This is the first major qualifying competition being held for the US women!

The Goals for Competitors at the Secret U.S. Classic

For those who have been competing regularly like Gabrielle Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Jordyn Weiber and Alexandra (Aly) Raisman this competition is all about consistency and showing Women’s program director, Marta Karolyi that they are working hard on cleaning and refining their routines.

For those athletes from the 2008 Silver medal winning Olympic team that have thrown their names back in the mix, it’s all about showing they are still in the game.  Nastia Liukin, Chellsie Memmel and Bridget Sloan are a few of those returning to competition from a break after the 2008 Olympic Games. Liukin will likely be the most closely watched of those names as the current Olympic all around champion. Look for the amount of difficulty in her routines and focus most on her uneven bar score, that event (currently USA’s weakest as a team) could be her ticket to London!

Those athletes returning from injury, like Rebecca Bross will need to show readiness in their health as well as their difficulty and execution.

Be sure to Watch, as the Secret US Classic is the first major step in grabbing hold of one of only five spots available for the 2012 Olympic team.

I remember the excitement and anxiety that the Olympic year brings. I imagine these athletes have those same feelings. The training is difficult and thinking about the enormity of these next few months can be overwhelming. The best part was the actual competition. Once you are in competition mode you don’t have time to stress about anything else, it’s simply about the skills.

If you’re in the Chicago area May 26th - Come on Out!

Make sure to get  your tickets to the Secret US Classic.

I’ll be on hand throughout the weekend reporting as events unfold. Secret U.S. Classic tickets may be purchased:

• through Ticketmaster at ticketmaster.com
• by phone at 800.745.3000
• at all Ticketmaster outlets

For more information on the competition or athletes please visit usagym.org.

• Secret US Classic Draw

SML TIP:  Check back at shannonmillerlifestyle.com (click on – Road to London) for more updates and links for my blog and video with Yahoo! Sports during Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games!

Have you checked in with your own health lately?

Women are the care givers in most families, and many times, they put themselves last. If you don’t take care of yourself, women, your family will suffer. Make sure to put yourself at the top of the list, starting with getting your annual check-up.

Beyond your check-up, make sure you are doing all of the following:

1. Get Active. If you are not on an exercise plan, there is no better time than right now to start! Intimidated? SML is here to help!

2. Eat healthy. Today is the day to take control of the energy that goes in to your body. All calories are not created equally. Make your calorie intake optimal by increasing whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins. Nix the extra sugars and refined products.

3. Check in with your mental health. Do you feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities at home and work? If you feel anxiety start to rise within you or you are noticing stress start to take you over, it may be time to schedule an appointment with a therapist or counselor. A professional can give you stress reducing techniques that can change how you function in your day. Cortisol, the stress hormone, causes inflammation in the body, which can lead to serious weight problems, and even heart disease. Instead of pushing yourself aside, tune in to your feelings and work on making your life less stressful. Stress is not just a feeling, but an actual hormonal problem that leads to disease. Don’t ignore it.

4. Check in with your habits. Do you smoke? Drink in excess? Use or abuse a drug (legal OR illegal)? These are not just little things; they can cause disease or worse, death. Take an honest look at your habits and get help if you need it.

5. Check in with your safety. Most states require seat belts in every area of the car. Wear a helmet if you bike on the road. Be safe in parking lots and shopping centers. Know how to protect yourself. Check on the safety of your relationships with others, as well.

For more information on National Women’s Health Week and to get help with health and safety, visit the Women’s Health website.

SML TIP:  Also know that here at SML, we have your health and wellness in mind. Check in the Shannon Miller Lifestyle website for fitness, nutrition, wellness, health, and safety tips for you and your family.

Previously, I wrote about my favorite multi-nutritional supplement and the Earth’s most powerful superfood—Spirulina.

This time I wanted to introduce you to nature’s strongest antioxidant — Astaxanthin.

Astaxanthin is an amazing natural, whole-food supplement that has made a profound, positive difference in my life and also in a clinical study I conducted for eye, skin, nervous system, and brain health.

