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Training to Tone vs Training for Bulk - Know the Difference
Ask Fitz!, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.
Q. Hi Fitz. I keep hearing both you and other people say I should do push-ups, but I'm a small woman and don't want to bulk up. Push-ups are hard, so should I do them if I want to stay toned yet trim? Alyssa
A. Great question, Alyssa! This common question is on the mind of many women, and I'm happy to give this answer as many times as there are women who need to hear it. What you need to know is that it requires extraordinary effort for most women to put on any sort of bulky muscle. That means: protein shakes, supplements and insane amounts of heavy lifting. Of course, there are a few rare women here and there who pack on muscle quickly, but if you're already telling me you are small ... you are not one of those rare women.
ADHD Road Map
My son has ADHD. He has an awesome teacher, but he is one of 32 students in his class. I know that he takes a significant amount of encouragement and redirection from his teacher. I think it's safe to say that he's the most ill-behaved kid in class. As a parent, I always hope that his teacher can remember that -- behind the behaviors -- is an incredibly bright boy with enormous potential. My son struggles to focus on work, to pay attention, and to sit still. But he is not a bad student. Early this morning I saw a commercial on TV for a free "ADHD Road Map." When you register to receive your copy, you also gain access to online information about their four steps: taking a snapshot of how your child is currently doing, setting goals, taking action, and tracking/rewarding progress.
Life Fit Chat with Laura Lewis: The power of pint-sized meditation
Life Fit Chat with That's Fit Life Fit Expert Laura Lewis brings conversation provoking tidbits to your table, served up with a touch of spice! Byte-sized information that pack some punch, brought to you every Wednesday and Thursday!Today I had the incredible opportunity to attend a Barack Obama rally in Dallas, Texas. More than 15,000 people showed up and waited in line for hours to witness this historic event. The crowd was supercharged and eager to express their enthusiasm. Emmitt Smith, longtime Dallas Cowboy legend, introduced the presidential hopeful. Smith had the crowd stomping and screaming BARACK OBAMA .... BARACK OBAMA ... BARACK OBAMA. When the man of the hour walked out on stage, you would have thought Elvis had made an appearance. His talk was long, passionate, inspiring and loud. Throughout the two-hour event, the ten year old in front of me was engrossed in his hand-held video game, not looking up for one minute. I was shocked and saddened. If something as awe-inspiring, loud and stimulating as an NFL legend and presidential hopeful can insight 15,000 people to tears and cheers but cannot tear this child's attention away from a video game, what can?
More and more we are hearing about ADHD and ADD diagnosis with elementary-aged children. Children are addicted to over-the-top action-packed stimulus. From cartoons to video games, the non-stop, super fast pace presentation of information is preventing children from being able to focus on the slow "real time" presentation of how the real world functions. Many parents do not know how to confront the challenges this lifestyle creates. Children develop behavioral problems in school because they physically and mentally cannot slow down enough to focus. Sadly, more and more children are being medicated just so they can process information in real time. An alternative solution to conventional drugs, may just be meditation.
Meditation and yoga has become an emerging trend as schools seek alternative solutions to helping students manage anxiety and stress. A 2004 survey of mindfulness programs provides evidence that many schools are indeed incorporating meditation and yoga in their educational progams. Schools have found that the techniques are easy to learn and assist children in becoming "more responsive and less reactive, more focused and less distracted, [and] more calm and less stressed." The Garrison report found that practices such as meditation and yoga can produce internal benefits for children, as well as create a more positive learning environment that encourages and nurtures attention and focus.
What do you think? Give it a try, and let us know how it works for you!
Brain maturity slows in ADHD kids
Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
A new study revealed this week that kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may see a slowing of growth when it comes to crucial parts of brain development.Compared to kids not diagnosed with ADHD, the study flew in the face of earlier research that used brain imaging to draw a smaller line between brain development of kids with and without ADHD.
In this study, the lag with ADHD kids insofar as brain development was as much as three years. Meaning, the ability to suppress inappropriate actions and thoughts, focus attention, remember things from moment to moment, work for reward and control movement was oft delayed in ADHD kids.
To me, this study says that slower brain development is actually the cause of ADHD, not an effect. What do you believe?
Do you have office ADD? These tips may help
Stress Reduction, Work/Home Balance, Motivation
In so many ways, the technology boom has made our lives easier. Internet, email, cell phones, text messages, wireless...it all means that information travels freely and instantly any time of the day. But at what point does it become too much and turn into information overload? In the office, says one prominent psychiatrist, it can happen pretty quickly.Office workers are complaining of symptoms that are remarkably similar to ADD: difficulty focusing, inability to get things done, anxiety. And studies show that being interrupted by just one email can distract an employee for up to 30 minutes. Technology is the ideal procrastinating tool. After all, there's the web out there just begging you to come and play. But more importantly, people can't focus on more than one task at a time, and the constant barrage of interruptions eventually just makes us scattered and unfocused.
