Thursday, August 25, 2011

Feeling Good, Feeling Great, How are you?

It’s me, Norm again, back to report more wonderful news about my life-changing program at Southwest Age Intervention Institute. At Southwest Age Intervention Institute, their motto is "Make the rest of your life the best of your life." Well, they had their work cut out for them in me. My spine tumor surgery in 2004 left me with a drop right leg. As a result my fitness and physical levels were below average. As I began my yearlong program with Southwest Age Intervention Institute on May 10, my weight had been slowly edging up. My strength and agility had slowly declined. I didn't sleep as well. I blamed it simply on theprocess of aging. However the day I walked into the Southwest Age Intervention Institute's office in Arlington, I was downright excited when I saw the plan designed specifically for me! It’s a few months later and let me tell you, the numbers are in and they are very good. 



Now the first three months have officially concluded. I've lost 24 pounds of fat. My body fat percentage has dropped seven percent. My cholesterol has plummeted from 176 to 123. The insulin levels in my body, previously very high, are now well within acceptable range. I am no longer deficient in vitamin D or DHEA. The inflammation in my body is down. I could go on and on and on because there simply is good news everywhere.

I have regularly scheduled physical workouts designed exclusively for my body’s limitations. This doesn't mean I'm even near where I want to be. Nevertheless, I'm stronger, sleep better, have better balance and to be honest, I feel younger. I love what Southwest Age Intervention Institute has done for me and look forward to seeing what they can do in the future. You will too. I am ecstatic to continue this program and promise you I will update you on my progress. Join me in making the rest of your life the best of your life by checking out this wonderful place. Call 1-800-AGE-EXPERT and be sure to tell whomever you talk to that I recommended you to call.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Stress! How Much Control Does It Have Over Your Life?


Your heart pounds.  Your muscles tighten and your stomach churns.  Your hands get clammy and you start to sweat.  Or your breathing may get so shallow you think you might pass out.  And, this is a chronic thing occurring in your life, right?

What’s going on?  These are typical responses to stress.  Your body is responding in an automatic and primitive way to a perceived danger.  Medical experts call it the fight or flight syndrome.

Here’s what happens.  Before you even have a chance to think about it, a stressful situation kicks off cascade of physiologic changes, starting with a flood of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, often called the stress hormone.  These biological and chemical messengers put the body on heightened alert and prepare us for whatever may happen next.

As a basic mechanism for survival, the fight or flight response may have been a good idea in prehistoric times.  After all, we may have had to fend off attack from a predator or run for our lives.

But it’s not so helpful today when the stressor isn’t a wild animal, but a traffic jam, pressure at work, conflict with a spouse, too many tasks on our “to do” list or an uncomfortable social situation.

Unfortunately, our body is blind to the cause of our stress.  It simply continues to respond the same way it always has.  And that’s the problem.  In prehistoric times, once the stressor was removed, our heart rate returned to normal, our blood pressure went down and our muscles relaxed.

But today, the stressors we perceive as harmful may never completely go away.  We may live under a state of chronic, low-level stress, especially if we are dealing with conflict on a daily basis or frequently feel overwhelmed with our fast-paced lives.

Some people may find their stress is caused by an inability to control difficult situations in their personal or professional lives.  Others may have a very high set of expectations for themselves and what they want to accomplish.  That can be stressful, too.

A little bit of stress can be motivating. Too much can push us over the edge.  Over time, stress can be very damaging to our physical, mental and emotional health.  Our bodies can become exhausted dealing with the constant onslaught of stress hormones and corresponding physiological responses.  When that happens, there can be serious consequences.  Chronic stress is linked to a surprising number of health issues:

  • Heart disease & heart attacks
  • Asthma
  • Impaired immune system making you more susceptible to colds and viruses
  • Depression & anxiety
  • Nervous habits, including nail biting, teeth grinding or clenching
  • Constant tension  & inability to relax
  • Eating disorders & gastrointestinal problems
  • Obesity, especially fat accumulating around the waist
  • Blood sugar fluctuation and type 2 diabetes
  • Sleep problems & insomnia
  • Brain-related problems, such as memory issues, inability to concentrate and focus
  • Stroke
  • Headaches
  • Back pain & unexplained muscle pain
  • Some skin conditions, including psoriasis & eczema
  • Lethargy & fatigue
  • PREMATURE AGING!
So what can you do to prevent stress burnout?

First, it’s important to recognize what triggers your stress and to determine if there is anything you can do about it.  Stress may be part of our modern life, but there may be steps you can take to reduce its impact on your life.  If you can’t change an unpleasant situation, perhaps you can change your attitude about it.  Ask for help.  Let go of tasks that are low priority.  Take time to relax and rest.  Get enough sleep.   Learn to communicate differently.

Regular exercise can be an excellent way to reduce stress.  So can learning relaxation techniques like deep breathing, taking up Yoga, having a body massage, listening to music or being sexually intimate.  In addition, it’s important to eat well and follow your doctor’s advice on vitamins, nutritional supplements and similar recommendations.

Left unchecked, stress can end your life. This is not to be taken lightly. Don’t let stress take over your life and leave you physically damaged and mentally impaired.  For more information about how you can reduce your stress levels and boost your well being, schedule a consultation with Dr. Rosenstein and the Southwest Age Intervention Institute.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Time for new pants

I'm nearing the three-month point of my program designed specifically for me at the Southwest Age Intervention Institute. I've still got nearly nine months left in the program, but I can’t express in words how much better my life has already become. I'm sleeping SO much better. Gone are the afternoons filled with naps, because I have a lot more energy.

Now a drum roll please---I'm going pants shopping this weekend! My weight has dropped to the point where even my former "tight stuff" is too loose. I started this comprehensive program of diet, supplements and exercise with a waist measurement of (GULP!) 48! I'm now a REAL 44! I need new pants to accommodate my new energy. Hopefully a few months from now these pants will need to be taken in too. In fact, the way my lifestyle has changed, I feel certain my pants will be altered down the road. But, for right now, I need new, smaller pants. Thank you Southwest Age Intervention Institute!