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Making Time For Kids

Mike Thomas Smith — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:28:00 +0000

I just got back from my nephew’s 9th birthday party at Pump It Up. What a blast! I had a great time playing with my 3 boys, my nephews and niece, some kids I had coached in soccer and a bunch of kids I had never seen before!

I have to say it again. I really enjoy kids and since I’ve managed to keep myself in great shape over the years I have the energy to go all out and have a great time with them.

It made me realize just how important it is to stay in shape and to maintain a healthy lifestyle in your adult years. I contribute my good health to my exercise program and to healthy eating habits. To see my exercise program of choice click here.

I had an absolute blast playing with the kids and in addition to being great exercise for me it really means a lot to them when an adult takes time to play with them. It makes them feel special and will really help them in the long run.

Also when they talk to you stop and look them right in the eye and listen to them attentively. There is no better way to make a difference in the future than to give your time to a child today.

Mike

Relief for Migraine Sufferers

Mike Thomas Smith — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:21:18 +0000

Today’s post is geared specifically towards migraine sufferers, so that means that it will only be appropriate for 28,000,000 (yes that’s 28 million) people in America.

I suffered from migraines for over 10 miserable years. The worst part is that people who don’t suffer from them will say ignorant things like “It’s just a headache. Just take some aspirin and move on.” It is insulting to be told that. If you’ve never had one you don’t know about:

the sensitivity to light
the ringing in the ears
that sharp pain right behind your eye
the vomiting

Only a few side effects of migraines. People don’t understand and I wouldn’t wish that kind of pain on anyone.

When I was younger my mom was always taking me to the doctor because of them and the doctor would always prescribe some drug or recommend some OTC medication to help me out once I got a headache but the only thing that consistently worked would be to sleep it off. But even then I wanted to prevent these headaches from occurring. All of these “fixes” were to be taken after I had got a headache.

I tried to be more proactive and I started out by cutting out all the “trigger” foods such as chocolate and caffeine, but I still got them. So I eventually just gave up and figured I would just have to live with them.

But here’s the happy ending you’ve been waiting for. I found my relief by taking a liquid B12 supplement with folic acid. I have referred this practice to others who have used it with much success. The best part is that this proves there is hope for migraine suffer and upon further research I stumbled upon an article that i wanted to share with my readers:

Natural Ways to Relieve Migraine Headache

by Alvin Toh

Migraine is a throbbing headache that often has other accompanying symptoms. Some of these symptoms include light sensitivity, nausea and extreme pain on one side of the head. A migraine headache can be debilitating. Doctors often prescribe drug medications; however, these may not always work and can have side effects. Many migraine sufferers resort to home remedies and herbal remedies as natural ways to relieve migraine.

Here are some migraine home remedies that you can try.

Most sufferers experience repeated migraine attacks and recognize early signs of one that is starting. When you feel the first signs of a migraine, drink a caffeinated beverage. The caffeine helps open constricted blood vessels and can shorten the duration and severity of a migraine.

A bath or shower may ease the symptoms at the beginning of a migraine. Use aromatherapy bath gels or salts to aid relaxation. Try lavender, peppermint, Melissa, bay, eucalyptus or jasmine oils which all have properties that can minimize migraine symptoms. These essential oils can also be diluted and applied to the skin or inhaled. Mix them with another oil, such as almond or sesame oil before applying to the skin.

Since tension often spurs a migraine, easing muscle tension with a massage can be beneficial. A facial massage can easily be done by you. Apply pressure to your face using your thumbs. Move your thumbs in small circular motions on your forehead and cheeks.

Apply a cool compress or towel to the forehead and sit in a quiet, darkened room. Many migraine sufferers report sensitivity to light and sound, especially during the beginning phase of a migraine. You can also try a warm foot soak. This soothes you and promotes blood circulation throughout the body.

Drink plenty of liquids. The migraine itself may cause you to urinate more than usual. To make up for this liquid loss in the body you should consume more water or juice. Dehydration causes headaches and can actually increase the pain of a migraine so be sure you keep up on your liquid intake for the duration of the migraine.

Stress can be a migraine trigger. Learning to control stress in your life can successfully eliminate this trigger, thus preventing migraine. There are several ways to manage stress and promote relaxation. Meditation uses rhythmic breathing to calm the mind and focuses your mental energy inward. Exercise is an excellent way to relieve built up stress. A regular exercise regime will keep stress at bay. Yoga combines stretching and meditation, and can be practiced almost anywhere. To reduce stress, maintain a regular schedule and don’t try to take on too much.

