My Crohnstipated Life

Is YOUR body equipped to treat itself?

2012-04-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

On this profound voyage (affirmation wish) to finding my better health now, I've dove back into using essential oils and refreshing my memory bank with the uses of herbs and other nutrients that help keep Mr. Crohns at bay. So, today while I'm waiting for the rest of the world to open their eyes, I've pieced this short post for you. Today, I write about "ASTRAGALUS."

Our bodies are equipped with a wonderful healing system capable of handling almost any condition of infection or ill-health-provided it is given the nutritional support it needs. John (the hubs) so often tells me if the body's PH levels are normal you can't get sick. If your acidity is in line, cancer or other disease, can't survive. So, I'm going to test his theory. Starting today, Monday, I am going to support my body with the nutrients that this disease requires for the next two months and report my results- so stay tuned!

Our immune system can be hugely suppressed with Crohns, Colitis or IBD, leaving us vulnerable to getting sick and making us susceptible to many diseases. Needless to say, the state of our nutrition directly influences our biochemistry and our immunological system. Researchers believe that the nationwide prevalence of chronic bronchitis, cancer yeast infections, fatigue, Epstein-Barr syndrome, and even colds and flu, reflect wide spread immunity difficulties. I know since I've come off the SCD, and started eating poorly, my system has gone into complete shock, begging me to put down the carbs.

Here are just a few vitamins that appear to build immunity. This list is from my notes from years ago, so if you know of others, please comment below or feel free to correct me.

· Astragalus

· Echineacea

· Goldenseal

· Cat's Claw

· Garlic

· Milk Thistle

· Green Tea

· Maitake Mushroom

· Beta-Glucan

· CLA

· DIM

· Indole-3-Carbinol

· Colostrum

· IP6

The first on the list is ASTRAGALUS. In short it is a commonly used traditional her in Chinese medicine. Used for 3000 years for its properties that produce resistance to disease. It is an immune stimulant, and Chinese researchers have reported success in using it with cancer patients to offset some of the immune-suppressing effects of radiation and Western Cancer Drugs. American researchers have found that this herb is highly effective in restoring immune function to normal levels in test animals whose immune systems were suppressed by modern drugs.

Next is ECHINEACEA, also known as purple Coneflower. Researchers in both Europe and far east have found this also offering immune-stimulating properties. Echinacea is one of the most potent herbs that support the immune system, and is useful for treating colds and flu. It works like penicillin in the body with no side effects. It improves lymphatic filtration and drainage. Known for detoxifying the blood and an excellent blood cleanser.

Goldenseal, native to North America, had been used medicinally to soothe mucous membranes that line the respiratory, digestive and genitourinary tracts. Its major compound, berberine, exhibits a broad spectrum of antibiotic activity. Berberine finds its use in mouth and gum problems. Goldenseal strengthens the immune system through its antibiotic and antibacterial properties. It also helps against bacteria, protozoa and various other little fungi’s!

The Wonder Herb, a.k.a.- Cat's Claw. This unique herb is actually a high climbing vine found in the highlands of the Peruvian rain Forrest. It has been used for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years by Ashanica Indians for a wide rage of health problems. Evidence suggests that CC is beneficial in the treatment of cancer, arthritis, bursitis, rheumatism, genital herpes, herpes zoster, allergies, ulcers, systemic candidiasis, PMS, irregularities of the female cycle, environmental poisons, numerous bowel and intestinal disorders (here we go), and organic depression. An American D.C. has been working with CC on his patients and has reported CC's remarkable ability to cleanse the entire intestinal tract and help patients with Crohn's, diverticulitis, leaky bowel syndrome, colitis, hemorrhoids, gastritis, ulcers, parasites, and intestinal flora imbalances. This just might be a herb you want to check into for yourself and ask your MD about.

Dating back to the Bible is .....GARLIC. Our ancestors used roots and herbs in abundance particularly Garlic and Onion. Both of these I am hugely not fond of. From what I gather germs do not like garlic and in fact, they can't even live in its presence. Small story....when I was in massage school the owner of the school would make each and every one of us rub our feet on a bed of garlic that she made before we entered into the massage area. We thought she was nuts but turns out she was keeping those of us who went bare footed safe. Back in those days the bulb was used for indigestion, diarrhea, worms, skin diseases, dizziness, headaches, bronchitis, pneumonia, influenza, tuberculosis, infections, wound healing, heart problems, arthritis, aging and even cancer. In recent years, people have discovered the use in warding off colds and in the treatment of high blood pressure, strokes and cardiovascular disease.

Milk Thistle to Detox the Liver. This herb has been used for centuries for the treatment of liver problems. It protects the liver against damaging toxins.

Green Tea enhances the body's natural antioxidant systems. The International Journal of Anti-Aging Medicine reported that the evidence for green tea's potent antioxidant effect continues to accumulate. In a recent study researchers found that green tea compounds not only directly scavenger free radicals but enhance the effectiveness of the body's natural antioxidant systems. Green tea contains numerous cancer-fighting plyphenol compounds, including the antioxidant flavonoid catechin. Studies indicate that green tea may help protect against cancer and that’s enough for me to take it!

Maitake mushrooms are highly prized as booth food and medicine. They are indigenous to the northeastern part of Japan. I hate mushrooms, so I my ignorance has me stuck on not taking this herb. But from what I hear another excellent herb for cancer treatments. The Maitake D-fraction is a protein bound extract developed by a Chinese professor. Dr. Nanaba states that although Maitake is not the cure for cancer, one can safely say that they do maintain the quality of life of patients and improve the immune system, resulting in the possible remission of cancer cells with no side effects.

Beta-Glucan has demonstrated significant benefits for immune function. It has been confirmed that it positively activates a powerful immune-system response.

My all time favorite-CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid). CLA can help speed up the body's fat metabolism so more fat gets flushed out of the system, instead of getting deposited into our cells. ClA also helps the body to metabolize existing fat deposits-a key to losing weight.

Dim is a very concentrated form of the phytochemical indole-3-carbinol, a compound found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, etc. DIM has an effect on hormonal balance and estrogen metabolism, also a protector against cancer.

Colostrum, some call the Immune Enhancer. When a mother gives birth, her mammary glands provide life supporting factors that she has acquired in her lifetime. Her body concentrates these factors ito a special non milk immune and growth supporting fluid called Colostrum but is only produced for the first 24-48 hours after giving birth. Dairy cows are the only animals that meet all the essential criteria needed. Bovine colostrum is found to be safe, effective via oral administration, with no know contradictions or overdoes. Colostrum offers tremendous possibilities in the prevention and recovery from illness.

IP6-The anti tumor substance. IP6 is an ubiquitous substance, which means it is found everywhere at the same time. It is virtually found in all fiver from whole grains and legumes. Researches has found that IP6 can effectively prevent cancer formation and shrink pre-existing cancers in experimental systems, with virtually no toxicity. When given IP6 by mouth or directly into the tumors, it consistently had the same effects: it showed that it inhibits the growth of cancer.

Taking charge of your health and your Crohns Disease

After you read this post about herbs and other nutrients that can stimulate the immune system, I hope that I helped convince you that it is possible to treat yourself and your symptoms without harsh drugs and prompt you to investigate further. Newer information is out there and is continuously noted in the news, you just need to broaden your level of acceptance.

You DON'T have to be a prisoner to Western Medicine. It is possible to treat your illness with vitamins and nutrients and get your health under control. I would suggest your first step be speaking with your medical doctor. Tell them that you don't want to be on harsh drugs anymore and that you would like information on natural medicine.

And if you aren't convinced that the meds you are taking are "Harsh," all you need to do is read the fine print or better yet, go to the website. After almost 3 years on prednisone, prescribed by my doctor who is now in a psych ward in a Las Vegas hospital, the damage is irreversible. Don't let that happen to you. Know what you are taking, be active in your decision making and by all means, don't just take their word for it. Get educated!

Cutting Ties to Toxic Relationships

2012-04-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

My husband loves to refer to an article written about toxic people sucking the life out of you. I can't exactally remember who wrote it but the bodybuilder passed a few years back. It describes a toxic friend as one who might blatantly mock you, or use offhand remarks to put you down. A toxic friend will be very needy, but rarely there to lend a hand when you are down. The article states that if you are feeling used and abused, it's time to cut those ties.

So, this week I re-read the article and I have done just that. Not only with a friend but with what I call "Dead Beat Customers," those customers to steal from my company like Steve in Kentucky! I'm not sure if it's that I'm getting older and really can't tolerate B.S. anymore or if it's just part of maturity and understanding. I think that cutting ties in a healthy way helps us to regain our power and self-esteem by cuttting away old attachments or energetic ties that no longer beam us love but have become flat and stale. These attachments cling to our lifeforce, depleting our soul and wounding us over and over again.

There are postive connections we form with people in a healthy way and ties that bind in an unhealthy way. The unhealthy ones sap our energy and the more there are, the more they seem to control and stress us out, therefore, creating a toxic environment. I was feeling quite used and disrespected by my best friend of 20+ years and thought it was time and change the pattern. Cutting ties without attachment, is an easy and painless way to unbind yourself……find a way to ground your energy.

Here is an article I found on About.com that goes into more detail. Take a peek...
http://healing.about.com/cs/energyhealing/a/cutcords.htm

Thinking About Working from Home?

2012-04-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

If you’ve ever wanted to work from home, but never knew where to start, take a real good look at OBS. We have everything that success comes from. Great products. A proven system. Online tools that share our story and opportunity for you. And a team that’s as supportive as they come.
If you have any questions, let me know! I’m sure I had the same questions once too. This company has done so much for me and my family and I’d love to see if it’s a good fit for you as well.

Contact Mike Wright at 888-216-3571, TODAY!

The Spoon Theory

2012-04-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes, I know, I'm always tired. I'm always sick. I'm always at the doctor's office. I'm always sleeping. I'm always in the bathroom.....I know already! Seriously, it does get old and the more I try to hide it the fact remains the same: I have Crohns Disease.

