Being both a Physician Assistant and a San Diego Personal Trainer has its advantages and disadvantages is regards to working with the difficult weight loss population. My latest endeavor is a 34 year old male attorney who is 3 months post op a very rare brain tumor known as a Cranial Pharyngioma. 0.3/100,000 people will acquire this type. Although his neuro surgery was very successful, the end result of removing the offending tumor left this client with dramatic weight gain, seizures, fatigue, sodium depletion, diabetes insipidous, poor heat regulation, insomnia and bi temporal visual field defects, (due to compression of the optic nerves at the Sella chiasm) pituitary gland suppression and very depressed HGH, prolactin and testosterone levels. All is all this change in body chemistry has left this client 80 pounds heavier!
This is truly a weight loss challenge. The question at hand is how to promote secretion of growth hormone and testosterone through direct stimulation of large muscle groups without over heating the client or intensifying glucose uptake through muscle receptors. With adequate growth hormone secretion and testosterone production the human body will respond through weight loss and a leaner body composition as the metabolism changes.
Another obstacle to weight loss, is augmented by the prescribing of the drug Cortef, which is cortisone. The chief side effects of cortisone are weight gain, water retention, megaphagia, insomnia. It is of my opinion that the attending Endocrinologist titrate the client off of the Cortef and substitute a NSAID (Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug) In addition I would add a weekly course of HGH to promote Cortisol production.
I am a bit anxious about working with this client, but do realize i am the most qualified San Diego Personal Trainer , who also is a Physician Assistant with a strong enough medical background to keep this client safe and goal oriented. I have much thinking outside the box to do, but will keep everyone posted as time progresses. I have high hopes, and a special interest in this unusual client.
For many individuals approaching their mid 60’s, the new established mindset is to kick back, sleep in, watch TV, eat excessively and vacation as much as possible. What the heck? Few again adults foresee the propensity for an expanding waistline, osteoporotic bones and significant decreases in liver metabolism and kidney function with inactivity. As we age we should be doing more versus less says my mentor Dr. Kenneth Cooper, founder and director of the Cooper Institute in Dallas Texas.
It is important to understand how our bodies respond to aging. Its not a pretty picture by any means. Muscles react to inactivity by becoming smaller, shorter and less dense in diameter. Given this change, one can expect an abrupt change in physical strength, flexibility, a drop in metabolism, and loss of proprioception and or balance in the frontal and lateral planes. In other words, it is conceivable that a human can become fatter with age, acquire severe neck and lower back pain, acquire peripheral neuropathy, and all due to inflexibility and degeneration of muscle tissue and frozen joints.
Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, have identified that those who retired from physically demanding jobs and with lower wealth were at greatest risk of gaining weight and decreasing physical activity level Unfortunately, the double whammy of increased weight and a sedentary lifestyle adds significantly to these people’s already high risk of health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, and hypertension. In summary the kickback retirement adds fuel to the fire of pre existing poor health.
A large majority of Somagenesis Health and Fitness’s client base is comprised of debilitated Seniors with an array of orthopedic, cardiac and neurological problems beginning from the neck down. Such conditions as cervical stenosis, with secondary kyphosis (hunch back) AC joint arthritis and rotator cuff shortening or dehiscience ,nasty bone spurs, degenerative hip disease, lumbar stenosis or spondylothesis. Although they are considered “age related” conditions, Age related is a default word for the lazy, sedentary, low motivated aging adult who choses to do nothing to improve overall health. Sadly enough, all of these conditions can be prevented with specific exercises designed to stabilize joints, ameliorate bone spurs, enhance blood flow, boost metabolism and kidney function and last but not least , enhance spine posture while keeping the spinal canal patent.
So with this information in mind, skip the retirement mindset, get fitter and do more so you can live a higher quality of live. What good is it living until the rip e old age of 80 years, if you are can’t walk with fear of falling, are suffering with chronic pain and dependent on class two narcotics to keep your pain at bay. It really doesn’t have to be that way. Health, fitness and medical exercise technology is readily available to help you improve the quality of your life. Moreover, professional Somagenesis fitness pro’s with medical backgrounds are available to implement and design the appropriate exercise prescription to keep you strong and functional .
Remember, there is much to be said about the the old adage. “If you don’t use it you loose it” Just do it!
