Today’s Re-Powering Information – Everyone knows the frightening statics of childhood and adult obesity. So many people are above their ideal weight now, that there are classifications of being over weight such as mild, moderate, and morbid obesity. The recent report below tells us that there are now more people who are obese than are overweight. A grand majority of Americans are moving in the wrong directing regarding their health. I am thankful that you are in the minority that is not only wants ultra health, but you are getting it in a big way with your commitment to exercise. I sincerely hope you are also following through with drinking water, sleeping, managing stress and nourishing your bodies. Let you coaches know how we can help.
More Americans Now Classified as Obese Than Overweight
WASHINGTON, DC -- The number of Americans classified as obese now outweighs the number of people defined as overweight, according to a report recently released by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
The report includes results from a 2005-2006 survey of 4,356 adults that finds 34.3 percent of U.S. adults ages 20 and over are obese, while an estimated 32.7 percent are overweight. The study also finds that 5.9 percent of U.S. adults are classified as extremely obese.
The 2005-2006 numbers are the most recent available, the agency says.
Overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29, obesity is classified as a BMI of 30 to 40, and those with BMIs of 40 or more are considered extremely obese. Since 1988, the incidence of obesity in America has risen nearly 10 percent.
“The NHANES 2005-2006 data for persons ages 20 years and over suggest an increase, between the late 1980s and today, in obesity in the United States, with the estimated age-adjusted prevalence moving upward from a previous level of 23 percent in NHANES III (1988-94) to approximately 34 percent,” study authors wrote.
Authors also note that one of the national health objectives for 2010 is to reduce the prevalence of obesity among adults to less than 15 percent.
Related Articles
Childhood Obesity Rate Levels Off
Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Rate of Obesity at 30 Percent in Three States
Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM
BMI Mandate Removed From School Obesity Bill
Mar 28, 2008 3:08 PM
End
Kelli Calabrse
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Monday, December 8, 2008
Adrenal Fatigue, Adrenal Failure, Fattest State
Today’s Re-Powering Information – Many women can relate to feeling low on energy, fatigue, insomnia, weight gain, and depression. Does that sound like you? If so, your underlying problem may be adrenal fatigue. Many women think they have a slow thyroid which is not necessarily always the case.
To know if you have adrenal failure or fatigue, you need to have testing which includes checking cortisol levels from saliva – not blood. When I had mine tested last year, they were stressed. Considering the schedule I keep I was not surprised, but with some supplements, less work at night and more sleep they improved.
The effects of adrenal dysfunction can be profound: fatigue and weakness, suppression of the immune system, muscle and bone loss, moodiness or depression, hormonal imbalance, skin problems, autoimmune disorders, and dozens of other. Read the information below to become more informed. I had my testing done at Medical Spa 407 in Bartonville Town Center and this is one of the things they specialize in for women.
Eighteen Overlooked Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue
by Patty Donovan, citizen journalist
See all articles by this author
Email this author
(NaturalNews) More and more alternative health practitioners are beginning to recognize how widespread adrenal fatigue (hypoadrenia) is in the general population. In mainstream medicine, doctors refuse to recognize there is a problem with the adrenal glands unless you meet the diagnostic criteria for Addison’s disease (extremely little adrenal function) or Cushing’s disease (hyper adrenal). These diseases together affect less than 2% of the population, but some experts believe that upwards of 80% of the population suffers from some level of adrenal insufficiency. Besides the usual symptoms of overwhelming fatigue and inability to handle stress, the symptoms listed below provide a more complete picture of adrenal fatigue and are often overlooked even by alternative practitioners.
•ASTHMA, BRONCHITIS or CHRONIC COUGH: Any person with lung problems, especially asthma and bronchitis should be checked for poor adrenal function. The lungs cannot respond appropriately to stress, allergens etc because of lack of cortisol. Asthma is often considered an emotional disease because stress can trigger an attack. Fix the adrenals so the body can respond normally to stress and the asthma will disappear.
•ALLERGIES: Most allergies involve an inflammatory process. As the adrenal function decreases, allergies worsen. Generally, if the adrenal glands were functioning properly, the body would not respond to the allergen. This same anti-inflammatory effect is important in asthma also. As the adrenal glands heal, allergies are markedly reduced.
•RECURRENT INFECTIONS: Severe and/or recurrent infections (especially respiratory) often indicate adrenal problems. The more severe, the more frequently it occurs or the longer it lasts, the more likely adrenal fatigue is involved in the infection.
•MUSCLE WEAKNESS AND BACK PAIN: Dr. Goodheart identified five skeletal muscles which can indicate adrenal function. These are 1) sartorius, 2) gracilis, 3) posterior tibialis, 4) gastrocnemius, and 5) soleus. When the adrenal glands are malfunctioning, there will be weakness in one or more of these muscles. The sartorius and gracilis attach on the pelvis. Weakness in these muscles can cause the sacro-iliac joint to subluxate posteriorally (toward the back) leading to low back pain. In persons with adrenal fatigue, low back pain is frequently caused by instability of the pelvis rather than an actual back problem. These same two muscles also attach to the knee and help provide support. Weakness will cause knee pain, weakness and instability of the joint. Any person with knee problems should be checked for adrenal fatigue. The other 3 muscles mentioned stabilize the feet and ankles. Weakness of any of these muscles leads to complaints of tired, aching feet, weak ankles or aching calves. The symptoms related to the muscle weakness will improve when the adrenal glands are treated.
•SLEEP DISTURBANCES: Cortisol production follows a curve from highest levels around 8am, dropping throughout the day until the lowest levels are reached about 11pm. In early stages of adrenal fatigue the body compensates with high night time cortisol. In this case the person finds it difficult to relax from the stress of the day and has trouble going to sleep. High night-time cortisol results in reduced REM sleep which is neither restful nor restorative. This can lead to depression and reduced energy levels the next day. In later stages of adrenal fatigue, the body may produce adrenaline (“fight or flight” hormone) in an attempt to compensate for low cortisol. This too will result in insomnia.
•DIZZINESS (POSTURAL HYPOTENSION): When a person stands from a sitting or lying position, the systolic blood pressure usually rises about 10 points as blood vessels in the lower body constrict to force blood to the heart, lungs and brain. This is a result of the action of epinephrine on the blood vessels. In people with adrenal fatigue, the blood vessels are unable to respond to the release of epinephrine because of lack of cortisol, so blood pools in the abdomen and pelvis and blood pressure drops. This systolic drop ranges from 10 to 40 points and is present in over 90% of those with hypoadrenia. Dizziness is usually present on standing; however, in some people it is present intermittently or constantly throughout the day as even resting blood pressure is low. Paradoxically, in order to prevent pooling of blood in the abdomen and lower extremities, the body may keep blood pressure extremely elevated. Pressure will still drop when the person stands but only to around 150. Remember, it may have been 180 or higher before standing. Treating the adrenals will lower blood pressure whereas anti-hypertensives and diuretics will make the adrenal problems worse in many cases.
•INFLAMMATION: Cortisol and other glucocorticoids produced by the adrenal glands are the body’s own anti-inflammatory hormones. People who have responded to injections of corticosteroids into joints or to taking them orally are usually those whose adrenal glands produce insufficient amounts of these hormones. Any person who responds to corticosteroids should be checked for adrenal fatigue.
•HYPOGLYCEMIA: As adrenal fatigue progresses, blood glucose levels will tend to fall too low. The body responds to hypoglycemia by causing the person to crave anything that will rapidly raise blood sugar levels, such as a soda, candy bar, a cup of coffee or even cigarettes. Often adrenal fatigue leads to the abuse of alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs because of the need to “fix” recurrent hypoglycemia. Unfortunately, the rapid rise in blood glucose provided by the “fix” only serves to start the whole cycle over.
