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Given half a chance your body WILL heal itself by itself.


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WHAT IS HBOT??

Here lies the healing magic of Hyperbaric Oxygenation.

Inside the pressurized chamber, the story unfolds. The injury site now begins to receive a healing dose of oxygen through the surrounding body fluids and plasma—even if the blood supply to the tissues is compromised.

Furthermore, to boost the oxygen concentration in oxygen chambers, supplemental oxygen may be added into hyperbaric chambers during treatment. Doctors and therapists commonly use enriched oxygen or an oxygen concentrator, also called an oxygen generator to help supplement the oxygen. As explained before, this oxygen will become infused into the numerous types of liquids in the body—blood, plasma, cerebral fluids.

And like the soda-pop in our analogy, the oxygen uptake will remain in the body for a time after treatment.The Gas Laws of Physics state that more gas is dissolved in a liquid by increasing the pressure of the gas.

Note: Breathing pure oxygen at 2 Atmospheres, gives 10 times the regular amount of oxygen (2 x 100% vs. 21%). In one hour, humans can inhale 2.4 pounds of oxygen! (Normal atmospheric pressure 1 ATA allows 6 pounds/day). Red blood cells instantly fill with oxygen and the extra oxygen dissolves directly into the blood fluid. In a few minutes, this extra oxygen builds up tissue oxygen levels far above normal.

The Principle of HBO is simple. Increase the atmospheric pressure and get a directly proportional increase in available oxygen. In other words, a twofold increase in pressure equals twice the available oxygen molecules to breathe.

How long the treatments last depends on the doctor’s particular protocol for that individual. Every person and every condition is unique. Hyperbaric treatments may require a one-hour or two-hour session. A treatment program may require 3 treatments a week for several weeks or more.


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What is HBOT?

Consider this analogy:

A bottle of soda-pop is a pressurized vessel. In the bottle there is liquid. There is also ‘carbonation’ (the gas) and pressure. When the bottle is sealed, bubbles are not seen. The moment the cap is twisted and the seal is broken, there is a ‘swish’ and the pressure is released from the bottle. Now, all of a sudden there is a formation of bubbles in the bottle, and as time goes, they grow and float to the top of the liquid. Certainly the pressure in the bottle is quite high and the nature of the gas (carbonation) is a different than the 21% oxygen in the ambient air. However the concept is the same. In the hyperbaric chamber, as the pressure goes up, more oxygen from the air is ‘pushed’ into the fluids of the body.

The healing process occurs when a severely compromised tissue in the body begins to receive oxygen, and blood circulation to the tissue resumes. Note: The damaged tissue may not have been receiving enough blood for it to heal, due to a lack of blood circulation caused by the initial trauma.


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What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric Therapy, also known as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, HBO or HBOT, is a specialized therapy that uses an increase in atmospheric pressure to allow the body to incorporate more oxygen into blood cells, blood plasma, cerebral-spinal fluid, and other body fluids.

At sea level the atmospheric pressure is 1ATA (14.7 psi or pounds per square inch), which allows the lungs to absorb a normal amount of oxygen from the air. At higher altitudes, the pressure drops and the lungs are not able to absorb as much oxygen from the air. This is why oxygen masks drop in an airplane at high altitudes – to increase the oxygen content due to the lack of pressure. The exact opposite happens at lower altitudes (below sea level). There, the pressure is greater (above 1ATA) and now the lungs can more easily absorb the oxygen, and at a greater volume.  What this means for you is you can treat almost any condition from cancer to post-traumatic-stress disorder to diabetes with nature’s cure. Oxygen.


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5 LIFE TRUTHS THAT CHANGE EVERYTHING

Life needn’t be tricky or confusing, although let’s face it — at times it may seem that way.

At times, it’s incredibly helpful to distill down what we absolutely need to know to live the miraculous, abundant life that is here for us. The five life truths below do exactly this, allowing you to easily connect into your truth (which is really the only truth worth following!) and live the life you came here for.

Follow the 5 truths below and get ready to be astounded as your whole life shifts into a higher frequency.

  1. You are more than your body.

In Westernized culture there is a tremendous amount of focus on our bodies — from the latest food craze to losing “5 more pounds” to having “ripped abs.” The truth is that while our bodies do matter, we are so much more than our body. Our body is the sacred container for our soul, for our true essence.

The sooner we recognize this truth and begin living from a deeper, more expanded place — everything in our life transforms. Our relationships deepen, “ordinary” moments aren’t so ordinary anymore, we know the right action to take at the right time, abundance flows to us and we live in a deeper state of peace. When we engage with the magic of that deeper part of us, we begin to have a life experience that means so much more than eating the perfect diet or having a body that looks like what we see in the media.  We learn that when we live from the soul, not only does our physical body shift its appearance to be more in alignment with this truth, but our overall quality of life elevates.