Natural migraine remedies can be used alone or in combination with other treatments. If you are on prescribed medications, discuss with your doctor before taking any herbal remedies. Chronic headaches may indicate an underlying health problem or illness. It is important to obtain a proper medical diagnosis from your doctor before proceeding with any remedies.

Migraine is a common cause of suffering in most people, resulting in lost work days. There is no need to live with the pain of a migraine headache. Visit our website for daily update migraine headache resources and natural ways to relieve migraine at http://www.relievemigraineheadache.com/hom

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Mike T Smith

4 Ways to Feel Better Without Seeing Your Doctor (Part 4)

Mike Thomas Smith — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:52:46 +0000

Here is the final installment in this series:

Get More Sleep

Sounds a bit obvious, doesn’t it? But over 81% of adults do not get enough sleep. As a matter of fact 70% of aduts average less than 6 hours nightly, which is 2 hours less than needed.

It’s usually the first thing people sacrifice, but it so important for your overall health. Think about how much better your day rolls when you get the suggested amount of sleep. Which is about 8 hours of sleep for adults and as much as 11 hours for small children.

Lack of sleep keeps you from thinking straight, fatigues your muscles and just puts you in a terrible mood. I know I am a lot more tolerant when I have had my sleep.

While most people see no harm in missing 1 hour a night, truth is doing that for a whole week has the same effect as staying awake 24 hours straight once a week.

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4 Ways To Feel Better Without Seeing Your Doctor (Part 3)

Mike Thomas Smith — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:12:11 +0000

Good day to everyone! Here is the third step in this series..

Slow Down

Do you eat so fast that you get out of breath? Slow down and relax. Do you realize it takes 20 minutes for your stomach send a signal to your brain that its’ full. So when you start to feel full you should have stopped eating over 20 minutes ago. Call it one of life’s cruel jokes. I know it doesn’t seem fair but hey I don’t make the rules I just report them. So relax and chew your food thoroughly. Savor it. You will actually enjoy it more and who knows, you may actually save some money.

Look for the last installment in this series to show up within the next few days.

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Mike T Smith

4 Ways To Feel Better Without Seeing Your Doctor (Part 2)

Mike Thomas Smith — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 01:05:47 +0000

Here is the 2nd tip in this series:

Think before you eat

Most people don’t realize that how they feel is directly affected by what they eat. Dietitians and trainers have been preaching this for years. In addition to what you eat you should be very cautious about how much you eat. Think of blueberries, which is one of the most healthy foods for you packed with antioxidants. While a handful is recommended eating 2 pounds of blueberries will have adverse effects. My personal rule of thumb: Before you eat think about how you will feel an hour later I still have some guilty pleasures, such as hamburgers, but if I eat one at lunch I know it may satisfy my hunger for the moment, but it does nothing to nourish my body and mind of vital nutrients. So, shortly thereafter I feel tired, slow and worse yet, hungry. So look before you leap and don’t forget to ask yourself, “Is this really worth it?”.

Stay tuned for the next installment of this series. To have these articles delivered straight to your inbox sign up for our newsletter today (webform coming soon, until then e-mail me directly at mail@mikethomassmith.com).

4 Ways To Feel Better Without Seeing Your Doctor (Part 1)

Mike Thomas Smith — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:28:45 +0000

It seems every day I hear more people complain about not feeling well. They say things like, “I need to go see my doctor.” I have spent most of my life pursuing better heath and guess what. I barely ever go to the doctor.

Now don’t get the wrong idea I am not saying we don’t need doctors, sometimes you just have to go for immediate care. It’s one of the most admirable professions in the world and they have worked hard to get to where they are.

However one of the most common misconceptions ever is, “My doctor takes care of my body.” Your doctor will guide you and give you advice and prescribe appropriate medications, when you’re sick. But I prefer to treat my health with preventive care rather than to wait until I get sick and then react to my body’s symptoms with a prescription or OTC drug. The truth is your health is your responsibility! Not your doctor’s, not your spouse’s, and certainly not the hot dog vendor.

Besides, when you have to see the doctor, it takes your precious time. Time that a lot of people really can’t afford to give. Most of us only get a few vacation days per year. It also takes your money, and it’s just not on most people’s list as to how they want to spend an afternoon. Over the next several days I will be sharing information on how to improve your health and feel better today without taking a trip to the doctor’s office.

1) Get More Exercise

Have you ever sat around the house all day and never felt good? I know we all deserve those days to sit around and relax but take 20 minutes and go do something active. You don’t have to run for miles at a time to feel better. Take a brisk walk around your neighborhood with your spouse. Play basketball with the kids. It has been well documented for years the physical benefits of exercise but it was just recently discovered that it also stimulates the mind and is a proven mood booster.

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