MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'exercises'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:02:25 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182066&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FcHHww-Xin4g%2F (Editor’s note: Pathways responsible for higher-order thinking in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), or executive center of the brain, remain vulnerable throughout life—during critical early-life developmental windows, when the PFC fully matures in the early 20s, and finally from declines associated with old age. At all ages, physical activity and PFC-navigated social connections are essential components to maintaining brain health. The Experience Corps, a community-based social-engagement program, partners seniors with local schools to promote purpose-driven involvement. Participating seniors have exhibited immediate short-term gains in brain regions vulnerable to aging, such as the PFC, indicating that people with the most to lose have the most to gain from environmental enrichment.) Over ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182066 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:18:19 +0100 5182066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181903&cid=t_119675_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F30%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-august-30-2011%2F I’m not sure we’re ever fully immune to it-that pout, that stomp, that automatic childlike reaction to things not going our way. “It’s not fair,” seems to never want to grow up. As we get older, however, the disappointments get bigger. It’s not the game we lost, but the games we can’t even play that upsets us. It’s not the rides we can’t get on, but the rides that life thrusts upon us on that really gets our goat. It’s not the gifts we didn’t get, but the unwanted gifts we got that makes us want to be a kid again, throw our hands up in the air, cry and scream, “It’s not fair!” Whether it’s physical or mental illness, tragedy or a natural disaster, life will hand us unexpected challenges. Challenges th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181903 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:03:56 +0100 5181903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159687&cid=t_119675_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Freasons-to-enjoy-flabbiness.html Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy It turns out that being thin is only one factor that contributes to healthiness. And just because you are thin, doesn't mean you are healthy. No matter what you weigh, the important thing is that if you exercise regularly - 30 minutes/day - and eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Today I am on the healthy bandwagon. I have a breakfast meeting and then I will go to the gym, go to two more meetings, and stop at the farmer's market on my way home. I did not exercise yesterday nor did I eat right. I had nachos and a glass of wine for dinner while I caught up with an old friend. But I had a salad for lunch so some how those should cancel the other out. Yes I am trying to lose weight but aging, post chemo, post hysterect... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159687 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:19:00 +0100 5159687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107841&cid=t_119675_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fanother-reason-to-exercise.html Perhaps I was actually doing something right. Before and during treatment, and even for a while after, I went for a daily walk. During treatment, I would drag my body outdoors to get some fresh air and exercise for a 30-45 minute walk. The only days I didn't go for a walk was when I was hospitalized. I may have been walking slower than before diagnosis, but I was moving. I was always encouraged to do so by the doctors and nurses. Other people in treatment would look at me like I grew two heads - you mean you didn't stay home and take a nap? At the time I was doing it because it was part of my daily routine to go for a walk and cancer wasn't going to upset my routines - even if it screwed up the rest of my life. In addition, it helped with that lovely treatment side effect - constipation -... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107841 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:57:00 +0100 5107841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086374&cid=t_119675_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-books%2Faddadhd-drug-free-natural-alternatives-and-practical-exercises-to-help-your-child-focus-2.php Price 6 Listprice $15 Description Although attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) affect between 3 to 5 per cent of school-age kids, they remain the most misunderstood problems facing young children today. While medications like Ritalin and Cylert are traditionally prescribed to treat these disorders, they often come with worrying side effects and can cause weight loss, insomnia, and may even slow growth in younger children. Finally, “ADD/ADHD Drug Free” gives frustrated parents a long-awaited natural alternative.The first book to feature activities for children that will help them cope with their disorder by strengthening brain functioning, this life-changing guide shows parents, teachers and counselors how the ... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086374 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5086374 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077868&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FbVs7OP1xH_I%2F In recent years, we have witnessed the beginnings of a revolution in education.  Technology has fundamentally altered the way we do many things in daily life, but it is just starting to make headway in changing the way we teach.  Just as television shows like Sesame Street enhanced the passive learning of information for kids by teaching in a fun format, electronic games offer to greatly enhance the way kids and adults are taught by actively engaging them in the process. The Entertainment Software Association estimates that sixty-seven percent of American households play video or computer games [1].  They are especially popular among young males, with a recent study of teenagers by researchers at Yale reporting that 76.3% of male (and 29.2% of female) teens play video games [2].  These... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077868 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:36:31 +0100 5077868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057780&cid=t_119675_111_f&fid=38038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcosmicwatercooler.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fbodybuilding-back-exercises.html Every bodybuilder is looking for that secret bodybuilding nutrition supplement drink was ingested prior to and immediately following each intense bodybuilding workout routines on the bodybuilding back exercises to hold water. In fact, bodybuilding would seem to eat the bodybuilding back exercises, yet wholly inadequate for making ongoing natural muscle is a real bodybuilder. Real Bodybuilding takes heart and it wasn't until the bodybuilding back exercises to the bodybuilding back exercises are no miracle supplements or machines that will bring immediate results.Apart from that, keep the above-mentioned bodybuilding fundamentals in mind to find the perfect bodybuilding routine that works for you and before long you will ever meet. Some however can be sometimes off putting and depressing for... Cosmic Watercooler blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057780 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 22:18:00 +0100 5057780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029042&cid=t_119675_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Flife-with-pain-without-drugs.html I take five prescriptions daily. One for thyroid, one for post breast cancer, one for back pain, one for inflammation related to back pain, and one for my sanity. I have other prescriptions in cases of extreme pain or loss of sanity. I still get a lot of pain. Sometimes I wonder what if I stopped taking them all - well not the thyroid one or the breast cancer one or the sanity one... But the back pain and inflammation ones. I mean what if my pill supplies ran out and they didn't make them any more, where would I be? I would prefer not to go to the doctor or to take any medications. Before all this, I was an advil every few months kind of person. I was interested to read this article about living with pain without drugs.The article recomends five things instead of medicaitons:1. Exercise - ... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029042 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:25:00 +0100 5029042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4997522&cid=t_119675_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-right-and-wrong-ways-to-strengthen-your-core-muscles%2F2011.07.03 What do slouching, back pain, and a middling forehand or weak shot off the tee have in common? Often it’s a weak core—the girdle of muscles, bones, and joints that links your upper and lower body. Your core gives you stability and helps power the moves you make every day. Whether it’s bending to pick up a laundry basket, swinging a golf club, paddling a kayak, or reaching to pull a vase from the top shelf of a cabinet, a strong and flexible core makes the move more fluid, efficient, and robust. Strong, well-balanced core muscles can also improve your posture and help prevent back injuries. And if back pain does strike, core exercises are usually part of the rehab regimen. Core Muscles Click image to enlarge. Your core is composed of many different muscles in the abdomen, back, ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4997522 Sun, 03 Jul 2011 22:00:55 +0100 4997522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992831&cid=t_119675_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fsometimes-life-just-sucks-2%2F Aw come on, you know it’s true. We all have our rotten days and have our own way of getting through the bad times. Life has many hammers, hatchets and boiling oil and can use it all on us; a bad marriage, auto accidents out of the blue and children who screw up their lives and break our hearts. Unfortunately, life is imperfect and yet, we’re always surprised when it whams us in the face. That should tell us hope lives deep within our hearts, whether we’re aware of it or not. Today the particular rotten I would like to talk about is the very personal double whammy of daily pain and disease. We take pills, some of us drink too much alcohol, others become very wretched to be with and sometimes, we just cry. I don’t do all of those but am guilty of most of them. I don’t drink because... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992831 Sat, 02 Jul 2011 02:07:53 +0100 4992831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984731&cid=t_119675_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FVWUYzDz3gtM%2F I have spent many years working on my health and my happiness. I learned early on how my thoughts and my mind can affect every experience I have. Therefore I began researching and learning about the health of my mind and how I could use my mind to benefit my life and my overall happiness. I figured there are enough obstacles to deal with out there in the big world and I didn’t want to be sabotaging myself from within. There are several different factors that affect health and happiness including nutrition, lifestyle, exercise, stress, family and career. However the one big factor that in my experience often gets overlooked is the health of the mind. It seemed to me that in order to create and maintain a healthy and happy life the work must begin with the mind. Your thoughts are extremely... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984731 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 04:57:09 +0100 4984731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976036&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Ffuv1BBULwMs%2F The current issue of Cerebrum –a great publication of the Dana Foundation– includes the excellent in-depth article Promoting Healthy, Meaningful Aging Through Social Involvement: Building an Experience Corps, written by researcher Michelle Carlson: “Over the last decade, scientists made two key discoveries that reframed our understanding of the adult brain’s potential to benefit from lifelong environmental enrichment. First, they learned that the adult brain remains plastic; it can generate new neurons in response to physical activity and new experiences. Second, they confirmed the importance of social connectedness to late-life cognitive, psychological, and physical health. The integration of these findings with our understanding of individuals’ developmental needs throughout li... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976036 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:01:23 +0100 4976036 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953276&cid=t_119675_136_f&fid=35302&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWhitePebble%2F%7E3%2FF294ovRL6gA%2F   I am writing what for lack of a better word I call memoirs. I don’t know quite why I started writing them this spring, but I hurry to create the proper mental atmosphere to keep this process going. My writing workshop teacher recommends finding a book that is of the same sort that you yourself want to write, and using it as a sort of guide, a way of seeing how someone else has tackled your same subject, your same problems. I am writing about my family and my early life. The book that immediately came to me to use as the guide is Truman Capote‘s In Cold Blood. The music that I want to listen to while I write is Beethoven’s Fifth piano concerto — I don’t care who the orchestra is, but the pianist must be Rudolf Serkin. I wish I knew what this says about my s... white pebble blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953276 Sun, 19 Jun 2011 03:37:02 +0100 4953276 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911571&cid=t_119675_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F08%2Fhow-to-do-great-work-and-a-giveaway%2F When you’re on the job, you might feel like the last thing you’re doing is meaningful work. Like you’re stuck in a rut and just going through the motions. Email? Check. Phone calls? Check. Data entry? Check. Meeting? Check. Lunch? Check. More email. More calls. Home. Whether or not your days feel this mundane, you still might not be involved in exhilarating, engaging work that makes you happy. In Do More Great Work, Canadian coach Michael Bungay Stanier — founder of the company Box of Crayons — helps readers “stop the busywork, and start the work that matters.” Specifically, the book features a variety of exercises, which Stanier calls maps, and thought-provoking questions that help readers figure out what their own meaningful work is and how to do more of it. (It... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911571 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:15:12 +0100 4911571 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841736&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F5QrUzR8vQNE%2F Laughing feels good. Laughing is indeed good in most cases. A good belly laugh amounts to an aerobic exercise as your blood pressure and heart rate increase, your breathing changes and your diaphragm contracts. Laughing has also been shown to boost the immune system and reduce stress. Laughing is thus good for your brain! Here are two fun ways to take a further look at laughter and the brain : Listen to these laughs and decide whether it is a human or a computer laughing. Try this to find out how much you are stressed. You may be surprised… Enjoy! (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841736 Tue, 17 May 2011 18:59:52 +0100 4841736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829227&cid=t_119675_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fi-am-lacking-inspiration-this-morning.html I can't come up with anything to write about today. Its the third damp and cold rainy day in a row and I believe we have four more to come. Maybe I need some warm weather and sunshine? I don't know. I'm tired, I didn't sleep well (again). I am trying to motivate to go to the gym so maybe I'll get nice and warm and partially wake up. But that would require getting my butt out of bed, where I am comfy.Today I will not spend a lot of time dealing with my health other than pretending I am coordinated enough to do the exercises from my physical therapist. I got some new ones yesterday and asked her which ones I should be doing of the dozens she has previously given me. The new exercises I have are these three:- Stand on my left leg, holding on to something with my left hand (so I don't fall on ... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829227 Tue, 17 May 2011 11:08:00 +0100 4829227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828985&cid=t_119675_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F16%2Fover-40-playful-yet-practical-ways-to-cultivate-creativity%2F This article is designed specifically for marketing mavens but everyone can take away some good ideas, regardless of your profession. What are some of your favorite creativity-boosting activities? What helps you get those creative juices churning? (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828985 Mon, 16 May 2011 12:06:04 +0100 4828985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803331&cid=t_119675_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-books%2Faddadhd-drug-free-natural-alternatives-and-practical-exercises-to-help-your-child-focus.php Price 1.24 Listprice $15 Description Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) are among the most misunderstood problems facing young children today. Drugs like Ritalin and Cylert are traditionally prescribed to treat these disorders, but their use is controversial. While many children have been helped by these medications, at best, pills only temporarily improve symptoms. Some­times they don’t work at all, and they can come with disturbing side effects such as weight loss, insomnia, and may even slow growth in younger children. ADD/ADHD Drug Free gives frustrated parents a long-awaited natural alternative. The first book to feature enjoyable, practical activities for children that will help them cope with their disorde ... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803331 Sun, 08 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4803331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4768046&cid=t_119675_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F29%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-april-29-2011%2F You know what amazes me? No matter how far we come in life, there is always a point where we suddenly forget. Maybe it’s the relative who negated your recent accomplishment or the friend who brushed off your latest idea. It could be the classmate that surpassed you in school or the colleague who got one step ahead of you in your career. Suddenly, everything you ever did is just not good enough. How do you get back to that place of peace and gratitude? How do you return to the moment where you remember all of the trials and tribulations and trauma you have already overcame in the past? You get back to yourself. Whether it’s by yoga, meditation or walking, these posts will help inspire you to do just that. Yoga and Meditation: The Benefits (ADHD in Focus) – Are you mystifi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4768046 Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:07:25 +0100 4768046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753831&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F2Ie6h3vlNCc%2F Ready to see how well you can remember random words or, more difficult, names? Click here to test your brain. You will also be able to check your mental speed with a reaction time test. All 3 exercises will give you an idea of where you are at compared to other people of the same age. To improve your performance, you may want to read this post before trying the games: How can I improve concentration and memory? Enjoy. Hope your brain surprises you! (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753831 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:55:01 +0100 4753831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4482876&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F_yJ4wQY3NAs%2F We’re delighted to add Brain Resource to the roster of Sponsors of the upcoming 2011 SharpBrains Summit, and the Center for  Technology and Aging and the Brain Injury Association of Canada to the roster of Partners. Thank you for your support! New Sponsor Brain Resource brings new insights and new efficiencies to managing brain health. Its proprietary platforms are used to predict who will best respond to what drug, and develop new drugs, to provide objective reports from on-line assessments of brain health across the lifespan (including ADHD, Depression, Anxiety and Schizophrenia), and to match individualized profiles with brain training exercises & interactive videos to optimize wellness & brain function. New Partners The Brain Injury Association of Canada has a mandate to im... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4482876 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 02:27:03 +0100 4482876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4478027&cid=t_119675_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fcordination-test.html Some years back, I read some study (because there are billions of them and if you believe one, another will come along to refute it) on the benefits of walking and talking to improve health and destress. But you have to meet a few requirements:- You have to have someone to go for a walk with you.- You have to be able to talk- You have to be able to talk and walk at the same time- You have to have a place to go for a walk.The study I saw was on patients or caregivers of a bunch of sick people. There was one group who walked regularly, another who talked to their friends about their issues, and the third group who talked to their friends while they walked together. The third group was by far the healthiest. The idea was that while getting some exercise while they verbalized their stresses pr... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4478027 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:38:00 +0100 4478027 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4464608&cid=t_119675_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fexercise-and-multiple-sclerosis%2F There was a day — a day not that long ago — when people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis were told not to get too worked up, let alone worked out! Today, however, exercise is seen as an important part of living well with the disease. More than just “A healthy body recovers from an exacerbation better than an unhealthy one”; exercise is now seen pivotal to our overall health as well as possibly helping with the disease itself. The endorphins released during physical exertion can help control pain and improve mood. Adding moderate physical activity, even from a seated position, can help make up for more sedentary lifestyles imposed by MS limitations and check weight gain brought on by said imposition and drug side-effects alike. Now, no one is suggesting that we break ourselves by t... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4464608 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:30:53 +0100 4464608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450476&cid=t_119675_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fhealthy-weight-loss.html As once again, the battle of the bulge sets in to our house hold, I am attempting to engage my husband in a bet - to see which of us can lose the same percentage of body weight first. He has declined. Wimp. I am determined to lose weight once again. This time I am going to do it. Not only am I focusing on a watching what I eat but have joined a gym where a physical therapist is going to work with an exercise person (I believe the term the gym uses is 'exercisologist') to come up with a plan for me which will then be updated every three months. I believe this strategy is going to be a tad more effective than me going to the gym and looking at the little pictures on the sides of the machines and figuring out how I think I should use them.Yesterday I met with the physical therapist. She wante... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450476 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 11:15:00 +0100 4450476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4441973&cid=t_119675_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fat-home-psychotherapy-for-the-super-bowl-fan-football-attention-neurosis%2F2011.02.06 So it’s Super Bowl Sunday and the fans are psychiatric patients waiting to happen — the beer and the beer and the beer, and maybe the fights will break out, and they’ll all end up in therapy. Oh, the angst and the panic, and the pre-game anxiety, and the post-game euphoria or depression. New York Times reporter Benedict Carey talks about treatment options in his article, ”A Home Treatment Kit for Super Bowl Suffering.” Mr. Carey suggests: Breathing exercises are highly recommended and become increasingly important as the football contest nears the fourth quarter, when events on the field are likely to prompt strong physiological reactions, like a pounding heart, hyperventilation, even dizziness. These internal cues, as they’re called, can escalate the feeli... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4441973 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 19:00:00 +0100 4441973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4414654&cid=t_119675_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fgetting-in-shape.html This year I wanted to get in shape. I think I wanted to do this each year for the past several years. As we approach the end of January, I am still working on getting in shape. (Yes I know you don't wake up one day 'in shape' but you have to keep working at it.) And I am not happy to report that the 25 lbs that I have been working on getting rid of are still staying attached to me. Well apparently there are several things I need to take into account.1. I have to change what I eat - I am trying to do this. More fruit, more vegetables, and lean protein. I think I eat pretty well actually.2. My workout isn't fun. Well actually it is. I used to try to walk every day. Now with my schedule and the snow on the ground, I have been going to my exercise class twice a week where I am the only student... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4414654 Sat, 29 Jan 2011 11:04:00 +0100 4414654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4326932&cid=t_119675_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F09%2F7-steps-to-closure-when-a-friend-dumps-you%2F I think we’ve all been dissed by a friend at least once in our lifetime, right? Recently I’ve had two people remove me as a friend on Facebook. Like that feels good. Was it my annoying status updates? The singing video that I uploaded (“A Few of My Favorite Things” … check it out )? I know I was off-key. Oh, the picture of the old lady that I posted and said it was me. You are that old lady? Geez… Sorry. Frankly I don’t know what’s worse: the e-mails and the phone calls that aren’t returned, or the letter (or really painful conversation) explaining why the friendship is toxic and needs to be terminated. It all feels the same: REJECTION. Like you’re back in the sixth grade again, with bad acne, and the boys want to date your pretty... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4326932 Sun, 09 Jan 2011 13:45:10 +0100 4326932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4233374&cid=t_119675_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Ftrying-something-new.html I am trying something new in the unending fight to lose weight, feel (and look) younger, hurt less, and just be darn better. I joined my exercise program, a/k/a the Pink Program. I whined about it a few weeks ago when I had homework that I didn't do. Now that I am a few weeks into it I feel better. I am hesitant to say much about how much better I feel so as not to jinx myself. I am definitely more flexible. I feel less stiff. This is good. Now if only the scale would go in the right direction a little faster I would be even happier.One of the biggest advances I have felt is my back is having few flare ups of pain, until yesterday where it was VERY bad. I was in my pajamas and pink fuzzy slipper socks by 530 pm. That felt good. But every fifteen minutes or so I needed a mini massage by my ... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4233374 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:00:00 +0100 4233374 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225229&cid=t_119675_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D903 Those wonderful little exercises to help your body move through pregnancy and delivery are called kegels. Keeping fit while you’re pregnant is vital to a healthy pregnancy and happy mom-to-be. These two articles shows just how important it is to maintain good health all the way  through your pregnancy. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225229 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:38:00 +0100 4225229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4183396&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fmiilgyg-0P8%2F When I give a presentation about brain health and fitness, there are always a few people who come tell me afterward that they do crossword puzzles everyday. They heard that mental exercise is good for the brain so they are pleased and proud to report that they do the best they can to maintain their brain functions. But are they really? What if I was a gym instructor? Would the same people tell me proudly that to keep their whole body in shape they do biceps movements everyday, and that’s all they do? I DO feel like I was this gym instructor when I hear the crossword puzzles claim! Solving crossword puzzles repetitively is not the best habit for two reasons. First, the first crossword puzzles one did were truly stimulating but the marginal value declines with repetition. You may remember ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4183396 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:09:00 +0100 4183396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179475&cid=t_119675_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fi-joined-workout-class.html I am really determined to lose weight and get in shape. I feel flabby. I don't feel flexible. And my size 8 wardrobe is calling me. I miss those clothes. I joined a workout class. A local gym is offering a class, the Pink Program (but I don't have to wear pink), to those of us luck enough to have had breast cancer. So its not really free, but if you survived surgery/chemo/radiation and a complete loss of modesty as a result, you can take this class and regain your flexibility and fitness. According to the book that comes with the class, The Breast Cancer Survivor's Fitness Plan, you will 'reclaim health, regain strength, and live longer'. I don't know about all that but I will try it. Its a 12 week program.I do admit I took the book out of the library once, racked up a lot of overdue fees ... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179475 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:27:00 +0100 4179475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4086391&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FFhw0Xv-nlrw%2F An interesting article in Nature Reviews last month reviewed several studies showing that cognitive intervention can be beneficial even for individuals already diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (Buschert et al., 2010). The article shows that patients with mild-to-moderate dementia can benefit from a range of cognitive interventions: from training of partially spared cognitive functions to training on activities of daily living. Results suggest that such interventions can improve global cognition, abilities of daily living and quality of life in these patients. Patients with moderate-to-severe dementia seem to benefit from general engagement in activities that enhance cognitive and social functioning in a non-specific manner. In general, for patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease,... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4086391 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:40:46 +0100 4086391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074240&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FakNcK_Url9M%2F In the latest issue of Neurology a study by Erickson et al. (2010) suggests that walking regularly can increase brain volume and reduce the risks of developing cognitive impairment. The researchers stared with 2 mains facts: Gray matter volume shrinks with age, often leading to cognitive decline. Physical exercise seems to be neuro-protector (see our previous post: Fitter bodies = fitter brains. True at all ages?) They asked 2 questions: Can physical activity assessed earlier predict gray matter volume 9 years later? Is greater gray matter volume associated with reduced risks of developing cognitive impairment? The study: 299 participants, mean age: 78, 182 female. Physical activity was assessed in 1988–1989 (baseline) = total number of blocks walked over 1 week. Cognitive function... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074240 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:20:44 +0100 4074240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045224&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FTSN3bNlCxTY%2F Have you read the cover story of the New Scientist this week: Mental muscle: six ways to boost your brain? The article, which includes good information on brain food, the value of meditation, etc., starts by saying that: “Brain training doesn’t work, but there are lots of other ways to give your grey matter a quick boost.” Further in the article you can read “… brain training software has now been consigned to the shelf of technologies that failed to live up to expectations.” Such claims are based on the one study widely publicized earlier this year: the BBC “brain training” experiment, published by Owen et al. (2010) in Nature. What happened to the scientific rigor associated with the New Scientist? As expressed in one of our previous posts: “Once more, claims seem to go... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045224 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:42:52 +0100 4045224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013346&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FiVuc_6nKUho%2F Are you familiar with mental rotation? As the name indicates it refers to moving things around in your head. It is one of the numerous visuospatial skills that humans have. Let’s take an exam­ple. Can you pic­ture in your head an arrow point­ing to the right? Now, turn this arrow so it points to the left. Done? You have just per­formed a men­tal rota­tion. Although it is rare to consciously imagine objects moving, peo­ple automatically use this abil­ity when they read maps, use tools, play chess, arrange fur­ni­ture, drive in traf­fic, etc. Men­tal rota­tion relies mostly on the pari­etal areas of your brain (yellow sec­tion in the brain image above). Here is a brain exer­cise to stim­u­late your men­tal rota­tion skills. The top shape is your model. Among the 3 ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013346 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:43:13 +0100 4013346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013347&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fczf-MSXQ8Qw%2F Excellent article about an emerging “small revolution” in mental health care: Marientina Gotsis, media lab manager at USC, started thinking about designing apps with therapeutic potential when she realized that her phone had joined her wallet and keys on the small list of things she never left home without. “It’s what keeps people connected, functional, feeling safe and entertained. So why not use what people hold on to close to deliver behavioral interventions?” It’s the kind of innovation that Kathleen Carroll, a psychology professor at Yale, says may be a “small revolution” in mental health care. These apps are part of the “brain fitness” industry, a category that includes computerized memory exercises and cognitive-impairment assessment programs, and that SharpBrain... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013347 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 12:39:00 +0100 4013347 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3980913&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F4lcTn0h0gTo%2F This study is different from the previous ones showing that healthy people who are cognitively active have lower risks of developing dementia for one major reason: It assessed the fate of cognitively active individuals who have been diagnosed with dementia. This stresses an important point: cognitive activity helps delay the emergence of dementia but doesn’t prevent it completely. The results of the study confirmed that cognitive activity prior to dementia onset is protective: the annual rate of global cognitive decline for people who had no cognitive impairment was reduced by 52% for each additional point on the cognitive activity scale. This means that individuals who had high cognitive activity scores showed delayed decline. Overall these individuals declined more slowly than individu... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3980913 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:30:48 +0100 3980913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976532&cid=t_119675_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F16%2F5-ways-to-manage-fall-anxiety%2F Even as I love the autumn season, it is full of anxiety for me. I start to mourn the ending of summer when I hear the cicadas grow louder the last two weeks of August and when I feel the crispness in the air at that time, which brings less sunlight and longer nights. Then the back-to-school craze: buying shoes, supplies, backpacks, etc. and trying to catch up on the homework we didn’t do during June and July. By the time I make it to the parent-teacher conferences in early September, when I hear about all the things I’m supposed to be doing with the kids, I’m well into panic mode. The other day, my therapist and I talked about a few coping exercises to keep my anxiety from disabling me this time of year. 1. Pick a sound or object to be your Xanax. My therapist looks up t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976532 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:07:17 +0100 3976532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3659127&cid=t_119675_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fexercise-during-treatment-its-yes.html I take a daily walk, I think I might have mentioned it a time or two. I started more than ten years ago and I didn't stop during treatment. I went for a walk daily. I didn't skip a day just because it was treatment day or I felt crappy. Maybe my walks got shorter and slower some days but I did get out there. Everyone encouraged me to do this. I walk on the treadmill at the gym if the weather is really bad. To skip a walk, I had to be hospitalized and then I would get up and walk around the halls (which is kind of depressing to walk in hospitals and see all the sick people).Anyway, its nice to see some thing in the mainstream media about the importance of exercise during cancer treatment. I am currently walking 6 days a week.Its Monday morning. I am eating oatmeal. We decided that one day a... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3659127 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:19:00 +0100 3659127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595556&cid=t_119675_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F10-best-celebrity-arms-kate-hudson-evangeline-lily-and-anna-paquin%2F photo: WENN.com Warmer weather means it’s time to bare arms, and we’re working hard to tone our biceps and triceps for all those strapless summer fashions. Just one look at Kate Hudson, Evangeline Lilly, Kelly Ripa, and Anna Paquin’s lithe limbs and you’ll be reaching for the dumbbells. How’s that for motivation? Check out our gallery to see who else is giving us arm envy: Post from: BlissTree 10 Best Celebrity Arms: Kate Hudson, Evangeline Lilly, and Anna Paquin (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595556 Mon, 24 May 2010 17:36:45 +0100 3595556 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3476048&cid=t_119675_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fwho-is-this-twit-part-ii.html This study suggests that being physically active may also help reduce the risk and that something as simple and cheap as doing the housework can help.”He recommend that men and women take regular exercise and maintain a healthy body weight to help prevent cancer.'Their point should really be regular exercise, where you get up and get moving regularly, as opposed to just short bursts of exercise when you go to the gym, is what is more important. The only time men are mentioned in the article is in this last sentence when it talks about regular exercise and healthy body weight. I don't consider an article on women doing more housework to be enlightening. By the way, I do exercise and also do housework and I still got cancer. Explain that one. Maybe my dust bunnies will remain cancer free. ... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3476048 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:20:00 +0100 3476048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3362552&cid=t_119675_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fexercises-can-be-dangerous.html Every day I get down on the floor and do my back exercises twice a day with a big exercise ball, then I do my arm exercises standing up, and then I stand on the balance board and balance disk and do my ankle exercises. Well, yesterday I seem to have been lacking that key trait that can be very helpful in life - coordination. As I was getting down on the floor to start my back exercises, I twisted and jolted my back simultaneously in a distinct lack of adeptness and my back gave a nasty jolt which continues to this moment. No I wasn't doing my exercises I was getting ready to do my exercises.I have no idea what I did. I have pain meds. It is bearable with drugs. My thought is if it still continues Monday, I will call the doctor. No this is nothing to do with the injection I received on Thur... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3362552 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:47:00 +0100 3362552 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3314779&cid=t_119675_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fattempt-to-be-less-whiney.html I was thinking (sorry I know I shouldn't) and reread my recent posts and decided that I have been rather whiney recently, possibly even more than normal, if that is possible. Today my goal (and my husband will cheer when he hears this) is to be less whiney. Admittedly my life has had its ups and downs recently and I am attempting to deal in a sane manner. I am glad to say that my husband is clearly on the road to improvement, which is important because one of us needs to be healthy. But my health is still struggling. Again. My ankle is not happier. The physical therapist nurse I saw on Monday about my arm suggested I step up my exercises of my ankle to see about rehabbing it or just have the surgery and not wait because I really should be concerned about falling. Feel the cheery rays of su... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3314779 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:58:00 +0100 3314779 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3280018&cid=t_119675_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F16%2Fmindapps-releases-ecbt-trauma%2F We’re pleased to announce that our partner MindApps has released a new iPhone/iPod Touch app known as eCBT Trauma. As you can guess, eCBT Trauma is focused on individuals who are coping with posttraumatic stress disorder — PTSD — in their lives. “With eCBT Trauma, we wanted to help people who have experienced a trauma by providing education and interventions to help them cope with the symptoms of PTSD,” said Michael Hufford, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and Co-Founder and CEO of MindApps. “eCBT Trauma can serve as an adjunctive tool for therapists to use with their clients, or as a standalone intervention.” eCBT Trauma is an iPhone application that provides users with a way to assess their symptoms after experiencing a trauma, graph their symptoms ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3280018 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:53:00 +0100 3280018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2943864&cid=t_119675_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F30%2Fdesign-can-encourage-greater-self-disclosure%2F Every day, our behavior is directly influenced by a number of factors, some of which we may not even be consciously aware of. How things are designed is one of those factors. Psychology researchers call it fluency while web developers call it usability, but they’re both basically talking about the same thing — how well something is designed can directly impact how much people use it. And not only the degree to which they use it, but also the amount of self-disclosure a person makes while using it. Online researchers have repeatedly referred to the disinhibition effect of online behavior — people tend to disclose more about themselves or their personal details online than they do in similar face-to-face interactions. But why do people — especially teens — over... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2943864 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:23:25 +0100 2943864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2838982&cid=t_119675_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F28%2F6-healthy-habits-that-can-make-you-sick%2F I dance the Macarena whenever I come across an article that argues against healthy living. I cautioned you against too much positive thinking a few days ago. I laughed while reading research about dark chocolate firing up the happy brain. And I high fived the doctors who warn folks against too much sunscreen — because it blocks the vitamin D that all of us need. I hate that stuff and was looking long and hard for an excuse not to look like a clown this summer. Thank you! I’ve even performed the opposite of an intervention with one of my friends last week who was foolishly trying to give up alcohol and nicotine at the same time. “No, no, no,” I told her. “You can’t do both of these together and expect to keep friends. Now I suggest you go pour yourself a ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2838982 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:43:58 +0100 2838982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2762180&cid=t_119675_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.johnratey.com%2Fsite%2Fmedia%2Fthe%2520monitor%2520intreview.mp3 Conclusion As Dr. Medina points out, exercise strengthens muscles and bones, reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s, regulates appetite, improves fluid intelligence, decreases risk for heart disease, decreases chances of diabetes, improves long-term memory, and has many more benefits.  For your body’s health, and for your brain’s health, make exercising a part of your regular routine.  Be sure to check with your doctor before starting an exercise program. Marelisa Fábrega is a guest blogger for PickTheBrain.  She blogs about creativity, productivity, and simplifying your life over at Abundance Blog at MarelisaOnline. Marelisa is the author of the ebook “How to Be More Creative – A Handbook forAlchemists” Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter! : How To Ma... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2762180 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:44:32 +0100 2762180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2744123&cid=t_119675_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FCGcBbfVRYY4%2F People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may find it difficult to get a lot done on some days. Their difficulty breathing can make moving and getting out a challenge. There’s not a lot that can be done about this although researchers are looking at ways to improve medications and portable oxygen tanks also make it possible for some people to get out and about. A new trial has found, though, that simple upper body exercises may be one way of helping people with COPD breathe more easily by strengthening the muscles in the chest. Twenty-five patients with COPD participated in a trial that either had them doing regular exercise or using dumbbells that helped them strengthen their the pectoralis (the thick muscle, in the upper front of your chest), deltoids (the thick musc... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2744123 Sat, 29 Aug 2009 08:47:23 +0100 2744123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741428&cid=t_119675_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F27%2Fcan-you-multitask-probably-not-well%2F Everyone multitasks to some degree or another. Whether you watch TV while cooking dinner, or talk on your phone while browsing through a website, we all do it sometimes and feel fairly comfortable with it. I’d hazard to guess that most of us even think we deal with it pretty well. For things that don’t really matter much, we’re probably right. But multitasking has shown to affect our ability to learn new information. And the more we multitask, the more stressed we generally become. New evidence published this week adds more evidence to the downsides of multitasking, especially if you multitask a lot. The researchers conducted a series of three experiments on 100 college students. (Yes, take the study’s results with a grain of salt since college students may not be r... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741428 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:26:30 +0100 2741428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511158&cid=t_119675_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F22%2Fpositive-thoughts-make-things-worse-for-poor-self-esteem%2F You think positive self-talk would always result in feeling more positive about yourself. New research suggests that may not always be the case. If a person has poor self-esteem to begin with, and then tells themselves something like, “I am a lovable person,” they actually end up feeling worse about themselves than those with good self-esteem. Why does this occur? Because the positive statement contradicts their own self-image, reminding them of the fact they do not see themselves as a “lovable person.” So positive self-talk is positive only when the person who’s doing it really believes it. If one’s pre-existing beliefs contradict the positive self-talk, it appears the pre-existing beliefs will usually supersede (and overrule) the self-talk. The new s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511158 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:31:21 +0100 2511158 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348536&cid=t_119675_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F19%2Fguidelines-for-good-listening%2F My publisher, Guilford Press, reminded me to tell you about The Lost Art of Listening: How Learning to Listen Can Improve Relationships, just released in its second edition. The book by Dr. Mike Nichols explores the ways in which poor communication skills have robbed us of the comfort and security that can only come from genuine human interaction. He then offers “a wealth of practical techniques, simple exercises, and easy-to-reference tips for becoming a better listener and establishing solid lines of connection with those around us.” Listening, as I noted recently in a blog entry about improving your communication skills in a relationship, is a core component to a healthy relationship. Many relationships fail simply because one or both partners in a relationship aren’t ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348536 Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:46:40 +0100 2348536 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2121620&cid=t_119675_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2009%2F01%2F20%2Fsharpen-the-brain-with-this-list-of-top-brain-fitness-and-cognitive-health-books%2F If you’re looking for a little light reading, then this list won’t do. This list is for those of us who are looking to learn more about the brain and brain fitness. Originally posted at Sharp Brains, the 10 Most Popular Brain Fitness & Cognitive Health Books list made it’s way to the Huffington Post, adding another book along the way. If you want to find out why these 10 11 are the chosen ones, head over to either of those two sites. I’m just posting the covers of the books so that when you see them at your favorite book store, you’ll know that they’re the ones you are looking for. Happy reading… Tags: books, brain, brain books, brain exercises, brain fitness, cognitive training, reading lists, sharp brainShare This (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2121620 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:03:00 +0100 2121620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2093187&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F504623626%2F NeuroActive Bike: America’s First and Only Mind-Body Fitness Equipment Launched at Lady of America Fitness Centers (press release) - "The patent-pending bike, engineered by Dr. Bergeron and BCA (Brain Center America)’s international team of brain specialists, makes its U.S. debut this month at Lady of America (LOA) fitness centers." - "Users of the NeuroActive Bike may select from 22 brain-stimulating exercises that train different parts of the brain, including: memory of names and faces, 3D visuo-spatial skills, concentration, word naming and arithmetic. As they pedal, they manipulate a wireless mouse to interact with the computer and complete the NeuroActive Program" In our 2008 market report we offered Top 10 Brain Training Future Trends, inc... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2093187 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:45:53 +0100 2093187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2040044&cid=t_119675_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5590 from the Malaysian Medical Resources Cancer Will Soon Be Leading Cause of Death Worldwide, Avandia May Increase Fracture Risk in Diabetic Women, Warm-Up Exercises Reduce Injury Risk in Young Athletes (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2040044 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2040044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1915410&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F433602787%2F You may have already seen that our Teasers section contains not only our selection of Top 50 Brain Teasers and Games, but also a regularly updated page with latest Games for the Brain. Below you have the brain games and teasers we have added in 2008 so far. Ready? - October 2008: Top Brainy Haikus. Yours?. - September 2008: What is going on with these pictures?. - September 2008: 7 Brainteasers for Job Interviews. - August 2008: Can you use mental self rotation to read a map?. - August 2008: Spot the Differences! how many are there?. - July 2008: Top 25 Brain and Mind Haikus. Yours?. - June 2008: Consider Linda's job prospects. - June 2008: Spot the Difference for a frontal/ occipital/ parietal workout - May 2008. Word game: stimulate your temporal lobe. - April 2008. Your Haiku, Please... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1915410 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:03:35 +0100 1915410 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1853992&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F411408487%2F Thank you to everyone who has written so many fun haikus over the summer (following the post Top 25 Brain and Mind Haikus. Yours?). These are the 10 I have enjoyed the most: (Also, Can you write a haiku describing anything crossing your mind now? Remember the simple rules: write 3 lines, which don't need to rhyme, containing 5,7, and 5 syllables. You can leave your haiku as a comment below for extra points...) ----- Top 10 Brainy Haikus - enjoy! - Amit: Love, college, career. A new world of transitions. Will I survive? Yes. - Kathy: My release technique, Forgive, forget, love all, Meditate on that! - Alan: Through the microscope, slice of brain stains pink and blue, the wonder of thought. - Justin: Justin the genieus Must spell check the word genius to post this Haiku - Tim: writing quick... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1853992 Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:02:25 +0100 1853992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1826755&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F400952839%2F Great article in the New York Times titled Training Young Brains to Behave. A couple of quotes: - "But just as biology shapes behavior, so behavior can accelerate biology. And a small group of educational and cognitive scientists now say that mental exercises of a certain kind can teach children to become more self-possessed at earlier ages, reducing stress levels at home and improving their experience in school. Researchers can test this ability, which they call executive function, and they say it is more strongly associated with school success than I.Q." - “We know that the prefrontal cortex is not fully developed until the 20s, and some people will ask, ‘Why are you trying to improve prefrontal abilities when the biological substrate is not there yet?’ ” said Adele Di... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1826755 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:45:26 +0100 1826755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1791846&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F391862901%2F Today we introduce a  highly evolved version of brain teasers. How quickly can you provide the correct answer to these 3 questions? - 1) What is going on in these 2 pictures? - 2) what may explain it? - 3) Is there some element out of place? Ready. Set. Go! Please post your answers and time below. If you need to check the answer right now...you can watch this 2-minute video (with sound) Here. Here you have more brain teasers. Enjoy the weekend! brain exercise, Brain exercises, Brain games, brain teaser games, Brain teasers, brain teasing games, free brain teasers, games for the brain, mind teasers, online brain games, pranks addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sharpbrains.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F09%2F13%2Fgames-for-the-brain%2F'; addthis_title = 'Games+for+the+Brain'; addthis_pub = 'sharp... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1791846 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:28:33 +0100 1791846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1701780&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F363005439%2F Dr. Pascale Michelon recently shared with our readers which brain areas and cognitive functions are engaged as we solve the type of brain teaser known as Spot the Difference, where we have to find the differences between two versions of one image: "1) You have to identify the objects that you see: this involves your occipital lobes (in red). 