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The Doctor Is In
Here’s another great message from Dr. Lamse. Today, she addresses the Mind/Body Connection and how it affects our lives and health. Please give her your full attention; she has great wisdom. Be well-be beautiful.
♥Kellie
Mind/Body Medicine
By Dr. Anca Lamse, M.D.
Mind-body medicine: The medical field based on the concept that your thoughts and emotions create health or disease in your body.
Prolonged fear, grief, helplessness, anxiety, anger, resentment, and other negative emotions can reduce the effectiveness of your immune system, nervous system, and endocrine system, thus increasing risk of cancer, as well as autoimmune, gut, and heart conditions. Negative emotions that are not dealt with properly also lead to an increase in the stress hormone called cortisol, thus causing and/or exacerbating memory loss, anxiety, weight gain, insomnia, heart palpitations, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and other conditions.
One of my role models in dealing with painful situations is King David from the Bible. Those of you of the Christian or Jewish faith may remember the story about David and Bathsheba.
David, being king, wanted Bathsheba to be his wife and therefore sent her husband to a dangerous war zone, where he was killed. This was a sin before God. Therefore, the first child conceived by Bathsheba (with David) was destined to die.
When the child became ill, David prayed that God would change His mind. However, on the seventh day the child died. Though David’s servants were afraid of what he may do once he heard the sad news, they noticed with astonishment that David got up, washed himself, and ate. He reasoned that the child will not come back to life, so David might as well go on with his life. How practical and wise!
Let’s do everything possible to prevent painful events, but if they happen, let’s process (“digest”) the events and go on with life. A finite period of grief is also appropriate.
The medical field that deals with one’s state of mind and how it relates to the health of the nervous, endocrine, and the immune systems is called Psychoneuroendoimmunology. It’s a mouthful. German words can get that long, so those of you who speak German should not have any problems pronouncing it.
Negative emotions that are not processed appropriately may lead to pain in various body areas, such as back pain, migraines, and other pains.My colleague, Dr. Richard Halstead, D.O., who does osteopathic medicine (including body adjustments) has been telling me stories of how once a patient identifies a long-standing grief or resentment, the body often readjusts and some medical conditions are resolved.
There is a saying in osteopathic and chiropractic medicine to the effect that “the body remembers.” It remembers the negative emotions, and translates it into pain. Aligning the body helps the mind, and processing emotions in the mind, help the body recover.
What is the moral of the story, then? We need to process, or “digest,” as it were, the painful events of our lives. We need to find meaning in hurtful circumstances. We have to figure out how that event made us a better person, maybe more compassionate, maybe stronger. A lot of breast cancer survivors tell me that the breast cancer was a gift to them, which opened up their eyes to enjoying every day. Why not try to do this BEFORE we get diagnosed with a serious disease?
♦ Take time to rest. If you don’t, your body may get sick and indirectly get access to that rest.
♦ Create, compose, and find activities that make you lose track of time.
♦ Let go of resentment; that hurts you, and not the person you resent.
♦ Set them free, pray for their well being, wish them well. That way, you will set yourself free. Moreover, the body resources and energy that would go towards resenting that person and reliving the hurtful memories will go towards your own healing.
♦ Cancerous cells are always present in your body. The cancer diagnosed last year may have been there for 10 yrs, growing silently. Let’s keep our immune system strong by healthy eating, healthy thinking, exercising, resting when needed, so that the body can kill the errant cancerous cells that are floating around before those cells multiply enough to become a tumor.
♦ Get your body adjusted by a chiropractor or a an Osteopathic Physician when you are under a lot of stress. Your body fights better that way, and you may avoid getting sick.
♦ Getting a massage, if that is very relaxing for you, may accomplish a similar purpose.
♦ Remember: take time now to rest, exercise, eat well, be kind, or you may have to take time to be sick in the future.
I learned how to adjust my body from Dr. Halstead, from seminars, and from my private studies. I use that knowledge whenever I feel stressed (in addition to taking herbs that help my adrenal glands). I adjust my body when I feel like I’m coming down with a bug. Many times I am able to prevent getting a full-blown cold that way.
”prevention is better than cure, because it saves the labor of being sick.”
I agree.
Wishing you all the best of health,
Dr. Lamse
For more information about Dr. Lamse and the services she provides, contact: Lamse Wellness Clinic, LLC 17 E. Moore St, Mooresville, IN 46158 Phone: 317-834-9304; Fax: 317-831-0864 www.lamseclinic.com
***The content of this article is strictly informational and is not meant to replace the advice of your health care provider. Women’s Life Link, its authors, associates, linked sites, and commentators do not claim that any of the content will diagnose or lead to a cure or improvement of any disease or condition.