You’ve probably heard that vitamin C and vitamin E are potent antioxidants, but did you know that the strongest antioxidant on Earth is Astaxanthin? Natural Astaxanthin is a red carotenoid and an exceptionally powerful antioxidant found in certain species of plants, animals, and microalgae. Astaxanthin is extracted from green microalgae called Haematococcus Pluvialis. Grown on the pristine Kona Coast of Hawaii, Haematococcus Pluvialis is the richest source of Astaxanthin and is the source of the natural Astaxanthin that I take every day. I am mentioning the word “Natural” before Astaxanthin because you don’t want to take a synthetic Astaxanthin;  the only one that I recommend is a natural Astaxanthin that comes from Hawaii.

Hawaiian Natural Astaxanthin (I take one called BioAstin) is the ultimate nutrient for joint, tendon and muscle health; skin health; and eye and brain health. It has been documented in human clinical studies to show a wide range of benefits, including the extraordinary ability to act as a safe and natural way to manage inflammation. While sporadic inflammation can be a normal and healthy response to slight tissue damage, prolonged inflammation can have more debilitating consequences. Fortunately, Astaxanthin supports the body’s normal inflammatory response.

Below you’ll find out how to get a 25% discount through May 31st on this powerful BioAstin antioxidant for the entire family.

Due to its molecular structure, Astaxanthin is one of the few antioxidants with the ability to cross the blood brain and blood retinal barriers, bringing superior support and protection to the brain, eyes, and central nervous system. Through effectively scavenging for free radicals and by eliminating singlet oxygen formation, Astaxanthin provides concentrated antioxidant protection as it combats inflammation. Put simply, it is the ideal nutrient for our joints, skin, eyes, and brain.

Clinical Study on Astaxanthin

Recently I did a clinical study using the natural Astaxanthin called BioAstin, the world’s best source of Astaxanthin, with over 100 men and women over 30 days. Across the board, everyone in my study found relief with joint pain, recovered more quickly from exercise, and had healthier skin — a more youthful appearance. In only one month, you will notice a healthier glow to your skin. People will start asking you what you’ve been doing to make your skin radiant such youthful vitality. I’m in the process of doing another clinical study looking more specifically at how Astaxanthin has a positive effect on eye health, inflammation, memory and mental focus, and joint and muscle pain.

Nutrex Hawaii, the global leader in microalgae production and technology, carefully monitors the vast ponds where the Haematococcus Pluvialis is cultivated. You can see photos of the ponds in this Blog. The strain of algae used to produce BioAstin, Natural Astaxanthin, was collected from the wild and has never been genetically modified. It is…

• 6,000 times stronger than Vitamin C
• 800 times stronger than COQ10
• 550 times stronger than green tea catechins
• 550 times stronger than Vitamin E
• 11 times stronger than beta-carotene
• 20 times stronger in free radical scavenging than synthetic Astaxanthin

BioAstin Natural Astaxanthin is also all-natural, pesticide and herbicide free, non-GMO, gluten, lactose and preservative free. Nutrex Hawaii’s manufacturing facility has been awarded a certificate for Good Manufacturing Practices by the Natural Products Association® and was the first microalgae facility to receive ISO Quality Management certification.

In my private practice, I recommend Astaxanthin to…

• Support joint and tendon health
• Support skin health during UV and sun exposure
• Support eye health
• Support anti-aging through cellular health
• Support healthy immune function
• Support cardiovascular health
• Support the body in recovery from exercise

BioAstin Natural Astaxanthin is free of yeast, corn, what, gluten, and lactose. I take and recomend 12 MG daily.

The company in Hawaii that makes both the Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica and the BioAstin Astaxanthin products is offering us a 25% discount through May 31st. I normally purchase their products at my local natural food store. However, I recently purchased a year’s supply of both products so I can get a substantial discount over what I pay retail at the store. To get the 25% discount, you will need to use the code GREENHEALTH.

Here are the two Ways to Order BioAstin Natural Astaxanthin & Get a 25% Discount:

You can go online to the Nutrex Hawaii website or you can call them directly at: 800-453-1187 (US & Canada) or 808-329-4677 (Intl).

