FITNESS FOR KIDS MADE SIMPLE

I was recently asked by a parent confused about what to do when it comes to getting their kids active. "What program should I enroll my son in?" or "How can I find time in our hectic schedule to take my daughter to another appointment?" Outside of you leading by example and getting off facebook, your child must understand the importance of fitness. They also must be convinced that it is enjoyable and not actually exercise. Very few children like to exercise unless it is made fun!

It's understandable that parents are overwhelmed by their busy lives and also that they are confused due to all the information on proper parenting being thrown at them. The promising notion underlying these questions is that most parents understand the importance of getting their kids fit. But where to start?
When parents come to me with these "barriers" to exercise, I always recommend a simple body weight program that can be completed at home. There is no need for equipment, machines, or a lot of space; basically there are no excuses. This home training program is great for any child up to 12 years old. Of course, you may have to adjust the intensity level based on your child's abilities. As kids get to 13 years and older, I usually recommend including some light weights, medicine ball and resistance bands.

7-Step Home Training Program for Kids after the jump...

1. Start with a light aerobic-type of exercise for 2-3 minutes. This can be walking or jogging on the spot or jumping jacks. This gets your heart pumping and warms up your joints and muscles.

2. Follow this with 2-3 minutes of light range of motion movements or active stretches. Try working from your head down to your toes. Side-side neck rolls, shoulder and arm circles in both directions, trunk twists in both directions, hip circles, leg side-side swings, standing toe touches. These types of movements allow kids to learn body awareness. This helps them learn new skills and develops balance and flexibility. With my younger ones, I always direct them to "reach to the left with your right hand," turn the right leg outward, etc. It's great to see how fast they progress from totally confused to actually feeling the stretch and doing the movement properly.

3. Push-ups from your knees or against a wall. Do as many as you can without stopping.

4. Body Squats: Feet shoulder-width apart, hands on your hips, lower your body as if you're sitting in a chair behind you. Repeat this for 1-2 minutes without bending your knees more than 90 degrees.

5. Stomach Crunches: Lying on your back with your knees bent, feet on the floor and hands on your thighs. Raise your shoulders off the ground until your hands slide up your leg and cover your knees. Return to starting position and continue for 1-2 minutes.

6. Wall Sit: Leaning against a wall with your feet shoulder-width apart, slowly lower your body to a sitting position. Make sure your feet are in line with your knees and not too close to the wall. Stay in this position for up to 2 minutes.

7. Shake your body out, get a sip of water and repeat #1-6 in order two more times.

1. This program will take anywhere from 15-25 minutes, depending on your child's fitness level. Try this program at least three days a week. Don't forget to change things up every couple of weeks to keep your kids interested. Switch the order of exercises often, have your kids train you by leading the exercises, and substitute exercises with whatever comes to mind. I have found that when the children lead and feel they are training you, it builds a level of confidence in them that is unmatched by anything else. My children really enjoy when they show me something they didnt think I knew.  The main point is that your kids are moving on a regular basis, getting stronger every day and developing a life-saving habit. Keep in mind that this is simply one piece of a child's daily activity routine as the Surgeon General's recommendation is 60 minutes a day, most days of the week.

WHATS YOUR FLAVOR! WATER MADE BETTER!

Despite the health benefits of water and the public awareness, people still love to drink juice and soda. Unfortunately, these beverages are usually empty calories filled with sugar that do little in the way of hydration — even diet soda can be harmful and damaging. I personally think that water tastes great, but sometimes I get bored with drinking it all the time. Instead of giving in to juice and soda cravings( I crave Mountain Dew from time to time), I've decided to start making my own flavored water at home. Not only does it taste great, it's extremely economical.
My advice is to keep a few flavors in your fridge at all times; that way you'll always have a bit of variety and never get bored. Because I only like a hint of flavor in my water, I don't add a ton of stuff. I recommend you find what works best for you and your taste buds!
Here's a few ideas on how you can make your own:

• Add fresh citrus juice to water. I especially love the combination of lime and orange.
• Add herbs to your water. I love putting a few sprigs of fresh mint in my H20 pitcher.
• Add freshly cut cucumbers. This small addition really gives water a clean and refreshing taste that is ever so subtle.
• Add fresh sliced ginger, and you've made yourself a cure for motion sickness.
• Add pickle juice to water and make your own electrolyte replacement drink. It might sound gross but it really works!( now you know what to do with that leftover pickle juice)
• For a hint of sweetness, crush up some berries or pomegranate seeds into your water. I love mixing strawberries and kiwi together.

These are options, but why pay so much for something that can easily be made at home? Making your own flavored water is easy, delicious, refreshing, all-natural – and impressive when you have your friends over.
The anoher great technique to use is similar to that of making a mojito.( dont ask how I know LOL) You need to start with a fresh herb, some crushed ice, and a whisk or other utensil that can crush the two together.

Mint Water:
½ cup of mint leaves
2 cups of crushed ice
8 cups cold, filtered water
Place the ice and mint in a pitcher and muddle(crush) together. (This process breaks down the mint leaves and releases their flavor.) Then add the water and let infuse in the fridge for at least an hour or ideally for four hours.

If you decide to add fruit, I’d recommend cutting it into pieces and placing it in the pitcher. But don’t muddle it as it will make the water cloudy and not visibly appealing.

Citrus Water
1 whole lemon (washed)
1 whole orange (washed)
1 whole lime (washed)
2 cups of crushed ice
8 cups cold water

Slice each piece of fruit into round wagon-wheels. Put slices in the pitcher with the ice and the water and stir. Let sit for at least four hours (longer is better) and serve with a couple of pieces of fruit in each glass.
For citrus mint water, simply mix the two recipes above.
Making flavored water at home will save you money, ensure there are no added ingredients in your beverage, and impress your friends and family, and it’s better for the environment because there are no wasteful plastic bottles to ship all over the country.( I have children so yes I care about the earth)
Give it a try and enjoy creating something simple and special.

