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

2018... So Far...

... It's March!!!

I do not delve into my personal life, too deeply or too often. I do not discuss hardships with friends, patients or even family, for the most part (family perhaps sometimes, my mother often). I usually take the opinion that, "15% of most people do not care about other peoples problems and the other 85% are just glad not to have them". Therefore, upon careful consideration, I have decided to create this sincerely personal post. Through the last couple of weeks I have been required to think back upon my life, my struggles, my choices, and where my future is heading. Who have I been, what has led me to the me that I see in the mirror, and who does that person become.

Living has a funny way of presenting a person with what is important, then snatching it away and presenting something that is least expected but far more important. Sometimes this is very good and you'll walk away having grown into a "next level of you". Other times, life presents you with the "not quite worst-case-scenario," but something in that league, and you still come out of it grown, but there are scars.

This year has brought a number of troubles:
     My oldest daughter has been an angel, actually. I have been blessed that she has taken 2018 in such stride with such grace. We have struggled over the years. She is a particularly strong personality and has a very loud mouth (which will serve her well as an adult). She suffers from some variation of a sensory processing disorder (originally I wrote more about it but decided that details are unimportant for you, the reader). While she has been amazing, and I really cannot say enough good about her, we have still collided and she still fiercely struggles from time-to-time. Recently, my daughters "sperm donor," as my wife's family calls him, has been making noise that he wants my daughter to start to get to know him, and his family. Apparently, his mother and sisters are moving to the area and this is spurring him to consider action toward his oldest child. Briefly: he left shortly after she turned one and after a cursory attempt to stay connected to her, he signed over his rights to her mother, my wife, in exchange for never needing to pay child-support. He's had at least 2 more children with another women, maybe 3, and he lives a few short miles from us. In his recent exchange with my wife about our daughter, he blamed my wife for "making him" stop seeing her. His memory is apparently selective in that it was him that could not stop doing drugs, stop smoking, or become mature enough to make the time to be a dad. Not until, that is, he met his current baby-mama (whose finances are suspect as she has 5 children from 3 dads, they remain unmarried (Medicaid and Food Stamps), and his job allows for many underhanded and under-the-table cash deals). His heavy-handed and ill-guided train of thought risks the delicate homeostasis we have built and maintain in our home. My daughter only knows me as her father, and he threatens this.
     My youngest daughter has always been our "odd-bird". In fact, early on, my nickname for her has been "little bird" as a nod to her small size, loud call and oddities. Last year, my wife and I began to recognize significant "delays" to her development, especially with regard to communication and socialization (red-flag). We also began to recognize "advancements" to skills like ordering, memory and a need for stimulating repetitive movement. Last year we began to reference her as our "artistic" child. Funny? No, but it was our way to begin to cope with a possible future for our youngest. 2018 has brought more signs of possible Autism, as well as two occupational therapist and a child counselor with Babies Can't Wait urging us to get her evaluated and into the Marcus Center for Autism. For those that do not know, it is hard to explain. On the one hand, your child is right there and has never changed. On the other hand, you are forced to let go of any reference to a "neuro-normal" life, and since the world we live in is built for the "neuro-normal"... well there's the rub. It is part grieving, part re-imagining, and a course correction all at once.
     My wife. Now her struggle is real. Last year, after struggling with depression for many months, my wife decided to get help. Fast forward down that rabbit hole... She is diagnosed with bipolar depression (bipolar II). She is trying different meds and struggling with mood regulators, anti-psychotics and all of the wonderful side effects that go along with them. 2018 brought a complete breakdown of the medications. The just stopped working. After a brief, yet careful, debate, I brought  her to a facility to help get her head right and her meds sorted. She was in for 10 days. In those 10 days, both girls became sick with the flu, so I was working through that as she was working through group. Everything seemed to have gone well, she came home clearer and on the correct doses. She dove right in to "mommy duty" and right back into life. It was