Wellness Wednesday
What if your state of health had more to do with what’s in your subconscious than with your body? Interestingly enough, it could be the case. I recently heard a story about a woman who was morbidly obese and found, no matter what she did, the weight would not come off and stay off. After years of frustration and disparity, she ended up agreeing to try hypnotherapy as a way to end her struggles with her body.
What she and the therapist discovered was nothing less than astonishing. The progression to her childhood led her to a scene when she was around six. The therapist asked her what she saw. The woman answered, “I am in the kitchen with my mother. She is cooking and sneezing all the time. She is so skinny…emaciated, and she is sick all the time.”
The Revelation
After bringing the woman back out of the hypnotic state, they discussed the revelation. They both agreed that she had been carrying around the idea that skinny people are sick all the time because her mother was skinny and also sick all the time. The weight, to her subconscious mind, was a defense against being unhealthy and created a block, the reason the woman couldn’t lose the extra pounds. With more therapy she was able to remove the mental block and finally lose the unhealthy weight.
My Subconscious Woe
I thought the story was fascinating as well as revealing. Though we may not be able to remember consciously (without help) a specific event or time that we absorbed wrong ideas, we might be able to identify patterns that seem to come up in certain areas, triggers of sort. I realized that from a very young age I was given OTC meds for various ailments. It was the norm for our family. I also associated being sick with getting loving attention. So, it’s not surprising that I ended up with chronic migraine and daily headache. However, it’s not over till the fat lady sings…
Working Through It
Because I understand where some of my problem has come from, I can do something about it. For me it will be meditation, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Holosync, and maybe even some hypnotherapy. Along with other health-producing therapies and proper nutrition, I have every intention of reclaiming my body. Since I’ve realized these things and had an incredible spiritual experience last week, I have not had one single full blown headache. Booyah!!!!!!!!!!!
Tell us what you think about this theory. Have you had any past event or pattern that you think might be hindering your health? Please share. Be well-be beautiful.
This and That Tuesday
I hope everyone is enjoying the change of season as much as I am. The sun is out, flowers in bloom, and children are playing outside…free inspiration for the taking. I have my coffee close by, and I’m ready to share a few things with you for TnT Tuesday.
Women’s Blogs To Love
There are SO many great women’s sites out there that it’s nearly impossible to get to them all on a daily basis, but I try. My blog friends understand the dynamics of community, so I don’t worry if I can’t read or comment everyday. I do love, however, when I can pass along a worthwhile site to you (another way of showing bloggy love). Here are my picks for this week:
Chiczofrenic- Being Fabulous is a Skill is a Ning Network for women who want to express themselves honestly and openly. It’s a place to
meet other like-minded women with unique flair and personalities who enjoy writing and reading about life. I had the opportunity to meet owner, Laina Turner-Molaski, this past weekend at a book signing for her recently released novel, Stilettos & Scoundrels
A Reminder to Recycle
Just a quick diddy on the benefits of recycling…
1. You save money by needing less trash bags for removal.
2. The more people who engage in recycling the cheaper it gets.
3. Recycling has created over a million jobs in the US alone.
4. Recycling and composting diverted nearly 70 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2000, up from 34 million tons in 1990-doubling in just 10 years, according to recycling-revolution.com.
5. Manufacturing with recycled materials does less damage to the environment than using new ones. It also uses less energy and water.
6. It gives you a good feeling for acting on a need instead of just watching others take care of it.
7. It teaches your children the importance of taking care of our world.
A Little About Reaping
Don’t underestimate the power of the Law of Sowing and Reaping. I’ve come to know over the years that every thing we do in this life has cause and effect and from what you sow, you will reap. There may be years between the initial planting and the fruit it produces, but I assure you, it will happen. So, be careful what you do, say, plant, give, and send forth into the universe. What you do today is what you are planting for your future. Think about what you’ve done lately in the following areas.
♦ Relationships
♦ Health
♦ Finances
♦ Business
♦ Spiritual
♦ Giving
That’s all I have for you wonderful ladies and gentlemen today…I like saying the gentlemen part, but I really want a Men’s Life Link. For all you guys who would like to have one, please let me know. I need good writers to contribute as well. Please share any ideas you have about today’s topics. I’d love to get your suggestions for future TnT Tuesday. Be well-be beautiful.