GET AKB FIT

WINNING ATITTUDE....NARCISSISM IN SPORTS

Narcissus was by all accounts a very handsome boy. When he rejected the advances of Echo a nypmh who wanted him,  his punishment was he would be consumed by his own beauty.Day after day Narcissus would spend countless hours staring at his reflection in any body of water he encountered. One day he was crouched over a pool of water admiring himself when he fell in the pool and drowned.  It was at this very spot a flower bloom...thus giving it the name narcissus and laying the foundation for the psychological disorder Sigmund Freud wrote about in his 1914 paper Narcissim: An Introduction.
I was an extremely talent athlete as a child. I played beyond the expectations of what a person my age was suppose to do. My mother has told the story many times that I ran before I walked. I learned to run hurdles at 5 years old and by age 11 was a national record holder, junior Olympian and countless other accolades that had been bestow upon me. I once was paid money after a little league football game because my coach felt that even though the team as a whole had given a sub par performance, my achievements on the field that day warranted him praising me separately with $10 dollars. It didn't mean much to me till my brother began to explain that I was now a professional athlete and that I couldn't play high school or go to college football. I cried and began to searched high and low for my coach trying to give that money back. I didn't want to be a pro (at least not at that moment) I just wanted to play sports. For me it was the delight I received when I stepped on the field in helmet, shoulder pads, cleats with my friends.  We played that very same game everyday after school in the projects in Centerville Illinois. Wasn't much difference, we played for fun, having grown up together we just enjoyed being around one another. Winning wasn't on our minds.....but on the minds of those around us, NOW THAT WAS DIFFERENT! I love my brother Kettrell for so many reasons, he taught me to hurdle, he was the one who also told me I wasn't an amateur anymore too (I haven't forgot LOL). He also taught me that I could do anything I set my mind to! I think back to an incident when in the projects he would take me around to race other kids like a race horse..(did he bet money I don't know). They even called me Seattle Slew( famous race horse) because of my knees..( don't you dare laugh at me). Once I raced a girl who was visiting her family from out of town and she beat me. I went home and ate a sweet pickle(my spinach) and I came back and beat her the second time. Did that sweet pickle help me?.. NO WAY..what did was his confidence in me! I believe at that moment is when my narcissist attitude began to develop! I wasn't suppose to lose EVER!
I feel so much success early on can eventually lead to this mentality. Its a thin line between being competitive and being conceited. I grew to be conceited more so than competitive. It was about winning, getting up in the morning at 6am to do a road run, or doing 500 push ups and sit ups at night was just the details to ensure I DIDN'T LOSE! Those who I did lose to in my eyes were cheating(drugs) so I understood I was still BETTER.
When I watch sports on the TV, I don't see athletes performing to the best of their abilities or enjoying the sport itself. What I see is narcissistic men carrying on like children who are looking for praise and admiration from those whom have told them they are better than the rest. Certain individuals have become the by product of a narcissistic society that emphasizes winning over anything else. Case and point Michael Jordan, it is been rumored that he is competitive in every aspect of his life. He gambles on everything, because in his eyes he cant lose! Floyd Mayweather is in the same category, he explemifies this! Everything about him is better, I always win, I cant lose!
Now as a former athlete I understand there needs to be an attitude where you have confidence in yourself , but what happens when you are no longer an athlete? What happens when that win by all means carries over into your personal life? With your significant other, colleagues, children, friends...when does the competition turn off. When you do you feel that you don't have to be better or compete with everyone and everything in your life?\
Kobe isn't Kobe the elite basketball player only on the court, that instinct to win I am sure spills over into home and every other area he ventures into. Lebron desires to win, but I am sure goes home or hangs out with friends and maintains that killer instinct!
The fact is we are born into a narcissistic society, we are raised around narcissistic people, we have narcissistic friends and they often times further our narcissistic ideas about our selves. The end result is a house, a school, a street, a town, a state, a country, a government and its citizens wearing the narcissistic badge like a crown while at the same time trying to project an image of cohesiveness, comradery, companionship and a sense of community. You cant go right and left, you cant go up and down, you cant be hot and cold....its either you are a team player or you are a team slayer but you cant be both! Winning is great but at the expense of losing the fundamental reason we play the game, that's not the WINNING ATTITUDE we want the young athletes to accept! Unless of course you want a team full of narcissist. THERE ISN'T AN "I" IN TEAM!!!!!!

GET AKB FIT!!!

"TEACHING A HEALTHY APPROACH TO A HAPPY EXISTENCE"

WHY YOU CANT LOSE WEIGHT!!!!!!!!

We all want to be fit. We all know how much we should weigh. Ladies I am sure  know your ideal pant size. You can even picture how great those skinny jeans will look.
So why aren’t most people living life in your ideal body?
There are many complex reasons that make weight loss a challenge, reasons that go deeper than simply calories-in versus calories-out.
What I’m talking about is the life issues that get in the way of your success.
Look thru the following 5 obstacles and the solutions to unlock your best body ever.

1. You don’t want to be bothered.
It’s in our DNA to avoid pain and seek out pleasure. Unfortunately this works against you when trying to get fit. In your mind, it’s painful (or at least uncomfortable) to deny yourself the tasty food that you crave and to exert yourself with exercise.
There’s a simple way to work around this obstacle: Find something painful about being fat to motivate yourself towards healthy eating and exercise. Look the negative impact your current weight has on your health, self-esteem and lifestyle. Convince yourself that the pain of being out of shape is much greater than the discomfort of losing weight.

2. You don’t want to wait for the good stuff.
Just as you wish to avoid pain, you are also an expert in seeking out pleasure – namely food. This served the cavemen well, but these days it ends up as extra pounds around your waist and thighs.
There’s good news: extra calories are not your only option to stimulate the pleasure center of your brain. Find an activity or two that make you smile and indulge in those regularly.