  1. Your body is a powerful tool of communication from your soul.

Our body works in direct harmony with our soul, serving as a honing device for our soul. Think of it as a tuning fork or a compass. Your body will let you know the messages from the deeper part of you that are unable to be translated in any other way. Your body can and does release limiting beliefs, fears and traumas, along with other toxins through deep breathing, bowel movements, tears and often that annual cold/flu you receive.

The body is an incredibly powerful guide that will give you what you need — even when you don’t realize you need it. To access this greater wisdom, you’ve got to create a strong communication system with your body.  Did you know you can use a deep detoxifying breath (inhale through the nose and exhale out the mouth) and focus on any area of pain to begin to release it?

Did you know you can talk to the parts of your body that get sick or are in pain and listen for responses to see what it is asking for? Or that you can work with a practitioner that can support you in learning your body’s communication style? Or better yet — do both?  Your body has powerful messages for you that will not only improve your physical health but will allow you to live the life you are meant to live.

  1. If someone else can do what you do with ease and joy, let them.

Long-revered mantras like “No pain no gain” or “you must work hard for success” are now a dying breed. Because what truly successful people know is that if something is “hard” and feels like it’s going uphill, the best thing you can do is delegate it to someone that it is a breeze for. We all have specific talents that are unique to us — so let go of being a Jack or Jill of all trades (or to all people).

Why not love what you do, have a great life doing it and let those who are great at the things you aren’t do those things instead? Can you imagine a world where everyone did what they loved because it brought them joy and ease? You weren’t meant to do everything. So stop trying.

Having it all isn’t about doing it all, it’s about being smart enough to know when to delegate and when to sink into doing what you love. If it doesn’t bring you joy — outsource it.

In his book The Big Leap, Gay Hendricks calls this your “Zone of Genius.” And when we allow ourselves to work and live in our Zone of Genius, life is not only more fun, it’s easier which leaves us more relaxed and at peace.

  1. Always follow your passion.

Passion is your indicator of alignment with your core self. When you feel enthusiasm and a strong momentum to move forward — that’s passion. Let it be a guiding force in your life. Ever go round and round in your mind about what decision to make, what you should do, what the next step is? We’ve all been there. But here’s the thing: once you’ve honed in on what your Zone of Genius is, you can make that a guiding force in your life.

You’ll always know the best decision for you because it will light you up inside, you’ll feel excited in your body and mind, and you’ll feel enthusiastic. You’ll know that when it doesn’t feel like work, but like play, that you’re on the right path for you. Passion is what gets you out of bed in the morning, eager for what lies ahead, and passion is what leads you to creating products, services, and offerings unlike anything before. Passion is what makes life interesting and enjoyable. It’s what makes life flow.

When you are continually following your passion, your life can expand in abundant ways that you would never experience if you did what everyone else did because it was the “right” thing to do. You didn’t come here for a life of mediocrity, you came here to be excited, lit up and totally inspired. When you let passion lead, decisions become much, much easier.

  1. What you do matters because we are all connected.

Imagine a set of dominos and what happens when one gets pushed — they all fall down. It’s easy to get into our own worlds and forget about the billions of other humans that we share this planet with. But when we forget this, we forget one of the most important truths in this life — we are all connected.

We are all connected in a quantum-physics-everything-is-energy-and-energy-cannot-be-destroyed kind of way. We are sharing this planet with billions of others who just like us desire love, who want to be happy, who worry at times and who love their children and family.

We all have the ability to live our lives with the inherent knowing that what we do — whether we recycle, let the car in front of us merge, let the guy in the grocery line go ahead of us, bring reusable bags to the stores we shop at, say “thank you” and mean it, make eye contact with every person we pass on the sidewalk — is literally creating a better world to live in. When we hurt another, we hurt ourselves and we hurt many others because the ripple effect is not only real, it spreads to everyone we come into contact with.

How many of us have read a heartwarming story about people helping each other out — whether after a crisis or just a “random” act of kindness — and we end up with tears in our eyes or a big smile on our face? Doing good reaches the human spirit and the human heart in powerful ways. If we all made a commitment to living this truth there would be far less pain in the world and far more joy.

In fact, if you follow the above five life truths to the best of your ability, you’ll notice not only your own life improving —  everything from feeling better in your body, to understanding why life works the way it does, to improved relationships to greater wealth NS abundance – but you’ll also notice that the people around you are having similar experiences too.

