Category: Fitness & Well Being

Stick A Pin In That…

In the course of my training, I’ve been exposed to a number of different things that may relate to the martial arts but aren’t always directly connected. Traditional forms of medicine being one of them. For those who may not be “in the know” or are unclear, traditional medicine refers to the practice of diagnosing, preventing and healing ailments before the time of modern medicine, which is where we are now. Despite its arcane and older origins, many people aren’t familiar with the various aspects of traditional medicine and many doubt its effectiveness or worth.

At the risk of sounding opinionated (because I never do THAT), traditional Chinese medicine has been around for over 2,000 years, with modern medicine as we know it only existing for the past few hundred years. Even though older doesn’t always mean better, it stands to reason that having had this form of medicine around for this long has got to mean that there’s some inherent value to it. Of course, I think bloodletting is the stupidest thing in the world but it’s been around forever and is still used in some parts of the world, today. So, there’s that, I guess. But I digress…

I recently helped an old friend of mine with some writing he was doing for some schooling and it reminded me of some of the materials I’ll talk about today. An Acupuncturist from back home in New Brunswick, he’s made a successful life of maintaining a traditional medicine practice and helping to heal others. I’m thinking I may have written about this before, but at this point I think y’all should expect that some of my material will start to repeat itself. M y mind isn’t a bottomless pit, after all. Here are the three forms of traditional medicine I’ve been exposed to the most, in recent decades:

Acupuncture

I think just about everyone is familiar with acupuncture in some way, shape or form, even if they’ve never experienced it. Rather than try and define it myself, I’m leaning on an article posted by the Mayo Clinic, which states, “Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. a key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain. Increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management.”

Although traditional practitioners of acupuncture believe that the insertion of needles helps to rebalance one’s flow of energy, western medicine tends to attribute the effects to the stimulation of nerve endings and muscles, which boosts your body’s natural painkillers. No matter what the thought process, acupuncture is no different than any other form of medicine. It works for some but not for others. One of the biggest problems with traditional medicine is that it often takes several treatments to see any measurable results and in today’s society of immediate gratification, most people prefer popping a pill that takes immediate effect.

The jury is out on how effective modern-day acupuncture may be. I know that I experienced it, back in 2007. I was travelling from northern New Brunswick to Ottawa and decided to stop in at my friend’s place for the night, the same friend mentioned in the third paragraph. He had just started his acupuncture studies and asked if he could practice some insertions on me. I agreed and he had me lie down on a mat and proceeded to insert a couple of needles near and in the elbow joint of my arm. He manipulated the needles a couple of times and it was slightly uncomfortable but not painful.

When he was done, I asked him what the needles were supposed to do, to which he replied that he had “stimulated my digestion.” Assuming nothing worse, I got back on the road for the short, 2-hour drive to Ottawa. Within an hour, my stomach made a gurgling sound the likes of which I had never heard before. I was suddenly struck by bad stomach cramps and before I knew it, I was struggling to find a public washroom as I felt the onslaught of an expulsion I would be powerless to stop, coming my way. I purged my gut for what seemed like forever. “Stimulated my digestion,” indeed. Asshole. He could have warned me. The point is, that shit works.

Acupressure

Acupressure is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that’s based on acupuncture but uses applied pressure from the hands and fingers as opposed to needles. it functions on the basis of increased blood flow, better circulation and shares the concepts of increased energy flow with acupuncture. This is the form of traditional medicine that my Sensei practices and it should be noted that acupressure is almost ALWAYS combined with some other form of naturopathic or traditional medicine, such as herbology, reflexology, massage or acupuncture.

The jury is out on acupressure, with various studies advocating its effectiveness in helping to alleviate certain pains and ailments in the body and even more studies arguing that there’s a significant amount of bias involved and that there really isn’t any viable evidence that acupressure is effective. In my opinion, massages do a great deal to alleviate pain. So does a chiropractor. And through my study of the martial arts, I’m aware of the existence and use of pressure points in certain aspects of combat arts. When you combine all of those factors together, you more or less get acupressure.

Chinese Herbs

This is always a sticky one for people, because most of the population fall under one of two categories: those who think herbs work and those who don’t. The ones who don’t are usually bound by the western logic that modern medicine alternatives are faster, safer and more effective than their-herb-based counterparts. The ones who solely adhere to herbs believe that modern medications are al chemical-based and do more harm than good. The reality is that there’s some truth to both. Modern medications are a combination of things that are found in nature anyway.