***Women’s Life Link has not received any monetary revenue for recommending anything in this post. However, because we are Amazon Associates, should you choose to purchase the book Stilettos and Scoundrels from the link provided, we will receive some pocket change. Thank you for supporting Women’s Life Link and our wonderful friends.
More Out of Monday with Madeline♥
Sorry to say, but Madeline is off today with a terrible cold. She and I decided you could stand to read one or two of her past posts - a solution far better than allowing her the blogging-reins while on NyQuil. We love you, Madeline…
So enjoy the Best of Madeline. Be well-be beautiful
♥Kellie
This one’s REALLY good> A Short Anti-aging Seminar
But so is this one> Way Too Busy
Photo by Gothicjade
Fortunate Friday
Since this is the first day of my childrens’ Spring Break, I wanted to spend a little extra time with them. Because I am truly fortunate to have their beautiful souls in my life, I am going to take a breather from writing a new article today and connect you to some of my favorite posts from past Fortunate Fridays. And here they are…take your pick or read them all!
♥The Most Important Things In Life
I just took a nice break with the Missy Moo (toddler girl) playing under-the-sheet tent and snuggling. I enjoyed being completely present in this beautiful moment. The transfer of love was so fulfilling, and even more so when I watched her cuddle, kiss, and love her baby doll in a similar way that I did her. It’s a wonderful life. Be well-be beautiful.
The Daily 300
I do realize that it’s been a couple of weeks or more since I posted a Daily 300 (life-tips in 300 words or less). It was my attempt at posting twice a day. It works sometimes, but sometimes it gets bumped for things like picking up after my toddler, chauffeuring children, editing research papers…you know, flamboyant mommy stuff.
I had a strong thought today about the topic of accountability and how important it is. When we can share our goals (even the ones in our weak areas) with another, the chances of accomplishing them are so much greater. In thinking about why a person might not want to be accountable, it occurred to me that they are resisting it because of a deep set fear of “being found out” or of failing altogether. It could be that the reason is so deeply buried under the surface of their reality, they might not even realize it themselves.
Being a human on this planet, I hope you see that you are not here to go it alone. We are meant to be in partnerships, in love, in business, in war, in peace, in self-improvement. For the most part, as a people, we do get this principle…right up to the part where we have to insert our own names and issues.
Here’s the bouillon…
Be accountable to someone…anyone. Well, no, not just anyone. Make sure they are patient, trustworthy, kind, and maybe even understand a little about what it is you are trying to do. You will be thankful you did. Be well-be beautiful.
What experience have you had with accountability partners or coaches?
Wellness Wednesday
I love how many magazines depict the perfectly happy models jumping into the air after their five-mile runs and drinking their fruit smoothies. No judgement…it’s just the way the media is. Additionally, when the usual focus is on how “good” you are going to feel, how your skin will glow, how your digestive system will work like clockwork, and so on, you may not get the whole picture of the stages your body will go through to get to those joyful milestones.
Here’s the thing: Before you go whistin’ Dixie and doing the Happy Dance, you need to know a few things. For those of you who are seasoned health veterans, please bear with me or send this to someone who needs it. Anyway, if you are new to “going healthy” or changing anything about your lifestyle, you should read on…
Healing Crisis
Believe it or not, there is a REAL thing that happens when you decide to go gung-ho with the juicing, work-outs, yoga, cleansing, etc.. And it’s not called a vacation; it’s called a healing crisis. Yes, your body has a few things to say about your “new” and improved lifestyle. It isn’t talkin’ sweetly either…
Many of you may have already experienced it but might not have known what it was called. It’s the headache you get when you suddenly stop drinking those five Cokes and eight cups of coffee a day; it’s the muscle cramping and soreness that you get when you try out every machine at the gym; it’s the cricks you get in your neck after seeing the chiropractor for the first time. You see, that old physics law that we forget about…yeah, the one that says “with every action there is a reaction.” Guess what? It applies to you and your body.
I guess I’m telling you this because I can hear the lot of you moaning and groaning from here. I know because I’ve done it…many times. The good news is you can lesson the trauma by going about your changes a little more slowly.
Here’s a few tips that I found helpful in the past:
♦ Try to wean off of caffeinated beverages, cigarettes, alcohol, etc. instead of going cold-turkey. One thing that I’ve done in the past is make a pot of coffee with half decaf and half regular. Honestly, I never knew the difference, and I didn’t get the headaches.
