Thursday, January 27, 2011

Unlearn Your Pain by Dr. Howard Schubiner



I've been reading this amazing book, "Unlearn Your Pain" by Dr. Howard Schubiner. I'll post a review next week on my book blog but I wanted to share this interview with all of you since I know you're all interested in healthy living.

1. The title of your book is “Unlearn Your Pain.” What does the title mean?
The most important aspect of dealing with chronic pain is to understand what is causing it in the first place. Modern medicine is good at identifying certain causes of pain, such as fractures, tumors, or infections. However, for the majority of people with chronic pain, modern medicine cannot identify a specific cause and is left with treating pain with medications to attempt to cover up the pain. “Unlearn Your Pain” conveys the simple,
yet revolutionary concept that pain is often a product of learned nerve pathways that can be reversed.


2. What is Mind Body Syndrome?
Mind Body Syndrome (MBS) is a term I use to help people alter their understanding of their symptoms. When a person is diagnosed with fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease, migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, or chronic pelvic pain, they view their disorder as a disease over which they feel they have little control. Replacing their medical diagnosis with MBS helps them to see that they actually can control and reverse their symptoms, even if they have been present for many years. MBS can be used interchangeably with Tension Myositis Syndrome (coined by Dr. John Sarno), or psychophysiologic disorders.

3. What type of illnesses would benefit from your book and your program?
Once a specific medical cause is ruled out, the following conditions are those that can be applicable to the concepts and methods of “Unlearn Your Pain”. Chronic neck or back pain, tension or migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, TMJ disorder, interstitial cystitis, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, chronic abdominal or pelvic pain, whiplash, vulvodynia, chronic tendonitis, repetitive stress injury, myofascial pain syndrome, chronic fatigue, tinnitus, paresthesias, anxiety and depression.

4. If I think I may have Mind Body Syndrome, what is the first thing I need to do?

I suggest reading the first four chapters of “Unlearn Your Pain”. It describes the scientific basis of learned nerve pathways and explains how stress and emotions can lead to real pain and other associated symptoms. If you recognize that these chapters describe your situation, you have a great chance of success in reversing your pain.

5. Describe your book in three words.
Understanding, compassion, hope.

6. What inspired you to write the book?
I was inspired by the amazing recoveries of my patients and their courage in facing their past, their lives, and their pain. I wanted to bring this message of hope and healing to a wider audience.

7. What do you hope readers will learn/discover from reading “Unlearn Your Pain”?
I hope readers see that they are not alone and that they can truly heal themselves.

8. What Makes Your Book Unique?
This is the only book that explains the neurologic and psychologic scientific basis of chronic pain, offers a complete self-diagnostic interview, and provides a step-by-step process for healing chronic pain in most people. It is based upon groundbreaking research that demonstrates its efficacy. Since there are millions of people affected with the disorders covered in this book, it has the potential of restoring lives that have been broken. In addition, it is a wakeup call to modern medicine to understand the true cause of chronic pain and stop its reliance on expensive and ineffective treatments.

9. Tell us where “Unlearn Your Pain” is available.
The book is available from amazon.com and from www.unlearnyourpain.com.

To view Dr. Schubiner's invitational video click here.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Mom's exercise benefits the entire family

My husband has long known that it's beneficial for him when I make it to the gym. My boys sometimes complain about me being gone if they wake up early but even they are starting to understand that Momma is a lot more happy when she starts her day with exercise. It's not selfish to spend some time improving yourself. Here's why it benefits the whole family.

1 - More Bonding Time for Dad. I'm a selfish mother. I adore each of my boys and don't like sharing them very much. Especially when they're babies. My husband is an amazing father, but sometimes I hamper his chances to connect with our newborns because I just take control. When I'm gone to the gym, I can't interfere. Dad can snuggle, play, turn on crazy music, or let them watch a TV show before the sun has even shown its face (something Mom would never allow). Dad has different rules and my boys love it. And of course I don't dare say anything because I'm off enjoying myself at the gym. Yesterday I came home to my husband in the shower with the baby (so cute to see that tiny body curled up against my husband's broad chest). The little guy blew out his diaper and Daddy dealt with it perfectly. Mom being gone once in a while is good for all of them.

2 - Exercise Puts Mom in a Good Mood. "Exercise releases endorphins, natural hormones that flood the body with a feel-good energy, a natural high! You release stress through physical exertion and regulated breathing, so you can let go of the day’s challenges and go home feeling relaxed and refreshed." (i)

When Momma's happy, everybody's happy. That is too true. I definitely set the mood for our house. After I exercise, I feel better physically and emotionally. I'm excited to go home and enjoy my children and husband. Exercise quite simply starts my day off right.

3 - Exercise Can Also Help Relieve Depression. This is something I never struggled with until I became a Mom. "In the New York Times recent research, studying twins, indicated that, despite studies that seemed to suggest that exercise was almost as effective in relieving depression as anti-depressants, in fact, the association of exercise with reduced anxious and depressive symptoms could be explained genetically: people disinclined to exercise also tend to be depressed. One does not cause the other.” (ii)

The release of endorphins and relief of depression can lift us as Moms and obviously help the home be a more cheerful, relaxed place for our children.

4 - Mom Being Strong Can Prevent All Kinds of Stress. You can catch toddlers hurtling themselves at your pregnant bellies, you can carry your eight-year old to his bed when he's sick, and win an arm-wrestling competition against your twelve-year old (ah, the glory).

5 - Great Example. We all want our children to be happy and feel great. If we are good examples of healthy living, they will almost always follow that example.