Chemicals are nothing more than the combining of naturally-occurring substances through artificial means. The difference between using these artificial compounds or herbs simply involves speed or immediate effectiveness. Once again, this is where that mindset of immediate gratification or results comes in. Some herbs can be very effective at helping certain ailments but they can take a lot longer than their modern counterparts. A really good example are the various teas that are sold just about anywhere that can help with digestion, headaches, stomach aches, menstrual pains and vast array of other conditions. I’ve used tea in a lot of instances, minus menstrual pains, of course. They work, but one could easily argue that it doesn’t kick in or show a measurable or noticeable effect like taking an artificial counterpart.

The important thing is to be wary of starting anything new or different without consulting your doctor or medical practitioner AND ensuring that you do your research before trying any new form of treatment. You want to be certain that you’re dealing with someone trained and certified to practice the form of traditional medicine they profess to be knowledgeable on. Although I can’t speak for other countries, any and all of the different forms of traditional medicine I listed above requires years of study to become proficient. Don’t be afraid to ask to see their certification; if they’re on the level, they should have no issues letting you see it.

And don’t be disappointed if you try something and it doesn’t work. Out of ten people with a headache, maybe only half will be able to treat it with a pill. For the others, a pill won’t work. It’s the same for traditional medicine. It’ll work for some and not for others. So even if your best friend claims that acupuncture changed their life and got rid of all their aches and pains, be aware that it may not work quite as well for you. Food for thought… ☯️

Trust Your Gut…

Most of us don’t bother to take the time to contemplate everything that happens inside our bodies. We know we have a heartbeat and that it’s responsible for moving blood around the body and to our brains. We know that we have lungs and that they’re responsible for our ability to breathe air and get oxygen into our body. Our stomachs digest our food and our posteriors expel the waste from the leftovers. But outside of the basic functions of these systems, we rarely stop to consider the importance of certain systems in relation to our overall health.

In recent years, a good example has been how good oral health has been linked to cardiac health. One would never assume that brushing one’s teeth regularly would be associated with good heart health, but there it is. Most of the time, when we consume something, we do so because we’re hungry and we count on our calorie consumption to provide us with the energy and nutrition we need to get through the day. But there’s a lot going on in the ol’ gut that we rarely consider. And there’s plenty we can do to help move things along that improve one’s overall health.

According to an article posted by HealthLine.com, “The human gut is more complex than previously thought and has a huge impact on whole body health.” When you stop to think about it, everything you eat contributes to your overall health, which is what the article goes on to say, “A healthy gut contributes to a strong immune system, heart health, brain health, improved mood, healthy sleep, and effective digestion […]” Some of that seems to address the aspects I was referring to in my opening paragraphs.

Some of the best things you can do to improve your gut health is to monitor and control what you’re loading into it. A well-known food for good gut health is yogurt. But some of the ones that people may not consider include fermented foods, such as kimchi and miso. I single those out because I’ve eaten my fair share and I enjoy them. But a healthy dose of probiotics will help with overall gut health and you can even find probiotic supplements, these days.

Another good type of food to consume are ones that are high in fiber. You’re likely thinking that’s a no-brainer, and you’d be right. High-fiber foods listed by that HealthLine article include legumes, beans, peas, oats, bananas, berries, asparagus and leeks. If you ask me, leeks are fucking disgusting, but I’m game for the rest of that list. In fact, I’ve included all of that list (except peas and beans) into shakes I’ve been making with my mini blender.

Outside of what you eat, there are a number of things that can help promote proper gut health. These include keeping your stress levels low (not easy, in today’s climate), getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. Staying properly hydrated, AND with the right fluids will also go along way to promoting good gut health. When I refer to the right fluids, I mean staying away from alcoholic and caffeinated drinks as these can actually dehydrate you and caffeinated drinks are a diuretic. Changing your diet to accommodate these things can be achieved by consulting a dietitian or your medical practitioner. As usual, you shouldn’t try to completely alter your diet and lifestyle without consulting your medical practitioner.