So what can you do? By changing the rules and tweaking the way you do things, you can reign in this craziness and have a more zen office life. And maybe, finally, get that project finished.
New ADHD guide helps parents make medication decision
Are you a believer in medication for that ADHD-diagnosed child? To many parents, this is the single-largest decision that requires attention when ADHD presents itself in the household.Some parents take away processed and chemical-laden foods (and drinks), while others use other methods to determine if environmental variables can affect their child's hyperactivity.
In order to help parents make the decision about which course of action to take, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry guide was released this week to guide parents in the right direction. With more parents becoming frightened about prescription medication, the timing of this new guide is perfect, as each case needs to be scrutinized individually instead of 'treated' like a statistic. It's now available at ParentsMedGuide.org.
All those forgotten calories add up fast
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
If you are a serious dieter, you probably know how to count calories well, and you may even keep a log sheet with you at all times. Some people I know use their cellphones to keep track of their daily calories.This methodology, of course, can be derailed when you "forget" to count certain types of calories. Think that snack pack of M&Ms has no calories, and you don't have to include it? If you're really wanting to see your daily caloric intake, then those must be counted as well.
Even a few bites of a pancake in the morning from your spouse's breakfast plate can add up. It's a complete nuisance to track every single thing that goes into your mouth (trust me, I know), but to get a good feel for your calories every day, it's required at least a few times so you really can see what you're needing to burn when you get on that treadmill.
Excessive television viewing creates attention problems in adolescents
If your young son or daughter watches quite a bit of television in those younger years, a new study concludes that possible attention problems may develop when he or she reaches adolescence.Ever since television was invented, the argument of kids watching too much of it has been thrown around. The new study does not completely agree with earlier studies that attempted to make a direct connection between TV watching and attention disorders in kids (i.e., contributing to ADHD, for example).
Specifically, this latest study makes the case for watching more than two hours of television per day -- between the ages of 5 and 11 -- and the possibility for increased attention problems in adolescence. According to one of the study's authors, "We found the amount of television did predict the amount of problems at age 13 and 15."
Is it time to turn off that TV after school?
ADHD preschoolers -- no drugs needed
It's comforting to hear medical experts explain that ADHD symptoms can be relieved by things such as consistency and structure in the home (imagine that) in addition to or in replacement of prescription drugs. We'll now add preschoolers with ADHD to that list as well.Although it's very hard to believe any child under the age of five has the "disease" ADHD (they are kids, right?), there are some parents who swear that their three year-old is out of control, hence ADHD. I'm of the mind most kids that age are out of control as they explore the new world around them constantly without any concern to anything.
But, some some sort of predictability, timing, consistency and very rigid structure when it comes to activities has solved ADHD problems for the parents of young kids, according to new research. Maybe those kids needed structure all along to keep their young and explorative minds focused, and it's hard to see how ADHD comes into the picture at all without valid scientific data.
Ritalin can help adults on a diet
Ritalin, the prescription drug often associated with calming kids who apparently have ADHD, is now being suggested as a weight-loss aid for adults. Wha?Researchers this week stated that a single dose of Ritalin appeared to lower the taste adults have for calories and fat. But, does that mean it should be even considered as a weight-loss aid? Hey, if a 'pill' can be suggested for effortless weight loss, there will always be customers. Always.
Yes, weight loss is known to be a potential side effect of Ritalin, but using the drug as a replacement for a healthy diet and exercise is ludicrous. However, that means we'll probably see it marketed as a weight loss, FDA-approved product pretty soon.
Helping younger kids who have ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) drives some parents, teachers and other nuts. Kids seemingly cannot help themselves from fidgeting, talking or acting at all waking hours of the day, and in many cases, prescription drugs are the only things that can help these kids (and adults as well).I've seen radical nutrition changes also help some kids, and it's the first solution that I would choose to see if it worked. Even with kids as young as three to five, ADHD can be troublesome since daycare and preschool is on tap -- places where some structure starts showing up in kids lives outside the home.
For tips on trying to reign in as much of that impulsive and hyper activity as you can in those early ages, there are some great tips over here. Read them and even tape them to the fridge door. From my experience, these are very helpful to remember every single day.
Common questions about ADHD
My son has ADHD. While I personally believe ADHD is widely over-diagnosed and over-medicated, it is real and, in some cases, medication is necessary. By and large, my son's symptoms are under control. He's old enough to understand the condition and he does a great job of managing his behavior and recognizing how he's feeling. But he has a tough time in the mornings -- he has more energy than his little body can handle at that time of day.
Healthology has a great primer on ADHD (the video doesn't seem to be working as of the time I'm publishing this post, however) that answers many of the common questions about the disorder. ADHD can be caused by a number of factors including exposure to lead, prematurity, complications during labor and delivery, pre-natal exposure to alcohol, and even some infectious diseases. Some recent studies have suggested that genetics may also play a role in ADHD. However, ADHD is not caused by too much sugar, bad parenting, or a lack of discipline.
As a parent of a child with ADHD, I found the article's information about how ADHD negatively effects self-esteem particularly helpful. According to the article, children with ADHD often feel frustrated and feel they can't do anything right. Early diagnosis, intervention, and helping a child to understand the disorder is so important.
Healthology has a great primer on ADHD (the video doesn't seem to be working as of the time I'm publishing this post, however) that answers many of the common questions about the disorder. ADHD can be caused by a number of factors including exposure to lead, prematurity, complications during labor and delivery, pre-natal exposure to alcohol, and even some infectious diseases. Some recent studies have suggested that genetics may also play a role in ADHD. However, ADHD is not caused by too much sugar, bad parenting, or a lack of discipline.
As a parent of a child with ADHD, I found the article's information about how ADHD negatively effects self-esteem particularly helpful. According to the article, children with ADHD often feel frustrated and feel they can't do anything right. Early diagnosis, intervention, and helping a child to understand the disorder is so important.
New toys "fulfill the fantasy of telekinesis"
Reviews & Products, Nutrition & Supplements
Gaming may have just got more sophisticated, after an announcement from NeuroSky, Inc. that said they'd invented a game that uses brain waves to encourage higher levels of focus and concentration from users. Though the game is still a prototype, other versions are in the works for release in the near future.
The games use a technique called biofeedback. Psychiatrists have used the method for years, and it uses electrodes to measure electrical signals in the brain. A small sensor is placed inside a headset, and the signals are sent out to a receiver. The more users think and focus about the required activity, the "better" they become at the game.
Though manufacturers say that the technology may someday be able to help children with Autism spectrum disorder or ADD, critics say there's not much evidence to support that claim. What I'm hoping is that, if this technology sells, it'll make gaming more of an active pastime and get gaming kids up and off the couch!
The games use a technique called biofeedback. Psychiatrists have used the method for years, and it uses electrodes to measure electrical signals in the brain. A small sensor is placed inside a headset, and the signals are sent out to a receiver. The more users think and focus about the required activity, the "better" they become at the game.
Though manufacturers say that the technology may someday be able to help children with Autism spectrum disorder or ADD, critics say there's not much evidence to support that claim. What I'm hoping is that, if this technology sells, it'll make gaming more of an active pastime and get gaming kids up and off the couch!
A quick checklist for ADHD
Although I am no fan of psychiatric drugs that are used to treat ADHD, the fact is that they are sometimes required for children and adults to function to the norms of society. Using alternative methods of treatment (usually, radical nutrition changes and jettisoning poisonous foods and drinks) sometimes is not enough. How do you know if your child (or yourself) even has ADHD? There are many medical opinions that believe ADHD is genetic more than environment. A quick checklist would include these observations:
- Are you distracted by irrelevant sights or sounds?
- Do you find yourself missing details or making careless mistakes?
- Do you have difficulty following instructions?
- Do you find yourself losing and forgetting things?
- "Can't sit still" - The adult version of what you'd consider "hyperactivity" in a child.
- Impulsive behavior - Especially as a consistent part of your everyday actions.
- Do you take action before you think about the consequences?
- In conversation, do you interrupt others, or blurt out inappropriate comments?
- Do you experience difficulty waiting in line or for your turn?
ADHD drugs see triple growth usage rates
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
ADHD seems to be consistently in the news, and more and more centered around children. ADHD can plague adults and kids, but the management of kids with ADHD seems to merit all the press in most cases.So, it's not hard to imagine that the overall use of drugs to treat ADHD disorders has in fact tripled in global use since 1993, according to U.S. researchers this week.
That's just a tiny amount over 14 years -- and we have a tripling of ADHD sufferers using drugs. Either tons of more diagnoses have happened in that time, or the pharmaceutical industry saw a cash cow and decided to cash in -- because are more and more kids actually having ADHD these days? That's a question without a direct answer.