You see, we are all powerful creators and our energy — good, bad or otherwise — affects those around us deeply. When we consciously and intentionally connect to the soul within us, follow the messages from our body, stay in our Zone of Genius, let passion be our guide and treat everyone as though they are someone we love — our world and the world around us gets to be a better place.

And isn’t that what we all truly want?


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Optimize Your environment

All of us have moments when we feel sad or anxious about our life. Feeling down in the dumps from time to time is normal, but that doesn’t make it a good experience. Unhappiness, in excess, can also impair a person’s ability to cope with life’s challenges and to be productive. Learning to be more optimistic is the cure for sadness and worry. An optimistic attitude makes it much easier to overcome difficulties and to live well. Here are some ways to have a more optimistic attitude to life.

 

1. Take responsibility.

Some people try to blame others for anything that goes wrong in their life. Recognizing that you and only you are in charge of your life will give you a healthier outlook on the world. If things go badly, don’t look around to see who you can blame. Look at yourself first. Discovering what you did wrong will give you knowledge of how to do better in the future. Knowing that you are master of your own fate will allow you to put your mistake behind you and proceed forward optimistically.

2. Reflect.

Taking some time, even just a few minutes, to step back and consider all you have to be thankful for can really change your attitude to life. Instead of only seeing the bad side of things, you’ll be reminded of all you have to be glad for. Think about things like your family, your friends, your health, and your career. Is every aspect of your life a reason for joy? No, of course not. But you probably have more to be optimistic about than you had thought.

3. Make plans.

Optimism is all about looking towards the future. If you have nothing to look forward to, being optimistic will be impossible. Solve the problem by setting goals for your life. Want to start your own business? Want to get in shape? Whatever your dream, make a plan with a concrete goal for your future. With a vision of what’s to come in mind, you’ll feel as if your life has direction and meaning.

4. Take pride.

A big part of feeling optimistic is knowing that you are capable and competent. Negative people will credit even their own success to luck or the efforts of others. Look back at your life and everything you’ve accomplished. Examine each event and you’ll see how your success was due to your own skills, habits, character, and perseverance. It’s not a coincidence that you achieved these things, so why not look to the future with hope? More success can be expected.

5. Get help from others.

Inevitably, there will be times when you feel pessimistic and unhappy. In such situations you need good friends to help put you back on even keel. If you’ve lost perspective and are seeing the world in a completely negative light, a friend or family member can help you recover. Negativity can be like a poison that worsens with time. Stop the damage by venting your feelings to someone you know will help you see the good side of life again.

6. Take joy in simple things.

Pessimists see only the bad side of reality. Such people think that the things they don’t have are the most valuable things in the world. A healthier attitude is to get happiness from simple things, such as the beauty of nature, your health, or your closest family members. Money, material things, and status don’t really make us happy, so don’t waste your time wishing you had them. Taking joy in what is already yours is a better path to optimism and happiness.

7. Improve your surroundings.

The TV you watch, the books you read, and the people you spend time with all have an enormous effect on your mentality. Surround yourself with negativity and you will soon acquire a harmful mindset. Examine your life and cut out the most damaging influences, replacing them with more positive things. For example, stop watching that TV show that leaves you depressed and angry. Use the time to do something productive instead, or watch a more upbeat program.

Optimism is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. Optimism is like an all-purpose tool that makes the task of living life well far easier to accomplish. Don’t let negativity and a pessimistic mindset ruin your life — begin a new life of optimism and happiness today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Many people spend years pondering the question “What is my life purpose?” For some it can be a lifelong journey to discover.

This is now such a common topic of discussion among people from all over the world and one can find thousands of pages of information online and in books with suggestions of growth and encouragement to help us on our path.

During this journey myself, at times I felt so isolated and discouraged as though I wasn’t getting clear fast enough and that others seemed to have it all figured out.

Instead what I discovered was that I wasn’t alone and each path can be so unique.

The 3 biggest misconceptions I discovered while sourcing out my own Life Purpose:

1)   My Life Purpose will hit me like a lightning strike.

I read so many books and articles, took quizzes, challenges, and mediated for months in hopes that a light bulb would turn on and bells would ring when my life purpose suddenly came to me. It didn’t. And it may never hit like a ton of bricks. In fact, most don’t have it occur that way.

Instead what many notice, is that a flicker of a small flame may light something inside and help move you to the next step. And with each step, that flame may get brighter and brighter, all leading you on the path to find your ultimate true purpose.

Pay attention to those flickering lights and notice when they start to fade. That may be a sign that a small change in direction is required.

2)   The more effort and focus I give it, the quicker it will reveal itself.

I found that the harder the tried, the less I observed. After all, what you resist persists, so I challenge you to allow yourself to go deeper into the stillness and silence and be patient and for it to surface on it’s own time.

