Back Clinic Health Team. The level of functional and metabolic efficiency of a living organism. In humans, it is the ability of individuals or communities to adapt and self-manage when facing physical, mental, psychological, and social changes in an environment. Dr.Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T, a clinical pain doctor who uses cutting-edge therapies and rehabilitation procedures focused on total health, strength training, and complete conditioning. We take a global functional fitness treatment approach to regain complete functional health.
Dr. Jimenez presents articles both from his own experience and from a variety of sources that pertain to a healthy lifestyle or general health issues. I have spent over 30+ years researching and testing methods with thousands of patients and understand what truly works. We strive to create fitness and better the body through researched methods and total health programs.
These programs and methods are natural and use the body’s own ability to achieve improvement goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, surgery, or addictive drugs. As a result, individuals live a fulfilled life with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, less pain, proper body weight, and education on maintaining this way of life.
Swimming in a pool, lake, or ocean is an excellent way to exercise without feeling like you’re melting in the heat. Plus, it’s a full-body workout that is gentle on the joints. Ironman and USA Triathlon coach Heather Casey shares two quick beginner workouts, one for the pool and one for open water. Before you get started, here are a few helpful tips from Casey:
• Keep water bottles nearby. Just because you don’t feel sweaty doesn’t mean you aren’t losing fluids. • Invest in some dark-lens or reflective goggles to help block the sun and the glare from the water. • Swimming in open water? Stay safe by bringing a partner. Warm up on dry land. Remain close to the shoreline, and even if you’re an experienced swimmer, breathe every other stroke. It’s easier to become breathless in open water. If you do, head back to shore at an easy pace.
These workouts burn approximately 367 calories (a 30-minute swim for a 150-pound person).
30-minute pool workout
Interval targets are set by a rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale of 1 to 10; 10 is the hardest.
The warm up: Go for a 100-yard swim at RPE of 4 to 5, then a 50-yard swim with kickboard at RPE of 5 to 6.
The workout:
• 25-yard swim at RPE of 4; 25-yard swim at RPE of 6 • 25-yard swim at RPE of 6; 25-yard swim at RPE of 4 • 50-yard swim at RPE of 4 • 50-yard swim at RPE of 6 • Repeat these four intervals • 100-yard swim at RPE of 4 (cooldown)
Dry land warm-up: Arm circles and shoulder shrugs on shore.
Swim warm-up: 8 minutes of 1-minute out-and-back intervals from the shore at RPE of 4.
The workout:
• 4-minute swim at RPE of 4 • 30 seconds treading water • 2-minute swim at RPE of 6 • 2-minute swim at RPE of 4 • 30 seconds treading water • 2-minute swim at RPE of 4 • 2-minute swim at RPE of 6 • 30 seconds treading water • 4-minute swim at RPE of 6 • 30 seconds treading water • 2 sets of 3-minute swims at RPE of 4, treading for 1 minute in between (cooldown)
Did you catch Cher’s performance at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night? Not only did she hit the stage in a sheer, bedazzled body suit looking incredible, she dropped a little humble-brag about how she stays in such great shape. “I can do a 5-minute plank, okay?” she told the audience.
Yep, 71-year-old Cher can plank longer than most people who are decades younger. This wasn’t the only time the pop icon showed off her devotion to working out and living a healthy, active life. For further proof that Cher is a super-strong badass, check out her top five #fitnessgoals moments throughout her career.
Cher came out with a book in 1991 called Forever Fit: The Lifetime Plan for Health, Fitness, and Beauty. The epic cover photo shows her in a knotted gray t-shirt with her black boot placed on a barbell. Besides workout advice, the book featured exercise and weight loss programs, nutrition tips, and her favorite skin-care products. If her current healthy glow is any indication, she knew what she was talking about.
When she wore Spandex for her step aerobics videos
In the early 1990s, Cher released a series of fitness videos called (what else?) CherFitness. The videos featured step routines, ab workouts, and dance cardio sessions, all accessorized with black leotards and Spandex. The beginning of this step routine clip offers some major motivation and truth bombs from Cher. Our favorite: “You don’t have to start off perfect, you just have to start.” Preach!