Remember to use the code GREENHEALTH so you can get 25% off through May 31st. I encourage you to start with a three-month supply of BioAstin. This is what I suggest to everyone in my private practice. You’ll see a profound difference in how you look and how your body feels. You will experience fewer aches and pains and a greater sense of well-being.

Visit my susansmithjones.com website to receive FREE copies of my two new e-books Nature’s Superb Superfoods and The Curative Kitchen. This offer expires June 30th. You can also get my popular holistic health seminar series entitled Renew Your Life at a 70% discount through June 30th when you visit my website. And be sure to look around when you visit my susansmithjones.com website, it’s teeming with information on living a healthy, vibrant, and balanced life.

♥

To learn more about my new 3-book set — Walking on Air: Your 30-Day Inside and Out Rejuvenation Makeover (foreword by Alexandra Stoddard), The Joy Factor: 10 Sacred Practices for Radiant Health (foreword by Wayne Dyer) and my full color, natural-food cookbook with over 150 photographs Recipes for Health Bliss, (forewords by Neal Barnard, MD and Victoria Moran), please visit: SusanSmithJones.com.

Last year, after letting my family and close friends know of the situation, I went public with my cancer battle. My hope was to encourage women to focus on their health. Cancer doesn’t care where we are from, how old we are or how many gold medals we won. It touches us all in some way.

In early 2011 I was diagnosed with a malignant germ cell tumor, a form of ovarian cancer.

My cancer was caught early and I am thankful to so many who helped remind me that it was important to take time for my own health. I hope that I can continue to be a voice for women’s cancers and the many health issues that women face. My message: It is not selfish to take time for yourself. It is very selfless. If we don’t take care of our own health, we can’t be here for everyone else. If you have not received your annual check up or if you have put off a follow up visit, I urge you to pick up the phone today. Make that appointment.

I had no symptoms and almost postponed my appointment. That thought, that I might have waited another year, goes through my mind every time I look at my son. Please, take the time. We may not be able to prevent every issue but early detection certainly gives us options and could even save your life. Make that appointment.

After, surgery to remove the tumor and my left ovary I went through a nine week chemotherapy regimen. On May 2nd, 2012 I celebrated one year out from chemo. I am now happy to say that I am cancer free! Like so many other women out there, I am a survivor. I am thankful to all of my sisters who have battled through this dreaded disease to give women like me hope. Hope for healing, hope for life and hope that there will one day be a cure.

we all know that fetal alcohol syndrome is a real threat to an unborn child,

as are other birth defects due to alcohol and other drug use.

According to the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, there is an umbrella of terms known as FASD, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, that can include learning disabilities and mental retardation. The only true diagnosis that is 100% linked to alcohol use is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, but that counts for only 25% of the birth defects that are believed to be caused by alcohol and drug use. 1 in 100 babies are diagnosed with FASD each year. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are the leading preventable cause of mental retardation and learning disabilities.

Alcohol-related Neurodevelopmental Disorder is a term given to an individual born with certain cognitive disabilities linked to alcohol exposure.

Doctors are finding  babies exposed to alcohol prior to birth can experience:

• a small head size at birth
• structural brain abnormalities
• a pattern of abnormal behaviors

So, are you thinking a glass of wine or two is okay with a bun in the oven? If you are pregnant or may become pregnant, there is a recommendation of teetotaling (abstaining from booze) during that time. That means no drink or recreational drug is safe to use at any time in pregnancy, even in the beginning stages. The beginning of pregnancy is where the brain and vital organs are formed. This is the time many women drink or use drugs, not knowing that they are pregnant. There is not a time during pregnancy where drinking and using drugs is ok; drinking or using recreational drugs during pregnancy is always harmful to the baby.

According to the March of Dimes, about 4% of pregnant women use illicit drugs.

