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The Sequoia Advisor
IN THIS ISSUE November 15th, 2009
Feel Better... Live Better |
Strong to the Core by Woody McMahon
So What is Your "Core?" The Core is defined as the muscles of the lower back, abdominal region, pelvic area and diaphragm. Whenever you lift or move, these muscles are designed to work together to stabilize the body. If these muscles do not function correctly, then greater stress and possible injury to the spine are the result. Traditionally, sit-ups, leg lifts and back extensions have been used to strengthen these muscles. However, these are not the best exercises to properly engage the core during lifting and moving activities.
Core Activation
The Core is best strengthened in the standing, kneeling or unstable sitting position (like that found on a fitness ball). Multidirectional movements are more effective at helping the Core muscles activate in the proper sequence and at the correct time. Exercises performed on the floor for Core strengthening are less effective because the important proprioception (signals) from the feet are not involved. These foot signals are crucial for the proper timing of the muscular contractions. Proper function of the Core is also dependent on breathing.
The Importance of Breathing
The proper function of the Core is tied to the breathing cycle though the diaphragm. During lifting or any other exertional movement, the properly timed out-breath helps to raise the diaphragm. Breathing synchronizes the diaphragm with the other muscle of the Core resulting in stabilization of the spine and pelvis. Lack of or backwards breathing robs the Core of one of its key muscular components. Improper breathing will also raise blood pressure and reduce oxygen transfer in the lungs placing unhealthy stress on the heart and vascular system.
Getting the Most From Your Core
Getting proper stabilization of the spine and pelvis is as much a timing event as it is an issue of strength. Training the Core to perform like you would use it in real life is the best way to maximize performance. That means a majority of your Core exercises should be movement based and multidirectional. The intensity of each exercise will depend upon your conditioning and ability to control your body movements. Here are three Core exercises that will work magic on your body.
Plank (also called Bridge)
Lie on the floor face down like you are going to perform a push-up. Instead of your hands being on the floor, place your upper body weight on your elbows and forearms. Now with the upper body weight on your elbows and forearms, get on your toes and lift your hips until your body is perfectly parallel to the floor. Hold this position for up to 3 minutes (beginners may need to start at 30 seconds). Be sure to breathe regularly during the entire time. Do not let your hips sag at any time during the hold.
Walking Lunge with Single Arm Press
Start with a single dumbbell you can handle comfortably. Place the dumbbell next to your shoulder. Start your walking lunge by taking a bigger than normal step forward. Once you have your balance, press the weight above your head as you breathe out. Return the weight to the starting position and then take your next step and repeat the arm press. Once you have done six or eight with one hand do the same number with your other
hand.
Walkout on the Fitness Ball
Start by lying face down on a fitness ball with your hands and feet touching the ground. Walk your hands forward away from the ball letting your feet leave the floor. Make sure to keep your back and legs straight as you continue to walk forward. Go as far as you can without falling off or until your feet touch the back of the ball. Make sure to keep your hips elevated and back straight all the time. Walk your hands back towards the ball making sure to keep your legs straight and feet off the ground.
Exercise is one of three important lifestyle habits essential for good health. If you have special needs then a health and fitness expert with special training is essential as well. Contact me to discuss how Fresh Start can help make the most of your exercise time by building a stronger body the right way.
With my unique program you'll improve balance, strength, flexibility, energy and stamina while feeling and looking your best. Call Woody McMahon at 703-464-5171 to schedule your no cost Fresh Start consultation. You can also email to Woody@SequoiaHealth.com.
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Don't Let Stress Get the Best of You
by Woody McMahon
Stress Affects it All
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to do all the right things and then wake up one morning and have a heart attack? Or, have you been curious why, after going to the doctor, all of your tests come back negative and you still feel like poop? These are both good examples of how the negative effects of stress are not being effectively managed. When uncontrolled, stress can slowly erode your quality of life turning it from joyful to painful. But why does this happen and is there anything you can do about it?
Brain Controls Body, Not the Other Way Around
Understanding how your body works goes a long way to fixing the problem. The brain is connected through the nervous system to every single cell in your body. Said another way, what goes on in your head is directly transmitted to all of the cells in your body. These communications from the brain either give your cells a healthy pep talk or a severe berating. If you think this doesn't happen, what is that little feeling in the pit of your stomach when you have nervous or scared thoughts? Conversely, when you are in love, those thoughts of walking on clouds make you feel just the opposite.
Stress Neutralizes Other Healthy Lifestyle Changes
The big unrecognized problem is that stressful thoughts can undo many other healthy behaviors. So let's say, with all the best intentions, you try to eat right, make it to the gym and do your workout, take your vitamins, drink lots of water and go to the chiropractor, massage therapist or acupuncturist for preventive health. Is this going to be enough to keep you healthy? Unfortunately the research says no. All these positive actions can help reduce the negative effects of stress but they cannot compete with 24/7 stressful thought patterns.
Tackling Stress Head-on
The secret to dramatically improving health and longevity is to create a healthy shift in the messages you send to your cells. Can you do this? Sure you can. Science has now shown that our thought patterns are learned and not inherited. So along with the other healthy lifestyle habits mentioned above, an equal balance of activities to help change your brain to cell messages is essential good health. Here are some suggestions for improving the messages your brain is sending to your body.
#1) Make Time for Yourself
Whenever anyone says "I don't have enough time to do that because," it is really a secret code for "I don't want to do that." Using jobs, kids and other assorted reasons as a part of your "I don't have enough time to do that because" statements is not a good idea either. The truth is that you can find the time to do those things you want to do. Making time for you sends a positive and healthy message to your body saying "I care about myself." It is a crucial lesson that yields enormous health benefits. Remember the old saying, "If you don't look out for yourself, who will?"
