I just go my Rotator in the mail today. it is a simple apparatus for strenghthening and stretching the rotator cuff whether it be for use during rehabilitiation or even regular strenghthening for sports or post-rehab.
Took the Rotater out of the box and was able to figure it out instantly. Didn't even have to look at the instructions or DVD. But I am also very knowlegable in the rotater cuff and the rehab for it, since this is my 4th time in shoulder rehabilitation.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
My review of the drink, Neuro Sleep zzzzzzz
Neuro Drink Sleep review
Now here is a tasty, sleep-inducing beverage for you. Armed with 3 mg if melatonin, what a wonderful way to end your day. Do note that this beverage won't work if your insomnia is due to poor lifestyle choices such as late night caffeine or large meal consumption, a racing mind due to lack of meditation, or medications that might hinder restful sleep.
I used to think I was a natural night owl. I could wake up every weekday morning at 5 yet still not get sleepy until midnight at the earliest. Then I eventually learned I had a delayed melatonin release. While most people's melatonin secretion begins upon the onset of sunset, mine seemed to take at least 6 hours. For years I was an insomniac. As a kid, I’d be sent to bed around 9PM but I’d fall asleep around 2 or 3AM, then would have to get up at 7. I’d fall asleep in many of my classes every day, and my grades showed it.
But it never occurred to me I am regularly cyclic because I could easy follow a schedule of going to bed at a very late hour like 3am and wake up refreshed at noon. My sleep issues also made my migraine headaches worse. As I got older, I needed more sleep. 10 to 12 hours a night was what my body demanded. If I went more than 2 days in a row with 8 hours or less of sleep, I’d wake up with a migraine on the third morning. I took the advice of a friend and went to Walgreens for a bottle of Melatonin and my issues was instantaneously cured.
Neuro Sleep with its 3 mg of melatonin has been a great way to support my rhythmic sleep pattern. Over the years, I developed the habit of taking a hot shower or bath about 2 hours before bedtime. This is time where I would pray and meditate. I found it quite nice adding a bottle of Neuro Sleep to the ritual. And to top it all off, I end up not sleeping the entire 10-12 hours; more like 7 -8 hours a night on Neuro Sleep (ding ding ding ding)
Neuro Sleep has a nice light citrus taste; one that I cannot quite place. It is lightly carbonated, so no belchiness afterwards. It also contains 5HTP, which is also in Neuro Bliss (my favorite). This compound induces calmness, and is found abundant in Turkey, which is why you get sleepy after Thanksgiving dinner. And it has a nice amount of Magnesium which a necessary electrolyte to prevent muscular cramping. So all in all, you got yourself the ultimate liquid for quality sleep.
NeuroSleep™ is a delicious drink with a unique formula designed to promote restful sleep and improve overall sleep quality. Clinically proven to be effective, the combination of melatonin and magnesium found in NeuroSleep™ work together to aid in healthy sleep quality and normalize the circadian rhythm, especially after travel over 3 or more time zones. Additionally, NeuroSleep™ provides 5-HTP, an ingredient structurally similar to the amino acid tryptophan, but more effective. Magnesium is included at 300 mg per bottle, providing a significant amount of this key electrolyte to help you sleep better and prevent cramping while asleep. NeuroSleep™ is the optimal bedtime drink, providing quality rest which helps you function at your best.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Attack of Mediocrity
When I was living in Iowa, something phenomenal happened to me. The day I moved there (and I moved there primarily for a significant other and college), it was like culture shock. Here I was, an amazingly fit mid 20s exotic female who wasn't ashamed to accent her best assets, in a world of conservative, small town minded folk with very little influence from the fitness world. My long, full dark head of eurasian hair, smooth tanned skin and hard, muscular curves were an anomaly in this white bread and butter culture of sedentary average Americans, but with a distaste for exercise and fitness. To them, getting in shape was considered conceit and completely intolerable and exercise was ONLY associated with getting in shape and trying to look attractive (Heaven forbid you try to look better than everyone else).
TO get to the point quick, I was heavily criticized for taking the time to go to the gym and work out and better my healthy and physique. I was told I was "obssessed with my body" and it was an "unhealthy obssession" and that I needed to focus on taking care of my "boyfriend" rather than spending so much time in the gym trying to look better than everyone else. After a while I caved in and canceled my gym membership at the gym. I spent the next 4 years fighting my urge to get back into the gym and start training. My body got bigger and softer, I felt physically less agile. My knees and hips started to hurt. My migraines got worse. I found my ADD/ADHD less tolerable and I was having a harder time focusing and remembering things. And worst of all, I was slipping into a depression. I felt crappy about myself, my looks and everything around me. And despite going from a sexy fitness model, I morphed into a plain Jane with a gut, chubby cheeks and big thighs. I tipped the scale at 145lbs and I'd say about 30% bodyfat. You could no longer see my 6pack, and my teardrops on my quads were gone. And I ended up in size 10 jeans. Oddly, the locals still thought I was too skinny, but my boyfriend was upset because I didn't lose the muscle. And to top it all off, all those exotic traits he loved about me in the beginning, were not acceptable in that predominantly white culture, I was pressured daily to cut my hair short and bleach it to blonde and wear blue contacts. Basically, I was wanted to morph into a average Iowa girl.
I recall going to a nightclub with my boyfriend when I first moved there. The moment I stepped in the club, I witnessed a table of 3 blondes (all about 6 foot tall and 200 lbs of solid, hay tossing, corn fed muscle & gut), glared at me and sat up at the edge of their seats... I felt like I was the target of a cat fight, so I clung to my boyfriend for dear life. I was probably the hottest girl in this club, and I honestly feared for my life ! ! ! Guys throughout the club were staring at me, and not in awe of my beauty, but I am sure of my exoticness and fit physique. I swear, I think I had more muscle on me than any guy there other than my boyfriend. I was definitely an oddity.
For the next few years, I tried to pick healthy foods; veggies, brown rice, chicken breast and so forth. My blood sugar was crazy and I was always craving sugars within 3 hours of my last meal. My ex blamed me for is getting fat because "we are always eating", but it never occured to him that HE didn't have to eat each time I did. And I'd say half the time people would criticize me about eating like a bird, or like I was on a diet (as if I had any fat to lose, even at 30% bodyfat). I recall one of my friends saying "there goes Jo and her rabbit food again". I was NEVER commended for eating healthy.
What I am getting to with all this is just how peer pressure to be "mediocre" or "average" in our American society can affect people. It's not just what we eat, how much we eat and how sedentary we are that causes our nation to be the fattest in the world. No matter how much education we throw at us, or how much skinniness we are exposed to by the media; it just doesn't counteract the effect of social conformity and the pressure to be "just like everyone else.. not better but not worse either". There is a saying "the reward for conformity is that everybody likes you except yourself". And this is exactly what I was dealing with. After I had caved in and "let myself go", people stopped picking on me and criticizing me. But I was miserable beyond words. I felt trapped with no way out. I felt like I could do nothing, not for me nor anyone else. I missed having a beautiful, fit and healthy body. I missed the "me" time at the gym; meditating during my cardios, pushing myself past my normal limits knowing I was bettering myself. I missed the endorphin highs. I missed fitness !!!
Now that I look back; I am so happy I left that world of extreme mediocrity and its deathgrip of my soul. I am so happy I re-developed my proverbial spine. I am so happy to live in a community that is open to fitness and OK with the whole concept of looking sexy. I am blessed beyond words. I fit in here. I am surrounded with other fit minded people who also understand that fitness is more than just about building a sexy body; it's about living life healthily. It's about making yourself better and not taking your life and health for granted. It's about setting a standard for how everyone should be, but subconsciously won't. It's about spreading the gospel of good health. It's about feeling good about yourself despite all the hate, envy and peer pressure to be average. It's about what God intended us to be.
Mediocrity is like cancer. Don't let the tumor get into your life. Because it'll spread throughout your body, take over your soul and before you know it, you're dying!
Fitness is not about building a body that is better than everyone else, thus establishing you higher in the pecking order than those looking at you that don't look like you. It's about taking care of your self, living life to the fullest. There is so much in life you enjoy more when you are heatlhy and agile. You can walk up a flight of stairs; you don't have to wait on an elevator. You can squeeze into skinny jeans. You can fall asleep at night and have good sleep. You don't have to take medication for blood pressure which causes a whole schlew of other side effects. Your insurance rates are cheaper. You feel better about yourself, and good people appreciate you and love you more. You will have a positive influence on those around you... just watch.
So no matter what you do, don't let the pathetic mindset of mediocre people sway your decision to get in shape. This is YOUR life; not theirs. This is YOUR happiness;not theirs. This is YOUR life; not theirs. You have every right to pursue your happiness; it's guaranteed by the constitution!
And if you ask me; I am ALL FOR YOUR BETTERING YOURSELF... Cheers to your better you!!!!
TO get to the point quick, I was heavily criticized for taking the time to go to the gym and work out and better my healthy and physique. I was told I was "obssessed with my body" and it was an "unhealthy obssession" and that I needed to focus on taking care of my "boyfriend" rather than spending so much time in the gym trying to look better than everyone else. After a while I caved in and canceled my gym membership at the gym. I spent the next 4 years fighting my urge to get back into the gym and start training. My body got bigger and softer, I felt physically less agile. My knees and hips started to hurt. My migraines got worse. I found my ADD/ADHD less tolerable and I was having a harder time focusing and remembering things. And worst of all, I was slipping into a depression. I felt crappy about myself, my looks and everything around me. And despite going from a sexy fitness model, I morphed into a plain Jane with a gut, chubby cheeks and big thighs. I tipped the scale at 145lbs and I'd say about 30% bodyfat. You could no longer see my 6pack, and my teardrops on my quads were gone. And I ended up in size 10 jeans. Oddly, the locals still thought I was too skinny, but my boyfriend was upset because I didn't lose the muscle. And to top it all off, all those exotic traits he loved about me in the beginning, were not acceptable in that predominantly white culture, I was pressured daily to cut my hair short and bleach it to blonde and wear blue contacts. Basically, I was wanted to morph into a average Iowa girl.
I recall going to a nightclub with my boyfriend when I first moved there. The moment I stepped in the club, I witnessed a table of 3 blondes (all about 6 foot tall and 200 lbs of solid, hay tossing, corn fed muscle & gut), glared at me and sat up at the edge of their seats... I felt like I was the target of a cat fight, so I clung to my boyfriend for dear life. I was probably the hottest girl in this club, and I honestly feared for my life ! ! ! Guys throughout the club were staring at me, and not in awe of my beauty, but I am sure of my exoticness and fit physique. I swear, I think I had more muscle on me than any guy there other than my boyfriend. I was definitely an oddity.
For the next few years, I tried to pick healthy foods; veggies, brown rice, chicken breast and so forth. My blood sugar was crazy and I was always craving sugars within 3 hours of my last meal. My ex blamed me for is getting fat because "we are always eating", but it never occured to him that HE didn't have to eat each time I did. And I'd say half the time people would criticize me about eating like a bird, or like I was on a diet (as if I had any fat to lose, even at 30% bodyfat). I recall one of my friends saying "there goes Jo and her rabbit food again". I was NEVER commended for eating healthy.
What I am getting to with all this is just how peer pressure to be "mediocre" or "average" in our American society can affect people. It's not just what we eat, how much we eat and how sedentary we are that causes our nation to be the fattest in the world. No matter how much education we throw at us, or how much skinniness we are exposed to by the media; it just doesn't counteract the effect of social conformity and the pressure to be "just like everyone else.. not better but not worse either". There is a saying "the reward for conformity is that everybody likes you except yourself". And this is exactly what I was dealing with. After I had caved in and "let myself go", people stopped picking on me and criticizing me. But I was miserable beyond words. I felt trapped with no way out. I felt like I could do nothing, not for me nor anyone else. I missed having a beautiful, fit and healthy body. I missed the "me" time at the gym; meditating during my cardios, pushing myself past my normal limits knowing I was bettering myself. I missed the endorphin highs. I missed fitness !!!
Now that I look back; I am so happy I left that world of extreme mediocrity and its deathgrip of my soul. I am so happy I re-developed my proverbial spine. I am so happy to live in a community that is open to fitness and OK with the whole concept of looking sexy. I am blessed beyond words. I fit in here. I am surrounded with other fit minded people who also understand that fitness is more than just about building a sexy body; it's about living life healthily. It's about making yourself better and not taking your life and health for granted. It's about setting a standard for how everyone should be, but subconsciously won't. It's about spreading the gospel of good health. It's about feeling good about yourself despite all the hate, envy and peer pressure to be average. It's about what God intended us to be.
Mediocrity is like cancer. Don't let the tumor get into your life. Because it'll spread throughout your body, take over your soul and before you know it, you're dying!
Fitness is not about building a body that is better than everyone else, thus establishing you higher in the pecking order than those looking at you that don't look like you. It's about taking care of your self, living life to the fullest. There is so much in life you enjoy more when you are heatlhy and agile. You can walk up a flight of stairs; you don't have to wait on an elevator. You can squeeze into skinny jeans. You can fall asleep at night and have good sleep. You don't have to take medication for blood pressure which causes a whole schlew of other side effects. Your insurance rates are cheaper. You feel better about yourself, and good people appreciate you and love you more. You will have a positive influence on those around you... just watch.
So no matter what you do, don't let the pathetic mindset of mediocre people sway your decision to get in shape. This is YOUR life; not theirs. This is YOUR happiness;not theirs. This is YOUR life; not theirs. You have every right to pursue your happiness; it's guaranteed by the constitution!
And if you ask me; I am ALL FOR YOUR BETTERING YOURSELF... Cheers to your better you!!!!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
RC Surgery forum thread
I recently underwent a major shoulder reconstruction and am blogging my journey on Bodybuilding.com
Feel free to tag along
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?s=ed5fcc4a235e5011135f10d74bc21af8&t=130575993
Feel free to tag along
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?s=ed5fcc4a235e5011135f10d74bc21af8&t=130575993
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Neuro Drinks - My professional personal review
I had the pleasure of being asked to test and offer my professional, but personal review of the entire Neuro Drink line this past December. Now, I am not a big fan of energy drinks for the sake of energy (I only drink one brand and that's ONLY because it tastes like my favorite exotic fruit,and I only drink one every other week). But Neuro Drinks are different. And there is a dang good reason it was voted Best Functional Beverage by BEVNET (2). They are not "energy drinks"... it is a line of nutritional lifestyle beverages, each having their own unique function and flavor. Oh, and might I add that Neuro is an environmentally conscious corporation. All Neuro Drinks come in 100% recyclable PET plastic! 4 Thumbs up there (that being from both my hands and feet)
The line consists of the following:
NeuroSonic® is a delicious drink designed to increase high level mental functioning: better memory, alertness and concentration.(1)
NeuroSleep™ is a delicious drink with a unique formula designed to promote restful sleep and improve overall sleep quality. (1)
NeuroTrim™ is a delicious drink designed to promote weight loss.(1)
NeuroSun™ is a delicious drink designed to provide all the benefits of Vitamin D without the harmful UV rays of the sun.(1)
NeuroGasm® is a delicious drink designed to promote a healthier heart and blood flow(1)
NeuroAqua™ is refreshing spring water sourced from the Californian Adobe Springs (1)
NeuroBliss® is a delicious drink designed to promote happiness and eliminate stress without affecting your energy levels. (1)
NeuroSport™ is a delicious drink designed to replenish the body during and after exercise with the unparalleled combination of 12 minerals and 5 electrolytes.(1)
Now, I am an anyl individual... but not like a psycho kind. But I like to be pretty darned thorough when I give my opinion on anything. So today I am going to start off by giving my initial review of the Neuro Drink "Bliss". I chose this one specifically because of my current situation. I just had shoulder reconstruction on the 15th of December and am still in a wedge and slink til mid February.... and this past weekend was New Years Eve. Of course, 1/4 of the West Coast population wants to party in Vegas! And all crammed into a mile long strip of street called Las Vegas Blvd. I just happen to work as a bottle server on weekends at the world famous Studio 54 (yes, by choice... wouldn't you?) a nightclub that can hold over 1200 people. No, I didn't plan it all to turn out this way. But those were the cards I was dealt and I played them. So I saved the Bliss specifically because I knew some fool was going to bump in to me, or grab my shoulder and ask "what happened to your elbow" (which did happen 3 times that night). On a scale of 1 to 10, my pain issue was roughly a 6... not exactly, chipper personality invoking but bearable enough for me to fake a smile. Unfortunately, that much pain also renders a woman like me rather easily irritable. Perfect scenario to put Bliss to the test. The score.... A+ ! I think I just found my Xanax! Oh, and let me tell you, the flavor reminded me of lychee fruit. For you landlocked white folks and culturally non-diverse- lychee is an asian fruit similar to plums. On the bush, they're not very pretty. But after skinned and pitted- they're amazing! And not to mention very nutritious.
Ok ok ok...back to Neuro Bliss. The thing that struck me most thought was its ability to calm me physically and emotionally without sacrificing my ability to focus and be able to perform my job efficiently. When you are handling table orders mounting over $5k each, there is no room for error. And there is no forgiveness in tiny mistakes. No forgetting someone's drink orders, or miscounting money, or losing a credit card and ID. Things need to be "perfect". Boy was I ON IT that night ! So on it, my over-tips were sticky sweet! And the best thing was I didn't flip out on anybody... not even a tinge of irritability.
So after the weekend was all said and done, I made my money and my customers happy, I got to finally checking out the label and website of Neuro Bliss.
L-Theanine, an amino acid found in green tea which has been clinically proven to help reduce stress, works by altering brain waves, shifting them from the beta spectrum to the alpha spectrum where a person is focused and alert, but calm. Acetyl-L-Carnitine, a highly functional amino acid that helps improve memory (3). 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan), is an amino acid that is the intermediate step between tryptophan and the important brain chemical serotonin(4). It is widely used for its calming effect. Of course!!!!!! When I'm PMSing, I take 5-HTP for that entire week. Helps with my crappy mood (and for some reason, unusually sexier). I also use it for my migraines and when I'm all sad because of overcast weather. And Green Tea- a favorite amongst us health fanatics because it gives you a calm, energy boost without making you jittery or nervous. Boy did Neuro get that one right!
As for the nutritional label.... nothing that causes any red flags to go off. No thousands of percent of some unknown B Vitamin like you see in some drinks out there. No need to worry about growing something strange on some odd place on your body. A modest amount of Vitamin B6 and only 9 grams of carbs and 35 calories. So no need to worry about your hips getting too big drinking two or three of these a day! Hey, I live in Vegas... I can afford it!
I say, let's all (not me of course... I don't take them) get off the antidepressants and just load up our fridges with this drink and let's all be happy. I'll have another one myself.
Next 2 reviews will be Neuro Sleep and Neuro Trim... since it goes hand in hand with my industry and the fact that almost the entire American population and set their New Year Resolution to lose some weight. Until next time my kiddies!
Tootles!