This morning when reading the Sunday San Diego Union Tribune, I read the best article regarding government control of weight loss in other countries. While some governments struggle to keep their starving citizens fed the leaders of wealthy nations are trying to get their citizens to cut back on food intake and slim down! In Japan, health officials check the waistlines of citizens over the age of 40. Those considered too fat by BMI (Body Mass Index) standards are placed in a government sponsored height and weight body weight modification programs. Failure to slim down and achieve an acceptable body weight and BMI leads to fines and penalties.
New Zealand has strict rules barring people who are too fat from immigrating into their country. If this was the United States, we would be living in a ghost town.
In Great Britain – 60% of men and woman are expected to reach obesity by 2050. Residents of some cities are being recruited to wear electronic tracking devices to calculate caloric burn and movement activity. The incentive is cost saving store coupons, and even days off work! The British Nation Health Service is paying for at least 30,000 people to take weight loss classes.
Germany plans on spending $47 million on healthy eating and sports conditioning programs. The will also tackle tough nutritional standards for school lunch’s, asking candy makers to stop targeting young children, and will encourage software companies to develop computer and video games that force children to move more. Nintendo WiiFit is a good example of this.
Seeing that other countries , are on target to ameliorate a critical problem, I can only think, what the hell are the Politicians in DC thinking. $385 BillionTARP plans, $789 billion Economic Stimulus Plans , which have no financial stimulus allocation to cure the upswing of obesity and obesity relate diseases in the US. As a matter of fact, many of the Bio-tech companies in the US have been completely cut off from future funding in the field of diet weight loss and obesity! Just like the Subprime mortgage fiasco, short sightedness will only lead future disasters.
For more information on how you can avoid your personal health fallout, contact the health , fitness and nutritional experts at Somagenesis at 760-271-3064
Reflecting on my business stats for the month of December,and its not yet over yet, I can only jump for joy. December has been a record month for Somagenesis Health and Fitness.
Total internet and phone call generated leads = 62
Total number of new client season12/26/08 = 13
Total number of pending client consultations before 2009 = 4
My point being that there a still plenty of potential clients looking for quality service, despite a uncertain economy. The trend that Somagenesis Health and Fitness has seen, is a greater percentage of individuals with medical conditions which have created weight gain issues or specific pain. Since Somagenesis puts a medical twist on all our fitness and nutritional programs, our ability to heal is far greater than the standard personal training program. Since many weight loss crisis’s are secondary to thyroid, autoimmune, hormonal or orthopedic situations, we have the solve and ameliorate many of these situations through medical application, and holistic fitness design.
In summary, there are plenty clients available for the competent, medically skilled personal fitness trainer, despite tough economic times. With good marketing skills, networking with physicians, and appealing to all socioeconomic groups, the sky’s the limit!
I have been working out for over 25 years. The thought of going to a conventional cookie cutter gym, using the same old cardiovascular and weight training equipment bores me to death. If you have been following my earlier posts, you are very aware that CrossFit training is my new fitness approach and passion. I suffer from the ADD syndrome of repetitive training, so CrossFit hits the spot!
But wait!
I Recently stumbled across the web site immortalusa who is the suuplier a very unique, very intense total body conditioning called “Battling Ropes.” The Battling Ropes System, is the ultimate muscular endurance program. You crate tsunami like waves over a 50ft or 100 ft distance, through body generating explosive forces. Out of curiosity, I ordered the 100 ft 2 inch diameter “Anaconda” rope. It really looks like an Anaconda. You have to see it to believe it! It weighs close to 100lbs.
To date, I have only been able to work the 50 ft length of the rope, and hope to progress to the full 100 feet over the next several months. I obviously bit off more than I can chew. If you watch the enclosed video of Strongman Champion John Brookfield, the developer of the Battling rope system, you will get an incredible visual perspective of him performing the infamous Battling Rope “Tsunami” exercise. Don’t let John fool you by the way he easily finesses the rope. It will literally kick your ass. I have never experienced anything like it. When your training with the battling ropes, you will get an incredible aerobic workout. I was able to elevate my heart rate from 62 BPM to 175 BPM in less than a minute. ( I was only able to work the ropes for 45 seconds!) Although I felt nauseated and light headed after performing 12 sets in 30 minutes. I did have a blast working the ropes, and also burned 570 calories in both the work and recovery phase of the workout. Now, I combine the Battling Ropes System with heavy Kettlebells for a ultra intense workout, at Mission Bay in San Diego, CA. In a mere one hour, my average exercise burn is 1025 calories.