Babies born to a mother who was using drugs:

• are often born early
• have birth defects
• have learning disabilities
• have withdrawal symptoms themselves

Of illicit drug use, marijuana is the most common in pregnancy. Babies born after the mother used marijuana display withdrawal symptoms, and have problems handling stimuli, such as touch. They also may have a difficult time developing a healthy sleep pattern. Other drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetomines, cause the baby to be born addicted to the drug. They have to undergo a painful beginning of life as they are weaned from the drug. These babies are often born early and small, which makes their battle even tougher.

Smoking cigarettes also exposes a baby to harmful drugs. Cigarettes have nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar. All of these are shared with the infant of a smoker.

Women who smoke:

• are more likely to have trouble carrying to term
• have higher incidences of stillbirth
• their babies are more likely to suffer from a cleft lip or palate

If you are a pregnant woman, or are considering pregnancy, and you have a problem with smoking, alcohol use, or drug use, get help now before it is too late for your baby. Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous can help, as well as “SmokeFree” for quitting smoking. Talk to your doctor or see a therapist about quitting smoking, drinking or using recreational drugs during pregnancy, too. They can prescribe methods to help you quit.

SML TIP:  There is no safe smoker, drinker, or recreational drug user at a time of pregnancy or pre-pregnancy. Please get help sooner rather than later for the protection of that precious baby’s life.

These were thoughtful questions, and because the answers may be helpful to other readers, I am sharing the questions and answers in this follow-up article.

I appreciate questions as an opportunity to share healthful and healing information.

Here is what the reader wrote:

“I admire and appreciate your work, Gina; I have a few questions regarding this article.

You mentioned several times that the MOI for ACL tear in gymnasts is hyperextension.  Is hyperextension more associated with ACL or PCL tears in this population?

Secondly, you mentioned a recovery window of 4-6 months. Is there a specific return to sport criteria are you using? To safely return to an elite level sport I rarely see an athlete fully return in less than 9-12 months, no matter how great the rehabilitation.

In your professional opinion, do you think there will be long-term consequences for those young gymnasts who resume the sport too early?”

And here are my answers:

The ACL prevents the shin bone from translating forward on the thigh bone, and it helps the knee from “Twisting” in ways that it should not. There is a small amount of rotation that the knee joint needs to allow, but any more than that allowable amount usually results in injury/tears.

ACL’s can be torn in many ways. The most common ways are hyperextension with or without rotation,  and change of direction while foot is planted resulting in large amounts of rotation (in gymnastics world this means land with foot planted while body still is rotating as an example).Most (greater than 75%) of ACL tears are non- collision, but may be from impact with objects (ground, dashboards, etc.). Most are done in single or double leg weight bearing position.

To clear up the concern on hyperextension, technically (anatomy- related) hyperextension involves the shin bone (tibia) moving forward on the femur. So, this mechanism would result in an ACL tear, because the ACL is what is supposed to limit this. However, if the hyperextension occurs where the force is above or superior to the knee joint itself, resulting in the femur moving forward on the tibia (or if the stress is below the knee joint and the tibia is forces backwards or posterior) then the PCL is effected.

In regards to recovery time, that is a general statement. There is no way to tell how someone will recover, and what you consider “Recovered”. Some people think that getting back to walking and Activities of Daily Living is recovered, in the general population. A basketball player will have different recovery time than a gymnast, depending on sports demands. So, in the general literature, there is just a guideline that is stated. Full recovery would be that the athlete is back to pre-injury conditions- meaning:

• Jump height- tested bilateral and unilateral, to max heights
• Jump height even left and right (injured and uninjured)
• Agility testing
• Ground time in jump tested
• Run speed
• Quad strength
• Hamstring strength
• Glute strength
• Quad to hamstring ratio
• Physical anatomy (scar tissue within and between muscles gone!)
• Flexibility back to pre-injury conditions
• Subjective answers to questions on confidence in the leg
• Fatigue in three ways: within conditioning sets, within practice, within microcycle (could be week or month) and within a macrocycle (longer period of time)
• Compensations being gone, examples are in the low back, ankles, and hip