If you can, stop thinking about it consciously and allow yourself to create an open awareness of what is happening around you.  It is through the waiting and allowing that I discovered the most significant parts of my life purpose.

3)   I only have one unique Life Purpose.

There could be many and it could be an evolution uncovered over the span of your life. A Life Purpose may not even be obvious or what we think it might be.

As we grow in different areas of our life, we may feel a stronger unique calling in one particular area but notice that it changes with our relationships and interests.  What a purpose is at five years old can be very different then what it is at fifty. However all aspects of it may ultimately lead to one point.

The most important part is to realize who or what is of more value to you at this point in your life and how those values can contribute to your current purpose.

Today and right now is the most important part of your journey, so choose to live your life ON purpose and to make the journey part of your purpose.


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HORMONES INVOLVED IN EXERCISE

HORMONES INVOLVED IN EXERCISE

In the movie Fletch, comedian Chevy Chase plays the role of Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher, a reporter working undercover to expose drug dealing on the beaches of Los Angeles. Over the course of his investigation, Fletch assumes a variety of creative characters as he identifies the corrupt businessmen and cops involved in the drug-dealing ring. In one scene, Fletch pretends to be an airplane mechanic and tries to lie his way into a hangar by saying he was there to check the ball bearings. “It’s all ball bearings nowadays,” is one of the most memorable quotes of this iconic ‘80s movie.

Repeatedly, I have been asked how exercise can help achieve a specific goal. I like fun, but honest way to answer these questions and channel your inner Fletch by replying, “It’s all hormones nowadays.” If you’ve worked with me for very long in any capacity, you’ ve heard me say this time and time again. The term “calories in versus calories out” is as archaic as the Myan ruins.

The endocrine system regulates the production of hormones, which are chemicals that control cellular functions. Hormones can affect a number of different cells; however, they only influence the ones with specific receptor sites. Hormones control a number of physiological reactions in the body including energy metabolism, reproductive processes, tissue growth, hydration levels, synthesis and degradation of muscle protein, and mood. Hormones are responsible for both building new muscle and helping to burn fat, so it is important to have an understanding of which ones are released in relation to exercise as well as understanding the physiological functions they influence.

There are three major classifications of hormones: steroid, peptide and amines (modified amino acid hormones). Each class of hormones has a unique chemical structure that determines how it interacts with specific receptors. Steroid hormones interact with receptors in the nucleus of a cell, peptide hormones are comprised of amino acids and work with specific receptors sites on the cell membrane, and amines contain nitrogen and influence the sympathetic nervous system.

Hormones can either be anabolic, which means they help build new tissue, or catabolic because they play a role in breaking tissue down. The term “anabolic steroids” is often mentioned as a method of cheating used by athletes who want to improve performance; however, anabolic steroids are actually natural chemicals produced by the body that are responsible for promoting tissue growth.

I’ve taken the time to compose a list of these hormones along with how they work and why they are important in reaching your fitness goals.

Insulin

A peptide hormone produced by the pancreas, insulin regulates carbohydrate and fat metabolism. When blood sugar is elevated, insulin is released to promote the storage and absorption of glycogen and glucose. Insulin helps reduce levels of glucose in the blood by promoting its absorption from the bloodstream to skeletal muscles or fat tissues. It is important to know that insulin can cause fat to be stored in adipose tissue (fat cells – specifically aroumd the belly) instead of being used to fuel muscle activity. When exercise starts, the sympathetic nervous system suppresses the release of insulin; consequently, it is important to avoid foods with high levels of sugar (including sports drinks) before exercise because it can elevate insulin levels and promote glycogen storage instead of allowing it to be used to fuel physical activity. Wait until the body has started sweating before using any sports drinks or energy gels. If you’ve worked with me for any length I’ve time, you’ve heard me say “NO ENERGY DRINKS!” Gatorade and Powerade, as well as any other drinks like Red Bull are STRICKLY off limits.

Glucagon

Released in response to low levels of blood sugar, glucagon is produced by the pancreas to stimulate the release of free fatty acids (FFAs) from adipose tissue and increase blood glucose levels, both of which are important for fueling exercise activity. As glycogen levels are depleted during exercise, glucagon releases additional glycogen stored in the liver.

Cortisol

Cortisol is a catabolic steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glandss in response to stress, low blood sugar and exercise. It supports energy metabolism during long periods of exercise by facilitating the breakdown of triglycerides and protein to create the glucose necessary to help fuel exercise. Cortisol is released when the body experiences too much physical stress or is not sufficiently recovered from a previous workout. While cortisol helps promote fat metabolism, exercising for too long can elevate levels of cortisol to catabolize muscle protein for fuel instead of conserving it to be used to repair damaged tissues.

