Alternative Medicine

Write about alternative treatments and regimens and tell us how you feel about them. What do you support? What is crazy? Have you used any?

Well since I've been a pill guinea pig in the past, I'm constantly searching for alternative treatments for migraine. The first I've tried was the diet that I've been on for a year. Yes, I cheat, but for the most part I stick to it and I've noticed improvement in intensity and frequency in my migraine. If you're unsure of what diet I'm talking about, check out my blog post about it. http://themigrainechef.blogspot.com/2013/04/breakdown-of-headache-diet.html

Besides the diet, I've tried Botox, vitamins instead of meds, massage, and exercise. I've been meaning to try acupuncture and other types of massage aimed at specific nerves. I'm always open to alternative medicine because I HATE side effects! However, some of the alternative methods may not be for you. Be sure to do your research before attempting. 

I wrote a small screenplay for my filmmakers group making fun of a doctor's visit and the doctor recommended drilling holes in the patient's head because Google said so. It's amazing what people will believe these days. I fully support the diet, Botox, and using exercise to keep the blood pumping. Vitamins are great too. I'm deficient in B and D so I take those daily vitamins as well as magnesium and melatonin. It's all about what works for YOU!

Favorite Fridays

Ok I'm a couple days late for the Wego Health 30 days, 30 posts National Health Blog Post Month but here goes!

Tell us what your favorite health apps are and how people can find them:

As many others do, I look to WebMD for many of my health needs. They seem like a very reliable source, but most of the time when I search for something, a very bad illness shows up and I get paranoid. I'm sure that happens to many of you.

For the past couple months, I've been slowly doing the Couch to 5k program which can be downloaded from any app store. c25k is challenging, but a great way to start jogging. I'm hoping to finish a 5k by the spring. I'm starting week 5 (remember I said I started a couple months ago) soon.

There's a free app I've found called Workout Trainer that has many different exercises for different parts of the body. I like using it when I'm sick of "just jogging" or need a quick workout.

For everything else, I use Google.

Riverdance

Exercise is an important part of any treatment. Lately I've been jogging. My ultimate goal is to do a 5K by Labor Day. With the help of the "Couch to 5K" program, I've ran more than I've ever done I'm the past six years. Sometimes I can't get too far without getting weak and lightheaded. I know my limits but it helps to keep trying.

Other great ways to exercise include swimming, aerobics, walking, and biking. Metro that blood pumping and drink plenty of water.

My Road to Health

Part of my doctor's plan includes me losing weight and having a more active lifestyle. The difficult part is my migraines and vitamin b12 deficiency sometimes tells me that I can't. Here's the strategies that my doctor recommended:

Start small: Losing weight gradually makes it easier to keep it off. To reach your goal, focus on losing five pounds at a time. Then give yourself 5-6 weeks to lose each five pounds. With each small victory, you'll build more confidence and will be able to meet your long term goal.

Pair good eating with increased physical activity: You can learn the secret of weight loss from people who have already succeeded: managing calories in and out. From research, we know that people who've lost weight and kept it off have a level of control in their eating habits. By keeping the balance of calories and increasing activity can help decrease your risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and even certain cancers.

Use your plan: While on your plan, make sure to learn about what works for you and adjust accordingly. Along with the headache diet, an exercise program that adjusts as you progress will ensure success.

It's not all or nothing: It's okay to make mistakes and "cheat" every once in a while. You don't have to suffer while trying to be healthy. If you enjoy what you're eating and working out, then you can keep the weight off long term. If you stick to your plan 80% of the time, you'll succeed. You're not a failure because you had a cookie or some potato chips. If you make smart food and exercise choices most of the time, let go of the guilt about a few indulgences or "oops" times. Many give up after they have a first "cheat" when they should keep it up and keep working at it.

Eating well: Becoming aware of your eating habits gets you ready to make positive changes. Try taking stock of your eating patterns and discovering what type of eater you are. I am a fast eater, which might not let me stop eating when I am clearly full. When you indulge in that "cheat" snack, make sure you make up for it with a little extra cardio or yoga. To make matters worse, many people experiment with extremely low-calorie fad diets that promis quick weight loss. These can backfire. They force the body to feed off its own muscle instead of dietary protein. As muscle is lost, gaining fat becomes easier.

Eat Light and Eat Often: People who eat smaller meals and snacks throughout the day tend to eat less because they don't get overwhelmed by hunger. Healthy snacking keeps your energy up and prevents you from getting so hungry that you overeat later.

Last but not least: BREAKFAST IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY!

What are your healthy diet tips??