Trust your gut; it takes better care of you and the overall functioning of your body than you know. The last suggestion I’ll make before stepping off my gut-soaked soapbox is to recommend not eating before bedtime. Even your gut needs to rest at night and if you spend half the night digesting those wings you thought were a good idea at midnight, it can lead to heartburn, indigestion, stomach pains and lack of proper sleep. One’s body can be compared to a house of cards; one wrong move can bring the whole system down. ☯️

Starting With A Burn

Yesterday was the first day of 2022, and how did I start the New Year? With a workout, of course. New Year’s resolutions are spotty at best, usually leading to people lacking, lagging or altogether give up by the month of March or April. This is through no fault of their own, usually. It’s simply human nature. As living creatures, we generally tend to favour the path of least resistance and when we impose conditions on ourselves that take away habits we enjoy, foods we like to eat or vices we want to give up, our body has this tendency of fighting us.

That’s why this year, I’ve chosen to simply work on improving upon myself in a generalized manner as opposed to making a resolution that aims at specific habits or things. So yesterday, I kicked things off with a military workout I found a few years ago. It can be a brutal circuit, using only one’s own bodyweight. The workout is typically supposed to take about half an hour, but doing it correctly with a healthy speed usually takes between 20 to 25 minutes. It’s an extremely handy workout and can be done anywhere. I’ve done it in my office, bedroom, hotel rooms, anywhere. I thought I would take the time to share the circuit. Here we go:

15 Squats – 10 Close-grip Push-Ups – 10 Lunges – 15 Push-ups
14 Squats – 9 Close-grip Push-Ups – 9 Lunges – 14 Push-ups
13 Squats – 8 Close-grip Push-Ups – 8 Lunges – 13 Push-ups
12 Squats – 7 Close-grip Push-Ups – 7 Lunges – 12 Push-ups
11 Squats – 6 Close-grip Push-Ups – 6 Lunges – 11 Push-ups
10 Squats – 5 Close-grip Push-Ups – 5 Lunges – 10 Push-ups
9 Squats – 4 Close-grip Push-Ups – 4 Lunges – 9 Push-ups
8 Squats – 3 Close-grip Push-Ups – 3 Lunges – 8 Push-ups
7 Squats – 2 Close-grip Push-Ups – 2 Lunges – 7 Push-ups
6 Squats – 1 Close-grip Push-Ups – 1 Lunges – 6 Push-ups
5 Squats – 5 Push-ups
4 Squats – 4 Push-ups
3 Squats – 3 Push-ups
2 Squats – 2 Push-ups
1 Squat – 1 Push-up

Now, did I REALLY have to write out every line of repetitions? Not particularly, but on previous occasions, I’ve found that people don’t clearly understand the process as I explain it. Plus, writing it out this way makes it easier in the event anyone chooses to print it out. I found this workout a few years ago and I believe it was in an old edition of Men’s Health. The circuit is one half of a total workout that the military uses when confined in small spaces, such as on a submarine.

I hammered this circuit out prior to the lunch hour and needless to say, my legs are feeling it just a little bit, today. Not a bad way to start the year. Maybe today I’ll go run some cardio and fight off some of this extreme cold we’ve been having. But for those of you who are looking for a new, easy challenge, this circuit may be the one for you. It’s nice to try out some new things and see what results you can get. When it comes to fitness, variety can be the spice of life. ☯️

Oh, Silent Gym…

The holidays can be a fantastic time to kick back and enjoy some family, festivities and most of all… food. The problem with this is that during the holidays, we have a tendency to overeat and work out less. I know that for myself, it’s been a rough couple of weeks. The week prior to Christmas involved my eye injections and finishing out my work week prior to going on holidays. And this week involves my actual holidays, which has included a number of delicious meals and deserts baked by my lovely wife.

During these two weeks, focusing on one’s fitness can be difficult. After all, with gatherings, gift opening, staying up late, sleeping in and dealing with the kids, finding an hour here and there to work out becomes more difficult than usual. And that’s taking into consideration that finding time for one’s fitness is already a challenge during the regular daily grind. Oh, I’ve managed a few 30 or 40-minute weight workouts from home. But it’s been a while since I managed a solid sweat.

A couple of days of wicked snowfall meant that I found myself shovelling and blowing snow in -30 degree weather. It was freezing out and made for some exertion. My blood sugars seem to bottom out when I spend any period of time outdoors in the freezing cold. But that didn’t seem to happen, this time. But it’s been a slow couple of weeks and I have to admit that I’m starting to feel it. Despite being back on CGM and SmartGuard with better blood sugar levels, my overall physique has suffered and my body is voicing its displeasure at my laziness.