6 - Momma's Looking Good. I remember as a teenager being proud of my mom when she came to school. She was nice to everyone and she also took good care of herself. I'm a year away from my oldest becoming a teenager and I sure hope he's proud of how I look so when I run into the middle school screaming, "Where's my adorable little boy?" I don't embarrass him anymore than necessary.

7 - Long, Healthy, Happy Life. Patricia T. Holland said, “Anyone who reads a newspaper or magazine is constantly reminded that proper diet, appropriate exercise, and plenty of rest increase our daily capacities as well as our life span. But all too many of us put off even these minimal efforts, thinking our family, our neighbors, and our other many responsibilities come first. Yet in doing so, we put at risk the thing these people need most from us: our healthiest, happiest, heartiest self. Unless we take care of ourselves, it’s virtually impossible to properly take care of others.” (iii)

We all want to be there for our children and grandchildren. Exercise is going to improve our health and prevent a myriad of health problems and diseases. If you have a hard time staying healthy for yourself, think about your family. It's worth it to take care of yourself so you can take care of them.


(i) Exercise can Make You Happy & Healthy by David Bohl, read the entire article here.
(ii) The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, check out the blog here.
(iii) Patricia T. Holland, "On Earth as it is in Heaven." Book information here.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Sick

The flu and colds have gone through all four of my boys. I got overconfident and thought I was immune. Not so. Can't breathe through my nose and want to sleep all day. Any wonderful home remedies you want to share? I've been overdosing on Vitamin C and drinking my Reliv so hopefully I'll get with it soon.
Hoping you all stay healthy!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The Time is Now

"I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, let me do it now; for I shall not pass this way again." S. Grellet

I always get excited this time of year to be on top of my life again. I make all kinds of goals and plans: To have an effective schedule for homework, chores, family fun time, bedtime, etc. To eat healthier, eat smaller portions, and exercise harder. To meet my writing goals. To serve others more effectively and more often. To clean my house (no, not really, that's still way down the priority list).
Even though I get really excited about my goals, it's always easier to plan for tomorrow rather than today. Tomorrow I'll study and ponder my scriptures instead of just reading them. Tomorrow I'll be fun and play with my boys for longer than five minutes. Tomorrow I won't eat a bowl of ice cream (but I really need one tonight). Tomorrow I won't sleep in (but the baby was up a lot last night and right now I really need to snuggle my pillow). Tomorrow I'll make the boys clean their rooms (then I'll redo them while they're at school).

"Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today." Thomas Jefferson

"When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no, I'll start tomorrow. Tomorrow is disease." V.L. Allineare

It's great to make goals and to plan for tomorrow, but we need to live for today. I love having many lofty goals but to be effective in accomplishing those goals I try to break them into easier, daily goals. I also like to write them on the calendar so I know what I need to accomplish today.

Today I will make a healthy dinner for my family and resist chocolate (oh, the torture). Today I will revise five pages of my manuscript instead of check out Facebook posts during computer time. Today I will get out of bed when my alarm goes off, drive to the gym, and not come home until I sweat. Today I will go visit my adopted grandma. Today I will respond with patience and love when my four-year old is flailing on the ground screaming for a donut (that only happened twice so far).

It's easy to get overwhelmed if we think we have to do everything perfectly for the rest of our lives, but if we can take it one day at a time it seems more manageable. If anyone told me I could never have a bowl of chocolate ice cream covered with chocolate fudge again I'd probably eat ten bowls to stock up on the sensation, but if I just tell myself that I'm not having a bowl today but on Friday I can have a treat, I don't go quite so crazy.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a wonderful call to action in the May Ensign: "Now is the time to adjust your lives to be able to have a temple recommend and use it. Now is the time to have meaningful family home evenings, to read the word of God, and speak to our Heavenly Father in earnest prayer. Now is the time to fill our hearts with gratitude for the Restoration of His Church, for living prophets, the Book of Mormon, and the priesthood power that blesses our lives. Now is the time to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, become His disciples, and walk in His way." (i)
Now is the time to accomplish our goals, improve ourselves, and love and enjoy our family and friends.

The other day in the grocery store, the young man at the deli counter handed me my meat. I mumbled, "Thanks. Have a nice day." He grinned and said, "No. You make it a great day." We each have a choice. We can choose to make it a great day or we can choose to become bogged down with frustrations, offenses, and a to-do list that we can't accomplish.

"There is no tomorrow to remember if we don't do something today. Let us not procrastinate those things which matter most." Thomas S. Monson (ii)
Today is the gift we have been given. Make it a great day and let tomorrow take care of itself.

Cami Checketts is a wife, mother of four boys, exercise scientist, and author. http://camicheckettsbooks.blogspot.com - http://fitnessformom.blogspot.com

(i) Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Way of the Disciple," Ensign, May 2009, 75-78.
(ii) President Thomas S. Monson, "Don't procrastinate what matters most," LDS Women's Conference, May 2, 2008.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Clean

My husband decreed our family's New Year's Resolution: Being Clean
The boys groaned and Momma cheered.
When he actually explained his thoughts the boys were a bit more receptive.
Being Clean Physically - keeping up the house, brushing teeth, showering, eating healthy, getting exercise
Being Clean Mentally - Working hard at school and keeping entertainment clean and uplifting
Being Clean Spiritually - Acting the way the Savior would with other people.

I really like it. It's easy to remember no matter what situation we're in - be clean.

What New Year's Resolutions have you made?
I'm a Mormon.