Natural Options for Treating Adult ADHD

Guest Post by David Novak

The prevalent pseudo-remedy for adult ADHD is medication, and it’s handed out like candy these days. Unfortunately, the use of medication also creates a long list of potential side effects ranging from mild symptoms -- such as insomnia, stomach ache and irritability -- to more serious symptoms like irregular heart rate, substance abuse, psychiatric episodes and high blood pressure.



Those symptoms are no minor matter, and all of these side effects can be worse than the ADHD condition itself. Fortunately, there are certain natural remedies that can help manage adult ADHD symptoms in a very effective way.

 

Movember ManGroomer Giveaway - #MowMyMo

We're 5 days in, how's your moustache looking?


Movember is a global charity that's all about men growing moustaches (and those who support them) to raise money and awareness for Men's Health -- prostate and testicular cancer and mental health.


For some men this is the only time of year you sport an artistic upper lip warmer. Mo Bros, once Movember is over you may need something to mow your face. That's where I come in.


I'm giving away a Mangroomer® Ultimate Pro Body Groomer and a Stainless Steel Detail Groomer® ($79.98 total retail value)

Ask Abbie: My Girlfriend Gained Weight And I've Lost Attraction

Not Attracted To My Girlfriend Asks:

I need some advice. A year later, I've watched my girlfriend gain quite a bit of weight, and admit I'm less attracted physically but also because she's completely in denial, thinking she takes great care of herself. I'm worried about her health. No exercise, shitty diet overall, and a lot of talk about doing this and being involved with that, etc. No action. I'm starting to feel mismatched because I do put in effort and am noticing that she almost weighs the same as me. Plus, I think she's a bit depressed but denies that, too. 


How do I state my concerns without being offensive? A future with her would be difficult because, if there were to be kids, I want them to learn decent habits and take initiative, not the opposite. And spare me the bullshit about loving regardless, as we know that's not applicable in all situations. There have to be others out there who have dealt with this, right? Appreciate all your thoughts.

One Man's Journey Into "CrossFit"

Guest Post By JR

(Source)

I've always been athletic; captain of my high school hockey team, briefly played in college, and at age almost-34 I still manage to strap on the skates. I've been put through workouts on a regular basis by a former Navy SEAL who had both knees replaced and would still throw 500 lbs on the squat rack and make it look like child's play. I'm no a stranger to the weight room. I've also done some stints as a bouncer, I run regularly and I've participated in "mud runs".



Using and improving my physical fitness has always been a passion of mine. I find it a stress-reliever, energy-booster and confidence-improver. So when a friend of mine invited me to join a CrossFit-like training class I jumped at the opportunity to try something new.

Ask Abbie: Managing Bursitis of the Knee

Bursitis-Of-the-Knee-on-the-Brain Asks:

I have bursitis/ inflammation in my right knee. It's painful, but for now the doctor recommends basic exercises to strengthen hamstrings and quadriceps, stretching, and anti-inflammation meds. I just hired a new trainer to help me lose about 15lbs and tighten up. What precautions should I take regarding my knee to avoid further injury?

Concussion Center at NYU Langone Medical Center

I was invited to the launch of the Concussion Center at NYU Langone Medical Center on March 19, 2013. The Concussion Center will provide personalized care for pediatric and adult patients with concussions.At the event there were presentations, including one from guest speaker Adam Graves, former NHL player, and a panel discussion on Head Injuries and Concussion in Sports: What You Need to Know.


There's a lot to know about concussions -- the causes, effects and treatment. Because of the dangers to young athletes who sometimes compete with concussions or suffer repeat concussions, New York State passed Concussion Management legislation in June 2012. There are now 33 states and the District of Columbia who have strict guidelines on youth athletes treatment and return to play after concussions.


Athletes aren't the only population at risk for concussions. Nearly 4 million people a year (considered an underestimation) suffer from concussions and less than 15% of them seek any medical treatment. A direct blow to the head which causes an alteration in mental state is a concussion. A person does not have to lose consciousness to have a concussion either. Depending where on the head a person receives a blow can determine the area of the brain which is injured -- memory, concentration, balance etc.


