Wellfie Wednesday Tip #87: Get Out of Your Circle

Happy Wellfie Wednesday! Welcome back! This week is brought to you by Patrick, (@TheFuelPhysio) and warning, it seem like bit of a rant.

     In the world (circle) of physical therapy, this past week was a big deal, we had our Combined Sections Meeting in New Orleans, LA, where over 17,000 PTs, PTA, and students poured into the city. With over 340 educational sessions and hundreds of expo venders spread over 3 facilities, there was certainly a lot going on downtown. But this was the problem that I and two other clinicians came to realize. Everyone was where they were “suppose to be.” Gathered around other clinicians, in their circle, learning and inspiring how to make change on the outside, but in a way just “talking” about making change on the outside.

     What Jerry Durham, F Scott Fiel, and I came to realize is that we need to get outside of circle. And it wasn’t a hypothetical thought. We actually left the conference. We uber’d to a local chili cook off that we had learned about through other local involvements and dove into that community’s circle. We ate their chili, we danced to their live music, and we supported their fundraising efforts. And man were our eyes opened. This is how conferences should be done!

     Our professions invade cities and communities, and yes we help their tourism and hospitality industries, but what about those underserved populations? The children? The homeless? This is where we need to go, especially those of us within the healthcare field. Quit talking about being on the outside and get out there!

     And this concept of getting outside of your circle is much larger than a conference; it can be applicable to our own daily lives. Think of yourself or your immediate circle of family and friends. Do you explore outside of your circle? Are you experiencing life beyond what you know to exist?

     Next year's conference will certainly be different; and the wheels are already turning to make that happen. But make the change in your own circle too. See what else is out there. Learn and grow from others you wouldn’t normally interact with.

     Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #86: Winter Has Come (And It Brought Some SAD News)

Welcome back! Happy Wellfie Wednesday! This week is brought to you by Diana (@DianaKlatt). 

Winter came barging in and brought one of its most unpleasant friend’s along: Seasonal Affective Disorder

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
     SAD is a subset of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and is triggered based on seasonal changes, most frequently during the onset of winter. The most common symptoms are lethargy, oversleeping, depression, extreme changes in eating habits (loss of appetite or overeating), loss of interests, thoughts of helplessness, and suicide

     Now, the first symptom, lethargy, is quite common and expected during the winter season and is not necessarily a strong sign of having this issue. However, in the United States of America along, roughly 20% of people have some level of SAD, so lethargy shouldn’t be ignored. But when should you really get concerned? When lethargy is combined with depression and you are eating less and feel like you aren’t really doing much/feeling helpless and useless. These are all symptoms associated with depression, which should be appropriately addressed. If you are feeling like this please seek professional help! There is no shame in getting professional help!

↓ Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s get into the why and how of this happening ↓

     As I previously discussed, during winter there is less sunlight hitting the earth and temperatures drop. Shorter days have shorter photoperiods, or rather, less hours of daylight. A decrease in sunlight is linked with changing the levels of serotonin and melatonin in your body. These are the neurotransmitters responsible for mood, energy, sleep, and most importantly your circadian rhythm. Serotonin is responsible for regulating your mood and decreases exposure to sunlight results in decreased serotonin production, which ultimately leads to decreased moods (i.e. depression). Low levels of serotonin has the highest correlation with SAD presentation. Melatonin is known for being the neurotransmitter related to sleep but that’s not all it does, melatonin is also responsible for regulating your circadian rhythm (which is linked to your ability to sleep… so thinking of sleeping isn’t wrong, per se). Decreased sun exposure causes an increase in melatonin because this neurotransmitter is produced primarily when it is dark (hence all studies tell you to not look at light, such as technological devices, before going to sleep). Increased levels of melatonin during the daytime leads to making you feel sleepy but also totally throws off your internal clock (circadian rhythm) causing you to feel “off” with the actual time it is – this leads to an overall feeling of not feeling like you’re functioning and the right pace, the right time, with the right energy. All of these miscommunications in your body can lead to feelings of helplessness and loss of interest because you’re just tired but also confused as to why your body feels tired when you haven’t done much (this is why!! more sunlight!!).

     The majority of studies have shown that increasing your exposure to sunlight helps with treating SAD. You don’t have to stare into the light but you can get one of those little UV desk lamps and just leave it on while you do your make up in the morning (hello picture perfect), while reading a book, prepping your meals, watching a tv show, scrolling through instagram, reading my website, creeping on your ex on facebook, or whatever it is you do to pass the time! Try to get outside and soak up some of the natural sunlight, even though it may be blocked by clouds its there, Mr. Sun is there to beam his rays down on you! Also, try hard to keep up your physical activity routines during the winter, I know it’s hard to get outside with nippy weather but you will be glad you did (no one ever regrets a workout). But most of all, talk to someone about it! Talk to your friends, your family, find a therapist – it’s important to take care of yourself!

     Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew

References:

Psychiatry (Edgmont). Seasonal Affective Disorder: An Overview and Update. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004726/)

Innovations Clinic Neuroscience. Sunshine, Serotonin, and Skin: A Partial Explanation for Seasonal Patterns in Psychopathology. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3779905/)

The Mayo Clinic. Seasonal Affective Disorder. (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651)

Pscyhology Today. Seasonal Affective Disorder. (https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder)

Mental Health America. Seasonal Depressions. (http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/sad)

Healthline. What Are the Benefits of Sunlight? (https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/benefits-sunlight)

The Guardian. How do I… Deal With Seasonal Affective Disorder? (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/oct/23/how-do-i-deal-with-seasonal-affective-disorder)

Wellfie Wednesday Tip 85: Exercise Your Brain!