Epinephrine and Norepinephrine

These amine hormones play an important role in helping the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) produce energy and in regulating the body’s function during cardiorespiratory exercise. Classified as catecholamines, epinephrine and norepinephrine are separate but related hormones. Epinephrine, often referred to as adrenaline because it is produced by the adrenal gland, elevates cardiac output, increases blood sugar (to help fuel exercise), promotes the breakdown of glycogen for energy and supports fat metabolism. Norepinephrine performs a number of the same functions as epinephrine, while also constricting blood vessels in parts of the body not involved in exercise.

Testosterone

Testosterone is a steroid hormone produced by the Leydig cells of the testes in males and the ovaries of females, with small amounts produced by the adrenal glands of both genders. Testosterone is responsible for muscle protein resynthesis and the repair of muscle proteins damaged by exercise, and plays a significant role in helping grow skeletal muscle. Testosterone works with specific receptor sights and is produced in response to exercise that damages muscle proteins.

 

 

Human Growth Hormone

Human growth hormone (HGH) is an anabolic peptide hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates cellular growth. Like all hormones, HGH works with specific receptor sites and can produce a number of responses, including increasing muscle protein synthesis responsible for muscle growth, increasing bone mineralization, supporting immune system function and promoting lipolysis, or fat metabolism. The body produces HGH during the REM cycles of sleep (this is one reason I stand on my soap-box a preach about sleep; if you’re not getting enough sleep, you WILL NOT drop weight) and is stimulated by high-intensity exercise such as heavy strength training, explosive power training or cardiorespiratory exercise at or above the onset of blood lactate (OBLA, the second ventilatory threshold).

Insulin-like Growth Factor

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) has a similar molecular structure to insulin and is stimulated by the same mechanisms that produce HGH. IGF is a peptide hormone produced in the liver and supports the function of HGH to repair protein damaged during exercise, which makes it an important hormone for promoting muscle growth.

Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotransmitter that helps stimulate the production of new cells in the brain. The production of BDNF is closely related to the production of HGH and IGF—the same exercises that elevate levels of those hormones also increase amounts of BDNF. High-intensity exercise can stimulate anabolic hormones for muscle growth while elevating levels of BDNF, which can help improve cognitive function; thi)s is one of the many reasons I promote High Intensity Interval Training.

Understanding how exercise influences the hormones that control physiological functions can assist you in developing effective exercise programs. Hormones have both short- and long-term responses to exercise. In the acute phase immediately post-exercise, testosterone (T), HGH and IGF are produced to repair damaged tissue. Over the long-term, there is an increase in the receptor sites and binding proteins, which allow T, HGH and IGF to be used more effectively for tissue repair and muscle growth. For those who want muscle growth, the levels of T, HGH and IGF are produced in response to the amount of mechanical stress created during resistance-training exercises. Moderate to heavy loads performed until momentary fatigue generate high levels of mechanical force, which creates more damage to muscle protein, which signals the production of T, HGH and IGF to repair protein, which results in muscle growth.

While there are a myriad of hormones responsible for an almost infinite number of physiological functions, the hormones listed above are directly influenced by physical activity and play important roles in helping the body adapt to the imposed physical demands of exercise. Seasoned health and fitness professionals such as myself,  understand that the nervous and muscular systems play important roles in determining the outcomes of an exercise program. However, the reality is that hormones influence many of the physiological adaptations to physical activity. That means that, “It’s all hormones nowadays,” is the appropriate response to many questions about how the human body responds to exercise.


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Exercise….I Bet You Didn’t Know

There are trainers in the business that have incorrect and basically archaic information regarding weight loss. We know so much more now than we did in the 80s and 90s. The world of fitness and nutrition is a lot like technology in that it’s ever changing. We are always learning new things about the way our bodies respond to exercise and our nutritional challenges, as well as the role hormones play in whether we gain weight or whether we lose weight.

The endocrine system regulates the production of hormones, which are chemicals that control cellular functions. Hormones can affect a number of different cells; however, they only influence the ones with specific receptor sites. Hormones control a number of physiological reactions in the body including energy metabolism, reproductive processes, tissue growth, hydration levels, synthesis and degradation of muscle protein, and mood. Hormones are responsible for both building new muscle and helping to burn fat, so it is important to have an understanding of which ones are released in relation to exercise as well as understanding the physiological functions they influence.

There are three major classifications of hormones: steroid, peptide and amines (modified amino acid hormones). Each class of hormones has a unique chemical structure that determines how it interacts with specific receptors. Steroid hormones interact with receptors in the nucleus of a cell, peptide hormones are comprised of amino acids and work with specific receptors sites on the cell membrane, and amines contain nitrogen and influence the sympathetic nervous system.

