Finally Getting Fit

*NOTE: Anyone who comments on any of Dawson’s posts (spotlight today, guest post tomorrow, interview on Friday) is automatically entered to win a copy of Dawson’s book - The Genie in Your Genes!

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Hello and welcome to Finally Getting Fit, Dr. Church.

1. Could you give the readers here an easy to understand definition of epigenetic work and what you talk about in your book, Genie in Your Genes?

Epigenetics is the science of the signals that activate genes. Our 24,000 genes contain blueprints for building various proteins. Which genes are active, and which proteins get built, depends partly on the signals we send to our cells. In The Genie in Your Genes (www.GenieBestSeller.com), I show how our consciousness is one of the primary purveyors of epigenetic signals.

2. Is epigenetics all energy work? If not, what other things does it incorporate?

Epigenetic signals are sent to the genes in a variety of ways. Some ways are: messenger molecules like neutrotransmitters, neural synaptic signaling, electromagnetic fields, and possibly using light in the form of biophotons. These can be generated by external environmental cues (food, temperature, predators) or internal ones, like the shifts in consciousness produced by meditation, belief, and EFT.

3. What is EFT?

EFT is short for Emotional Freedom Techniques. It’s the fastest consistent method I’ve ever found for reducing the emotional charge of traumatic memories. It involves pairing the memory with a self-acceptance statement, and then tapping on 12 stress-reduction sites on the body, which send an epigenetic piezolelectric signal through the connective tissue. It often works on physical pain, and cravings, too.

4. Could you share a story of healing?

We use EFT to work with veterans suffering from PTSD (posttraumatic stress syndrome). In a clinical trial I published in a peer-reviewed journal, I tell the story of a particular Vietnam veteran with a particularly troubling memory. He usually went on patrol with his best friend, who would walk on his left. This particular time, his friend was on his right, and was killed by a sniper’s bullet in his right side. This veteran had blamed himself for decades for not “taking the bullet” and saving his friend’s life.

After EFT, his cognitions about the event shifted to include the recognition that his friend would willingly have died for him. Another time I worked with a doctor who had recently fractured her wrist. On a 0 through 10 scale, her pain was a 7. For about 10 minutes we did EFT on a traumatic childhood memory, after which the pain dropped to 1.

5. Can energy medicine and conventional medicine coexist? Is one better than the other?

Integrative medicine combines the best of both. You use conventional medicine for conditions it’s good at treating, such as fractures and infections. You use energy medicine for conditions for which it’s suited, like autoimmune diseases, anxiety and depression.

6. Can epigenetics help couples to achieve a healthier pregnancy?

Without a doubt. Much fetal development is governed epigenetically. The emotional state of both the man and the woman affects fetal development, and when one or both parents are committed to cleaning up their past emotional wounding, they help create a healthy womb environment.

7. Does energy work and other practices mentioned in your book offer hope to anyone suffering with a health problem?

Even if you have a serious disease like cancer or heart disease, energy medicine can help. If you achieve inner peace and emotional balance, studies have shown that the stress reducing effects of peace of mind correlate positively with the need for pain medication and doctor’s visits. The book is full of examples of energy psychology and conventional medicine working harmoniously together, whether it’s for a minor problem like a cold or cut, or a major disease.

8. Where do you think/hope epigenetic study will be in ten years?

In the last 20 years, medical science has developed advanced tools like gene chips that can measure the expression of every single gene in the human body simultaneously. We are now turning this technology to the study of consciousness, and investigating how shifts in consciousness like beliefs, meditation and energy work affect genes. I predict we will find very large and important effects on the genome resulting from changes in consciousness, and we will start to use these findings to bring energy psychology into primary care settings. Expect it in hospitals and clinics within a couple of years.

9. What are you hoping readers take from reading Genie in Your Genes?

The understanding that you have enormous leverage over your health. Also that there are a dozen things you can do in ten minutes or less that can have widespread positive epigenetic effects throughout your body.

10. Where can readers go for more information?

To buy the book, go to www.GenieBestseller.com. If you know a veteran who needs help, send them to www.StressProject.com. And if you have a sports team or business that needs a quantum performance increase, send them to www.EFTPowerTraining.com.