• A walk outside
• A good book
• A night out to the movies or theater
• A spa day

You can also retrain your brain to crave the pleasure of exercise-induced endorphins. Talk about weight gain kryptonite!

3. You are crazy busy.
Let’s face it, you work too much, commit yourself to too much and don’t even get enough sleep most of the time. The fast-paced way you live leaves you exhausted, stressed and hungry for comfort food. You even begin to feel too busy to take care of your health.
It’s time to re-prioritize. Let go of your perfectionist standards (I know this one too well) and remove a few commitments from your schedule so that you are able to cook healthy meals, exercise and get a good night’s sleep. Remind yourself that taking care of your health is not a luxury – it’s a necessity.

4. You don’t deserve it.
Most people act like they don’t deserve to live the good life in the body of their dreams. Take a moment to think back on all the times you have self-sabotaged your weight loss efforts. If you don’t believe deep down that you are worthy then you’ll never give yourself a chance at a fit body.
I believe that you deserve to have a healthy body – and I urge you to dig deep down to uncover why you don’t. Once you conquer your feelings of unworthiness, getting on an exercise and healthy eating plan will be easy.
Take the time to take care of yourself. You DO deserve it.

5. You are afraid.
You’re afraid to start because you just might fail, and wouldn’t that be embarrassing? Look at it this way ...just maybe you’re also afraid to start because you just might succeed, and change makes you uncomfortable – even if it’s change in the right direction.
When you decide to get fit you will need to go through a bushel of changes:

• New diet
• New exercise routine
• New friends at the gym
• New clothes
• New self-image

Focus on all of the ways that losing weight will make your life better. Envision that better life everyday so that it goes from being new and scary to familiar and comfortable.

GET AKB FIT!!!!

Teaching a healthy approach to a happy existence!