Happy Wellfie Wednesday! This week is brought to you by Alyssa  (@kuhnalyssa_spt).

     Recently, research is beginning to dive further into the connection cognitive performance has on mobility. The question is can your problem solving/processing efficiency affect your ability to safely complete everyday tasks? The answer is a resounding, Yes!

     Many studies have actually found a link between fall risk in older adults and how well they are able to think and process information! If you think about it, it makes sense. During everyday tasks, we are almost always moving while thinking about something or interacting with someone- whether its walking while having a conversation, mixing ingredients while reading a recipe, running while listening to a podcast, walking while reading a sign, etc. Rarely are we ever just moving or just thinking.

     As we age, our ability to juggle these two tasks can become a little more difficult. Fall risk in community dwelling older adults can increase if cognition becomes impaired, i.e. not being able to process information fast enough, difficulty with multi-tasking, and difficulty planning and strategizing movements.  Cognitive stimulation tends to decrease as our lives get simpler- we retire from our jobs, experience a potential alteration of our family roles as children move away, and unfortunately, a common downtrend in physical activity may be adopted. This is why we must continue to challenge our brains as we age!

How can we continue to do this?

1. Recreational non-contact sport involvement: ping pong, tennis, basketball, biking, Tai Chi, yoga, aquatic based classes, trail hiking to encourage movement and strategy.
2. Virtual based reality games (Wii, Kinect for Xbox One): challenges your balance and reaction time when responding to a visual stimulus.
3. Pick up a new hobby: card games, knitting, crocheting, playing an instrument, painting, learning to dance, etc. Even though they might not involve much movement, you are improving your ability to plan and strategize!
4. Frequent social gatherings: meeting a friend for a walk in the park, attending exercise classes with friends, joining a book club, meeting up with friends for coffee, etc. Interaction with other people is great way to keep you on top of your mental game while having fun. Interaction with movement is even better!
5. Completion of puzzles, number games (Sudoku), crosswords, etc: Many of these things can be very challenging and can help maintain your ability to process information and pay attention to selected information, both of which are handy in real life situations too!

     Bottom line: Decreasing cognitive function due to lack of stimulation/challenge can lead to consequences and difficulty with completion of everyday tasks as we age. It is so important to exercise your mind as well as your body to continue to lead a long and healthy life! Now is a great time to start!

So Exercise that Brain! Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #84: Eat Healthy While Traveling

Happy Wellfie Wednesday! Welcome back! This week comes to you from Diana (@DianaKlatt), who is currently enjoying  some summer south of the equator. 

     A lot of people think of extravagant food and eating out when they think of traveling. This is a common thought because we think of taking a vacation in all aspects of our lives when we go on holiday. And then when we get home and back into our regular routines we tend to feel guilty. But we don’t have to live like this!

     It’s actually quite easy to stay on track when you are traveling, especially if you are traveling for longer periods of time. But how do you stop yourself from going out for every meal? Well, first of all it will be a whole lot cheaper to not eat out for each meal (which means maybe you can fit in some more travel places or stay in nicer accommodations!). The biggest thing you can do is to go grocery shopping! Airbnbs, hostels, hotels, couch surfing… these places all typically have kitchens that are available for use. Even if you are in a country where you do not speak the language, it is fairly easy to navigate grocery stores and farmers’ markets.

     By spending your money on local produce and groceries you are saving money for yourself, as well as making it easier to choose healthy foods. Also, by saving your "eating out" for nicer dinners, you are better able to see your actual nutritional intake and make sure that you are getting all the nutrients you need. Ultimately, this will help you eat healthier while traveling, save you some money, and stop the guilt of taking “time off” when you get back to your normal life.

     And plus, living like a local is fun! Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #83 Let It Go(al)

Happy #WellfieWednesday!! This post is brought to you by @AaronPerezPT. Enjoy!

     I often use my contribution to #WellfieWednesday blogs as an excuse to nerd out and dive deeper into a wellness topic. This week is a bit different. I had some random thoughts at the gym a couple weeks ago that are sticking around…so that must mean something. I figured why not attempt to make the rambling voice in my head coherent on paper, and then I immediately regretted this undertaking (insert face palm emoji). So, here goes nothing…

     If you’re anything like me, cracking your back a few good times on a foam roller is your pre-workout supplement of choice. So, as I performed my pre-workout ritual my mind began to ponder,

“What the hell am I doing here?”

     Not in a meaning of life kind of way, but rather, I once again have no plan for today’s workout so let’s figure this out in the next 30 seconds kind of way. This is a common musing from my simple head, but unexpectedly, I delved deeper,

“No, but really, what the hell am I doing here?”

     You see, I treat exercise like almost nothing else in my life. I rarely have goals related to exercise, and hardly ever have a plan even as I’ve already begun a workout. Yet, it’s one aspect of my life I’m most consistent with and enjoy. Isn’t it odd I commit so much time to something I have no specific goal or plan for? In contrast, I spend far more time goal setting for professional aspirations and daily/weekly productivity. I create game plans. Sometimes, I even take the time to write them down. Often, I’m left frustrated at the results. 