When I was first diagnosed in 2007, I felt the shame that everyone else usually does and didn't feel the need to explain what was happening to me to anyone. Then as time went on I thought it would be easier to send this beautiful find to my friends and family. It's the easiest description I could find and so simply understood. Read this if you'd like to understand a little more about the Crohn's sufferer.

The Spoon Theory

by Christine Miserandino www.butyoudontlooksick.com

My best friend and I were in the diner, talking. As usual, it was very late and we were eating French fries with gravy. Like normal girls our age, we spent a lot of time in the diner while in college, and most of the time we spent talking about boys, music or trivial things, that seemed very important at the time. We never got serious about anything in particular and spent most of our time laughing.

As I went to take some of my medicine with a snack as I usually did, she watched me with an awkward kind of stare, instead of continuing the conversation. She then asked me out of the blue what it felt like to have Lupus and be sick. I was shocked not only because she asked the random question, but also because I assumed she knew all there was to know about Lupus. She came to doctors with me, she saw me walk with a cane, and throw up in the bathroom. She had seen me cry in pain, what else was there to know?

I started to ramble on about pills, and aches and pains, but she kept pursuing, and didn’t seem satisfied with my answers. I was a little surprised as being my roommate in college and friend for years; I thought she already knew the medical definition of Lupus. Then she looked at me with a face every sick person knows well, the face of pure curiosity about something no one healthy can truly understand. She asked what it felt like, not physically, but what it felt like to be me, to be sick.
As I tried to gain my composure, I glanced around the table for help or guidance, or at least stall for time to think. I was trying to find the right words. How do I answer a question I never was able to answer for myself? How do I explain every detail of every day being effected, and give the emotions a sick person goes through with clarity. I could have given up, cracked a joke like I usually do, and changed the subject, but I remember thinking if I don’t try to explain this, how could I ever expect her to understand. If I can’t explain this to my best friend, how could I explain my world to anyone else? I had to at least try.

At that moment, the spoon theory was born. I quickly grabbed every spoon on the table; hell I grabbed spoons off of the other tables. I looked at her in the eyes and said “Here you go, you have Lupus”. She looked at me slightly confused, as anyone would when they are being handed a bouquet of spoons. The cold metal spoons clanked in my hands, as I grouped them together and shoved them into her hands.
I explained that the difference in being sick and being healthy is having to make choices or to consciously think about things when the rest of the world doesn’t have to. The healthy have the luxury of a life without choices, a gift most people take for granted.
Most people start the day with unlimited amount of possibilities, and energy to do whatever they desire, especially young people. For the most part, they do not need to worry about the effects of their actions. So for my explanation, I used spoons to convey this point. I wanted something for her to actually hold, for me to then take away, since most people who get sick feel a “loss” of a life they once knew. If I was in control of taking away the spoons, then she would know what it feels like to have someone or something else, in this case Lupus, being in control.

She grabbed the spoons with excitement. She didn’t understand what I was doing, but she is always up for a good time, so I guess she thought I was cracking a joke of some kind like I usually do when talking about touchy topics. Little did she know how serious I would become?

I asked her to count her spoons. She asked why, and I explained that when you are healthy you expect to have a never-ending supply of “spoons”. But when you have to now plan your day, you need to know exactly how many “spoons” you are starting with. It doesn’t guarantee that you might not lose some along the way, but at least it helps to know where you are starting. She counted out 12 spoons. She laughed and said she wanted more. I said no, and I knew right away that this little game would work, when she looked disappointed, and we hadn’t even started yet. I’ve wanted more “spoons” for years and haven’t found a way yet to get more, why should she? I also told her to always be conscious of how many she had, and not to drop them because she can never forget she has Lupus.

I asked her to list off the tasks of her day, including the most simple. As, she rattled off daily chores, or just fun things to do; I explained how each one would cost her a spoon. When she jumped right into getting ready for work as her first task of the morning, I cut her off and took away a spoon. I practically jumped down her throat. I said ” No! You don’t just get up. You have to crack open your eyes, and then realize you are late. You didn’t sleep well the night before. You have to crawl out of bed, and then you have to make your self something to eat before you can do anything else, because if you don’t, you can’t take your medicine, and if you don’t take your medicine you might as well give up all your spoons for today and tomorrow too.” I quickly took away a spoon and she realized she hasn’t even gotten dressed yet. Showering cost her spoon, just for washing her hair and shaving her legs. Reaching high and low that early in the morning could actually cost more than one spoon, but I figured I would give her a break; I didn’t want to scare her right away. Getting dressed was worth another spoon. I stopped her and broke down every task to show her how every little detail needs to be thought about. You cannot simply just throw clothes on when you are sick. I explained that I have to see what clothes I can physically put on, if my hands hurt that day buttons are out of the question. If I have bruises that day, I need to wear long sleeves, and if I have a fever I need a sweater to stay warm and so on. If my hair is falling out I need to spend more time to look presentable, and then you need to factor in another 5 minutes for feeling badly that it took you 2 hours to do all this.

I think she was starting to understand when she theoretically didn’t even get to work, and she was left with 6 spoons. I then explained to her that she needed to choose the rest of her day wisely, since when your “spoons” are gone, they are gone. Sometimes you can borrow against tomorrow’s “spoons”, but just think how hard tomorrow will be with less “spoons”. I also needed to explain that a person who is sick always lives with the looming thought that tomorrow may be the day that a cold comes, or an infection, or any number of things that could be very dangerous. So you do not want to run low on “spoons”, because you never know when you truly will need them. I didn’t want to depress her, but I needed to be realistic, and unfortunately being prepared for the worst is part of a real day for me.
We went through the rest of the day, and she slowly learned that skipping lunch would cost her a spoon, as well as standing on a train, or even typing at her computer too long. She was forced to make choices and think about things differently. Hypothetically, she had to choose not to run errands, so that she could eat dinner that night.

When we got to the end of her pretend day, she said she was hungry. I summarized that she had to eat dinner but she only had one spoon left. If she cooked, she wouldn’t have enough energy to clean the pots. If she went out for dinner, she might be too tired to drive home safely. Then I also explained, that I didn’t even bother to add into this game, that she was so nauseous, that cooking was probably out of the question anyway. So she decided to make soup, it was easy. I then said it is only 7pm, you have the rest of the night but maybe end up with one spoon, so you can do something fun, or clean your apartment, or do chores, but you can’t do it all.

I rarely see her emotional, so when I saw her upset I knew maybe I was getting through to her. I didn’t want my friend to be upset, but at the same time I was happy to think finally maybe someone understood me a little bit. She had tears in her eyes and asked quietly “Christine, How do you do it? Do you really do this everyday?” I explained that some days were worse then others; some days I have more spoons then most. But I can never make it go away and I can’t forget about it, I always have to think about it. I handed her a spoon I had been holding in reserve. I said simply, “I have learned to live life with an extra spoon in my pocket, in reserve. You need to always be prepared.”

Its hard, the hardest thing I ever had to learn is to slow down, and not do everything. I fight this to this day. I hate feeling left out, having to choose to stay home, or to not get things done that I want to. I wanted her to feel that frustration. I wanted her to understand, that everything everyone else does comes so easy, but for me it is one hundred little jobs in one. I need to think about the weather, my temperature that day, and the whole day’s plans before I can attack any one given thing. When other people can simply do things, I have to attack it and make a plan like I am strategizing a war. It is in that lifestyle, the difference between being sick and healthy. It is the beautiful ability to not think and just do. I miss that freedom. I miss never having to count “spoons”.

After we were emotional and talked about this for a little while longer, I sensed she was sad. Maybe she finally understood. Maybe she realized that she never could truly and honestly say she understands. But at least now she might not complain so much when I can’t go out for dinner some nights, or when I never seem to make it to her house and she always has to drive to mine. I gave her a hug when we walked out of the diner. I had the one spoon in my hand and I said “Don’t worry. I see this as a blessing. I have been forced to think about everything I do. Do you know how many spoons people waste everyday? I don’t have room for wasted time, or wasted “spoons” and I chose to spend this time with you.”

Ever since this night, I have used the spoon theory to explain my life to many people. In fact, my family and friends refer to spoons all the time. It has been a code word for what I can and cannot do. Once people understand the spoon theory they seem to understand me better, but I also think they live their life a little differently too. I think it isn’t just good for understanding Lupus, but anyone dealing with any disability or illness. Hopefully, they don’t take so much for granted or their life in general. I give a piece of myself, in every sense of the word when I do anything. It has become an inside joke. I have become famous for saying to people jokingly that they should feel special when I spend time with them, because they have one of my “spoons”.

© Christine Miserandino

Have Your (Protein) Cake and Eat It Too!

2012-04-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

Chocolate cake that even a fitness enthusiast would eat? That's right! Who would have thought!

What was once a diet taboo is now being spotlighted as a nutritional rockstar. Why? Cocoa beans contain polyphenols, which contain antioxidants called flavonoids, which are highly beneficial to one’s health by reducing the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Cocoa beans also contain serotonine and phenylethylamine, which have anti-depressant affects similar to the body’s natural production of adrenaline. Isn't that alone, enough to convincing to eat chocolate?

Chocolate is best consumed in darker varieties, which contain less added sugars. Be aware that while chocolate does have health properties, too much can be fattening, and thus- it should be consumed in moderation or for special occasions, such as birthdays!

Ingredients:
My Sweet Birthday Cake

2 squares unsweetened chocolate
1 Tbsp walnut oil / canola oil
2 Tbsp sweetener of choice: honey/stevia/brown sugar/splenda
2 scoops Dedicated Woman Protein Powder in Chocolate
2 Omega 3 eggs
1/4 cup oats
1 Tbsp nut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Dash salt

Preparation:1) In a microwavable dish our double burner, melt chocolate squares and oil in 30 second intervals, stirring in between.
2) Using blenders or a magic bullet, blend together chocolate mix and remaining ingredients.
3) Pour batter into a sprayed mini cake pan and bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes.