When she killed it while keeping up with Tina Turner
Okay, so this glittery 1970s dance duet isn’t exactly what we think of as a workout today. But it takes damn hard training and effort to do these moves as perfectly as Cher and Tina do—and in heels to boot. Watch and learn, legends at work!
When she was candid about working out 5 times a week
When Cher was 67, she gave HELLO! magazine a summary of how she stays in shape. “I exercise about five times a week because it’s something I’ve always done and I just enjoy it,” she said. “I don’t like meat and so most of things that I like are healthy for you, apart from desserts. I don’t do drugs and don’t drink very often. I try to play the age card with my trainer but she just doesn’t go for it. My farewell tour was one of the longest tours ever, and I think it would be a tour that would kill a 25-year-old girl now.” Props for not pretending she doesn’t work hard at it.
During at interview with E! Online in 2010, Cher spoke about how staying in shape is more difficult now that she’s older, but she’s passionate about trying new activities to keep things fresh and exciting. “You have to work twice as hard. You have to be in the gym all the time. But I like it. When I was young I was a tomboy. I played sports . . . and I’m learning to surf right now. I like that kind of stuff, thank God.”
Many Americans are overweight or obese and find low back pain is a debilitating problem. Studies have shown that losing weight might have an important effect on controlling low back pain. Weight loss programs can be very helpful for patients that are overweight or obese and who need to relieve their back pain that is low.
However, there are numerous weight loss programs to select from, plus they have their differences. Some are commercialized, others managed with a doctor. Nutritional supplements are endorsed by some plans; drug is prescribed by others. Some are insured by insurance companies; many aren’t.
With each one of these aspects to consider, it�s significant to do a little research to discover the proper weight loss program before signing up and spending any cash. Some weight loss programs might not follow the very best practices recommended by doctors, and it might be hard to tell just by looking at their respective websites.
Health and Wellness Details
A recent study looked at 191 different weight-loss programs in the Maryland�Washington, DC�Virginia region. The overwhelming bulk of programs did not offer enough important info on their websites.
The kind of diet, the amount of exercise, types of behavioral treatments, use of drugs�these are all vital details that were missing online. Many sites aren’t designed to provide details of a program, but alternatively to offer contact information for prospective clients.
Finding the Proper Weight Loss Program
A comprehensive lifestyle program should feature:
A somewhat- caloric meal plan that is reduced
A regimen for increased physical action
A behavioral therapy strategy
These are three vital aspects to a highly effective weight loss plan, as recommended by the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, as well as the Obesity Society (AHA/ACC/OBS). FDA-approved medications to help treat obesity are accessible, but have to be prescribed by an accredited physician.
Some programs may include weight loss supplements ; again, information that might not be mentioned on an internet site. Patients ought to be mindful with products not accepted by the FDA. Some materials may be ineffective or possibly harmful, which explains the reason why it is essential to consult a physician before taking something to lose weight.
Seek Professional Advice
Many weight loss programs are commercialized products or services that don’t meet professional standards. Based on Dr. J. Michael Gonzalez-Campoy, MD, PhD, FACE, a specialist in obesity medicine, patients should first seek guidance from health care professionals who are trained to treat obesity and overweight.
�With the epidemic of overweight and obesity in this country, two-thirds of Americans will seek help managing their weight. The point is well taken that there is a lot of commercialism�selling products with a promise of unrealistic accomplishments. It’s best for every patient to address weight control with their personal health care professional first. � Speaking into a licensed pro is a course that is more efficient and far safer. Patients can locate obesity medicine doctors through the web site of The American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM).
Physical Activity With Low Back Pain
Many patients might think it is challenging to be active with low back pain. Nonetheless, inactivity can lead to weak and back muscles that are stiff, and core strength is required to assist support the spine. Walking or working out in a pool (aquatic treatment) is low-impact motion which may be a great choice to help reduce weight and strengthen muscles.
Patients with obesity are more inclined to have weak muscles in their lower back, making it tough to walk on a treadmill or measure mill. A good approach to remaining active with low back pain would be to talk with a specialist�such as physical therapist, physician assistant, or a primary care doctor. It could be wise to procure a precise analysis if pain worsens, and/ although obesity or overweight can cause/contribute to pain in the low back or is accompanied by numbness weakness or tingling sensations.