     I wondered if my approach to exercise could be applied to other aspects of my life. Then, I thought, well, my relationship towards exercise wasn’t always this way. In high school, I created monthly routines and tracked progress. I spent hours upon hours learning and went to college for this stuff. Maybe I’m able to just enjoy it now because of all the work I’ve put in. I think that’s a fair point, and maybe the early “grind” of goal setting, planning, failing, and trying again is a necessary step to reach a level of enjoyment without expectation. Or, maybe I’m just grasping at straws to rationalize an otherwise lackadaisical approach to fitness. After all, I definitely believe in the benefit of solid exercise prescription and periodization. I try to practice that in programming for patients and fitness clients. Maybe I’m just coo-coo. Right now, you’re probably asking,

“Where the hell is this going?”

     I’m not really sure. But, in a last ditch effort to make this post worth your while, I’ll try to piece together some inspiring conclusion. Goals are great, but should probably come with a warning label: Use responsibly. Common side effects may include frustration, blaming, guilt, and nihilism.  Don’t fall victim to “paralysis by analysis.” Complexity is execution’s kryptonite. Avoid obsessing over the future and outcomes that are not entirely in your control. Be present. After all, if your dreams do come to fruition, you’ll want to enjoy that moment. So, when setting goals I think I’ll start asking myself,

“When I achieve my goal, what will that feel like?”

“Now, do I really need to wait to experience that?”

If you’ve made it this far into the rabbit holes of my thoughts, God bless you. And Happy #WellfieWednesday !!!

     Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #82: Shop Discount Supermarkets!

     Welcome back! Happy Wellfie Wednesday! This week is brought to you by Patrick (@TheFuelPhysio) and he hopes to change the way your shopping for food. 

     I recently made a change in my grocery shopping routine that I wanted to share! In the past, I would frequent the local BI-LO (basically a Winn-Dixie), literally a mile from my house, occasionally hit up a Publix, and of course pick up some odds and ends from the farmer's market, depending on the season. But now, a bulk of my grocery shopping is done at Lidl, a 10-minute drive from the house, but WELL WORTH IT!

Greenville, SC

     If you've never heard of Lidl, it's a German-based discount supermarket, originally known as Schwarz Unternehmenstreuhand KG. Of the only 49 locations here in the US thus far, three of them are a 30-minute drive away. 

     Now if you don't have a Lidl, you may have an ALDI, another German-based discount supermarket. What you may not know is that the original ALDI split and now operates as ALDI Sud, the ALDI you see, and ALDI Nord, which is actually Trader Joe's, a probably more widely known discount supermarket. Regardless of which one you have, their prices and food selection are unbeatable! 

     I'll admit, I was a little skeptical at first. Our time going to Lidl was actually just suppose to be for fun, I mean for starters the building here in Greenville looks pretty cool. But once inside, the game changed. Discounts here, discounts there, and even base prices were lower than other stores. And the produce selection was far better than I had anticipated. Even the salmon I cooked two nights ago tasted better than anything else bought at a larger supermarket.

     Need even convincing? Check out this week's grocery receipt. With the exception of some ground turkey, remaining prime steaks (my fiancé had gotten a deal a while back), and a couple other small items I always have on hand, this feeds two of us, ALL WEEK! That's breakfast, lunch, dinner, smoothies, and snacks; the whole nine yards! I've been saving an average of 25-30% each week!

View fullsize

     Check them out and let us know how it goes! But don't forget your bags and if you're going to ALDI, don't forget your quarter! Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #81: Boost Your Willpower!

     Welcome back! Happy Wellfie Wednesday! This week is brought to you by Patrick @TheFuelPhysio, though partly a variation of a piece Eric @Eric_in_AmERICa did back in 2016, Improving Willpower. I felt this topic was something pertinent to mid-January, as I’ve already started seeing a small decrease in gym attendees.

Eric originally gave a very applicable scenario to most, especially with the start of a new year.

“You decide that you’re tired of feeling out of shape and want to improve your health. You drive to the grocery store and load up of fruits and vegetables, plan out your meal prepping calendar and get your Tupperware ready, dust off that gym membership that’s been hanging on your key ring for months, and curate the perfect playlist of songs to help motivate you through those tough workouts you’re going to crush 5 days a week. You’ll probably have a six-pack just in time to hit the beach next month…

Then the weekend comes and some friends are getting together for drinks, or you’re tired of cooking all week, and inevitably you find yourself eating pizza, throwing away the fruits and veggies that went bad too fast, and regretfully feeling your six-pack dreams wash away (they’re over-rated anyway, right?)”

     His scenario was on point, as most of us want to drastically change all at once and get immediate results. Though, in most cases, we are creatures of habit. That being we don’t usually like change and reverting back to the old ways of eating or enjoying long hours of television are simply easier.

     However, behavior change and the willpower to continue on don’t happen overnight, it takes time. So as your moving through the rest of this month, remember the concept of “Small Victories” – looking at daily occurrences as an opportunity to fuel positive changes. Passing on that extra cookie – victory. Having a water at lunch instead of a soda – victory. Taking a nice walk around the neighborhood – victory. Each of these small victories will inevitably produce a snowball effect, creating a more powerful decision making process throughout your day and loading you up with positive reinforcement, improving your willpower and putting you one step closer to a healthier life.