The Icing

1 scoop Dedicated Woman Protein Powder any flavor
1 tbsp. Nut butter
1 tbsp. Skim milk
Crushed nuts

Preparation
1) Mix together protein powder, nut butter, and enough milk to make into a icing consistency.
2) Cut cooled protein cake in half horizontally. Spread 1/2 of icing over bottom half and top with the top of the cake. Spread the remaining icing on top and sprinkle with crushed nuts.
3) ENJOY!

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/4 cake)
Calories 318; Fat 18 g;Protein 27 g; CHO 11 g

Visit my Business Blog...

2012-04-14T14:02:00.000-07:00

Friends, don't forget to visit my business blog for more articles, tips and helpful comments. Both blogs are completely different so don't forget to favorite them.

Click here to be taken to the Dedicated Woman Blog.

Enjoy Your Weekend!

Changing Gears, Going a Different Direction...

2012-04-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

...damn it, where has the time gone?

So, here we are; changing gears, going in a different direction, there are a lot of phrases for making changes in our lives. Alas, for this OCD girl, the past year has been one of discovering what the hell I'm good at, what I suck at, where my passions lay and what I want to be when I grow up. It's been really challenging to say the least. It's probably the hardest thing I've had to do since college. Nevertheless, it's something new, a new plan- a new life.....

I’ve had a great career as a supplement manufacturer and distributor over the last 9 years. I ran/run an awesome company, Extreme Labs and Dedicated Woman for 8 years, and I’ve worked with the best athletes, clients and vendors. Although it's still a multi-billion industry,- and most likely where my main salary will still come from, I have a deep nagging at my soul to find something else, something that takes me into the second half of my life, and something I can be proud of.

I'm still on a journey of sorts to figure it all out, slowly but surely, I'm finding my way. These changes along with a pending divorce really throws things into overdrive and propels you forward into making quick decision and sometimes a decision you're really not sure of. But either way, I look at it like this: it's a step toward something and something to look forward to.

Its bath time for the puppies!

My Lazy Life....

2012-01-12T12:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Thursday to you all! I'm just getting packed up for yet another weekend at the beach, Huntington Beach that is. Business may bring me there more often and I can't say that the drive will bother me. Seeing that beach and all that goes on there soothes my nerves and I forget all about the long and boring drive.

So, today, with not much to really report, I thought I would share with you a few photos of my family.

Here is John, my husband. He's a national level bodybuilder and chemist. He's created my entire line as well as the Extreme Labs line.

This is Bella, our lil baby girl. She is a Morkie and such a sweet dog. If you have young children she would make the perfect pet. She loves to play all day long!

Bella and her oldest brother, Bearzy Benjamin. For some reason he really doesn't care for her and growles at her all day long. But when another dogie comes along, he's the first one to protect her. It's cute!

Our wedding pic~

Flexie the beautiful Husky. Such a wonderful dog.

Baby Atlas, this dog has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen!

And, last but not least, this is our Max. Another wonderful Siberian Husky! He loves to search the Internet. The love that makes the house!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Life Without Baby

2011-10-25T17:51:00.000-07:00

No, I didn't forget to have children. My decision to have children was made long ago- somewhere around 10. I always knew I'd be the girl with the 10 kids, 5 dogs, 2 horses and a few rabbits. Well- many moons later, I've got the dogs, the horses and had the rabbits but never any children. Why? I'm really not sure, wasn't for a lack of trying!

I wasn't diagnosed with Crohn's until 2007, so I can't use Crohn's Disease as an excuse or cause for uncertainty. Recently, part of me thinks it's God's divine intervention that has kept me from having children, but then again I see so many women who have Crohn's Disease having children, so I'm not sure why I was ruled out.

"Sniff, poor me-right?"

No, not really. That is a pretty lame excuse right? Truth is in my younger years I'd been scared to death to have children in a way. I wanted them, absolutely, but the thought of what is associated with giving birth just didn't turn me on. How would I give up my freedom, my young spirit, my goals, college and secret desires? It wasn't until recently that I had a chat with a few of my girlfriends. We had come to the conclusion that our youth obsessed society kept me afraid, feeling backed into a corner, afraid to go outside the box, afraid to do anything, really.

It's such a blessing when the light goes on. I thought to myself that I could never have a child after 40, but I can see now that's very possible. I feel so much more capable of having and caring for children. I think as we get older, the daring and carefree side of us starts to rear its head when we hit 40, and its all blue skies from there. My friends are all diving out of air planes, hand gliding, starting new careers, going back to school and still having babies-yes, still having babies. So, maybe there is still time for me, still a plan.

I think the new thought pattern for me is part letting go along with a new desire to be spontaneous and new creative passions that I'm not willing to pass up. How many times have you really wanted to do something but felt you needed to be responsible? Well girls, it all changes and thank goodness because life is way to short to be worrying about the small stuff, and its all SMALL stuff.

I finally watched the movie Eat, Pray, Love with Julia Roberts, and felt & feel the same way her character did. Now is the time to take chances, be adventurous, be daring and reinvent my life into the one I have always wanted. So, for now, I'm OK with Life Without Baby, I know it won't be forever. And at this moment, I've discovered that there are many blessings of a child free life.

Coping With Crohn's Disease: Are You Prepared?

2011-10-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

Crohn’s disease, an autoimmune disease that affects the bowel causing inflammation, pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms, affects hundreds of thousands of people in North America alone. Whether you are newly diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or have been living with it for years, finding new information, support, and a sense of community is always important. With no known cure and varying approaches to treatment, gathering and sharing knowledge is an excellent way to help yourself and others deal with this disease. Below, you will find articles, support groups, education, foundations and associations, information on diet, clinical trials, and blogs from other people living with a diagnosis of Crohn’s.

The Basics
Learn the basics from descriptions of Crohn’s to symptoms to medical treatment options with these resources.

Mayo Clinic Crohn’s disease. Learn the basics about Crohn’s as well as symptoms, treatment options, and alternative therapies.
MedicineNet.com Crohn’s Disease. Another good resource for learning the basics, this site also offers professional advice on specific medications and surgery.
Crohn’s Disease. From the National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse, get information on Crohn’s as well as links to clinical trials and additional resources.
Crohn’s Online. Supported by Abbott Laboratories, this site offers information on Crohn’s and a decidedly medically-based approach to treatment.
Crohn’s disease – Everybody. This health site from New Zealand offers a good overview on what Crohn’s disease is all about.

Associations and Foundations
These associations and foundations from around the world all offer help, information, and medical advice for those living with Crohn’s. No matter where you live, you can share information and find support.

Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. Not only can you get news and information about Crohn’s here, you can also find clinical trials, physicians, and more.
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of Canada. Select the French or English version of this website to get information, become a volunteer, or find events in your area.
American Gastroenterological Association. Get information on the treatment of Crohn’s with articles, podcasts, videos, and more.
United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc.. This national network serves to unite support groups for patients and caregivers of those dealing with "bowel and urinary diversions."
Australian Crohn’s & Colitis Association. Find information about research, clinical trials, get newsletters, and more at this resource.
Crohn’s & Colitis Australia. Read about Crohn’s, get support, and learn about current research with this Australian organization.
European Federation of Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis Associations. Get information about research studies, find youth groups, and connect face-to-face at this European connection.
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. This non-profit organization works for education and research in the field of gastrointestinal disorders.
International Ostomy Association. Committed to improving quality of life for ostomates, this foundation offers forums, resources, and more.
National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. This organization in the UK works to provide support and education for those dealing with IBD.

Resource Centers
Offering everything from articles and newsletters to forums and message boards to book reviews and news stories, these sites serve as resource centers to provide plenty of information and support.

Living with Crohn’s Disease. Find out about Crohn’s, pediatric Crohn’s, subscribe to the newsletter, and learn about the latest research here.
Crohn’s Disease Resource Center. From HealingWell.com, this site offers articles, books, forums, and news stories about Crohn’s.
Crohn’s Disease Treatment, Symptoms & Information. This site provides information about Crohn’s, treatment options, forums to connect with others, a newsletter, and much more.
ButYouDon’tLookSick.com. Anyone suffering from chronic illness, pain, or invisible disabilities can benefit from the articles, book and product reviews, and message board at this site.
Shaz’s Ostomy Pages. Learn about the various forms of ostomies, read other people’s stories, and connect with other "ostomates" at this site.
Crohn’s/Colitis Home Page. Having been around for 13 years, this site aims to be a "one-stop" site for information and support.
Crohn’s Disease Info Center. Find information on Crohn’s as well as information on a current clinical trial that includes research, trial information, a physician information kit, and more. You can also join on the message board, get newsletters, and find links to other resources.
David’s Crohn’s & Colitis Webpage. check out all the useful information available here, then participate in message boards and support groups, or just check out the "Best and Worst times to have to go" section.
Teens With Crohn’s Disease Website. Teens can read about the experience of other teens living with Crohn’s, participate in message boards and chat rooms, get recipes, and more.
Annee’s Crohn’s Disease Page. Annee shares her experience of living with Crohn’s and also offers tons of information and opportunities for support here.

100 Fascinating Facts You Never Knew About the Human Brain

2011-10-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

Ran accross this post today and thought it might be interesting. Borrowed from the "Nursing Assistant."

The human brain has amazed and baffled people throughout the ages. Some scientists and doctors have devoted their entire lives to learning how the brain works. It is no wonder that people enjoy learning facts about this incredible organ in the human body. Below, you will find 100 facts about the brain including how it works, how it develops, what it controls, how it affects sleep, dreams, and memory, and more, which may be helpful. When you finish reading about these fun facts, take this short brainpower quiz and see how much you learned about the human brain.

Physical Attributes
These facts will teach you interesting bits of information about the physical make-up of the human brain.