To start, I would recommend that you purchase the 50ft. 2 inch diameter rope system to begin with. The cost will run you $165 plus shipping. A very inexpensive way of getting a kick ass workout. Also for you personal trainers out there, this is really a great way of adding a super creative conditioning element to your clients workout regimen.
If you have an questions concerning the use of Battling Ropes feel free to contact me through my Award winning web site Somagenesis Health and Fitness. I would also appreciate any comments or opinions regarding the video or your experience with the ropes.
Just think, fifty million Americans have high blood pressure or hypertension. A large majority of them with convert to critical levels of cardiovascular disease ,and eventually death due to associated risk factors such as high cholesterol, impaired glucose tolerance, high fibrinogen and cigarette smoking. Several National Health and Nutrition surveys reported two-thirds of the respondents were unaware of their diagnosis, and 53% were taking prescribed medicines.
A large percentage of clients that we work with, at Somagenesis Health and Fitness obese hypertensives. Although their main goal is to loose weight through proper nutritional strategies and consistent exercise. Majority of them are taking blood pressure medicines which destroy their metabolisms, ignite weight gain, create lethargy and obliterate the libido. The hypertensive client can greatly benefit from a properly designed fitness program. My program begins with careful monitoring of the individuals altered hearted rate caused by blood pressure medicines. The standard Karvonen formula used to determine heart rate working zones becomes grossly inaccurate, so it is imperative to implement the Rate of Percieved Exertion scale.
Contrary to some schools of thought, weight training can be used to condition the hypertensive client, but close monitoring is critical. If the individuals blood pressure must be less than or equal to 180/105 mmgh. When designing a exercise program for the hypertensive be sure to obtain medical clearance from their doctor. Once cleared, these are the guidelines I follow:
Blood pressure should be taken before, midway and and the end of the exercise program.
The conditioning program should be implemented 4-5 times per week for 45-60 minutes at a low to moderate intensity of 50-70% intensity.
When lifting weight be sure to keep it light and focus on high repetitions. 30-50% of the 1 repetition maximum.
As mentioned monitor the exercise intensity by “Rate of Perceived Exertion” Be sure to rest 30 seconds between sets!
Total number of exercise sets should never exceed 15 per session
Cardiovascular conditioning through aerobic exercise is also an important component of a weight loss and hypertension management program. I typically have clients begin with brisk walking on a treadmill or moderate spinning on a stationary bike. The conditioning program begins with 5 minute bouts of aerobic conditioning, within their tolerance zone .Do not increase working bouts by more than 15% per week. Usually after 90 days of habitual conditioning most clients, will comfortingly be able to perform, solo,steady state aerobics for 30 minutes. At this milestone in your program ,you will begin to notice weight loss and nice changes in body composition. This will help the clients motivation levels!
In summary, high blood pressure is a common and chronic problem. Proper treatment is likely to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Properly prescribed physical activity has a very important role in the treatment and prevention of high blood pressure. based on sound research and experimental findings, regular activity and exercise appears to lower blood pressure. However the mechanism that causes this is still unclear. For more information and detailed guidance on how to properly manage high blood pressure, contact the health and fitness experts at Somagenesis Health and Fitness for a complimentary health and fitness evaluation.
There isn’t a month that goes by that Somagenesis Health & Fitness doesn’t receive the panicked phone call, from a potential customer, claiming they just can’t lose weight regardless of what they eat! Typically it is usually woman, and rarely a man. Losing weight is never an easy task to undertake. Making abrupt changes to bad lifestyle habits after so many years is a daunting challenge and shock to your body and mind. Losing weight, also requires major changes in food selection and lifestyle habits. Every now and I will meet someone who will eat a perfectly healthy diet and still can’t lose weight. This is when my medical background comes into play
The biggest misconception regarding weight reduction ,is that diet and exercise expenditure is all it takes. Although, diet and exercise are important elements to a healthy lifestyle, often stubborn weight loss. is a sign that there are underlying medical issues, contributing to the weight retention. In my professional opinion, there are medical conditions that make this happen.
Insufficient caloric intake:
The metabolism, is your bodies natural furnace for caloric burning during a 24 hour sleep wake cycle. If you lack essential amino acids, chromium, zinc and magnesium , your bloods sugars will be adversely affected. The end result is fat retention as a protective mechanism and a lower metabolism. Low blood sugars from insufficient calories shut down in order to protect the body from death.