11. Is there anything else you would like to share?

Love yourself. De-stress yourself. Experiment with different stress reduction techniques, and find a toolkit of them you can make your own. A calm emotional environment is the incubator of creativity as well as health. This gift is within your reach, and you deserve it. Don’t put it off; do this today!

As I have mentioned before, part of the reason we’re not trying for children right now is because of my health. Well, I finally got my bum in gear and got things moving in the doctor appointments realm. (Now if only I could get and keep things going with blog stuff, huh?)

Yesterday I went to my appointment at the family planning clinic and we basically talked the whole time. She gave me a pregnancy test just to make sure I wasn’t pregnant and then we started talking about what I want out of it.

She doesn’t want to put me on the pill yet because she wants to check to see if the PCOS diagnosis is still right. I have a bunch of blood work I need to get done, but there is a place just down the street (less than five minutes walking) who will do it. They said I could drop in any time. I’ll probably get that done tomorrow morning.

I also have a pelvic ultrasound coming up on Monday and they’ll check for all sorts of things to see what’s going on and how I’m doing without having had period for a while. The ultrasound is a bit costly, but she said they do a much better and thorough job than the place that does it for less price, so I opted to go with them. Also, funnily enough, it’s just a couple buildings down the street from the family planning clinic.

So I have all that to do, and then I go back to the clinic and my doctor there on the 10th of December. It’s really nice to get things done so quickly!

Yep, that’s right. No Thursday Thirteen.

And I bet you were thinking I was going to put up a list of Thirteen Reasons I Love My New Elliptical.

I thought about it, but obsessing about an inanimate object that much just isn’t my groove today.

Yep, I’m definitely in a groove today. In fact, I’ve been in a bit of a domestic groove this week. I’ve been cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, etc, etc. I’m not sure what’s going on with me. After the near heartbreaking morning I had on Tuesday (Oz time), I’m kind of surprised that I’m this perky. Maybe because life goes on? Maybe because the world didn’t end the moment I found out (again) that I’m not pregnant?

Who knows? I shouldn’t question.

I was talking to my friend Randi earlier about the health related stuff going on in our lives. She’s part of a study for PCOS that is hoping to determine the actual genetic bits that get passed down from mother to daughter to cause PCOS.

I think that is the coolest thing ever. I wish I could participate.

I don’t know if my grandmother had PCOS, but I know my mother did even though she wasn’t officially diagnosed. My aunt probably has it too, but I don’t think she’s been diagnosed either. I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately, especially given my want to have children and the fact that I have been losing and gaining the same ten pounds since I came to Australia.

I know I have to go to a gyno, but I’m really not looking forward to it. Blood tests galore and I really don’t want to go back on the pill… but I’ll have to do what I must, right? All in the name of fitness…

What an eventful few days. Where to start…

Well, I’ll start with the fact it’s actually a holiday weekend here. On Tuesday we have ‘the race that stops the nation’ which is a horse race like no other. People across Australia party, bet on horses and otherwise have a lot of fun. Most of the people in Victoria get Tuesday off.

My husband surprised me by taking Monday off, so we whisked away to western Australia for a mini-vacation of sorts. It was one of those trips where you don’t have a timeline and just go wherever you feel like. We ended up in a nice small town and met some interesting people.

The weekend was a bit emotional, however, because I haven’t been feeling my best. About two weeks ago I started on with a headache. Later on came a bit of tiredness, nausea, soreness and other sorts of fun things. We can to wonder – despite the near impossibility of it – if perhaps I was pregnant.

Maybe it’s silly or stupid for me to think that I could possibly get pregnant with all of the health issues I have going on right now, but I did believe in that chance and took a test. It was negative, as I knew it had to be, but I was still upset. Naturally.

However, if I think about it rationally – though being rational isn’t my strong suit today – I remind myself that my body is certainly not as healthy as it should be for a normal pregnancy. I am reminded that there are still issues I need to deal with because I wanted to turn to food for comfort. I didn’t, but the want was still there.

And so, this week I take off from weighing in and Monday Mailbag. I need the break. I need to get back to the stricter diet my naturopath worked out, need to make an appointment with a gynecologist and I need to get started on my new elliptical…

Okay, so I’m a little late and this Monday Mailbag question is from last week… Oops. I’m finally catching up on things, though, so please bear with me.