OCD......THE SECOND GUESSING SYNDROME PART 2

I blogged a few months back about me having OCD.... Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or "The Doubting Disease".  I have since done a bit of my own research in learning all I can as it relates to the disorder. I thought with the information I have come across, I would share it with you all in hopes it would shed a little more light on the subject to help you understand yourself and others who are sufferers. OCD has been classified as an anxiety disorder. The symptoms vary widely but I have listened a few here to get us started. There are several types of symptoms for OCD but there are 2 elements which make up the disorder......hence the name OBSESSIONS and COMPULSIONS. The Obsessions are unwanted or persistent thoughts, feelings or impulses that intrude your mind. These feelings and thoughts usually cause anxiety, worry and doubt. Compulsions are mental acts or repetitive behavior that is performed in an effort to relieve or prevent the anxiety, worry or doubt. People with OCD believe these rituals possess some kind of magic that will prevent or deflect whatever the situation that is causing the anxiety, worry or doubt. I liken it to an undo button when you working in Microsoft word. Sufferers are usually unsure about things, always second guessing themselves, their decisions, and or their actions. The most common are compulsive checking....this is where the person repeatedly checks things such as doors, locks or household appliances believing if they aren't checked and rechecked an accident or harm can be a result. Compulsive ordering and symmetry.....this is where the person feels compelled to constantly arrange certain items or carry out actions repeatedly until they feel "just right." The person can become extremely distressed if objects they've arranged are moved, touched or rearranged. Hoarding.....is probably the one that gets talked about the most, especially with the show Hoarders. These people have difficulty discarding things that most people consider junk...like old newspapers, magazines, milk cartons and even cigarette ashes. There is also the Scrupulosity.....where the person is worried about the possibility of insulting or offending God by violating religious rules. They may pray or confess excessively or seek frequent reassurance from clergy about their own moral purity.
Since being officially diagnosed with OCD in early August of last year (some people told me I was long before) I have tried to learn as much as I can so I could get a better understanding of what had been affecting my life. I struggled for a while trying to understand why I was doing what I was doing. Now my actions have a face or at least something I can identify it with.
Quiet as kept OCD not only affects the person with the disorder but also those that are around them. Often times their life isn't understood and many who suffer are reluctant to share it with people. The stigma associated with the disorder is often that of someone who is crazy or has mental issues. I feel it takes a special person to be able to live with and love someone with OCD( yes I know its hard to believe but I am difficult to deal with at times). Not everybody is able to live up to the challenge...and a challenge it is!
I fall under the category of compulsive ordering and symmetry. My day starts with a certain set of rituals that most that have lived with me probably never paid much attention to. Yet if those rituals aren't done, then my day is completely thrown off.  I spend the remainder of my day worrying about whatever I missed doing that morning. Often times when this happens I am accused of being moody, acting funny or not wanting to be bothered. They didn't realize my day didn't start off like it should have...so my coping mechanisms kick in and in my mind I am try to redo what I didn't do! Most of the time the reminder of my day is spent sorting, or grouping things together either physically or mentally. So imagine me trying to explain to you that I am not in the mood this morning because I didn't put my left shoe on first, or my favorite spoon was dirty or my brush wasn't where I left it. To the people not directly affected by the disorder this makes absolutely no sense at all. I have heard, "just put your shoe on", or "use another spoon, its just a spoon." Yes to you they are, but to me it much more than that. I want that particular spoon because I don't like big spoons. It feels right, it looks right so I have to have it. When it isn't available I panic....so instead of washing that spoon I will wash all the dishes, which leads to cleaning the stove and the microwave etc. So as long as that spoon is available I am OK! I could go on about all those things that trigger responses from me but the list is too long you you all may actually think I am crazy for real. Plus sometimes I don't even know why I am doing something until it is pointed out to me.
I can't say I know the root cause as to why I am the way I am or when it started for me. My mother wasn't strict or worrisome but she is somewhat of a neat freak. She irons all the time. I recalled once when she broke a few toes when she fell and as I was preparing to take her to the emergency room, she told me she had to iron her pants and shirt! I still laugh at that sight...her standing on one leg ironing her clothes( she wouldn't let me do it for her). Maybe it was my grandmother who drilled into my mother the importance of order and cleanliness. My mother made mention that as a child she didn't have clean clothes or shoes all the time, and now she has a room(literally) full of clothes and shoes.She has some shoes she hasn't worn in 10 years, but the funny part is they are all organized(yes I went in the room and arranged things) on clothes racks and the shoes are all boxed up neatly arranged against the wall.
I wrote this today so some people can get a better understanding of what OCD is and if you are living with someone who may be suffering from it and not know it, maybe this can help you to help them. For me it seems like a haze was cleared because I now understand a part of me that was misunderstood not only by others but myself included. Clarity is a beautiful thing! Its not easy being a person who suffers from this disorder and chances are it's not easy being with them either.

GET AKB FIT!

"Teaching a healthy approach to a happy existence"