Weight. The weight of the human brain is about 3 lbs.
Cerebrum. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and makes up 85% of the brain’s weight.
Skin. Your skin weighs twice as much as your brain.
Gray matter. The brain’s gray matter is made up of neurons, which gather and transmit signals.
White matter. The white matter is made up of dendrites and axons, which create the network by which neurons send their signals.
Gray and white. Your brain is 60% white matter and 40% gray matter.
Water. The brain is made up of about 75% water.
Neurons. Your brain consists of about 100 billion neurons.
Synapses. There are anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 synapses for each neuron.
No pain. There are no pain receptors in the brain, so the brain can feel no pain.
Largest brain. While an elephant’s brain is physically larger than a human brain, the human brain is 2% of total body weight (compared to 0.15% of an elephant’s brain), meaning humans have the largest brain to body size.
Blood vessels. There are 100,000 miles of blood vessels in the brain.
Fat. The human brain is the fattest organ in the body and may consists of at least 60% fat.

The Developing Brain
Starting from within the womb, fetal brain development begins the amazing journey that leads to a well-developed brain at birth that continues to grow for 18 more years.

Neurons. Neurons develop at the rate of 250,000 neurons per minute during early pregnancy.
Size at birth. At birth, your brain was almost the same size as an adult brain and contained most of the brain cells for your whole life.
Newborn’s growth. A newborn baby’s brain grows about three times its size in the first year.
Stopped growing. Your brain stopped growing at age 18.
Cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex grows thicker as you learn to use it.
Stimulation. A stimulating environment for a child can make the difference between a 25% greater ability to learn or 25% less in an environment with little stimulation.
New neurons. Humans continue to make new neurons throughout life in response to mental activity.
Read aloud. Reading aloud and talking often to a young child promotes brain development.
Emotions. The capacity for such emotions as joy, happiness, fear, and shyness are already developed at birth. The specific type of nurturing a child receives shapes how these emotions are developed.
First sense. The first sense to develop while in utero is the sense of touch. The lips and cheeks can experience touch at about 8 weeks and the rest of the body around 12 weeks.
Bilingual brains. Children who learn two languages before the age of five alters the brain structure and adults have a much denser gray matter.
Child abuse and the brain. Studies have shown that child abuse can inhibit development of the brain and can permanently affect brain development.

Brain Function
From the invisible workings of the brain to more visible responses such as yawns or intelligence, find out how the brain functions with these facts.

Oxygen. Your brain uses 20% of the total oxygen in your body.
Blood. As with oxygen, your brain uses 20% of the blood circulating in your body.
Unconsciousness. If your brain loses blood for 8 to 10 seconds, you will lose consciousness.
Speed. Information can be processed as slowly as 0.5 meters/sec or as fast as 120 meters/sec (about 268 miles/hr).
Wattage. While awake, your brain generates between 10 and 23 watts of power–or enough energy to power a light bulb.
Yawns. It is thought that a yawn works to send more oxygen to the brain, therefore working to cool it down and wake it up.
Neocortex. The neocortex makes up about 76% of the human brain and is responsible for language and consciousness. The human neocortex is much larger than in animals.
10%. The old adage of humans only using 10% of their brain is not true. Every part of the brain has a known function.
Brain death. The brain can live for 4 to 6 minutes without oxygen, and then it begins to die. No oxygen for 5 to 10 minutes will result in permanent brain damage.
Highest temperature. The next time you get a fever, keep in mind that the highest human body temperature ever recorded was 115.7 degrees–and the man survived.
Stress. Excessive stress has shown to "alter brain cells, brain structure and brain function."
Love hormones and autism. Oxytocin, one of the hormones responsible for triggering feelings of love in the brain, has shown some benefits to helping control repetitive behaviors in those with autism.
Food and intelligence. A study of one million students in New York showed that students who ate lunches that did not include artificial flavors, preservatives, and dyes did 14% better on IQ tests than students who ate lunches with these additives.
Seafood. In the March 2003 edition of Discover magazine, a report describes how people in a 7-year study who ate seafood at least one time every week had a 30% lower occurrence of dementia.

Psychology of the Brain
From tickling to tasting to decision-making, find out how the brain affects what you experience.

Tickles. You can’t tickle yourself because your brain distinguished between unexpected external touch and your own touch.
Imaginary playmates. A study from Australia showed that children with imaginary playmates between the ages of 3 and 9 tended to be first-born children.
Reading faces. Without any words, you may be able to determine if someone is in a good mood, is feeling sad, or is angry just by reading the face. A small area in the brain called the amygdala is responsible for your ability to read someone else’s face for clues to how they are feeling.
Ringing in the ears. For years, medical professionals believed that tinnitus was due to a function within the mechanics of the ear, but newer evidence shows that it is actually a function of the brain.
Pain and gender. Scientists have discovered that men and women’s brains react differently to pain, which explains why they may perceive or discuss pain differently.
Supertasters. There is a class of people known as supertasters who not only have more taste buds on the tongue, but whose brain is more sensitive to the tastes of foods and drinks. In fact, they can detect some flavors that others cannot.
Cold. Some people are much more sensitive to cold and actually feel pain associated with cold. Research as shown that the reason is due to certain channels that send cold information to the brain.
Decision-making. Women tend to take longer to make a decision, but are more likely to stick with the decision, compared to men, who are more likely to change their mind after making a decision.
Exercise. Some studies indicate that while some people are naturally more active, others are naturally more inactive, which may explain why getting out and exercising is more difficult for some.
Boredom. Boredom is brought on by a lack of change of stimulation, is largely a function of perception, and is connected to the innate curiosity found in humans.
Physical illness. The connection between body and mind is a strong one. One estimate is that between 50-70% of visits to the doctor for physical ailments are attributed to psychological factors.
Sadness and shopping. Researchers have discovered that those experiencing the blues are more willing to spend more money in an attempt to alleviate their sadness.

Memory
Learn how scent, jet lag, and estrogen affect memory, plus plenty of other information, with these facts.

Jet lag. Frequent jet lag can impair your memory, probably due to the stress hormones released.
New connections. Every time you recall a memory or have a new thought, you are creating a new connection in your brain.
Create associations. Memory is formed by associations, so if you want help remembering things, create associations for yourself.
Scent and memory. Memories triggered by scent have a stronger emotional connection, therefore appear more intense than other memory triggers.
Anomia. Anomia is the technical word for tip-of-the-tongue syndrome when you can almost remember a word, but it just won’t quite come to you.
Sleep. While you sleep at night may be the best time for your brain to consolidate all your memories from the day.
No sleep. It goes to follow…lack of sleep may actuallyhurt your ability to create new memories.
World Champion. A world champion memorizer, Ben Pridmore memorized 96 historical events in 5 minutes and memorized a single, shuffled deck of cards in 26.28 seconds.
Estrogen and memory. Estrogen (found in both men and women) has been shown to promote better memory functions.
Insulin. Insulin works to regulate blood-sugar in the body, but recently, scientists have discovered that its presence in the brain also helps promote memory.

Dreams and Sleep
The amazing world of dreams and what happens during sleep is a mystery rooted in the brain. Learn interesting facts about dreams and sleep in this list.

Everyone dreams. Just because you don’t remember your dreams doesn’t mean you don’t dream. Everyone dreams!
Nightly average. Most people dream about 1-2 hours a night and have an average of 4-7 dreams each night.
Brain waves. Studies show that brain waves are more active while dreaming than when you are awake.
Lost dreams. Five minutes after a dream, half of the dream is forgotten. Ten minutes after a dream, over 90% is forgotten. Write down your dreams immediately if you want to remember them.
Blind people dream. Dreams are more than just visual images, and blind people do dream. Whether or not they dream in pictures depends on if they were born blind or lost their vision later.
Color or B&W. Some people (about 12%) dream only in black and white while others dream in color.
Virtually paralyzed. While you sleep, your body produces a hormone that may prevent you from acting out your dreams, leaving you virtually paralyzed.
Snoring. If you are snoring, you are not dreaming.
During a dream. If you are awakened during a dream, you are much more likely to remember the dream than if you slept until a full night’s sleep.
Symbolism. As those who invest in dream dictionaries can attest, dreams almost never represent what they actually are. The unconscious mind strives to make connections with concepts you will understand, so dreams are largely symbolic representations.
Adenosine. Caffeine works to block naturally occurring adenosine in the body, creating alertness. Scientists have recently discovered this connection and learned that doing the opposite–boosting adenosine–can actually help promote more natural sleep patterns and help eliminate insomnia.
Dream showings. Japanese researchers have successfully developed a technology that can put thoughts on a screen and may soon be able to screen people’s dreams.

Fun and Interesting Facts
From juggling to a Brain Bank to cannibalism, read about these fun and interesting brain facts.

Airplanes and headaches. A study showed a correlation between flying and headaches and states that around 6% of people who fly get headaches brought on by the flight itself.
Juggling. Juggling has shown to change the brain in as little as seven days. The study indicates that learning new things helps the brain to change very quickly.
Disney and sleep. A study published in the journal Sleep Medicine describes how Disney creators used real sleep disorders in many of their animated pets.
Blinking. Each time we blink, our brain kicks in and keeps things illuminated so the whole world doesn’t go dark each time we blink (about 20,000 times a day).
Laughing. Laughing at a joke is no simple task as it requires activity in five different areas of the brain.
Yawns are contagious. Ever notice that you yawned after someone around you did? Scientists believe this may be a response to an ancient social behavior for communication that humans still have.
Brain Bank. Harvard maintains a Brain Bank where over 7,000 human brains are store for research purposes.
Outer space. The lack of gravity in outer space affects the brain in several ways. Scientists are studying how and why, but you may want to hold off on your next trip to the moon.
Music. Music lessons have shown to considerably boost brain organization and ability in both children and adults.
Thoughts. The average number of thoughts that humans are believed to experience each day is 70,000.
Ambidexterity. Those who are left-handed or ambidextrous have a corpus collosum (the part of the brain that bridges the two halves) that is about 11% larger than those who are right-handed.
Stressful job. According to a study by Bristol-Myers Squibb, accountants have the highest incidence of on-the-job headaches, followed by librarians, then bus and truck drivers.
Aristotle. Aristotle mistakenly thought that the functions of the brain actually took place in the heart.
Cannibalism. Some research shows that humans carry genes that help protect the brain from prion diseases, or diseases contracted through eating human flesh, leading medical experts to believe that ancient humans may have eaten other humans.
Shakespeare. The word "brain" appears 66 times in the plays of William Shakespeare.