•HEADACHES: This is caused again by blood pooling in the abdomen and pelvis leading to inadequate blood supply to the head.
•BEHAVIOR AND MEMORY PROBLEMS: Cortisol even regulates the electrical activity of neurons in the brain and thus influences behavior, mood and memory. Behavior changes frequently occur in both excess and deficient cortisol levels. Sleep disorders for example, are common with both high and low cortisol. Symptoms more closely related to adrenal fatigue involve decreased tolerance (quick to anger), decreased clarity of thought, poor memory and memory retrieval.
•SALT CRAVING: The adrenal glands produce many more hormones than just glucocorticoids. One very important hormone is aldosterone, a mineralocorticoid. Aldosterone regulates fluid and electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium and magnesium) in the blood, between and in the cells of the body. As adrenal fatigue progresses, the production of aldosterone lessens. This causes “salt-wasting”. As the salt is excreted by the kidneys, water follows leading to electrolyte imbalance and dehydration. Those with adrenal fatigue should always add salt (preferably sea salt with its trace minerals) to their water. Soft drinks and electrolyte drinks like Gatorade are high in potassium and low in sodium, the opposite of what someone with low cortisol needs. Commercial electrolyte drinks are designed for those who produce high cortisol when exercising, not for someone who produces little or no extra cortisol during exercise. You need to add ¼ to 1 teaspoon of salt to a glass of water or eat something salty to maintain fluid/electrolyte balance.
•EXCESSIVE THIRST AND URINATION: A person with low aldosterone may also urinate 15 to 20 times a day and drink excessive quantities of water. Unless salt is added to the water, the fluid/electrolyte balance in the body is further disrupted.
•SWELLING: As the body tries to keep the ratio of electrolytes and fluid balanced, fluid may pour into the tissues and cause swelling. Most doctors will only see the symptom and not the cause and prescribe a diuretic which further compounds the dehydration and electrolyte imbalance and making the patient worse.
•HEMORRHOIDS: Hemorrhoids are basically varicose veins of the rectum and are caused by blood pooling in the abdomen and pelvis. When a person presents with hemorrhoids, it is usually do to adrenal fatigue, but can be caused by liver congestion. Once again, listening to the heart can help determine the cause. If the loud second sound is over the pulmonic valve, it is indicative of adrenal problems, while a loud 2nd sound over the tricuspid valve is indicative of liver congestion.
•VARICOSE VEINS: Varicose veins of the lower extremities result from the same pooling of blood in the abdomen and pelvis that causes hemorrhoids.
•INDIGESTION: The same sluggish circulation in the abdomen can cause symptoms of indigestion and poor absorption of nutrients.
•HYPERPIGMENTATION: Although more often seen in actual Addison’s disease, hyperpigmentation is occasionally seen in adrenal fatigue. This increased pigmentation of the skin may show up as “bronzing” somewhere on the body or as unusual brown patches.
•HEART SOUNDS: The heart normally makes a “lub-dub sound, with the second sound being much quieter than the first sound. In a person with hypoadrenia, the second sound will be equal or louder than the first sound over the pulmonic valve. When the body is stressed, it produces epinephrine which will cause vasoconstriction throughout most of the body, including the lungs. This vasoconstriction decreases the production of mucous in the airways. At the same time, epinephrine will relax the bronchi (bronchodilation) allowing more air to reach the lungs. In those with adrenal fatigue, the body cannot respond to the epinephrine because of lack of cortisol so they experience bronchoconstriction instead, leading to symptoms of asthma. The bronchoconstriction, along with vasodilation and swelling of the mucous membranes create a back pressure in pulmonary circulation (pulmonary hypertension) that causes the pulmonary valve to slam shut, hence the accentuated second sound over the pulmonic valve. Lung diseases such as tuberculosis or tumors can also cause this loud 2nd sound.
The adrenal glands are very complex parts of the endocrine system producing glucocorticoids (cortisol is the most important), mineralocorticoids (aldosterone), epinephrine, norepinephrine and even sex hormones. Adrenal fatigue affects every part of the body and every aspect of life. If you are experiencing the symptoms described above it is imperative you find a practitioner and get tested and treated. It may be helpful to print this out and take it to your practitioner. Saliva cortisol testing usually includes the sex hormones too and can be ordered from several on-line sites without a doctor’s order. If you do it this way though, testing will not be covered by insurance. Saliva testing is the most accurate test because it shows the rhythm of cortisol production and because it shows how much cortisol is present that the body can actually use. Blood tests only show bound cortisol which gives no indication if that cortisol is actually available to enter the tissues. Many people test “normal” on blood cortisol yet very low on saliva.
Sources:
http://tuberose.com/Adrenal_Glands.html
Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome by Dr. James Wilson
End!
I think a lot of women can relate to this condition. Okay – I just found one more great article which goes into details about the function of the adrenal glands and what happens when they are not functioning properly.
Adrenal fatigue
Adrenal fatigue — the effects of stress and high cortisol levels
by Marcy Holmes, Women’s Health NP, Certified Menopause Clinician
Here are the topics covered in this article:
• The role of healthy adrenal glands
• How chronic stress causes adrenal exhaustion
• The effects of adrenal fatigue — cortisol and DHEA
• Should you have your adrenals tested?
• Restoring adrenal health naturally
Our patients’ most common symptoms are fatigue, insomnia, weight gain, and depression. Does that sound like you? If so, your underlying problem may be adrenal fatigue.
Every woman who comes to our clinic with these symptoms gets an adrenal fatigue test, which consists of a series of tests of cortisol levels. And the results — in over thousands of cases — are remarkably consistent: only 1% have cortisol levels indicating healthy adrenal function, while 99% suffer impaired function, ranging from significant adrenal stress to complete adrenal exhaustion.
The effects of adrenal dysfunction can be profound: fatigue and weakness, suppression of the immune system, muscle and bone loss, moodiness or depression, hormonal imbalance, skin problems, autoimmune disorders, and dozens of other symptoms.
The good news is that adrenal fatigue can almost always be relieved. Let’s look at the relationships between stress, high cortisol levels and adrenal fatigue, and then we’ll look at how you can give your adrenals more support.
The original, life-saving role of the adrenal glands
To understand how adrenal fatigue develops, it is important to understand the original, evolutionary function of the adrenal glands. The adrenals are walnut-sized glands located on top of each kidney, and are important control centers for many of the body’s hormones. The outer layer of the gland, called the adrenal cortex, produces hormones including cortisol, DHEA, estrogen and testosterone. The centers of the glands produce adrenaline, the hormone named after them.
The basic task of your adrenal glands is to rush all your body’s resources into "fight or flight" mode by increasing production of adrenaline and other hormones. When healthy, your adrenals can instantly increase your heart rate and blood pressure, release your energy stores for immediate use, slow your digestion and other secondary functions, and sharpen your senses.
Let’s emphasize two points about this healthy stress response. First, it takes priority over all other metabolic functions. Second, it wasn’t designed to last very long.
Stress and the adrenal glands
Unlike our ancestors, we live with constant stress. Instead of occasional, acute demands followed by rest, we’re constantly over-worked, under-nourished, exposed to environmental toxins, worrying about others — with no let-up.
Every challenge to the mind and body creates a demand on the adrenal glands. And the list of challenges is endless: lack of sleep, a demanding boss, the threat of losing your job, financial pressures, personality conflicts, yo-yo dieting, relationship turmoil, death or illness of a loved one, skipping meals, reliance on stimulants like caffeine and carbs, digestive problems, over-exercise, illness or infection, unresolved emotional issues from our past or present and more. The result is adrenal glands that are constantly on high alert.