Typically, gymnasts recover both faster and slower than others… let me explain. Faster- because they are stronger to begin with and have very little down time! Slower- because the sport is so demanding (depending on the level that you are returning to) and your strength, as well as landing surfaces, struggle with body weight if you are sedentary during rehab, etc. As for the Elite level, as you mentioned, I too, believe that it takes longer- sometimes up to a year and even more. The article was not written for Elites, but to encompass all levels, which is hard to do!  If you ask any high level athlete about their ACL tear, they will rarely say it is never on their mind, or that they are “Recovered”. Some of this is because it is as much of a game of mental toughness when doing gymnastics as it is physical. Other aspects are because you are constantly fighting favoring, trusting, etc the knee. Before it was injured, you never thought about it. Then, after the tear, it is always on your mind.

Finally- let’s address your concerns of returning to sport too early.

In general here are the risks of returning to sport too early:

1. If you are not strong enough to handle your body weight or the demands of the sport + gravity + speed, then reinjury may occur. Reconstruction, the second time around is much harder. Depending on the method of repair the first time, you may have to seek alternatives (patellar tendon graft and hamstring graft may not be available if you already used them, need to use the other side which complicated rehab, or use a cadaver graft as some options).
2. Other injuries may occur, such as meniscus tears, muscle strains, etc, because of lack of strength
3. Other injuries may occur because of lack of stability and return of balance and proprioception (knowing where your body is within space!)- such as ankle sprains, ligament tears, hip pain, etc.
4. Compensation with the other leg being stronger is an issue. Gait deviation issues include hip pain, SI joint pain, low back irritation, injury to the other knee, injury to the other ankle, and more.
5. Strained muscles. This can happen when you are trying to muscle through a skill at maximum force output if you are not strong enough yet… so, if when you are doing a split leap, you use 40% of your available power to jump, but now you need to use 98% of your available power, muscle is going to get “mad”, strain, tear, etc.
6. In general, if the ACL is not healed, is stretched, is no functioning properly, or is disallowing proper mechanics of the knee, many studies have shown (in humans, dogs, and more) the increased risk for arthritis, which happens when padding (meniscus, cartilage, etc) is injured or diminished and/or when the arthokinematics (motion) of the knee is not as it is intended!

Thanks for your concern, and I hope that clears up all of the questions that you have!
Gina

P.S. If you have questions about any of my articles, please post them in the Comments section below the article, with your name and e-mail, and I’ll get back to you.

Are you interested in:

• losing weight
• soothing achy joints and muscles
• boosting energy
• healing your pets
• sleeping like a baby
• supercharging immunity
• reducing inflammation and depression
• experiencing mental clarity and focus
• curbing carb and junk-food cravings
• healing your body from head to toe, inside out?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’ll enjoy this information on two my favorite whole-food supplements that I take daily. I’ll discuss Spirulina in this Blog and my favorite antioxidant — Astaxanthin —  in the next one. You can read more about Spirulina on my website susansmithjones.com.

For over 35 years, as a holistic health educator, author, motivational speaker, and consultant, I have been researching foods and supplements and their effects on the body and health. There are a few foods that clearly deserve the title of “Superfood” because they are chock-full of vitamins, minerals, protein, phytonutrients, enzymes, fiber, antioxidants, and much more. And there’s one food that I put at the very top of the list as the most nutrient-dense food on our planet — and it’s called Spirulina.

A superfood extraordinaire, Spirulina has been scientifically studied for decades and is an amazing food that would benefit your entire family, including your pets. I have been taking Spirulina for over 35 years and know that it’s one of the reasons I am vibrantly healthy, have never taken any prescription medications, and haven’t had a cold or the flu in over 25 years. As a teenager, I learned about it from my grandmother, Fritzie, and I have taken it almost daily ever since.

Below you’ll find out how to get a 25% discount through May 31st on this powerful multivitamin for the entire family…and pets, too.

This nutrient-rich naturefood detoxifies and rejuvenates the body from the inside out, head to toe, no matter ones age. Specifically, it helps regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol; alleviates pain from inflammation and delivers antioxidant activity to ward off life threatening diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s heart disease and stroke; protects the liver and kidneys and removes radiation from the body; improves the immune system, alleviates allergies, and defends again many different viruses; helps your eyes and brain; supports weight loss; increases friendly flora in the intestines and improves digestion, and so much more. It’s an ideal nutritional supplement for all lifestyles with a history of scientific experiments and clinical trials and is easy to take in a tablet or powder form. I bet I have your full attention now.

