Diabetes Is The #7 Killer In Our Nation: Are you informed?

Diabetes runs in my family.  My father has Type II-turned-into-Type I, which means that if he started with Type I, his body never produced insulin in the first place.  But he started with Type II, did not watch his diet and his insulin went from producing to non-producing over the years.  Every day, at least three times a day, he pricks his finger to test his blood sugar levels.  We chart it in a book, because he could easily slide into a diabetic coma if we don't track his numbers. It is expensive for the testing supplies and I know that my dad just thinks it is highly annoying to do, even though the testing is what helps keep him at a 'normal' level of blood sugar and essentially, alive and kicking.





Diabetes, according to the CDC, is the #7 killer in the U.S. and one of the leading causes of high insurance costs for companies across the nation.  The statistics are staggering on how one disease is affecting our health care system and our overall health. The main cause of diabetes is obesity and being overweight.

Diabetes Is Killing Our Nation

• Currently, 65% of US adults age 20 years and older are overweight and 31% are obese.
• Being overweight dramatically increases the likelihood of having at least 1 chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes.
• 1 out of 3 babies born in 2000 will develop diabetes.
• If trends continue, we may see the first generation that will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

Every day in the United States, diabetes causes an 

estimated:

• 225 amputations.
• 117 people to start therapy for end-stage kidney disease.
• 33 to 66 people to lose their eyesight.

During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic

 increase in obesity in the United States:

• Today, more than 66% of adults are either overweight or obese.
• This trend is expected to increase as our nation grows older and larger.
• As the number of obese Americans increases, so does their risk for chronic diseases like diabetes.

The statistics on how our healthcare system is overloaded with the costs of obesity and diabetes is staggering:

Diabetes Is Killing Our Healthcare System

Diabetes is debilitating to our health and economy:

• Diabetes is a major risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease.
• This chronic disease costs our healthcare system $174 billion per year.
• Roughly $116 billion go toward direct medical costs such as care and treatment.
• About $58 billion is due to indirect costs such as lost days at work and disability.
• In America, our healthcare system benefits from treating the many complications of chronic diseases like diabetes—not from controlling them.
• The human cost of an amputation is traumatic. It is also expensive. Such a procedure can cost more than $30,000.
• Insurers tend to cover costly procedures like amputations.
• Insurers are less likely to pay $150 for a visit to the podiatrist. This visit could prevent foot–related ailments of diabetes.

It is not uncommon for people with diabetes to experience

 problems getting services reimbursed that help manage their

disease. An example is nutritional counseling. This service 

might cost as little as $75.  Insurers will cover more serious

 complications of the disease, such as $315 for a single 

dialysis session.

(Statistics provided by http://www.forahealthieramerica.com/ds/staggering-costs-of-diabetes.html)

I wanted to post these statistics to show how much we put into REACTIVE services-the services we pay for when we get sick, opposed to PREVENTATIVE services that we should invest into so we aren't stuck with high health costs.

The irony to the blog is that I am posting it on Halloween, one of the leading 'candy-eating' days during the year.  The sugar spike that comes with eating all of that candy can be detrimental to many who aren't aware that they have the disease.  Everything in moderation is a good rule-of-thumb when Halloween candy is available to munch on.

I wish I knew more about this when my father was diagnosed with Diabetes.  It has been an ugly disease to work with and it affects his every day living.  If posting this blog can help one person to help in prevention to themselves or someone they love, then it is worth it the time writing it.

Emotions: How Do YOU Handle Them?

Emotions are something I haven't really addressed here on Health Infusion.  When I think of wellness and health, main topics that pop up first are fitness, nutrition, well-being, mental health...but emotional health is a vital part of being able to handle all of the above mentioned topics.  In fact your emotional health is many times the driver in the car of wellness.


Emotions dictate essentially if your needs are or are not being met.  If you are happy about your life, and you have warm fuzzies inside of you, that need is being met.  If you are lonely or sad, the need to connect with others is not being satisfied.

Our feelings are our emotional needs being expressed. Our facial 'expressions' is one way of how we communicate with one another.  Just watching a person's face can tell you volumes of how they are feeling: joy, pain, anger, frustration, grief, surprise.


Body language is another way to show our emotional needs.
If a person is joyful, their body language is usually very open 


    and inviting.  If one is experiencing grief or sorrow, their body is usually closed, arms crossed in front of them, they are hiding their facing and curling into a ball.


Emotions and feelings facilitate the need for respect, acceptance and understanding, basic needs for all human beings.  How frustrating is it when trying to hold an important conversation, expressing how you feel about something, and the person you are talking to doesn't emote any expressions indicating how they are feeling?  You feel disrespected, misunderstood, or possibly pushed away because they are not, or will not, accept what you are trying to convey.


Emotions are what connect people together.  Feelings unite us.  When you feel the same as another, there is a compatibility, and understanding that someone cares. You may feel loved.


So how do YOU handle your emotions?