The destructive effect of high cortisol levels
What is cortisol? In its normal function, cortisol helps us meet these challenges by converting proteins into energy, releasing glycogen and counteracting inflammation. For a short time, that’s okay. But at sustained high levels, cortisol gradually tears your body down.
Sustained high cortisol levels destroy healthy muscle and bone, slow down healing and normal cell regeneration, co-opt biochemicals needed to make other vital hormones, impair digestion, metabolism and mental function, interfere with healthy endocrine function; and weaken your immune system.
Adrenal fatigue may be a factor in many related conditions, including fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, premature menopause and others. It may also produce a host of other unpleasant symptoms, from acne to hair loss. (Please click here to see a list of adrenal fatigue symptoms and related conditions.)
The loss of DHEA production
When the adrenals are chronically overworked and straining to maintain high cortisol levels, they lose the capacity to produce DHEA in sufficient amounts. DHEA (the full name is dehydroepiandrosterone) is a precursor hormone to estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, and is necessary to moderate the balance of hormones in your body. Insufficient DHEA contributes to fatigue, bone loss, loss of muscle mass, depression, aching joints, decreased sex drive, and impaired immune function. (For more information, read our article on DHEA.)
Testing for adrenal fatigue
Conventional medicine is truly wonderful at treating disease-state conditions. Unfortunately its focus on drugs also tends to suppress early-stage symptoms rather than treat their underlying causes. This can have the effect of delaying treatment until a disease state has developed. This is true in the case of adrenal fatigue cortisol testing. In the conventional standard of care, any cortisol level within a very broad range is considered normal, and anything outside that range indicates disease.
In our practice, we measure cortisol levels at several points in the day to track the adrenals’ day–night pattern (called the “diurnal rhythm”) using a panel of simple saliva tests. We hope to see cortisol elevated in the morning to help you get going, lower but steady throughout the day to sustain energy, then fall in the evening to support restful sleep.
In the early stages of adrenal dysfunction, cortisol levels are too high during the day and continue rising in the evening. This is called “hyperadrenia.” In the middle stages, cortisol may rise and fall unevenly as the body struggles to balance itself despite the disruptions of caffeine, carbs and other factors, but levels are not normal and are typically too high at night. In advanced stages, when the adrenals are exhausted from overwork, cortisol will never reach normal levels (“hypoadrenia”).
Conventional medicine will detect only the extremes of these conditions, when damage to the adrenals has already occurred (Cushing’s disease and Addison’s disease). Within those extremes, you can feel miserable and still be told your cortisol levels are normal. But by responding to early-stage symptoms of adrenal fatigue, we can reverse the developing dysfunction.
Should you get an adrenal test?
In general, if you feel happy and well, have steady energy and emotions, sleep soundly seven to nine hours a night, wake up feeling rested, recover well from stress, and maintain a healthy weight without dieting, then your adrenals are probably doing well.
On the other hand, if your energy lags during the day, you feel emotionally unbalanced much of the time, you sleep poorly or less than seven hours a night, can’t lose excess weight even while dieting, use caffeine or carbohydrates as “pick-me-ups” — these are all red flags indicating adrenal insufficiency.
Natural adrenal support — how to restore healthy adrenal function
The first step is to have a full physical exam to rule out disease or other factors. In our experience, women with mild to moderate cases of adrenal fatigue can see significant improvement through these steps:
• Dietary changes to enrich your nutrition and reduce carbohydrates and stimulants. We also recommend the addition of high-quality nutritional supplements, including essential fatty acids from fish oil.
• Stress reduction, including moderate exercise and taking more time for yourself. It’s helpful to make a list of your stressors, especially those that are constant.
• Get more rest. Your body needs time to heal.
Women with more severe symptoms, or those who have reached complete adrenal exhaustion, usually need greater intervention. At our practice we use the steps outlined above with the added natural support of phosphorylated serines, low-dose compounded DHEA, ginseng, and deglycyrrhizinated licorice. We personalize the therapy to each woman’s symptoms and test results. (We urge you not to self-prescribe these substances, as they can have adverse health effects. Please click here to learn more about DHEA supplements.)
It’s important to emphasize the role of emotional factors. Guilt, pain from past hurts, self-destructive habits, unresolved relationship problems — your past and present emotional experience may serve as an ever-present stressor. Dealing with these problems directly is much more beneficial than trying to compensate for the stress they create, in the same way that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
In all but the most extreme cases, we expect to see dramatic improvement within about four months. For mild to moderate adrenal fatigue the turnaround can be much faster. Remember, you may feel too tired to make changes now, but by moving forward in stages, you’ll build the strength you need to stay with it. You will love how you feel when you do!
I’m making up for lost time last week. Heres one more on our neighborning state beign listed among the fattest in the nation!
LA least healthy state. VT most healthy. Southern states lag.
Louisiana has displaced Mississippi as the unhealthiest U.S. state and other Southern states were close rivals due to high obesity and smoking rates in new rankings that deemed Vermont the healthiest.
The overall health of Americans remained static for a fourth year, according to an annual report issued on Wednesday assessing a series of measures also including binge drinking, health insurance coverage, air pollution, infectious disease rates, crime levels and immunization coverage.
Many Southern states were clustered near the bottom of the rankings. The region has some of the highest rates of obesity, which contributes to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some types of cancer, as well as high rates of smoking, which causes cancer, lung disease, heart disease and other problems.
One in five Louisianians lacked health insurance, while 31 percent were obese. It also suffers from high child poverty, infant mortality, premature death rate and cancer deaths, according to the report.
"We've just not made any improvement in the overall healthiness of the nation," said Dr. Reed Tuckson of UnitedHealth Group Inc, the largest U.S. health insurer, and the private United Health Foundation.
Have a fit day!
To know if you have adrenal failure or fatigue, you need to have testing which includes checking cortisol levels from saliva – not blood. When I had mine tested last year, they were stressed. Considering the schedule I keep I was not surprised, but with some supplements, less work at night and more sleep they improved.
The effects of adrenal dysfunction can be profound: fatigue and weakness, suppression of the immune system, muscle and bone loss, moodiness or depression, hormonal imbalance, skin problems, autoimmune disorders, and dozens of other. Read the information below to become more informed. I had my testing done at Medical Spa 407 in Bartonville Town Center and this is one of the things they specialize in for women.
Eighteen Overlooked Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue
by Patty Donovan, citizen journalist
See all articles by this author
Email this author
(NaturalNews) More and more alternative health practitioners are beginning to recognize how widespread adrenal fatigue (hypoadrenia) is in the general population. In mainstream medicine, doctors refuse to recognize there is a problem with the adrenal glands unless you meet the diagnostic criteria for Addison’s disease (extremely little adrenal function) or Cushing’s disease (hyper adrenal). These diseases together affect less than 2% of the population, but some experts believe that upwards of 80% of the population suffers from some level of adrenal insufficiency. Besides the usual symptoms of overwhelming fatigue and inability to handle stress, the symptoms listed below provide a more complete picture of adrenal fatigue and are often overlooked even by alternative practitioners.
•ASTHMA, BRONCHITIS or CHRONIC COUGH: Any person with lung problems, especially asthma and bronchitis should be checked for poor adrenal function. The lungs cannot respond appropriately to stress, allergens etc because of lack of cortisol. Asthma is often considered an emotional disease because stress can trigger an attack. Fix the adrenals so the body can respond normally to stress and the asthma will disappear.
•ALLERGIES: Most allergies involve an inflammatory process. As the adrenal function decreases, allergies worsen. Generally, if the adrenal glands were functioning properly, the body would not respond to the allergen. This same anti-inflammatory effect is important in asthma also. As the adrenal glands heal, allergies are markedly reduced.