2) You have to analyzed the spatial relationships between the objects that you see: this involves your occipital and parietal lobes (in green). 3) You have to remember what you see in one picture and compare it to what you see in the other picture, that is you have to use your short-term memory: this involves your frontal (in blue) and parietal lobes. 4) You have to mark down the locations where you see a difference: this involves mostly yo... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1701780 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:08:57 +0100 1701780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1655935&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F346452488%2F Readers have contributed a good number of haikus on brain-related topics. Below you have my  Favorite 7, and many other fun ones...which ones do you like the most? Also, Can you write a haiku describing anything crossing your mind now? Remember the simple rules: write 3 lines, which don't need to rhyme, containing 5,7, and 5 syllables. You can leave your haiku as a comment for extra points... My Favorite 7 Brain and Mind Haikus - Techne, the philosopher, wonders: Solve the big questions: How do I know when I know? Who knows the knower? - Steve, the environmentalist, requests: Neuroplastic good. Plastic, though lasts forever. Always recycle! - GTB, the skeptic, says Haiku's are easy But sometimes they don't make sense Refrigerator - Millie, the spiritual, suggests: Playing music feeds m... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1655935 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 08:47:01 +0100 1655935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1512546&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F310139058%2F This article was written by Pascale Michelon, Ph. D., for SharpBrains.com. Dr. Michelon, Copyright 2008. Dr. Michelon has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and has worked as a Research Scientist at Washington University in Saint Louis, in the Psychology Department. She conducted several research projects to understand how the brain makes use of visual information and memorizes facts. She is now an Adjunct Faculty at Washington University, and teaches Memory Workshops in numerous retirement communities in the St Louis area. Brain exercises, Brain games, Brain teasers, cognitive, cognitive processes, cognitive psychology, frontal lobes, mind teasers, occipital lobes, parietal lobes, Pascale Michelon, short term memory, Spot the Difference, the brain (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1512546 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:05:18 +0100 1512546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1446826&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F291394611%2F Here you are have the bi-monthly update with our 10 most Popular blog posts. (Also, remember that you can subscribe to receive our RSS feed, or to our newsletter, at the top of this page, if you want to receive this digest by email). We hope you have some time to share with us today. Just came back from a superb event on Brain Health Across the Lifespan...and many stimulating things are happening in the world of brain fitness.  News and Events Exercise your brain in the Cognitive Age: The New York Times published two thought-provoking articles on brain and cognitive fitness, one of them featuring SharpBrains. Brain Fitness Webinar Series: Alvaro has been travelling a great deal over the last 2 weeks to speak at a number of conferences (Games for Health, Innovation Institute, Learning... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1446826 Fri, 16 May 2008 04:33:11 +0100 1446826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1418695&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F282910329%2F In the past two days, The New York Times has published two excellent articles on brain and cognitive fitness. Despite appearing in separate sections (technology and editorial), the two have more in common than immediately meets the eye. Both raise key questions that politicians, health policy makers, business leaders, educators and consumers should pay attention to. 1) First, Exercise Your Brain, or Else You’ll ... Uh ..., by Katie Hafner (5/3/08). Some quotes: - "At the same time, boomers are seizing on a mounting body of evidence that suggests that brains contain more plasticity than previously thought, and many people are taking matters into their own hands, doing brain fitness exercises with the same intensity with which they attack a treadmill." - "Alvar... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1418695 Sat, 03 May 2008 20:03:03 +0100 1418695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1389520&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F275134691%2F Great article in the UK's Sunday Times yesterday: Pump up those little grey cells, listing a variety of free or inexpensive brain health-related resources. We are honored (even honoured, I'd dare say) that they started the list with our complimentary Brain Fitness 101 e-Guide: - "The science behind some of the more outlandish claims for computer games that are supposed to improve your cognitive powers, is a matter of debate. However, you don’t need to pay £20 to give a game a try. The internet features a host of websites that can stretch your imagination and improve your mental prowess in a range of skills. Some are expensive rip-offs, but many are free, as our guide to the best of them shows." - "Begin by downloading the Brain Fitness 101 e-guide by Sharp Brains, availa... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1389520 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:19:05 +0100 1389520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1327752&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F258097784%2F An interesting recent article announcesPupils to start day with Nintendo Brain Training(UK's Daily Telegraph). Some quotes: - "Children at 16 primary schools are to start each day by playing on a Nintendo games console, it was disclosed yesterday." - "The pupils will play "brain training" exercises before lessons after a pilot scheme at a school in Dundee found that it boosted learning ability." - "Children at St Columba's Primary in the city scored higher in maths tests and had improved concentration and behaviour after playing the Nintendo game More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima, the study showed." - "LTS is working with school inspectors and Dundee University to carry out a larger pilot of the scheme, with 16 schools using the game every... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1327752 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:13:01 +0100 1327752 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1314666&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F254360091%2F This article was written by Pascale Michelon, Ph. D., for SharpBrains.com. Copyright 2008. Dr. Michelon has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and has worked as a Research Scientist at Washington University in Saint Louis, in the Psychology Department. She conducted several research projects to understand how the brain makes use of visual information and memorizes facts. She is now an Adjunct Faculty at Washington University, and teaches Memory Workshops in numerous retirement communities in the St Louis area.   For more exercises, check out our Brain Teasers section. brain, Brain exercises, brain teaser, jigsaw puzzle, Memory Workshops, mental rotation, mind teasers, parietal lobe, Pascale Michelon, Visuospatial skills (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1314666 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:53:23 +0100 1314666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1259003&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F241615678%2F This article was written by Pascale Michelon, Ph. D., for SharpBrains.com. Dr. Michelon has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and has worked as a Research Scientist at Washington University in Saint Louis, in the Psychology Department. She conducted several research projects to understand how the brain makes use of visual information and memorizes facts. She is now an Adjunct Faculty at Washington University, and teaches Memory Workshops in numerous retirement communities in the St Louis area.   --------------- If you are interested in learning more: - Recommended Books on Brain and Mind - Build Your Cognitive Reserve, an Interview with Yaakov Stern - The Art of Changing the Brain, an Interview with James Zull abstract information, bilingual brain, brain exercise, Brain exercises, brain hea... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1259003 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:25:35 +0100 1259003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1252039&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F240040388%2F Conclusions - Barkley's theory has been widely recognized as a significant advance in our thinking about ADHD that helps to organize a vast body of literature and clinical observations about the disorder. As with any theory, it's ultimate value will depend on the amount of new research that it stimulates, and the information that is obtained from those studies. One important point to note is that even if one agress with Barkley's notion that ADHD is fundamentally a deficit of self-regulation, it does not necessarily follow that the interventions he advocates - basically, behavior therapy and medication treatment - are the only approaches to be pursued. Clearly, these are the interventions that currently enjoy the strongest empirical support. They are limited, however, in that neither is c... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1252039 Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:06:18 +0100 1252039 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1147156&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F215623429%2F Harriet Vines, Ph.D., an experienced author and retired college professor, sends us a few fun brain exercises to train our attention and working memory (the ability to keep information current for a short period while using this information). Given them a try! They are not as easy as they may sound... 