(Receive free copies of my two new e-books, Nature’s Superb Superfoods and The Curative Kitchen. This offer expires June 30th. You can also get my popular holistic health seminar series entitled Renew Your Life at a 70% discount through June 30th. My website susansmithjones.com is teaming with information on living a healthy, vibrant, and balanced life.)

A Treasure-Trove of Nutrients

At this point, you may be wondering about the nutritional benefits of Spirulina and why I recommend it as the ideal food for you and your entire family. First of all, it’s rich in protein — and a highly digestible protein to boot. Sixty percent protein, it contains every essential amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein.

Results from independent third party lab tests confirm the following:

• Hawaiian Spirulina has 180% more calcium than whole milk (Calcium supports bones, teeth, muscles, hormones, nerve function, PMS, and high blood pressure)
• Hawaiian Spirulina has 5100% more iron than spinach (Iron supports energy and blood health)
• Hawaiian Spirulina has 3100% more beta-carotene than carrots (Beta carotene support eyes, immune function, antioxidant activity)
• Hawaiian Spirulina has 670% more protein than tofu (Protein supports muscle tissue)
• Three grams of Spirulina have more antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity than five servings of fruits and vegetables
• Comparing phytonutrient levels, Spirulina is 31 times more potent than blueberries, 60 times more potent than spinach, and 700 more times more potent than apples.

Are You Interested In Losing Weight?

WEIGHT LOSS: It’s my favorite whole food supplement to recommend for anyone wanting to lose weight and say good-bye to unhealthy eating habits, too. In my 90-day clinical study with over 100 men and women, we discovered that Hawaiian Spirulina (when taken daily) helps curb the appetite, eliminates carb and junk food cravings, precludes overeating, and supports weight loss to the tune of between 1 – 3 pounds weekly when taking two teaspoons of the powder daily (morning and afternoon) or the equivalency in tablets. Each participant also added in a 30-minute walk daily.

Learn more about Spirulina with health tips, and recipes.

I have been recommending Spirulina in my private practice since the early 80s. The only one that I use personally and recommend these days is Pure Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica because of its superior quality. It is, by far, the best Spirulina available in the world and the one that I would not be without.

How to Purchase Hawaiian Spirulina

I usually purchase the Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica at my local Whole Foods Market. Knowing that I was going to write this Blog for the Shannon Miller Lifestyle website, I contacted the company who creates this best Spirulina in the world and asked them if they would give a discount to all of the readers of this website, and they agreed to give us 25% off through May 31st. So I am purchasing enough to last me one year. To receive this terrific discount, we must all use the code: GREENHEALTH.

Two Ways to Order Spirulina and Get a 25% Discount

You can go online to their website by nutrex-hawaii.com/ or you can call them directly at: 800-453-1187 (US & Canada) or 808-329-4677 (Intl). Remember to use the code GREENHEALTH so you can get 25% off through May 31st. I encourage you to start with a three-month supply. This is what I suggest to everyone in my private practice. You’ll see a world of difference in how you look and feel and a drop in your weight, if you need to lose any pounds, after this short amount of time. Be sure to visit my website susansmithjones.com for more Spirulina and Astaxanthin (world’s most powerful antioxidant) information.

♥

To learn more about my new 3-book set — Walking on Air: Your 30-Day Inside and Out Rejuvenation Makeover (foreword by Alexandra Stoddard), The Joy Factor: 10 Sacred Practices for Radiant Health (foreword by Wayne Dyer) and my full color, natural-food cookbook with over 150 photographs Recipes for Health Bliss, (forewords by Neal Barnard, MD and Victoria Moran), please visit: SusanSmithJones.com.

Maybe National Women’s Check-up Day on May 14th will help to remind you!