Regular Exercise is Beneficial
Regular exercise can enable you to prevent exacerbating low back pain during physical action that is prolonged or intense. Over time, routine exercise can increase flexibility, strength and endurance.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Additional Topics: Weight Loss Eases Back Pain
Back pain and symptoms of sciatica can affect a majority of the population throughout their lifetime. Research studies have demonstrated that people who are overweight or obese experience more back complications than people with a healthy weight. A proper nutrition along with regular physical fitness can help with weight loss as well as help maintain a healthy weight to eliminate symptoms of back pain and sciatica. Chiropractic care is also another natural form of treatment which treats back pain and sciatica utilizing manual spinal adjustments and manipulations.
It’s easy to flip through the glossy pages of the most body-positive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issueever without pausing to consider all that these women actually do—day in and day out—to sculpt those stunning physiques. Many of the models told Health that they work out most days of the week, which can be a real logistical challenge with their hectic work and travel schedules. While the rest of us may not be jetting around the world for photo shoots (sigh), we can certainly relate to the struggle of finding time to exercise. So we asked six of the women for their best tips on sneaking fitness into even the craziest days.
Seize every opportunity to work your body
“I’m in the airport a lot, so I’ll always take the stairs instead of the elevator. Even if that means I have to carry my suitcase! There’s always a way to work out.” —Hailey Clauson
Turn your home (or hotel room) into a gym
“I’ve got these props that you put under your furniture to move it, and I use them to do sliding ab workouts at my house. I also have a booty band I travel with which has two Velcro bands that go around your ankles. All you have to do is get on all fours and push you leg up and out, and it makes your booty big and round.” —Ashley Graham
“When I travel, I’m lucky to get to the gym. So I bring sliding disks with me. You just stick them in your suitcase, then you can do arm workouts and ab workouts with them.” —Hannah Davis
“I have one of those exercise bands that go around your feet. You can use it to do side steps and monster steps. You can do that anywhere, and it doesn’t weigh anything to travel with. You can just do 20 minutes of those steps a day and your butt will firm right up!” —Kate Bock
“I do a lot of abs: simple crunches and planks are the best way to get your six-pack! I also do a bunch of jumping jacks with a band around my ankles for extra resistance.” —Nina Agdal
“Most of the time, after a long day of work, I don’t want to go to the gym for an hour. But you can always do something. Just go for 5, 10, or 15 minutes of a hard workout. Let that be enough. Whether it’s doing abs or squats, there are plenty of great workouts you can do anywhere.” —Ebonee Davis
“Find the time of day when you’re the most energetic. Some people tell me I need to work out in the morning to get it over with. But if I work out at 6 am, I’ll be exhausted, I won’t be happy, and I won’t put in 100% effort. So if you’re more of a night person, work out at night!” —Nina Agdal
Combine fitness with socializing
“You can also work out with a friend! Emily Didonato, who’s also in the issue, is one of my best friends and we always go for workout and coffee. It’s a good hang, but we also did a workout together. So suggest to a friend: ‘Let’s do yoga and then lunch!’” —Kate Bock
Plan your workouts on the go
“I’ll look on Instagram and find a good video that shows 3 exercises I can do in 10 minutes in the morning. Then it’s something I haven’t done before, it’s mixing it up, and I’m distracted because I’m looking at a video.” —Hannah Davis
“I find when you’re jet-lagged or tired, sometimes you don’t want to work out. But once you’re doing it, you feel way better. sometimes you even get energized. You’re never going to regret [working out].” —Kate Bock
But allow yourself some rest days
“You definitely need to listen to your body. If you’re run down and you go to the gym, you’re just wasting your time in there, because you won’t get a great workout.” —Hannah Davis
This article originally appeared on DailyBurn.com.
Sure, it would be nice if you bounded out of bed in the morning and into your running shoes. Or rushed home from work and went straight to the gym multiple times a week—no bribes or pep talks required. But let’s be honest, that doesn’t always (uh, rarely?) happen. However, some people have found that one no-excuses method to moving more. They get their butts in gear, even when it’s tempting to stay on the couch. So we asked DailyBurn 365 trainers and fitness pros what their clients say is the best workout motivation. Next time you’re thinking of skipping out on fitness, steal one of their secrets.
