Ageless Strength with Jeff Horowitz

Jeff Horowitz is a certified running coach and a seasoned marathon runner. He is also the author of the new book, Ageless Strength, which focuses on having the right approach to strength as we age.

Jeff explains that how we age has more to do with how we treat ourselves. As we age, our bodies stop producing as much growth hormone and lose some capability. However, if we focus on building strength, balance, and being functional with improved mobility, we will be better equipped to manage the effects of aging.

Jeff also speaks about thinking of exercise differently, more in terms of the mental component rather than just the physical motions. The goal with exercise is to enhance the number of things we can do, while continually challenging the brain in different ways to solve different problems. This improves our capability of movement and makes exercising more interesting and enjoyable.

One group that will want to focus on building more functional strength is runners, as most of their injuries come from strength imbalance. When a runner’s form is compromised, it causes stress all over the body, which can lead to injury. Runners should focus on maintaining strength laterally, which will enable their bodies to hold their form when they land each step.

The book includes different exercises that focus on meeting the challenges of each area, including strength, balance, and functionality. Create your own custom workout by choosing different exercises among the three sections. Maintain variety in your workouts to keep it challenging and fun, while allowing you to become stronger in a functional way.

To connect with Jeff Horowitz or to learn more about Ageless Strength, visit http://www.runhorowitz.com. You can also purchase the book on Amazon.

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Meditation for daily stress with Michel Pascal

Michel Pascal is a writer, singer, and spirituality and meditation enthusiast who once lived in the largest monastery in Nepal. His new book, Meditation for Daily Stress: 10 Practices for Immediate Well-being, offers real examples of how to incorporate meditation in our daily lives, causing powerful results.

Michel speaks about the common false ideas of what meditation is. He explains that Americans are educated with the wrong perception about meditation, thinking often of monks in monasteries without a clear idea of how it can apply in our real, daily lives.

The world is so active, and we often feel the pressure to be productive at a high level, which causes great stress. The key is to train the mind to meditate within our daily stress and lives, rather than viewing the process as something that must take place remotely in a quiet or stress-free environment, as this is not realistic for many people.

The goal is to recycle the stressful energy around you into calm energy, as meditation is truly a transmission of energy. This is accomplished through first diagnosing yourself as fed up with your current state and then putting the meditation into practice.

We have the ability to change our perception of our lives in just a few minutes with the help of the practices described in the book. By following these steps, we can retrain our minds and introduce more calmness into our lives.

To connect with Michel or to learn more about Meditation for Daily Stress: 10 Practices for Immediate Well-being, visit http://www.michelpascal.tv.

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An antidote for alzheimer’s with Amy Berger

Amy Berger is a certified nutrition specialist and the author of a new book entitled, The Alzheimer’s Antidote. Although this book was written for caregivers of people with dementia, it is a great source of information for anyone who wants to learn these complex topics in a way that’s easy to understand.

Amy talks about certain factors that can impact susceptibility to developing Alzheimer’s Disease. One such factor is the APO E4 genotype, which is the largest genetic risk factor that increases susceptibility for Alzheimer’s Disease. Though the gene does not directly cause Alzheimer’s disease, it is a complete mismatch for how we eat and live today, as it is the least suited for the modern carb diet.

Another factor that can contribute to Alzheimer’s Disease is amyloid plaque proteins that are secreted out of cells and chopped into fragments. Some of these fragments are not cleared properly and stay in the brain where they can block spaces between cells that communicate with each other. This can result in memory impairment and behavioral problems, though it may not necessarily cause Alzheimer’s.

Amy also speaks about the importance of maintaining cholesterol within our bodies to support proper cognitive function. The increase of statin use in recent years has shown to be another hurdle to overcome. She notes that sugar and carbohydrates may be driving the majority of problems with Alzheimer’s, as they can cause the brain to lose the ability to harness energy from glucose.

One potential solution is ketogenic intervention. Ketones are proving promising in burning fat, aiding the effects of Type 2 diabetes, and fueling the brain. A brain damaged by Alzheimer’s or dementia can use ketones instead of glucose as a fuel source, and have seen improved cognition in the short-term.

To connect with Amy or to learn more about her book, The Alzheimer’s Antidote, visit http://www.tuitnutrition.com.

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Run forever with Bill Pierce and Scott Murr

Bill Pierce and Scott Murr are not only friends who have been running together for 35 years, but they are also founders of the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training and authors of the new book entitled, Runner’s World: Train Smart, Run Forever.

This new book details how one can become a lifelong runner. Starting a running program or maintaining a runner’s lifestyle can become more difficult over the age of 40. This is partly because we simply cannot train the way we did in our younger years. In addition, connective tissue becomes more rigid with age, which can restrict range of motion and lead to injury. Yet most runners over 40 have the same goal—to be a lifetime runner because it is a central part of their life.

To reach this goal, Bill and Scott discuss several steps that runners can take to make this goal a reality. These include:

1. Incorporate cross-training, which can keep you fit and active, while also improving your range of motion.
2. Add strength training to your routine. This helps to maintain muscle mass, which may help you to run faster.
3. Be sure to stretch, as doing so affects range of motion, which is the foundation of performance.
4. Add more recovery time in between workouts and hard runs.
5. Set realistic goals.

