Archive for the Self care
Last Wednesday I held one of my Secrets To Making Midlife Weight Loss Easier Classes. I’ve learned so much since the first one last January and wanted to update the info.
One of the things we talked about was exercise–of course–and what kinds of exercise are better than others. (Did you know that too much aerobic exercise could actually be counterproductive?) Those of us who love the stair master or treadmill only work muscles in the front of our legs for the most part. It’s important to work all the sets of complimentary muscles to avoid injury. One way to do this if you don’t want to keep track is do yoga regularly. Why? Because yoga uses the whole body to balance in postures and an asana isn’t considered complete until it has been done with both sides of the body.
What I’m always thankful for while twisting pretzel like and trying to remember to breath is that it’s a practice. I practice things I’ve heard over and over as I reach for that little bit more opening in my spine or shoulders. I don’t feel badly that I am not further along. So why do I do that in life? Why do any of us? Are we not always learning even when we have accomplished a level of mastery? Of course we are. If not, how boring. I’m not going to say I’d like things to move faster at times or results to show up on demand; I’d love to have that much mastery over my daily routine.
As I’m feeling the burn in my arms while in downward facing dog or my shoulders in fish pose I realize at times in my day to day, I give in before the burn gets too bad. In class I’m not likely to do that, in part because there is an instructor coaching us to hold on. Even so it reminds me that next time something feels awkward or hard, if I hold on, I might get that result faster or learn that next level of skill I’ve been wanting.
Yoga on the mat is about expansion, balance, loving yourself and reflecting that love outwards. We are encourage to live the same way “off the mat.” I’m thrilled that yoga is a good way to strengthen all of my physical muscles. The bonus, I’m learning, is how it strengthens my emotional and mental ones too.
How has yoga helped you? порно секс силиконовaя грудями
The other day I had a good portion of my annual physical exam. My doctor spent an hour with me–yes, an hour. We talked about all manner of health related things from my supplements to sex, how my marriage was, to what I was eating these days. When he read over the list-and it’s long–of supplements I take he noticed I’d forgotten fish oil and CoQ10. I take them, he wanted to be sure.
He is a family medicine guy who started studying functional medicine a number of years ago because the western model as it was didn’t allow him to fully engage his patients own inner body wisdom. He wanted to be proactive vs reactive. It took me awhile to find him and how I got here was because I was looking for someone who really understood bio identical hormone replacement and supplements. I spoke to about 25 doctor’s office nurses and some docs before finding Dr. Aponte. It didn’t matter he’s a man, I have a great NP who I see for my gyno stuff.
When I told him I felt blessed to have such a well informed care giver who was willing to listen and focus on me while there he told me this, “The thing I hate most is interrupting patient care and sometimes it just can’t be avoided. You I see only once per year for the most part and I want to be sure I hear from you how you are not just from the tests we perform.” Wow.
It makes the annual thing a pleasure, but I’d go regardless. Before I had Dr. A, I used to do the annual thing and add check marks on the blood work form that my otherwise smart doc didn’t believe in that I knew were important “at my age.” The markers of inflammation like CR-P, Lp l (a), Homocysteine, fibrinogen, the subsets of cholesterol vs just LDL and HDL are all considered the basics if you want to have a more complete picture of your heart health. I’ve had a colonoscopy a few years ago, last year I had a stress test, and a couple of years ago a DEXA scan.
JJ Virgin says, “Don’t guess, test.” My sentiments exactly. I want to know where I am–even when I feel really good and it’s check up time–because sometimes the markers of disease are silent in the early stages. I don’t want that kind of surprise one day. But if I should get one–a disease that is–I’m more than thrilled to know I took the time to find a practitioner I trust and feel I am a partner with in my health care.
Do you know your numbers? Are you happy with your doc? If not, how about getting that on the old to do for you list? It’s the most important one you know.