     Don’t give up! Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #80: How to be Successful with Your 2018 Goals!

Welcome back! Happy Wellfie Wednesday! This week is brought to you by Alyssa @kuhnalyssa_spt.

     Most people tend to think about creating a set of goals when the new year hits, a majority of them addressing some aspect of health and wellness. Some adhere to these goals and succeed in accomplishing these throughout the year, while some tend to fall off the wagon after about a month or two. The question is, how can we prevent this from happening? How can we keep people committed to improving their health? It is relatively common knowledge that exercise is good for us and has an overwhelming number of health benefits. It can also prevent many diseases and decrease the risk for hospitalization in people of all ages-so we need everyone to stay on board. There are a few strategies that I have come across that can help you stay on track if you find yourself falling off the wagon come February and March.

1.     The most effective, in my opinion: Find someone you can work with to stay accountable. It can be a friend, coworker, family member, significant other, personal trainer, etc. When you have someone who is counting on you to show up to the gym or to enter your food log, many people are more likely to be successful. When you don’t want to show up to the gym or when you want to eat those cookies in the office, having someone that is counting on you to stay committed can really help you in those times of difficulty. If there isn’t someone that comes to mind that could help, going to group exercise classes or joining an online group of people with similar goals can also be very effective!

2.     Keep a calendar and have a plan: sometimes physically writing down or typing out a plan can help you stay on track. For example, writing out days you will work out and the workouts you will be doing can be helpful on the days that you don’t feel like going to the gym because you don’t know what you will do when you get there. Also planning something that help you mentally prepare to accomplish it that day instead of always making decisions on the fly.

3.     Be prepared. Many people tend to make unhealthy food choices when they are in a hurry or when they don’t have the energy to prepare a lunch or a dinner and need something quick. Meal prepping is such an easy way to help combat this! Taking 1-2 hours on the weekend or in the beginning of the week to prepare healthy meals is SO worth it. When you have everything prepared and already made, you are much more likely to stick to a plan!

4.     Have an open mind. Sometimes people tend to stop exercising due to pain they are experiencing and automatically go down the rest and medicate route. For most musculoskeletal injuries, rest can actually make things worse! Our bodies are meant to move and medication seems to just mask the problem. Having an open mind to other ways to address pain is key to your success with your health goals! When people fall into long periods of rest, it is so much harder to get back into the swing of things. Seeking help right away for guidance as to how you can ACTIVELY manage your pain can be huge in maintaining compliance with your goals. Low back pain is a great example. There are many people that experience low back pain in their daily lives. For most chronic situations, movement is actually the best treatment but some turn to passive treatments such as medications and sedentary lifestyles. Finding a licensed professional you trust to give you a structured and safe exercise program can help you improve your pain and prevent it from reoccurring!

     Keeping these 4 strategies in mind, hopefully we can all stick to our goals and keep living our best lives strong, healthy, and pain-free! Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #79: Staying Healthy During Air Travel

Happy Wellfie Wednesday! This week is brought to you by @DianaKlatt. 

     I am writing this week’s #WellfieWednesday from an airplane on my way to Australia! I am somewhere in hour 25-30 of this 30 hours of travel from the United States of America.  I can tell you that I am not looking forward to my next long flight any time soon but it will be coming up shortly. But let’s get to it, how did I prepare for the toll that much air travel was going to take on my body? There are two things I think that you can easily prepare for and work on while on-board: blood circulation and hydration.

     Most of us are probably economy class fliers, so I will discuss the effects of sitting in these types of seats. Sitting in a small, narrow seat with limited legroom isn’t the most comfortable thing for even the smallest of people.

     Blood circulation is restricted during flight because you are sitting in an upright position with your feet flat on the ground. This doesn’t put you in an optimal position for easy blood flow, it’s a position that frequently leads to swelling in your feet due to that angle of sitting and state of inactivity. (This is why you always want to take your shoes off on the plane! Your feet are swelling from lack of proper blood circulation.) So what can us economy and business class fliers do about this? (Since both these sections don’t have seats that allow you to lay down.)

1. Get up and walk around! I’m going to be completely honest, I am that person that walks up and down the aisles doing lunges every few hours. On this last flight I also happened to have a resistance band in my pocket so I did a little bit of exercise to get my blood flowing. Below is also an image of exercises you can do while seated. 

Image Source

2. Wear compression stockings! This will help prevent blood pooling in your legs and help with swelling.

3. Wear comfortable and lose fitting clothing. You don’t want to wear clothes that cause any restrictions. You are already working against your posture, the lower levels of oxygen, and inactivity, you don’t need to add an extra factor.

     Blood circulation is not the only problem associated with flying! Think hydration! Due to the cabin pressure and recirculated air, your skin can slowly become very dry and you may feel symptoms of dehydration. What’s the best way to combat this? Drink water! You can’t bring water through airport security but you can bring an empty water bottle. Make sure you drink more water than you normally would when you’re on the ground. You can also drink whatever juices you may want but try to avoid alcohol (even if it is free on international flights… resist the urge!). Another thing, that I and many of my friends do, is to bring a sheet mask! These are full of hydrating serums and easily packable. You can pop it on before you go to sleep and take it off when you wake up with a nicely hydrated face.

