FitSugar

Enjoy Your Travels: Adjust to Time Change

FitSugar — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:30:00 -0700

One of the hardest things about traveling over the holidays is adjusting to the time change (if your travels require one). The key to feeling good is to get adjusted to the new time zone quickly. One thing I suggest is to set your watch (to the new time) on the airplane before you take off (from your origin). This way you'll start to adjust to the time change well in advance.

If you're always saying, "Well sure it's 9 am here, but where I live, it's only 6am. No wonder I'm so tired...," your brain is going to have a hard time adjusting -- Especially since you keep reminding it of how offset things are. Instead of focusing on the time, focus your energy on eating healthy, exercising and relaxing.

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Chiropractics: Full of Cracks or Full of Crap?

FitSugar — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:00:00 -0700

When you think of going to a chiropractor, do you think it's just about getting your back cracked? A visit to a chiropractor can be so much more than that.

Chiropractics is an alternative medicine, like Homeopathy, that treats disorders of the body by manipulation of the spine. It's based on the belief that the nervous system is the mission control to your body. Because the spine houses the spinal cord, chiropractors believe that a misaligned vertebrae, whether it be from injury or how you were born, your range of motion becomes limited.

Also, the nerves that extend out of the spinal cord can be affected, causing pain in other areas of your body. They believe that your misaligned spine is the cause of most medical problems.

When you get your back "cracked," it's called an adjustment. And most people feel a release of tension and pain after they get adjusted.

Chiropractors also help to prevent pain, so they require that you see them regularly, not just when your neck hurts.

Of course, some believe that there is little evidence that spinal manipulation is effective in treating medical conditions.

But like most alternative medicines, chiropractics treats the whole person, which is a lot more than I can say for regular doctors, and could be the reason why it works for so many people.

See for yourself. Find a doctor in your area and talk with them. Most will do a free consultation visit so you can get a good sense if you think it's for you.

Holiday Fit Tip: Adjust Your Workout, Don't Eliminate It

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:45:00 -0800

As the holidays roll around most of us are running around like crazy people trying to get everything done before the new year. In all the craziness, exercise tends to get dropped from the priority list and lost in the shuffle.

I'll be the first to admit that it's going to be nearly impossible for me to spend as much time as I usually do in the gym during the holidays, but that does not mean I am going to cut it out altogether. If you're feeling the same, then just try to adjust appropriately. Instead of going the all-or-nothing route, reduce the frequency and/or duration of your exercises. Cutting your workout by as much as 50 percent is way better than cutting it altogether.

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Don't Get in a Rut, Get an Attitude Adjustment

FitSugar — Thu, 10 May 2007 13:30:00 -0700

A lot of people may get into a fitness rut when they are not looking at exercise in the right light.

If you're feeling like you're in a fitness rut, try adjusting your attitude. Exercise can only take you so far mentally, which means you may need to take a step back and think realistically about what you are trying to get out of it. Not everyone can look like Jessica Biel. In fact only Jessica Biel can look like Jessica Biel so even if you do her exact plyometrics routine, you may not get the same results. Heck, I do plyometrics all the time but my bod looks nothing like hers. If your goals are unrealistic, you may become discouraged, which is completely counterproductive.

Accept who you are. Realize that your body has limits -- I invite you to push those limits because chances are you could be pleasantly surprised, but always stay realistic. Step one is accepting your body for what it is and appreciating what it is capable of doing, not putting it down for what it is not capable of doing.

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Diet Tip: Attitude Adjustment

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:30:00 -0700

While you can put healthy foods in your stomach and feel full, the emotional side of you might not feel quite satisfied by a green salad, veggies and fruit. This stomach versus brain scenario can make sticking to a diet difficult.

Call me a cock-eyed optimist, but having a can do attitude can help. Instead of "guilting" yourself into eating healthy food, remind yourself that you are making a significant change in the way you live your life. Did you know it only takes somewhere between 7 and 14 days to adopt a new habit? When you are trying to stop the afternoon cookie routine, a week may seem like a loooooonnnnnnggggg time. But if you think about taking a mere seven days to create a lifestyle change, a week seems relatively short.

Remember slow and steady wins the race. You are changing your life style one habit at a time.

Prevent Shin Splints With Toe Lifts

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:30:05 -0800

Since the weather is getting chillier, many of you might be moving your runs indoors. From my experience, switching running surfaces always takes some time to get used to, and shin splint pain has often been a symptom of adjustment. To prevent soreness in the front of your lower leg, here's an exercise recommended by Runner's World you can do any time you're sitting to strengthen your shins and increase flexibility.

The photo just demonstrates one exercise so to see a variation of the toe lift read more.

Sit tall in a chair with knees bent 90 degrees, and your feet flat on the floor.
Keep your right heel on the ground, and gently raise your right forefoot up. Lift it back toward your shin as far as you can, and then lower it back to the ground. Repeat 10 times with each foot.
Here's another variation. From the same position, lift your right forefoot up and trace the letter "J" in the air with your foot. Return it back to the ground. Complete 10 lifts with each foot.

A Little Yoga Insight You May Not Learn From Your Instructor

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:10 -0800

Sure, practicing yoga is all about health and wellness, but Smart Money knows that it is also booming business. There are some aspects of yoga class that may not be in keeping with the healthy lifestyle you seek - just don't expect your yoga instructor to let you in on them. Here are a few pointers for staying healthy while practicing yoga, and remember that even when taking a fitness class led by an instructor, it's best to think for yourself to figure out what feels right and what practices work best for you.