What about last year? Did you know that the best medicine you may have is preventative medicine? And it all starts with you and your doctor having that lovely annual visit. Some parts of your annual physical may not be pleasant at the moment, but they can save your life! Ask Shannon… a yearly check-up was how her ovarian cancer was detected. 

What should I expect at an annual check-up?

1. Expect to talk about your history and your family history. Each year, you need to update your chart. Did you have any serious illnesses or concerns? What about your family? Did any blood relative receive a diagnosis of a disease that could run in the family? Did anyone pass away? How is your mental health?
2. Expect to tell your doctor about your habits. Are you a smoker? Drinker? Do recreational drugs? How are your exercise habits? What is your diet like?
3. Take your blood pressure, weight, and possibly measurements, cholesterol level and blood sugar. Depending on your doctor’s concerns, he may want to see where your excess weight lies, and how your blood sugar is.
4. Update blood work. Sometimes, like in a major life change, the doctor needs to review your hormone levels. For instance, if you have had a sudden weight gain or loss, have had a baby, or are going through menopause, he will need to see if your hormone levels are balancing or if levels of thyroid and other hormones need some balancing. (A little tip: get your thyroid checked when you are feeling GREAT so that you have a number to compare it to in the case that, later on in life, you suddenly don’t feel so GREAT!)
5. Check vital organs. The doctor will want to make sure the heart, lungs, and other organs sound as they should. If they do not, he may order more testing. An example would be a heart murmur or wheezing in the lungs.
6. Head and neck exam. Through checking the head and neck, the doctor can see if glands are swollen, if there are sinus problems, or if eyes look hazy (a sign of diabetes).
7. Breast exam. The doctor will feel all around the breast, including under the arms, for lumps or swollen lymph nodes. He will mention making sure you do that yourself every month as well, because the number one way to make sure you do not die or have serious complications due to breast cancer is to catch it fast.
8. Pelvic Exam. The doctor will press on the pelvic area for signs of swelling. He will use a clamp to hold the vagina open while he checks the uterus and cervix. NOTE: by law, a nurse must be present during the pelvic exam. If a nurse is not present, speak up! He will also take a sample (PAP)of the cervix tissue to check for cancer. Doctors also have the option to check for HPV. This sexually transmitted virus is the cause of most cervical cancers. Your doctor may want to check on that and keep track of HPV if it is found.

After the examination, most doctors will require you to do the follow up. When he gives you a card or other information at the end of the visit, make sure to put it on your calendar to call in on that certain date to get your test results. Otherwise, you may miss the vital information to your health.

SML TIP #1:  You are your own advocate for your healthy life, so take charge and get your annual physical exam. It may save your life.

SML TIP #2:  Listen every Saturday from 4-5 PM EST to Shannon’s radio show on WOKV and on-line to ask St. Vincent’s doctors questions that you may not even think of asking your normal doctor!

As a 43 year old woman, I am all for anything that works against the never ending pull of gravity.

However, this is not the latest beauty treatment found at the office of Dr. Youth. It is a treadmill.  Now normally I am not a big fan of the “dreadmill”, but this is the special NASA-designed Alter-G treadmill!  Hey, if it’s good enough for the space program, it’s good enough for me!

The really cool thing about this machine is that you can actually control your running weight.  Users are fitted for special running shorts and are zipped into an anti-gravity chamber.  The treadmill then uses air pressure to calibrate your weight.  Once you are zipped and measured, you are ready to go. For the sensitive ones among us (me) do not worry, the fancy treadmill does not announce or display your weight. It’s just your little secret. Well maybe NASA knows, but I doubt they are telling anybody here.

I was very excited to try this new technology. I know that if I were to lose a little weight, I could probably run faster. I read once that an extra 5 pounds causes 25 pounds of pressure on your knees.

I have had a few knee issues so I was curious to see what it felt like to be a little lighter.  Once you are zipped and calibrated, you are able to make adjustments to your weight.  This takes a little getting used to!  I decreased my weight by 20% to start.  I played around with the weight and pace.  I was definitely able to run faster at a lower weight.  I also ran without any knee pain.  It was a very good workout and I was soaked with sweat by the time I was done with five miles. (Sorry about those special running shorts!)