      Remember these tips on your next flight! Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #78: Anti-Goals: What Do You NOT Want in 2018?

Happy Wellfie Wednesday! Welcome back! This week's post is brought to you by @AaronPerezPT. Enjoy! 

     2017 is winding down, and so the time for reflection and planning for 2018 is upon us. One question I love to ask patients is "If you could do one thing next year to make it the best year ever, what would it be?" I love this question for lots of reasons, and it certainly seems like an appropriate time of year to be asking that of ourselves and others. However, I'm always trying to find ways to ask better questions. A recent EIM Leadership Podcast with Daphne Scott about Anti-goals got me thinking…

(I STRONGLY recommend listening to that podcast as Daphne describes these concepts far better than I can).

     For better or for worse, the majority of us are more motivated to avoid loss or discomfort than to seek additional benefits. This is especially true when those extra benefits are long-term results while the discomfort is a short-term consequence. We're hard-wired to focus on things we despise. So, why then do we set goals for things we desire? Would reverse engineering our goals motivate us more to take action and achieve them? 

Anti-goals

     If next year were the worst year ever, what would that look like? Did you find this question easier or harder to answer than the previous question about "your best year ever?" Perhaps the long-term nature of these questions is difficult to grasp. So, let’s bring a factor of immediacy to the question. "What about yesterday did you love?" versus "What about yesterday did you hate?"  

     I think asking both case scenarios, and comparing that to our "default future" or what is likely to occur if nothing changes, can be powerful. The worst case scenario might evoke feelings of discomfort or anxiety which motivates our short-term behavior. It might also bring about a perspective of gratitude for the present moment. The best case scenario may evoke feelings of excitement and hope which are also important motivational fuels. The default future might connect the dots in realizing how well are current behaviors align with our desired experiences. What, if anything, needs to change? 

     So, as we're setting goals for 2018, I encourage us to set some anti-goals. What about your day do you despise? What are your pet peeves? What does your worst day look like? What does it feel like? Write out a list as long as you'd like. But, don’t stop there! The absence of what you don’t want does not guarantee the presence of what you do want. So, next ask yourself what behaviors are needed to avoid those despised experiences, and make your desired experiences more likely. Then, voilà, you’ve created anti-goals.

     There you have it. By thinking about our problems differently, we can come to more actionable solutions. We wish all of you a healthy and happy 2018! Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

Cheers,

-WW Crew

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #77: Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Heart Disease Risk in 2018

Happy Wellfie Wednesday! This week is brought to you by Alyssa (@kuhnalyssa_spt).

     According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 610,000 people die of heart disease each year- that’s 1 in 4 people! Heart Disease remains the leading cause of death in both men and women and coronary artery disease (CAD) takes the cake as the most common form of heart disease. So what causes it?

     Many people used to believe that arteries became “clogged” due to high consumption of saturated fats- commonly found in animal and dairy sources, along with highly processed foods. When arteries get “clogged”, the clots can burst and travel to the heart causing ischemia of the blood- aka a heart attack. The British Journal of Sports Medicine (2017) recently discovered that saturated fats may not play a large part after all.

     A recent meta-analysis found that there was no association between saturated fat consumption and (1) all-cause mortality, (2) coronary heart disease (CHD), (3) CHD mortality, (4) ischemic stroke or (5) type 2 diabetes in healthy adults. Interestingly enough, another study found that in postmenopausal women with coronary heart disease, greater intake of saturated fat was associated with less progression of atherosclerosis (“clogging”), whereas carbohydrate and polyunsaturated fat intake were associated with greater progression. It has also been found that instead of looking to levels of LDL, typically deemed as “bad” cholesterol to determine risk of CAD, the ratio of total cholesterol (TC) to HDL cholesterol (“good”), has been shown to be the best predictor of cardiovascular risk.

But what does this tell us?

     Fat may not the enemy in our diets. It turns out that a high fat, Mediterranean diet (vegetables, nuts, extra virgin olive oil, oily fish) improved outcomes for recurrent myocardial infarctions and all-cause mortality discovered in the Lyon Heart study. We also need to find ways to decrease the TC to HDL ratio in order to diminish risk of CHD.

So, what do we do?

     It’s been shown that replacing refined carbohydrates (highly processed foods) with healthy high fat foods (notably plant fats and vegetables can decrease the TC to HDL ratio significantly. Physical activity can also play a part as those who walk briskly at or above 150 minutes/week (22 minutes per day) have been shown to increase their life expectancy by up to 3-5 years compared to physically inactive adults!

Overall, the two simple ways to reduce your risk of CAD and help to keep your heart healthy:

1.     Eat REAL food. Decrease the amount of refined carbohydrates and processed sugars. Stay in the outer perimeter of the grocery store!

2.     Get moving! Walk 22 minutes a day (which is only 2% of your day!) to keep your heart strong!

     Give it a try this upcoming new year! Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew

References:

Malhotra A, Redberg RF, Meier P. Saturated fat does not clog the arteries: coronary heart disease is a chronic inflammatory condition, the risk of which can be effectively reduced from healthy lifestyle interventions. Br J Sports Med. 2017;51(15):1111-1112. 

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #76: Get Your App On! (Breathing/Mind)

Happy Wellfie Wednesday! This week is brought to you by Patrick (@TheFuelPhysio).