Famous Brains
People have always been fascinated with the brains of famous people. Find out what experts know about these famous brains.

Albert Einstein. Einstein’s brain was similar in size to other humans except in the region that is responsible for math and spatial perception. In that region, his brain was 35% wider than average.
London taxi drivers. Famous for knowing all the London streets by heart, these drivers have a larger than normal hippocampus, especially the drivers who have been on the job longest. The study suggests that as people memorize more and more information, this part of their brain continues to grow.
VI Lenin. After his death, Lenin’s brain was studied and found to have an abnormally large and numerous neurons in a particular region that may explain his "strikingly acute and penetrating mental processes" for which he was famous.
Oldest brain. A brain thought to be 2000 years old was unearthed just recently at the University of York in northern England.
Babe Ruth. The Babe was tested by two Columbia psychology students and was determined to be working at 90% efficiency compared to the 60% efficiency measured for most people.
Daniel Tammet. Daniel Tammet is an autistic savant who, since the age of three when he suffered an epileptic seizure, has been able to perform astounding mathematical computations, knows seven languages, and is developing a language of his own.
Keith Jarrett. This jazz musician was discovered at age 3 to have perfect pitch, which scientists can pinpoint in the right frontal lobe.

Moments in History
The study of the brain has an interesting history. Check out this abbreviated time line to learn interesting facts about the history of brain research and development.

2000 B.C.. Archeologists found evidence that primitive brain surgery was performed by drilling a hole in the skull.
1811. Scottish surgeon Charles Bell described how each of the senses had a corresponding spot in the brain.
1899. Aspirin was marketed as a pain reliever, but was not available without a prescription until 1915.
1921. Hermann Rorschach invented the now-famous ink blot test for use with his patients.
1959. The first rhesus monkey was sent into space to study human behavior.

Today, I will let go of my fear...

2011-10-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

Some people believe that each of our days were planned, Divinely Ordered, before we were born. God knew, they say, and planned exactly what was to transpire.

Other suggest we chose, we participated in planning our life-the events, the people, the circumstances that were to take place, in order to work through our issues and learn the lessons we needed to master.

Whatever our philosophy, our interpretation can be similar: Our past is neither an accident or a mistake. we have been where we needed to be, with the necessary people. We can embrace our history, with its pain, its imperfections, its mistakes, even its tragedies. It is uniquely ours; it was intended just for us.

Today, we are right where we need to be. Our present circumstances are exactly as they need to be-for now.

Today, I will let go of my guilt and fear about my past and present circumstances. I will trust that where I have been and where I am now are right for me.

Taking the "HIGH ROAD"

2011-09-13T13:45:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine was talking about taking the high road when it came to certain matters of the heart. Until today I always thought when someone used that phrase it just meant to ignore it but to those who have love and peace in their hearts it means something else. She began to talk about taking the high road and doing whatever it took to restore the peace and the love in the relationship whether it was personal or business. She then gave me the book by Ilanla Vanzant and I'm absolutely in love with her writing! So, I thought I would share this with you today.

There is a better way! When your back is against the wall, do not be tempted to take the easy way out. Avoid taking the short cut. Never allow the pressure of the moment to force you into something that is dishonest or dishonorable. Before you strike out in terror or anger, call for the strength, energy and presence of mind to do what is best for everyone involved. No matter what happens to you, you will be better off if you look for a better way of doing things. Trust that no matter what stand before you, you can handle it by taking the high road.

The high road is any action taken or any word spoken with the intention of restoring peach, invoking healing or advancing love. It can be difficult to keep your eye on the road when you feel you are being dishonored or harmed in any way. Fear can also make you lose sight of the road-the fear of being abandoned, rejected or discovered. How you respond when you are faced with one of these fears is understandable. Unfortunately, in the universe, it may not be excusable.

When you are stressed, pressured or simply afraid, it is easy to be lured into being dishonest. If you are angry, it is understandable that you would want to strike out. Let's face it, in those situations when it seems that telling a lie will save you, chances are you will consider telling the lie. Don't do it! There is always a better way. When you deliberately trespass the boundaries of what it s good, honest, loving and harmonious, there will be hell to pay. Don’t be the one who has to pay it.

Until today, you may have allowed pressures and stress of your life to make you sink down or act low down. Just for today, look for the high road. Refuse to say anything or do anything that will not create or support peace, healing or love.

10 Tips for Making the Most of Your Training Sessions

2011-08-31T21:05:00.000-07:00

If you’re spending valuable time and money on personal training, you deserve to get great results. And a lot of that depends on you. We asked some top-shelf PTs what they wish more of their clients would do in the name of great fitness outcomes, and here’s what they said:
1. Ditch the chitchat. Although a little back and forth builds rapport and keeps things lively, a constant stream of small talk can be detrimental — particularly when you’re both distracted from your efforts, timing and form.

2. Show up on time. Every minute you’re late chips away at the time you scheduled for fitness and can totally throw off your trainer’s workout plan. Many trainers like clients to arrive early for a proper warm-up before their session starts.

3. Respect the stopwatch. There’s a reason your trainer is specifying 30- or 60-second breaks between sets and asking you to hold the intensity of cardio intervals for specific durations. Adhere to that timing, and you’ll see far better results.

4. Clean up your eating. No amount of working out can hide the evidence of a lackluster diet. Follow your trainer’s nutritional advice, make the switch to more whole, natural foods, and you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.

5. Don’t fib. Your trainer will have a hard time managing your program and results if you claim to be exercising more or eating better than you really are. Be candid about what you’re willing to do — then let your trainer be frank about the results you can expect.

6. Be a “yes” person. Many trainers have an aversion to the phrase “I can’t do that.” Have an injury? Say “I have an injury” — and let your trainer adjust accordingly. But be open to trying new things, even if they don’t come easily at first.

7. Trust your trainer. It’s OK to ask questions about why you’re doing certain exercises, but in the end, you either trust your trainer’s expertise or you don’t. Interrupting and arguing can waste time and undermine the dynamic of your relationship, causing frustration for you both.

8. Get good Z’s. Your fitness recovery and progress hinge on adequate sleep. And so does your available energy for workouts. Showing up exhausted drastically limits the potential of your sessions.

9. Speak your truth. Personal trainers can be intuitive, but they’re not mind readers. Tell them how your body feels, and how your motivation is faring, so they can tweak your regimen based on your feedback.

10. Put your heart into it. If you really want to get healthier and more fit, bring that attitude to your training sessions — and to your willingness to change your life. Enthusiasm breeds success.

How to Get the Most From Your Personal Trainer

2011-08-31T21:03:00.000-07:00

Finding the right PT can transform your health and fitness efforts. But the real magic happens when you learn how to work as a team. By Eric Butterman / September 2011

The decision to hire a personal trainer is an empowering one. Putting a dedicated fitness expert in your corner can net you invaluable expertise and support for devising a smart workout strategy, overcoming emotional and physical roadblocks, and getting the real results you’re after.

According to an American College of Sports Medicine survey, personal training is a top trend for 2011, ranking above core training classes and boot camps in popularity. So, clearly, a lot of people are figuring out that it’s well worth the investment. Establishing an optimal training relationship, though, isn’t as simple as strolling into your health club and booking a session with the first PT who has an open spot in his or her schedule.

First, the two of you are going to be spending a lot of time together, so it’s worth putting in some legwork upfront to make sure you find someone with the right skills and chemistry. Second, you need to make sure you’re ready to do your share of the work required to get what you want out of the bargain.

“Whether you’re new to exercise or you’ve been working out on your own for a long time, using a personal trainer can give you that extra nudge,” says Tom Manella, senior director of personal training at Life Time Fitness in Chanhassen, Minn. “But you’ve got to show up for the experience, body and soul, and be really clear about creating a two-way exchange that works for you.”

Making It Work

After two years of regularly going to a health club, Michelle Nielsen, 36, of Phoenix, wasn’t seeing the results she had hoped for. She admits she felt overwhelmed by all the choices. “I would walk in and see a hundred machines and have no idea where to start. I’d flounder and wander, and eventually I got really frustrated and stopped going,” she says.

Nielsen realized that what she needed was direction and affirmation. “I wanted someone more knowledgeable than me to tell me what I should be doing, and that I was doing a good job,” she says.

Because Nielsen’s husband had been successful working with a personal trainer, she decided to sign up for training sessions, too. Having never invested that much time or money in herself, Nielsen didn’t know what to expect — from her trainer, or from the whole experience.

“Before the introductory session, I was really nervous. I sat in my car for a really long time before going inside,” she says. But once she met with the trainer, discussed her history and her goals with him, and began her plan, her anxiety evaporated.

“My trainer, Ryan Clark, was a great match for me,” she says. Nielsen was delighted to find that Clark was down to earth and respectful of her need for an unintimidating environment. He helped her outline specific goals and guided her toward them without pushing too hard. “It was a very personal journey for me from the get-go, and Ryan recognized that,” she says. “He was proud of me for being there. He knew that for me, showing up was a battle in and of itself.”

Over the course of two months of training with Clark three times a week, Nielsen experienced dramatic results. “My fitness improved leaps and bounds, and my body shape changed — but more importantly, I noticed a huge change in how I feel about myself.”