Your Instructor May Be New to Yoga Too - With all of the various certification programs around, there's a range of skill that's being taught to instructors. "The problem is that there’s no real standard for how much teacher training is required of instructors, so almost anyone can lead a yoga class," writes Smart Money. It's best to try out a class before you commit, and learn where the instructor trained.
Yoga Mats Aren't Just For the Die-Hard Yogi - Bringing your own mat to class doesn't mean you can do full lotus. It's simply good hygiene. Yoga studio owner Ann Merlo told Smart Money, "One of the key elements of yoga is cleanliness." Sure, many studios hose down the mats after a few sessions, but there's no guarantee they do. With all the contagions flying around this flu season, it just might be worth it to spring for your own mat and avoid catching a bug.

To learn more about how to make the most of your yoga time, read more.

It's OK If You Don't Want to Be Touched - Yoga tends to cultivate a very intimate atmosphere in the studio, and many members of the class may feel totally at ease with the instructor helping them into a pose (which is fairly common), but that doesn't mean that you do. "A thoughtful teacher should always tell you that he’s going to touch you," writes Smart Money, and all adjustments should be done with professionalism. However, if you'd prefer not to be touched at all, don't be shy about speaking up and making your preference clear.
The Advanced Class May Not Be For You - While yoga instructors may ask some general questions about your level of experience before a class begins, no one is likely to turn you away from a session that may be too advanced for you. Yoga requires serious strength and flexibility. The article suggests calling the studio beforehand to find a class appropriate for your ability.

To find out exactly what else your yoga instructor may not be telling you, get up to speed with all of SmartMoney's tips, and be sure to check out our Yoga Stretch and Tell Group to connect with fellow yogis and share your questions, stories, and advice.

Gifts For the Fly Fisherman

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:00:04 -0800

Here at Sugar, holiday season is already in full swing - you better believe I've been making my list for who's been naughty and nice! To make gift shopping a breeze for you, we'll be offering up a bevy of gift ideas in the coming weeks for all the special fit folk in your life.

If you're like me, you have a man in your life that likes to fish. As a young girl, I always looked forward to weekend fishing trips with my dad, but I've since traded in my reel for a yoga mat and a day on the rocks. My dad is still going strong, though. Here are a few things I'm scoping out for him that may come in handy for the special fisherman in your life, too.

Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die ($16) Beautiful photographs and descriptions of the 50 best fly fishing spots in the world. This book gives the fish fanatic something to dream about, or inspiration for his next trip.
Tie-a-Fly ($22) Bob Henley's fly kits are an easy and inexpensive way to learn how to tie fly patterns. Each kit comes with enough material to tie 12 flies.
Gallatin Lanyard ($39) Every good fisherman needs to have his gear handy, and a lanyard is an easy way to keep the essentials within an arm's reach. It's padded with foam to keep the neck comfortable, and it has an adjustable length of nine to 27 inches.
Embroidered Clearwater Mesh Vest ($57) Even knee-deep in water, you still gotta look good! No fly fisherman is complete without his vest, and this one gets you remembered for the personal embroidered pocket.
Fly of the Month Club ($60-220) For three, six, or 12 months, the Fly of the Month Club will send that special someone premium flies right to their door.

Have You Ever Done a Cleanse?

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:47:09 -0700

I was asked recently if I've ever detoxed like Gwyneth Paltrow does. Personally, I've never committed myself to a rigid master cleanse or detox diet for a prescribed amount of time, but I've definitely made adjustments to my diet.

After an unusually indulgent holiday season spent away from home, I cut out alcohol and sugar for a month and ate nothing but brown rice and steamed veggies for two days. And though I do think putting limits on sugar and alcohol are helpful, you won't see me on a restrictive meal plan like that again. It's important for me to have a balanced diet that also consists of dairy, fruit, and lean protein, and most cleanses don't allow for that.

I have a few friends that cleanse at least four times a year and they swear it does wonders for them. What about you - have you ever cleansed?

Adjustment disorder

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:53:07 -0700

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Adjustment disorder is an abnormal and excessive reaction to a life stressor, such as starting school, getting divorced, or grief.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Symptoms of adjustment disorder typically begin within three months of the identifiable stressor and usually do not last longer than six months. Adults often develop adjustment disorder related to marital or financial problems.

In adolescents, common stressors include school problems, family conflict, or sexuality issues. Other stressors for people of any age include the death of a loved one, general life changes, or unexpected catastrophes.

There is no way to predict which people are likely to develop adjustment disorder, given the same stressor. Financial conditions, social support, and career and recreational opportunities can influence how well a person reacts to stress. A given person's susceptibility to stress may be influenced by such factors as social skills, intelligence, flexibility, genetic factors, and coping strategies.

Symptoms

To receive a diagnosis of adjustment disorder, symptoms must be severe enough to effect a person's work or social life. Some of the symptoms that can occur include:

Depression
Agitation
Trembling or twitching
Palpitations
Conduct disturbances
Physical complaints

Signs and tests

The following criteria need to be met to establish a diagnosis:

The person must have a psychological evaluation
The symptoms clearly follow a psychosocial stressor
The symptoms are more severe than would be expected
There do not appear to be other underlying disorders

Treatment

The primary goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and help the person return to pre-event level of functioning.

Most mental health professionals recommend a form of psychosocial treatment for this disorder. These include individual psychotherapy, family therapy, behavior therapy, and self-help groups.

When medications are used, they are usually in addition to other forms of treatment.

Expectations (prognosis)

Adjustment disorders usually resolve quickly without any remaining symptoms.

Calling your health care provider

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms suggestive of adjustment disorder develop.

Prevention

There is no known way to prevent this disorder. Strong support from friends and family can help.

Review Date: 11/15/2006

Reviewed By: Paul Ballas, D.O., Department of Psychiatry, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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