DRUG DEALING IN AMERICA.....PHARMACEUTICALS, DOCTORS AND THEIR ADDICTS

   
"THERE IS NO DISEASE THAT G-D HAS NOT CREATED A CURE FOR EXPECT OLD AGE"
-UNKNOWN


    Up late watching television I have noticed the vast number of drug commercials on.  These commercials give you the benefits of these drugs but they also list the known side effects. You soon will  need another pill to combat the symptoms of the side effects. Eventually resulting in consuming 3 or 4 pills for one aliment. This has lead us to becoming a medicated society that comes to think there is a little pill for everything. It seems they have happy pills, they have sad pills, weight loss pills , weight gain pills, smart pills and they have dumb pills ( I think Newt Gingrinch and Sarah Palin both have a life long prescription).....but the fact remains we have become a drug addicted society. The real troubling facts are, our children are becoming  one of the largest consumer group of so called prescription drugs.
    I recently found that a two-year investigation by the Florida Statewide Advocacy Council found that more than 50 percent of Florida's foster children -- including infants and toddlers -- were being given mind-altering drugs.  Forty-four percent of them had not been seen by a pediatrician, and of those who had, five percent had no diagnosis.  Another 12 percent had a diagnosis of "other," which included hearing impaired, bed-wetting and the dubious, subjective diagnosis of "adjustment disorder." So we asked the question why are our children behaving the way they are.....part of the reason is the narcotics we are pushing on them. The drugs given the children were designed to treat schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder.  In young growing bodies these drugs can cause heart problems, growth suppression, psychosis, and decreased blood flow to the brain.  A common side effect is tics or shakes.
    A 2006 Brandeis University study found that over a seven-year period (1991-2004), psychotropic drug prescriptions for teens increased by 250 percent. This was 6 years ago and the new numbers are even more staggering.  The study revealed that in 2001 one in every ten office visits by teenage boys led to a prescription for a psychotropic drug, and a diagnosis of ADHD was given one-third of the time.  Also, up to 26 percent of the time when these medications were prescribed, no mental health diagnosis was made.
    The deadly phenomena of  school shootings....  in fact may be related to this increased use of psychotropic drugs as many shooters were on psychotropic drugs at the time.
    According to the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a psychiatric watchdog group, eight out of 13 school shootings, such as the Columbine High School shooting in 1999, were committed by teens on psychiatric drugs.  Mothers on these drugs have killed their children or even cut off the arms of their baby while taking these drugs.

*Kip Kinkel, a 15-year-old youth who killed his parents and then killed two and wounded 22 of his fellow students at Thurston High School in Oregon, was taking Prozac.

*Eric Harris, one of the shooters at Columbine High in Littleton, Colorado, was under the influence of Luvox (fluvoxamine), an antidepressant medication.  The potential side effects of Luvox are listed in the manufacturer's warning: "Frequent" adverse effects include "manic reaction" and psychotic reaction."  Symptoms of mania include delusions of grandeur, intense irritability, and rages and delusional thoughts.

*Fifteen-year-old Shawn Cooper of Notus, Idaho fired a shotgun at students and school staff.  According to his stepfather, he had been taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

*Thirteen-year-old Chris Fetters of Iowa killed her favorite aunt.  She was taking Prozac.

*In 2001, Christopher Pittman killed his grandparents while taking Zoloft, an antidepressant similar to Prozac.