Symptoms of concussion:

• Fatigue or insomnia
• Feeling dazed, confused or "out of it", difficulty concentrating
• More emotional than usual, mood swings, irritability, anger, anxious, depression
• Headache

The Day I Became a Woman

I knew this day would come, but already? In December, I got a referral from my doctor for a mammogram. Today was the day. I went to the Rita J. Kaplan Breast Imaging Center at Bellevue Hospital.


After I walked the busy corridors of the main floor of the hospital, I made it to the Third floor, West Wing. The walls are painted a light pink with floral wall border. It was a stark contrast to the rest of the hospital I had seen. After checking in at the desk and receiving my ID wrist tag, I took a seat in the main waiting room.


Visibly, I was by far the youngest woman in there. 58, 67, 70 -- those were the years of birth I overheard. I wondered if the demographic of the waiting room would change as more younger women are diagnosed with breast cancer. I shook my head at the soap opera chosen to entertain us. I was thankful when that was interrupted by the President's press conference.


After another mispronunciation of my name, I was handed a gown and directed to the pink dressing rooms. "Waist up."

Pregnancy, Exercise and Beyoncé

The above showed up on my Tumblr timeline this week. The reblogs and likes included comments like, "I can't believe she just had a baby!", "How can she look like that after giving birth!", "My goal is to look like Beyoncé", "Told you she was never pregnant!"


Why is it expected that a woman will look like a shell of her former self after giving birth? Yes, there will be changes in her body after pregnancy and childbirth but it's unusual for her to be "in shape" or "look good"? The way the body handles the changes (and trauma) of pregnancy varies from woman to woman. One factor that makes the "recovery" easier (and apparently, astonishing to some) is exercise.


Beyoncé was in great shape before she became pregnant. She joined the Let's Move! Initiative which encourages physical activity and educates on the importance of exercise. I'm assuming she remained active during and that exercise (dance, weights, yoga, whatever) will be a part of her life now that she's a mother. I hung out with a friend about 2 weeks after she gave birth and it didn't strike me as odd that she looked like she did before she got pregnant. Genetics do play a role, but activity is a huge part of it. She exercised on a regular basis for years before becoming a mother.

Pain, Pain, Go Away

I've had a uterus my entire life. We've had a very amicable relationship. At about 3 pm on Monday afternoon something upset her. She slowly grew enraged. But I was weathering her storm. At about 8 o'clock while I was trying to wind down she was just getting started. I text a friend about these newfangled pains I was experiencing. I wasn't doubled over but was definitely uncomfortable. They say it helps to talk about your problems; you gain insight on how to manage them, solve them or perhaps they'll even go away. I don't remember when I dozed off but at about 11pm I was woken by CM Punk screaming into the pipe bomb and my uterus screaming louder. What the what? I made myself a little more comfortable but was determined to sleep this off like I could sleep off other pains.


Shame on me for not having any pain meds at home but I'm rarely in pain. Moaning and whimpering, I stumbled around my bedroom at about 2:30ish in the morning. Pain blurred my vision. Pain made me sweat. Not doubled over in pain, uh, Abigail? Merely uncomfortable, Missy? I slumped over the bathroom sink for a while when a wave of nausea hit me. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's nausea and vomiting. That was the push I needed. I swallowed hard and had a heart-to-heart with the grimace in the mirror. I needed meds. But I couldn't walk straight due to the pain (my vagina was now singing backup). Never in my life had I experienced pain like this. Who are these women who deal with this every month?

Yoga To The People

A few weeks ago a friend invited me to take a yoga class with her. I'm always game for a physical challenge. We ended up in two different classes that day. I was challenged as I usually am in a Vinyasa flow class, but something didn't click for me that day. The amount of students in the class could have been enough for me not to return but afterwards, my friend and I compared notes on our workouts. I sat in Half Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana) till my hips and legs feel asleep in my class. She regaled me with her tales of Warrior III (Virabhadrasana III) and Tree pose (Vrksasana).