Hormones can either be anabolic, which means they help build new tissue, or catabolic because they play a role in breaking tissue down. The term “anabolic steroids” is often mentioned as a method of cheating used by athletes who want to improve performance; however, anabolic steroids are actually natural chemicals produced by the body that are responsible for promoting tissue growth.

Listed below are some important hormones involved in exercise along with the physiological functions they control.

Insulin

A peptide hormone produced by the pancreas, insulin regulates carbohydrate and fat metabolism. When blood sugar is elevated, insulin is released to promote the storage and absorption of glycogen and glucose. Insulin helps reduce levels of glucose in the blood by promoting its absorption from the bloodstream to skeletal muscles or fat tissues. It is important to know that insulin can cause fat to be stored in adipose tissue instead of being used to fuel muscle activity. When exercise starts, the sympathetic nervous system suppresses the release of insulin; consequently, it is important to avoid foods with high levels of sugar (including sports drinks) before exercise because it can elevate insulin levels and promote glycogen storage instead of allowing it to be used to fuel physical activity. Wait until the body has started sweating before using any sports drinks or energy gels.

Glucagon

Released in response to low levels of blood sugar, glucagon is produced by the pancreas to stimulate the release of free fatty acids (FFAs) from adipose tissue and increase blood glucose levels, both of which are important for fueling exercise activity. As glycogen levels are depleted during exercise, glucagon releases additional glycogen stored in the liver.

Cortisol

Cortisol is a catabolic steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland in response to stress, low blood sugar and exercise. It supports energy metabolism during long periods of exercise by facilitating the breakdown of triglyceride and protein to create the glucose necessary to help fuel exercise. Cortisol is released when the body experiences too much physical stress or is not sufficiently recovered from a previous workout. While cortisol helps promote fat metabolism, exercising for too long can elevate levels of cortisol to catabolize muscle protein for fuel instead of conserving it to be used to repair damaged tissues.

Epinephrine and Norepinephrine

These amine hormones play an important role in helping the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) produce energy and in regulating the body’s function during cardiorespiratory exercise. Classified as catecholamines, epinephrine and norepinephrine are separate but related hormones. Epinephrine, often referred to as adrenaline because it is produced by the adrenal gland, elevates cardiac output, increases blood sugar (to help fuel exercise), promotes the breakdown of glycogen for energy and supports fat metabolism. Norepinephrine performs a number of the same functions as epinephrine, while also constricting blood vessels in parts of the body not involved in exercise.

Testosterone

Testosterone is a steroid hormone produced by the Leydig cells of the testes in males and the ovaries of females, with small amounts produced by the adrenal glands of both genders. Testosterone is responsible for muscle protein resynthesis and the repair of muscle proteins damaged by exercise, and plays a significant role in helping grow skeletal muscle. Testosterone works with specific receptor sights and is produced in response to exercise that damages muscle proteins.

Human Growth Hormone

Human growth hormone (HGH) is an anabolic peptide hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates cellular growth. Like all hormones, HGH works with specific receptor sites and can produce a number of responses, including increasing muscle protein synthesis responsible for muscle growth, increasing bone mineralization, supporting immune system function and promoting lipolysis, or fat metabolism. The body produces HGH during the REM cycles of sleep and is stimulated by high-intensity exercise such as heavy strength training, explosive power training or cardiorespiratory exercise at or above the onset of blood lactate (OBLA, the second ventilatory threshold).

Insulin-like Growth Factor

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) has a similar molecular structure to insulin and is stimulated by the same mechanisms that produce HGH. IGF is a peptide hormone produced in the liver and supports the function of HGH to repair protein damaged during exercise, which makes it an important hormone for promoting muscle growth.

Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotransmitter that helps stimulate the production of new cells in the brain. The production of BDNF is closely related to the production of HGH and IGF—the same exercises that elevate levels of those hormones also increase amounts of BDNF. High-intensity exercise can stimulate anabolic hormones for muscle growth while elevating levels of BDNF, which can help improve cognitive function.

Understanding how exercise influences the hormones that control physiological functions can assist you in developing effective exercise programs specifically for you. Hormones have both short- and long-term responses to exercise. In the acute phase immediately post-exercise, testosterone (T), HGH and IGF are produced to repair damaged tissue. Over the long-term, there is an increase in the receptor sites and binding proteins, which allow T, HGH and IGF to be used more effectively for tissue repair and muscle growth. For those who want muscle growth, the levels of T, HGH and IGF are produced in response to the amount of mechanical stress created during resistance-training exercises. Moderate to heavy loads performed until momentary fatigue generate high levels of mechanical force, which creates more damage to muscle protein, which signals the production of T, HGH and IGF to repair protein, which results in muscle growth.