1. Say the days of the week backwards, then in alphabetical order. 2. Say the months of the year in alphabetical order. Easy? well, why don't you try doing so backwards, in reverse alphabetical order. 3. Find the sum of your date of birth, mm/dd/yyyy. Want more exercise? Do the same with friends' and relatives' date of birth. 4. Name two objects for every letter in your complete name. Work up to five objects, trying to use different items each time. 5. Wherever you are, look around and withi... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1147156 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 04:36:37 +0100 1147156 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1108592&cid=t_119675_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2007%2F12%2F20%2Fdepression-heart-attacks-and-cbt-homework%2F Doctors have long known that depression is a common side effect of a heart attack (or an “acute myocardial infarction” if you want to get technical). And why wouldn’t it be? A person who just has suffered from a heart attack has just had their life flash before their eyes. Literally, given the morbidity numbers for a heart attack are around 15% without immediate treatment (like statins). That means around 1 in 7 people or so could die from a heart attack. It’s a number that really can put some perspective in your life. Research has pegged this rate of both major and minor depression after a heart attack at around 1 in 3 (see, for example, Lloyd & Cawley, 1978). That means depression is a big deal after a heart attack and a good attending physician will recogn... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1108592 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:19:00 +0100 1108592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=970475&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F173422392%2F A reader (thanks Mike!) sends us this fun article, titled A matter of training, on how to train our memory. Some quotes: “It’s a skill, not a talent. It’s something anyone could have picked up ... I’m not born with this. It’s about training and technique,” he says, explaining his unusual ability. Anant holds the Limca Record – the Indian equivalent of the Guinness Record – for memorising 75 telephone numbers, along with the names of their owners, in less than an hour. He is recognised as “the man with the most phenomenal memory in India.”   “Unfortunately, most people think that memorising is very difficult. The moment they see someone demonstrate something like this, they think it’s out of this world.” If you want to remember something, you have to link it to ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=970475 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:31:12 +0100 970475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=966544&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F170737763%2F It is always good to stimulate our minds and to learn a bit about how our brains work. Here you have a selection of the 50 Brain Teasers that people have enjoyed the most in our blog and speaking engagements. Fun experiments on how our brains work 1. Do you think you know the colors?: try the Stroop Test. 2. Can you count?: Basketball attention experiment (Interactive). 3. Who is this?: A very important little guy (Interactive). 4. How is this possible?. 5. Take the Senses Challenge (Interactive). 6. Are there more brain connections or leaves in the Amazon?. Attention 7. How are your divided attention skills? check out "Inside and Outside" (Interactive, from MindFit). 8. Can you walk and chew gum at the same time? try "Two in One" (Interactive, from MindFit) 9. Count t... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=966544 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:30:27 +0100 966544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=966547&cid=t_119675_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F169568687%2F A year ago we wrote a Glossary where we defined Brain Fitness as "the general state of good, sharp, brain and mind, especially as the result of mental and physical exercise and proper nutrition" and a Brain Fitness Program as a "structured set of brain exercises, usually computer-based, designed to train specific brain areas and functions in targeted ways, and measured by brain fitness assessments." Now, thanks to this recent article Alvaro and Lisa's Brain Vacation, we can add Brain Fitness Vacation: "A brain fitness vacation is like a regular vacation, only you attend events, do exercises, and arrange for experiences that address the aspects of good brain health: physical exercise, mental exercise, good nutrition, and stress management." Dave Bunnell, the f... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=966547 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 01:05:36 +0100 966547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=916235&cid=t_119675_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fexercising-mental-muscles-makes.html I just read another interesting article about mental fitness. Richard Roche, Ph.D., National University of Ireland, says, "The brain is like a muscle that should be exercized through the retirement years as a defense against dementia, cognitive lapses, and memory failure."The article, "Rote Learning Improves Memory in Seniors"at Medical News Today is about a study that showed seniors could fight memory loss by practicing memorization. In the study intensive rote memory learning was followed by an equal amount of time to rest. The people in the study showed improved memory and verbal recall.As people age forgetfulness and difficulty with learning new material often occurs. The study said 40% of the people over 60 have some type of memory difficulty. Loss of brain cells and changes in brain ... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=916235 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 02:42:00 +0100 916235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=774149&cid=t_119675_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F02%2Fnatural-remedies-for-high-blood-pressure%2F Filed under: Diet, Smoking, Alternative therapies, Mind Body medicine, StressHypertension is common today, and nearly 1/3 of adults suffering from the condition. Though medication can help to bring your blood pressure back in line, according to Dr. Andrew Weil, there are other natural methods you can try as well that may eventually allow you to reduce or stop your medication altogether (under the supervision of your doctor, of course). Some of his suggestions include: losing 10% of your total weight limiting caffeine and alcohol eliminating cigarettes reducing salt and processed foods Dr. Weil also believes that relaxation techniques, including yoga and breathing exercises, can help calm the involuntary nervous system. Read more about relaxation techniques for controlling blood p... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=774149 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 774149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=756704&cid=t_119675_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F25%2Finterval-training-more-fat-loss-and-less-insulin-requirements%2F This study compared the fat metabolism after exercise of equal intensity (60% of maximum heart rate) but differing in session length. The trials compared 7 men performing either: 1) a 60 minute session of exercise once 2) a 30 minute session of exercise twice, separated by a 20 minute session of rest and 3) rest. The first 30 minutes of both exercise groups showed a significant increase in growth hormone, epinephrine and norepinephrine. However, in the interval session (30 minute sessions separated by 20 minutes of rest) the free fatty acids (FFA) levels rose significantly in the 20 minute rest period. During the subsequent 30-min exercise interval, FFA was significantly greater in the second interval training sessions than in the single 60 minute session. More importantly for us diabetics... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=756704 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 756704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=720445&cid=t_119675_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F131797932%2F For the owls out there who need to rise at lark-ish hours: Here are 9 exercises billed as preventing imsomnia. Animations are provided to demonstrate the exercises—–even if they don’t work, maybe just watching a dancing creature will……. Owl photo courtesy of FlatPeak; via Flickr. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=720445 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 02:31:24 +0100 720445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=623474&cid=t_119675_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F19%2Fworthy-wisdom-weight-lifting-minus-the-weights%2F Filed under: Exercise, Worthy WisdomWhile visiting Tucson's Canyon Ranch health and wellness resort, I spent a few hours with a fitness instructor who evaluated my body composition, flexibility, muscle strength, and cardiovascular performance. After offering me a grade in each of these areas -- my muscle strength was average, for example; my cardiovascular performance very good -- he gave me all sorts of tips and techniques for reaching a high level of fitness. He armed me with a variety of options, and I now have a solid collection of exercises in my bag of tricks. One thing I don't have in my bag, however, is a need for a lot of fancy equipment or gear. This fitness instructor told me he once knew a college football player who had the most gorgeous body he'd ever seen. He'd picked up not... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=623474 Sat, 19 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 623474