To be a healthy, productive runner, Bill and Scott offer these tips:

1. Make your running fun.
2. Incorporate variety.
3. Be consistent.

To connect with Bill and Scott or learn more about their programs and their book, Runner’s World Train Smart, Run Forever, visit http://www.furmanfirst.com.

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Younger with Dr. Sara Gottfried

Dr. Sara Gottfried is a physician, speaker, and author of the new book entitled, Younger: A Breakthrough Program to Reset Your Genes, Reverse Aging, and Turn Back the Clock 10 Years. In this book, she shares how to change habits and slow the impacts of aging.

Dr. Gottfried explains 5 aging factors where things can go wrong:

1. Muscle factor
2. Brain factor
3. Hormone factor
4. Gut factor
5. Toxic fat factor

In the book, Dr. Gottfried mentions a Health Span quiz, available at http://www.healthspanscore.com/. She created this test to measure aging on a graded scale from 0 to 100%. Several categories that are taken into consideration with this test include sleep, movement, relationships, purpose and meaning, resting heart rate, and blood sugar and glucose.

The Younger Protocol, a seven-week program based on functional medicine, describes basic changes one can make to build habits and gain momentum. The first week focuses on food, including eating foods that fill micronutrient gaps, provide antioxidant support, and reduce inflammation.

The second week focuses on sleep, including sleeping on your side and maintaining appropriate Vitamin D levels.

The third week focuses on movement, specifically one to two hours of moderate exercise.

The fourth week focuses on releasing habitually tight muscles and evaluating wear and tear hormones such as cortisol.

The fifth week is about environmental toxins and what can be done about them. A positive exposure includes experience with a dry sauna.

The sixth week focuses on how to wrangle stress and adjust your stress response.

The seventh week focuses on how to change your brain as you get older.

To connect with Dr. Sara Gottfried or learn more about Younger: A Breakthrough Program to Reset Your Genes, Reverse Aging, and Turn Back the Clock 10 Years, visit http://www.theyoungerbook.com.

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Go from stressed to strong with Laurie A. Watkins

Laurie Watkins is an accomplished speaker, coach, fitness enthusiast, and author of the new book Go From Stressed To Strong.

As a busy professional, Laurie found herself needing to make a change in her life to focus on her health and fitness. She found that building routines worked for her as a means of regaining control. In her book, she describes 20 keys to building a routine. Some of these important keys include:

1. Start an exercise routine first thing in the morning. Stay consistent and find 20 to 30 minutes per day to workout.
2. Keep your workout fresh. If you’re not excited, you won’t want to do it.
3. Set your intentions for the day.
4. Take time for self-care.
5. Review highlights of the day before going to sleep and maintain a gratitude list.
6. Remain motivated and repeat.

Make your routine a priority, but allow for some flexibility. If you don’t make yourself a priority, no one else will. Do more today than you were doing yesterday. Just start somewhere.

Laurie also talks about treating your body like a bank account when it comes to clean and dirty food. She uses the analogy of eating clean foods; doing so is like depositing into your body’s bank account. When you eat enough clean food, you can afford a withdrawal from the bank account to eat the foods you want to indulge in every now and then.

Laurie shares seven additional tips for working out, including:

1. Work out efficiently
2. Sign up for competitions as motivation
3. Make a schedule and commit to it.
4. Satisfy your own likes and dislikes
5. Start with one thing.
6. If you don’t measure it, it doesn’t exist.
7. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Visit http://www.laurieawatkins.com to read a chapter called, “Get Out of Bed and Fall Into a Routine,” from her book for free.

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Heal your pain now with Dr. Joe Tatta

Dr. Joe Tatta is a physical therapist who specializes in treating persistent pain. In his new book, Heal Your Pain Now, Dr. Tatta shares information behind what may cause chronic pain and strategies and tips to help heal pain naturally.

Those who have chronic pain know that it can control your life. Dr. Tatta explains that pain is not only about tissue injury. It can actually be influenced by one’s outlook, whether optimistic or pessimistic. Pain is both a sensory and emotional experience. When you experience pain, try determining what recent thoughts, emotions, or senses could be the root cause.

Because of this, healing pain may not be totally about physical healing, but more about mental solutions. A great place to start includes affirmations. Consider ways to mentally reframe your pain. Instead of catastrophizing the pain, focus on what actions you are taking to minimize your pain and improve your situation. Meditation is about clearing your mind and finding neutral thoughts. Incorporating these practices will help you to become present with your thoughts and wipe the slate clean.

To reduce pain, Dr. Tatta also recommends adding movement and a healthy diet into your lifestyle. Focus on increasing your movement a little more each day or week to increase your pain threshold. As your mobility increases, progress to building strength and incorporating high intensity interval training over time. With diet, Dr. Tatta recommends 95% of one’s core nutrition to consist of a whole foods diet. This can also help with leaky gut, which has pain implications in the form of autoimmune diseases.

To connect with Dr. Tatta or to learn more about Heal Your Pain Now, visit www.drjoetatta.com. To test the root cause of your pain, take a pain quiz at www.thepainquiz.com.

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