So why run on an anti-gravity treadmill?

First it is a great way for athletes to keep up their fitness level while recovering from an injury.  Second, it is great for “overspeed” training.

When you are training at a much faster than normal pace, you cause new motor neurons to engage. It will actually make you faster when gravity rears its ugly head.  Third, it’s great for recovery runs. After a tough workout, you can take it “light”!

I have to admit, the whole time I was running, I was thinking about heavier clients that I have worked with.  For some of them, their extra weight made walking only a short distance very painful. I kept imagining what it would be like for that person to be able to walk for a mile without any pain. What a great workout that would be!

SML TIP:  In Jacksonville, you can try it out at the Personal Running Solutions AlterG Training Center located at 1435 Atlantic Boulevard.

If you are not in Jax, then check at some of your local physical therapy centers.  You just might like it!

Did you know that the week of May 7 is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week?

Parents, such as Angela of the blog “Life With Bob” discusses difficulty in finding resources to help her son, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Mental illnesses can be any range of any of the following:

• Bipolar Disorder
• OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
•  Depression
•  Anxiety
•  ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

Any and all of those mental illnesses can pose social and learning difficulties for children, and are equally as tough on their families as they are on the kids themselves. Parents find themselves on the “slippery slope” of medicines and therapies, which have to be different in children than they are for adults. You can also imagine how difficult new medications must be to pass the FDA (U. S Food and Drug Administration), since research and drug trials on children are much more difficult to administer than on adults.

Support for parents of children with mental health challenges include the Children’s Mental Health Network (CMHN) and the National Federation of Families For Children’s Mental Health (FFCMH).

Anxiety Disorders

In some studies, children with anxiety disorders show heightened brain activity in association with fearful experiences or angry faces.

Some studies also show that girls have more difficulty with this than boys as they age and develop.

Cognitive behavioral therapy has been more productive in studies than other therapies, including medication, according to the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health).

Depression Disorders

Studies show that children can suffer from clinical depression, where a few years ago, this was not the common belief in the medical field. Children who are depressed may complain of feeling sick often and be clingy to parents.

According to the NIMH, the most effective strategy with most children and adolescents suffering from depression is a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy AND medication.

HOWEVER, there is a black box warning on all anti-depressants currently, warning parents to not administer these drugs to children. Some studies have shown an increase in thoughts of suicide in children who are taking these medications. This is not to say that every child has the same side effect, but that all parents must proceed with extreme caution, and must monitor their child’s progress for the first few weeks of medication therapy very closely. PLEASE ask your doctor!

ADHD

According to Dr. Ben Vitiello of NIMH, ADHD symptoms are often lack of attention and hyperactivity. However, these symptoms alone do not cause the disorder. The disorder is when the child cannot function in a normal learning or social environment.

There is a lot of controversy regarding various techniques in helping children with ADHD. Some dietary adjustments may be recommended by a doctor or dietician. Also, psychotherapy to uncover any other problems may be recommended. Sometimes it may not be ADHD after all, but actually an anxiety or depression disorder that appears to be ADHD.

If the doctor recommends medicine, then the parent has to consider their lives and whether the particular medication would be helpful, or whether possible side effects would be harmful. It is always important to research drugs before they are administered, and to ask questions about side effects and interactions. Some medicines are stimulants, and some are amphetamines. Each will have different effects on different children. It is very important to follow dosage instructions, as overdosing on these medicines could cause a child to have a panic attack, or even have hallucinations, according to Dr. Richard Kingsley.

Overall, it is very important to stay in tune with your child and to listen to how he or she is feeling. Communication with teachers and coaches is also important, as you would want another adult to consult you with any concerns about your child’s mental health. A doctor or therapist’s help is also very important. Using resources such as FFCMH also helps arm parents with research and development, which can help make important decisions for your child.

SML TIP: Try various methods such as

• exercise

• massage

• different food choices

• home schooling

before resorting to more extreme measures such as prescribed medications.