We didn't take class together until yesterday. Still some communication glitches, but I decided to go anyway, not sure she'd be there. All signs pointed to 'yes' - I woke up a bit overwhelmed and knew yoga would balance me. The sun was shining and NY was no longer smothered in the miserable heat-humidity combo of the previous couple of days. I got a train right away and arrived early enough that I was able to be in the studio on the 2nd floor (the 1st floor of Yoga to the People).

Age Is Nothing But A Number

"World's Oldest Female Bodybuilder" Ernestine Shepherd
at Book Expo America

The past few days I've felt "subpar" as I like to put it. I wasn't sick, but I could feel something coming on--slight congestion, sneezing, achy body. I know last week wore me down and that left me susceptible to a virus or bacteria. The lack of sleep and close quarters at Book Expo America--it can take a toll on the best of us.


What made me feel better was two great workouts which left me drenched and winded. Today, I still sound a little nasally, but much improved from Saturday. I always feel worse when I don't workout--physically and mentally. It's been a part of my life since high school. Being active is my being.


I'm telling you all this because I want to share one more highlight from Book Expo America. I purposely left this one out because I wanted to do a separate post. May 23, I received a press invite from Guinness World Records for a great interview and photo opportunity with Ernestine Shepherd, the "World's Oldest Female Bodybuilder". I committed one thing that annoys me when others do it (or don't do it)--I didn't read the email all the way through. I saw the words "female" and "bodybuilder" and "oldest" and I was blinded by excitement. I'm a huge advocate of women picking up weights. Strength training improves posture, confidence, raises your resting metabolism, regulates hormones, increases body density, shapes and tones your body and, the obvious, makes women stronger.

Scan For My Best Fit

Could this be the answer?


A full body scanner to find what size you wear in over 50 brands. I usually have to try on jeans, pants, skirts, shorts because the sizing is never uniform. I have to find clothing that will accommodate my thighs, butt, waist and height all in one garment. So into the scanner I'd go and 15 seconds later it'll take roughly 200,000 body measurements and match me with my best fit(s). Hmm...


Currently, the mybestfit scanner (now Me-Ality™) is only available in King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, PA. New York, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Diego will be getting mybestfit body scanners by the end to the year. I'd definitely try it. Plus it's a free service. With my luck, it'll probably match me to a brand I can't afford, suggest jeggings or match me with Old Navy.

Let's Move!

Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy

I applaud the Let's Move! Initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama in partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters Education Fund (NABEF). Children, and all of Americans, are getting fatter. It's not a good look. It's also unhealthy and leads to a whole host of problems. The economy is strained as it is, we won't have the funding to treat the preventable cases of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension (Metabolic syndrome) cancer, knee and hip replacements etc. that are bound to plague this generation of children--a generation that may be the first to have shorter lifespans than their parents. 


Part of the blame lies with the parents who don't encourage their children to play or don't lead healthy lifestyles for their children to learn from. There's limited access to healthy, affordable foods and knowledge about proper nutrition. Then there's the epidemic of recess, physical education (PE) and intramural sports being eliminated from schools. 

My Tae Bo Workout With Billy Blanks

Me with Billy Blanks after a great Tae Bo workout

What??? This is amazing! I "grew up" on Billy Blanks!!


That was my reaction when I received an email from Harrison Wise on Wednesday. Billy Blanks would be teaching a kickboxing workout at the dojo Wise attends. A live Tae Bo workout!! Last year, I attended Harrison Wise's Pleasure & Pain Kickboxing Boot Camp class. I'm so grateful he remembered and shared the news with me.


Anyone who's known me for longer than 5 years, knows how much I love Tae Bo and how the workout and Billy Blanks has shaped my outlook on health, fitness and working out. I was a freshman in college when Tae Bo went mainstream. My mother ordered the tapes, but I claimed them for myself. My workouts were comprised of Tae Bo and weights. When the Tae Bo Live! series came out, she ordered the subscription for me -- a new advanced workout every month!


At the same time I was working towards my Sports Sciences degree and Athletic Training certification and was taking courses in Biomechanics & Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology, Principles of Athletic Training, Adapted Physical Education and Sports Psychology, I was also learning from Tae Bo and was applying the body awareness, willpower and positive visualization from one to the other.