So last week I asked everyone:

What are your other reasons for getting/staying fit? Who are you getting/staying fit for other than you?

This is one I have answered halfway in a few of my posts, but I will go ahead and answer it anyway. I have a few reasons for getting and staying fit:

1. I want to have a baby. Sure, I could go ahead and try now, but I know I’ll have a better chance of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy if I’m fit. So while we’re still preparing mentally and financially, I’m preparing physically.

2. For my husband. For him I am willing to do pretty much anything. I want to be as active as he is so we can explore places together without worrying about me getting exhausted or whatnot. I want him to be attracted to me (he is now, but if I got heavier, it would be hard on him) and to be the woman we both know I can be.

3. For my health. This is probably the obvious one, but it’s still relevant. When I was growing up, I didn’t have much motivation or reason to take care of myself. I didn’t care much about myself and a lot of people didn’t seem to care that much that I was overweight, so I didn’t give it much of a go.

I tried a few diets here and there, but I didn’t stick with them because I felt no reason to. But now when I have people who love me, care about me, want to see me succeed, living a long life has become important. Being healthy has become important. I want not only to live but to live a healthy lifestyle.

So what about you? What/who are your reasons and motivations?

Right now, there are quite a few women I know who are pregnant, so I thought it would be a great idea to have RN and author Tori Kropp on site to talk about keeping fit while you’re pregnant.

Tori is virtually touring this month with her book: Joy of Pregnancy: The Complete, Candid, and Reassuring Companion for Parents-to-Be. I hope you’ll join me in welcoming her to the site.

Thanks so much for inviting me to contribute a post about staying fit during pregnancy. There are so many great reasons to exercise. It helps all of us to feel better and to be healthier whether we are pregnant or not. During pregnancy, however, regular exercise and being fit can help decrease the incidence of gestational diabetes, help you to develop more stamina for labor and experience less post partum depression.

For those women who are not physically active I suggest that you begin a loose regimen of daily walks, stretching or prenatal yoga. Walking tends to be the easiest because you can pace yourself and increase your efforts, as you feel fit. You can park your car a bit farther away from work or take a walk at lunchtime and enjoy the outdoors. Be sure to walk in safe, comfortable shoes.

If you are already physically active, these exercises are designed specifically for each trimester of pregnancy.

Trimester I
Generally, if your pregnancy is completely normal and going smoothly, you are not limited at all - unless you participate in a contact sport such as, fencing, kickboxing or soccer. If this is the case, you should ask your doctor or midwife before continuing.

– Workout activities such as running, bicycling and weight lifting are fine.
– Be extra careful when you are stretching! Women have an increase in the hormone relaxin during pregnancy. This can result in loose joints for several months during pregnancy and after giving birth. Because you may feel more limber, you can over-stretch and hurt yourself.

Trimester II
The second trimester is the ideal time to shift from strictly aerobic activities and include mind /body exercises.

– Prenatal yoga is a wonderful way to slow down and center yourself, in addition to getting a great workout.
– Alter your sit-ups! They are fine if they are done on a 45-degree incline with your knees bent.
– Lifting weights are also still fine, so long as they are not too strenuous–just be sure to use caution.
– Using a stationary bicycle or taking a moderate ride outside is terrific. Bicycling is an aerobic, non-weight bearing activity.
– It is vital not to become overheated. It is important to pace yourself, rest as needed during your workout and drink plenty of extra water. Remember, you’re drinking for two now!

Trimester III
Your activities in the third trimester should be limited to your level of comfort.

– Taking a daily walk can be perfect and you might find it, alone, to be enough.
– Swimming is also an excellent form of exercise. It is aerobic, and safe to do every day. Floating in the water gives you a “weightless” sensation in which you don’t feel the physical limitations of your growing body.
– Here again, in the third trimester, prenatal yoga is a wonderful way to prepare your body, mind and spirit for your soon-to-arrive baby.

Women who exercise regularly are also more likely than others to report feeling accomplished, confident, and positive about life. I wish you much health and happiness on this exciting adventure.

~ ~ Warmly, Tori Kropp