No one likes to get up early while on vacation. This limits the amount of time in the day, especially if you’re lucky enough to have kids who let you sleep. Mine fall under the medium category, where some mornings they’re up at the butt crack of dawn and others, they let us sleep almost until 10 a.m. Since we don’t bother with alarms during the holidays, the kids basically dictate when we wake up. This means that the golden hour when everyone is still asleep, when I could be hammering out a quick body-weight workout or doing some katas.

I definitely find myself needing to get back on the fitness train. If only for the fact that I know my circulation is lessened and my knees and legs are killing me. Gotta love this whole Diabetes thing! And that’s the other issue; enjoying all the perks and fun parts of the holidays can play hell with one’s blood sugars. While indulging in all of those baked goods and luscious meals, don’t forget to monitor your blood sugars often and adjust for the added carbohydrates.

As I’ve often written before, there’s no problem with taking a little break from fitness. But if you’re reaching a point where your overall fitness seems to be lagging and your body is telling you that you’ve been sitting idle for too long, get back into it! Your health, blood sugars and overall wellbeing depends on it. Find an hour here and there, even just half an hour, where you do something, anything. Take a walk, go for a run, hammer out some quick dumbbell reps… Anything is always something more than nothing, right? ☯

You Gotta Want It…

It’s a bit ironic that I’m writing this post on a Monday, since I took this week off. While most people tend to focus taking time off during the week of Christmas, my wife and I took this week off, keeping us at home during the week leading up to New Year’s. The reason I say it’s ironic, is because this post was prompted by a conversation I had at work. I was chatting with one of my employees about the fact that everyone is good at SOMETHING, but that the path they walk will ultimately be different. Even if two people train to master the martial arts, the environment, conditions and motivation behind doing so will differ.

This is important because in life, there will be things you will be good at and some things that you’ll basically suck at. And the latter part is okay. No one is meant to be absolutely fantastic at everything and the ones who say they are, are not only lying to themselves, they’re lying to everyone to whom they say it. I’m not saying that there won’t be some people who won’t have a natural tendency to be good at things in general. I’m referring mostly to achieving some mastery over a particular thing. For example, most people don’t know that I tried a variety of martial arts styles before I landed on karate.

Some of those styles were very good, in their own way. But if I based my decision to pursue the martial arts based on the results of those attempts, I never would have gotten to where I am now. I still remember my first visit to a Tae Kwon Do class and realizing that I had neither the skill, ability or motivation to go spinning through the air like a top to land a kick. Even at the young age I was, I couldn’t understand why they didn’t just kick in a more straightforward manner instead of trying for all the high-flying fanciness… but I digress…

One can’t be good at everything. And that’s okay but it’s something you have to make your peace with. You have to be okay with it. Because the time you spend pining over what you may have realized you’re not good at, could be time used to pursue and achieve things that you ARE good at. That would be a terrible waste and even the things that you may be good at, need to be pursued and strived for. None of it will ever happen on its own. So push hard and be okay with your failures; they’re al part of the journey. Food for thought… ☯️

When You’re In A “Tight” Situation…

People love to have their own personal sense of style. And that’s all right, provided you aren’t wearing to doing something that racist or criminal, of course. But there are aspects of one’s clothing that need to be taken into consideration if you practice the martial arts. I’ll be the first one to say that fighting should always be the last recourse. But once the fight is inevitable, it’s incumbent on you to ensure that you walk away safe and whole once the encounter is over.

The type of clothing you wear can have a direct impact on the outcome of a fight, especially if the clothing you’re wearing is confining, restrictive or has accessories that may hinder or get in the way of a safe encounter. So let’s start from the bottom and work our way up, shall we? As a karateka, kicking holds particular importance as kicks are an integral part of my art. So let’s start with footwear.

In the dojo, most practitioners will be bare-footed. I say “most,” because there will the odd exception of some students wearing athletic footwear or so-called “Kung fu shoes.” But for the most part, we spend our time on the mats bare-footed. For the sake of form and muscle memory, this is fine. So picture doing a front kick… In Uechi Ryu, we practices the front kick by pointing the big toe towards our target. Some other style will strike using the ball of the foot, some will use the heel. It all depends on what style and technique you use.

