Diary of a Bodybuilder: The Search for the Perfect Bikini

This is the third in a series of articles leading up to two bodybuilding competitions coming up in early September, 2010.

My first time out as a bikini competitor, over 45 division, I did pretty well, finishing a solid second place! There were about eight women competing in the over 35 division, with the bulk of the show, about twenty or so young women, competing according to height class. The woman who came in first in my division is a long-time competitor, with several shows already under her belt (so to speak!), so I feel confident that I too will improve as I learn the ropes!

When the scoring results were posted on-line (www.musclecontest.com), I saw that I had missed a first place trophy by only one point! I emailed the judges for comments, and received a very encouraging note from the head judge, herself an IFBB Pro Figure competitor. She stated that my physique looked the best ever, but mentioned that I needed to work my upper body for better symmetry, and should get a suit with "less fabric!"

Read more...

Is Your Child’s Backpack Too Heavy?

As the end of summer vacation nears and the new school year begins, students are preparing for a successful new academic year. Key in the back to school shopping fun is the purchase of backpacks. Is carrying heavy backpacks to school causing health problems for your kids?

Did you know, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there are more than 6,500 emergency room visits each year by children ages 5-18 which stem from injuries related to heavy backpacks or book bags. Additional research further shows that by the end of their teen years, nearly 60 percent of children experience at least one low-back pain episode. Backpack loads are responsible for a significant amount of back pain in children, teens and college students.

Nicolette Langley, an 8th grader at Immaculate Heart School recently experienced back pain associated with an ill fitted backpack. She visited Pasadena chiropractor Dr. Kolleen Gregory, D.C. of Focus Chiropractic for relief from her symptoms. Nicolette recalls "Pain started in my neck then went to my shoulder and back and I couldn't understand why, my mom took me to Dr. Kolleen and she helped me with pain but also taught me back pack safety. My books are so heavy but now I have learned to spread them out and protect my growing spine."

Read more...

How to Keep Your Child Out of the Emergency Room this Fall

Summer is winding down, and before you know it the calendar will turn to September. School days are just around the corner, bringing a busy schedule of rough n' tumble sports, playground fun, and other activities. With kids spending lots of time outdoors, playing sports and participating in leagues, and toting around heavy backpacks all day, parents know that bruises, bumps, sprains, and mishaps are sure to follow. In fact, emergency rooms in the U.S. treat over 9 million children each year for accidental injuries.

While injuries are a part of growing up, parents aren't always sure which treatment options are safe and effective for their children, especially given the side effects of many oral pain relievers and the allergic reactions many kids have to those smelly, greasy ointments. The potential of overdosing a child using oral pain medication can cause dire consequences—including irreparable damage to the kidneys and liver. And the massive number of recent, ongoing pediatric over-the-counter (OTC) medicines is further cause for alarm—especially those containing the active ingredients acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Topical OTC analgesic ointments are also cause for concern, containing volatile oils such as camphor, menthol, and other irritating and potentially hazardous chemicals.

"Children are often underserved when it comes to pain management," says integrative pediatrician Natalie Geary, MD. "Many pain relievers are inappropriate for children's delicate systems or don't provide adequate pain relief."

Read more...

Outdoor Play Is Key To Kids' Health

From videogames and text messaging to Web surfing and TV-watching, American kids are spending too much time indoors, leading to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression and even Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Children today spend only four to seven minutes in daily unstructured outdoor play, according to a new report issued by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), entitled "Whole Child: Developing Mind, Body and Spirit through Outdoor Play." Today's kids are indoors far more than their parents were, with only a quarter playing outside daily as compared to nearly three quarters a generation ago.

Read more...