You press your teeth together and grip the steering wheel hard, till your knuckles are white. Your core temperature is rising, testosterone also increasing. Rage sets in and you begin to honk, yell, flash your lights and shake your fist at the driver in front of you. As if they can hear you or as if it will make them go faster. Road rage, something that we all experience in our lifetime. Some of us have learned to let go of it and others, well not so much. But instead of getting angry at someone/something you CAN'T control, take a deep breath, and think about these few things for a second. 1. THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT. Did you know that annually there are roughly 6,800,000 crashes per year in our country. Half of those are fatal. Road rages causes 66% of those crashes. That's a lot based on not being able to control your emotions while on the road. Since 1990 there has been a 51% increase in the accidents caused by rage. Road rage is a side effect of stress, for some it is considered a disorder to jump so quickly to rage. 7% of drivers actually have what is called "intermittent explosive disorder." It is the sudden onset of exaggerated feelings of rage This can often be a catalyst for violent behavior. 2. HAVOC ON THE BODY & MIND. Aside from the awful car accidents that road rage can provoke, it also takes a huge toll on your mind and body. Even if you make it home safely. You're really not as safe as you think. When we let our emotions over run us, especially when it comes to anger, our hormones go haywire. Testosterone, epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol all shoot through the roof and send your body and your mind into a "fight or flight" response. This is not good, this response is in our DNA to help us in dangerous situations, not to be angry that we didn't leave our house early enough. Allowing the mind to succumb to these urges also does a number on the psyche. Over time it can break you down and you're left completely rewired. Suddenly all you can think is negative, cynical thoughts all the time. Being this way also releases those nasty hormones that come from rage and stress. 3. HEART HEALTH. Oh yes, I said it. This highly affects your cardiovascular system. Even in the long run, in fact studies are showing more and more that road rage is DECREASING life span in humans. Not only does it elevate blood pressure, but it restricts blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. A study in 2012 found that the longer a persons commute was, the higher the blood pressure and BMI. 4. BRAIN FOG. If you're angry, you can't think straight, or even two feet in front of you. Road rage causes people to miss more turns, have more near misses on other drivers, and have panic attacks and overreactions than those who realize their mistake and calmly correct it. You rewire your brain every time you are negative or positive. They both affect the brain in very different ways. 5. DON'T ENGAGE. I had a boss who loved to use the analogy of vibenomics. Vibenomics is when one persons emotions start to slowly trickle down until everyone around them is feeling the same way they are. This can be positive vibes or negative vibes. Road rage is a hugely negative one that can turn victims into aggressors. Road rage has such a powerful effect on those around it that is can be difficult to NOT engage. But we shouldn't engage with those who are experiencing road rage. By portraying a calm demeanor we can positively affect those around us for the better. If that's not enough, here's another reason. A report from safemotorist.com found that of the 66% of accidents caused by road rage 37% involved a firearm. Oh and one more thing, 2% admitted to trying to run an aggressor OVER. In short, there are things we can do to prevent road rage. You may be sitting there thinking to yourself "yeah right," as you giggle sarcastically to yourself; but if you haven't tried you can't knock it. So here are just a few tips to help. 1. LEAVE WITH ENOUGH TIME. Traffic varies in different parts of the country, even in different parts of the same state or city. Knowing your traffic patterns and when your rush hour starts and ends is important. Leaving your home/office/etc a few minutes early never hurts. You could run into construction, an accident, or even just get behind someone for an extra half mile who's going 5 under. DON'T GET ANGRY! It is your own fault here if you did not leave with enough time. Life happens, even on the road. 2. BREATHE, IT'S ONLY LIFE. And with that being said I mean that nothing is worth losing anyones life over. Or even causing harm to another. You can meditate anywhere and during traffic is a great place. You don't need candles, incense, or even to close your eyes. Simply breathe. 