The Primal Blueprint 21 Day Challenge... Round 17

I have just begun my ump-teenth restart of the Primal Blueprint 21 Day Challenge. For anyone who does not know, The Primal Blueprint is my most favorite lifestyle movement. It is akin to Paleo, only less strict, with a dash of Keto, a chunk of congruent human movement, and a whole bag of good living.

I was introduced to Mark Sisson via an online interview with a chiropractor way back in 2014. Mark runs a website, marksdailyapple.com (since 2006), and wrote a book, The Primal Blueprint (in 2009), in which he details his observations and research into "Ancestral Eating and Movement Habits." Basically, how to "Live Awesome." His book details his research into his brand of Ancestral Eating and Living Habits, what did our ancestors do 100,000 years ago. He argues, quite eloquently, that the height of human evolution was 10,000 years ago and before. Since then we have declined drastically. I will not go further into the specifics, but I want to convey that his logic and logical leaps make good solid sense, and are being proven right by scientists and medical science.

• Commentary: Here is Mark's simple statement that is both a "...powerful and compelling rationale for living according to the Primal Blueprint:" 
• "Human beings prevailed despite incalculable odds by adapting to the life-or-death selection pressures in their environment over thousands of generations. Our primal ancestors were lean, strong, smart, and productive, which enabled them to survive, reproduce, and ultimately rule over more physically imposing members of the animal kingdom. This is no mean feat, yet conventional wisdom has essentially dismissed the legacy of our ancestors in favor of easy, quick-fix "solutions" to ill health that sell regardless of negligible long-term results." 

Shortly thereafter, I became a Primal Blueprint Certified Expert. An online program that has since become the accredited Primal Health Coach certification program. I maintain the certification every two years, much like my chiropractic relicensure every two years.

• Commentary: Lets be very fuh-ing careful here, I did not say they are equal. I can just hear the anti-chiropractic hacks saying something like, "you said 'just like your chiropractic license!'" The FACT is that the chiropractic degree and license is equal to a medical doctor's degree and license (except for prescriptive privileges, obviously). The Primal Blueprint course and certification is like any certification that deepens and broadens a persons knowledge base. I am certified in many things, none of which are equal to my chiropractic degree but all make me a better practitioner. My goal, as always, is to develop myself as a higher standard; to bring the highest level of clinical excellence to my patients and my work.

Since 2015 I have done The Primal Blueprint 21 Challenge 10 times, this number also includes my 21 day Standard Process Cleanses. Each time I do the challenges I come out the other side feeling better, thinking faster and doing great. Unfortunately, every time I commit to a challenge I lose no to little weight. This has been deeply disheartening. This year, though, I finally feel a breakthrough and I am committing differently. First, I am in dire need to move more. One of the "action items" is to move everyday and commit to 2-3 workouts per week. I have been remiss in this endeavor, every single time. Second, I am not going to focus on my weight. Instead, I will focus on vital signs, such as blood pressure, pulse rate and pulse ox, as well as body measurements, waist, chest, neck, thigh and arms.

My hope is that I will see definitive changes in addition to feeling better. I have so many stories of people failing themselves, just as I have, because they were utilizing too much willpower and not enough easy lifestyle changes. Even though The Primal Blueprint is among the easiest of any of the lifestyle programs, I have found myself trying too hard. This should be easy. It has been shown that the number one reason for poor compliance to a diet is reliance on too much willpower. Essentially, the harder a diet is to stick too, the less chances people will stick to it. The Primal Blueprint has ease built right into it, but somehow I have fuh-ed that up and made it about me battling me. This is a no win scenario if I have ever seen one!

This time to victory. This time to the truest expression of my health. This time to ease and gentleness. This time I will breech the walls of Troy, not with strength of numbers and willpower, but with clever, cunning and seamless ease.

I will keep this post updated as to my progress...

Thank you for reading,
DocBDC

Yvette posts schlock.

I was not interested in blogging about Yvette d'Entremont, but she just keeps writing schlock.

A few posts ago I wrote about my anger with Joe Rogan's interview with Yvette where they unjustly attacked chiropractors. He had has a personal story, in which I sympathize. She is a mere malinger, a hypercritic, with just a dash of slanderer.

She calls herself the "Scibabe", a handle in which a colleague of mine wrote, "... to which she is neither a babe nor a scientist." Briefly, she has degrees in forensics and chemistry, but left her life of science to pursue her blogging career. Her mission is to, "create a formula of busting commonly accepted pseudoscience with a combination of accessibly written, accurate science (and a side of dirty jokes) ... reliable and entertaining source of information in a world wrought with fake news."

I can honestly say that had Yvette actually stuck to the science part of her bio, I would not have a problem. She seems grossly unable to separate actual science from her "humor", though. It seems that in her attempts to blend her "humor" with science, she struggles with personal bias. Therefore, her articles are filled with half-truths, misconceptions and conjecture... basically, schlock. Lots and lots of schlock. Which I might add is exactly what "fake news" is.

Below is a response I wrote to my mother when she emailed me one of Yvette's articles about the Keto diet and how it may be terrible for you. Enjoy:

"I read the whole article. Yvette brings up some interesting points as well as some cause for consideration. I agree that dieting is a very personal decision and that “sticking” to a diet has higher outcomes. I don’t agree that, “...calories are calories are calories.” A statement she makes in the article AND contradicts multiple times. 

She continues to try to compare Keto to Atkins, but she is mistaken... or trying too hard. The paleo/primal/Keto movement has spend a good deal of effort to correct the flaws of the Atkins diet and paleo/primal are not the same as Atkins. The similarity between Keto and Atkins is not as close as she presents. She spends about 1/2 the article talking about Keto & Atkins, this is not impressive. 

The trick of dieting is finding what works for you, this I completely agree. If it’s Keto, low-carb, paleo, primal, Mediterranean, Siberian, Native American, Ayurvedic, quick weight loss, etc., a person must find the diet-style that they can make their own. I take it 1 step further in saying that a persons nutritional needs may require some blending of 2 or more of the above. Personally, I feel great when I’m on Keto, but I feel even better when I cycle Keto with Primal. 

Ryan and I were discussing that the people who experience unparalleled success are going so far to track, not only their macros (protein, carbs, fat), but their micros (electrolytes, minerals, vitamins, etc). This requires tremendous intention and planning, which brings us back to sticking with a diet. This is the key. Planning makes a diet or eating style doable. That, in my opinion, was why quick weight loss worked so well. You were planning everyday, every meal. It was set!

On a more personal note, Yvette d’Entremont is on my  shit-list. She calls herself “The Scibabe” and makes a living using science, or her opinion of science, to criticize and delegitimize professions and movements. Nothing I've seen from her is an original. Her opinions are usually predictable and the “science” she uses to support her view is often cherry-picked to support whatever she’s discrediting. I’m sure the research she referenced in the article is the same. Her education is in forensics and chemistry, yet I usually find her demoting healthcare professions & practices, and now diets. Read her commentary with full knowledge that she is a muckraker... and not a very good one. 

Also, The Outline is an online “media” company who’s goal is to create a small social media footprint by having people come directly to their website to read their articles. They were founded in 2016 and had 16 employees, all of whom were from entertainment magazines like Vox or Buzzfeed. I am suspecting the budget is tight. 

This year all of the employees were fired and the company only uses freelance writers. This is where “scibabe” comes in, she’s only written for them since earlier this year. You guessed it, all of her articles are about bashing others. From celebrities, to pet healthcare, to the dangers of Chiropractors, and now Keto, she covers some ground. 

I just wanted to give you some context on the article. Thanks for sending it to me."

So there you have it. My response to my mom. It was not as complete and detailed as I like, but it covered the basics. Yvette d'Entremont is an uneventful neerdowell. As I checked her past articles in "The Outline," nothing was original. One article that caught my eye was titled, "Chiropractors are bullshit." I am not going to do myself the disservice of reading it, but I know what is written there within, more Yvette schlock.

