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Dear
Readers: We receive quite a few questions related to finding ways to start an
exercise program, or, to get moving in the right direction. There may be an answer
here, for your question, as well.
Q. Sitting at the computer all day
can put weight on easily. Any way to change this - I need the job, by the way.
A.
Great! Keep the job, but promise you put effort into solving your "hand-to-mouth"
disease. The subject matter has a great deal to do with a person's total involvement
while at the computer. Dull, drab, boring are just a few ways many feel while
sitting at the desk making a couple of bucks.
Liquids seem to fill the bill
for many. Sweeteners are the killers, remember. Do your research, ask for help,
doctors, diet management people, health food store people often advise wisely.
Q.
I notice my body is showing signs of puffiness. Could be my late shift makes it
necessary to eat after I get home.
A. Well, you seem to know where this
is coming from - so, where does a person go from there? I would suggest you eat
your main meal, or the food you truly enjoy and know may be putting on the pounds
- early in the day. Late eating has never worked for anyone - even when a person
is young. Remember, at the closing hour, you do not eat, drink or stuff yourself,
allow your mind/body to relax and enjoy a restful night's sleep.
Q. After
all these years of laying around and gathering fat around my waist, where does
a person start?
A. My own history during the years, says it well. "Easy
does it; miracles do not happen overnight."
The easiest, fastest way to
start the engines is to stretch. We all know the basics, first thing in the morning
is best, but whenever the time is right, wear loose clothing, and make sure your
tummy is empty.
Breathing should be the first order of the day. We all need
to use our breathing techniques, no matter what age we are. Our body tends to
become lazy, and thorough, complete breathing patterns are good, and very useful.
Walk,
and stand straight, give it your best effort. Little by little, the body becomes
accustomed to the regime.
A word of caution: Do not get over-anxious and overdo.
This is where many tend to go wrong. Better slow and easy - and build up the strength
in the body.
Q. I am just not inspired, still, I know I need to move.
How does a person begin to exercise?
A. Survival is the best answer to
your question, I believe. Have you ever known anybody who faced a terrible future
with their health? An amazing thing happens to us humans. When we are put to the
test, we can find the answer in a minute. Think about it - your imagination will
get a workout for a few minutes and - the answer, as well.
Join Athena
on "High Noon with Athena" on WXBR AM 1460 radio on Fridays, from 11
am - 1 pm. Athena will discuss how we can develop a peaceful mind and body - at
any age. Or, write her, P.O. Box 218, Holbrook, MA 02343, or by e-mail AthenaPark@aol.com |
| | Dear
Athena: My friend was telling me her sister has psoriasis. Her doctor has told
her a certain percentage of people develop a form of arthritis with this condition.
Do you know anything about this? Thank you. M.W.
Dear M.W.: A client
was telling me she heard about the complications her neighbor was having and ended
with psoriatic arthritis.
I have always been curious about the skin conditions
people have, so I explored the subject and found some serious facts.
As
I advise everyone, when we begin experiencing discomfort in the body, make an
appointment with your doctor and find the reason this is happening. We all are
different. We all react differently. Do not depend on rumors, your health is important.
Unfortunately,
this destructive form of arthritis can be found in 10% - 85% of the cases of psoriasis.
The skin condition precedes the onset of arthritis. Many don't think there can
be a connection between the skin and joint problems.
Psoriasis usually occurs
as a result of an underlying immune system malfunction, and many do not associate
an inflammation elsewhere in the body.
Psoriatic arthritis usually strikes
those between the ages of 30 - 50 years of age. Relatively young, but when we
think about it, this is usually the time a person feels aches/pains in their joints,
thinking getting old means we need to feel the pain.
This is why a person
needs to look into this, as when left untreated, psoriatic arthritis can lead
to irreparable damage to the structures in a joint.
The symptoms can range
from mild, or slight, to quite severe. Indications of pain, redness, and swelling
in the fingers and toes are common and can be localized to one side of the body
or occur on both sides. Other joins also may be affected.
Painful swelling
of the tendons surrounding the joints may occur.
Those who suffer from psoriasis
may also have inflammatory symptoms that can lead to nail deformities and can
cause eye irritation.
How does a person check on this?
A rheumatologist
may be referred, a doctor who specializes in the treatment of arthritis, joint
diseases, and immune system problems. A patient's history is carefully looked
at, plus a physical examination is required.
Unfortunately, too often those
who suffer from psoriatic arthritis wait until the disease has destroyed much
of a joint in the body. We overlook the way we feel, from season to season, believing
that old age is slowly creeping into our lives and we need to live with it.
Today,
it is wise to keep a sharp lookout for symptoms that speak quietly in the body,
telling us there is something that is not going well. Being careful is not being
overcautious - just smart.
Join Athena on "High Noon with Athena"
on WXBR AM 1460 radio on Fridays, from 11 am - 1 pm. Athena will discuss how we
can develop a peaceful mind and body - at any age. Or, write her, P.O. Box 218,
Holbrook, MA 02343, or by e-mail AthenaPark@aol.com | | | Dear
Athena: I never heard of an adult having acne, still my office worker claims she
has acne, like her teenage son. Can you explain? G.R.
