Category: Community Health

Anything Community Related (i.e. Health fest, 5Kruns, Giving to the community)

Working Out & Therapy

Therapy is a process where you are Asked to be Committed for a few months to work on you, emotionally and in other ways. Most often therapist will also ask you about your physical health regimen. Usually they will ask you to get a physical and begin to hit the gym or nature for walks. But why?

Here are some reasons why Working out and Therapy work well together.

  1. Our minds run based on what we give our body. We feed it trash, we feel like trash. We feed it well, we run well. Think about it like the oil in the car… You have to change it in order for your motor to work. And while in therapy a therapist needs you to get all your bases covered so that we don’t miss anything, and we are able to get you over the hump.
  2. Working out feels good! Our bodies secrete hormones and we must learn to listen to out body. The more you work out the better you feel. 1
  3. Our Body actually tells us when we have pain when something is wrong.2 So Listen to it! A lot of us don’t like to listen to our bodies… and that is where going to therapy can come in… they can help you realize why you are not listening to yourself.
  4. Talking about your anger and feelings is great and it helps you gain insight about yourself, but guess what, workout after words helps you not only work though the insight you had in session, more so you get to release it though exercise and think about what insight you gained in your session. You think about what is going on and use the Coping skills, the deep Stuff that you and your therapist came up with to help you through the process.
  5. Last But not least. Therapy and Exercise gets you to a strong point, both mentally and physically. And guess what? The body cannot work with out your brain. With both, You are hitting all your “Weakness” and making them in your strength. You want to be able to work with a whole you, not just a half.

I hope this gives you some insight on Why Therapy and Physical Fitness is important.

Tell us your reasons why you work out and Have a therapist? Tell us how it goes.

Find treatment: findtreatment.samhsa.gov.

Note: We suggest you obtain services. All you work through will be between you and your therapist and fitness coaches. We are NOT liable for your choice. We do however congratulate you on obtaining help. Stay in your positive journey and Enjoy it!

Reference:

Moderate treadmill exercise rescues anxiety and depression-like behavior as well as memory impairment in a rat model of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Patki G, Li L, Allam F, Solanki N, Dao AT, Alkadhi K, Salim S.

Physiol Behav. 2014 May 10;130:47-53. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.03.016. Epub 2014 Mar 19.

PMID:24657739

Synthetic and Natural Inhibitors of Phospholipases A<sub>2</sub>: Their Importance for Understanding and Treatment of Neurological Disorders.

Ong WY, Farooqui T, Kokotos G, Farooqui AA.

ACS Chem Neurosci. 2015 May 1. [Epub ahead of print]

PMID:25891385

 

 

Gastroparesis: The Story Behind the Tubes.

Submitted by @melissarvh on 2015/04/09 at 10:26 pm

During my 37 years, I have faced numerous obstacles. Some as a result of my actions, some unable to avoid. Some more minor than others. Some to personal to share. I believe that God places some obstacles in our paths to build character, build inner strength, teach us lessons, and bring us even closer to him. Challenges are not to be taken lightly. Everyone has them, it’s how you choose to face and overcome them that matters.

A recent challenge for me was facing the fact that I needed a feeding tube and how to avoid the shameful stigma that I believed came with it.

In the latter part of April 2013 I was hospitalized and diagnosed with Gastroparesis. I was discharged from the hospital on a liquid only diet. I had to write down ALL of my input and output, which was actually pretty easy being that not much of anything, even though only liquids, would stay down. I was in a lot of pain from trying to force liquids but getting nowhere. I was lucky if I could handle 1 Gatorade a day, sipping a little at a time. As the week progressed, my ability to drink anything dwindled while my feeling of weakness increased. As instructed, I kept my new Gastroenterologist up to date via emails. By the end of the week he instructed me to return to the hospital and that we were probably going to have to discuss a feeding tube.

A feeding tube! What was that? What did that mean? I had never heard about people like me having a feeding tube. Weren’t people with feeding tubes old and/or dying? How would they place it? How long would I need it? What would it be like? All these questions were so overwhelming!

After picking up my kids from school, I gave them a huge hug and kiss before heading back for UNC. After my admittance, my nerves were all over the place. However, realizing that I was literally receiving NO fluids or nutrition via oral means, I had to do something. It was no secret that I could not survive or live like this.