While there are a myriad of hormones responsible for an almost infinite number of physiological functions, the hormones listed above are directly influenced by physical activity and play important roles in helping the body adapt to the imposed physical demands of exercise. Many fitness professionals like myself understand that the nervous and muscular systems play important roles in determining the outcomes of an exercise program. However, the reality is that hormones influence many of the physiological adaptations to physical activity. That means that, “It’s all hormones nowadays,” is the appropriate response to many questions about how the human body responds to


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Why Is Protein Important & Are You Getting Enough

Today, I want to talk about the importance of protein. How protein benefits your overall health in physical performance is crucial to understand. So whether you’re a weekend warrior, you’re trying to lose weight or you are an athlete, protein is important for everybody — and just about everyone is deficient in quality protein in their diet

I’m going to go over how to get more protein in your diet, the benefits of eating more protein foods and how much you should consume. So starting off here, let’s talk about protein and what it does.

Why Protein Is So Important

Protein is the building block of yourself. It’s the building block of your muscles and also is present in the foods that are going to boost your metabolism and fat-burning potential. Nothing is more important than protein. It really is the fuel that motivates and really supports your body in building healthy tissues and cells.

What exactly are proteins? Proteins are considered long chains of amino acids, which are the important molecules we get from our diet. Amino acids can be found in many different types of foods, even vegetables, but the highest sources are those that come from animals – like meat, dairy, eggs and fish – plus to a lesser extent certain plant foods like beans and seeds.

Proteins are used every day to keep the body going. Because they’re used to develop, grow and maintain just about every part of our bodies — from our skin and hair to our digestive enzymes and immune system antibodies — they’re constantly being broken down and must be replaced.

Vital organs, muscles, tissues and even some hormones of the body are made from proteins. Additionally, proteins create hemoglobin and important antibodies. Proteins are involved in just about every body function from controlling blood sugar levels to healing wounds and fighting off bacteria.

Simply put, without proteins life would not exist.

The average person probably needs half his or her body weight in protein a day. So if you weigh 150 pounds, you need at least around 75 grams of protein a day if you’re trying to burn fat and build muscle the right way. And for many athletes, more than that is going to be essential as well.

Do You Have a Protein Deficiency?

Mayo Clinic researcher Jan van Deursen, Ph.D, set out to study the cause of cancer, but soon his research took him in a different direction — what impacts aging? His research revealed that certain proteins play an important, even critical, role in aging.

In his investigation, van Deursen and his team created genetically modified mice that had a protein deficiency in one specific type of protein, BubR1. They discovered that the mice deficient in this vital protein aged four to five times faster than the control group of normal mice.

This naturally occurring protein declines as we age and, in this study, were found to be at deficient levels in the mice’s muscles, heart, brain, spleen, testis and ovaries. The study theorizes that this holds true in the human body, too, with a protein deficiency leading to cataracts, heart problems, kyphosis or muscle atrophy — all somewhat common in the elderly. 

Eating too little protein can result in these symptoms as well:

  • A sluggish metabolism
  • Trouble losing weight
  • Trouble building muscle mass
  • Low energy levels and fatigue
  • Poor concentration and trouble learning
  • Moodiness and mood swings
  • Muscle, bone and joint pain
  • Blood sugar changes that can lead to diabetes
  • Slow wound healing
  • Low immunityThe best forms of protein you can be getting are going to be things like grass-fed beef, organic chicken and turkey, wild-caught salmon — also, grass-fed organic dairy products are great. And then, healthy quality protein powders like grass-fed whey protein is another great option.Some other high protein foods to help overcome a protein deficiency include:
  • And then for the plant-based sources of protein, flaxseeds and chia seeds are great; other nuts and seeds, and beans, are also quality sources of protein.
  • The Top Protein Foods
  • Free-range eggs
  • Lentils
  • Natto
  • Kefir or yogurt
  • Mushrooms Getting protein in your diet is greatly beneficial, and the biggest benefits of protein include fat burning, helping muscle recovery and helping heal cuts in the wound. And if you have any sort of injury, protein is essential. It’s also essential for:
  • Protein Health Benefits
  •  Fighting diabetes in balancing up blood sugar
  • Brain function
  • Any issue you have in terms of depression and brain issues
  • CholesterolAnd last but not least, it’s important for muscle recovery. So if you’re trying to recover from an injury and also want to improve your overall energy, getting more protein in your diet is essential.So get more protein in your diet. I’d even recommend keeping a food journal; write down what you’ve eaten the past three days, and then add up the grams of protein you’ve actually gotten in your system.
  • You also can go to the website nutritiondata.com and actually look up the amount of protein in the amount of food you’ve consumed, or else do it for the next three days and see how much protein you’re actually getting in your diet.
  • When buying protein, make sure it’s from organic, natural sources. One of the issues we run into today is all of our conventional restaurants, our conventional grocery stores, they’re not selling grass-fed organic protein. And if you’re eating conventional protein, it’s loaded with hormones, antibiotics, steroids and other chemicals that will actually destroy your health.
  • There is study after study showing that protein is essential for your body.