1. “I’m doing it for them.” You often hear that exercise should be a time you invest in yourself. It’s all about you. But sometimes, it’s even better to look at the big picture. Figure out who else your health benefits—whether it’s just for bragging rights or something more. “One client told me, ‘I’m exercising to prove to my wife that I can do this,” says Daily Burn 365 trainer Prince Brathwaite, who’s also the CEO and founder of Trooper Fitness. Another said, ‘I want my kids to have something positive to look up to.’”
2. “There’s comfort in routine.” No matter how busy life gets, think of your workout as something that keeps your life in line. Amid the chaos, a sweat sesh can feel pretty darn good. “One of my clients who takes barre just finished her nursing residency. After 12-hour shifts, she’d come to class simply because she wanted to maintain a normal life and have something for herself,” says Krystal Dwyer, instructor at Flybarre and CityRow in New York City and DB365 trainer. “That’s motivation. She inspires me.”
3. “Because Jon Snow is waiting.” Rewarding yourself for a workout well done is the way to go. (Err, as long as your prize isn’t always a double scoop of chocolate chip cookie dough.) Bentley Garton, elite trainer at LA Rox and Daily Burn Fitness/Nutrition Coach, had a client with a unique prize in mind. “She would only let herself watch the latest episode of Game of Thrones if she had done four workouts that week,” she says. You might prefer a new sports bra or an hour of Instagramsurfing and that’s good too. Whatever gets you to the finish line!
4. “It makes sense financially.” If you pay for a gym membership or monthly subscription, you better use it, right? Sometimes thoughts of throwing cash away can help you get up and at ‘em. “One client sat down with her husband and made a chart with the total cost per month of a gym membership and what that would make each visit cost—for instance, one trip would cost the full monthly amount,” explains Cheri Paige Fogleman, a New York City-based fitness instructor and Daily Burn 365 trainer. “So she turned it into a game and challenged herself to get the average cost of each visit as discounted as possible.”
5. “It’s on my schedule—in pen.” You know you should put your workout on the calendar and treat it like any other really important, non-negotiable appointment in your life. Well, Becca Pace, owner of In Your Pace Fitness and Daily Burn 365 trainer, has many clients who take that to heart. “They’ll tell their bosses and co-workers that they have a ‘meeting’ every week. Then they can run to class during their lunch hour,” she says. Everyone deserves a break.
6. “I’m helping the world.” With apps like Charity Miles, you can log your activity to raise money for more than 30 non-profit organizations. Knowing that your sweat turns into real equity may help you get to the gym more often. At least that’s what it does for a bunch of Erika Shannon’s trainees. “A few of my clients are currently participating in a fundraiser where every time they check in on social media at a gym or fitness studio, they raise money to help build schools,” says the DB365 trainer. “I love it!”
7. “I sure look the part.” Gone are the days of baggy throwaway tees and shorts you found at the bottom of the hamper. “I hear from women all the time that if they look good, they feel good. So they’ll wear cute workout outfits to feel better heading into a class,” says Lauren Danzinger, creator of Sweat Sessions in New York City, a program that offers complimentary fitness classes for New Yorkers. Permission to buy those sweet sneakers you’ve been eyeing (as long as that means you’re inspired to wear them).
8. “Well, I’m already in my leggings.” If you pop out of bed, brush your teeth and head out for a workout class, you won’t know what happened until you’ve got weights in hand. “One client told me she sleeps in her workout attire so there is no excuse not to make my 6:30 a.m. class,” says Dara Theodore, trainer for DB365 and the Fhitting Room in New York City. “It might not be the best pajama choice, but it works!”
9. “I don’t have a backup wardrobe.” If you have to force yourself to break a sweat in order to fit into certain clothes, then do what works. That’s what one client of Daily Burn Fitness/Nutrition Coach Sarah Snyder thinks. “When she purchased a dress a couple sizes smaller for an upcoming occasion with no other options, she had to make it fit,” she says. The horror of the outfit being too snug in all the wrong places encourages her to torch those calories.