♦ Ease into fitness with light to moderate movements. As you master those, you can add more difficulty and lengthier routines. Consult with a fitness expert for a complete program that meets your needs.
♦ Dietary changes should be done gradually as well. Add one glass of fresh juice to your diet a day until you get used to it. Cutting back on salt, sugar, and processed foods can be done one thing at a time, too.
♦ If you are getting chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, colonhydrotherapy, or anything that has to do with body cleansing, make sure to drink lots of water. The hydration will assist your body in eliminating toxins and waste more easily as well as lesson the “crisis” mode”.
♦ Avoid the temptation to self-diagnose. With all of the info available on the Internet, I know it’s hard to resist looking up every symptom you have. The problem is that most of the things you feel while healing are normal and do not require intervention; in fact, it’s better to just let them happen. Yes, that means that it’s in your best interest to not take pain relief medication or rub on cremes and lotions that will interfere with the natural process.
♦ Take an Epsom Salt bath or relax with music and candles to bring on feelings of well-being. Also, visualizing vitality entering your body when you inhale and the toxins leaving your body as you exhale will activate your mind-body connection that expedites the process.
There are so many things you can do to help soften the blow of lifestyle changes, but most of all, it’s important to just do what you can. Don’t feel pressure to do everything at once just to please someone else. This is your time to renew your body, mind, and spirit. Be well-be beautiful.
***The content of this post is not intended to replace professional advice from your health care provider. Women’s Life Link, it’s authors, associates, commentators, or linked sites do not claim that any information will diagnose, treat, improve, or cure any disease or condition.
This and That Tuesday
Shall we talk a little about food today? Just a few things a want to share. First, I have found a way to get all the food our family needs and save enough money to get better quality produce and meats. Those expensive organics are within reach. We changed the way we shop, and now we have literally cut our food bill in half…really!
Here’s how…
There is a website called The Grocery Game where you have access to weekly lists of virtually every market nation wide. The first month is free, so you can check out how it works before spending a penny. The gist is that they do all the footwork for you by locating sales, specials, freebies, and coupons so you can combine manufacturers coupons with those sales for maximum savings. And I’m telling you, it works! This past week our total grocery bill was $400.00; after all the discounts, coupons, and free items were taken off, it was reduced to just under $200.00. Can you say Happy Dance?
The only down side is this: Now that my husband has seen the savings potential, he won’t buy anything unless it’s on sale or he has a coupon…a monster of sort has been created. Oh well, a small price to pay for the extra money.
Dr. Lamse’s Bean and Garlic-Eating Tips:
I would like to give you all a few easy suggestions, so you can put this info to good use right away. Please keep in mind that you should eat smaller portions in the beginning and/or take digestive enzymes to avoid gas/bloating.
• Hummus (mashed chickpeas) is a wonderful snack. You may buy it at the grocery store or make it yourself. Though in the Middle East they serve it with pitta bread, I recommend using Ezekiel bread or fresh crudites (organic carrots, organic celery, broccoli, cauliflower, etc) instead.
Note: If you have thyroid conditions, it’s better to lightly steam the broccoli and cauliflower. These vegetables contain compounds called isothiocyanates which disrupt the effects of thyroid peroxidase, a key enzyme in thyroid hormone production.
• I also like to make my own “coleslaw” by mixing hummus with shredded cabbage (green cabbage, red cabbage, or Napa cabbage which is more tender). The fiber in this concoction will keep you full for hours and helps you stay regular.
Garlic
• To obtain maximum benefits from garlic, chop it or crush it and wait for 5-10 min before using, to give the health-promoting compound called allicin a chance to form.
• Per George Mateljan: Although cooking for 10 minutes completely suppressed garlic’s phytonutrient actions, lightly cooking garlic was no problem-except for microwaving, which almost entirely stripped garlic of its blood-thinning effect.
For more information about garlic, go to Whfoods.org.
For more information about beans, go to Dr. Weil’s site.
Please visit Dr. Lamse at Lamse Wellness Clinic site for an appointment.
I would love to hear your food-buying tips as well as any yummy hummus or garlic recipes. Be well-beautiful.
More Out of Monday…What’s Left of Monday with Madeline♥
I’m Madeline – a healthfully humorous, radically ridiculous, momentarily messy broad here to give you a flicker of joy on the (in most cases) most indignant day of the week.