Excessive dietary carbohydrates:
Both simple and complex carbohydrates can have an impact on blood sugar stability. Once the blood sugar rises to a certain level, insulin is excreted prom the pancreas, to drive it back down to normal levels. Interestingly enough, insulin’s secondary function is to promote body fat storage in fat cells. manipulation of endogenous blood sugars, through excessive carbohydrate consumption is a sure fire way to keep your body soft and pudgy.
My famous analogy is: If you put 16 gallons of gas in a 15 gallon gas tank it will spill over onto the floor, right? If you put excess sugar into the body, insulin will shuttle the excess into the fat cell, which stores glycerin or sugar and fatty acids. When too much glycerin or sugar is stored ,the fat cell will expand in size, and the human body simply gets fatter and bigger.
Chronic Stress:
Chronic stress places the body in the fight or flight mode. When this occurs , the body’s homeostasis falls out of kilter. Metabolism, blood sugar, thyroid regulation hormones and sex hormones react abnormally. Once the body’s systems fall out of balance ,weight gain will ensue. It is not uncommon to see women with estrogen domination, secondary to stress. The end result is gynoid obesity. Another reaction from stress is increased craving for food and binge eating.
Thyroid burnout:
The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system which regulates your metabolism. Since the primary job of the thyroid hormone is to operate the body’s metabolism, it is no wonder that people with this condition will experience symptoms of a slower metabolism. If thyroid metabolites are too low, a condition known as hypothyroid will occur ,and you will gain weight, feel fatigued ,and maybe depressed. Left untreated, the symptoms of hypothyroidism will progress. In some rare instances, complications including severe depression, heart failure ,and coma can occur.
Unknown food allergies:
Unknown food allergies is one of the most common reason why individuals have difficulty with weight loss. Internally the body is fighting an inflammatory response, or a immune response as a result of consuming a incompatible food. The most common food allergies are eggs, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts and wheat. The only proven treatment for a food allergy is to avoid the food. If you suspect you have a food allergy, consult an allergy specialist.
In summary, these are five main medical conditions which interfere with weight loss. It is essential to make lifestyle changes when trying to lose weight. Somagenesis Health & Fitness always suggests to their clients to get a complete physical exam including a SMA-12 to rule out any unknown health issues. As a rule of thumb we also like to compare follow up SMA-12 values at 6 months to make sure our clients body systems are working well. Besides repeated chemistry panels are a wonderful way to show that clients that there health is improving from the inside out.
Medial Epicondylitis is an often debilitating condition, that personal fitness trainers can expect to see when training clients, especially men. Medial epicondylitis (ME) is a tendon injury acquired from perpetual overuse of the forearm flexor muscles especially when gripping heavily a bar or a weight. The result is a severe ache or burning sensation to the medial or inside aspect of the elbow joint or humerus. Often the pain becomes so excruciating that resting the elbows on a padded surface like a preacher bench can be very painful.The tendinosis that occurs is a direct result of failure of the damaged tendon to heal due to perpetual abuse. As President and medical exercise specialist of Somagenesis Health and Fitness in San Diego, I am constantly confronted with male clients, who experience intermittent bouts of medial epicondylitis from doing too much too soon. It is imperative that the fitness specialist have a basic understanding of the sign and symptoms of epicondylitis.
Cause of Medial Epicondylitis are:
Repetitive use of flexor-pronator muscle at the medial epicondyle.
Can be related to the individuals occupation, if the job required repetitive movements such as hammering, screwing or lifting.
Can be the result of an acute injury or accident.
Excessive grip tension, a bad golf swing, poor throwing or swinging action as in baseball or tennis.
Conventional Treatment Choices:
In my opinion, the more holistic the treatment, the better. If you chance it, and choose see an orthopedic surgeon, be prepared to have a radiography of the elbow to rule out lesions or avulsions of bony material. It all about generating extra income into the hospitals and clinics. Following the interpretation of the film by the Radiologist, the Orthopedist will usually prescribe a non-steroidal or steroidal anti inflammatory pill or injection. Although this reduces the inflammatory aspect of the injury, it will retard the healing process of the soft and tendinous tissue. In addition NSAIDS and steroids can affect other body systems. Why take a chance?
Holistic Treatment Choices:
Treatment should begin with the application of ice to the elbow 3-4 times per day the quiet down the heat and inflammatory response. Remember calor or heat, impedes the body’s healing process.