Dear G.R.: Acne
can pop up at any age. You are not alone in thinking acne belongs to the younger
set, still acne does make itself known to - all ages.
Acne is caused when
a hair follicle pore becomes plugged with dead skin from the follicle itself.
If the plug is exposed to air, it changes color and becomes an open comedo (blackhead),
if it stays closed, it is a whitehead.
When the area becomes inflamed,
the process is a little more complicated. The normal skin bacteria living in the
follicle proliferates and comes to the attention of the immune system. Infection-fighting
white blood cells decide they need to be on the scene.
This is how nature
takes care of the little problems of the human body.
The deeper under the skin
the follicle wall has crumbled, the more severe the pimple.
Causes of
Outbreak
. Dirt clogs pores. What you see, is not what is. The plug you
see in the follicle is not dirt from outside and you can't scrub it away. That
would be like scrubbing the tip of the iceberg. All that can be accomplished is
negative. By scrubbing and popping and poking is to rupture any comedo lurking
under the skin can encourage inflammation and set the scene for possible scarring
- which is permanent.
. Stress can cause your face to break out and raise certain
internal adrenal hormone levels - and this could be a contributing factor for
some cases of acne.
. Dr. Guy Webster, professor of dermatology of Jefferson
Medical College, Philadelphia says there are a zillion people who have a tendency
toward acne. Yet, when they are under a lot of stress, most do not get adult acne.
.
When you are looking to get rid of the red, offensive spot, squeezing might say
good-bye to the pimple, and say hello to a scar. Squeezing is the surest way to
rupture and old gland and set the pimple up for infection.
. Most do the natural
thing, squeeze and allow it to heal. Many dab on a bit of benzoyl peroxide, here
and there and he claims that may be the wrong way to do it.
. He suggests you
can prevent pimples from showing up in the first place by using benzoyl peroxide
twice a day, every day. Put the product everywhere you don't want pimples. This
means your entire face. A warning to fair-skinned people, they should keep the
cap on the bottle and see the doctor, first.
. Seeing a form of breakout does
not necessarily mean it is just a pimple. Acne has other forms, roscea being one.
This is not a simple breakout problem, but needs special attention, as it can
become worse by tampering with it.
. Seeing a dermatologist can help a person
go down the right road if they have a tendency to suffer skin problems, at an
age. I repeat: we all are different. Skin is not just skin. Our skin is our type
of skin that requires special attention to be clear, free of blackheads, whiteheads,
and offensive pimples.
Join Athena on "High Noon with Athena"
on 1460 AM radio on Fridays,
11 am - 1 pm. Athena will discuss how we can
develop a peaceful mind and body at any age. Or, write her, P.O. Box 218, Holbrook,
MA 02343, or by e-mail AthenaPark@aol.com | | | Dear
Athena: I have tried meditating but can't seem to get relaxed enough. Is there
something we need to do before getting into the right state of mind? Thanks, V.W.
Dear
V.W.: It is not enough to tell yourself to relax and let go, we need to prepare
the physical body, as well.
Steps:
. Sit comfortably in position to
meditate. Take four long, slow, deep breaths, allowing the breath to travel to
all parts of the body where tension resides. Picture your breath going to that
area that is tight and allowing it to relax totally.
. Stretch your legs out
directly in front of you. Point your toes, then tighten your muscles along the
fronts and backs of your legs all the way to your buttocks. Hold the muscles tightly
for 20 seconds, then allow them to relax.
. Tighten the muscles in your stomach
and buttocks at the same time. Hold them firmly for 20 seconds, then allow them
to relax.
. Squeeze your shoulder blades together, pushing your elbows behind
your body and feeling the tension in the middle of your upper back while expanding
your chest. Hold for 20 seconds and then allow your back to relax.
. Put your
arms out directly in front of you, make hard fists with your hands and tighten
the muscles all the way up your arms into your shoulders. Push your arms away
from your body while you round your shoulders a little until you feel a stretch
along your upper back. Hold for 20 seconds and then allow your arms to relax,
placing your hands back into your lap or by your sides.
. Shrug your shoulders
as high as you can. Rotate them forward slowly three times and then backward three
times. Let them drop softly into a comfortable position.
. Tilt your head to
the left, allowing the weight of your head to increase the stretch along the right
side of your neck a little. Hold for 10 - 20 seconds.
. Tilt your head to the
right side, again allowing the weight of your head to increase the stretch along
the left side of your neck. Hold for 10 - 20 seconds, then straighten your head.
.
Frown, squeeze your eyes shut and purse your lips as hard as you can and then
hold for 20 seconds. Allow your facial muscles to soften and relax.
. Take
three more long, slow, deep breaths and imagine the breath dissolving any residual
tension in your body. Feel the difference within your body and the heightened
sense of relaxation.
. Get ready to get into the area of total relaxation and
meditate.
Join Athena on "High Noon with Athena" on 1460 AM radio
on Fridays,
11 am - 1 pm. Athena will discuss how we can develop a peaceful
mind and body - at any age. Or, write her, P.O. Box 218, Holbrook, MA 02343, or
by e-mail AthenaPark@aol.com | | |
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