Monday is like…
…going through customs, slow, rude, and there’s almost always someone present who wants to make your life miserable…not to be confused with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Oooh…I’m so late with this post that I should be ashamed of myself! If I don’t get my act together, Madeline will be no more. You try juggling kids, pets, my hair, and being interesting…well, I guess you do, except the “my hair” part. Some days just seem so…short. Today was like that, and the funny thing is, we just passed the Spring Equinox (twelve hour day/twelve hour night). The scarier thing is that I actually know that fact and, for the life of me, can’t remember why.
Speaking of time, I’ve always been one to be late. No, I mean chronically, unforgivably late; my relatives and friends have made a covenant. They actually plan (or conspire) gatherings with the understanding that I’ve been told to be there at least a half hour before everyone else. That way no one has to eat cold food waiting on me. It’s the hair; I’m telling you.
I have three…not one, not two, but three MAJOR cowlicks in my hair. And, I’m sorry…but to have something on my body that has anything to do with a cow’s tongue is not my cup of tea. Yeah, I looked it up. A cowlick is the swirly mess that is left after a mama cow licks the shit off her baby…literally. Aren’t you glad we don’t have to do that with our children? Although, I do recall my mother licking her hand and then trying to smooth down the unacceptable hump-of-hair in the back of my head. Please tell me why I just had a flash of an alternative rock band named “Hump of Hair”. And you better believe they had some cowlicks! =)
Anyway, my hair has been a object of discord among my family since I can remember. I actually think my mom paid my brother to put gum in it so she could cut it all off.
That was a sad day…for my brother. And, yes, it was cut short, into what was coined back then as the “Dorothy Hamill”. Oh God, this post is going south real quick; I’m talking about the seventies again. Let’s see, I started with time, went to family gatherings, then to hair, cows, gum, and now, for the love of God…Dorothy Hamill. Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve certainly received a lot MORE out of my Monday!
I couldn’t think of any more fitting video clip to leave you with than one of that precious figure skater showing off her famous hair cut…and, of course, winning an Olympic gold medal.
Love,
Madeline♥
Photo by Gothicjade
Introspective Sunday
When did we arrive at a place where the simplest action of asking your fellow humans for assistance is not on the list of options, and for some, as painful as getting a root canal? Seriously, what form of twisted philosophy has inundated our lives, families, and businesses to the point of preferring a state of chronic dysfunction to freedom and success? Today, I want you to think about how easily or how difficult it is for you to ask for help.
“The great blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach; but we shut our eyes, and like people in the dark, we fall foul upon the very thing we search for, without finding it.”
˜Seneca (7 B.C. – 65 A.D.)
Isn’t that the truth? We will close our eyes to the challenge, issue, problem before we will ask for help. This unfortunate habit often puts us into a loop of defeat and low self-esteem. Keeping this way of thinking long term can lead to depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and any number of physical health problems.
As a life coach and a woman who naturally wants to help people, I find this kind of resistance often. I usually just ask flat out “why” they don’t ask for help. The answers are anything from “I don’t know how” to “I don’t want to bother someone with my problems”. Though I believe that what comes out is the “truth”, there is likely a deeper issue that needs to be uncovered.
Pride
Could it be that many people don’t want to involve others because they don’t want to them to see how dysfunctional they are?
The answer to that is, possibly. Pride and embarrassment really go hand-in-hand. If you have something to be proud of and then suddenly it’s threatened, you might do just about anything to keep your secret of failure from others. During financial problems is an area that you see this type of behavior quite often. The bankrupt business owner will wallow in the self-pity for months (even years) instead of reaching out to a friend, life-coach, or even a therapist to help with the emotions and physical climb out.
Here’s the thing with that: the longer you wait to get help with any problem, the longer you will have it. Additionally, and likely the worst part, you create this negative mantra (looping self-talk) that eventually becomes your normal if you don’t change it. It’s like accumulative stress that DOES NOT stop until you decide to stop it.
So, can you think of a time when you were afraid to ask for help?
What happened as a result of your fear and pride? Could you have solved your problem faster with the help of a professional or even a friend or family member?
Here’s a few tips to help you recognize when getting some help might be a good idea:
♦ You feel trapped in your situation. The thoughts that “things will never change” often come to mind.
♦ The “old happy you” has taken a permanent vacation.
♦ Your family has noticed a change in your behavior.
♦ You find that all the things you used to do are not as satisfying as they used to be.
♦ You lie awake in bed trying to “figure things out” or come up with the “miracle solution”.
♦ You avoid conversations that involve your problem.
The other thing is figuring out what kind of help you need. It could be that you just need to get out with a friend for some girl time or a nice chat – a break from your usual routine. On a more serious level, you might need to seek out the help of a professional like a counselor or psychologist. I am not qualified to tell you if you are at that place, but I will say this: If you are having constant feelings of despair and loneliness, you might want to talk to your health care provider about it.
The Life Coach
In between the two scenarios above would be the seeking out of a life coach. It’s the kind of help that can be as ongoing or short as you need. As a client, you call the shots with this relationship. There are no demands; you work on what is important to you. The coach is simply someone who leads you to the answers through self-discovery. Because they are experts at asking the right questions, you find answers much faster and more efficiently than you do in your insomniac nights.
No matter where you are in your life, there is bound to be something that has you stuck. Face it; you might need a helping hand. Please speak freely in your comments. After all, helping is my business. Be well-be beautiful.
***For more information about Kellie Stone and the coaching services she provides, please contact her via womenslifelink@gmail.com.
Fortunate Friday
My Missy Moo (toddler girl) has been watching this one episode of Barney and Friends over and over again. Though I don’t have anything against the purple dinosaur, it never fails that the songs get stuck in my head…I then proceed to sing them – a common mommy event, I’m sure.
One particular song that has invaded my brain is the “Raindrops” one. The lyrics go:
If all the raindrops were gumdrops and lemon drops,
Oh, what a rain that would be.
Then they stand there with their mouths open, tongues out, as if to catch the yummy candy as it comes down. It got me thinking after rolling around in my head for about an hour; how many times do we get disappointed when we know it’s going to rain or snow? Our picnic or outing may be ruined; the walk or run we had planned gets bumped in exchange for an indoor activity; or your mood simply plummets when the sky is gray.
I do have a point…really.
What if we just start getting thankful for every “Raindrop” whether we think we want it or not? Even better, what if we consider an event (good or bad) as something that simply “is” and has the potential to give into our lives (like the perpetual falling of gumdrops and lemon drops). Hint: you have to choose to open up and receive.
I believe that young children to do this on a regular basis. That is why you will find them engrossed in one thing many times over. They relish the positive energy and joy that one toy, one TV program, one person brings to their experience. And, when we grow up, we forget to find the wonder in that one thing…our life. We are too busy wondering what to do next that we can’t find the now. Maybe Barney should do a show for us.
Clarity
Are you clear about what you see in the “raindrops” of your life? Probably not completely, no one is…not even the most “in touch” person on the planet. It’s best to understand most things on a need to know basis. In other words, if we knew everything about our future, we would likely be petrified with fear. It’s called a journey that we take one step at a time (one rain at time). We do need some clarity, however. The kind that keeps us going, picks us up when we stumble, and tells us that there are “gumdrops and lemon drops” in the rain…and “chocolate bars and milkshakes” in the snow. It could be you just need to wipe your eyes and take another look.
Now go buy yourself some gumdrops and lemon drops! Enjoy them, and know that you can have them anytime you want. Be well-be beautiful.
The Doctor Trainer Is In
I thought we’d give the doc a break and call in the fitness guru. Donna Martelli answers a client’s question about staying fit while laid up or when mobility is limited. Even if you don’t have a current injury, you can use the following tips for office fitness as well.
Limited mobility…what can I do?
By Donna Martelli (Holistic Health and Fitness Expert)
Recently, a client of mine sprained her ankle and was told that she had pretty serious damage from the sprain and from earlier injuries to the same area. Her doctor put her on crutches for a month and told her the only way she could go to work was if her boss would let her do everything seated with her foot up. Right before this injury, she had started a weight loss and fitness program. She was totally at wits end as to what to do now that her mobility was severely limited. Here is what I told her:
“Laura (not her real name), there are many things you can do to stay in shape and loose weight. Do you have any free weights? (If not, use 2 gallon milk jugs filled with water.) You can work with them sitting down. Also you can do sit ups in a chair and push ups with your hands on the arms of a chair. You are creative – do anything you can do in a chair! But, most importantly for now – limit your calories to 1700 per day. Try to eat mostly fruits and vegetables with some whole grains and a little chicken or fish. Drink LOTS of water – 8+ glasses a day. By doing just those things, you can loose a significant amount of weight and tone your middle and upper body in a month. Use this as an opportunity!”
Sometimes we need to think in new ways. Circumstances change, but there is always a way to work out and stay in shape at any level. Every time I have had to change my program due to a “problem”, I have learned and developed things that would never have come to be without the perceived “limitation”!
***As with any new fitness program, consult your healthcare provider before you start, especially if you have injuries present in your body.
***For more information about Donna Martelli and the services she provides, visit Beautiful Bodies Fitness.
***If you liked this article, read more about office fitness here.
Wellness Wednesday
To Do Or Not To Do
Many women have been alarmed by the recent recommendations for breast cancer screening. It’s not surprising that those who have already been getting annual mammograms or are approaching the age of forty are confused about what they should do. I know because I’m one of them. I’ve had one mammogram (my baseline at age 40) and then I got pregnant. Because I’m still nursing my youngest, I haven’t had another one. I will be forty-four this year and am a little unsure about my own take on the new deal.
As substantial reports and articles have come out supporting both sides of the fence (mammo or no mammo), we at least have ample opportunity to make an educated choice for ourselves. However, if insurance companies jump on the band wagon for the delay to get the screening, we have a major problem. Consider how many women ages 40-50 will not receive the test simply because they won’t or can’t pay the bill. This might not be such a bad thing if it weren’t for the fact that mammography is the best tool we have for detecting early breast cancer and has contributed to a decline in BC deaths since 1990.
The good news is that there are up-and-coming technologies that will ensure that few, if any, women will go through overdiagnosis and unnecessary procedures and stress (one of the factors driving the new recommendations). With BRCA testing at the forefront of determining who is at high risk for the disease, the sorting process should get easier and more efficient in the future.
As far as the most controversial part of all this, the “no mammo” for ladies between 40 and 50 who are at low to moderate risk, it’s a tough call, especially if you know someone who had or died from BC at a young age. Understand that it is your choice, not the committee’s, not the doctor’s, and certainly not the insurance company’s. If money is an issue, there are organizations that can help with the cost. The best thing any of us can do is live as healthfully as we can and be informed about your risks.
What About That Vitamin D?
We’ve all shopped for and purchased vitamin and mineral supplements at one time or another. Hopefully, you are doing it more often than not. However, the fact that we take supplements doesn’t mean that we are necessarily getting what we need. Let me explain. Research is surfacing, and making an impact, that says that dosage recommendations for some vitamins (primarily D) have not been at optimal levels. Health gurus like Dr. Mercola have been preaching this message loudly from whatever platforms they have.
Among the latest news releases on Mercola.com is “The British Medical Journal has published a remarkable paper confirming that low vitamin D levels obtained in the past are a risk factor for developing colon cancer in the future.” Not only that, but that anyone with the intake of as little as 3,000 IUs daily of vitamin A will actually negate the benefits of vitamin D they do get.
If you keep up with the Mercola site, other health journals, or have read any of my articles on Vitamin D, you know that the FDAs recommended daily allowance of 400 IUs is not even close to what experts are now saying that we need. Additionally, we need to be aware of the ratio between A and D to ensure that we are not opposing the benefits of D. According to Dr. Mercola’s site, ”Dr. Cannell has stated in earlier writings on this topic, the ideal way to obtain the proper vitamin A to D ratio is to obtain it the way your body was designed to obtain it:
•Vitamin A through your diet, in the form of colorful vegetables
•Vitamin D through daily sun exposure on your skin”
For more info on this important finding, visit Mercola.com or the Vitamin D Council.
Chiropractic Care: Can It Be Gentle?
Yes! If you think you have to undergo the popping and cracking from hell to benefit from chiropractic care, you have been misinformed. I have received chiropractic treatment for well over fifteen years now and have never been harmed or shocked by any manipulation or procedure the doctor does. In fact, I can easily say that it has helped me obtain higher levels of health that I would not have been able to otherwise.
More recently (within the past year) I have discoved a chiropractor who uses a technique that is truly amazing in its ability to work gently and efficiently. Never in the history of chiropractic has there been the level of help and expertise that exists in these “state of the art” techniques. The methods are even safer, more comfortable and more effective than ever before.
Dr. Heidi Kline from the Chiropractic and Wellness Center here in Indianapolis has mastered this therapy. Using a tool called the activator, she is able to adjust only what needs to be instead of the cookie-cutter manipulations that some chiropractors use.
I’ve been lucky to have had great doctors who don’t do this. Dr’s Killingbeck and Tuckey, Linwood Chiropractic, are also two that I’ve had the pleasure of working with in the past. Though their approach is different than Dr. Kline’s, they still apply therapy according to the individuals needs and do it with extreme care. So, if you’ve been wondering whether it could work for you, I say do your research and ask a lot of questions before you get any adjustments done.