This tip was inspired by a recent twitter feed, as many things are. I won't go into the many health benefits of deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness. Check out a past tip (#39: Just Breathe) for some info though. The following are iPhone or android apps that can help you start with practicing meditation, mindfulness, or beep breathing, each with its' own unique features. 

• Headspace - Guided Meditation and Mindfulness
• Breathe Deep - Personal Assistant for Breathing Meditation, Pranayama Breath, and Ujjayi
• Universal Breathing - Pranayama
• Prana Breath: Calm & Meditate
• Paced Breathing - Includes a vibrating cue feature
• Stop, Breathe, Think - Guided Meditation and Mindfulness
• Buddhify - Modern Mindfulness for Busy Lives

I don't have any personal bias for any of these, I'v heard several positive things for each of them. So find which one works best for you. Enjoy!

Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #75: Egg-cellent or Egg-stra Dangerous?

Happy Wellfie Wednesday! Welcome back. This week's tip is brought to you by another guest promoter of health (@FScottFeil_DPT)! 

     Hello all, F Scott Feil, PT, DPT here and I am so thankful and excited to be writing a guest blog post for the Wellfie Wednesday Crew. I use their blog as the basis for my Wednesday blog posts on PTEducator.com because they generally always have a good tip on there. So without further ado my blog post is entitled: Wellfie Wednesday Guest Blog Post: Egg-cellent or Egg-stra Dangerous?

     One of the difficulties I found when trying to get healthy was all of the conflicting information out in the world. The internet has become a great resource for those trying to live a healthy lifestyle, but you have to do your research. One week butter is good for you, the next week it is bad for you. One week avocados are the devil, the next week they are a savior. At the end of the day, you have to do your own research and figure out why a particular food source may have benefits or risks, and make your own well informed decision as to whether or not you are going to consume said food item.

So Are Eggs Good For You or Bad For You?

     One of my initial quandry's led me to the question of whether or not eggs were good for you or bad for you. It turns out that eggs are a nutrient-dense food. They are a high-quality protein source, meaning all nine essential amino acids that can't be made by humans can be found in eggs. The protein in eggs can be helpful in building and preserving muscle mass which is important for weight control.

     Eggs are also a good source of vitamin D and the nutrient choline, which has been shown to help protect against infantile birth defects. Eggs also contain vitamin A, vitamin B12, riboflavin (B2) and the antioxidant selenium, as well as lutein and zeaxanthin, which have been shown to have links to healthy eyesight.

     Most the calories, vitamins, and minerals in an egg are are located in the yolk. But what about the cholesterol in eggs? It is true that eggs are high in dietary cholesterol, which is also mainly found in the yolk, however it has been found that dietary cholesterol alone has little effect on  raising blood cholesterol levels. 

ONE THING I LEARNED TODAY:

     The thing regarding eggs that will likely affect your health most is how the eggs are prepared, as well as which other foods you combine with them. I used to eat 3 eggs scrambled, on a hero, bacon, sausage, ham, salt, pepper, ketchup (approximately 1100 calories). One large poached egg has 71 calories and 2 grams of saturated fat. An omelet made with spinach and one yolk is also a more lean choice. So feel free to enjoy eggs, but be mindful of how you prepare them. And as always, balance eggs with other healthy fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. I have attached a simple healthy, Whole30 Compliant (for those of you who enjoy Whole30 meals as well) recipe that I now make with eggs on occasion. This recipe will be featured on my Foodie Friday Blog at PTEducator.com, but you guys will get a sneak peak of it a few days early!

EGG WHITE VEGGIE BAKE RECIPE

6 eggs (whites only)
1 conatiner baby spinach
1 container baby bella mushrooms (or mushrooms of your choice)
1 tomato finely chopped
1 yellow onion finely diced
4 tablespoons ghee
4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Separate your 6 eggs (whites from yolks, dispose of yolks or do with them what you will). Saute spinach, garlic, mushrooms, and onions in 3 tablespoons of ghee. Coat a baking dish with final tablespoon of ghee (especially edges). Add eggs, sauteed vegetables, diced tomatoes to baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until eggs have completely cooked. Enjoy!

F Scott Feil is the founder and owner of PTEducator.com, a website aimed at increasing the public's health literacy through a daily blog. He is also the co-host of The Healthcare Education Transformation Podcast and The Fantasy Doctors NBA Podcast.

Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #74: It's Good to be Good, Pt. 2

Happy Wellfie Wednesday! Welcome back! This week's post is brought to you by @AaronPerezPT.

     My last post on #WellfieWednesday discussed the health benefits of giving. Considering yesterday was #GivingTuesday and last week was Thanksgiving, I thought I’d continue with that theme.  I won’t rehash all the super awesome health benefits of giving, but just know that there are lots. If you’re really interested, check out this ted talk, this podcast, or website.  

     Instead, I’ll keep this short and sweet, and simply ask you wonderful readers to give to an awesome charity that does a lot of good for a lot of people. That charity is STAND: The Haiti Project. STAND stands for Sustainable Therapy And New Development. A few times a year a fun-loving, caring, and passionate multidisciplinary healthcare team provides medical services to the people of Haiti who otherwise would not receive them. I was fortunate to have recently volunteered with this group and can personally attest to the amazing work that they do.