I was terrified! Luckily, I was blessed to have my same hospitalist from my previous hospitalization. He was amazing at calming my fears and preparing mentally for the surgery. Unfortunately, I was only under his care for the first few days of my readmission. Thankfully, he was able to make all of the arrangements prior to being switched to a different doctor. My GI helped ease my fears as well. Even though he was not on rotation, he made a point to come visit me and explain to me in person why he believed I needed a feeding tube and answer any questions that I had.

Surgery day came very quickly. Mentally, I believed I was as prepared as I could possibly be. I trusted my GI and my initial hospitalist and agreed that a GJ feeding tube was my best option. If my stomach wasn’t going to cooperate, then I could just skip it and feed straight into my small intestines, decreasing the pain and nausea. I have to admit, the option was sounding pretty good.

After waking from surgery, I was in a lot of pain. Much more pain than expected. I knew the pain would eventually pass but hopeful that my nutrition would increase to the point I could be active again. Unfortunately, I felt like a freak when I saw the long tube hanging from my abdomen. How had my life come to this point? Would I be like this forever? What would my family, especially kids and husband think?

The first few months happened to be summer break, which worked out great for me. To begin with, I tried to keep my tube feedings private. I fed when I was at home and unhooked when I chose to go anywhere in public. When school began back, I started running my feeds only at home and overnight. I did not want my students and colleagues to see this feeding tube. I did not want to appear like a freak, weird, or weak.

This was my challenge; I had to learn to accept a feeding tube. Yes, needing a feeding tube may have been caused by Gastroparesis but learning to live with it was all me. I had to face the challenge head on and overcome the fear of social stigma. I had to become courageous and not be ashamed. True, I had a feeding tube and some would look at me differently, but why should that matter? If I wanted to be an active mother and teacher, I had to face my fears. And that I did.

I began wearing my tube feedings (in backpack) all day. To begin with I was self conscious, but eventually I became more comfortable. Instead of looking at my backpack as a curse, I looked at it as a way to advocate and educate my students. I shared the reason for the pump, educated how my digestive tract was impaired, and how the feedings helped me function. I even bought a more comfortable and stylish backpack. Even though I was under the recommended caloric intake (about 1/2 of what the goal set was) I was active.

I wish I could say that I have overcome all of the challenges set forth by the debilitating disease, Gastroparesis. Unfortunately, I am still fighting battles and challenges from Gastroparesis daily! The pain, the nausea, inability to eat, bloating, fatigue, etc continue every single day. The tube changes every 3 months, unless unexpected problems/issues arise. Most recently fighting these challenges have become more difficult. BUT, I did overcome the challenge of accepting my feeding tube and using the experience to educate others; And I must admit that was definitely an extremely daunting challenge.

The only advice that I can give to others that either have or are considering feeding tubes is to do what is best for your health. Feeding tubes are not ideal, they are not the “magic pill”, they do not cure diseases, but they are a means to much needed nutrition. I would love for other tubies to know that they are not alone and there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. There are many online support groups available; some disease specific and others just for tubies in general. I strongly recommend other tubies reach out and find a support group that is right for them. Support groups offer you a chance to ask for advice, share personal stories, vent, share advice from own experiences, and even form friendships.

I am pleased that I overcame the Tubie Challenge. Now if I could just tackle the Gastroparesis Challenge!

Visit our advocacy community page:
Gastroparesis: Fighting for Change https://www.facebook.com/Gastroparesis.FightingForChange.Page

How to Keep Your Health While Being an Influencer.

Keep your health while being an influencer

Influencers are committed, consistent, creative, idea driven, motivating and obviously…influential people. They too become overwhelmed, stressed but they just know how to work it so no one knows.

So How do you use your influence to help your health?

Here are five simple steps to help you keep your health while being an influencer:

1. Do what you love doing.
Most often once you are an influence of something you are placed in a box of the influence you are a part of. I say if the box is what you love stay in it. If it isn’t well go outside the box. When you love what you do you are happy. Happy wife happy life? Not married that’s ok your married to being an influence.

most influentials usually have the first one down because they became an influencer though being who they are… But just incase…

2. Consistency:
Influencers are consistent most of the time… Guess what? Your human- #Take5 minutes to help you recharge a few times during your day. We are not telling you to stop… But we are suggesting you take time to chill, slow your mind and body to relax. Keep that consistent, then work hard so you can play harder.