Be mindful of any decisions you make concerning your health and wellness. After all, we can and should be our own advocates for what is right for us. Your questions and comments are always welcome here. Be well-be beautiful.
***The content of this article is strictly informational and is not meant to replace the advice of your health care provider. Women’s Life Link, its authors, associates, linked sites, and commentators do not claim that any of the content will diagnose or lead to a cure or improvement of any disease or condition.
This and That Tuesday
I feel bad for not getting this post up sooner in the day. It’s been a busy mommy day today, so what can I say; I had to take care of them first. At times I feel like this blog is a baby – the crying, needy, hunger, girl that it is. I do the best I can to feed it regularly. It’s a good thing that it’s not like one of those Tamagotchis (does anyone remember those silly little electronic pets?) that you had to feed, water, play with, and bathe in a timely manner or it would die. I remember babysitting one for my daughter while she was at school. It wasn’t good. I forgot all about it a mere few hours and, of course, it bit the dust.
Wellness Website
OK, have no idea why I got off on that tangent. Anyway, I have a couple things for you today (or this evening). First, I just got involved with a health and wellness website called Wellsphere.com. With thousands of posts and articles from health bloggers like me, you can find just about anything you’re looking for on many topics. They classified me as a “Top Health Blogger”, so I was thrilled to get a cool badge for the site and the credibility that comes with it. Please check out what they have to offer and enjoy the community they’ve created there.
Book of the Week
This week’s featured book is Body Reflexology: Healing at Your Fingertips
No matter where you are with your health and wellness, you can always make improvements. That’s what this site is really all about…change and self-improvement. I want you to utilize the resources that are here for you. If you have any questions concerning your health, wellness, body, mind, and spirit, please forward them via the contact page or in the comments section below. Be well-be beautiful.
***The content of this post is not intended to replace professional advice from your health care provider. Women’s Life Link, it’s authors, associates, commentators, or linked sites do not claim that any information will diagnose, treat, improve, or cure any disease or condition.
***Because we are Amazon Associates, should you choose to plunk around on the above link and somehow purchase the book through our link, we will receive some pocket change. Thank you for supporting Women’s Life Link.
More Out of Monday with Madeline♥
I’m Madeline – a healthfully humorous, radically ridiculous, momentarily messy broad here to give you a flicker of joy on the (in most cases) most indignant day of the week.
Monday is like…
…a fog bank, it hides all the danger until it’s too late.
I’ve been in such a mothering mode…now what that means to you might be completely different from what it means to me. In my case it’s all about the attention to detail…knowing where they are, what they’re doing, who they’re with, what they’re playing with….and so on.
Today, I thought I’d do a little tribute to all of you super moms out there with this fun little list. Pay attention; you’re in there somewhere.
You Know You’re a Good Great Mom When…
1. Your teen tells you that she spilled a crock of cheese in the van, you tell her it’s OK even though you know her story is a crock of something else. Hint: Nacho cheese dip smells suspiciously like barf…I figured cleaning up her drunk friend’s puke was punishment enough. (We had words later).
2. Your toddler makes poopy in the potty. You both stand there afterwards and wave goodbye to Bob, Bill, Jeff, and John as they swirl down.
3. Your four-year-old daughter cuts her own hair, her sister’s hair, Barbie’s hair, the cat’s hair and, instead of punishing her, you start researching cosmetology schools.
4. Your son thinks the song “Pants On the Ground” should be in the top 40.
5. You don’t ever let your kids watch The Shining…accidentally or on purpose…not unless you want to go to the bathroom with them for the next seven years (OOPS).
6. You have a box filled with all of their passing fads, ie, Beanie Babies, Pokemon Cards, YuGioh Cards, Tele-Tubbies, Power Rangers, Bratz…just in case.
7. You don’t tell her that you look better in her jeans than she does. Shhhh…
8. You allow your son to spend 40-50 bucks on a new video game only to watch him beat it in one day…it’s a real self-esteem booster.
9. Your child receives a gift from someone visiting the Middle-East. The stuffed camel chants what you’re sure translates as ”kill the infadel”, but you let them have it because it teaches tolerance.
10. And for the grand finale…your husband wants a raunchy, sexy song and striptese to add a little spice to your love life, and the only tune in your head is Won’t You Be My Neighbor.
Love,
Madeline♥
Photo by Gothicjade