For Nielsen, hiring Clark proved to be time and money well spent — a happy meeting of minds, personalities, priorities and expectations. Looking to create that same sort of synergy with a trainer who’s dedicated to helping you achieve your own goals? Read on to discover four essential keys to success — gathered from experienced trainers and satisfied clients alike.

1. Find the Right Match

“Shopping around and meeting potential trainers is an important first step,” says Manella. Searching online can be overwhelming, so ask your local club for recommendations based on your objectives and fitness experience, talk with friends or family members who have used trainers, and speak with trainers on the gym floor, he suggests.

“Begin by asking about their credentials,” advises Kelli Calabrese, MS, CSCS, master trainer for Adventure Boot Camp in Orange County, Calif. Certifications, she says, are one way to ensure that trainers have the education required to competently design safe and effective exercise programs. So be sure to ask how long they’ve been training and whom they’re certified through. Because there are a number of organizations that certify trainers, focus on someone with national certifications (such as those from the American Council on Exercise, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association, or the American College of Sports Medicine) or a trainer with a degree in exercise science.

And make sure those certifications are current. “An expired certification is not a good sign,” says Manella. Another bad sign: trainers who work in run-down facilities. “Top-line gyms often have the best trainers,” says Philip Goglia, PhD, a Santa Monica–based personal trainer, registered nutritionist and author of Turn Up the Heat: Unlock the Fat-Burning Power of Your Metabolism (Viking Penguin, 2002). If the place gives you the creeps, chances are good that the trainer isn’t a winner either, he says.

Once you meet with the trainer or speak on the phone, you can better gauge his or her experience, the experts say. “You’ll want to know what types of training they specialize in and whether that fits with your situation and goals,” Calabrese says. A trainer with a basic certification will likely not be able to help you train for a figure competition or a triathlon, though. “There are specialty coaches out there who can help you tap into getting an edge on an individual sport,” she adds.

To help determine if a prospective trainer is right for you, Manella suggests asking him or her these questions:

1) What’s your experience working with people like me? (Specify your goals: losing weight, training for an event, coming back after an injury, building strength, etc.)

2) What results have you achieved with your clients? Over what time span?

3) Can I talk with some of your clients? (A good trainer should have no trouble providing references.)

4) How would you describe your style? (Some trainers are gentle and encouraging, while others are more aggressive; some direct, others collaborate.)

5) How much do you charge? (Rates vary a lot based on the trainer and location — anywhere from $30 to $300 per hour — but average from $50 to $100.)

6) Do you offer small-group sessions or other services, such as online training?

If possible, observe the trainer working with another client, suggests Jamie Atlas, founder of Bonza Bodies fitness studio in Denver. “It takes about five minutes of watching to know if the trainer is more into the client or themselves. Habits like chatting too much, being easily distracted and generally having low energy are warning signs of what might be to come,” says Atlas.

Beyond that, personal dynamics are key, says Manella. In other words, it helps if you genuinely like the trainer. “That doesn’t mean you have to be mirror images of each other, but common ground is important,” adds Goglia. “If you have one person who’s cracking sarcastic jokes and someone else who’s very serious, that could be a bad match. You want to be in tune.”

2. Focus on Clear Goals

Prior to your first active training session, discuss your objectives with your trainer so that he or she can come up with an appropriate plan to achieve them.

That process may involve some assessment drills: “You want to have an initial measure of things like posture, balance, flexibility and strength,” Goglia says. “It’s critical to record and retest to understand if you’re getting anywhere.” Depending on the trainer and your goals, you might also measure body-fat percentage, cardio fitness and body weight.

If you’re out of shape or haven’t worked out recently, your trainer may recommend an initial period of training designed to help you build a fitness base and avoid injury. That’s a good thing, because it will make all your subsequent workouts more effective. But right from the beginning, you should see the connection between the plan your trainer has laid out and the goals you want to achieve.

“It’s important to tweak that plan every few weeks as you improve,” says Alwyn Cosgrove, a Newhall, Calif.–based personal trainer and coauthor of The New Rules of Lifting book series (Avery). “But everything you do should be moving you toward your goal — whether that’s improving your cardio output, increasing your strength, losing weight or all of the above.”

If there are days you’re working out alone, you’ll need the trainer to map out the specific exercises you should complete, along with sets and reps. “Your trainer should provide you with routines that have a balance of both upper body and lower body, and also focus on the weaknesses you’re trying to improve,” says Goglia. “But you shouldn’t be doing the same exercises every single session.”

3. Develop a Strong Working Relationship

During the first few sessions, pay attention to how well you and your trainer sync up. Do you understand what she’s telling you to do? How well do you communicate with one another? Is she clued in to your body language to know when you need to be pushed harder and when you’ve had enough? Do you feel motivated or punished by her feedback?

As with any good relationship, you should feel like the trainer brings out the best in you. How he or she goes about reaching that objective may vary. “People have very different learning styles and motivational preferences,” says Manella. “Some clients want to understand the science behind every movement. Others just want someone to demonstrate how it’s done.” Some clients appreciate a little tough love, he notes — the kind you might get from a boot-camp-style trainer. Others want a gentler, more understanding approach.

The important thing, most experts agree, is voicing those preferences to your trainer so that he or she can respond. “Ask yourself, ‘Am I better with this person than I am alone?’” advises Manella.

A good trainer will also be open to answering any questions or concerns you bring to each session. If something isn’t working for you, or you hit a plateau, the trainer should be adaptable and work with you to adjust the routine.

No matter what the trainer’s style, he or she should strive to find ways to make exercise as natural and habitual for you as eating and drinking, says Shannon Wallace Jr., CPT, founder of 368 Athletics in Frederick, Md.

“I tell our trainers their primary job is education,” says Manella. “A good trainer should give you everything you need to know to make fitness a permanent part of your lifestyle.”

Of course, whether or not you comply with that encouragement is up to you. “If you’re only seeing me once a week, then you’ll need to weight train at least twice a week outside of our sessions to see the results you want,” says Eric Wilson, MS, a Seattle-based exercise physiologist and creator of the Comprehensive Lifestyle Plan, a personal-training philosophy that focuses on the whole person. Wilson suggests you duplicate the training experience at home as best you can: Put on music that gets you going, he suggests. Warm up. Give yourself a pep talk. “You need to be able to get in the zone even though it’s just you,” he says.

Happily, the more you get to know your trainer, the more you’ll automatically hear his or her voice directing you through the moves. After a while, you’ll begin to internalize that advice, and it will become second nature.

4. Know When to Move On

Eventually, all training relationships come to an end — ideally, for the happiest of reasons: The client has achieved his or her initial goals, has successfully integrated exercise into his or her lifestyle, and no longer feels the need for a trainer.

Perhaps there’s another chapter in store — refresher sessions, next-phase objectives, sports-specific training — or perhaps not. It’s entirely up to you. Let your budget, priorities and training appetite be your guide.

For Michelle Nielsen, the conclusion of her training sessions felt like a graduation of sorts. “Ryan and I both sensed my confidence and skills had reached a point that I might be able to join his small-group class.” That way, says Nielsen, she still benefited from his direction and expertise, but the classes were more affordable than private sessions.

For some clients, a limited package of training sessions is all they want or can afford at the moment. Other clients are in it for the long haul: “They have the means to pay for a trainer indefinitely, and they like the ongoing accountability and motivation the trainer provides,” says Manella.

As long as the cost-benefit analysis is working in your favor, the decision to keep training is easy. But what do you do when the relationship just isn’t working, or when the investment isn’t paying off the way you’d hoped?

Many clients rightfully walk away when they lose confidence in the trainer’s commitment to their results, says Jamie Atlas. “Clients sense when a trainer has stopped caring and started taking them for granted,” he says.

“If you’re unhappy with your results, or with the experience, you need to sit down and talk to your trainer,” Goglia says. “But, be honest with yourself about whether or not you’re doing the work.” (See the “10 Tips for Making the Most of Your Training Sessions” sidebar.)

Also pay attention to how you feel before, during and after your training sessions. A bit of preworkout apprehension is natural, but if you find yourself dreading each appointment, that could be a red flag. During the workout, you should feel challenged, but not pushed beyond your limits. Afterward, check in with yourself: Are you happy you went? Did you try something new and succeed? Do you feel empowered, or beat up?

An off day here and there is normal, but if you see a pattern of decline or negativity, it could be a clue that you need a change. “If you talk to the trainer and he’s not being responsive or adjusting, it’s time to move on,” Wallace says.

Scott Jackson, CPT, CSCS, founder of Real Life Fitness facility in Nevada City, Calif., recommends an honest approach: “They’re in business, and they need to know how to improve. If the problem was their personality or their commitment, letting them know in a gentle way could help them in the future.” Then, he suggests, find another trainer — “ASAP, while your motivation is still strong.”

Eric Butterman is a fitness writer who has contributed to Glamour and Men’s Journal.

7 Steps to Helping Good Bacteria Feel at Home

2011-08-31T20:58:00.000-07:00

According to Catherine Guthrie, maintaining a healthy gut isn’t as easy as popping a magic pill. “If you’re going to use probiotics, then drink, smoke and eat badly, that’s not going to cut it,” says Georgianna Donadio, PhD. “The entire system must be in sync; the flora is just the tip of the iceberg.” To take a big-picture approach to your gut, consider these steps:

• Eat several small meals during the day instead of pigging out at dinner. “Cramming in all your food at the end of the day stresses the gut by giving it too much food at once,” says Leslie Bonci, a registered dietitian and director of the Sports Nutrition Center at the University of Pittsburgh. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water to keep the
food moving.

• Prioritize whole foods. That means stocking up on vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes. If the food on your plate looks like food in the wild (e.g., grapes, not grape roll-ups), you’re off to a good start. “The best way to restore your gut is to stop assaulting it [with processed food] all the time,” says Patricia Raymond, MD.