     #GetPT1st's own @SeanHagey recently started a fundraiser supporting STAND. As of writing this post, he is only $200 away from his $1,000 goal. Hopefully, this post inspires you to donate to his cause supporting STAND. Whether you donate to STAND or another charity, thank you.

Give a little, and get so much more in return. Have an awesome week! 

     Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #73: Be Thankful of the Relationships You Have!

Welcome back! Happy Wellfie Wednesday! And Happy Thanksgiving Eve! 

     This week's post will be short and sweet, as many of us are most likely gearing up for time with family and friends. And that is exactly where I want to bring attention to this week. Relationships and the social connections you have with friends and family play a significant role in your health. Yes, what you eat and how you move contribute factors as well, but more recent emerging research has indicted that relationships, specifically strong close relationships affect your health, quality of life, and longevity. Check out this TED talk on Face-to-Face Contacts (Not Facebook Connections). And if you're more into reading, check out one of these two studies that found social isolation and loneliness to be risk factors of increased mortality - Study 1 / Study 2. 

     So tomorrow, this week, and everyday for that matter, be THANKFUL for the relationships and people you have around you. And keep them close, as you never known when you'll need a shoulder to lean on.

     Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #72: Don't Get Overstuffed (Thanksgiving is Upon Us)

Happy Wellfie Wednesday! Welcome back! This week is brought to you by Diana @DianaKlatt.

     Thanksgiving is coming up and if you’re like me, you’re probably excited to eat an entire pecan pie by yourself… but this year, I will refrain and attempt to eat just half a pie.

     The average American consumed 3,000 calories during their holiday dinner.  To put that into perspective, the average person eats 1,500-2,500 calories a day, give or take based on body type and level of activity. And that’s in a DAY. Thanksgiving dinner is a whole different situation, that 3,000 calorie count is a single meal. Now, before you get on me for spouting diet propaganda and saying that we should all be crazy calorie counters hear me out. I don’t believe in cheat days. I don’t believe in meticulously counting calories. And I believe that if you want to eat something, you should just eat it – but in moderation. MODERATION is what we should be focusing on.

     Many of us look forward to this day as a day for indulgence. Maybe we don’t think about the quality of our ingredients. Maybe we ignore the fact that our potatoes have 3 sticks of butter. Maybe we pretend it’s okay to just eat equal ratios of marshmallows and sweet potatoes in a single bite. I’m not saying we should give all those things up, but we can be much more aware of WHAT and HOW MUCH we are putting into our bodies.

OVEREATING AND PORTION CONTROL

    There is no need to just forgo the meal all together. All I’m saying is maybe you don’t need that third and fourth serving… The tradition we have of sitting down and overeating is quite unique to our nation. We all tell ourselves that this amount of overeating isn’t something we typically do and therefore it is okay… well, that is incorrect. Your body reacts to anything you put into it so when you overeat, your digestive system automatically takes action and starts to work on that massive amount of food you just ate; your insulin production increases to work with the excessive sugar you’ve consumed, your liver starts working to break down the extra fats, and the blood flow in your body is redistributed so there is more going towards your intestines and therefore less blood flow going anywhere else (like your brain)! Which is explanatory of why we get the feeling of being bloated, being gassy, sleepy, etc. You body is trying to accommodate for all those nutrients! So rather than making malaise the target of your meal, eat until you are comfortably full. It’s okay if you didn’t get to try everything, no one will get offended if you are too full and leftovers are just as good (if not better)!

(Image Source)

     Don’t over eat on Thanksgiving just because you can. Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #71: Lets Pick Up the Pace!

     Happy Wellfie Wednesday! Welcome back! This week is brought to you by the Wellfie Crew's newest crew member, Alyssa Kuhn, SPT (@kuhnalyssa_spt), whose a 3rd year doctor of physical therapy student at The Ohio State University. She has a strong interest in the prevention and wellness aspect of PT, especially in the geriatric population. She loves continuing to find ways to help people get up and stay moving! As well as an avid crossfitter and a lover of all things Michigan State. Go green!

It’s time to pick up the pace with step counting!

     How many times have you heard people trying to reach 10,000 steps each day? Hopefully quite a bit because this is awesome! Keeping people moving is one of the easiest ways to stay healthy and combat chronic disease. But is this actually helping us meet our health goals? What if there was another way to approach this theory? Some are questioning whether intensity and duration of intensity when walking can lead to greater health benefits than simply the number of steps taken or the distance you’ve walked.

     Glancing at the current Physical Activity and Public Health guidelines from the American College of Sports (ACSM) and American Heart Association (AHA), it is recommended that American adults aged 18-65 years should continue to accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity 5 days per week (instead of "most days of the week") OR engage in 20-minutes of vigorous activity 3 days per week. These have been around for a while now and guidelines for older adults are almost identical.

     Interestingly though, in 2007, the ACSM and American Heart Association (AHA) released clarifications to the recommendations further stating… 

Activity must be at least 10 minutes in duration to count towards daily goals (30 minutes) and that a combination of vigorous and moderate-intensity physical activity is acceptable

     Want to know a SUPER SIMPLE way to make sure you are hitting these 10-minute bouts? Public Health England has you covered. They have created a FREE app titled Active 10 through their health promotion campaign, “One You”, that is available on most Android and iPhone models to specifically track how much time you spent in “brisk” walking. They define brisk walking as a pace in which you are beginning to become slightly out of breath, a likely average speed ~3 miles per hour. They have coined these bouts “Active 10s” when you have reached 10 consecutive minutes of brisk walking tracked using the motion sensors on your phone. Many people find it much easier to stay accountable when they know their results are being tracked. I propose that even physical therapists or other health professionals can use this as a way to easily track their patient’s activity levels.