Begin muscle/tendon reconditioning program. This begins with gradual stretching of the flexor-pronator muscles. Be gentle or risk re-injury. This should be performed 12 times to warm up the muscles and increase flexibility before engaging in strength training or other activities
Begin strengthening program. Start with isometric exercise and then transition to eccentric strength movements. Forearm flexion and extension movements should be emphasized. Be sure to gradually increase the work load or resistance. If a relapse occurs then cut back on the offending exercises.
Always ice at least 5 to 10 minutes following the exercise, to quiet down the cell and flare.
If you exhibit pain during normal activities of daily living, that back off on your rehab for 48 hours. Be smart and know when to call it quits with conventional rehab systems. There may be a more serious underlying medical situation such as a bone spur, complete tendon rupture or broken bone. If this is the suspected case then be sure to contact your physician for further medical evaluation.
In summary, most cases mild to moderate cases of medial or lateral epicondylitis are very manageable orthopedic anomalies. The best treatment is simply doing the least invasive therapy, versus medicine or surgery. Should you have any questions regarding treatment plans or prevention of epicondylitis, contact the experts at Somagenesis Health and Fitness today for a complimentary assessment and exercise prescription.
It is Thanksgiving and I have much to be thankful for this years. My mind is spinning over a series of events which transpired yesterday. It was one on my busiest training days seeing clients, since today Somagenesis Health and Fitness is officially closed for Thanksgiving!
I am very thankful for having 26 very dedicated clients. Most of them have been die hard Somagenesis Health & Fitness clients for over 8 years. Although, they are all adversely impacted by the economic down turn, my clients believe they cannot afford to lose years of acquired fitness, and rebound into illness during these very stressful times. There is a lot of sound logic and interpersonal growth in that mindset. Anyway, my clients have forfeited their vacations to Europe, excessive dining out ,and buying the latest Mercedes Benz.
I have attributed this attitude change, to the fact that I have devoted a great deal of time tapping into the minds of my clients, over the past several months. I have made it a conscious effort to obtain feedback, so as to better understand their fears and doubts. This well needed attention, has enabled me to better understand my clients, and show them that there is more to just being a personal trainer than sculpting their bodies. Point being, personal training is more than just conditioning a body to look better, it is also about reshaping the mind to live a healthier lifestyle, even during depressive times. Personal trainers need to rise to the occasion and re-motivate and refocus their clients attentions and thought patterns. If not, then risk losing them to reactionary depression.
Today, I was confront by 9 personal trainers who were looking for new clients. Most personal fitness trainers in San Diego see Somagenesis.coms domination of the internet pages, and naturally assume we have an overload of new clients. I listened to the sad stories, regarding the unfortunate losses of clients. I don’t believe that this had to happen, if their clients were taken better taken care of from an emotional perspective.
Taking a strategic position is so vital, in retaining, or acquiring a new client base. Below, are some of the techniques that Somagenesis Health and Fitness uses and lives by.
1. Get constant feedbackfrom your clients.-Your fitness training skills, needs to include in personalized counseling with each clients. This is different than psychoanalysis.
2. Be receptive to clients schedule changes- Your clients will be in a panic mode, to produce more at work, to deter a lay off. If you are not flexible, you potentially risk losing the client to their job demands. 3. Market your ass off- Somagenesis marketing and advertising budget is triple of what we typically spend in a sound economy. Don’t drop your advertising dollars or you will get nothing and go bankrupt.
4. Re create the wheel - There are other ways to supplement your income with new and innovative fitness products. Sit down and brainstorm something your competition is not doing, or is doing, but do it better.
5. Educational enhancement - Now is the time to devote to further your fitness related educational pursuits. Learning new and interesting information always refreshes a stale mind. Beside you will feel better about your self. You will project a more confident image to new clients
6. Network with your existing client base - Use the holidays as an opportunity to give discounted personal training gift certificates to your faithful clients. They can gift these coupons to work associates or friends. It is also a wonderful way to show your clients that you care.
In summary, during tumultuous economic times, it is critical that you provide and outstanding level of service to your clients. Create additional streams of value to them, even if this means spending additional time with them, trouble shooting their holiday nutritional strategies or giving them a small token of appreciation for their patronage.
Lets hear from you personal trainers out there. What are you thinking? What are you conundrum’s?