    If drugs don't work and actually harm people, if the studies and research show this, if people don't like them.....then I ask why are physicians prescribing them, why are people buying them, and why are pharmaceutical companies so rich?
When considering the mental health of their patients, physicians and psychiatrists use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th. Edition.  Better known as the DSM-IV, the manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and covers conventionally recognized mental-health disorders, causes, gender and age statistics, and prognoses as well as research and treatment approaches( this book is very deep)
    The DSM is used by medical practitioners and is the industry's bible if you believe there is such a thing. The information contained in it is the final word for the practice of conventional psychiatry in the United States and other "developed" countries.  If a treatment option or diagnosis is not written in its pages, it is not used or considered.
    The manual is also tremendously important to pharmaceutical companies livelihood. See the Food and Drug Administration will not approve a drug to treat a mental illness unless the condition is in the DSM.  Once a condition is included in the manual, drug companies can then market the "approved" medications to physicians and consumers.
    The original 1952 DSM manual contained 107 mental-health disorders.  The most recent edition identifies 365. In a not-so-shocking revelation, it was recently uncovered that every one of the psychiatric "experts" who provided information about disorders typically treated with pharmaceuticals -- mood disorders, schizophrenia, and other psychotic disorders -- benefited financially from drug companies, and those ties were especially strong where drugs were recommended as a first-line treatment.  Most of the money received by the DSM-IV experts was for research.  Other financial perks included speaking or consulting fees, ownership of company stock, gifts, and paid travel expenses.
    The DSM uses research to back up its treatment recommendations, which would be appropriate if the findings were objective and unbiased.  However, many of the "experts" who conducted the research have such close ties to pharmaceutical goals that the research and its conclusions should be considered invalid.
In my research I found, Eli Lilly & Company was seeking to market its drug Prozac (fluoxetine hydrochloride) to treat premenstrual syndrome (PMS); but first PMS had to be considered a psychiatric disorder.  Five of the six researchers charged with this task had ties to Eli Lilly.  Of course, a new disorder to cover this problem was conveniently recognized.  In November 1999, the FDA’s Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee unanimously recommended approval of Eli Lilly’s Prozac for the treatment of "premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)," a "severe" psychiatric form of PMS.
    However, since the patent on Prozac had expired, Eli Lilly got the FDA to approve their drug Serafem for the treatment of PMDD.  Prozac and Serafem are the exact same drug.  While the patent on Prozac has expired, the patent in 2001......  the profits..... on Serafem were protected until 2007. Patents on drugs work as follows.....A company will apply for a patent before the drug has been approved to hit the market. Once it is approved they have a set number of years to sell the drug before the patent expires. So what a company will do is apply for a patent for a drug but say that it treats a number of different aliments that way they can keep selling the drug after the first patent expires. This also prevents other companies from applying for a patent for the same drug.
    Once a patent expires, a generic form of the drug may be manufactured, with considerable cost savings to a consumer.  I looked at the Internet website http://www.drugstore.com/  and did some cost comparisons.  Thirty 20-milligram capsules of brand name Prozac costs $218.99.  Thirty 20-milligram capsules of the same drug – generic Fluoxetine HCl -- costs $24.99.  Twenty-eight 20-milligram capsules of Serafem costs $181.97. All three of these drugs are the same!
     My fear is when physicians are trapped in the profit-driven HMO insurance system they are little more than pawns for healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies. We are now in an age where we must fight for old-fashioned medicine.  We must be willing to fight for our right to choose our medical care, and be willing to pay for it.  As some physicians and pharmaceutical companies push pills aggressively on every front, we must be cautious, and we must be knowledgeable.  Do not trust the diagnosis, the doctor, or the documentation.  Consumers and "crazies," beware.  You are probably not as sick as they think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GET AKB FIT!!!!

"Teaching a Healthy approach to a Happy Existence"

THREE MEDICAL TEST THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

Turning any age that ends in 0 is always exciting. Remember when turning 20 was a big deal? Then turning 30 was a sign of settling down and having a family. Well now that we have hit 40, some things don't work the same way they use to. We don't get out of bed as fast, or that jump shot does flow as smooth as before or cutting the grass has now become our only form of exercise. Yes turning 40 is a great milestone, it should be an age where we start to look at our overall health.  You ask what  is it exactly that we look for? What questions do we ask the doctor? In my research I found their are 3 medical test that are a must have for both men and women who are in their 40’s and later. These will prevent or stop progression of many potential medical illnesses.
Make a habit of scheduling routine physical tests and exams to stay in tip-top shape.

#1 Check Your Heart’s Health
Although it is assumed heart disease affects men most, it is still the number one killer of women.
The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself, also called coronary disease that can lead to heart attacks.
Prevention of heart attacks can be done with a few important tests and lifestyle changes.
Heart health is determined through three main tests. The first is your Cholesterol Profile. Which includes a “good” cholesterol (HDL), “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides reading. Normal triglyceride levels are below 150. Levels above 200 are high.
Blood sugar will also be tested, mainly through a fasting blood glucose test. You can test blood sugar at home, but it is still important to get this lab test. Most doctors recommend a glucose test every 3 years after age 45.
The final heart check is blood pressure. Women and men differ slightly in this area. The ideal number is 120/80 for women, while men should be 115/70.
If your blood pressure is higher than your recommended number, it could be a serious warning sign.

#2 Get A Colonoscopy
Once thought to be just a concern for men, we now know that colon cancer can kill either men or women without discrimination. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer, excluding skin cancers.
Unfortunately, statistics show that less than 30% of people over 40 ever get tested. Men and women over age 45 should plan a colonoscopy at least every 2 years and then annually after age 50.