Now, picture being on the street during the winter months, wearing thick winter boots with little to no flexibility. Executing a front kick in the way you’ve trained to do so may not be possible. You’ll notice I said “the way you’ve trained” and not “the right way,” because the correct way to kick is subjective to one’s style and technique. But trying to execute your kick with restrictive footwear will result in either improper technique, inability to deliver the kick or perhaps even some level of injury, your opponent taking advantage of the situation notwithstanding.

Your pants or shirt/sweater can have the same issue. Hell, if you’re wearing a coat of a sweater, you’ll hinder yourself, as well. Most martial arts practitioners will be used to wearing a loose-fitting gi or fitness apparel that will allow freedom of movement for your techniques ands blocks. But wearing regular street clothes can present unique challenge, especially if they’re restrictive and/or form-fitting. If your jeans are so tight that you can barely lift and bend your leg, you’ll easily find yourself compromised as it relates to using your kicks.

Coats and tops present the same problem. Uechi Ryu uses some rather circular blocks and having a thick, winter coat would hinder the proper execution of a lot of these coats. All of this is bearing in mind that one should be able to find an alternative, of course. Proper martial arts shouldn’t be restricted to a limited set of techniques. And by no means am I suggesting that one shouldn’t wear specific types of clothing. My goal is simply to get one’s mind turned towards the potential obstacle and take it into consideration. After all, the average person, even a martial artist, won’t spend their days fighting.

I know some people who prefer slim-fitting clothes, which can be fine. Not for me, since it tends to make me look like someone poured too much batter into the muffin cup. But it’s important to be cognizant of what may restrict or hinder you, should you need to protect yourself or someone else. I’m a boot cut jeans kind of guy and I usually manage to find those jeans that have one or two percent spandex in them, making the denim flexible enough to kick properly. I also make sure they fit properly as opposed to looking like a second skin. this ain’t yoga class! Food for thought… ☯️

If You Can’t Take The Heat, You’re Wearing A Sauna Hoodie…

First of all, for any of my fellow Saskatchewan residents reading this post, it’s a hoodie, not a “bunnyhug!” Now that THAT nonsense is out of the way, let’s get on with it. I recently purchase a garment called a sauna hoodie. The concept is that the garment traps body heat and increases core temp, causing greater perspiration and helping to burn fat. The claim is that it will also increase circulation and help with muscle growth. And let’s not forget that it purports to keep you warmer when working out in colder weather by virtue of the heat it traps.

I’d like to say that I haven’t been shopping lately but I’ve been shopping lately. If you haven’t guessed from my recent post about my smoothie blender… Maybe it’s because Black Friday just came and went or the holiday season is coming up and I’m finding all these specials… Who knows? The bottom line is that I’ve been allowing myself the indulgence of trying out some new items that I never would have, before. This is actually a good thing. I’ve always been something of a minimalist, which isn’t inherently bad on its own but it certainly prevents experiencing some of the more interesting things in life. And if there’s one thing I know, it’s that experiences are far more valuable than things. But I digress…

I usually purchase my fitness garments (dry-fit, sweats, etc) from a local sports apparel store as it’s the easiest place to find what I’m actually looking for. When you spend your summers sweating bullets in the hot sun on a bike and the winters running and doing elliptical, your garments eventually tap out. You can bleach wash your shit all you want, it’ll still smell like an abandoned jock. Now that I’ve sufficiently grossed you all out and guaranteed you’ll skip breakfast, I’ll get to the point. I usually only purchase clearance items. It’s an easy way to ensure I’m getting quality garments that will last a while without paying full price.

Sweating like only a flabby, middle-aged man can!

On a particular visit about a month ago, I found a neoprene hoodie in the clearance section. the tag boasted increasing the body’s core temperature to shed excess water weight and maintain muscle warmth. I decided to try the thing on, since it was a size large (the only one they had left) but I couldn’t even get my damn arms into the thing. I put it back and left the location without making a purchase but I couldn’t help but think about the garment and its potential benefit. I visited a different location of the same chain and found the garment, once again in the clearance section but a large as well. I took a photograph of the product tag and decided to do some research.

I couldn’t understand why the garment was always in the clearance section and the staff didn’t seem to know either, other than to assume that the chain was simply no longer carrying the item. I looked up the product online and managed to find a sizing chart that, based on my measurements, suggested that an extra large would accommodate my bulk. THAT felt great, I’ll tell ya! I ordered a hoodie online and within a couple of weeks, I received it through the mail. Last week, I had my first 13-kilometre run using the sauna hoodie and here are the things I noticed…

Usually, I’ll reach my maximum heart rate within the first quarter of my run. For some odd reason, it took me almost 40 minutes to achieve my max. The second thing is that I seemed to be breathing easier, despite the fact I was running at the same speed that I usually do. Since the garment was fitted neoprene, things were, umm,… jiggling less than they usually do when I run. I couldn’t feel myself sweating, except for a bit on my forehead and I was almost disappointed by the lack of heat. I thought maybe I had wasted my money and the garment was useless, until I noticed a dripping happening below my legs and realized that the garment was funnelling all the sweat (and a fuckin’ ton of it) down my spine and the back of my shorts.

By the time I had run for an hour, I felt great but my backside literally looked and felt as though I had sat in a puddle. I was still at work and had about an hour left, so I was kind of screwed. I put my pants back on, but since my underwear were saturated, the moment I sat down in one of my staff’s offices to discuss something, it soaked through my jeans and was visible for all the world to see. And no, there are no shower facilities available at my gym due to COVID-19, at the moment. Yay, me. My boss had a reasonable laugh at my expense, but my previous disappointment was quickly washed away by a torrent of residual sweat.

I felt like a sausage casing about to burst!

So, what’s the skinny on these garments? According to an article I found on HealthLine.com, weight loss due to one of these garments is primarily due to shedding water that should be replenished as you exercise. The article also points out that the liver and kidneys are the bodies best detoxifiers and that excess sweating only releases trace amounts of toxins. The article didn’t shed much encouraging light, despite having a header that read, “Benefits of a sauna suit.” Ultimately, as long as you aren’t overexerting yourself, a sauna hoodie shouldn’t cause anything you wouldn’t be experiencing anyway; thirst, fatigue and the need to replenish yourself.

Another article found on LiveStrong kind of echoed those thoughts, but added that the body’s extremities will benefit from the increased blood flow. It also indicates that “a sauna suit keeps the body temperature higher, prevents heat from escaping and essentially provides a shell of warmth in cold weather. I mean, i don’t work out in cold conditions for the most part, besides the occasional walk. But it’s a nice perk for those who still go running and jogging outside during the winter months.

So, what’s the verdict? Well, I’ve enjoyed a couple of runs with the garment and I like it. I like that I seem to run better, breathe easier and get a wicked sweat on. I may only be shedding water weight but it’s important to remember that the body’s sweating process does mean you’re burning calories, so I’m doing something right. like any new gimmick, as long as I stay hydrated, don’t overexert myself and keep a close eye on my blood sugars, i should be fine. And that’s the other thing; usually my runs will have my blood sugars start to drop by the 30-minute mark. But this time, my blood sugars remained normal. Something to do with the increased blood flow maybe? Who know? I’m not a doctor… ☯️

The BlendJet 2: A Review…

Yesterday I posted about how I’ve been using flax seed in the new addition to my morning routine, which is to consume a smoothie for breakfast while I prep for work. I made a brief mention of my mini blender but wanted my focus to be on the flax seed aspect. But I think it would be a good idea to talk about this new little gadget I purchased, as it really is amazing and I’m enjoying the hell out of it. Buckle up…

First of all, before anyone gets all high and mighty and fills my comments section with their bullshit, let me clarify: I am NOT endorsing this product in return for compensation. BlendJet hasn’t asked me to do this, I’m simply sharing my thoughts on the product because I bought it and it’s great. Trust me, I’d be bashing it if it were the other way around. Or maybe not, since I try to stay positive. But I digress…

A few weeks ago, after consuming a few well-deserved scotches, I was wandering around online and came upon an advertisement for BlendJet’s mini blender, the BlendJet 2. Not one to be taken in by advertisements, I was intrigued by the company boasting how effective and easy to clean it is. I had been contemplating moving one of my meals to smoothies, as you would have read in yesterday’s post, so I decided to take a shot and ordered one.

