My Advice For Turkey Day

By: Dr. Craig Anderson

With Thanksgiving hours away, it’s time to prepare your body for a massive inflow of calories.  I’m not going to tell you to skip dessert or cut your portions.  I say eat up and enjoy.  Here’s how to make the most of the calorie fest we call -- Thanksgiving.

1. Burn some calories in the morning.  When you wake up tomorrow take a 30 minute brisk walk or join a Turkey Trot race.  The benefits of moving your body first thing are two fold.  First is the obvious – exercise will increase your metabolism and prepare your body to use the calories from the Turkey feast.  Second, this will help with the guilt of eating a hefty meal…
2. Eat a light snack 3 hours before the big one.  Some people starve all day to prepare for the massive dose of food.  This is a mistake.  Keeping your body from this kind of starvation state will reduce the amount of calories converted to fat.  I suggest eating a bowl of fresh fruit, maybe a light sandwich.  Smaller than a regular lunch but enough to satisfy.
3. Eat Slow.  The faster you eat to more you can eat.  Your body will turn off the hunger centers in your brain when your blood sugar goes up.  If you eat fast enough it’s possible to eat tons of food before this hunger center turns off.  This will lead to over eating.  So take it slow and listen to your hunger.
4. Have No Guilt. Be thankful for the food in front of you.  We are so blessed both individually and as a nation.  Be thankful for God’s blessings and enjoy.  Enjoy the turkey, gravy, brownies, homemade bread, family and friends.  Don't worry, there will be plenty of time to exercise after the new year…

VIDEO: Excerpts from Brain Workshop.

 

Workshop on The Brain from Craig Anderson on Vimeo.

Video from our workshop on Oct 6th.  The focus of this workshop was how the brain and nervous system prioritizes body function.

Learn about our Workshop Series

www.backexperts.com

Slides for “Why Move” Workshop

Workshop starts tonight at 6pm at Back Experts (map).  Register below.

VIDEO: Preview of Fall Makeover

Register Here

5 Part Series Starts this Tuesday

I have finalized the titles of this series.  This is new information and presentation and I am excited to get rolling.  My 11 year old will be here to help record the talk for those of you who cant make it…

10/6: It's All Starts In Your Brain

10/20: Why Move Your body

11/3: How Your Body Makes Energy

11/17: Your Body and Stress

12/1: Get the Most from Your Body

See you at the office at 6pm, Tuesday October 6th.

A little behind the scenes:  I’m going to use something called “The Brain” to do the presentation.  It’s not a typical way to present information.  It’s formatted in a similar ways that the brain stores memories…could be interesting.

Introducing the Fall Makeover

By: Dr. Anderson

Welcome to a new season – Fall.  I love when the seasons change.   This change of season brings about an opportunity for other changes, in your habits.  It’s a great time to to assess where you are in life, set goals and make improvement where needed.

Fall is also a time to gain weight.  It’s well know that people gain weight in the Fall.  I think there are several reasons. 

1. More clothes to cover your body so a few extra pounds wont hurt.
2. Animals store more fat just before Winter.  Humans may have similar wiring that encourages eating.
3. More social eating.  Halloween parties, football tailgating, and eating in groups for any reason promote grazing and consuming large amounts of calories.
4. More couch-potato-ing.  Less sun means less activity.

To help combat this trend, I am happy to announce my Fall Makeover.  This post is the first of 8 weeks of posts and workshops aimed to support you in your health goals. 

We will cover it all. 

• Diet and exercise, how and what to eat. 
• What stress does to the body
• How the body works
• and some good ole’ fashioned anatomy.

Each week (or more) I’ll post an article on the blog with links and recourses for you to read and use.

Every other week we will have an in-office workshop.  I have a series of 5 free workshops planned, the first on is October 6th.  They are scheduled for every other Tuesday, register here. 

We are also going to do some tracking for you.  If you like, we will take your weight and blood pressure starting the first week of October.  Then as you progress through the season you can see your progress while you implement what you are learning during our Fall Makeover.

Attending the workshops are not needed but highly recommended.  Let me know if you want to join the process by registering.

Have a healthy day!

Stay Tuned for the Fall Makeover

Next Workshop Survey Results

Based on the results our next Workshop will be Getting the Most from Your Brain, I will incorporate it with our Fall Makeover series of workshops on October 6th!

Class Name	Percentage
Get the Most from Your Brain	41%
Weight Loss in the Real World	25%
Caffeine and Adrenaline	17%
Cool Human Anatomy	9%
The Swine Flu and You	8%

Thanks for everyone who took the Next Workshop Survey. 

Donate to MS Research and Support

I will be participating in the MS Bike ride this Saturday with about 3000 other riders. 

The purpose for the ride is to raise money for multiple sclerosis research and support in the St. Louis area.  Please consider donating a few dollars to this worthily organization.

This ride is in 2 days. So donate today with the link below:

Secure Gateway MS Donation page for Dr. Craig Anderson

Thanks for everyone who has already donated.