great for about a three days, then she had an allergic reaction to the new anti-psychotic, to which I had to rush her to the E.R. She came off of that medicine immediately. It took a whole week for her to get a prescription for a new anti-psych, it then took 2 weeks for the pharmacy to carry it, and to top it all off, the insurance company (United Health Care I'm calling you out) would only carry 13 pills... per year (PER FUCKING YEAR!). So here we are, down an anti-psychotic, my wife wavering between slightly depressed (on a good day) and moderately depressed (most days). For those who have never lived with someone who is clinically depressed, I cannot possibly help you to understand, but it is like living on shifting sand all of the time. To cope, my wife just got her thigh tattoo redone, which is always cathartic for her, but now we live in uncertainty as to what is next.
     As for me, I have been elbow-deep in eating low-carb since January 3rd. I have lost 25-30 pounds since then. I have not been able to find a schedule in which to add a workout routine, but it is a priority. I paid a visit to my nephrologist (kidney doctor) this year, it has been over 3 years since then. According to his records, I am the same weight I was 3 years ago; that is unsettling. I did blood work and a 24 hour collection. Unfortunately, my numbers are falling. At the time of writing this post, I have not spoken to him or his nurse, but the results are online and they indicate that I am hemorrhaging protein, the creatinine is too high, the creatinine clearance too low, my GFR is too low, uric acid is too high, and to top it off, my blood glucose is too high (not uncommon for low-carb/keto diets). Now, the protein may be elevated because I was dehydrated the day before due to a 13 hour workday, or there may be an infection because my eosinophils and lymphocytes are too low. Either way not good... Further, my numbers at work are low. Of the three doctors, I see the least amount of patients per week. From a doctor-patient perspective, I spend a great deal of time with each patient. HOWEVER, from a business perspective, I am not making enough money to pay the staff, keep the lights on... basically pay for any of the overhead... pay myself, etc and so on. In every practice, medical, chiropractic, or whomever, there is the dance between seeing enough patients in a day and giving enough time to each patient. My father says that I am their chiropractor NOT their counselor. This is logical and for those that own their own business I can hear, "so what's the problem?" I am slow. I have always been slow as a doctor... as a Zamboni driver, as a tutor, as a student, etc. My style is slow and thorough. In fact, many of my patient appreciate and mention the fact that I listen and exam in a thorough and compete way. When I adjust, I check (analyze), make the correction (adjust), then recheck. I move to the next analysis or correction from there. It takes me more than twice as long to adjust than it does my father... about three times longer than our independent contractor. I AM NOT saying that I am better, in fact, I am lamenting the opposite. If left to my own devices, if my father and the other doctor where not there, I'd probably failed threefold already. It hurts to think that, in order to be the doctor I want to be, I would not be able to make it in solo-practice. Finally, with all that we are having to do with my youngest daughter, I am beginning to discover that I am probably an diagnosed high-functioning autistic. My mother has no doubt, actually. She sees the similarities from my daughters behavior now to my behavior then. This revelation has explained so very much of my childhood and my behaviors now. I feel relief through understanding as well as dread for what my daughter will have to go through. It is abundantly clear in my mind that life is not built for the neurally diverse, and when life is the bully...<pause for dramatic effect>... well that's life, isn't it? (painful sarcasm sets in)

Here it is. Only a little more than 10 weeks into 2018 and I just want it to be 2019 already.

So how does this relate to "Health and Fitness"?
Aside from the obvious, there is wisdom in offloading your problems. Even if the venue is an online blog in which no one will ever read, there is health to be attained by being able to explain that which weighs on you. I recommend, however, more conventional approaches, friends, family, counseling, etc, but if you are like me, then you may find outlets in more creative places.

There is also something to be said about facing your fears, actually there is EVERYTHING to be said. It scares the hell out of me to put this out into the world. Scares me even more that someone will read this, and petrifies me that I will find out they have read it. That is the main reason for me writing and posting on this miserably rainy Sunday morning. I cannot say that I understand it, but it is healthy to face fears and grow.
"To find depth, resolve and strength through facing fear, that is boss!"

Thank you for reading,

DocB---DC