•RECURRENT INFECTIONS: Severe and/or recurrent infections (especially respiratory) often indicate adrenal problems. The more severe, the more frequently it occurs or the longer it lasts, the more likely adrenal fatigue is involved in the infection.
•MUSCLE WEAKNESS AND BACK PAIN: Dr. Goodheart identified five skeletal muscles which can indicate adrenal function. These are 1) sartorius, 2) gracilis, 3) posterior tibialis, 4) gastrocnemius, and 5) soleus. When the adrenal glands are malfunctioning, there will be weakness in one or more of these muscles. The sartorius and gracilis attach on the pelvis. Weakness in these muscles can cause the sacro-iliac joint to subluxate posteriorally (toward the back) leading to low back pain. In persons with adrenal fatigue, low back pain is frequently caused by instability of the pelvis rather than an actual back problem. These same two muscles also attach to the knee and help provide support. Weakness will cause knee pain, weakness and instability of the joint. Any person with knee problems should be checked for adrenal fatigue. The other 3 muscles mentioned stabilize the feet and ankles. Weakness of any of these muscles leads to complaints of tired, aching feet, weak ankles or aching calves. The symptoms related to the muscle weakness will improve when the adrenal glands are treated.
•SLEEP DISTURBANCES: Cortisol production follows a curve from highest levels around 8am, dropping throughout the day until the lowest levels are reached about 11pm. In early stages of adrenal fatigue the body compensates with high night time cortisol. In this case the person finds it difficult to relax from the stress of the day and has trouble going to sleep. High night-time cortisol results in reduced REM sleep which is neither restful nor restorative. This can lead to depression and reduced energy levels the next day. In later stages of adrenal fatigue, the body may produce adrenaline (“fight or flight” hormone) in an attempt to compensate for low cortisol. This too will result in insomnia.
•DIZZINESS (POSTURAL HYPOTENSION): When a person stands from a sitting or lying position, the systolic blood pressure usually rises about 10 points as blood vessels in the lower body constrict to force blood to the heart, lungs and brain. This is a result of the action of epinephrine on the blood vessels. In people with adrenal fatigue, the blood vessels are unable to respond to the release of epinephrine because of lack of cortisol, so blood pools in the abdomen and pelvis and blood pressure drops. This systolic drop ranges from 10 to 40 points and is present in over 90% of those with hypoadrenia. Dizziness is usually present on standing; however, in some people it is present intermittently or constantly throughout the day as even resting blood pressure is low. Paradoxically, in order to prevent pooling of blood in the abdomen and lower extremities, the body may keep blood pressure extremely elevated. Pressure will still drop when the person stands but only to around 150. Remember, it may have been 180 or higher before standing. Treating the adrenals will lower blood pressure whereas anti-hypertensives and diuretics will make the adrenal problems worse in many cases.
•INFLAMMATION: Cortisol and other glucocorticoids produced by the adrenal glands are the body’s own anti-inflammatory hormones. People who have responded to injections of corticosteroids into joints or to taking them orally are usually those whose adrenal glands produce insufficient amounts of these hormones. Any person who responds to corticosteroids should be checked for adrenal fatigue.
•HYPOGLYCEMIA: As adrenal fatigue progresses, blood glucose levels will tend to fall too low. The body responds to hypoglycemia by causing the person to crave anything that will rapidly raise blood sugar levels, such as a soda, candy bar, a cup of coffee or even cigarettes. Often adrenal fatigue leads to the abuse of alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs because of the need to “fix” recurrent hypoglycemia. Unfortunately, the rapid rise in blood glucose provided by the “fix” only serves to start the whole cycle over.
•HEADACHES: This is caused again by blood pooling in the abdomen and pelvis leading to inadequate blood supply to the head.
•BEHAVIOR AND MEMORY PROBLEMS: Cortisol even regulates the electrical activity of neurons in the brain and thus influences behavior, mood and memory. Behavior changes frequently occur in both excess and deficient cortisol levels. Sleep disorders for example, are common with both high and low cortisol. Symptoms more closely related to adrenal fatigue involve decreased tolerance (quick to anger), decreased clarity of thought, poor memory and memory retrieval.
•SALT CRAVING: The adrenal glands produce many more hormones than just glucocorticoids. One very important hormone is aldosterone, a mineralocorticoid. Aldosterone regulates fluid and electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium and magnesium) in the blood, between and in the cells of the body. As adrenal fatigue progresses, the production of aldosterone lessens. This causes “salt-wasting”. As the salt is excreted by the kidneys, water follows leading to electrolyte imbalance and dehydration. Those with adrenal fatigue should always add salt (preferably sea salt with its trace minerals) to their water. Soft drinks and electrolyte drinks like Gatorade are high in potassium and low in sodium, the opposite of what someone with low cortisol needs. Commercial electrolyte drinks are designed for those who produce high cortisol when exercising, not for someone who produces little or no extra cortisol during exercise. You need to add ¼ to 1 teaspoon of salt to a glass of water or eat something salty to maintain fluid/electrolyte balance.
•EXCESSIVE THIRST AND URINATION: A person with low aldosterone may also urinate 15 to 20 times a day and drink excessive quantities of water. Unless salt is added to the water, the fluid/electrolyte balance in the body is further disrupted.
•SWELLING: As the body tries to keep the ratio of electrolytes and fluid balanced, fluid may pour into the tissues and cause swelling. Most doctors will only see the symptom and not the cause and prescribe a diuretic which further compounds the dehydration and electrolyte imbalance and making the patient worse.
•HEMORRHOIDS: Hemorrhoids are basically varicose veins of the rectum and are caused by blood pooling in the abdomen and pelvis. When a person presents with hemorrhoids, it is usually do to adrenal fatigue, but can be caused by liver congestion. Once again, listening to the heart can help determine the cause. If the loud second sound is over the pulmonic valve, it is indicative of adrenal problems, while a loud 2nd sound over the tricuspid valve is indicative of liver congestion.
•VARICOSE VEINS: Varicose veins of the lower extremities result from the same pooling of blood in the abdomen and pelvis that causes hemorrhoids.
•INDIGESTION: The same sluggish circulation in the abdomen can cause symptoms of indigestion and poor absorption of nutrients.
•HYPERPIGMENTATION: Although more often seen in actual Addison’s disease, hyperpigmentation is occasionally seen in adrenal fatigue. This increased pigmentation of the skin may show up as “bronzing” somewhere on the body or as unusual brown patches.
•HEART SOUNDS: The heart normally makes a “lub-dub sound, with the second sound being much quieter than the first sound. In a person with hypoadrenia, the second sound will be equal or louder than the first sound over the pulmonic valve. When the body is stressed, it produces epinephrine which will cause vasoconstriction throughout most of the body, including the lungs. This vasoconstriction decreases the production of mucous in the airways. At the same time, epinephrine will relax the bronchi (bronchodilation) allowing more air to reach the lungs. In those with adrenal fatigue, the body cannot respond to the epinephrine because of lack of cortisol so they experience bronchoconstriction instead, leading to symptoms of asthma. The bronchoconstriction, along with vasodilation and swelling of the mucous membranes create a back pressure in pulmonary circulation (pulmonary hypertension) that causes the pulmonary valve to slam shut, hence the accentuated second sound over the pulmonic valve. Lung diseases such as tuberculosis or tumors can also cause this loud 2nd sound.