Is there a cuter mother-daughter pair than fitness influencers Denise and Katie Austin? We think not. With decades of instructing experience under her belt, Denise brought Katie up to love exercise. And her mini-me is doing big things with her own passion for fitness. Katie has created in-home workout guides called Get Fit With Katie, and has racked up more than 94,000 followers on her health-focused Instagram account.
But we love it best when Denise and Katie come together, which is why we invited them to our studio to do a special mama-daughter challenge just in time for Mother’s Day.
The game went a little something like this: We asked Katie to answer questions about Denise (on her own), then had Denise answer them too (on her own). We also figured it’d be fun to keep score the whole time, because why not?
We queried Katie about her mom’s favorite food and the song she loves to sweat to most. Also asked: “What part of her body is Denise most proud of?” Even tougher, “What part of your body does Mom love most?”
We’ll admit, the questions got tough (See: Katie’s final scorecard). But some of the answers we caught on film made us melt a little bit. RELATED:16 Delicious Brunch Recipes for Mother’s Day
Take Katie’s reply when we asked her, “What’s the healthiest thing about your mom?” Answer: Her positivity. “I remember growing up, when my sister and I would come home from school and some girl would be mean, [my mom would] say, ‘Well, see it from her side.’”
Katie’s final answer echoes how many of us feel about our own moms. Plain and simple: “I don’t know where I’d be without her,” admits Katie. Cue the (happy) tears.
The more exercise people get, the less their cells appear to age. In a new study in Preventive Medicine, people who exercised the most had biological aging markers that appeared nine years younger than those who were sedentary.
Researchers looked at the telomeres from nearly 6,000 adults enrolled in a multi-year survey run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People were asked what physical activities they had done in the past month and how vigorously they did them. They also provided DNA samples, from which the researchers measured telomere length. Telomeres, the protein caps on the ends of human chromosomes, are markers of aging and overall health. Every time a cell replicates, a tiny bit of telomere is lost, so they get shorter with age. But they shrink faster in some people than in others, explains study author Larry Tucker, professor of exercise science at Brigham Young University.
“We know that, in general, people with shorter telomeres die sooner and are more likely to develop many of our chronic diseases,” says Tucker. “It’s not perfect, but it’s a very good index of biological aging.”
After adjusting for smoking, obesity, alcohol use, gender, race and other factors, Tucker found in his study that people who exercised the most had significantly longer telomeres than those who were sedentary. The most sedentary people had 140 fewer base pairs of DNA at the ends of their telomeres, compared to the most active: a difference of about nine years of cellular aging, he says.
To qualify as top-tier exercisers, people had to do the equivalent of at least 30-40 minutes of jogging a day five days a week. Doing less was also linked to aging benefits, but they were not as powerful. People who did vigorous exercise had telomeres that signaled about seven fewer years of biological aging, compared to people who did moderate levels of activity.
Tucker says he was surprised to see so big of a difference between moderate and high levels of exercise. “Moderate exercise was still valuable and it had some benefit, but it was really those high levels of physical activity that made the real difference,” says Tucker. The top exercisers were vigorously working out 150 to 200 minutes a week, or engaging in light- to moderate-intensity activity for longer periods. Research continues to suggest that more exercise means deeper reductions in risk for chronic disease, to a certain point.
The current study relied on self-reports about physical activity and was only able to show an association—not a cause-and-effect relationship—between exercise amount and telomere length. It wasn’t able to account for factors like depression, stress, sleep disturbances and dietary practices that could affect exercise habits, genetic changes, or both.
But a link between physical activity and cellular aging makes sense, says Tucker. Experts believe that telomere length may be linked to inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which exercise has been shown to ease over time.
While there’s no guarantee that people with longer telomeres will live longer, healthier lives, the odds may be in their favor, says Tucker. “We all know people who seem younger than their actual age,” he says. “We know exercise can help with that, and now we know that part of that may be because of its effect on our telomeres.”
IFM's Find A Practitioner tool is the largest referral network in Functional Medicine, created to help patients locate Functional Medicine practitioners anywhere in the world. IFM Certified Practitioners are listed first in the search results, given their extensive education in Functional Medicine