     Don’t have a smart phone? You can easily use a watch to time yourself walking at a slightly quicker pace!

How can more walking easily fit into daily life?

• Taking breaks at work to walk at lunch, outside, or around the office
• Parking in the furthest spot in the parking lot
• Walking with pets
• Walking with children to the bus stop or to the park
• Walking to class on a university campus
• ….there are so many ways!

ITS TIME TO GET MOVING (BRISKLY)!

Don’t get me wrong, getting people to move is the ultimate priority and this is just a way to take it a step further.

I am by no way endorsed or have any involvement with this campaign or with Public Health England, I just think this app is awesome 😊 - Alyssa 

     So pick up the pace the week! Thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt, @kuhnalyssa_spt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew

References:

Haskell WL, Pate RR, et al. Physical Activity and Public Health: Updated recommendations for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007;38(8):1423-34.

To find out more information about Active 10: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/active10/home#G4VTwkQcEL6y1wWI.97

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #70: Don't Let Food Labels Confuse You!

Happy Wellfie Wednesday! Welcome back! This week brought to you by Patrick (@PBernerSPT). 

     This week's tip highlights one of the many things wrong with how companies label their food products. It's an issue I have been aware of for quite some time, but this post was sparked when I came across Peel Back the Label, a movement aimed at separating facts from fear mongering in food labeling (@PeelBackLabel). "Consumers have a right to both truth and transparency in food labeling. It’s time to peel back the label on deceptive marketing tactics." And that's really what some companies are doing with their labeling. They utilize the latest buzz words to draw in consumers, phrases such as "Gluten-free" "GMO-free" "No Hormones Added" are used time and time again, even when the products will never contain them anyway. You've probably noticed "Gluten-free" being placed on literally everything now, even fruits and vegetables. Though gluten is the protein portion of wheat flour, providing structural characteristics to baked goods, and will hardly ever be found elsewhere. 

     However, my favorite misleading claim is "No Hormones Added," especially when added to poultry/chicken products, as it is ILLEGAL to sell poultry in the United States that was raised with added hormones. From the USDA: "Hormones are not allowed in raising hogs or poultry. Therefore, the claim "no hormones added" cannot be used on the labels of pork or poultry unless it is followed by a statement that says "Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones."" If you were to look close enough on your packaging, you'll notice the claim followed by ** and than that federal regulation phrase in small print, likely hidden somewhere else. 

     Take a closer look at what you're buying and let us know what you find. And thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@PBernerSPT, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #69: Omega-3s for Heart Health

Happy Wellfie Wednesday! 

     Welcome back! This week is brought to you by Patrick ( @PBernerSPT ). These past few days I had the pleasure to spend time at the annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo #FNCE in Chicago, an amazing experience every year that I go, though as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic's 100th year, it was above and beyond. And I could go on and on about the things I learned and new connections that were made, but as you are our Wellfie Wednesday audience, I digress. 

     This week I do want to share though information from one of the presentations that I attended,  THE BEAT GOES ON: THE LATEST ON OMEGA-3 HEART HEALTH RESEARCH. I'm also going to share it in an unordinary fashion, by only showing you the handouts that were provided, which contain quite a bit of beneficial information, the last one being my favorite. Enjoy!

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     Find a way to increase your Omega-3s and let us know how it goes! And thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@PBernerSPT, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew

Wellfie Wednesday Tip #68: Walk with a Doc

Happy #WellfieWednesday friends!

     This week is brought to you by Eric (@Eric_in_AmERICa). I wanted to highlight a great resource, www.WalkWithADoc.org. Walk With A Doc uses a simple, yet powerful concept to empower and educate patients to improve their health. Via their website: “Walk with a Doc was started in 2005 by Dr. David Sabgir, a cardiologist in Columbus, Ohio. Frustrated with his inability to affect behavior change in the clinical setting, Dr. Sabgir invited his patients to go for a walk with him in a local park on a spring Saturday morning. To his surprise, over 100 people showed up, energized and ready to move.”

     How does it work? A provider sets up a date, time, and location to meet, gives a brief presentation, then goes for a walk with participants who are interested. The concept is beautiful in its simplicity. By eliminating the cultural barrier between patient/client/customer and healthcare provider, you create an open line of communication where people can finally ask those nagging medical questions that they’ve been avoiding (or asking Dr Google) for so long. Furthermore, it allows individuals an opportunity for simple health screenings, such as blood pressure checks, which may increase the likelihood of catching and preventing more serious health issues down the road.

     Since its inception, Walk With A Doc has grown to over 300 chapters across the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia so it’s likely that there’s an event you can join in a city nearby. If not, have no fear, WWAD makes it incredibly easy to start an event in your town by offering marketing materials, a “how-to” guide, and even a few t-shirts to promote your event!

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     So give it a shot and let us know how it goes! And thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@PBernerSPT, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- WW Crew