If you’re looking to up your protein intake, I will be posting a list of 50 snack options that are packed with protein on the Empower Wellness closed group page. If you’re in a program with me or any of our team at Empower Wellness, you should have access to this page; if you do not, simply send a request to join and I will get you added.


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Be Different if You’re Going to Make a Difference

This is a great piece…..I’d love to take credit for it, but I cannot. I’m not certain as to who wrote it, but they are right on point…….

Growing up, its very challenging to even accept – let alone act upon – the dormant thing inside of you that you know makes you special, different. School is all about fitting in, finding the box that best suits you and conforming to its predispositions.

I was an extremely inquisitive child, philosophical, I liked wearing my heart on my sleeve and I made my thoughts and feelings available to anyone who was interested.  Problem was, nobody was really interested.  And me being me was a rather uncomfortable fit for my well-meaning family.  They were what you might term stiff-upper lipped Brits.  I was raised in a do-honoring family, where you didn’t question religion, nor the status quo or institutions; you just got on with it, like a good girl.

Lindsey Ramage

As the state of my inner wellbeing was not apparently significant to those around me it became dis-eased. Once I approached my teen years I plummeted head first into a heady and dangerous rebellion.  Drugs, underage drinking, reckless sex. Numbing my consciousness about being different seemed to work, for a while at least.

Mine is not an unusual story; in a society where success is about what you’ve done, not about who you really are and what inner happiness you might have generated its easy to see why you might want to step away from your inner calling and adopt the attitude ‘If I can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.’

But thank goodness we have pioneers in all representations of human endeavor who have championed a new, better way, despite the consequences. Too many were ridiculed in their time, even tortured and killed. Yet they held true to themselves, and loyal to what their hearts told them they had come to gift the world with.

The Wright Brothers were seen as crazy in the early twentieth century. Despite having no formal engineering training they made the first airplane flight. And they succeeded in showing the doubting world that yes, people could fly.

Princess Diana (incidentally but not coincidentally who’s name means Heavenly or Divine) ignored the tight collared restrictions, decorum and rigors of royal establishment in many areas; dress, parenting, relations with the media, attitude, what she did, said… her passion was to serve, not to be served. She was ostracized by the royals, but not by the people.

Ed Sheeran shot to fame because he too dared to be different with his fresh, colloquial, relatable lyrics and playful melodies. He shook the music industry by the scruff of the neck, rebelling against the generic, empty- sounding songs churned out by the world of commercial music.

“There’s never been a melody like you before and there will never be again.” Dr. Barbara De Angelis

As both Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith and Dr. Barbara De Angelis say, giving birth to your true self is messy and uncomfortable. If you’ve birthed a child, you’ll recognize the final stages of pregnancy; knowing its Time, knowing that you are ready to offer the world a precious new Being, desperately eager to meet the person inside of you that you have nurtured for so long.  Once you have re-birthed yourself – or awakened –  you are in for a glorious explosion of feelings. This is what life is all about! This is who I am.

These days I’ve swopped self abuse for self love. I’ve never felt happier, healthier nor more vibrant in my life. And I credit embracing who I am really am with this. Despite family and friends thinking me a bit strange, I am pursuing my innate need to study spirituality and to spread my thoughts and reflections about life to others.

I broke my mold and I can tell you this; it feels liberating. Have you considered that perhaps you were placed in an environment that was not conducive to your inner aspirations because your soul knew you needed some resistance to really ultimately make you push through these limitations?  Perhaps you were placed in an unsupportive sphere so it would show you, no, you cannot live your life this way and inspire you to reach deep down and reveal the real you.  Many members of my family and friendship circle don’t get or really know me, but that’s ok. They see what I do works for me and that’s enough for them. My happiness – although it looks different to their version – nonetheless inspires them to seek theirs.

“I think everybody’s weird. We should all celebrate our individuality and not be embarrassed or ashamed of it.” Johnny Depp.

If you’re going to make a difference, doesn’t it seem logical that you will have to be different?  Follow your flair, pursue your passion.  Would you not regret it more if you didn’t?