It took about a week to receive it, which was super quick. I’ve used it repeatedly over the past week and let me say that the company isn’t exaggerating the effectiveness of its product. I excitedly opened the box and read through the instructions. It only takes about an hour and a half to fully charge before full use and is charged by using an included USB-C cord. So you can recharge it using your computer or a charging cube, just like a smart phone. Once it was fully charged, I decided to clean it and give it a try.

My new BlendJet, still wet from this morning

As per the advertisement, I put a tiny drop of dish soap and warm water in the blender, screwed on the lid and started a blend cycle. What’s nice is the blender will run for about twenty seconds or so and stop on its own. Once it was rinsed out, I found some frozen fruit in our freezer, some milk and a handful of chocolate chips because, well…chocolate! I blasted those ingredients and I was surprised at how well this thing worked. I poured a small glass for each of my kids and I have to say, besides a few of the chocolate chips staying intact and at the bottom, it worked really well.

It boasts about 15 blends on a single charge, but I’ve been using it for over a week where I use two blends, one to make the smoothie and one for cleaning, and I haven’t had to charge it yet. The unit comes apart so that if you want to wash it in the regular dishes as opposed to running a blend cycle to clean it, you can. But I’ve been jamming all sorts of ingredients into this thing, including flax seed… Go read yesterday’s post! It’s made my morning routine so much easier and keeps me from going hungry while making my way towards the lunch hour.

What’s fun is that there are over two dozen different colours you can order this thing in. And I’m not sure if it’s because it’s the Christmas season or what, but they appear to be half price, on their website. Again, I don’t often make a point of endorsing or promoting specific companies or products, but I think this mini blender is an excellent gadget and well worth the purchase. If y’all wanna check it out, you can visit BlendJet’s website here. ☯️

Sometimes, Older Is Better…

I’ve noticed that a lot of times when new “trends” emerge, they turn out to be something that’s been available for a long time; people simply weren’t aware or making use of it. A good example of this is flax seeds. I recently bought a mini blender that doubles as a tumbler. It charges through USB, takes 30 seconds to clean and will grind almost anything. But more to come on THAT in another post. Today, I want to talk about flax seeds…

Mornings for me have a tendency to be rushed. Once my alarm goes off, I usually hit the ground running to prepare lunches for myself and my son Nathan, shave, shower and get dressed before rushing out the door. This usually leaves me with very little time to consume anything for breakfast. Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re going to say; I could just get up a bit earlier. I hear that a lot and I honestly don’t get what people have against sleeping in. But I digress…

The bottom line is that I’ve been trying to find something to kickstart my day that ISN’T simply grabbing a protein bar or eating take out food. So, I’ve started making smoothies in the morning. Five minutes to throw some fruit, milk, flax seed and whatever else I want into the blender and I’m off to the races. Almost literally. But I can gulp down the smoothie while I get ready for my day, making it practical and quick.

I make reference to the concept of people thinking something old is new because there’s a lot of hype in nutrition circles surrounding flax seed, for all of its health benefits. But according to an article posted by WebMD, “Flaxseed was cultivated in Babylon as early as 3000 BC.” It’s been around for quite some time and the health benefits were suspected as early as the 8th century when King Charlemagne passed laws requiring his subjects to consume it because he believed so strongly in how good it was.

Flax seed is found in a lot of different foods as an ingredient. But you can purchase flax seed itself either ground up or in whole form, although most sources I’ve read recommend consuming the ground up version since the whole seeds are harder to digest. But there are a ton of benefits and I’ll list a few of them here. I got most of them from a list posted by HealthLine.com, but some are simply what I’ve observed.

First and foremost, flax seed is loaded with good stuff that your body needs, including fibre and omega-3. But they also have all sorts of nutrients and good stuff to help your body along. The fibre aspect is a big win for me, and flax seed has lots of it. In fact, flax seed apparently has soluble and insoluble fibre, helping you feel full for longer, reduce the amount of glucose released in the body and keeps those bowel movements on the regular.

Good digestive health is important for weight loss, fitness, overall health and blood sugar control. I know that I don’t consume as much fibre as I should, and this has become an easy way for me to increase my intake. But flax seed has also shown the potential for lowering cholesterol and blood pressure; two things that I currently take “preventative” pills for, every morning.

