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| Fitness | Resistance Training and Weight Loss | Apr 18 2007 04:07 (UTC) |
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| Here are some sites to find out what your maximum heart rate should be, and your target heart rate for exercising... http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml? identifier=4736 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/target-heart -rate/SM00083 http://exercise.about.com/cs/fitnesstools/l/b l_THR.htm I find it helpful to have a variety of tools to use. I remember my heart rate better that way. I've just added weight training to my basically cardio workout and it is giving me great results. I already feel stronger and leaner. You all have some great advice. |
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| Health & Support | Mono! Help! | Apr 18 2007 03:02 (UTC) |
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| Mono takes time to get over. Like everyone is saying, basically you just have to support the symptoms--rest, eat and drink if he can (applesauce, pudding, jello, anything soft) and rest, rest, rest. After the first 3 weeks or so his throat should be feeling better. But, if the glands are still swollen, that could last longer.
The big thing is not pushing any activity. My daughter has been off work 2 1/2 months now. She is 19 and in excellent health otherwise. Today she went up the stairs and felt winded, as she has had no exercise at all during that time. She has hung out with friends maybe 4 times during her illness. I think she is 90% over it now. Everyone is different, tho, so hopefully your son will get over it fairly quickly. She has had a normal appetite for 2 weeks now, so that's something to watch for. Then, to recover to pre-mono activity levels, go slow. The body does get weak over an illness like mono. How old is your son? Do his friends understand not to share soda or take bites out of the same food? It's spread through saliva, which you will know more about if you've visited the mayo clinic site in a previous post. Keep in touch with the doctor in case something else develops while his immune system is fighting this virus. Good luck. Let us know how he's doing. |
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| Health & Support | How do I stay Active with migraines? | Apr 18 2007 02:08 (UTC) |
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| First, seeing a specialist, the neurologist, is a good idea. Other than that, you are doing the things that we are told to do to cut down on stress--which is to exercise. That said, getting decent rest is super important, especially as you enter your teen years and high school. Do you eat a good assortment of healthful food? It's good to see you are hydrating already. Water is your friend! If you don't eat andsleep well, the exercise could add to the stress your body is under. My son thinks my daughter is using it as an excuse, too. He has never had a headache in his life (lucky him). Her friends don't get them either, so it is hard for them to understand. She stands her ground when they want her to come hang out and she needs to rest, because if she doesn't, she ends up with a longer headache. Because your dad understands, perhaps you can convince him to do two things for you. Coming from him, your sis is more likely to not see you as the bad guy. 1. Figure out how you can have your own room. You need to rest when you are in there. Or at least put up a heavy curtain between you two, so the light from the TV doesn't bother you. I assume the sound is off? 2. Let your sister know it isn't an excuse. If she wants your help with chores, she has to understand that you need to care for your body properly when you get a migraine. Otherwise you'll be out of it and she will have to do *all* the chores. You say that you fixate on the pain when you lie down but aren't sleepy. Try to pick something that will relax you to fixate on instead. It sounds simple, but even just slowly breathing in and counting 1, 2 3, 4, then breathing out counting 5, 6, 7, 8, can help you to relax. Could you take a yoga class, or learn to meditate? Those are two good ways to de-stress without a lot of exercising outdoors. I'm not sure about a cat allergy being a trigger. Do you get seasonal allergies--grass, pollen, etc. What are you doing on vacation that you don't usually do on your normal schedule? Are you sleeping in more, eating different foods, not exercising so much, exercising more, fighting with your sis less, That could provide some clues to your personal triggers. The nurse is playing the "you don't have a fever, go back to class" routine, which is what they are supposed to do to keep kids from cutting class when there's a test ;) Have your folks call or come in and explain the situation. That's a good time to leave you a bottle of Motrin and a note that it's okay to take it at school. My daughters teachers all eventually figured out that she was not faking it. She kept up with her homework and classwork and just let her teachers know that if her head was down in class she had a headache but was still listening (which she was). When you are doing a concentrating activity, see if you can take a break every half hour or so. Do something that does not involve a computer or TV screen because you want to give your eyes a break. Relax, do some deep breathing, rub the back of your neck, walk to another room for a few minutes, and so on. My daughter started seeing the chiropracter with me and we found out her posture was causing problems, especially in her neck, which led to headaches. You are doing a *great* job by educating yourself about migraines. One step beyond that is having to educate everyone around you, too. I'll bet there are teachers in your building that have migraines. It could be good for you to talk to one of them. They'll know where you are coming from. When you go to the dentist next time, ask her to have a look at your teeth to see if you grind them at night. That can cause headaches, too. I really look forward to hearing more about how you are doing. Keep the faith! |
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| Health & Support | Knee problems! Any ideas? | Apr 18 2007 01:24 (UTC) |
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| It probably won't go away on it's own and you are right to worry that you might do some permanent damage. I had my ACL (a knee ligament) reconstructed because of an injury, and it is amazing what doctors can do today--surgery, physical therapy, exercise advice, etc.
You should see the doctor, get a diagnosis, and get her to give you some physical therapy exercises to do (if that's all you need). Your exercises are great, but sometimes incorrect knee "posture" can contribute to the pain you are experiencing. You didn't mention your age or how much you want to lose. Those could be factors in wear and tear on the cartilage that cushions the knee joint. Do go see your doctor as soon as possible. You'll be glad you did. |
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| Weight Loss | List: Little Tips and Mind Tricks!! | Apr 17 2007 22:35 (UTC) |
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| I really love Starbuck's coffee (any gourmet coffee, really). When I want a vanilla mocha, I tell myself it is dessert. Since I usually want coffee in the morning or afternoon, I end up getting an americano instead. That way I get to have a great cup of coffee with no guilt. For motivation, I keep quotes posted on the fridge. Whenever I go to open the fridge, I read my quotes. Some of my favorites include: If you don't change direction, you end up where you're headed--Chinese Proverb It is not what we say, it's what we do--my college advisor. And I like to read the last two together-- If you're not actively involved in getting what you want, you don't really want it--Peter McWilliams. Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities, and go to work--H. L. Hunt, Hunt Oil. I'm also a big believer in the smaller plate. It really works! |
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| Health & Support | How do I stay Active with migraines? | Apr 17 2007 04:49 (UTC) |
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| How long have you had migraines?
My daughter has had migraines for years, since 2nd grade. She is now 19 and and has figured out some things. Stay hydrated. Drink your 6-8 glasses of water a day. Try to stay on a good sleep and meal schedule. Buy some good wraparound sunglasses that keep the sun from coming in the sides. With them, my daughter was able to be more active, as she was able to continue playing sports with them. When you get a migraine, it could have been caused something you ate. My daughter has figured out (keeping a food diary) that she cannot eat jalapenos, strawberry-flavored food or drink (strawberries are fine, tho), garlic, onions. Some women keep a diary about their period to see if the time of month has any pattern to the headaches. Certain smells may set one off also. Try to figure them out and avoid them. Sometimes it might be something you like, but it still gives you a headache. We keep several icebags in the fridge. At the very first sign of pain, she puts it on the back of her neck and lays down. A cause of migraine is thought to be inflamed (irritated, swollen) blood vessels in the brain, so the ice on the neck helps a lot. Ask the doctor about the difference between Imitrex and Zomig. My daughter found one more effective than the other. Motrin and Tylenol can be helpful. since you are so young, you can't have them in your pocket at school. (My daughter was always sneaky and carried them anyway). Try to get the nurse to let you have a bottle at school, with the proper note, of course. The major thing is to learn what sets your headaches off. Caffeine may be good or bad for you. American cheese or cream cheese may be better than cheddar cheese. Your "triggers" can accumulate over time. If you've been in the bright sun, then eat something that's a trigger, you may get a headache. If you ate the trigger food on a day that you weren't so stressed, you may not get a headache. Migraines are sneaky that way. Don't try to push through the pain. The longer you let it build up, the longer the migraine will last. Go to the nurses office and lay down at the beginning and you will be able to go to classes more. Taking 15-30 minutes of time will help you to enjoy/function the rest of your day. That needs to be calm, restful time, with the lights off. My daughter knows exactly what you mean. Her friends don't understand that "headache" does *not* mean some little pain that bothers you for a while and then goes away. It is a day-altering event that she needs to manage so that it does not control her over the next three days. Stress. Stress can come from school, family, etc--you know all that. Doctors have to say what they've been taught about diseases, but in the case of migraines, they still don't know everything. The best person to understand what you feel is you. Don't let anyone discount your pain or tell you to ignore it and it will go away. Nobody understands it as well as you do. Educate yourself--online (WebMD.com), women's magazines, ask questions of the doctor, and others with migraines. Eveyone's migraine is different, but you can try what they found to work, and maybe it will work for you. A Note From my Daughter--You aren't faking it. It does hurt more than most people understand. You will have to get your folks on your side. Have them read the magazines, too. This could be something that lasts a very long time. It can be managed. Don't get discouraged. Some days suck more than others. In the end, once you figure things out, you can be as active as before. Good Luck |
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| Weight Loss | ive been trying to lose weight, but i'm not. am i eating wrong foods? | Apr 17 2007 03:58 (UTC) |
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| Eating only foods that say fat-free on the label is a recipe for health problems. Because certain vitamins need fat to work in your body, your skin, hair, and eyesight (just to name a few) are all negatively affected by no fat in the diet.
I think that your height and weight seems super-model thin. My personal good weight is 120 pounds at 5'4'' and while we are all different, I hope you re-evaluate your weight loss goals, and soon. What kind of exercise do you do? Where are you getting your diet advice? Can you tell us why you feel you need to lose weight? |
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| Weight Loss | How many calories a day? | Apr 17 2007 03:39 (UTC) |
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| Hi, Can you give a little more info? What are your goals? Weightloss? Healthy body? Are you at a good weight now (if you feel like sharing that)? What is your age? Often the "growing" that teens do is not in height but internal--your bones, brain, and other bodily systems will keep developing for some time after your reach your "height." You won't want to shortchange your body by not eating enough. I think you are wise to ask if this is not good for your health. |
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