The adrenal glands are very complex parts of the endocrine system producing glucocorticoids (cortisol is the most important), mineralocorticoids (aldosterone), epinephrine, norepinephrine and even sex hormones. Adrenal fatigue affects every part of the body and every aspect of life. If you are experiencing the symptoms described above it is imperative you find a practitioner and get tested and treated. It may be helpful to print this out and take it to your practitioner. Saliva cortisol testing usually includes the sex hormones too and can be ordered from several on-line sites without a doctor’s order. If you do it this way though, testing will not be covered by insurance. Saliva testing is the most accurate test because it shows the rhythm of cortisol production and because it shows how much cortisol is present that the body can actually use. Blood tests only show bound cortisol which gives no indication if that cortisol is actually available to enter the tissues. Many people test “normal” on blood cortisol yet very low on saliva.
Sources:
http://tuberose.com/Adrenal_Glands.html
Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome by Dr. James Wilson
End!
I think a lot of women can relate to this condition. Okay – I just found one more great article which goes into details about the function of the adrenal glands and what happens when they are not functioning properly.
Adrenal fatigue
Adrenal fatigue — the effects of stress and high cortisol levels
by Marcy Holmes, Women’s Health NP, Certified Menopause Clinician
Here are the topics covered in this article:
• The role of healthy adrenal glands
• How chronic stress causes adrenal exhaustion
• The effects of adrenal fatigue — cortisol and DHEA
• Should you have your adrenals tested?
• Restoring adrenal health naturally
Our patients’ most common symptoms are fatigue, insomnia, weight gain, and depression. Does that sound like you? If so, your underlying problem may be adrenal fatigue.
Every woman who comes to our clinic with these symptoms gets an adrenal fatigue test, which consists of a series of tests of cortisol levels. And the results — in over thousands of cases — are remarkably consistent: only 1% have cortisol levels indicating healthy adrenal function, while 99% suffer impaired function, ranging from significant adrenal stress to complete adrenal exhaustion.
The effects of adrenal dysfunction can be profound: fatigue and weakness, suppression of the immune system, muscle and bone loss, moodiness or depression, hormonal imbalance, skin problems, autoimmune disorders, and dozens of other symptoms.
The good news is that adrenal fatigue can almost always be relieved. Let’s look at the relationships between stress, high cortisol levels and adrenal fatigue, and then we’ll look at how you can give your adrenals more support.
The original, life-saving role of the adrenal glands
To understand how adrenal fatigue develops, it is important to understand the original, evolutionary function of the adrenal glands. The adrenals are walnut-sized glands located on top of each kidney, and are important control centers for many of the body’s hormones. The outer layer of the gland, called the adrenal cortex, produces hormones including cortisol, DHEA, estrogen and testosterone. The centers of the glands produce adrenaline, the hormone named after them.
The basic task of your adrenal glands is to rush all your body’s resources into "fight or flight" mode by increasing production of adrenaline and other hormones. When healthy, your adrenals can instantly increase your heart rate and blood pressure, release your energy stores for immediate use, slow your digestion and other secondary functions, and sharpen your senses.
Let’s emphasize two points about this healthy stress response. First, it takes priority over all other metabolic functions. Second, it wasn’t designed to last very long.
Stress and the adrenal glands
Unlike our ancestors, we live with constant stress. Instead of occasional, acute demands followed by rest, we’re constantly over-worked, under-nourished, exposed to environmental toxins, worrying about others — with no let-up.
Every challenge to the mind and body creates a demand on the adrenal glands. And the list of challenges is endless: lack of sleep, a demanding boss, the threat of losing your job, financial pressures, personality conflicts, yo-yo dieting, relationship turmoil, death or illness of a loved one, skipping meals, reliance on stimulants like caffeine and carbs, digestive problems, over-exercise, illness or infection, unresolved emotional issues from our past or present and more. The result is adrenal glands that are constantly on high alert.
The destructive effect of high cortisol levels
What is cortisol? In its normal function, cortisol helps us meet these challenges by converting proteins into energy, releasing glycogen and counteracting inflammation. For a short time, that’s okay. But at sustained high levels, cortisol gradually tears your body down.
Sustained high cortisol levels destroy healthy muscle and bone, slow down healing and normal cell regeneration, co-opt biochemicals needed to make other vital hormones, impair digestion, metabolism and mental function, interfere with healthy endocrine function; and weaken your immune system.
Adrenal fatigue may be a factor in many related conditions, including fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, premature menopause and others. It may also produce a host of other unpleasant symptoms, from acne to hair loss. (Please click here to see a list of adrenal fatigue symptoms and related conditions.)
The loss of DHEA production
When the adrenals are chronically overworked and straining to maintain high cortisol levels, they lose the capacity to produce DHEA in sufficient amounts. DHEA (the full name is dehydroepiandrosterone) is a precursor hormone to estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, and is necessary to moderate the balance of hormones in your body. Insufficient DHEA contributes to fatigue, bone loss, loss of muscle mass, depression, aching joints, decreased sex drive, and impaired immune function. (For more information, read our article on DHEA.)
Testing for adrenal fatigue
Conventional medicine is truly wonderful at treating disease-state conditions. Unfortunately its focus on drugs also tends to suppress early-stage symptoms rather than treat their underlying causes. This can have the effect of delaying treatment until a disease state has developed. This is true in the case of adrenal fatigue cortisol testing. In the conventional standard of care, any cortisol level within a very broad range is considered normal, and anything outside that range indicates disease.
In our practice, we measure cortisol levels at several points in the day to track the adrenals’ day–night pattern (called the “diurnal rhythm”) using a panel of simple saliva tests. We hope to see cortisol elevated in the morning to help you get going, lower but steady throughout the day to sustain energy, then fall in the evening to support restful sleep.
In the early stages of adrenal dysfunction, cortisol levels are too high during the day and continue rising in the evening. This is called “hyperadrenia.” In the middle stages, cortisol may rise and fall unevenly as the body struggles to balance itself despite the disruptions of caffeine, carbs and other factors, but levels are not normal and are typically too high at night. In advanced stages, when the adrenals are exhausted from overwork, cortisol will never reach normal levels (“hypoadrenia”).
Conventional medicine will detect only the extremes of these conditions, when damage to the adrenals has already occurred (Cushing’s disease and Addison’s disease). Within those extremes, you can feel miserable and still be told your cortisol levels are normal. But by responding to early-stage symptoms of adrenal fatigue, we can reverse the developing dysfunction.
Should you get an adrenal test?
In general, if you feel happy and well, have steady energy and emotions, sleep soundly seven to nine hours a night, wake up feeling rested, recover well from stress, and maintain a healthy weight without dieting, then your adrenals are probably doing well.
On the other hand, if your energy lags during the day, you feel emotionally unbalanced much of the time, you sleep poorly or less than seven hours a night, can’t lose excess weight even while dieting, use caffeine or carbohydrates as “pick-me-ups” — these are all red flags indicating adrenal insufficiency.
Natural adrenal support — how to restore healthy adrenal function
The first step is to have a full physical exam to rule out disease or other factors. In our experience, women with mild to moderate cases of adrenal fatigue can see significant improvement through these steps:
• Dietary changes to enrich your nutrition and reduce carbohydrates and stimulants. We also recommend the addition of high-quality nutritional supplements, including essential fatty acids from fish oil.
• Stress reduction, including moderate exercise and taking more time for yourself. It’s helpful to make a list of your stressors, especially those that are constant.
• Get more rest. Your body needs time to heal.
Women with more severe symptoms, or those who have reached complete adrenal exhaustion, usually need greater intervention. At our practice we use the steps outlined above with the added natural support of phosphorylated serines, low-dose compounded DHEA, ginseng, and deglycyrrhizinated licorice. We personalize the therapy to each woman’s symptoms and test results. (We urge you not to self-prescribe these substances, as they can have adverse health effects. Please click here to learn more about DHEA supplements.)
It’s important to emphasize the role of emotional factors. Guilt, pain from past hurts, self-destructive habits, unresolved relationship problems — your past and present emotional experience may serve as an ever-present stressor. Dealing with these problems directly is much more beneficial than trying to compensate for the stress they create, in the same way that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
In all but the most extreme cases, we expect to see dramatic improvement within about four months. For mild to moderate adrenal fatigue the turnaround can be much faster. Remember, you may feel too tired to make changes now, but by moving forward in stages, you’ll build the strength you need to stay with it. You will love how you feel when you do!
I’m making up for lost time last week. Heres one more on our neighborning state beign listed among the fattest in the nation!
LA least healthy state. VT most healthy. Southern states lag.
Louisiana has displaced Mississippi as the unhealthiest U.S. state and other Southern states were close rivals due to high obesity and smoking rates in new rankings that deemed Vermont the healthiest.
The overall health of Americans remained static for a fourth year, according to an annual report issued on Wednesday assessing a series of measures also including binge drinking, health insurance coverage, air pollution, infectious disease rates, crime levels and immunization coverage.
Many Southern states were clustered near the bottom of the rankings. The region has some of the highest rates of obesity, which contributes to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some types of cancer, as well as high rates of smoking, which causes cancer, lung disease, heart disease and other problems.
One in five Louisianians lacked health insurance, while 31 percent were obese. It also suffers from high child poverty, infant mortality, premature death rate and cancer deaths, according to the report.
"We've just not made any improvement in the overall healthiness of the nation," said Dr. Reed Tuckson of UnitedHealth Group Inc, the largest U.S. health insurer, and the private United Health Foundation.
Have a fit day!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Giving Gratitude
Hello Argyle Boot Campers,
I couldn’t let the day excape without expressing my sincere gratitude to you for making your health, fitness and well being a priority. You are in the minority of people who are taking care of yourself and ultimately not only will it bring you better health, but more of life’s greatest pleasures. I am grateful for your loyal business and am committed to coaching you into the best shape of your lives throughout this holiday season. I am also greateful to be working with a team of qualified, enthusiastic and professional coaches in partnering with Jamie and Brad and I am thrilled with the intensity they share in getting you in shape for life.
I just returned from 5 days of a jungle adventure with my family and friends. I realize with each passing moment that it’s being in the present and making the most out of every single opportunity that I am the most grateful for. I don’t want to live with any regrets and my intention is to be in the best possible shape to enjoy all life has to offer. While away I read a book called the Metabolic Plan by Stephen Cherniske which was just relseased last month. Over the next 3 weeks I will be sharing with you the golden nuggets for slowing the aging process, longevity, increasing strength, stamina and immunity as well as how to reduce fat, combat disease, enhance memory, restore a healthy glow and more.
Great things are to come and I am thankful to have your attention for the remainder of what has been a great year – even though every year has its thorns, we grow from those experiences as well.
Please continue to send your testimonials as to how camp has helped you get from where you were, closer to where you want to be. I never get tired of receiving yoru success stories.
There are three weeks of camp left beginning on Monday. I would like to see perfect attendance from everyone. Plan to make every workout to combat holiday stress, shed excess fat, boost your immunity and look great at holiday parties. It’s not too late to have a friend or spouse join you at camp for the 15 remaining sessions.
Below you can read some ideas surrounding the theme of gratitude. I invite you to spend a few minutes every day showing gratitude to those who have had an impact on your world.
Enjoy the remainder of your weekend – including sleeping in! I look forward to having everyone back to camp energize on Monday morning.
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli
It’s Thanksgiving
time in the US, a time for reflection on the blessings that make our lives worth living. Over the years, Lifehack’s writers have has a lot to say on the topic of gratitude, giving thanks, and – of course – Thanksgiving.
The Power of Giving Thanks
Change the World, One Thank-You Note at a Time
When Esquire writer Tom Chiarella decided to send handwritten thank you notes to friends, acquaintances, and even strangers who had touched his life in some way, he found a personal reward he wasn’t expecting: “I began to look at the day as a series of opportunities for thankfulness rather than obligations to a calendar.” Read Craig Child’s comments and then click through to the original Esquire story.
Power of Gratitude
Vishal Rao sees gratitude as the key to keeping a positive outlook – and thus the force behind powerful change. “The power of gratitude works on the brain, he writes. “It helps release the negativity in our mind.”
Universal Values to Be Grateful For
We are nothing without the values we choose to live by, says Rosa Say. Expressing gratitude for the values that shape our relationships, or careers, and our lives is one step in “taking possession” of those values and making them a clear and conscious part of our approach to life.
How to Be Happier with What You Have
Does wanting more mean you have to be unhappy with what you have? Scott Young believes not, and shares tips to help us appreciate what we have while working for our dreams. Have a lot of interests, so a setback in any one won’t mean you lost everything; experiment with different ways of filling your time to find the way that works best for you; and don’t worry about living up to other people’s standards.
The Importance of Thank You
Chris Brogan highlights the meaningfulness of expressing gratitude to the people who help you on your way. “Thank the people in your life who add value,” he writes, “and make sure you spread a little good karma that way. Be kind and generous in your thanks, and the results will almost always be favorable.” To make it easy, he offers a set of tips on giving thanks simply and effectively.
A Powerful Thanksgiving
Reap Joy from this Thanksgiving Holiday
Another post on giving thanks from Rosa Say, who finds American Thanksgiving to resonate well with the Hawaiian concept of mahalo. Instead of decrying the artificialness of a day when we’re supposed to be thankful, Say embraces the forced gratitude of the day, sending notes and emails to friends around the world and thanking them for being part of her life. What a great (and yes, joyful) way to make a difference in the lives of the people you’re closest to – and your own.
Thanksgiving and the Stories We Tell Ourselves
My contribution to Lifehack’s pool of Thanksgiving-themed posts focuses less on thankfulness and more on what we can learn from how the Thanksgiving story – the Pilgrims, the Indians, the shared feast – defines us as a people. Stories, I argue, shape our lives in profound ways, even when they’re not true, or not true yet. Real change, then, might well start with changing the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and about the world we live in.
Thanksgiving How-To Guides
A quickie post linking to Thanksgiving-themed how-to guides on eHow.
TIme Management on the Turkey Day
When we talk about Thanksgiving, we emphasize the relaxed day with our family, watching the football game or the Thanksgiving Day parade, and of course we pay homage to mom’s pumpkin pie or Aunt Louanna’s special stuffing. We tend to forget the tremendous tactical effort it takes to get all that food on the table at 4:00, hot and steaming. Leon Ho links to a post at FoodieView that offers a few tips for those facing the holiday from the kitchen counter.
Top 10 Things to Do for Mom’s PC Over Thanksgiving
For the techie among us, Thanksgiving is more than just a day for sharing good food and good times with your family – it’s also the day we will be called upon to service our parent’s computers. Leon’s post links to a list of good ideas for souping up Mom’s (or Dad’s, or grandma’s, or whomever’s) while you’re home for the holidays.
Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans, and to everyone else, thanks for reading. I hope you find a moment or two to be thankful on this and every day.
I couldn’t let the day excape without expressing my sincere gratitude to you for making your health, fitness and well being a priority. You are in the minority of people who are taking care of yourself and ultimately not only will it bring you better health, but more of life’s greatest pleasures. I am grateful for your loyal business and am committed to coaching you into the best shape of your lives throughout this holiday season. I am also greateful to be working with a team of qualified, enthusiastic and professional coaches in partnering with Jamie and Brad and I am thrilled with the intensity they share in getting you in shape for life.
I just returned from 5 days of a jungle adventure with my family and friends. I realize with each passing moment that it’s being in the present and making the most out of every single opportunity that I am the most grateful for. I don’t want to live with any regrets and my intention is to be in the best possible shape to enjoy all life has to offer. While away I read a book called the Metabolic Plan by Stephen Cherniske which was just relseased last month. Over the next 3 weeks I will be sharing with you the golden nuggets for slowing the aging process, longevity, increasing strength, stamina and immunity as well as how to reduce fat, combat disease, enhance memory, restore a healthy glow and more.
Great things are to come and I am thankful to have your attention for the remainder of what has been a great year – even though every year has its thorns, we grow from those experiences as well.
Please continue to send your testimonials as to how camp has helped you get from where you were, closer to where you want to be. I never get tired of receiving yoru success stories.
There are three weeks of camp left beginning on Monday. I would like to see perfect attendance from everyone. Plan to make every workout to combat holiday stress, shed excess fat, boost your immunity and look great at holiday parties. It’s not too late to have a friend or spouse join you at camp for the 15 remaining sessions.
Below you can read some ideas surrounding the theme of gratitude. I invite you to spend a few minutes every day showing gratitude to those who have had an impact on your world.
Enjoy the remainder of your weekend – including sleeping in! I look forward to having everyone back to camp energize on Monday morning.
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli
It’s Thanksgiving
time in the US, a time for reflection on the blessings that make our lives worth living. Over the years, Lifehack’s writers have has a lot to say on the topic of gratitude, giving thanks, and – of course – Thanksgiving.
The Power of Giving Thanks
Change the World, One Thank-You Note at a Time
When Esquire writer Tom Chiarella decided to send handwritten thank you notes to friends, acquaintances, and even strangers who had touched his life in some way, he found a personal reward he wasn’t expecting: “I began to look at the day as a series of opportunities for thankfulness rather than obligations to a calendar.” Read Craig Child’s comments and then click through to the original Esquire story.
Power of Gratitude
Vishal Rao sees gratitude as the key to keeping a positive outlook – and thus the force behind powerful change. “The power of gratitude works on the brain, he writes. “It helps release the negativity in our mind.”
Universal Values to Be Grateful For
We are nothing without the values we choose to live by, says Rosa Say. Expressing gratitude for the values that shape our relationships, or careers, and our lives is one step in “taking possession” of those values and making them a clear and conscious part of our approach to life.
How to Be Happier with What You Have
Does wanting more mean you have to be unhappy with what you have? Scott Young believes not, and shares tips to help us appreciate what we have while working for our dreams. Have a lot of interests, so a setback in any one won’t mean you lost everything; experiment with different ways of filling your time to find the way that works best for you; and don’t worry about living up to other people’s standards.
The Importance of Thank You
Chris Brogan highlights the meaningfulness of expressing gratitude to the people who help you on your way. “Thank the people in your life who add value,” he writes, “and make sure you spread a little good karma that way. Be kind and generous in your thanks, and the results will almost always be favorable.” To make it easy, he offers a set of tips on giving thanks simply and effectively.
A Powerful Thanksgiving
Reap Joy from this Thanksgiving Holiday
Another post on giving thanks from Rosa Say, who finds American Thanksgiving to resonate well with the Hawaiian concept of mahalo. Instead of decrying the artificialness of a day when we’re supposed to be thankful, Say embraces the forced gratitude of the day, sending notes and emails to friends around the world and thanking them for being part of her life. What a great (and yes, joyful) way to make a difference in the lives of the people you’re closest to – and your own.
Thanksgiving and the Stories We Tell Ourselves
My contribution to Lifehack’s pool of Thanksgiving-themed posts focuses less on thankfulness and more on what we can learn from how the Thanksgiving story – the Pilgrims, the Indians, the shared feast – defines us as a people. Stories, I argue, shape our lives in profound ways, even when they’re not true, or not true yet. Real change, then, might well start with changing the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and about the world we live in.
Thanksgiving How-To Guides
A quickie post linking to Thanksgiving-themed how-to guides on eHow.
TIme Management on the Turkey Day
When we talk about Thanksgiving, we emphasize the relaxed day with our family, watching the football game or the Thanksgiving Day parade, and of course we pay homage to mom’s pumpkin pie or Aunt Louanna’s special stuffing. We tend to forget the tremendous tactical effort it takes to get all that food on the table at 4:00, hot and steaming. Leon Ho links to a post at FoodieView that offers a few tips for those facing the holiday from the kitchen counter.
Top 10 Things to Do for Mom’s PC Over Thanksgiving
For the techie among us, Thanksgiving is more than just a day for sharing good food and good times with your family – it’s also the day we will be called upon to service our parent’s computers. Leon’s post links to a list of good ideas for souping up Mom’s (or Dad’s, or grandma’s, or whomever’s) while you’re home for the holidays.
Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans, and to everyone else, thanks for reading. I hope you find a moment or two to be thankful on this and every day.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Goal Setting, American Eating Healthier??
Today’s Re-Powering information. Since I am missing Friday, I’ll give you two messages today. One is on achieving your goals followed by my sentiments on the LA times article about Americans Getting Smarter about eating and exercise.
"The discipline you learn and character you build from setting and achieving a goal can be more valuable than the achievement of the goal itself."
-- Bo Bennett, Author
For those who have been with me for almost two years, I am sure you notice the repetition of some common themes in the e-mails and besides getting 7 hours of sleep a night, eating cleaning, showing up for camp and drinking primarily water, the other component which drives the rest and pulls it all together is discipline and it starts with the discipline to have a goal. To even have a goal you must be pretty focused. Without goals you are going through life on a cruise to no where, letting lifes events toss and turn you about. You go where the wind blows, you get taken by the storms and get tossed about by the waves. Without direction and focus, you will be influenced by others and ultimately rarely be living your unique dream, leaving your legacy or feel like you have purpose.
I invite you to choose one thing that you want to accomplish in life. It can be long or short term. If it’s long term, break it up into shorter term goals. It does not even have to be a physical goal. It may be professional, relationship, financial or personal. The cool thing is that when fitness is in your life, it has incredible positive effects on all of the other aspects of your life. When you are physically fit you are better able to think, function, have high levels of energy, soaring levels of confidence and there are even studies to prove that those who are regularly engaged in physical fitness activities earn more money.
If you are constantly making resolutions and not following through on them (or if you know someone who always seems to fall short of achieving a goal), the time is now to get everything you want out of life. There is no reason you can’t achieve (with in reason) anything you want. It starts with powerful goal setting and discipline towards goal achieving.
You have the power to do anything and you will become unstoppable. You will live the life that YOU want.
Take out a piece of paper, a note book or even type the goal you are committed to on your computer. For example:
I run an 8 mile race by May 2009
1 volunteer with children 5 hours per week
I save 2K a month towards an investment
I grow my own fruits and vegetables
Then turn it into a question – How can I run an 8 mile race by May 2009?
Then come up with at least 10 answers.
Then look over your answers, decide which one is the most impactful, most urgent and most important. Begin there.
Having a goal keeps you on target, moving in the directions of your dreams. Start now.
END
According to the Los Angeles Times . . . .
Americans getting smarter about nutrition and exercise
By Jeannine Stein
November 10, 2008
Americans are getting savvier about eating right and exercising, according to a nationwide survey of 783 men and women by the American Dietetic Assn., "Nutrition and You: Trends 2008."
When asked about maintaining a healthful diet and engaging in regular exercise, 43% said, "I'm already doing it." In 2002, that number was 38%. People in the "I know I should" category -- who understand a healthy lifestyle is critical but haven't done much to achieve it -- numbered 38%, up from 30% in 2002. And just 19% of men and women put themselves in the "don't bother me" category -- not believing that diet and exercise are important. That's down from 32% in 2002.
More stats: When participants were asked to rank major and minor reasons for not wanting to do more to attain a balanced diet, 79% said they're satisfied with the way they eat, and 73% said they don't want to give up the foods they like. Only 41% said it was because they didn't understand diet and nutrition guidelines. In 2008, 40% said they were actively seeking more information on nutrition, up from 19% in 2000.