3. MUSIC MATTERS! Music does matter, and if you think I'm wrong then put on some heavy metal and drive ten minutes down the road to the store. On your way back play some relaxing jazz. Tell me you don't feel a difference? Music is vibrations, and our bodies and minds feed off those vibrations, even while we sleep. Our hormones react to the noises and sounds we hear daily, adding angry, fast paced music can override those hormones and send them into a raging spiral of furry. Stay calm, you will get where you are going when you are supposed to. 4. MINDFULNESS. This should never stop, even while driving. Being mindful is doing things like waving when someone is nice and lets you over during rush hour, or using your blinker to let other drivers know where you are going (though turn signal usage also happens to be the law anyway). Driving the speed limit, for gods sake just drive AT LEAST the speed limit, it is there in place for a reason. In fact this is a big reason why a lot of people begin to develop rage: being stuck behind Miss Daisy. Be aware of those around you, this sometimes requires slightly quieter music or staying off your phone while on the road (again, in many places now, being off your phone is also the law). NOTHING, I REPEAT, NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT SAFE DRIVING. 5. YOU ARE NO MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYONE ELSE. Deep down inside we are all made of up the same things, right down to our very last molecule. And we forget that all too often. Speeding, raging, yelling, harming..... every time you do this you are telling the rest of us to fuck off and that you are definitely more important than anyone else. That your life is far more important than anyone else's. This is untrue. It does not matter if you're an award winning surgeon or you flip burgers; it does not matter if you're chairman of the board or you're a reserve member of the PTA. We all share this planet and we all share the same allotted amount of time on this Earth. Don't cut someone's time short to sit down and play a video game at home after work, or even to get to work in the first place. Carry yourself about calmly, and begin your unwinding while you drive. Don't worry about rushing, even Myth Busters showed us that speeding and weaving through traffic literally got you to your destination 30 seconds earlier. This is not worth the life of another. So lower your stress by taking a deep breath! Put on some relaxing tunes and actually enjoy your ride home. We all have to take it, we all have to endure it, we are all in it.
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I am in the last year of my twenties, and generally, this is a huge deal. A lot of women tend to freak out, quite frankly over nothing. Why there is some magically huge age difference between 29 and 30 is something that I don't think I'll ever discover the answer to. But during my twenties, here is what I have learned.
1. DON'T GET MARRIED IN YOUR TWENTIES. I am not ashamed to say this, I was married in my twenties. Twice actually. I know, don't do it. I don't care how long you have been with that person, you're still a kid in your twenties. You're still learning in your thirties even. Date instead, even if it's that one person for ten years. Time tells us how we develop and change as we age. Settling down with one person, just shouldn't happen in your twenties. You hardly know yourself! You've just come out of high school and you are learning the ways of the society and the world. Preparing for the real world, for real. Take the time to learn the things they don't teach you in school about being an adult. Being married is work, it's getting to know another person. And odds are you'll start a family. If you aren't ready, don't do it. Wait, you have time. 2. LIFE IS LONGER THAN YOU THINK. Check it out, if there are people who smoke and drink until they are over 100 years old, then you have time on this Earth, in your lifetime to do everything you want. Take your twenties to discover yourself. Build a relationship with yourself. Career? Who cares! First off who says you need to do ONE thing for the rest of your life? If you are happy doing what you are doing, you can survive on it, you can live on it and you are aiding in the progression of society or others, then why are you worried? Life is for learning, if you aren't learning you are getting old. You have time even if you have children. As mean as this may sound you are only lawfully accountable for that child until the day they turn 18 years old. Therefore, even if having a family is part of your life goals you still have life to live after those 18 years. You. Have. Time. 3. TAKE CARE OF YOUR MIND AND YOUR BODY. Again, as mean as it may sound, you CANNOT take care of another human being in any way, shape, or form if you do not know how to take care of yourself first and properly. Since everyBODY is different it is an important lesson to learn what our own bodies need as opposed to what our spouse or even child needs. Knowing yourself will help you to understand and know those close in your life. Not only will you understand better, but your own life will go smoother. Less stress, less medical bills, less drama, more happy, more success, more bliss. 