• Eat probiotic foods. Shoot for at least one daily serving of a food with probiotic or “live” cultures. Try yogurt, kefir (a fermented dairy drink), miso or tempeh. Look for the phrase “contains live cultures” or “active cultures” on the label.

• Bulk up on fiber. The more fiber you have in your diet, the more diversity you’ll have in your ecosystem. Aim for 25 to 38 grams of fiber a day, says Bonci. “Most people are still shy of their
fiber intake.”

• Cut back on sugar. Refined sugars acidify the system and prompt the body to make more bile — and some types of bad bacteria feast on sugar and bile acids. Therefore, too much sugar may tip the bacterial balance toward the dark side. “With all the sugar we throw down these days, it’s no wonder our bacteria colonies are out of whack,” says Bonci.

• Relax. In a 1999 study published in the international journal Gut, people in gastrointestinal clinics cited severe life stress as a precursor to their gastrointestinal problems. Although the connection isn’t clear, scientists do know that stress breeds inflammation and also upsets the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls the contractions of the intestine, thereby changing the speed at which food moves through you. Stress affects our biochemistry at many levels.
• Get seven to eight hours of sleep every night. Sleep not only regulates hormones in the gut that contribute to feelings of hunger and satiety, it also shores up the immune system. When the body is deprived of sleep, even for one night, the immune system suffers, says Bonci.

Like tending a vegetable patch, maintaining a balanced microflora environment requires daily attention. Need more good reasons to give your bacteria the respect they deserve? Consider this: “If a freeze, flood or nuclear explosion destroyed all the humans on Earth, bacteria would survive,” says Gregor Reid, PhD. “They are definitely going to have the last laugh.”

Putting Probiotics On Your Side

2011-08-31T20:55:00.000-07:00

Probiotics aren’t a surefire cure-all for a troubled gut, but they do deliver a whole lot of helpful bacterial right where you need them.

If you’re otherwise healthy, you can focus on just eating more probiotic-laden foods, like a yogurt with live cultures, says Patricia Raymond, MD, a gastroenterologist in Norfolk, Va., and founder of YourHealthChoice.net.

For many, though, a daily, quality probiotic supplement is a good idea — especially to battle chronic gastric complaints, such as diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. It’s also a worthy addition if you’re on an antibiotic or have taken antibiotics in the past. (If you’re still on the drug, consider a yeast-based probiotic, since the antibiotic won’t affect it.)

If you need a probiotic pick-me-up, prepare to stock up. A week or two of probiotics can be a quick fix for an acute problem, like traveler’s diarrhea, but those with a chronic illness may need probiotics for an extended duration. That’s because these bacteria don’t stay inside us for long. “You can’t just take one dose, sit back and say ‘that’s great,’” says Gregor Reid, PhD, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Western Ontario and past president of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics. “Health is a continuum, so you have to take probiotics on a regular basis to retain their benefits.”

To boost your flora, take one or two probiotic capsules daily, which amounts to 3 to 5 billion live organisms. Probiotics are living, so they are vulnerable to heat, cold and moisture. Store them in a cool, dry place. (Also take care with probiotics in food. Freezing live-cultured yogurt or boiling miso soup nukes the bugs.) Lastly, Reid recommends buying only products that have been clinically tested. “Too many haven’t,” he says, “and just because the contents of one product sound like those of another doesn’t mean it will work.” ConsumerLab.com, an independent watchdog group, vetted 22 probiotic products and found several that didn’t deliver.

Good Bacteria Welcome

2011-08-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

Find out why some internal bacteria are our friends — and why providing a happy, well-balance home for them is essential to our vitality and well-being. By Catherine Guthrie / September 2011

Ever get the feeling you’re not alone? Maybe it’s because you’re not. Your body is a walking repository for microorganisms, and their cells outnumber yours 10 to 1. Some of us have herds of mites grazing on our eyebrows. Others have fungi meandering between our toes. No one is immune. Everyone’s skin swarms with an invisible smorgasbord of bacteria, and the mouth is a microbial wonderland. But it’s the 500 or so species of bacteria residing in our gastrointestinal (GI) tracts that really make us tick.

Yes, bacteria, such as those from the genera Bifido-bacterium and Lactobacillus, account for a large majority of the 100 trillion creepy crawlies that call your body home, and they flourish in the dark, dank folds of the GI tract. (Random parasites, yeast and fungi make up a much smaller internal population; to find out more about them, read “Little Bugs, Big Trouble”).

Good bacteria spend their days destroying their harmful cousins, picking through undigested leftovers and micromanaging calories. But when stress, medications or a poor diet (among other factors) lay waste to these friendly flora, bad bacteria rush in to fill the void. And when bad bacteria prevail, illness strikes. A short-term imbalance can lead to diarrhea, bloating and gas. Over time, the disparity can contribute to more serious problems, including inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

To balance the scales, many healthcare practitioners are turning to probiotics — infusions of good bacteria from foods like yogurt, kefir, miso, tempeh, kombucha and kimchi, as well as from supplements. (See the “Putting Probiotics on Your Side” sidebar.) But just as planting seedlings won’t rejuvenate a deforested landscape overnight, probiotics can’t be relied on as a quick fix for a gut-destroying lifestyle.

Here’s what you need to know to keep your little buggers happy and healthy for the long haul.

Gut Ecology Primer

The relationship between the gut and well-behaved bacteria is mutually beneficial. Because the gut is porous (that’s how it absorbs nutrients from food), it’s also vulnerable to invasion. Over a person’s lifetime, the GI tract handles roughly 60 tons of food. While food brings nourishment, it can also be a Trojan horse for disease. That was the case in Europe last spring, where contaminated vegetable sprouts killed 29 people and made nearly 3,000 extremely ill. And it was the case for a great many tainted hamburgers before that.

Good bacteria act as microscopic bouncers for the bowels, waving in desirable nutrients and slamming the door on dangerous viruses and killer bugs. They do this with some help from the mucosal barrier, which coats every inch of the gut’s 1,000-square-foot surface to form a slippery, protective layer. But even so, it’s a job that requires mind-boggling numbers.

One hundred trillion bacteria cram inside the average Joe. Scoop them up and they would weigh 2 to 3 pounds. Linked end-to-end, they would circle the globe two and a half times. Without them, you couldn’t digest any food. But digestion is only part of what these high achievers accomplish. Thanks to their residence in the intestines, they also help power 60 percent of the body’s immune system.

So when it comes to getting and staying healthy, balancing our intestinal microflora should be a top priority. The good news is, we’ve got a well-established and synergetic partnership going. The oldest microorganisms on Earth, bacteria have carved an elaborate evolutionary niche for themselves inside our bodies. It’s important to remember that we need them every bit as much as they need us.

“The bottom line is that we would be dead without them,” says Gregor Reid, PhD, a professor of microbiology, immunology and surgery at the University of Western Ontario in Canada and past president of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics. (Prebiotics are nutrients that help probiotics and other beneficial bacteria to multiply.) “Bacteria are benefiting from the relationship, too,” he notes, “otherwise they wouldn’t have let us get this far.” He explains that several of the bacteria residing in the gut could easily kill us — but then who would feed them?

He’s got a point. Although bacteria inhabit all of the 30-odd feet of your gastrointestinal plumbing, they cluster in the dining hall that is your colon. There, they spend their days awash in waste — the bacterial equivalent of manna from heaven.

A slow-moving meal may linger in the colon for more than two days before being jettisoned. (Poop, by the way, is roughly 60 percent bacteria.) Meanwhile, like happy vultures clambering to a carcass, bacteria see what nutrient castoffs they can claim. They break down otherwise indigestible plant fibers, forage for carbohydrates and salvage calories.

“A healthy body will recycle every single molecule it can from the bowel,” says Georgianna Donadio, PhD, nutritionist and founder of the National Institute of Whole Health, a Wellesley Hills, Mass.–based school that provides continuing education to healthcare providers. “Essentially the gut is a huge metabolic furnace.”

Of course, for that furnace to operate efficiently, all of its parts must be present and in working order. Ideally, they come custom-delivered right when we are — at birth.

Babies descend from the germ-free womb into a virtual bubble bath of bacteria. It starts with the birth canal, where mothers bequeath a starter-kit of good, colonizing bacteria to their newborns. More bacteria make their way into baby intestines via people they touch, toys they mouth and, of course, breastfeeding. (Babies born via cesarean section or fed formula imbibe a different bacterial brew, and some health experts argue that this could put them at a health disadvantage.) Regardless of where your bacterial birthday presents originate, though, the first ones to stake a claim in your gut generally reproduce steadily enough that they are yours for life.

Silent Enemies

So, till death do you part? Well, it depends. Outside forces also hold sway over gut ecology. Antibiotics can pose a major threat to our microbial balance, because they destroy all kinds of bacteria indiscriminately. Once the good bacteria are pushed aside, there’s an opportunity for bad bacteria to move in and start colonizing.

How widespread the resulting damage might be depends on the antibiotic drug’s strength, formulation, absorbability and how long you take it. Recent studies show that just one round of antibiotics can suppress beneficial bacteria for up to 16 months.

“Antibiotics can decimate life as we know it in the gut,” says Patricia Raymond, MD, a gastroenterologist in Norfolk, Va., and founder of YourHealthChoice.net. “It’s like setting off an atomic bomb in the intestines.”

Still, under some circumstances, antibiotics are essential to fending off a dangerous or even life-threatening infection. If you do need to take antibiotics, the key is to use them wisely, carefully following your doctor’s dosing instructions, and then following up with good-bacteria-rebuilding strategies that help keep opportunistic bad bacteria from taking over. (See “7 Steps to Helping Good Bacteria Feel at Home” sidebar.)

Keep in mind, too, that antibiotics aren’t the only threat to your good bacteria’s quality of life. Take your stress level, for example. Stress can damage the gut’s flora in a couple of ways. For starters, stress slows the body’s ability to heal tiny fissures in the intestinal lining. Bacteria sneak through the openings and settle inside the gut’s walls where they cause inflammation. Second, stress can speed up or slow down the contractions in the small intestine, affecting the rate food moves through your system.