3. Commitment:
Stay committed to you. As an influencer you are pushed and pulled and most of the time on the go. So stay committed to (______<your name), you. Make sure that with in your schedule you add #MeTime.

You don’t have time? … Well guess who is boss?! You are so make the time to take care of you. Think: Health, mental health and your soul’s HEALTH Too.

4. Creativity:
Influencers are most of time creative. Well it’s time to get creative with your health. I speak from experience… I would put my job before my health… But guess what? It doesn’t turn out well… So I had to learn to keep me alive before I became a dead influencer. Be creative, have your meetings in a #dailywalk. Talk to people while you are taking a stroll and then continue with your walk.

And five!

5. Motivate:
Once you are able to schedule your #Take5 minutes for you in your happy influential position because you like what you do and are able to be creative where you are at in your life…. Then others will follow and do the same. After all, you are influential right?
Stay influential. Stay alive. Hopeful and motivated. Keep it healthy, keep it going!

Kindly,

Jes Sofia Valle
Global Influential.

Validation and Instinct

No matter who you are…or what you do, Validation at some point is an amazing feeling. Saying NO can bring you to Amazing too.

Anecdotal experience here!

I went to an awesome @AvionVentures event at IndieDesk in Downtown Los Angeles. I was there to see how I can take Bloggers of Health to the next level. We are here people! 😀 That’s our current reality right now and we are transparent and like to share so I said, here we go!

There were four amazing PowerHouses speakers there, MC’ed by His own powerhouseness Barney Santos from Gentefy:

Catherine J.K. Sandoval, the first Latina to serve on the California Public Utilities Commission.

Helen Iris Torres, Executive Director, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality

Liliana Monge, Co-Founder, Sabio

Deldelp Medina, Co-Founder & CEO, Avion Ventures

In the workshop I was working on my master plan (Bwahaha < I kid…); more so moving things around I already have to work with for them to make more sense. @Deldep was amazing! The workshop that Avion Ventures provided helped me! It put some screws back in my head.

Then…”and then!” Julia from Wild Horse Labs spoke, taught us what to know about our company/idea (depending on what level we are in) so we can talk to investors and obtain future workers and know how to grow and let go of our business and make that money to help serve our need.

At the end of the event, I spoke to Julia and we were having a great convo about a little bit of everything when our convo hit a validation point for me. She said, “No, you don’t have to work with everyone. No you don’t have to say yes to everyone. And yes have to be able to say No…in a kindly way of course!” Those words gave me chills. When she said those words, I felt so validated! You see I’m one to say no to people who I just don’t feel right working with. And yes to those whom I feel good working with. It doesn’t always have to do with who they are… Some are my friends and I don’t work with them due to ethics or I just know to trust me instinct. It doesn’t mean the other person is the devil… they are just not in my current path for my journey and who knows, they maybe in the future. I like using my instincts. I felt validated! … Even a grown up woman like myself enjoys to be validated for her thinking! This stems from something a few (a lot of people) have told me, “Make sure I play with everyone because Bloggers of Health is a new company.” And I have said thanks for the input, but I don’t play with everyone.

Its not that I don’t like to play with everyone in the sand box, I’m still kind, genuine, honest, silly and will be very nice to everyone including the ant (they are strong little suckers). More so, it’s that “feeling” I get- with whom I am to play with in the sandbox, and whom I don’t want to or shouldn’t play with in the sand box, and I trust my feeling; my instinct. They have gotten me through a lot in life.

When she said, “no you don’t have to work with everyone,” I literally almost cried. Because I felt understood, i was validated. I understood two things from that: 1. No, people don’t have to work to me, but they will want to someday. And 2. No I don’t have to work with people I don’t think will help or work with me the way I want to be helped or worked with. She provided an example: “It’s like dating! (Ha!) You pick and date the best people, not the not good enough for you! And what’s for someone else isn’t always for you.”  Eureka! More validation!  Heck she even spoke to me about my current dating life. Lol. Backtracking, not everyone is meant for you.  Your product is not for everyone. But when you do find someone you love to work with… Well it can be a hit! Ball out of the park, it was all you needed and who you where waiting for… Ha! Just like dating.

This doesn’t mean you burn bridges or cannot foster a relationship… it just means you know what you want for your business…and a partner.

Coming from someone who’s at a different level of Business than I am and hearing those words validated my thought process.

I want you to know that being you, trusting your instincts, your gut feeling, yourself will take you to places you would never think of or they will take you to where you are thinking of right now! (hoping it a positive and great place!)