4. NOT EVERYONE IS MEANT TO STAY IN YOUR LIFE. I have a best friend that has been in my life and I in hers for the last eleven years. First off, knowing anyone that long and growing up as teens together into nearly your thirties, you go through some shit with each other. But not everyone will withstand those rough moments. Not everyone that you meet or that enters your life is meant for you. Some people are on this Earth to simply watch it burn. Some people are lessons that are short, others are just passing like the wind. All in all this just means that not everyone you meet will stay, will like you, or will even want to be a part of your life. You may be friends with someone for a decade and then something happens and POOF! There they go. 5. GROWING OLD IS NOT THE SAME AS AGING. Growing old is something that you do when you give in, join the masses and succumb to societal standards. 30 is not old, just like 29 is not a totally ignorant child. You don't magically grow old over night, it is something that happens when we end up at a job we don't like. It will suck the energy and will to go and do the things outside of our means of living that keep us young and happy. If you are a musician then play, play as often as you can and as often as your heart desires. An artist? Draw. Hike. Play video games. Read a book you've never read before. Travel, even through your home state or country to start. Learn a new language. Learn something about the human body you've always wondered about. Keep your brain stimulated and you will age gracefully but never grow old. You can still be a responsible adult while being imaginative and playful for the rest of your life. 6. FAMILY IS NOT ALWAYS BLOOD RELATED. Family comes in many forms. Just because someone brought you into existence doesn't mean they are good for you either. Sometimes family are those we hold dear and near to us. Being related, makes you just that.... related. Again, not everyone in your life is meant for you. I want to say so desperately that I wish I could go back and tell myself these things with a mulligan. But I can't, and therefore I hope that someone coming out of high school or in their early twenties reads this and finds a little relief. Finds some peace of mind. Finds some good advice to relax and let life happen as it will. Protein, it's in just about everything we eat. Whether it's a complete protein profile or you are eating large quantities of food to gain that complete profile. On a daily basis I get asked one question; "How much protein should I take?" Now here is the first issue with that question, I don't know what your goal is. What you are working to achieve makes a difference on how much protein you intake. Before I get into how that works and how to find it, let's take a look at what protein is, how it works in the body, and how to utilize it properly. WHAT IS PROTEIN? Okay, for starters knowing what you are putting into your body is crucial. Knowing what protein is actually made of is also crucial. By then end of this you may be shocked to find out you could be taking in too much protein. So if you are someone who drinks BCAA's before, during and after your workout and then consumes a protein shake I am going to assume you don't eat well throughout the day. Amino acids, or BCAA's as most people know them, are the foundation and building blocks of protein. They make up protein. Amino acids are small units linked together to form a long chain. There are about 20 different amino acids that come together to form protein, each of which has it's own important role in the body itself. WHAT KIND OF PROTEIN SHOULD I TAKE? This is a great question, the answer is also simple. -What are you? Vegetarian? Pescatarian? Carnivore? These make a difference when it comes to the selection of your protein or protein supplement. The way your body digests food makes a difference on the type of protein you should be taking in. There is also a simple answer for why, different sources of protein digest and react differently with everyBODY. By the way, did you know that protein is in nearly everything? Including fruits, vegetables, plants, dairy, eggs, and even grains. WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TAKE PROTEIN? Studies have changed so many times over the years I have been in the industry, some have stated that you have a 30 minute window to drink or consume your gains. Others have told me I have two hours and others still, more recently, have shown and told me that I have a 24 hour window to get the proper amount of gains in. So here's the deal, I'm not going to give you a link for this I am going to share my personal experience. I have been a meat-eater before and vegan before. In my experience neither made a difference on when I was eating, just how much I ate. Consuming the proper amount is more important than the timeframe in which it consumed. Granted, I found the best time to consume my protein was in fact within a 30-60 minute window after my workout, otherwise not only was my body tapping into the fat left on me but if I waited too long past that hour I would get shaky and angry. If I ate before or consumed some protein during I would get sick. So here's the deal, listen to your body on this one. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PROTEIN FOR ME? Now this LARGELY depends on what your goals are, more and more studies are finding the proper average amount of protein intake daily is roughly .36g per pound that you weigh, for the average sedentary woman, or 46 grams per day. Obviously for men this will be a bit higher intake. However if you are active you will want to increase accordingly. This means that if you are very active, go to the gym several days a week and hitting at least a good solid 30-45 minutes of straight exercise, you will want to increase your intake between 1 and 1.2g per pound you weigh. WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF TOO MUCH PROTEIN? Oh yes, they are dangers of too much protein. Don't be fooled into thinking that a high protein diet is the best way to gain muscle; it may be one of the quickest, however, it is not one of the best. For starters an excess of un utilized and broken-down protein will turn into fat in turn causing fat gain rather than fat loss which is the opposite of what most gym-goers are looking to achieve. Excess fat gain is fuel for cancer cells, inflammation, sickness, weak immune systems, slow cardiovascular systems, deteriorating bones, ashy skin, and many other issues that arise from excess fat. Why? Fat messes with the body's hormones and homeostasis when there is an over abundance. Other dangers of too much protein include dehydration, constipation, diarrhea, kidney failure/damage, cardiovascular disease, and even the eating away of calcium in your bones, leaving them frail and brittle. CONCLUSION There are no doubts in my mind, nor any studies that disprove, just how essential and important protein in fact is to our diets. However we should be mindful and watch our intake versus our goals. Knowing those few things can change the way your body changes and adapts to your new lifestyle or diet. image source: http://www.kulturizmas.net/forumas/p1032059
Day in and day out I see the same things, angry people letting stress and emotions over run them. Their health suffers, their minds suffer, their families and jobs suffer. How can you lessen this stress in your life, and better these areas? With the gym. I know I have talked about this before, but, these are different reasons. 1. EXERCISE FOR MOOD. If you are one of the hundreds of thousands in our country that suffers from depression, or even anxiety, you can improve your mood and aide it by exercising every day in some form or another. Whether you go to the gym and lift weights, workout at home with your kids, or go to the park and do yoga with a friend, these are all forms of exercise. The issue is we think that exercise consists only of going to the gym and is a chore. Taking care of your meat suit and mind is never a chore and should be done daily with excitement. You are bettering not only your own body but your entire life. You have a better mood due to physical activity releasing dopamine and serotonin, and lowering cortisol and norepinephrine to boost you into a state of euphoria. 2. WHY THE GYM. Now if you are someone who is wary of the gym, or just isn't a fan of going then maybe I can change your mind just a bit. Gyms are a place to work on yourself. While they may be filled with "meat-heads", trainers that sometimes look as if they could use a trainer, or other members who don't know what the etiquette is the gym is one of the most useful life tools you could ever have. If you have a physically taxing job, and I argued with my own father on this for over a year, that DOES NOT EXCLUDE YOU FROM WORKING OUT. There is a difference. The gym allows you the access to equipment you may not be able to purchase or get anywhere else. It gives you the social connection, motivation and the opportunity for growth in a physical and mental sense. You can learn from the trainers, or simply observe others. Classes are always a great starting point for those who are new and have no clue where to start.
So while I have talked bout reasons for going to the gym before, this is a completely new set. A completely new way to see it. Do it for your entire life, don't just do it to look good naked. Everything we do is interconnected to each other, if we figure out how to make that work then all the puzzle pieces will fall into place eventually. Take care of yourself first and get a gym membership. They have more to offer than you may be thinking they do. Okay, I know I have done yoga posts before, however this one is different. This time I want to cover how yoga aides in the fight against neurological disorders such as Parkinson's Disease, or PD for short. Largely, yoga is still being viewed as either a "girly thing," or just something people think they simply cannot do because of seeing very seasoned yogis performing crazy poses. That's still yoga, but I am simply speaking of hatha and flow. Personally I mix a bit of Tai Chi in mine to aide more in mobility as well.
Now I have talked about the benefits that yoga brings, ridding the body and soul of stress, and how it can ease the mind and adjust hormones which also aide in healthy fat loss. This post is going to focus on how yoga improves the muscular and central nervous system.