We all know individuals who fill both sides of the emotional spectrum when it comes to handling them.  Some people internalize their feelings and don't show any emotion at all.  Others fly off the handle at the mention of anything that can be considered emotional-an accident, death, relationship breakup, etc.  Where do you lie and how do you deal with it?


Do you ask yourself how you feel about something? Is the feeling healthy and is it how you want to feel?  Maybe by consciously 'checking in' on your emotions, you could handle a situation better, talk with a friend in a healthier frame of mind, or stop yourself from overreacting. 


Emotions are a powerful tool that really control the underlying side of why we do what we do in our lives. So take the time to check into your emotional being and ask yourself if you handle your emotions in the healthiest way possible. You might discover something about yourself you didn't know-that you can make positive changes for you and others through your exploration. Now get to feeling emotionally healthy! :-)

What's the Connection Between Mind and Body?

There is an Indian Belief that everyone is in a house of four rooms: A 

physical, a mental, an emotional and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in 

one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room everyday, 

even if only to keep it aired, we are not complete. 

~Rumer Godden (House of Four Rooms)

I've been on a mindful journey lately. I have always been a physical being, and being an expert in health and wellness is a reflection of that.  But as I've lived my life, I've learned how important it is to not only keep your body healthy, but to work on the mind as well. 

So today I went on a jog/hike up in the hills near my home. I know for me, to think clearly, I need to move.  And when I move, I tend not to think about the day-to-day chores that need to be accomplished, but about the things I am grateful for and what and who I want to be as I 'grow up'.

One of the things I want to understand is the full connection between Mind and Body.

I had a friend let me borrow 'The Secret' to watch and one of the golden nuggets I gleaned from it was this quote from Bob Proctor, a philospher, summarizing the video: 

"Mind is movement and your body is a manifestation of that movement." 

I LOVE THIS.  

I've always viewed the body as a machine, being controlled by the brain through neuromuscular pulses running down our muscles to make them move the way we want them to move in a voluntary manner. The brain was just the signal outputter, but the body was the actual movement.

But to view the brain as the MOVEMENT ITSELF fascinates me. Our thoughts-conscious and subconcious, creates energy to make us move.  And that is done through our thinking processes where we only use 5-10% of our brains.

IMAGINE potentially using all of our brain power in the quest to move the way we want to move.  What would we be able to accomplish?  How fast could we run?  How strong could we be?How high could we fly?  :-)

There have been studies done where athletes were hooked to brain wave measurement machines and they were asked to go through a workout of their specific sport mindfully. Scientists found that the same muscle fibers fired in the same sequence through visualization  as well as through their physical movement. INCREDIBLE.

So as you start your workouts, start with visualizing what you see yourself doing, how hard you will be working, what the results will be when you finish.

And this visualization can be applicable to any aspect in your life.  Your home, your work, your family-the sky's the limit! 

So as you enter this weekend, be sure to mentally see what you can physically do.  There just is no greater connection to be able to achieve your goals. Go for it!  You can do it!  :-)

Personal Musings From A Corporate Personal Trainer...

I have been in the health and fitness industry for over 21 years now and it has been a wild ride (which is really amazing since I'm only 29.....Yeah, right!).  I love that I have never tired of its changing tides and am continually inspired by it.  I was a trainer before certifications were required and also taught group fitness classes for over 17 years.  It is a constant learning environment where every person you train or connect with teaches you something new.  I have seen this industry change drastically in the last two decades, especially in the stereotyping of it.  


Training has evolved from just 'getting a client in shape' to specialized fields in Sports Specific training, Weight Loss and Management, Functional Motion, Post Rehabilitation, Senior programs, Children's programs, working hand-in-hand with Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Doctors, and training employees through Corporate Wellness, just to name a few.




So WHY am I telling you all this?


Because this is what I am passionate about.  I am a corporate wellness specialist because of my years of training.  I love what I do.  I love the material, the people I work with and the companies who hire me to increase their employee's level of wellness.  I feel so blessed to find my niche in this field and am lately feeling inspired to grow this niche in my local community in Spokane, WA, as well as nationally.  


If you read this today, give a shout of thanks to your support systems in your life for what you have and for the job you perform. Hopefully you are as passionate as I am about what you do.


I am writing my musings today, in the role of a personal trainer, in hopes of inspiring you to follow your passion and take care of your health. If you don't have your health, you don't have much else.


If your company needs some healthy infusion of inspiration and  wellness, I'm your gal.  Contact me.  


live with intention.
walk to the edge.
listen hard.
practice wellness.
play with abandon.
laugh.
choose with no regret.
continue to learn.
appreciate your friends.
do what you love.
live as if this is all there is
                                           ~mary ann radmacher








~Merri Lou Franzella

Functional Training-The 'Core' of Core Exercise

Functional Training is a term that has been thrown a bit haphazardly into the athletic arena.  Maybe you have heard of it at your physical therapist's office, or read about it in a fitness magazine.  It is a term that can be used in different settings, from rehabilitation to high-level sports-specific conditioning.
But the essence of functional training is to train your 'core'.  It is the 'core' of core exercise.