People also are making different choices. In the last five years, 56% of people surveyed increased their consumption of whole-grain foods; 50%, vegetables; 48%, fruits; and 42%, chicken. And 41% decreased their intake of beef; 23%, dairy; and 33%, pork.
Stein is a Times staff writer.
jeannine.stein@latimes.com
End
While I think the reporting of these results are encouraging, I don’t know how accurate or realistic they are. People may report knowing what to eat, but too few people in America eat healthy. 43% of people report that they are maintaining a healthful diet and engaging in regular exercise, 43%, yet only 16% of the populating is exercising on a regular enough basis to see fitness benefits. The goal for the year 2020 is to get 20% of the country exercising. Even if people report eating healthy, it’s doubtful that they have a nourishing, that truly promotes health. Personal Trainers are confused. Nutritionists disagree and doctors also have different opinions about what we should eat so how can the average American who primarily gets their health information from the TV and Internet know what is healthy – especially when they are being influenced by big business and pharmacy?
I don’t mean to sound like doom and gloom. I am hopeful that we are becoming more savvy shoppers and eaters. I caution you to exercise common sense when selecting foods, stick to the most natural ingredients and rely on the best sources when you have questions.
Have a phenomenal day,
Kelli
"The discipline you learn and character you build from setting and achieving a goal can be more valuable than the achievement of the goal itself."
-- Bo Bennett, Author
For those who have been with me for almost two years, I am sure you notice the repetition of some common themes in the e-mails and besides getting 7 hours of sleep a night, eating cleaning, showing up for camp and drinking primarily water, the other component which drives the rest and pulls it all together is discipline and it starts with the discipline to have a goal. To even have a goal you must be pretty focused. Without goals you are going through life on a cruise to no where, letting lifes events toss and turn you about. You go where the wind blows, you get taken by the storms and get tossed about by the waves. Without direction and focus, you will be influenced by others and ultimately rarely be living your unique dream, leaving your legacy or feel like you have purpose.
I invite you to choose one thing that you want to accomplish in life. It can be long or short term. If it’s long term, break it up into shorter term goals. It does not even have to be a physical goal. It may be professional, relationship, financial or personal. The cool thing is that when fitness is in your life, it has incredible positive effects on all of the other aspects of your life. When you are physically fit you are better able to think, function, have high levels of energy, soaring levels of confidence and there are even studies to prove that those who are regularly engaged in physical fitness activities earn more money.
If you are constantly making resolutions and not following through on them (or if you know someone who always seems to fall short of achieving a goal), the time is now to get everything you want out of life. There is no reason you can’t achieve (with in reason) anything you want. It starts with powerful goal setting and discipline towards goal achieving.
You have the power to do anything and you will become unstoppable. You will live the life that YOU want.
Take out a piece of paper, a note book or even type the goal you are committed to on your computer. For example:
I run an 8 mile race by May 2009
1 volunteer with children 5 hours per week
I save 2K a month towards an investment
I grow my own fruits and vegetables
Then turn it into a question – How can I run an 8 mile race by May 2009?
Then come up with at least 10 answers.
Then look over your answers, decide which one is the most impactful, most urgent and most important. Begin there.
Having a goal keeps you on target, moving in the directions of your dreams. Start now.
END
According to the Los Angeles Times . . . .
Americans getting smarter about nutrition and exercise
By Jeannine Stein
November 10, 2008
Americans are getting savvier about eating right and exercising, according to a nationwide survey of 783 men and women by the American Dietetic Assn., "Nutrition and You: Trends 2008."
When asked about maintaining a healthful diet and engaging in regular exercise, 43% said, "I'm already doing it." In 2002, that number was 38%. People in the "I know I should" category -- who understand a healthy lifestyle is critical but haven't done much to achieve it -- numbered 38%, up from 30% in 2002. And just 19% of men and women put themselves in the "don't bother me" category -- not believing that diet and exercise are important. That's down from 32% in 2002.
More stats: When participants were asked to rank major and minor reasons for not wanting to do more to attain a balanced diet, 79% said they're satisfied with the way they eat, and 73% said they don't want to give up the foods they like. Only 41% said it was because they didn't understand diet and nutrition guidelines. In 2008, 40% said they were actively seeking more information on nutrition, up from 19% in 2000.
People also are making different choices. In the last five years, 56% of people surveyed increased their consumption of whole-grain foods; 50%, vegetables; 48%, fruits; and 42%, chicken. And 41% decreased their intake of beef; 23%, dairy; and 33%, pork.
Stein is a Times staff writer.
jeannine.stein@latimes.com
End
While I think the reporting of these results are encouraging, I don’t know how accurate or realistic they are. People may report knowing what to eat, but too few people in America eat healthy. 43% of people report that they are maintaining a healthful diet and engaging in regular exercise, 43%, yet only 16% of the populating is exercising on a regular enough basis to see fitness benefits. The goal for the year 2020 is to get 20% of the country exercising. Even if people report eating healthy, it’s doubtful that they have a nourishing, that truly promotes health. Personal Trainers are confused. Nutritionists disagree and doctors also have different opinions about what we should eat so how can the average American who primarily gets their health information from the TV and Internet know what is healthy – especially when they are being influenced by big business and pharmacy?
I don’t mean to sound like doom and gloom. I am hopeful that we are becoming more savvy shoppers and eaters. I caution you to exercise common sense when selecting foods, stick to the most natural ingredients and rely on the best sources when you have questions.
Have a phenomenal day,
Kelli
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Welcome Argyle and Denton Boot Campers
Hello Campers,
This blog is starting at the suggestion of a boot camper who found herself amused by her friends perception of boot camp as a military style class which involved yelling, humiliation and traditional jumping jacks and hundreds of push ups.
I am opening this blog up for campers to share their stories and anyone who would like to ask questions.
The Adventure Boot Camp program couldn't be further from a military style. The Argyle and Denton Texas camps in particular are a lifestyle program which involves teaching you to support your body with wholesome nutrition, support from knowledgable coaches who are masters level instructors, advisers and coaches, daily productive exercise, daily empowering emails, pre and post fitness assessments to celebrate your progress, weekly weigh ins, food journal feedback and more.
Boot camp is a way to get you in shape fast, effectively and permanently in a fun, social and supportive environment at a convenient time and for an affordable price.
I invite you to post your comments, suggestions, questions, tips, experiences as well as your successes or failures.
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli Calabrese
MS, CSCS
2007 Denton County Personal Trainer of the Year
www.ArgyleBootCamp.com
www.KelliCalabrese.com
Kelli@KelliCalabrese.com
This blog is starting at the suggestion of a boot camper who found herself amused by her friends perception of boot camp as a military style class which involved yelling, humiliation and traditional jumping jacks and hundreds of push ups.
I am opening this blog up for campers to share their stories and anyone who would like to ask questions.
The Adventure Boot Camp program couldn't be further from a military style. The Argyle and Denton Texas camps in particular are a lifestyle program which involves teaching you to support your body with wholesome nutrition, support from knowledgable coaches who are masters level instructors, advisers and coaches, daily productive exercise, daily empowering emails, pre and post fitness assessments to celebrate your progress, weekly weigh ins, food journal feedback and more.
Boot camp is a way to get you in shape fast, effectively and permanently in a fun, social and supportive environment at a convenient time and for an affordable price.
I invite you to post your comments, suggestions, questions, tips, experiences as well as your successes or failures.
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli Calabrese
MS, CSCS
2007 Denton County Personal Trainer of the Year
www.ArgyleBootCamp.com
www.KelliCalabrese.com
Kelli@KelliCalabrese.com
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