For more information, visit our channel on Youtube Donuts. Cakes. Soda. Chips and salsa. Cookies. Crackers. Ice cream. What do they all have in common? We consider them to be junk food. Wait a minute! When did these become junk? Running a bakery based on organic and gluten free baked goods, it gets difficult explaining the difference between my baked goods and actual junk food. Let's have a comparison look shall we?
WHAT IS PARKINSON'S? Parkinson's disease affects roughly 200,000 people per year. Due to the loss of dopamine cell receptors in the brain, the neurodegenerative disease leads to progressive deterioration of motor function. Although most individuals are diagnosed around age 60 or above, Parkinson's targets no age. It can affect anyone, at any age. Often times it is genetic and though the full causes of Parkinson's are unknown researches and scientists still work to find how we prevent or cure this neurodegenerative disorder. When PD sets in and signs begin to show this means the substantia nigra, a basal ganglia structure located in the midbrain, which plays an important role in reward and motor function, starts to lose dopamine cell receptors. SELF MAINTENANCE Now, I haven't really talked about this much at all, but over the years of my own health and wellness journey I have come to know my own genetics very well. I have come to learn a lot about different disorders and diseases, and found ways to combat my genetic ailments with food and natural supplementation. As it turns out, everything I have been taking over the years has slowed the progression of PD.
While these are just a few, natural and holistic ways, of fighting PD and being able to maintain a. lifestyle that you enjoy PD is something that cannot be cured. At least not to our current knowledge. However, taking these necessary steps made it possible for an early diagnoses and exercise, nutrition, and proper supplementation has made it to where the disease will not progress unless I stop doing these things. Having a disease should never hinder you from progressing in life, as a being, or any other aspect of yourself. There is always a way to better your health, for everyone. Day after day I see it happen - couples, at the gym. Couples at the gym training each other. Couples motivating each other. Couples dominating each other. Couples fighting with each other. Listen, before you get it in your head that this is a post bashing the couples, just read on please. It is neither bashing or condoning, but rather my observations over the years as a trainer, gym-goer, and coupled partner at one point myself.
WORKING OUT TOGETHER VS. "TOGETHER" Going to the gym together as a couple can be fun, exciting, adventurous, maybe even little naughty feeling. But before you go workout together consider a few of things.
So my point here is simply this, if you are going to the gym as a couple joined at the hip and determined to push each other that is great! However, be mindful, stay focused, remember that it is okay to let your partner focus on something other than you. You're in the gym, not the wild where you need to protect them. Last week I got to meet up with RayRay of Lonestar Dance here in Austin, TX to talk about dance, ballet, and the difficulties and challenges he has faced over the years to get to where he is now. Something that RayRay and I got to briefly discuss was the importance of the fact that ballet, and dance in general, are for the body and mind. So I wanted to take a somewhat deeper look into the subject being a dancer since childhood myself. To see my full duscussion with RayRay, click here. VITAL BENEFITS Yes, I understand that ballet may not sound like everyone's cup of tea. But let me tell you something, there are some things in this world that are in fact GOOD FOR EVERYONE. Activity and movement, are one of those things, and ballet is something that is vital in aiding everyday tasks and movements of the body. Here is how:
We gain so much from being mobile, strong immune system, happier days, better personal connections between people, better understanding of our own bodies. The list goes on, and on. You can sit here and read this, and then tell yourself that you could never because you can't dance. But here is the thing, any given dancer couldn't dance either - before they became dancers. WE ARE NOT BORN INTO THESE ABILITIES, THEY ARE GAINED THROUGH PRACTICE. Which means that if you want to dance, then do it. It is good for you, feel the music, feel the beats. The energy that flows through you when you dance is your body's way of saying "Hey wow! This feels good, let's move more!" Our bodies were designed for activity and movement, if they weren't we would not have such a strong and stable structure. Each and every one of us. If you have not tried some form of a dance class, whether you are male or female or any other configuration of being, I urge you to give it a shot for a good, consistent 3 months. The only true way to see the changes any physical activity will benefit you in is to be consistent with it for 90 days. Think of it like a review period in the "business" of your body, give yourself a solid business quarter to see if the change in resources, procedure, and protocols enacted yield a healthier and happier you. So, if you are local, check out Lonestar Dance and take a class. They have students ranging from young children to adults in their 60's. So don't be afraid to try something new! Additional, Helpful Link:
The Effects of Ballet/Dance on Walking. Photos: Top photo: RayRay, instructor at Lonestar Dance and acro-ballet dancer. raymond.white.96742 Lead photo: Miss Kay, Doc List. Gallery photos: Examples of how dance and ballet aides in sensory skills, daily happiness, stress relief, mobility and flexibility. Also how it can aide in battling illness such as scoliosis or other skeletal related issues. Over the last year I have endured so much more than I have shown to my followers, or even let my family in on at times. Things such as the loss of a best friend to a car accident, another good friend just a few days ago, my boyfriend passed away, I was homeless, I helped others and then got thrown out like trash... my point is that there was so much more going on than I ever make known to the public.