#3 Weight Check
The final test is to make sure you are at a healthy weight. Excess weight increases the workload on the heart. It also raises blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride levels and lowers HDL “good” cholesterol.
Diabetes is also a possibility with increased weight. Check with your doctor to find out if you are a healthy weight for your height. If not, they can suggest a diet and exercise plan for you that will add years to your life.
These are all relatively simple tests. It is surprising how many men and women fail to get tested when they should.
If you are 40 or over it is time that you became more serious about your health and scheduled a checkup with your doctor.

#GET AKB FIT
"TEACHING A HEALTHY APPROACH TO A HAPPY EXISTENCE"

I THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES........ REST IN PEACE

I was sitting in a condo on the 46th floor in downtown Chicago on a Saturday morning in October of 08 waiting on Pretty Russ to call me and let me know he was at Union Station ready for me to pick him up. This was a mini vacation for us, we had been working hard. In addition to our regular 9 to 5 jobs we had new music coming out, we had just finished a movie script we wrote, and a number of other projects we were working on. Things were looking good for both of us. I last spoke with him at 4:26am when he asked if he could park his car near the train station back in Saint Louis. He then proceeds to tell me to tell his girlfriend (Blay) that he had missed the train (a running joke between the 4 of us). The last thing he said to me was "I will see you when I touch down." I got a phone call at 9:24am (strange how you can remember times) asking me had I heard what happen! Of course I was confused because for all I knew Russ was on that train. I was then informed that he was dead! How could this be? When we spoke last he was walking into the train station....so what could have happened between the car and the train station? My only other thought was train crash. The TV was on so I didn’t see breaking news...then I was told it was a heart attack! In shock I mean I had just spoken with him! I was numb......but the hard part was informing Blay that he wasn’t coming. I got dressed and went to break the news. She was already up and told me not to worry about picking him up she wanted to do it! I guess the look on my face told her something was wrong....she asked....did he miss the train? I shook my head yes, but the tears in my eyes spoke a different story. I had to tell her Russ was dead! The very man she cared about so deeply had died before she could see him! There had been a disagreement between them and they hadn’t seen one another for 3 months. I hurt for her as well as dealing with my own pain! We grew closer over time after that and I got to know her and understood why Russ cared so much for her. She had a beautiful spirit, she was funny, supportive and caring. She was someone who I considered a true friend. She always kept it real with me no matter what and I loved her for that.
So I am sitting here writing this with a heavy heart because a few days ago I learned she had passed away! I knew she was not well but never in a million years did I think it would come to this. We all get sick, it comes with age but often we get to a point in our lives that we feel indestructible and feel that death only happens to old people and those that are living a lifestyle that involves great risk. The fact of the matter is death is an everyday part of life. There are 2 things that never come at an appointed time....BIRTH AND DEATH!
 Doctor visits and check ups should be as routine for us as changing the batteries in the smoke detectors, or the getting prepared for the holidays. If it helps schedule appointments for doctor, dentist and eye exams around significant dates, such as birthdays and holidays, start of school super bowl. Anything that happens annually, this way you won’t forget to see about yourself.
I have so many memories of both Blay and Russ. From the first moment we all met. The 4th of July weekend in Saint Louis when we were shooting "sling shots" in the backyard. The countless phone conversations that Blay and I had.... (Yes they were supposed to be secret though I am sure she told somebody LOL).  I miss them both and it wasn’t a day that went pass that I didn’t think about Russ which eventually turn into a thought about Blay......So I hold my head high and smile, I thank the Almighty for the opportunity he gave me to know you both! Eventually our bodies died and return back to were they came, but our memories are forever as long as someone speaks your name! I WILL ALWAYS "KEEP IT THORO" SO LONG THORO CHICK!.....Pretty Russ I will see you when I touch down!