I really wish her well, in anything else other than what she is doing now. She apparently wants to make a name for herself as some sort of "truth-seeker" or "science vigilante", but her game is tired. It has been done before by much smarter and much angrier people. They are gone and chiropractic is still around, stronger than ever. They also flung poo, like so many poo-throwing monkeys, but their stink did not stick. The greatest part of all of the "chiropractic is antiscience" idiots, is that no one remembers them. Chiropractic continues to flourish, yet no one remembers the fools that tried too hard to bend facts to meet their theories. I fear for Yvette that she is heading down the same road. That for all of her effort, she will drift further into obscurity never having had made a positive impact on the world. Do better, Yvette. Be better.

Thank you for reading

DocBDC

I deleted my Facebook

As a forty first birthday present, I deleted my Facebook account... forever. There have been a number of reasons for this, but ultimately, I just never use my account.

I have been angry at Facebook since the 2016 elections where they knowing collected personal data and sold it to foreign companies. I was also angry about Facebook's refusal to take responsibility for all of the misinformation being originated and passed around it's platform. I was enraged about the Cambridge Analytica scandal. I was infuriated that Facebook dragged its feet to track and delete the foreign and domestic bots that had set up hundreds of thousands of fake accounts all with the intent of wreaking havoc to social discourse.

Facebook's lack of responsibility and greed for money has changed the political and social landscape, possibly forever. I do not believe it has been for the better, but for the worse.

Facebook finally began doing something about the aforementioned crimes, but it is 2018. For me it is too little too late.

Yet, I just read last week that Facebook is under investigation again for allowing anti-gay groups to advertise "gay-cure camps" on the Facebook pages of young LGBT people.

I have had it. I do not know much about it's interior structure, but Facebook is shaping up into being the social media equivalent of Monsanto. For those of you who do not know Monsanto, they are "Round Up," and they may be the most evil company on the face of the planet.

That is why I left, because I never use my account and I no longer wish to associate with Facebook.


Thank you for reading,
DocBDC

A podcast to which I just listened

I recently finished listening to a podcast by Drew Manning. Drew is the face of the Fit2Fat2Fit brand. A number of years ago he wrote a book detailing how he went from, you guessed it, fit-to-fat-to-fit again. He is a driving force in the keto movement and his work is well researched as well as uniquely being reported first-hand.

His podcast was celebrating it's centennial, 100th episode, and he decided that this was the perfect opportunity to detail his challenges over the last few years, but more importantly, his growth. I am not getting into too much detail so here are the bullet-points: He had a very conservative Mormon upbringing, the early teens brought the discovery of pornography and masturbation, because of the conservative nature of his upbringing he felt unsafe to confide in his support structure (family or temple), this began a spiral of self-loathing and disgust due to his "sinning", the spiral never stopped because he never dealt with it to which ultimately lead to an affair, this of coarse lead to a divorce, which lead him to a path of self-discovery. This path is where he is now where he has learned to love and forgive himself. This growth has been freeing and he no longer seeks pornography nor masturbation.

In the end he is happy. He has discovered his "true-self" and is living his authentic truth. This is freeing and he has taken responsibility for his actions and choices. Better still, his life has become fuller and he is more authentic, which means he enjoys even more success in all areas of his life.

• Commentary: I do not understand Mormons, I never have. I dated a Mormon in college. She was in full rebellion of the faith but her family practiced religiously. This was my first and most intimate experience with Mormons, other than "Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet." Over many more years, I met and acquainted many more. There seems, in my opinion and with all due respect, a very distinct thread that connects them all. Whether they are practicing Mormons, recovering Mormons, or just not practicing, there is just something in their behavior or in the way they hold themselves that "gives them away." I usually describe it as an "oddity," but that is unfair. It could be described as "quirky," but that is too simple. There is just something different about them, and as a Jew with our long history, I find it somewhat off-putting. Call me paranoid, but my people have a long and rocky history with religions where the figureheads "talks with g-d."

So I will begin my portion of this post in the same way I will end it. This podcast was deep and courageous. I am sure that I could discuss my demons openly if I were pressed or my life crashed down around me, but I do not want to in any way. The fact that he did is inspirational. I appreciate his words, his story, and especially how he found his truth and joy. So instead of podcasting or broadcasting my story I will summarize it here.

My teen years also brought the discovery of pornography. I remember my neighbor gave me a VHS and told me I could watch it while I took care of his house, as he was away for work. It was awesome. Needless to say, I quickly found my way to masturbation. I was not brought up in a conservative household. We are Jewish and our values/beliefs land us somewhere between reform and conservative Judaism, that means we were pretty liberal. My parents were both activists in the 60's and 70's, so we were brought up with a fair and lenient hand. My mother was, and still is, an active feminist. Growing up the only thing I knew about my mom's views on porn was that she believes it objectifies women, and she did not want her sons objectifying women. So I never told my parents about my porn collection or masturbation, but both were extensive.

As I got older, I did struggle with the sheer power of my urges. This lead, briefly, to questioning my inner strength, discipline and self-worth. However, by the time I was 26, I was long past anything that resembled self-loathing, and I would never describe myself as disgusting. I had quite a few girlfriends that did not understand, but it never got in the way nor became a reason to breakup. I also had girlfriends that did not care, or encouraged me, so it seems that my masturbation never really amounted to much. For me, masturbation was, and still is, a wonderful release, and pornography is a great tool to enhance the experience. I am in my forties now, and I do not hate myself, nor question my actions. Masturbation is one of the ways in which I find an "outlet" and it does not lead me toward any ill-gotten behavior.

• Commentary: The thought did cross my mind while I was writing this that I did not openly discuss masturbating over the years. I guess an argument could be made that my actions belie some possible shame. To this though, I retort that nobody talks about masturbation in our society, so I did not either. It might have been embarrassing if someone was pressing me about it in order to squeeze a laugh, but I have never been embarrassed by the act itself. Another reason I did not discuss my masturbation in much the same way I do not discuss having sex with my wife. It is just not part of my daily, weekly or monthly repertoire. I was never the guy in the locker room bragging about the girls I slept with, those guys are just fuhing scum, period. 

The biggest difference between Drew and I is that I loved and accepted myself much earlier, including my masturbation. For far longer than he, I was at peace with my choice. It in no way makes me a bad person. It is not a "sin". I do not bring judgment unto myself for partaking in a "quick wank" now and again, nor do I judge anyone else.

I am married to a gorgeous woman and we have two beautiful daughters. I feel secure in my vows to my wife and our family. Drew mentions that he never thought he would engage in an affair, but that it just happened. I have never experienced a "just happened" with anyone, for anything. It takes work to build to intimacy, physical or otherwise. So I do not understand what he meant, but I am confident that I have depth enough to veer away from any potential "just happens".

So here I am, a forty-something that watches porn and masturbates periodically. I probably have a porn addiction to some degree or another, possibly like a functional alcoholic. However, my family has had some life changing lows over the last couple years, and I have not wanted to wander, nor has masturbation reach any fervor pitch. I am not so foolish as to say that porn is helping me from cheating, but as it stand right now, my masturbation is not garnering a "crack in the armor". It is not "making" me a bad person, nor "ushering" me to choose poorly.

I admit, I have never cheated on anyone. I have been cheated on a couple of times and that hurt, a changed my life kind of hurt. As I listened to Drew divulge his demon, I realized fast that I could only empathize/sympathize part of the way. I was not able to understand about half of what he was talking about. Maybe it was his delivery, the way in which he speaks, or maybe there was not enough common ground between him and I.

Regardless, this is my confession. It is the only one in all of the world and I have posted it to a blog in which almost no one reads nor do I allow posted comments. On the one hand I can say I have purged this into the 'verse, and on the other, it remains mine alone.


I conclude by saying again, Drew is brave. His podcast and full expose' of his transgression, his demon and redemption, is inspirational and powerful. I hope for him the best, as well as his ex-wife, in all of his endeavors. The lesson I took away from this is that we must actively seek out those things in our heads and hearts that pull us down and try to break our spirit, our demons and delusions. We must shine a light on them and deal with them. Seek help from life-coaches, therapists, support groups, psychologists, etc. Read self-help book or seek the gurus. I recommend Aubrey Marcus' "Go for Your Win" course. It helped me tremendously, and as I have said in posts past. The course is not something brand-new, Aubrey just packages and presents in a way I can understand and mentally digest.

Thank you for reading. This was not a difficult post to write, because I truly believe no one will ever read it. However, if you are here, you have read the whole thing and know much more about my life that most. I appreciate your attention.

DocBDC

Sexist? Let's be careful

I was going to refrain from posting this for a few reasons. One, I do not like calling individuals out (not that I am going to name names, but I do not like getting specific). Two, this tangentially concerns the "me too" movement and I have learned one thing above all else, "do not mess with 'me too,' do not even breathe. It is still new and people like me, nobodies, usually end up as collateral damage." Three, there is no way that I walk away from this without having someone agree with the accusation against me...

• Commentary: To that I say fuh-you, fuh off and, of coarse, go fuh yourself.

A few days ago I was discussing my daughter's schooling with a patient. The patient had spent her career in the county school district and she seemed an excellent resource. I pointed out that my daughter was struggling with reading and reading comprehension. Her math scores where impressively high and she was helping the boys with their math problems, but her reading was behind. I momentarily spoke that it is odd that a mid-elementary school girl would struggle with reading, but not math. I have always learned, through neurology courses and books, that boys and girls are about even, as it comes to math and English, at 6 years of age but as they get older they tend to gravitate toward, girls: English and boys: math.

• Commentary: I'll wait as you create your preconceived notion, my patient certainly did. Understand, I have read numerous books and taken even more classes about neurological development, developmental delays, and general neurology, with regard to examination and function. I've read books authored by John Medina, PhD., Dr. Micheal Hall, Dr. Drew Rubin, Dr. Martin Rosen, R. John Leigh, Stanley Hoppenfield, and many others.

I mentioned to my patient that everyone is different with varying skills I did not mean to imply... She cut me off and said, "Sexist. You are a sexist."


I was hit like a ton of bricks. I did not know how to respond. In a flash, I realized I could disagree, argue my innocence. I could backtrack or side-step. I did not know what to do. She just stood there looking at me waiting for my response, to which I said, "Sure. Sure, I'm a sexist." I hated saying that and I despise her for putting me in that position. I have been chewing on that filth all week and I am angry about it. It is not just that I said it, it is that I said it to "save a sale," to "keep the patient happy" and to "mind the peace." I did not provide my honesty, my integrity...

• Commentary: That's my fault and I own that shit. I have to, and I have to live with the fact that I let myself get cornered and I did not stick up for myself.

My mother is a feminist, my father completely supports feminism, my wife is a feminist, I've aunts who are feminists and my sisters-in-laws are strong independent women. I have two daughters and I want for them to be strong independent women who do not rely on anyone. I want my daughters to build strong productive relationships with men who honor their strength and independence. Much like I do with my wife.

I am not some sort of latent sexist. It is ridiculous. At what point do we just relax? At what point do we stop looking with a magnifying glass for the evils in people? At what point has it gone too far? When do we realize that there needs to be some fuh-ing balance? and while I am on this tangent, at what point do we allow the men who have done some wrong a chance to redeem themselves? At what point do we allow it to be ok to a be a fuh-ing human?

I am not making an appeal to pardon the wicked. I am merely saying that while you are conversing with a good man, perhaps you could dial back the traps, accusations and verbal condemnation.

As you can read, this patient left me with a great deal of disdain and turbulent anger. I am considering ending our doctor-patient relationship. I am afraid that I cannot treat her objectively, right now. In the end, though, I will move past it. This entry will help move that process along. The next time the patient comes in, I will great them with my usual gregarious self, but I will be diminished.

• Commentary: Perhaps, at the end of this, my point is that we all need to be careful what we say and how we say it. You may never know how your words cut into the soft underside of someones soul. You may never know the malcontent you breath life into someone else. The worst thing is that you may never know that someone will hide their true-self from you because of your callousness or thoughtlessness.

As always, thank you for reading and much love,
DocBDC

It was about... But now it's about...

Ok. This is going to read as a bit strange, but I have moved past this subject matter and I do not want to dwell on it anymore.

My original topic was about the "open relationship", the polyamorous, or multi-partner relationships. I follow Aubrey Marcus' podcast, have read his book "Own your day, own your life," and I've taken his "Go for your win" online course.

• Commentary: I would strongly advise his book and/or his course. The information there within has been covered by self-help gurus and biohackers, but Aubrey's style of delivery makes his work very worthwhile. Personally, his book and course have helped redirect my life and choices to better myself and become the best version of me. I know, that sounds super-cliche and dumb-cheesy, but his work was the perfect material at the perfect time and I do not apologize for loving it.

Aubrey advocates for open-relationships. He and his fiance are actively exploring what they call their "open relationship experiment," and he talks a good amount about it. He argues that if, IF, you are going to use the common ideology that, "in order to optimize your greatest expression of health, you must give your genes what they 'expect'", then you must also look to how primal man/woman partook in relationships. His answer to, "How did primal man/woman partake in relationships?," is that they had, what we would call, open relationships...

• Commentary: If you want to learn more there are some great interviews with Dr. Chris Ryan, I think that's his name, on Aubrey Marcus' podcast. Dr. Ryan wrote a book detailing tribal living and sex. In the book he talks about some of the sexual rituals and relationships of tribal living. It's interesting, at the very least, and he makes a good argument.

I was going to avidly disagreed with this position. I was going to comment on how my people, the Jews (among the oldest of the civilized peoples), have been practicing marriage and monogamy for many millennia. I argued that this is because monogamy addresses the dark side of humanity, jealousy. I argued that polyamory may work in a tribal, intimate, environment, but it does not work in the close, over-crowded proximity of city life. Finally, I argued that humans evolve. We have evolved into monogamy. Monogamy has come from physical, emotional and spiritual needs to connect.

I argued all of this, and then I looked around...

Most of my friends parents are divorced. Most of my friends remain unwed or have divorced. I have friends that have lost their marriages due to an inability to "keep it in their pants," both men and woman.  I have friends that have let the ravages of time tear away at the fabric of their relationship until there was little to none left. I have watched as the people around me, "grow apart," "let it whither," and "change too much."

I thought it was because they did not put enough into the relationships. Did not communicate enough, did not show vulnerability or express their ever-changing desires. I thought it was because one or both parties stop listening and ultimately stop talking. Perhaps this is all true.

However, how many people have to fail at relationships before we realize that maybe it is the structure of the relationships that is at fault. Unreal expectations, inability to verbalize needs, and poor listening skills may just be part of being human and perhaps expecting people who are obviously not ready to commit to one person is folly... ???

I am married to a stunner of woman and we have two amazing daughters. I CANNOT begin to image being intimate with anyone else, but I do have urges, I find women attractive. I sincerely believe this is part of being human. I also sincerely believe in the commitment I made to my wife. I do not feel lessened because I deny my urges. I feel empowered. Empowered because I am in charge of my body, my mind and, most importantly, my choices. The covenant with my wife is not meant to be easy, but then again, nothing that matters is...

I guess where I end up is that I understand the argument for open relationships better than I first thought. After careful deliberation I see the arguments for polyamory to be valid on a cultural level, and also how it can productively impact the ever growing divorce-rate. However, I believe that for my person health and empowerment, for me to "win" at being me, I choose the commitment to my wife. I do so without judgment, resentment or jealously to those that choose to live differently. I have merely found what works best for me.

Thanks for reading.
DocBDC

Blog Update: "Above, Down, Inside-out, and Everything in Between"

Ok! Last name change, I promise.

When I changed the blog from "Doc B on Health & Fitness" to "Linked Life, in Style", I was trying to connect the theme while paying homage to my roots in Linked Lifestyle. Linked Lifestyle was an idea that never took shape, inspired and originated by Brian Barry and myself. We wanted to grow Linked Athletics into something bigger, something that could change lives, not just fitness levels. The idea was to create 5 aspects of health, inspired by my chiropractic education (salutagenesis) and Brian's fitness background. The result was conceptualized in the following graphic:


I am still so very proud of the hard work and thoughtfulness that went into this project. In the end, time, money and energy were the limiting resources... plus I got married and had children.

Back to the point.
I wanted to somehow link the concepts and have that "easter egg" as the title of the blog. After I made the name change, though, I was left unsettled.

My blog had become my journaling station, my thoughts and ideas made digital. It was not about health or fitness or Linked Lifestyle, no matter how much I wanted to make it so.

So I've come to the decision to "rebrand" my blog to "Above, Down, Inside-out, and Everything in Between". It is a mashup of a chiropractic philosophy epitome and a Douglas Adams books. It encompass' everything, and therefore titles this blog perfectly.

Thanks for reading,
DocBDC

Linked Life in Style Blog Update (Doc B on Health & Fitness)

I have been sticking to blogging this year! Well not a great commitment, but here it is in August and I have made a number of posts sporadically over 2018. I am calling it a win. Go me!

I am making a decision to change the format. I have already changed the name from "Doc B on Health and Fitness" to "Linked Life in Style". The title is a nod to my Linked Athletic days. Linked Athletics is a performance training center that I co-founded. After I left training to pursue mastery in my chiropractic practice, I have remained as a consultant with Linked Athletics, as well as best friends with Brian.

Back to the point, change is good and we all change constantly. The only thing that remains the same is that all things change, am I right?

My focus is going from "Health and Fitness" to my observations, anecdotes, lessons, critiques and process on anything I come across worthy of taking the time to blog. This blog is also to serve as an online journal for me to express myself. Foreseeable topics will include, but not limited to, health, fitness, wellness, mindfulness, spirituality, philosophy, disciplines of various arts, and anything else I want to immortalize into my digital "memoirs", as it were.

My goal for writing the actual content is to format the posts as if I'm writing a book or course. Within the posts will be "Commentary" that I will reserve for my personal observations, opinions and lewd language, etc. Which brings me to another point: I am going to write how I speak. I am NOT going to write as if I am ACTUALLY going to produce a book, I am going to fcuking curse and utilize lewd imagery. It will be in the style of how I speak to my friends. Like a literary dumpster fire had a baby with an 70's daisy-chain, you won't be able to turn away... or you will and it will all be for my benefit.



This is the style in which I can express myself most honestly. I will refrain from unnecessary name calling (or vulgar name calling), from unjust judgement, and behaving like a miscreant. However, I will name call in a fun way (at least funny to me), perhaps pass judgement where I deem it due, and act like myself (either professional or d-list comedian, in which I am not even that funny).

Please enjoy what is to come. If all goes well, you will enjoy reading the posts as much as I enjoy writing them. If all goes poorly, you will dislike and disagree with my posts and I will still have enjoyed writing them. Win-Win!!!

Thank You,
DocBDC

Colossus at Rogan!, Joseph James

Before you begin, know this...
This post is not a lesson. It is not going to delve into some "deeper meaning" nor how to glean a truth from tragedy. It is just a post exposing my feelings and perhaps some vulnerability. It is messy and convoluted, which does not make for a great read. It is my experience with an imagined slight that happened over a year ago by a man that I do not even know. I wrote this because I cannot seem to let it go. This is a bit of creative writing, or journaling, in order to help me process this matter and move on. If you are truly interested, perhaps you need inspiration to journal for yourself, then please, continue with my blessing. If you are not, then you have been warned about its content.Thanks for your consideration.



July 5, 2017, Joe Rogan interviewed Yvette d'Entremont (former forensic and toxicology scientist), who goes by the handle SciBabe. The interview was typical, or so I'm told, of The Joe Rogan Experience. I held no opinion of Joe's podcast, but had been a fan of Joe Rogan since his days on The Man Show. Joe is also credited as being the best color commentator in the UFC (as of 2013), and I have enjoyed his observations, as well as lengthy tangents, during UFC matches that I infrequent.

The problem arose when Joe and Yvette began to talk about chiropractic and chiropractors, my chosen profession. They spent a good bit of time, or maybe it felt like that because it resembled the podcast version of a feeding frenzy, criticizing the whole chiropractic profession, as well as degrading the chiropractic education process . At one point, Joe calls "chiropractic medicine" bullsh*t, and brings into question the legitimacy of the "doctor" part of the "doctor of chiropractic". As reference for a rebuttal, I have posted below a comparison of the education between a chiropractor and a medical doctor.



Joe has a pretty horrible personal story about his chiropractic experience. The chiropractor for whom he sought treatment did not make the proper referral for over a year. Joe trusted that his chiropractor was making the best decisions regarding Joe's chiropractic care. The story ends with Joe undergoing spinal surgery and feeling betrayed. As an aside, this is unacceptable, as well as unethical, and the chiropractor should have been disciplined for his breach of care. If a patient comes in seeking care from me with the same symptom's Joe had, which they have, I would be referring them out to a neurosurgeon before 6 weeks time, which I have done. Conservative care is not a place where a patient should get stuck if they are not getting better. So, I understand why Joe is so angry and embittered... I just do not understand why all of chiropractic must suffer your wrath.

Yvette, as I understand it and could be very wrong, left the field of forensic science and toxicology to pursue her blogging career as a self-proclaimed "bust(er) of common accepted pseudoscience". She appears on the news as an "expert", she shows up on interviews, podcasts and any other public forum she can manage. When shes not wrongfully demonizing people or their careers, she writes in her blog, probably demonizing people. At the end of the day, I do not really care about her. Any harsh commentary on this blog is actually not directed at her, not really at Joe either, but I am not wasting another word about Yvette. She's just not worth my time.

Joe's words cut me deep, and the hurt I experienced was utterly and completely my fault. I own that. For some unknown reason, I irrationally assumed, that because I was a fan of Joe's, and considered him funny, a hard worker, and relate-able-ish, that he would be a person that would own his sh#t. My impression of Joe Rogan is that he appreciated his fan base, was pretty good to people, and generally wanted the best for those that work for it. What hurt was that he was not professional in this podcast, he did NOT own his sh#t. He used his podcast as a platform to spread anger and resentment against an entire profession, instead of the one man that deserved it. Joe is a celebrity, he has hundreds of thousands of people that listen to him and follow him. Fcuk! Joe has more fans than there are chiropractors in the world. Joe Rogan's twitter account has 4.2 million followers, alone. He has influence and he used it poorly. He has influenced thousands to avoid chiropractic and chiropractors. There are a good number of Joe Rogan's fans that have commented on Reddit or Facebook or Twitter or Instagram or etc., that they will never seek chiropractic care due to Joe's opinion. Even though it was completely unjust. Can you believe that? Even if they needed chiropractic care from a chiropractor they would not seek it out based on Joe Rogan's bad experience. If a doctor, any doctor, had wrongly induced this many people, he would be brought up on charges for a breach of ethics.

In the end, it's not Joe's fault for my anger or pain, of course. It is mine! I cannot explain it well, but I think it is akin to some sort of betrayal. I have absolutely no reason to feel betrayed. I do not idolize Joe Rogan, I do not follow him on any platform, nor I have ever even met the man. I do not really care one way or the other about Joe's well-being, or lack there of. However, for some reason his unscrupulous attitude and unsportsmanlike words hurt me. They cut me deep. Here we are over a year later and I am still trying to process his vengeful narrative against my profession... against me.

-Commentary: According to an unknowing mentor of mine, the hurt stems from my own delusions and attachments. The false narrative I have told myself in order to bolster my ego against my own insecurities. He would say that this should not have affected me after all of this time and for some reason I must be attached to my pain and anger. Delusions, or "the demons" as he calls it, stem from the ego trying to protect itself from fear. That attachments are a way of defining ourselves because we do not really know who our higher self is, we are mislead by our own delusions. This leads down a road of falsehoods and self-doubt which inevitably wind up in ignorance and eventually apathy. Apathy being the natural progression from betrayal, which I feel from Joe. As you may, or may not, see this is my dark underside, my insecurities manifested. This is the tough work I am facing in order to become better, the best.-

The sweet-sweet irony is that this unknowing mentor is a business partner of Joe Rogan. Aubrey holds Joe in the highest esteem and often tells stories of Joe's anecdotes and wisdom. His constant reminder is a large reason why this Joe Rogan blog is happening. How's that for irony?

Kevin Sorbo, a hero of mine from the 90's, also has a heart wrenching story about a series of strokes he suffered, one of which seemed to occur after an adjustment with his long-time chiropractor. For those who may have forgotten, Sorbo played Hercules on a T.V. show from 1994-1999. These were formative years for me as I was a high school student and I was beginning to toy with exercise and fitness. I idolized Sorbo because of his character Hercules, his attitude toward his fans, and his physique. In an interview on October 11, 2011, Kevin Sorbo revealed that in 1997, he was 38, he began feeling pains, aches, tingling and cold running down his left arm. He was under tremendous stress to keep fit and he was on a promotion tour for his upcoming film "Kull the Conqueror." Sorbo was checked out repeatedly by doctors on the tour and was given a relatively clean-bill-of-health. The only "rational" explanation was a possible Ulnar nerve injury. He continued to workout heavily and one day he felt a worsening pain in his left shoulder. This is where he went to his long-time chiropractor. In a separate interview, Sorbo says he told his chiropractor not to adjust the neck by hand, unfortunately the chiropractor did anyway. Long story made just a little shorter, Kevin Sorbo was hospitalized the next day where the examination revealed, "severe disruption of blood flow to his lower arm caused by an aneurysm in an artery near his shoulder... Apparently, the aneurysm had been producing blood clots for some time. (He) had blockages all down his arm that were making his fingers cold, tingly, and numb." Sorbo struggled for over two years and then withdrew from film making in order to coalesce. He has since returned to films and movies, but he will not push himself that hard, again.

I tell this story because it hurt me as a chiropractor to hear that one of my own had a hand in the suffering of one of my hero's. Sorbo's life was irrevocably changed. Kevin Sorbo is a professional and a good man, however. He does not criticize chiropractic, he does not even slam the chiropractor. He tells his story just as it is. Instead of pain and betrayal, I feel inspired by Kevin's story. He seems happy and I, as well as all of his fans, want the best for him. As a chiropractor, Kevin Sorbo's story has motivated me to be better than I am; always strive to take the best care of my patients. When I get fatigued by the courses and education I continue to take, I remember that I must be the best, and that comes from better screening of my patients, as well as being a better listener. If a patient prefers or levels a concern about my adjustment technique, I hear them and accommodate. I do all of this because I listened and learned from Kevin Sorbo's story.

I do not feel so motivated by Joe Rogan's story. When I remember his tale, I am angry and bitter because he has reacted like such an ass, in public, as a celebrity, in a closed forum. I strive to be better and to be the best diagnostician, to be the best doctor, that I can possible be, but instead of doing it as an inspired doctor, as with Kevin Sorbo, I have to force myself when I think of Rogan, like a rebelling teenager.

If you have gotten this far, Thank You. You may be asking, "How does this rant relate to health and fitness?"
Great question!
I could offer up some sort of explanation on the processing of emotions, or journaling, or some other such tidbit that I might be able to glean from the blog post above. However, the fact is that I am utilizing my blog to vent. Just to process my emotions by utilizing the tools at my disposal, and maybe, just maybe, inspire someone along the way.

Thank you for reading,
DocBDC

P.S.
This post took over 3 days to write. I spent most of my time deleting the garbage that came spilling out onto the page. I tried to give this subject, which is a dense subject matter for me, ample time before I posted into the world. It remains imperfect and messy. I am not changing it. Even if I come back to it and realize that this post was written in anger and while I was "off-rail", I will not change it. It will remain as a testament to this moment in time in my life.

Just past my Birthday, 2018!!

Today is the day just after my Birthday. It was a good birthday, low-key, and spent with my family. My mother took my wife and I to my favorite Indian buffet. My wife and kids made cards and decorated the house. It was great!


I was able to reflect just a little bit on my life, especially the last 7-8 weeks. My wife came through major surgery and is healing like a BOSS! Both of my children started the respective schools and they both seem to be doing really well, which is such a relief. My blood pressure medication was recalled because a manufacturer began putting in a "cheaper" chemical to lower the bottom-line; turns out this chemical causes cancer. Thanks for the cancer, made-in-fcuking-China diovan.

• The worst thing about that last one is that neither my nephrologist's office  nor my pharmacy called to tell me about the recall. I had called the Kroger pharmacy over a month ago to check on the recall, you know, to avoid cancer, but they assured me that the manufacturer of the diovan I was taking was not the one that was recalled... I guess I got the "new guy" pharmacy tech who doesn't know his ass from his head. Thanks for the cancer "Steve".

Finally, I came to lie down with my wife, and kids, and the end of the day. I had a great workout, the kids were happy, and my wife was proud of herself for pulling off my "secret birthday gift". It was awesome and life is good. 

Take a moment, it only takes a few at most, and reflect on your own life. Are you appreciating the little things? The "little people" in it? Are you avoiding cancer? Are your medications or supplements sourced from clean and pure places? Are you proud of yourself? Proud of your spouse? Your kids? Did you workout today? At the very least, did you move about? Did you eat cleanly in order to properly fuel your body-temple, your body-performance vehicle? Did you challenge your mind? Did you win at something? Did you win your day? Did you celebrate you? Tell yourself that you are proud of yourself for something? ANYTHING?

Quite your mind. Feel your body. Sense everything around you. Feel your connection to all of ebbs and flows of this moment. Just breathe. Now smile...

Thank you for reading,

DocBDC

My Health Story... It's not pretty

How did I come to this place? What brought me to care about health? About fitness?

Why I care about other people's health and fitness is covered in another blog, this is my story.

Let us begin my story sometime between 10 and 12 years of age. I was in the torrent of preadolescence and middle school. I was beginning to put on weight, the kind of weight that gets noticed by un-evolved, tortured young minds and I was definitely ridiculed. Of course, I tried not to let it show, so I became a wallflower. My mother vividly remembers all of the accolades made by teachers extolling how "well behaved" I was. My mother would retort, "He's not well behaved, he's scared. There's a difference!"

This, though, was only the back drop of my story. My story really begins in the examination room of Atlanta's premier pediatric nephrologist (kidney doctor). He was second to none in his field, a field where few dare to venture. He was lean, tall (as I remember him), and walked with such an air of confidence. He spoke in a way that was very knowledgeable, self-important, and almost prophetic. I remember not one ounce of gentleness in his manner, voice or words.  He was very clear that my kidney, my solitary injured kidney, would more than likely become something I would need to manage and treat as I got older. He did not seem to care, or be aware, that I hated coming to the doctor, hated the needles and medication, and especially hated being told that I am somehow more fragile than the other kids and cannot, under any circumstances, play sports.  He would remind me on almost every visit that the science of medicine would only get better as I got older and by the time I was in my mid-thirties, there would be great treatments available to keep me going strong...  Guess what does not exist in the way he promised, by the way?...

He told this to a preteen that was entering a time of hormones and self-loathing. He told this to someone who had come to "understand" that either I am not going to live as long as everyone else, or I would be undergoing medical intervention for the latter two-thirds of my life. I chose very early that I was not going to be under medical management just to waste away a little slower, nor was I going to condemn anyone else to a life of a solitary kidney; I would not let anyone give me one of theirs. The only conclusion to an adolescent who has made these decisions is that I will not be alive by forty. That I would let myself expire sometime in my mid-thirties. If you do not understand this decision then clearly you do not remember being a teenager.

This lead to many bad decisions over the next two and a half decades. What does someone do if they believe they have an expiration date? I know what I did: I drank too much, I ate too much, I played college hockey, I was a power-lifter for about 3 years, I went to college of over 15 years, I created insurmountable student loan debt, I dated casually and often, I stayed up too late, I worked too much, I created two new businesses without capital nor a good plan, I partied too hard and for too long, I abused myself physically, I did not push myself enough mentally, and I did not grow quick enough emotionally. Now I challenge you to turn an honest critical eye onto yourself and your exploits during your twenties. Not easy, nor pretty is it?

I graduated chiropractic school and began working at Sandy Plains Chiropractic when I was 33 and co-founded Linked Athletics two years later. At this point, I had matured enough to understand that I was not going to die at 35 years of age, but as most of us know, it's hard to shake the programming of the past. I worked 80-120 hours per week for 3 years, supplementing work for my lack of family life. In summer of 2013, I made the decision to continue learning in my 2 fields of study, chiropractic science and species specific movement strategies. I wanted to gain some form of mastery in my work life, since it was all that I had.

Next thing I know, I arriving at 40 with a wife and 2 daughters. My health is "fair to midland", and my career is taking shape. I had to leave Linked Athletics a few years ago, so all of my attentions have been turned to mastery of chiropractic and health/fitness. Unfortunately, I am in pain most of the year with gout attacks (I will write more on gout some other time). About 40 percent of 2 years ago, 50 percent of last year and 60 percent of this year I am in gout driven pain. Due to the pain, I cannot walk or exercise, which is making it difficult to lose weight. I am also discovering that exercise, even mild to moderate, creates enough of a metabolic demand to cause a gout attack. There is also some anecdotal evidence to suggest that "buring fat" can fire-up a gout attack, perhaps due to the release of trapped "toxins" in the fat stores or the increased metabolic load being dumped into the blood, I'm not sure. What I do know, getting healthier is super-difficult and I'm in pain, often.

This is why I'm constantly learning. Learning about salutogenisis (that which creates health),  homeostasis vs. allostasis, species specific movement for health & fitness (lifting, balance, resistance (dynamic and static), movement/kinesiology, stretching, etc.), primary spine care, primal/paleo living, and kidney health.

As with a conversation I recently had with my wife, "I'm not filled to the brim with health and vitality. I'm not getting more energy every year, I'm losing more. I'm not getting healthier, but instead, slowing sinking further into dysfunction and debilitation. One thing I've learned above all else since reaching 40, it goes downhill, especially when you have a chronic illness like chronic kidney disease. This is the best I'll be from now looking forward. I'm not miserable, I live a blessed life, but so far the evidence is pointing to the fact that, since I cannot do everything now, I will not be doing more later."

Before, health & fitness became a motivation because it was my business, and it seemed to elude me. I wanted mastery of the best and most current information and evidence in order to provide for my patients and clients. I also wanted to understand more for my own edification.
Now, though, my future is unclear as to whether I will be able to stay in practice. I have a family to consider and support. My motivation to learning health & fitness is to create opportunities in which to continue earning even if I cannot physically perform in practice. This is a powerful motivator and I've found myself considering career paths as an educator, taking a hospital/medical profession position of some kind, or even changing careers all together (not ideal).

This summary of my life has been the most difficult blog to write, up to date. I do not reveal my inner demons to my patients nor my friends. I read once that, "85% of people don't really care about your problems, the other 15% are just glad your problems are not theirs." While this is a grim view as to the human condition, for a moment, even just for a moment, you considered this to be true. So I write this entry to tell my story on a blog that no one reads, win-win!

Thanks for reading,

DocBDC

Do It NOW!!!

Now is the Best Potential Version of You

Do It NOW!!!

Look back 10 or so years. Call into being your ridiculous insecurities, your unnecessary worry, needless doubt, and regrettable caution. Think again to that time. Recall your energy, your enthusiasm, and your vast resources. If you're like me, you will realize just how much time, effort and energy was wasted. How much you could have done and accomplished and how much you could do with those resources now, namely time and energy!

Look at yourself right now. Behold all that you are. Call into being your current insecurities, worry, doubt and caution. Now think about all that you have learned and experienced. Everything you have gone through up to this point. All of the harsh lessons and teachers. This is you NOW! This is the best potential version of yourself, right now! In 10 years, you will be EVEN better. You will look back and realize exactly what you are realizing at this moment. You will see how much of your time, effort and energy is being wasted by worry.

So do it NOW! No matter what your now is, do it! No matter what your "do it" is, do it now! I am not advocating throwing caution to the wind and falling into financial ruin, but I am saying that if you wait, the moment will eventually pass you by and fall to someone else. 

This is life. Right now is your life, your turn. Do It NOW!!!

Thanks for reading,

DocBDC

Becoming a Chiropractic expert

Becoming an expert

(Concepts derived after reading "Badass your brand" by Pia Silva)

Chiropractic school teaches us how to be chiropractors... a specialty. It is almost exactly the same way medical school creates medical doctors (either specialist or general practitioners). The issue is that most people come to us, chiropractors or medical doctors, because they believe we are "experts". Unfortunately, we are specialist not experts. The medical community figured this out a long time ago and created a continuing education program that takes the practitioner from "specialist" to "expert". This is why, with medical doctors especially, there is so much emphasis on their curriculum vitae (C.V.), where they were educated (trained), or where their continuing education has taken them (even general practitioners are specialist for the "general" population and hone their skills through education and experience).

Chiropractors, I will compare them to orthopedists, graduate with a certain level of education and experience. They have endured the rigors of the education process, multiple national board examinations (possible state board examinations), hands-on clinicals (similar to medical internship or residency, as well as the chiropractic equivalent of "rounds"), and have begun their practice. Their education has made them a specialist, much like an orthopedist is a specialist in orthopedics (branch of medicine dealing with the correction of deformities of bones or muscles), a chiropractor is a specialist of the spine, primarily its function as a neuroskeletal system*. Many of us chiropractors also take our education further by learning the interplay of all the articulations of the body, basically we learn to identify abnormal joint motion in any joint and how to correct it if applicable.

*Neuroskeleton is an old term used to describe the interaction between the spine and the nervous system. It is not a term used anymore, except by few, but the more I learn and read about how chiropractic is different from its medical counterparts the more this term is apt. It embodies the essence of how chiropractic works and why everyone should get checked by a chiropractor routinely.

- Chiropractors, however, lack the continuing education system to make them "experts", much like a "general practitioner" lacks the education to be a specialist. This is one very important reason why there has been a sharp decrease in "chiropractic expert witness" over the last 20 years in the courts. This is why the chiropractic profession enjoys only 8% of the United States population utilizing it's unique style of care. No one has taken up a continuing education program that takes Doctors of Chiropractic from specialists to experts... Well, that is not entirely true. There are organizations that offer diplomates and certifications in various specialties, but these practitioners tend to see less and less patients as they are attractive to large institutions, such as hospitals and schools. Also, the programs are mad-expensive and in order to take such a program one must take out a loan... Or the time-expense; these programs are setup like school, so you must leave your practice in order to participate in most of them. None of this appeals to those of us who cannot afford it or have families to consider.

The program I am enrolled in has positioned itself by partnering with a medical school to give up-to-date credentialing and created chiropractic courses for chiropractors is the Academy of Chiropractic. Dr.'s Mark Studin and Bill Owens have gone to great lengths to create a program that is qualified and robust in order to give the chiropractor the very best understanding of the human spine. Over the next 3 years I am undergoing courses so as to give myself an edge. With the education, and aforementioned credentialing, I will be able to communicate with other professionals such as neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, hospitals, etc. The credentialing speaks to the medical professional because of it's backing by the S.U.N.Y Buffalo Medical School and Texas College of Chiropractic, now Cleveland-Kansas City University. The program also speaks well to my strong sense of being a chiropractor first and unwilling to "sell-out" my professional philosophy. They have done what very few, if any have done before them and created a program to bridge chiropractic and the medical professions without requiring chiropractic to disown all that makes it unique, effective and different from the medical profession.
Just look at that previous paragraph. It looks like a sales ad for the Academy of Chiropractic. I guess you could say that I'm very excited to be taking classes from them. I am excited at the possibilities that could potentially open to me by diving into such a singular program. What's best? I get to go from "specialist" (chiropractor) to "expert" (Primary Spine Care). I am given the opportunity to move closer to mastery.
  

Gout! My Journey

Gout

I have gout. Sometimes gout has me. Even taking medication does not stop gout attacks and I have flares periodically. So what is gout? Why am I spending a whole post on gout?

What is it?

According to Google, gout is...
1. a disease in which defective metabolism of uric acid causes arthritis, especially in the smaller bones of the feet, deposition of chalkstones, and episodes of acute pain.
2. <literary> a drop or spot, especially of blood, smoke, or flame.
"gouts of flame and phlegm"

As per the Mayo Clinic...

"Gout is a common and complex form of arthritis that can affect anyone. It is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in the joints, often the joint at the base of the big toe.
A gout attack can occur suddenly, often with the sensation that your big toe is on fire. The affected joint is hot, swollen and so tender that even the weight of the sheet seems intolerable. Symptoms may come and go (referred to as gout flares)."

Signs & Symptoms (Mayo Clinic) ...
... almost always occur suddenly, and often at night. They include:

• Intense joint pain. 
• Gout usually affects the large joint of your big toe, but it can occur in any joint. 
• Other commonly affected joints include the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists and fingers. (For me, I also get inflammation and tenderness in my Sacroiliac joints, too.)
• The pain is likely to be most severe within the first four to 12 hours after it begins, but can linger for extended periods of time.
• Lingering discomfort. 
• After the most severe pain subsides, some joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks. 
• Later attacks are likely to last longer and affect more joints.
• Inflammation and redness. 
• The affected joint or joints become swollen, tender, warm and red.
• Limited range of motion. 
• As gout progresses, you may not be able to move your joints normally due to destructive changes to the joints

So why a whole post on gout? 

Well, for one thing, I found information connecting gout to brain fog but I could not find any information on the major health centers websites regarding the body aches. I suffer from gout, and have suffered since longer than I realized. I was finally diagnosed when I was in my early 30's, I am now 40. The diagnosis came from years of unknown foot and ankle pain that progressively got worse as I got older; it started in my early 20's. I would usually wake up and have foot and ankle pain that I could not explain nor account for, but it was excruciating. Some attacks would have me asking, "did I sprain my ankle in my sleep?" "Did I fracture my ankle yesterday and not notice?" "Did I drink last night?" I could never answer any of those questions, and the pain would usually subside within a day or so. As I approached my 30's, I began to notice more symptoms evolving around the gout flares. I would become inexplicably irritable days before the foot pain. I would wake up in a brain fog as well, and it would linger from before the gout flare until days after the flare subsided. My sleep would become poor as I would wake often. Finally, I would develop body aches even without the foot and ankle pain. These body aches would include achy joints, decreases strength, fluid retention, muscle soreness and intense muscle spasms. I am forced to become sedentary during these bouts as exercise made everything worse. 

I have not found any information from reputable sources on the body aches being connected with gout but I found that depression disorders are very much correlated. So while the body aches seem unexplained, the brain fog and irritability most certainly are:  

• In a nationwide cohort study, involving 34,050 participants, there is some kind of correlation between gout and depression (depressive disorders). Basically, anyone who has reoccurring or chronic pain is more likely to suffer from depression, especially as they get older. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5291635/

I will tell you my hypothesis on the body aches, in addition to the depression. My best educated guess is the body ache's (achy joints, fluid retention, decreased strength, muscle soreness, and intense muscle spasms) are from some sort of toxicity. I'm not a chemist, but based on how I feel, I would say that my body feels "toxic." Seeing as how gout is a problem with uric acid metabolism (breakdown and excretion), it makes sense that the elevated uric acid in the blood stream and tissues creates a toxicity situation. Either the uric acid itself is creating the toxicity, or the elevated uric acid in the body is also interfering with other metabolic processes creating a cascade of multiple minor toxic events. All together, the feeling is a body that does not work properly. 

This hypothesis is only an educated guess by a guy who is not a chemist, physiologist, nor nephrologist. I am only guessing as to what is happening in my body.

"He who is proud of his knowledge, has gout in the wrong end."
Thomas Adams
"That city is in a bad case whose physician hath the gout." ~Hebrew proverb
"Screw up the vise as tightly as possible — you have rheumatism; give it another turn, and that is gout."~Popular jest, c.1823
"Having a gout flareup in your toe is like having your toe catch on fire, and then putting out the fire by slamming it with a hammer." ~Anonymous urgent care clinic patient, 2011
"If you drink wine, you have the gout; if you don't drink wine, the gout will have you." ~German proverb
"Love, fire, a cough, the itch, and gout are not to be concealed." ~German proverb

"Gout is like is like waking up with a hangover, except instead of a headache there is blinding foot pain that will soon awaken other rheumatism." ~DocBDC

To any and all of those reading afflicted with gout, you are not alone.
Thank you for reading, as always,

DocBDC

<At the time of this post I am in the midst of a 2 week attack.>

<Week 1 was irritability and brain fog (depression)>

<Week 2 is the above plus crippling foot pain>

<My insurance company has denied coverage for my gout medicine so I'm relying on samples from my nephrologist. When those run out...>

Overqualified, Mastery, and Expertise

Which are you?     Which do you want to be?     What are you doing to get there?

Definitions:

Overqualified:

1. having qualifications that exceed the requirements of a particular job. "i am overqualified for the clinical practice for which I currently work."

Mastery: "Mastery is the urge to get better and better at something that matters." - Daniel Pink

1. comprehensive knowledge or skill in a subject or accomplishment. "she played with some mastery"
2. the action or process of mastering a subject or accomplishment. "a child's mastery of language"

Expertise:

1. expert skill or knowledge in a particular field.

Expert:

1. a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area. "experts in child development"
2. having or involving authoritative knowledge. "he had received expert academic advice"

Weighted Hip Thrusts, Let's Dive In

This is the "Weighted Hip Thrust"

The Weighted Hip Thrust is to be avoided, as a rule of thumb. Of course, there are exceptions...

• My biggest caveat is if, a BIG IF, you are under the supervision of a highly-qualified personal trainer or highly educated sport performance coach. 
• Their expertise should be extensive and... Elite!
• OR, you're extremely well versed in this move and you have exceptional body awareness.
• Of course, body weight hip thrusts, or bridges, are EXCELLENT exercises and EVERYONE should do them.

Forces travel through the pelvis in very particular ways. In anatomy & physiology, structure ALWAYS governs function. Below is a sampling of pics that demonstrate how forces travel through the pelvis.



Use your imagination and compare the force-pics to the pic at the top of this post. Do you see what I see? There is NO similarity to how forces travel through the pelvis, for which the pelvis is designed (structure governs function), and placing a weight on the anterior (front) of the pelvis and thrusting forward. From my perspective, this exercise is "circus, not purpose" driven. It looks "shiny", different and "hip" (pun intended), but it works the body against its natural design.

Unfortunately, this plagues the fitness world. Everyday in every gym or on television, you will see "circus, not purpose" exercises. Whether from boredom, lack of knowledge, or g-d knows what else, people see an exercise that "looks cool" and will attempt it. The worst thing is if they like it or if it works, because then they will continue to do the exercise. All the while, reinforcing abhorrent movement patterns, time-and-time again.

I am a firm believer in exercises that are applicable in the "real-world". This applies to everyone and is different for everyone. Bodybuilders are sculpting there body into works of art, so they are an outlier. The surfer has different needs from the baseball player. The hockey player differs in how they use their body from the sprinter. The desk-jockey has different needs then the E.R. nurse. The workouts for each of these, and all of those I've not mentioned, differs due to the demands of life. Your workouts should be designed for the needs of your body. Canned workouts, strictly adhering to books/videos, or adopting exercises because it's "new-shiny-cool" will lead you to a potentially injurious place.

Weighted hip thrusts are but one of many workouts for which I disagree. There are trainers, at least 2 that I've come across, that have built immense financial wealth by promoting this exercise, among others. They are wrong. They have not done the research, nor put in the critical thought toward the weighted hip thrust. They're merely exploited its growing popularity to amass "followers" on social media and money.

Workout according to your needs. If you need help, hire a personal trainer or join a sport performance center's adult classes... Or contact Coach Brian Barry at Linked Athletics Sport Performance Center (www.linkedathletics.com). Email him and he can help guide you or even put together remote workouts. Your individual needs must be met by your exercise program, as well as, the exercises within your workouts.

Thank you for reading my opinion piece,

DocBDC

The Core and the Back

I've been sitting on this since 2012!

This is the rough-cut, second draft, project I started before 2012, but FINALLY compiled. This is, to the best of my knowledge and creativity, the CORE of the BODY. I cannot abide the idea that the core is comprised of 4, 7, or even 12 muscles. I require, for my own edification, that a more complete list be drawn-up so even more comprehensive exercises may be developed through the application of anatomical science.

Since I could not find one, here is my work-in-progress.

The Core

• Diaphram
• Multifidi
• Rotatores
• Semispinalis (Thoracic-Head)
• Erector Spinae
• Iliocostalis
• Longissimus
• Spinalis
• Quadratus Lumborum
• Abdominals
• Rectus Abdominus
• Int. Oblique
• Ext. Oblique
• Transverse Abdominus
• Glutes
• Glut Max
• Glut Min
• Glut Med
• Tensor Fascia Lata / Iliotibial Band
• Piriformis
• Int./Ext. Obterator
• Sup./Inf. Gemella
• Quadratus Femoris
• Pelvic Floor Musculature
• Hamstrings
• Semitentinosus
• Semimembranosus
• Biceps femoris
• Quads
• Vastus Lateralis
• Vastus Medialis
• Rectus Femoris
• Sartorious
• Psoas
• Iliacus
• Psoas major 
• Psoas minor
• Adductor Magnus
• Adductor Longus
• Adductor Brevis
• Gracilis

The Back

• Traps
• Lats
• Levator Scapulae
• Rhomboid Major
• Rhomboid Minor
• Serratus Posterior Superior
• Serratus Posterior Inferior
• Splenius Capitis
• Splenius Cervicis
• Iliocostalis
• Longissimus
• Spinalis
• Multifidus
• Rotatore

*There are approximately 77 back muscles in 3 layers, the first, second and deep layer.

Not Part of My Tribe!

Recently my family is undergoing a rather stressful time. My youngest daughter is being evaluated for autism. For those who have met her, I get many questions and disbelief, "but she makes eye contact", "but see smiles and engages", "but she seems so normal". Yes she does, and is, but she has traits that are up to, but not beyond, an 18 month old (she's almost 3). She advances in skills, then regresses almost equally when she is under stress. She is almost 3 years old and cannot speak, she mostly babbles, nor does she engage with other children. She screams, growls and is beginning to flap her hands when frustrated. We put her in daycare for almost 6 weeks, after that time my daughter spoke to her mother, the teacher remarked, "I've never heard her speak, I thought she might be mute." After some gentle interrogation, my wife discovered that our daughter never sat with the other children, but played alone with very specific dolls. Other children would come up to her and engage, my daughter would "parallel play" with them, but when they would leave, she would stay. The teacher also remarked on how well behaved my daughter was, never complained, always did as instructed, always so compliant... this is not the report I want about my 2 year old. They are suppose to be defiant, it's part of their developmental process. Missing it may indicate their brains are not developing as they should. A Google quick search yielded this definition of autism:

• a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts. - A quick Google Search (*a more complete definition, including DSM V, can be found below*)

I explained to a person (names, gender and situations are changed to maintain privacy, but you know who you are...) that I may be a high function autistic who has devised and implemented unconscious "strategies" to "normalize" my behaviors and reactions (basically, I appear and seem "normal," but it's more complicated than that). However, due to the "strategies" implemented it is considered currently impossible to test for autism in adults. Further, my mother, who's worked in the field of psychology as an L.P.C. (boots on the ground type) for decades and has taken leadership roles at the state and local levels, indicated that she agrees. Looking back, she sees that, had I been evaluated, I probably would have been diagnosed as a "very high functioning autistic., Asperger-ish". The response I got from said-person was, "YOU ARE NOT AUTISTIC," "your mother is just wrong, just wrong." Needless to say, I became... angry enough to feel my blood pressure rise and to feel the tingle of adrenaline and blood flow just under my skin. I kept my cool, even their friend in the room did not notice the momentary change in my demeanor. I was verbally uppercut to the gut. Throughout the day, I was able to process my feelings on what was said and why I reacted with such verve. Here is what I came up with so far:

1. I am a mama's-boy, nobody criticizes my mama without a me getting angry
2. This person does not know my mother, her achievements, or her education & experience, nor was this person there when my mom and I had the conversation
3. This person did not know me as a child. The only time when autism can be diagnosed.
4. This person has an autistic son. I then assume the son's "function" may not be high. My guess is that I did not meet their criteria for their experience of autism. The person's son may be one who is difficult on good days, impossible on bad days, and a blessing on the best of days.
5. The person could have used the "I" approach, "I don't agree," " I don't see it", etc. Instead, they decided to attack, "You are not...", "Your mother is just wrong...". The person could have been more diplomatic with such a potentially sensitive topic, instead they went with being a JERK.
1. I have my own theories as to this persons mental diagnosis, but I will leave it up to your imagination

Ultimately, I come to the point, and the title of this longer-than-expected post...
Anyone else getting the sense that I am using my blog just to bitch about life. Sorry about that. It's been a difficult few months...
This person fell smack-dab into a trap that I see happen everywhere, in every walk-of-life, in every corner big or small. The notion that "you do not fit into my tribe." I mention that I might be super high-functioning autistic, "mildly" autistic would be apt, and this person reflexively attacks. I'm not saying they knowingly attacked, but that is what happens when you use the "You" method of counter-argument. They demonstrated, quite literally, the reflexive nature of inclusion and exclusion (Tribes). "You do not resemble what I know this thing to be, therefore you ARE NOT this thing," i.e. In their mind they could not see the resemblance between their son and I, therefore I must not potentially have the same diagnosis as their son. If there is one thing I would like them to know it is that they are an expert in the diagnosis of their son, but ONLY in their son. They have no business, or say, in the potential, or actual, diagnosis of anyone else... Even if, especially if, the diagnosis is the same. They have no right to get "judge-ie" just because their experience is more difficult.

Hence the tribe mentality. On the one hand, tribes are good. They help us to find those in which we share any or all things in common. They create meaningful and long-lasting bonds, potentially. They increase survival quotients, in our first-world society, tribes help increase our "thrivability quotient". On the other hand, tribes exclude those that are deemed as different. Tribe mentality is great when the population of an area is low and survival is a problem, but when you live in a country of wealth, then tribes begin to get picky. Sometimes this keeps the heard culled, but others it just hurts people.

Thank you for reading,

DocBDC

--------------------
Here is the fuller definition of autism. Upon scrutiny, I did fit, and still do to a lesser extend, every single one of the DSM V criteria. Not in the disabled way, like I have to imagine the son, but in the cognitive difference akin to certain types of savantism. I've highlighted what trait I possess...

*Autism defined: 

• a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts. - Google Search
• a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. We now know that there is not one autism but many types, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences. -Autism Speaks
• DSM V
• Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive, see text)
• Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, as manifested by at least two of the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text)
• Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities, or may be masked by learned strategies in later life)
• Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning
•  These disturbances are not better explained by intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) or global developmental delay. Intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder frequently co-occur; to make co-morbid diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, social communication should be below that expected for general developmental level
• With or without accompanying intellectual impairment
  With or without accompanying language impairment
  Associated with a known medical or genetic condition or environmental factor
  (Coding note: Use additional code to identify the associated medical or genetic condition.)
  Associated with another neurodevelopmental, mental, or behavioral disorder
  (Coding note: Use additional code[s] to identify the associated neurodevelopmental, mental, or behavioral disorder[s].)
  With catatonia (refer to the criteria for catatonia associated with another mental disorder, pp. 119-120, for definition) (Coding note: Use additional code 293.89 [F06.1] catatonia associated with autism spectrum disorder to indicate the presence of the comorbid catatonia.)

Social (pragmatic) Communication Disorder

• Difficulty understanding and following such social-communication “rules.” ... 
• Clearly, many individuals with autism share these difficulties. 
• To receive a diagnosis of ASD under DSM-5, one must also have the repetitive behaviors and/or restricted interests typical of autism

Like SCD, autism involves difficulty with social communication skills. But autism has the additional defining characteristic of restricted and/or repetitive behaviors. So an evaluation must rule out autism before reaching a diagnosis of SCD