Mirror Athlete Enterprises Articles

July 25, 2008

Do You Have Unexplained Weight Gain?

Filed under: Dare to Walk, Diabetes, Diet, Men's Health, Nutrition, Product Toxins, Weight Management, Women's Health, body activity, disease, fast food, obesity — Marc Woodard @ 09:28

Q. What causes unexplained weight gain?

A. Wow you didn’t hold back anything here.  Seeing that I have no detail… This attracted me to post this question because it is so vague and broad as how to answer to it.  I’ll take it as a personal challenge to meet the key health points that may direct you in an area to do your own research.  I also highly recommend you visit our health repository and read my previous health blog articles under “fitness, nutrition and weight management category.”  Here goes, “I don’t believe in unexplained weight gain, I believe there’s a logical reason for weight gain.” Now that I’ve set this stage, let me explain. 

 Causes of weight gain   1) Congenital heart defects cause poor blood-fluid circulation, i.e., fluids in the feet, ankles and legs. 2) Cushing’s Syndrome – Is a hormonal disorder caused from prolonged exposure of body tissues to high levels of hormone cortisol (self induced Cushings symptoms from prednisone use). Symptoms include, but not limited to upper body obesity, rounded face, increased fat around the neck, thinning arms and legs. 3) Fitness – Fitness develops muscle cells that weigh more than fat cells. 4) Hypothyroidism – The Thyroid hormone is produced in the lower part of the neck and when the thyroid production falls below normal levels two of the symptoms cause modest weight gain. 5) Kidney failure – The kidneys are responsible for filtering blood and removing waste products, controlling blood pressure and production of red blood cells. Inability to regulate water and electrolyte balance, clear waste products, can cause generalized swelling. 6) Obesity – Excess body fat is “usually” caused by poor diet. 7) Medications – Most medications have side effects. Read signs and symptoms of your medications to determine if this is the cause of your weight gain. Consult your doctor. 8) Pregnancy – Use a pregnancy test to determine if this is the source of your weight gain.

I may not have covered all areas that are the cause of weight gain, but these are the most common reasons for unexplained weight gain.  Believe it or not, most of the weight control problems listed above “can be” controlled through proper diet and exercise.  I know you’ve heard this before, but it’s true.  If I could provide a few RECOMMENDATIONS:  Take daily walks to the store instead of driving the car, or walk your dog, or get a fitness membership, etc.  Cut your processed food consumption in half.  I.e., eat organic 3-4 times a week.  Cut alcohol consumption in half.  Cut sodium consumption in half.  Increase fruits and vegetable consumption daily.  Cut red meat consumption in half weekly.  Increase poultry and fish consumption in place of red meat.  ”Quit drinking diet sodas!!! (see my article “Aspartame the Silent Killer,” in the Health Repository. Also visit our site Wellness Company page.  We offer excellent “NATURAL” products scientifically formulated to remove chemical toxin allergies from your home. 
Author:  Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET.  2008 Copyright.  All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing @: www.mirrorathlete.com,  Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

 

July 18, 2008

Is Bottled Water Safer Than Tap Water?

Filed under: Consumer Safety, Oral Hygiene, Prevention, Product Toxins, Wellness, secrets, tips, well-being — Marc Woodard @ 19:05

I decided to do a little research regarding bottled water to determine if it was safer, or better for your health.   Not only does my family drink bottled water but also many of my friends and family feel that bottled water is better than their own tap water.  I on the other hand am always under argument that our tap water is safe and most likely better quality than what’s purchased in the bottles.  I also can’t see spending an additional cost for bottled water when our municipality provides safe drinking water at our residential tap.  As a Californian I understand that regardless of what impression others may have about our water municipalities… California’s EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is one of the most stringent in the country when it pertains to tap water supply purity guidelines.  

    “Bottled Water Statistics: 1) More than one-fifth of tested brands contained levels of bacteria or cancer-causing compounds that exceeded the California limit.  2)  Seventeen percent of tested brands contained more bacteria than allowed under purity guidelines.  3)  Thirteen states have dedicated no staff or resources to regulating bottled water.  4)  In a four-year study of 103 brands of bottled water, one-third contained levels of bacteria or carcinogens and exceeded purity guidelines according to NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) reports.  While many people believe that bottled water contains no chlorine or harmful chemicals, the study found that fluoride, phthalate [recall I wrote an article “Are Leaching Plastics Killing Us?  Phthalates a known carcinogenic in poly plastics from the plastic bottle leaches into consumable liquids.  See Mirror Athlete Enterprises health repository for review of this article”], trihalomethanes and arsenic, a known carcinogen, can be found in some bottled waters.  5)  25 and 40 percent of bottled waters are re-packaged municipal tap water which may or may not have been subject to additional treatment.  6)  Bottled water is required to be tested less frequently than city tap water for bacteria and chemical contaminants.  Just because you buy your water in a bottle doesn’t mean it is any safer, purer or better than water that comes out of your tap.”  7) Some “designer” waters may even pose a health threat to vulnerable people, according to the national study from an environmental watchdog group (http://www.drblank.com/hnbottle.htm).” 

