Back To Business

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  I'm back to the office after a much needed sejour in sunny Florida.  It's going to be a cold weekend here in New York and the flu is running amuck; bundle up, don't forget to wash your hands and although it's freezing outside, make sure you plan to do something fun this weekend!

For the Extreme Athletes Today

I have every type of athlete coming in and out of the doors to my clinic, but the extreme athletes usually require a bit more maintenance before and after their events.  Whether you are doing the Rim To Rim, Ultra Marathon, Ironman, or climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro (you know who you are out there!), you know how many times I've told you to practice altitude acclimation as part of your overall training.  Your aerobic capacity decreases 3% at 5,000ft and an additional 3% for every 1,000 ft altitude increase as you climb.  after you've reached 6,000 to 9,000 ft above sea level, if you haven't been doing your altitude training, you're bound to feel like you've caught the flu.  (These statistics were published recently by the Scandanavian Journal of Medicine Science Sports, Nov, 2011) 

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you have a big event planned for 2012 (it could be a 5K race, a sprint triathlon, Rim To Rim, Ironman), you're bound to have some hills involved in the process.  Sign up for my Wellness Program today.  I'll help you get into the proper condition needed to achieve your goals and be a winner!  http://www.kmondesire.com/wellnessprogram.html

It's Monday....Make It a FUNDAY!!!!

It's Monday and we're all back to work after a beautiful weekend.  Instead of looking backwards in time, look forward to getting outside into the fresh air while you're on a break today.  AND....while you're still in the outdoor mode, make it your business today to get outside after work.  Whether it's just a brisk walk, or a bike ride or a run...do something FUN and make your MONDAY into FUNDAY!!!!!

FUN....I can just never get enough of the stuff!

Oh, and for you weekend warriors who havent' been doing your homework these past few months in the gym and you're sore and hurtin' today - pick up the phone or your blackberry and make an appointment to get yourself in tiptop shape with my Wellness Program and some acupuncture!

One Week To Go

One more week until my 37 days is up!  37 days to recover from knee surgery, 37 days to getting back into good physical fitness...it's Friday and time to plot and plan the weekend.
Two days ago, it was 12 rounds of boxing and Muay Thai.  So, now that I've got my fun out of the way, it's back to business:
This afternoon, it's going to be the mini trampolene and physical therapy...or, I might be ambitious and get onto the treadmill.  I'll see how the knee feels.  Tomorrow, maybe I will go back to yoga class.
Sunday will be more of the same and I'll hit some golf balls for a reward!

No matter what your goals are for fitness, make certain you throw some fun into the mix!  It'll make all the difference in your outlook of physical fitness, you'll de-stress and sleep better.  You'll look better and most likely become a happier person!
Happy Friday!

Muay Thai Lives and So Does the Knee

Well, yesterday, we did 12 rounds of Muay Thai.  I kicked those pads with everything I had with my left leg.  I was concerned that the left knee wouldn't take to the impact, but I felt nothing.   What joy!  We did soft contact full Muay Thai for a few rounds - kicking and blocking with legs, arms, elbows, knees...I have a new mantra...
I have NO PROBLEM WITH MY KNEE.
I will continue with my physical therapy and soon, the stairs and running will come, but for now - I am who I am....I am a fighter - a Muay Thai Fighter.
There is nothing that can put me down...

An InspirationTo Us All

My friend  (name withheld for his privacy) had his stomach removed several months ago. 
WHY???
As many as 10%-15% of new gastric cancer diagnoses will have a familial component. Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC) is the best defined of the familial syndromes, and is associated with a mutation in the E. Cadherin gene. HDGC is responsible for up to 30% of all familial gastric cancer cases, or is 3-5% of all new gastric cancer diagnoses. Currently there is no other treatment for a person found to have the HDGC genetic mutation except total gastrecomy.
The scope and depth of the current research into understanding the biology and etiology of stomach and esophageal related malignancies does not match the enormous global scope and impact of these diseases. The field is in desperate need of, and is ripe for medical advancement. The purpose of the DeGregorio Family Foundation is to fund research and education, and to encourage collaboration amongst researchers in order to facilitate earlier diagnoses and novel treatment therapies for stomach and esophageal cancer related disorders. The DeGregorio Family Foundation seeks to shift the tide and strive towards the goal of containment and treatment of these cancers.

NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 21ST, MY FRIEND WILL BE RUNNING A HALF MARATHON!!  He is a team member of the Degregorio Runners.  He started to jog (something he hadn't done in many, many years) this past January after recovering from having his stomach removed.  45 DAYS LATER, HE'S RUNNING 13.5 MILES to raise awareness so that other people do not have to undergo this type of surgery in the future!!

Support the Team Degregorio Runners
We are proud to announce that we are an official charity participant in this year's race. Cheer us on or run yourself* in support of the DeGregorio Family Foundation for Stomach and Esophageal Cancer Research. We are making strides in the fight against the number two cancer killer in the world by raising much-needed research dollars. You can help by hitting your stride on March 21st or by making a donation today.
http://www.degregorio.org/
So, today, if you're feeling like you're on your pitypot, you think about my friend, what he's gone through and what he is achieving....don't feel like going to the gym now???????

How Sweet It Is...Training, Comradery and Friendship

Yesterday, my training partner and I went 10 (3minute each) rounds.  We did a few rounds freestyle punching, then it was all knee, push, and roundhouse combo kicks, punches and blocks followed by sicilian situps and stretching.  As I would with any other patient, I rubbed a little bit of Chinese medical 'hot pepper sauce' on my left knee to 'sweat out' any remaining extraneous fluid.  After about 30 minutes, we could actually see my knee 'sweat'.  Chinese Medicine is just so cool.
One month after surgery I was back!  Although I kicked only with my right leg (because of the tremendous force of impact of the leg to the pad and possible impact of limb to limb), my left leg was my pillar of strength.  I spent all my time up on my toes, perfectly balanced and as light as ever as my right leg once again reached up to 6ft while my left leg danced perfectly in balance.
Today, there is no swelling, no pain and I slept like a baby...not so bad for an old dog!
The Tip for Today?....how sweet it is to do your sport again!  The hard work of doing physical therapy is paying off and I will continue to do exactly what my physical therapist tells me.  The acupuncture and laser self treatments are doing their work to improve circulation and rebuild connective tissue.
The Second Tip of the Day?  How blessed I am to have a great comrade and friend who took the time to support my journey and train with me yesterday.  Your training partner is just that...your partner.  It's a two way street - you support oneanother through your ups and downs and help oneanother to prepare for any event that comes along.  Take time out today to say 'thank you' to your training partner (s) and let them know how much they contribute to your journey of reaching your goals!

Muay Thai Forever

Today, I will wrap my hands and put my gloves on once again......
I will rinse off my mouthpiece and shake out my silk shorts...........
Surgery was February 4th, Today is March 7th.....
I will bow in respect to my training partner and I will once again know the joy of martial arts...
Muay Thai Forever!

That's MY tip for MYSELF today!!!

Train Like a Pro and Fight Like a Girl

Yesterday, while showing my surgeon 'what I could do' 29 days after knee surgery, he looked at me while I was standing on one leg while my 'post surgical knee' was completely bent and lifted high enough to touch my nose and said "how can you do something like that???"  I told him it was years of training like a pro and fighting like a girl.  Being in generally good physical condition helps when you need any type of surgery but the road to recovery is crucial for longterm health.
If you can train like me and fight like me (a girl), you're WAY ahead of the game, 'cause not many people can fight like I can, that's for sure!!
During the past year, I have had many people ask me if I would train them in Muay Thai...to learn how to defend themselves, get into great condition, or obtain the back and arms that I have.  I've thought about it and have decided to train any of you who are willing to work hard and go the distance like any fighter.
So, if you want a back and arms like mine (go to: http://www.kmondesire.com/whatsnewsthismonth.html and look at that photo on the website....that's me and it ain't photoshop), give me a call or email me.  If you do what I tell you to do, in 12 weeks time, you're gonna see changes you never thought would happen and you are going to feel amazingly better.  The warm weather is coming....now's the time for all of us to get off our pitypots and get movin' and groovin'.
How many days is it to Easter???  My pants are beginning to get looser...how about yours????