The definition of functional training (FT) is long and diverse, so here is a summary:


FT is using specific motions of the body, keeping feet on the ground (ground forces), moving in multi-planes of motion, practicing balance, proprioception, and stability, often while on an unstable surface.  This means controlling and directing our body mass on its own, with no machines to help or hang on to.


A great example of a FT motion would be a free squat.  A squat is a motion that we use many times per day and probably don't even know we are using it.  How many times a day do you get up and sit down in a chair?  If you do not use any hands to sit down squarely or get up, you are squatting.  This is considered a 'daily living activity' (DLA's).  By not using any stabilizing external objects (i.e., handles, chair arms, desks), your core has to stabilize to perform the motion.


If you use unstable surfaces or equipment, that can also assist in helping with a free squat.  Here is a link with some great examples: http://exercise.about.com/od/lowerbodyworkouts/ig/Lower-Body-Exercise-Photos/

Other types of functional motion for strengthening your core include lunges, push ups and planks. These are essential building blocks for your exercise regimen.


By performing these functional motions, your core strength, balance and proprioception will improve with practice.  


If you have any further questions, please leave a comment and I would be happy to answer them for you.  Now go strengthen that core and get your Wellness on!

Is It Almost Here? Winter Sport Season! Are You Conditioned For It?

September is one of my favorite times of year.  It is a month that is transitional for many people when it comes to their exercise routines.  With September, comes the change of seasons, sometimes staying warm, (an 'Indian' summer) until the very end, or it can a bring on the chill of Autumn in the turn of just a couple days.


With the turning of the seasons comes the change up of workout routines.  If you are one who enjoys outdoor activities, especially cold weather activities, then the time has come to start conditioning for ski, snowboarding and snowshoe season.  Give yourself a good 4-6 weeks of consistent stretching, strength training, plyometrics, and cardio conditioning to be at peak performance for the slopes.


In my research, I found a great article written by Kathleen Leopardi-Anderson, CSCS, through NSCA (National Sports Conditioning Association).  
http://www.nsca-lift.org/perform/articles/03015.pdf     


She has put together some effective, specific exercises for your winter sport activities.  This is a great article to print out and put on your fridge for further reference.


If there are any questions on this article, feel free to leave them for me in the 'Comment' section down below my blog.


Now go get your wellness on and start your conditioning! :-)

The Seven Sins of Becoming Overweight

Most people who pack on extra pounds didn't get there overnight. It usually takes years of unhealthy habits which can be hard to overcome. Here are seven common bad habits (sins) that can contribute to weight gain and what you can do to avoid them:

1. They don't exercise regularly.

The general recommendation of trainers is a two to three cardio sessions per week of 20 to 45 minutes and two to three resistance training sessions per week of 30 to 45 minutes. Resistance training and weight bearing exercises will build muscle that help burn fat.

2. They eat most of their meals out.

"Restaurant portions are enormous and most of us were brought up to belong to the clean plate club," says LouAnn Frisch, a dietitian in Portland, Oregon. She says that Mexican and Chinese restaurants probably have the highest calorie meals, but if you must eat out: "Thai and Vietnamese foods are better. Pho soups and won-ton soups are great choices." [Pho, pronounced "fa," is a Vietnamese soup that's usually made with beef.]

3. They always eat a second portion.

"It really does take 20 minutes for your brain to catch up with your stomach. But most people consume high amounts of food in 20 minutes," says Frisch. She acknowledges that it's difficult to slow down, but suggests putting less food on your plate and skipping seconds.

4. They avoid even light activity.

The little things add up.  Instead of sitting at your desk all day, take some breaks and walk around.  Get outside and do a lap around your building.  Stability balls are great to sit on and are made to fit behind a desk. Alternate between sitting on a ball and a chair during your work day. Stability balls naturally force you to sit up straight, which helps improve your posture, which in turn can burn more calories while you are sitting.  Every little bit helps.

5. They never turn down sweets.

Frisch doesn't recommend cutting out sweets completely, just cutting down on them: "If you need chocolate, have some. Not a lot, just some. But savor it and be happy with a small portion."

6. They eat even when they're not hungry.

"Eating is a physiologically and psychologically satisfying, mood-altering experience. Most people eat, not because they are hungry, but for other reasons," says Frisch. Learn what triggers you to eat and healthier ways to reward yourself or brighten your mood.

7. They skip meals.

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School found that skipping meals can play a role in obesity. Eating fewer, larger meals may cause insulin to spike, which triggers hunger and could cause more blood sugar to be stored as fat. The study found that people who eat several, smaller meals were less likely to be obese. Overweight people may find it difficult initially to overcome their bad habits, but the results of better eating and exercise habits are very rewarding.

Sources:
American Cancer Society "Eating Patterns Linked to Obesity."
Louann Frisch RD, a Portland, Oregon dietitian who specializes in weight loss.

This information and other information on this site is intended for general reference purposes only and is not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition.