reminds me of that part of me that I've been struggling to overcome for the better part of a decade. Even more than just overcome, I've been trying to kill that part of me so I never have to suffer it again.

I've gotten most of that kind of thinking out of my system. I probably should have put "most" in quotes since apparently I still get reactivated when someone reflects that old part of me, as if trying to resuscitate it after I've spent so long trying to get over it.

Again, what do anyone else's stupid choices have to do with me?

They only have something to do with me because I still have unresolved anxiety about my determination to overcome body dysmorphism, fat phobia and restrictive dieting. 

In other words,

I guess I'm not over it.

I still use "I'm too fat" as my go-to reason for anything that goes wrong in my life.

It's my go-to excuse for not doing things I want to do.

It's my go-to reason for not having a boyfriend (not exactly sure I want one, but still, it would be nice to have the option).

The fear of being negatively judged about my size is a source of great insecurity and anxiety for me.

That anxiety,

my un-surety,

is the open wound that

burns when someone expresses an opinion that reminds me of how I used to be, how I used to obsess, punish and shame myself for eating

and for being my size.



Can you imagine? We live in a society where a fat person is ashamed to feed herself. Hey, a $60 billion diet industry doesn't thrive without a powerful propaganda machine.

People are so brainwashed into believing that fat is demonic

and voluntary food restriction is virtuous

that they won't even entertain the notion that health relies on eating a good amount of  good food.



But that's not my glitch today.

My glitch is that for all my writing and understanding on the subject of smart nutrition I still get a sharp pain in my snapping turtle when I see someone making the same mistakes I made for most of my life.



Don't credit me with having compassion.

It's more like empathy, a selfish empathy.

I want my lessons to stay learned.

I don't want to spend energy on fighting demons I thought I'd already slayed.

If someone wants to drive by my curb and resuscitate a dead demon

that I've tossed out on garbage day

I need to

not

take

it

personally.



Working on it.

Still not the Buddha over here.

Not even close to being Jesus.



*Lisa's Video Pick of the Day*

Dramas.

We create drama in order to convince ourselves that we're in control.

We create dramas so we can work through them

and heal. It's much harder to learn than to give up control.

It's much harder to make change.

click here or click below

No rain :)

It was supposed to be raining here today but instead it's a wonderfully sunny day!!

I ended up doing another full body weight routine this morning. Followed by some cleaning and then off on a walk :) Which was amazing because I really didn't want to exercise today! I'd walked a lot yesterday and my legs were feeling it. But I dug down deep and Just Did It.

Look what came in the mail today. <3 I see new recipes soon :)