#2) Switch to Positive Self-Talk
Instead of "I feel or look fat" you can try "I am glad I have enough food to eat to even be fat" and "If I want to weigh less, I can just eat less of all that food I am so fortunate to have." Looking for the positive in your life (yes everybody has some) and thinking about that immediately reduces stress and improves your brain to cell communications. Positive self-talk will also allow you to achieve your goals faster.
#3) Practice Meditation for Mental Centering and Balance
Feeling healthier and happier is all about reducing the confusion in your head. Meditation is nothing more than switching your focus. Sitting quietly, listening to music, becoming engrossed in an interesting hobby or taking a relaxing walk and suddenly realizing you have lost track of time are all forms of meditation. Meditation helps quiet and balance your mind and improves the cellular communications.
Stress is the #1 cause of excess weight gain. Follow our Fresh Start Healthy Weight! system and you can reduce your weight and improve your health at the same time. We provide the education, motivation and accountability necessary to improve your health while helping you feel and look your best. For a no cost consultation, please call Woody McMahon at 703-464-5171 or email to Woody@SequoiaHealth.com.
Pets and People
Thanksgiving Pet Tips by Ingrid King
Check out the following tips from the ASPCA experts for a fulfilling Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy, too.
Talking Turkey If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it's boneless and well-cooked. Don't offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.
Sage Advice Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delicious, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.
No Bread Dough Don't spoil your pet's holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.
Don't Let Them Eat Cake If you're baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs-they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.
Too Much of a Good Thing A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn't pose a problem. However, don't allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse-an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it's best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.
Keeping these tips in mind will ensure a happy and healthy Thanksgiving for all family members, human and furry!
Ingrid King is a former veterinary hospital manager turned writer. She publishes the E-zine News for You and Your Pet, covering topics ranging from conscious living to holistic and alternative health. She shares her experiences with consciously creating a joyful, happy and healthy life for pets and people on her popular blog, The Conscious Cat. Ingrid lives in Northern Virginia with her tortoiseshell cat Amber. Visit http://www.ingridking.com/
Osteoporosis Support Group Meeting
"Healthy Bones Come From a Healthy Body" Woody McMahon
Topic: Weight Training Clinic: Come Learn to Lift Safely
Date: Tuesday December 8th
Time: 6 to 7 pm
Place: Sequoia Health and Fitness, Inc 483A Carlisle Drive, Herndon, VA
Come dressed in comfortable clothes and bring water. For questions and reservations please contact Woody McMahon at 703-464-5171 or email to bebonestrong@sequoiahealth.com.
Do All You Can For Your Bones
Be Bone Strong! makes it possible to reduce fracture risk by helping you change your
lifestyle. Along with your doctor, we help you create and implement an effective
osteoporosis treatment plan. We support and educate you in making important lifestyle
decisions that will improve your condition. We also offer a sympathetic ear and shoulder
to lean on until you get over the unnecessary fear and worry of your situation.
With the use of Skype, emails, phone calls and the internet, you can benefit from the only complete osteoporosis prevention and repair program. Video consultations, stress reduction activities, healthy eating plans and functional weight bearing programs all available in the comfort of your own home over your computer.
Be Bone Strong! is unlike other programs that just focus on dietary changes, calcium and
vitamin D to increase bone density. Be Bone Strong! works to modify ALL the lifestyle
factors that help you increase bone quality.
Our unique three step process makes it easier to improve bone strength faster:
Step 1: Personalized Osteoporosis Lifestyle Assessment
Step 2: Comprehensive "Make My Bones Strong" Plan and Program
Step 3: Implementation Support, Motivation and Consultation
Follow The "Big 5 for Healthy Bones" and you can't go wrong:
1. Increase daily stress reduction activities. This helps lower cortisol and homocystein levels while reducing calcium loss. 2. Safe and sufficient weight bearing exercise to stimulate muscle growth and balance. This is essential for increasing bone quality and preventing falls.
3. Dietary changes that balance protein with fruit and vegetable intake. Fruits and veggies contain greater amounts of water, minerals and antioxidants with generally lesser amounts of animal protein to reduce total body inflammation.
4. Establish year round vitamin D3 levels in the 50-80 ng/mL (or 125-200 nM/L). This should be confirmed by regular 25-hydroxyvitamin D testing. 5. Calculate optimum water intake for maximum hydration. Water is very important in helping the kidneys regulate pH and detoxify the body.
Test your bone knowledge and take our Strong Bones Healthy Body Quiz at http://sequoiahealth.com/hbquiz_
To learn more about Be Bone Strong! Online or to schedule a free consultation, please go to http://www.sequoiahealth.com/ and click on Be Bone Strong!
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Woody
Woody McMahon The Sequoia Advisor
Sequoia Health and Fitness, Inc. 483A Carlisle Dive Herndon, VA 20170
Required Disclaimer: The material provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The material is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practitioner/patient relationship with its readers. The publisher does not advise or recommend to its readers treatment or action with regard to matters relating to their health or well-being other than suggesting that readers consult appropriate health-care professionals in such matters. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication. The material and opinions provided herein are believed to be accurate and sound at the time of publication, based on the best judgment available to the authors. However, readers who rely on material in this publication to replace the advice of health-care professionals, or who fail to consult with health-care professionals, assume all risks of such conduct. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.
Copyright (c) 2006-2009 by Sequoia Health and Fitness, Inc.
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