To study the effect of stress on beneficial bacteria, scientists looked at the GI tracts of stressed-out college students, as well as angry and fearful people. Across the board, stress threw open the door to disease-causing thugs. “The more stressed you are, the more suppressed your immune system gets, which gives bad bacteria an opportunity to proliferate,” says Donadio. “It’s a vicious cycle.”

OK, so you shun antibiotics, chill out regularly, but still feel bloated, constipated and gassy? Take a good, hard look inside your refrigerator. Everything you eat either feeds the good guys or nourishes the bad. For gut health, experts preach the importance of whole foods and a mostly plant-based diet.

“A healthy bowel is designed for the high-water, high-fiber and high-nutrient-content foods found in the plant world,” says Donadio.

Meanwhile, diets high in animal protein, processed foods, and especially flours and simple sugars tend to raise the numbers of potentially harmful bacteria — perhaps, in part, because such excesses tend to upset the natural acid-alkaline balance of our bodies. “The problem is that the human digestive system hasn’t changed in thousands of years, but our diet has shifted dramatically,” says Reid.

Our ancestors filled up on plants and roots, all alkaline and brimming with good bacteria. But the modern American’s diet overflows with acidifying sugars, meats and dairy, plus salt and poor-quality fats. In the struggle to break down these substances, the gut produces toxic byproducts that can make us sick.

Bacteria Gone Awry

Regardless of where the imbalance originates — a pill bottle, the office or the kitchen — one thing is undisputed: An unhealthy gut spells trouble for the whole body. In particular, the more researchers delve into the inner workings of the gut’s ecology, the greater number of parallels they find between bacterial imbalance and gastrointestinal disease.

Some of the best proof tying bacterial malfunction to GI distress focuses on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). An umbrella term covering both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, IBD is an autoimmune disease that triggers inflammation in the gut’s lining; it afflicts more than a million Americans.

Symptoms of IBD include abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, bleeding, weight loss, and anemia. With much of IBD a mystery, treatments have focused mostly on managing symptoms. But recent studies point to a disruption in the gut’s flora as a possible root cause. The news has more doctors reaching for probiotics. “For IBD, the drugs are good, but the drugs plus probiotics are much better,” says Raymond. “The results are startling.”

Solid science also backs probiotics in the treatment of diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome, and probiotics’ benefits may ripple well beyond the bowel. Researchers are trying probiotics to treat eczema and rheumatoid arthritis, and to prevent vaginal and urinary tract infections.

“There isn’t a drug on the market that can match bacteria for its far-reaching implications on health,” says Reid, who predicts people will eventually swallow probiotics custom-made to meet their body’s needs.

Indeed, bacteria may be recruited to help solve one of America’s most serious epidemics — obesity.

A 2006 study at Washington University in St. Louis’s School of Medicine found big differences between the collections of gut bacteria in heavy people and their slender peers.
The roles of heredity, diet and exercise notwithstanding, researchers suspect some people’s bacteria are simply better at helping them stash away calories.

“Differences in our gut microbial ecology may determine how many calories we are able to extract and absorb from our diet and deposit in our fat cells,” says Jeffrey Gordon, MD, the study’s lead author and the director of the university’s Center for Genome Sciences. “Even if the differences aren’t great, over the course of a year or more, the effects could add up.”

Catherine Guthrie is a contributing editor to Experience Life. She originally wrote this article for the July 2007 issue.

Why Butter's Back

2011-08-31T20:36:00.000-07:00

The short mag “Experience Life” tells us that butter is making a comeback in many health conscious circles. To find out why, they talked to Sally Fallon Morell, MA, president of the Weston A. Price Foundation in Washington, D.C. The nonprofit research foundation is devoted to promoting traditional whole foods and reporting on related nutritional research.

Butter has gotten a lot of bad press. Why?

There has been a long, deliberate campaign by the vegetable oil industry to demonize butter, and as a result, there’s been a lot of misguided media coverage suggesting that the saturated fats in butter are dangerous and that commercial margarines are a healthier choice. But the science in no way supports that notion. A large scale meta analysis reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in January 2010 found zero evidence linking saturated fat to heart disease.

What evidence is there that butter is healthier?

First, butter is a natural food with a very balanced fatty-acid profile. And unlike margarines, it’s been safely consumed by humans as part of a whole foods diet for many centuries. Over the past few decades, mounting evidence shows that saturated fats from whole foods can be health supporting. A recent study of 3,376 adults by researchers at Harvard found that women with higher whole fat dairy intake had a higher HDL (good) cholesterol levels, lower triglyceride levels and lower insulin resistance. They also had a remarkably lower incidence of type 2 diabetes- a 59 percent reduction in risk. Other recent studies similarly vindicate saturated fat, and when butter is made from milk of grass fed cows, it’s quite high in nutrients- like vitamin A, D and K- that many Americans lack.

What’s wrong with butter substitutes?

Most are made from highly processed industrial oils that may be high in trans fat. Even those low in trans fats still contain badly damaged, rancid fatty acids that have been linked from everything from cancer and heart disease to learning problems. Our bodies simply don’t know how to process these types of substances. So, they wind up provoking inflammation and adding to our toxic load.

Sorry, It's Over: Female Perspective

2011-08-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

I posted the Male Perspective and had a friend email the Female Perspective and I love it! Take a look and have a laugh! Love it!

Sorry It's Over: The Male Perspective

2011-08-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

Ok, this maybe a little offensive to some of you but I thought it was so guyish and a little funny! My husband always jokes around like this but after seeing this youtube video, makes me really wonder just how much of it is a joke! Do they really all think this way? Are we women really this bad?

It’s natural to want to have control over your own life. However, most of us realize you can’t control everything, especially other people. You can make requests or try to influence others, but you can’t control them. Psychologist Dr Thomas Schumacher writes, “When you have to be in control of the people around you…when you literally can’t rest until you get your own way…you have a personality disorder. So, do I have a "disorder?"

I speak for myself when I say I am a totally selfish and crazed woman who likes to be in control but in control of myself and MY life. Not yours, your mother's or your sister, but my own life. If you are in my life, well guess what- that sentance would include you. Yes, I want control of my life and may have a strong personality. But let me just say that I have more love in this heart of mine than most others. I'll do anything for my friends, family and loved ones. Yes, I am a control freak but I have to be otherwise nothing would be done. Making sure the laundry is done, the dogs are fed, the bills are paid, the business succeeds, the kids go to school, dinner at 5 and at the kitchen table, the automobiles are repaired, the lawn is done, your needs are met- and that's just a drop in the bucket! If that makes me a control freak....so be it. It that makes me unloveble then I guess those people really weren't the ones for me anyway. And if guys really feel this way, it makes me think I need to change the way I perceive what they are saying or change my vision board to someone who is more like me. But either way, I thought this was in silly fun and thought you would laugh, too!

Check out this video for a lil chuckle!

Blogger Disaster

2011-08-15T23:45:00.000-07:00

UGH!! Please bare with me while I try to fix my blogger account. Somehow everything has an error attached to it and the designer is no longer in business. I should have this blog back up in no time!

Love, Laughter and Happiness Ever After
Kelly~

Banana Chocolate Nourishing Shake

2011-08-02T17:48:00.000-07:00

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Serving Size: 1 serving

Ingredients

¾ cup Milk, 2% Reduced Fat
1 Banana, medium
3 Tbsp Dedicted Woman Protein Powder
1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
1 tsp Benefiber® Fiber Supplement (Novartis Consumer Health)
5 Ice Cubes

Directions

Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth.
Serve immediately.

*Tip: Replace reduced fat milk with skim milk for less fat and calories.

**Note: Cocoa powder can be replaced with 2-3 Tbsp chocolate syrup, if desired. This substitution will increase the caloric value of the recipe.

***Going crazy? Add whip cream and a little topping of choice.

Dietary Exchanges

1 Reduced Fat Milk, 2 Fruit, 2 Very Lean Meat

Nutrient Content Claims

Excellent Source of Protein
Excellent Source of Fiber
Excellent Source of Calcium
Excellent Source of Vitamin C

Orange Mango Banana Nourishing Smoothie

2011-08-02T17:42:00.000-07:00

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Serving Size: 1 serving

Ingredients

⅓ cup Milk, 2% Reduced Fat
⅓ cup Naked Juice, Mighty Mango flavor
1 Banana, medium
3 Tbsp Dedicated Woman Vanilla Protein Powder
1 tsp Benefiber® Fiber Supplement (Novartis Consumer Health)
5 Ice Cubes

Directions

Place all ingredients in a blender and pulse until smooth.
Serve immediately.

*Tip: Replace reduced fat milk with skim milk for less fat and calories.

Dietary Exchanges

½ Reduce Fat Milk, 2½ Fruit, 2 Very Lean Meat

Nutrient Content Claims

Low Fat
Low Cholesterol
Low Sodium
Excellent Source of Protein
Excellent Source of Fiber
Excellent Source of Vitamin A
Excellent Source of Vitamin C
Good Source of Calcium

Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie

2011-08-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Serving Size: 2 servings

Ingredients

1 cup Skim Milk
1 container (6-8 oz) Light Strawberry Yogurt
⅓ cup Dedicated Woman Vanilla Protein
½ cup Strawberries, frozen

Directions

Place all ingredients into blender container, cover and pulse (mix) until smooth.
Pour into glasses. Serve immediately.

*Option: Replace strawberries and yogurt with other fruit or yogurt of your choice.

Dietary Exchanges

1 Skim Milk, ½ Fruit, 1½ Very Lean Meat

Nutrient Content Claims

Excellent Source of Protein
Fat Free
Low Cholesterol
Excellent Source of Vitamin C
Excellent Source of Calcium