Shaquille O’Neal, Kristy McPherson, Dorothy Hamill all have some something in common with me. Yes, I was athletic for most of my life. However, what we have in common isn’t as much as what they do for a living. In fact, we all have suffered from the evil arthritis. Unfortunately, that’s where the similarities end. We all have arthritis in different parts of our body. The reason for most arthritis is a tremendous physical stress placed on a joint which is particularly susceptible to wear. Arthritis in the hand, thumb wrist is It is referred to by many different names: basal joint arthriti ..read more

Highway to Pikes Peak“Know when to walk away“ We really love hiking. We live in Colorado, so there are trails everywhere with breath-taking scenery. It is necessary to get outside, smell the fresh air, and get in touch with nature. It is good for the mind and the body. Hiking is social as well; you will run into people along the trails. It is like an unspoken rule to greet one another and offer encouragement ” Hi!” “How are you” “You are almost there. “ Normally our hiking trips are really enjoyable. We usually plan the hike and are entirely prepared for any scenario. However, today there mist ..read more

Your body is made to move Daily activity is good for body and mental health “Sitting is the new smoking” – the new statistic and even more so since the beginning of the pandemic. Gyms were closed, we couldn’t go anywhere, and we all watched a lot of TV. In fact, it’s become our new habit. Remember when we had to wait a week for each episode of our favorite program? Not anymore – many of us got into binge-watching our favorite shows like The Tiger King, Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad. However, this total immersion hour-after-hour is killing us. We have to move Moving improves everything from ..read more

Four Tips and Tricks to Come Out Happy and Healthy Another holiday season, another year of stress, weight gain, colds, flu, Covid, etc. It doesn’t seem like all the holiday issues listed are connected but believe me, they are. The holiday season is often referred to as the most wonderful time of the year, but for many of us it’s also the most stressful time of the year. A survey released in 2019 found that 88% of Americans say that end of the year holidays is the most stressful time on their calendar. The effects of the holidays include stress, weight gain, lowered immune system, an ..read more

How To Be Healthier When You Don’t Like Exercise Couple on a walk in autumn nature. A few years ago, I was introduced to one of my client’s friends a few years ago.  The introduction included my job title as a personal trainer. My client’s friend, Joe, almost immediately confessed, “I hate to exercise, so don’t even ask me to.”  This was odd, given we were in a restaurant and my client, and I were having lunch. I replied, “that’s ok. Exercise is an acquired taste”. People look at you like the fitness police whenever you are a personal trainer.  It didn’t matter that I was meetin ..read more

Doctor checking blood sugar level with glucometer. Treatment of diabetes concept. So you have spent your life thinking you were doing your best and trying to make the right choices for your body. Now, suddenly you are diagnosed with diabetes; making you feel angry, frustrated, and maybe guilty. Indeed, allow yourself time to digest and accept your diagnosis and give yourself time to mourn. I can’t tell you how long to allow yourself time to process, but don’t take forever; you have things to do. Common reasons how you got here Unfortunately, diabetes 2 is the most common form of diabetes. Firs ..read more

Most of us know that exercise is good for weight control, reducing the risk of diabetes, lowers blood pressure, and increases energy, among other things. However, it is good for your psychological health as well. From easing symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression to keeping your mind and memory sharp, there is no shortage of psychological benefits of exercise. Dr. Shawna Charles, who has a Ph.D. in psychology, understands the connection between mental and psychical health. In fact, she opened a Los Angeles boxing gym that includes fitness and mental health services. Dr. Charles and many o ..read more

The other day, I used a hand vac to clean the staircase, and wham – a back spasm hit me, thankfully, on the bottom stairs. My lower back suddenly had a tightening, pulling, painful sensation in my lower back. In fact, it was a pain that came on so quickly it took my breath away. I sunk down on my knees on the landing. Eventually, I ended up on my back like a turtle and couldn’t get up. I laid there for a while and even put my feet up on the wall, trying to relieve the backpressure. Actually, after a while and a few attempts to get up on my own, I gave up. Yup, down for the count. I texted my ..read more

Tired of being tiredWhy Am I Tired?! Do you often ask yourself “why and what is causing me to feel tired all the time”? You aren’t alone. So many people I know feel the same way. Occasional tiredness is pretty normal at any age. Tiredness can affect our memory, ability to think and concentrate, mood changes, lower sex drive, etc. Science has also linked extreme tiredness/fatigue to many health issues. There are varied reasons for this constant feeling of fatigue. Few Possible Causes While there are multiple reasons for feeling tired, let’s look at just a few; Allergies – your immune system wor ..read more

Aging Spine As we get older, aches and pains in the back and neck seem inevitable as is our hair turning gray. Back pain and gray hair are just facts of life. Suffering back pain? You are probably between the ages of 40 and 60. Science says “it’s normal and prevalent for this age group”. However, if you have this kind of pain at a younger age, it’s nothing to be too concerned about. Aging spine can begin as early as age 30. As a matter of fact, upwards of 85% of people experience back and neck pain. Back and neck pain is the most common reason to miss work and the leading cause of dis ..read more