Here, my followers keep up with my social media. My friends in real life do the same, and my family, often with a text message or video chat. Everyday, multiple times a day, I hear or read someones complaints about their job, their home, their relationship, their hatred for one political party, their own pity party because nobody showed to whatever event they invited them to, a flowing stream of negativity and complaints. Day in and day out, the amount of negativity I see versus the amount of those who are actively trying to better, correct, or otherwise fix their situation astounds me. Excuses are mostly what I hear: "But Kay you don't understand, you don't have (insert subjectively more important complaint than anyone else)." Your excuses are invalid, there are people who battle more than you on a daily basis and never lose the smile on their face. There are people who live in rundown homes that are still grateful and never complain, yet you complain about the job you do. The job that you CHOSE to take, to provide you income to survive, the job that you ultimately decided would be your saving grace until something better comes along and yet you bemoan all the stress you bring upon yourself by staying. So many of you have seen me keep a smile on my face no matter what situation I have been in, yet you complain to me how awful your life is. Yet you still do nothing to change these things. Some things to think about the next time you feel like complaining: 1. Is it really worth it? What you're complaining about, if you complain will it change anything? Will it be worth the time, energy and breath you will use to complain? 2. What is going on around you? Take a step back and look at your situation from a different view. Look at the lives you surround yourself with and really see what your friends, family members, and anyone else you care about is going through. Look at your job, your home life, your nutrition, your mind, your thoughts.... look at all of it. 3. Someone always has it worse than you. That is a fact, someone, somewhere will always be in a worse/more unfortunate situation than you are in. 4. Start a gratitude journal. As corny as that sounds keeping a gratitude journal helped me to see the things I should be focusing on rather than seeing the negative that was happening around me and not to me. 5. Take care of yourself! Listen, I am so tired of saying this but nutrition and exercise are in fact NECESSARY FOR A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING BRAIN, MOOD, MIND, AND BODY. If you have known me for more than two years then you have seen what nutrition and exercise will in fact do to change the mindset and even life of a person. Your excuses are garbage, but you are not, so you can spend the rest of your life allow the negative things to eat you alive from the inside out until it kills you slowly. Or, you can change the things that you do not enjoy or like about your life. You are not a tree, get up and move. You are not being forced to stay at a job you do not like. That being the case you are not stuck at the job you are currently at, these places are not your final destination. You have kids? So what, you have them for 18 years, your life does not end when they are brought into this world, nor does it end after they reach adulthood. You have the possibility of living to 100 years, and you want to act like your life is going to end in your sixties, like you are nothing if you haven't settled down and had kids, wife, husband, career by your thirties. So you work hard, you complain, you drain yourself of every last ounce of goodness and positive energy in you until you are nothing but the shell of a being that once was. You can make the choice to change these things, to stop complaining. To see the other routes you can take, to explore every avenue to getting to the destination in your dreams, your thoughts, your goals. Life is meant to be hard, if you were not meant to endure it or handle it you would not be here. Open your mind, open your time to work and focus on yourself, for the betterment of a happier life. Re-wire your brain everyday by finding new things to be positive about. |
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