Flax seed also packs a decent amount of plant-based protein and since the fibre aspect helps keep hunger at bay by making you feel full for longer, it can potentially help with a bit of weight loss since you may not snack as frequently if you still feel full. I like it because it adds a bit of a nutty flavour to my smoothies, it’s reasonably inexpensive for a lot of it and it covers off a bunch of aspect one might want from any meal, all consumed within a glass of liquid.

It’s only been about a week, so I can’t boast that I’m seeing all these results from consuming a shake every morning. But what I can say is that with about a half dozen blueberries, a cup of milk, a tablespoon of flax seed and a pinch of Splenda for sweetness, I’ve enjoyed working through my mornings without feeling hungry or snacking. It also prevents my bad habit of skipping breakfast all together, which helps with proper blood sugar control and helps me get on with my day with a bit more energy. Flax seed… the 3,000-year old “new” superfood. ☯️

Alright, You Jocks! Hopefully This Post Doesn’t Make you Itchy…

Maintaining one’s health is important, especially when dealing with the complications of Type-1 Diabetes. T1D has enough side effects and complications on its own without adding to the burden. But the truth is, maintaining one’s fitness comes at a price, as well. Between pulled muscles, aches, pains, sores, excessive sweating and dehydration, there are many issues that working out can carry. And although all things are best in moderation, anyone who’s read my posts already knows that my opinion on fitness is that it SHOULD involve blood, sweat and tears in order to reach one’s fitness goals.

There’s one issue that faces a lot of athletes and people who work out that most don’t talk about. It’s a real pain, it’s annoying and it can be unseemly because of the effect it causes. I’m talking about jock itch. Although named because it’s often associated with athletes who sweat a lot (and because it’s pre-dominantly occurs on the inner thighs and near the groin), jock itch is actually a fungal infection that develops a red, itchy rash around the warm, moist areas of the body. So it would make sense that it would occur in the inner thighs, as most people tend to keep that area covered up when doing cardio and working out, since exercising nude in public is frowned upon. Prudes.

Realistically, despite its name, jock itch isn’t JUST experienced by athletes. It can develop in non-active individuals who may sweat excessively, have excess body weight or who are simply experiencing the rigours of the summer heat. According to a post by The Mayo Clinic, jock itch is uncomfortable and bothersome but usually isn’t serious. The treatment often involves keeping the area clean and dry and potentially using an anti-fungal cream to help clear it up. The awkward part comes from the fact that given the itchy nature of jock itch, it may look like you’re compulsively scratching your groin, which can be awkward.

The article goes on to explain that you can be at greater risk of jock itch if you are male, wear tight underwear, are overweight or sweat excessively, have a weakened immune system or have Diabetes. Great. Lovely. those last two should give you a bit of a hint about how I came to write this post. But jock itch is usually caused by the same fungus that causes athlete’s foot, which is why it’s so important to ensure that you stay clean, stay dry and change out your underwear and treat athlete’s foot, should you have it, in order to prevent its spread to the groin.

Given that I’m citing some facts from the Mayo Clinic’s website, which is one of my favourite sources of medical information, I’ll point out that another of my favourite sites, WebMD, reflects the information I’ve shared here, almost word for word. The only exception is that it states that you don’t need to be male or an athlete in order to get it. If it doesn’t clear up on its own after a few days of daily cleaning, staying dry and changing out your underwear, over-the-counter anti-fungals from your local pharmacy can help move things along and clear it up faster.

Yes, it’s pretty gross but it’s the reality of fitness and wellbeing and in some cases, even if you aren’t active. The anti-fungals I mentioned come in a variety of types, including ointments, sprays and powders. It can be tough to stay on top of, especially if you have an intense workout followed by sitting in your own sweat for an hour or two until you’re able to get to a shower. Planning ahead can help. Keep a small container fo talcum or baby powder in your gym bag and give your “areas” a sprinkle before your workout to prevent unwanted friction while running and to keep the area cool and dry. Then, give it another sprinkling AFTER the workout to help dry things up until you reach a shower.

Using baby powder in your fitness shoes can be a great help, as well. preventing athlete’s foot is almost as important as treating jock itch, since one can lead to the other. It can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable condition, especially since one’s daily life won’t allow for one to constantly be scratching one’s groin. But proper prevention and treatment can go a long way towards ensuring that jock itch will be one less problem you’ll have to deal with while travelling on your fitness journey. ☯️