That no matter what “level” of life you currently live, validation is good. Positive thinking is good. Knowing how to trust your self, your instincts are important. Knowing how to say NO is important! As humans our bodies where built/created to trust our self: our mind, body our heart and soul. I truly think it’s to help us in our journey in life and to stay alive!

So next time you feel that gut instinct of yours telling you something, listen to it. Hear it, and take action or not take action. Don’t over think it too much and don’t let your “amygdala get hijacked” either.

Trust you, be you, listen to you. Allow you and your team to guide you to your next flight. Allow others to help you if you think they are meant to be in your life. And tell yourself that if they didn’t want to work or help you know, however they might want help or work with you later.

Most of us lead our goals in life to survive, and thrive. Me I like to do it with Passion, compassion and a Healthy style. Know how to be teachable and you will learn, live and be amazing!

Thanks Avion Ventures, Sabio.LA, HOPE, CalTech, and Wild Horse Labs for your awesomeness. I appreciated your time and invite.  #LATINATechLA for all.

Smile (if you want).

Kindly,

Jes Sofia Valle

#LifeTips

Shoutouts! @AvionVentures @SabioLA @CalTech @Crowdismo, @Gentefy, @JessieMartinez, @MavenExperiance, and all others there making the Latina Women take their Place at the table.

 

Kindly,

 

Jessica Valle, Founder 
Bloggers of Health, LLC

 

Google Helps Small Business

 

Need help connecting with opportunities?

Google’s Small Business Supplier Diversity Program  is designed to connect more minority-, women, veteran- and LGBT-owned businesses to opportunities within our supply chain and procurement system, while offering access to tools and training to help them grow on the web.

google.com/supplierdiversity

It’s an amazing program! Check it out!

Reference: Information provided by Google.

All Stressed.

As a human we carry a lot of stress. Everyone has different types of stressors. Some people don’t have a home. Others don’t have the ability physically to do something, others bear everyone’s issues, and others advocate or fight for your others, your dinner party isn’t going right and many others have different types.. All in all, everyone has stress. Some people need help reducing their stress, and that too is ok. No one is excluded. Just because you are or are not educated doesn’t make your stress any less or more than the next person. It just means that you are going through something and that in this moment in your life your body is reacting towards something that you are either going through or went through. The question is how will you work through it?

There are many types of ways people work though stress. Here are a few.

You can always talk to your doctor. You can talk to your psychotherapist. You can do both and integrate coping skills. (That’s what therapist call things that can help you reduce the intensity of behaviors, feelings and what not).

Here are some basic coping skills that can help you through until you have your doctors & therapist appointment. They will help you have an individual plan to help you through your stress both physically and mentally, they usually play hand in hand.

1. Wake up a few minutes early to give you “you time.”

2. Eat breakfast. Eat your recommend meals (talk to a registered dietitian).

3. Take a brisk walk with a friend.

4. Yoga? That’s my fav!

5. Breath 25 times (in through nose, exhale through mouth).

6. Read a book

7. Watch a happy movie.

8. Spend time with friends.

9. If your family doesn’t give you anxiety, spend time with them! 😉

10. Drink your recommend amount of WATER.

11. Stop drinking too much coffee. Some is ok, talk to your doctor about that.

And follow up with your doctors.

Making sure you get help and learning to ask for help only means you take care of you.

If you don’t have a doctor, Get Covered. You have until February 2, 2015.

#TLForphanage Project

 

http://www.turningleaves.org/#!donate/c1ghi

Hello All

I’m writing this post to ask for your help.

I am raising funds for a Sustainable project in Guatemala and I need your help. I don’t usually ask of much, but today, I am asking you to give funds for Turning Leaves Foundation’s Orphanage Project.



We really want to help get a consistent Teacher and Psychologist in the Orphanage and with your help I know this can happen. “We are not just giving the fish we want to teach these children how to fish.”  A saying…. we are not literally giving them fish or teaching them fishing… you know what I mean! 😀
 I wanted to thank the first donor Che for donating to our cause! I really appreciate your giving. Please ‪#‎HelpUsHelp‬ to the ‪#‎TLForphanage‬ project.