References
(1) http://drinkneuro.com/
(2) http://www.bevnet.com/reviews/neuro
(3) http://acetyllcarnitine.org/
(4) http://www.5htp.com/
(5)
The line consists of the following:
NeuroSonic® is a delicious drink designed to increase high level mental functioning: better memory, alertness and concentration.(1)
NeuroSleep™ is a delicious drink with a unique formula designed to promote restful sleep and improve overall sleep quality. (1)
NeuroTrim™ is a delicious drink designed to promote weight loss.(1)
NeuroSun™ is a delicious drink designed to provide all the benefits of Vitamin D without the harmful UV rays of the sun.(1)
NeuroGasm® is a delicious drink designed to promote a healthier heart and blood flow(1)
NeuroAqua™ is refreshing spring water sourced from the Californian Adobe Springs (1)
NeuroBliss® is a delicious drink designed to promote happiness and eliminate stress without affecting your energy levels. (1)
NeuroSport™ is a delicious drink designed to replenish the body during and after exercise with the unparalleled combination of 12 minerals and 5 electrolytes.(1)
Now, I am an anyl individual... but not like a psycho kind. But I like to be pretty darned thorough when I give my opinion on anything. So today I am going to start off by giving my initial review of the Neuro Drink "Bliss". I chose this one specifically because of my current situation. I just had shoulder reconstruction on the 15th of December and am still in a wedge and slink til mid February.... and this past weekend was New Years Eve. Of course, 1/4 of the West Coast population wants to party in Vegas! And all crammed into a mile long strip of street called Las Vegas Blvd. I just happen to work as a bottle server on weekends at the world famous Studio 54 (yes, by choice... wouldn't you?) a nightclub that can hold over 1200 people. No, I didn't plan it all to turn out this way. But those were the cards I was dealt and I played them. So I saved the Bliss specifically because I knew some fool was going to bump in to me, or grab my shoulder and ask "what happened to your elbow" (which did happen 3 times that night). On a scale of 1 to 10, my pain issue was roughly a 6... not exactly, chipper personality invoking but bearable enough for me to fake a smile. Unfortunately, that much pain also renders a woman like me rather easily irritable. Perfect scenario to put Bliss to the test. The score.... A+ ! I think I just found my Xanax! Oh, and let me tell you, the flavor reminded me of lychee fruit. For you landlocked white folks and culturally non-diverse- lychee is an asian fruit similar to plums. On the bush, they're not very pretty. But after skinned and pitted- they're amazing! And not to mention very nutritious.
Ok ok ok...back to Neuro Bliss. The thing that struck me most thought was its ability to calm me physically and emotionally without sacrificing my ability to focus and be able to perform my job efficiently. When you are handling table orders mounting over $5k each, there is no room for error. And there is no forgiveness in tiny mistakes. No forgetting someone's drink orders, or miscounting money, or losing a credit card and ID. Things need to be "perfect". Boy was I ON IT that night ! So on it, my over-tips were sticky sweet! And the best thing was I didn't flip out on anybody... not even a tinge of irritability.
So after the weekend was all said and done, I made my money and my customers happy, I got to finally checking out the label and website of Neuro Bliss.
L-Theanine, an amino acid found in green tea which has been clinically proven to help reduce stress, works by altering brain waves, shifting them from the beta spectrum to the alpha spectrum where a person is focused and alert, but calm. Acetyl-L-Carnitine, a highly functional amino acid that helps improve memory (3). 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan), is an amino acid that is the intermediate step between tryptophan and the important brain chemical serotonin(4). It is widely used for its calming effect. Of course!!!!!! When I'm PMSing, I take 5-HTP for that entire week. Helps with my crappy mood (and for some reason, unusually sexier). I also use it for my migraines and when I'm all sad because of overcast weather. And Green Tea- a favorite amongst us health fanatics because it gives you a calm, energy boost without making you jittery or nervous. Boy did Neuro get that one right!
As for the nutritional label.... nothing that causes any red flags to go off. No thousands of percent of some unknown B Vitamin like you see in some drinks out there. No need to worry about growing something strange on some odd place on your body. A modest amount of Vitamin B6 and only 9 grams of carbs and 35 calories. So no need to worry about your hips getting too big drinking two or three of these a day! Hey, I live in Vegas... I can afford it!
I say, let's all (not me of course... I don't take them) get off the antidepressants and just load up our fridges with this drink and let's all be happy. I'll have another one myself.
Next 2 reviews will be Neuro Sleep and Neuro Trim... since it goes hand in hand with my industry and the fact that almost the entire American population and set their New Year Resolution to lose some weight. Until next time my kiddies!
Tootles!
References
(1) http://drinkneuro.com/
(2) http://www.bevnet.com/reviews/neuro
(3) http://acetyllcarnitine.org/
(4) http://www.5htp.com/
(5)
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