There are basically two reasons one should consider bottled water 1) Your tap water has contaminants that are greater than the EPA – tap water supply) and FDA (Federal Drug Administration – bottled water) accepted MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) standards.  2)  Your water has a strange taste or smell “(http://extoxnet.orst.edu/faqs/safedrink/bottled.htm).” 

Recommendations
 -Buy filters certified by NSF International, change filters per manufacturer recommendations.
-Check the bottle label – If it says municipal or community source, it comes from tap water.
-Save money by drinking and bottling your tap water if it meets MCL standards.
-Due to bacteria possibilities, bottled water should not be consumed by infants and elderly.
-For FDA Standards on bottled water:  http://www.fda.gov (FederalDrugAdministration).
-For more information about bottled water: http://www.wqu.org (WaterQualityAssociation).
-For more information write to Standards and Practices of bottled water companies: International Bottled Water Association, 113 N. Henry St. Alexandria, VA 22314-2973.

Issue:  “Why Prostate Health Is Important?” Author:  Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET.  2008 Copyright.  All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing, www.mirrorathlete.com,  Sign up for FREE Monthly eNewsletter.                     

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

July 7, 2008

Social Disability Expectation and Public Perception

Filed under: Depression, Diabetes, body activity, disability, disease, manage depression — Marc Woodard @ 07:10

I know a lot of you out there are hurting with disabling pain thinking there is nothing more you can do to increase your physical activity, provide further health benefits and/or improving your health condition, or quality of life.  There are solutions, but you have to want to become a mirror athlete as your number one goal.  Remember a mirror athlete will use health management techniques customized to improve posture, health & fitness levels improving overall daily activities and maintaining a healthy mind, body and soul.

Just curious, are you disabled and fulfilling your disabled “social expectation?”  This would be the type of person that accepts their lot in life and basically has given up on their health, activity or physical goals.  For example, if you are confined to a wheelchair this does not mean you can’t maintain mid-body to upper torso strength, flexibility, tone and overall weight & health management. You also may have gained excessive weight while confined to the wheel chair for example, or maybe you require walking assistant devices, have prosthetic devices to assist you in walking, or gripping.  Maybe your pain is so severe due to lack of an adequate pain management program… This keeps you indoors with minimal activity. Or maybe you experience depression on/off seeing no other way out of your medical condition predicament.

I do understand feelings of depression and acute/chronic body pain and loss of productivity and activity as I personally have experienced these things on a daily basis.  Yes, depression is never removed from the forefront as this typically goes with chronic pain, but can be managed. I also understand what it’s like to be eyeballed as physically weak, a failure in your mind’s eye, or inability to financially provide for your family, etc..

“If you are disabled and self fulfilling your disabled social expectation, you don’t have to be this way if you choose not to.”  What I mean by this statement, I know a lot of you former mirror athletes with broken bodies have given up on yourselves because you’ve had an injury(s), maybe forced to take early retirement and/or may be collecting disability checks, etc.  Some of you feel since you are disabled and collecting a disability check, you somehow must earn this support by self fulfilling your role as a disabled person with limited activity.  This means you’ve accepted your health condition misfortune and you feel your medical specialists, or primary care physicians are doing everything possible to assist you and there is nothing further you can do to improve your health situation waiting on the next medical test, appointment or procedure.  These facts are not even close to the truth “in most cases” regarding health benefits that can be received, even if your health issue/condition is classified as stationary permanent (means condition is stable, may/may not improve and “may” get worse with age).

My contention is, if you can move segments of your body you “can” receive an activity health benefit.  If you can consume calories, you can control and manage what you consume.  If you suffer from depression, there is support within the medical community and much information to be found in library’s or the Internet.  If your on a pain management program, you “most likely can” reduce your daily script to allow focus on activities for periods of time in a day, providing for healthy mind, body & soul.

There is nothing in life that can be accomplished well without proper balance of daily task management and nutrition.  Incorporate this mentality with pain, nutrition, fitness, exercise management programs and overall health maintenance on a daily basis… You “can” live your Mirror Athlete lifestyle as best you can and in “most” cases better than you are currently experiencing.

Don’t let society dictate expectations… Don’t accept or fulfill the disabled expectation.  Be a mirror athlete gladiator, take back as much of your life as you possibly can… Control a lifestyle that makes you feel great about yourself!   What have you got to loose?  Take back what rightfully belongs to you, it’s your health!

Author:  Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET.  2008 Copyright.  All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing, www.mirrorathlete.com,  Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

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