Kindly,
Jes

  

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

By Renata Klabacha, MA, LMFT

September is known to most people as end of summer and back to school time. A few years ago it took on a new meaning; Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. My best friend’s daughter Carolina was diagnosed with leukemia. It was devastating and frightening for my friend and her family. However, Carolina’s treatments have been going very well and everyone is hopeful that it will continue. No small feat for a seven year old, but she’s a sassy, strong warrior. Check out her Facebook page, Carolina’s Cause.
As a mental health professional, I understand that any major health diagnosis can wreak havoc on a family. It is common to cause misbehaviors, drop in grades, conflicts with others, and even depression. Not just in the patient, but siblings as well. Parents may have more arguments due to all the stressors and self-care is extremely important. It is crucial for parents to maintain structure and discipline. This will be very tough, because as parents, during a child’s illness we want to be comforting, not authoritative. However, being that solid rock is exactly what a child needs at this time. It’s critical for the child (and siblings) to understand that rules still apply and that their illness doesn’t give them a pass on good behaviors. That being said, parents will need to learn the new balancing act of assessing misbehaviors, determining what can be ignored or what might be a side-effect and thus, what needs to be addressed. It’s necessary during this time to reach out to support systems and community resources. Mental health counseling with a medical social worker can assist the patient and family in navigating any heartbreaking diagnosis and aid families in creating a new “normal level” of family functioning. The adjustment time for every family will be different, but it can also strengthen the family bond and build resiliency. The social workers or counselors can connect families to support groups, camps, counseling, advocate with insurance plans and psycho-educate about federal or state benefit laws.
So as September comes to an end, please join the event “Turn Facebook Orange and Gold For the Month of September!!!” in order to bring awareness to Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. To learn more about childhood cancer, please visit Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. They are making tremendous strides in treating children’s cancer through research and community outreach.
http://www.chop.edu/service/oncology/childhood-cancer-awareness/childhood-cancer-awareness-infographic.html#.Uh6Anicjcwo.facebook          
Renata Klabacha, MA, LMFT

Child and Family Therapist, Chicago IL.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund


I recently went to an event for the HSF. It was a beautiful event. At the JW Marriott and It presented ten scholarships. It made me happy to see the smile on the student’s faces when they where acknowledged for their hard work.

“HSF scholarship award amounts range from $1,000-$15,000. The average award amount is $2,500 for students attending four-year institutions and $1,250 for students attending two-year institutions.”

This year’s Corporate Sponsors where Wells Fargo and Target.

The awards that the students won at the event are in addition to scholarships that they have already received. Karen Villegas, the Female Scholar of the Year winner for a Gates Millennium Scholar and has received a good through graduation scholarship. 

HSF award on average 3,000 students per year for a total of 60,000 and $430 million since 1975. 

You can Donate Today: https://my.hsf.net/en/donations/donate#/donate

See more at: http://hsf.net/en/resources/faqs/general-questions/#sthash.WhwrVods.dpuf

Ford Ecoboost Challenge

Last week I had the opportunity to take the Ford Coast-to-Coast Ecoboost Challenge at Santa Anita Park in the LA area and let me tell you, it was pretty great!

fordedochalange2

I arrived at around 9:30am to the designated location which was already set and ready to go with the lineup of Ford’s newest cars and a series of courses made up of orange cones to begin the endeavor of test driving in the beautiful California weather.

Among the cars that I had the chance to drive were the Ford Fusion, Ford Escape (which I’ve had the opportunity to drive in the past and is probably my favorite!), and the Ford F-150. I’m going to be honest for a second and tell you that I am not a car expert but Ford personnel made it a point to address any questions and concerns I had in terms that I could understand so Ford definitely gets some major cool points from me. Getting behind the wheel of Ford’s newest models and testing out their potential in their custom tracks definitely has me considering the purchase of one when the time comes.

ford2

The real winning activity, however, was the Ford Hybrid Challenge. I have never driven a hybrid before but had general knowledge of how these innovative cars are great for the environment (kudos Ford for going green!). I was definitely intrigued and I could not leave the event without getting behind the wheel of the Ford C-Max! I was also relieved to have a Ford employee in the passenger seat in this custom course, which definitely calmed my nerves. The C-Max feels great when you’re behind the wheel, by the way. There is a sense of control when you’re driving and had I not been told that I’d be driving a hybrid, I would not have known the difference between this car and a traditional gas car.

fordedochalange

All in all I had a blast taking Ford’s Ecoboost Challenge. What interests me the most about  Ford’s new models are their promise of fuel efficiency, which at this point and time is a win for everyone in California!