Monday, September 22, 2014

Does Plexus Slim Work?

Short answer: most people do get benefits from drinking the "Pink Drink' daily.  Slim was made for individuals with diabetes.  It is meant to balance blood sugar, lower cholesterol and cleanse the liver.  That said and after almost a year of drinking SLIM and watching others do the same, Plexus Slim works best and fastest for those with diabetes, high cholesterol, high BP, migraines and yes, ADHD. I have also seen it help those who are already exercising and for those who are not moving at all.  I personally lost 10 pounds and 15", gained it back, and lost it again several months later.  But the energy is crucial for me with FM and CFS.

Plexus Slim is not for everyone.  Plain and simple.  If you "feel" something in the first 3 days (increased energy, better sleep, and maybe lost a pound or two), you are a good candidate for the product.  Yesterday I had a booth at a Wine Festival.  We had mostly visitors who had lost 10, 20 or even 60 pounds on Slim stop by with smiles, or we had visitors who had never heard of Plexus yet.  But there were those who stopped by who had not lost any weight, no energy, nothing.  It shocks me that 2 people - with the same body type - can have 2 different results - regardless of how much water they consume, whether or not they exercise and eat right, despite their age.
Slim works for some people, and for some it does not, plain and simple.
But for those it does work for, it can be life changing. I have personal friends who have lost over 40 pounds since July.  I wish that was me.  I have friends who no longer need migraine meds or sleep meds. Some people have never felt better!  It is certainly worth a try! 
If it works for you, great!!!  Keep it up!

Otherwise, eat well (as natural and non-processed as you can), move around as much as you can, and love deeply those around you.  This is health.  Ditch the scale (I say to myself). 

Health, Wealth and Happiness to you all!
-Chrissy






Friday, September 5, 2014

Brain Training - Does it really work? Tyler's Story

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The science behind Brain Training is Neuroplastcity, or the ability of the brain to re-route or even construct new pathways to achieve what it needs to. The body is so amazing!  Your circulatory system does this as well.  If you have a blocked blood vessel, your body will try to find new routes to circulate to the areas needing blood flow.

Whether we were born with cognitive difficulties, something happened after birth to change our brains (like lack of oxygen or a stroke), or even if we have just learned to compensate for our cognitive weaknesses (think memory, working memory, processing speed, executive functioning, word attack, visual processing, etc), our brains can be TRAINED!!!


Just like you go to a physical fitness expert to help you train your muscles, you can go to a Brain Trainer to train your brain, and get smarter!!!  Yes - GET SMARTER!


The science is overwhelmingly in favor of brain training and neuroplasticity.  The personal testimonials are even more amazing.  I am going to tell you a story near and dear to my heart: that of my youngest son.

Background
Tyler was born with Pulmonary Hypertension.  We did not know this for about 3 days after birth. During this time, while he was in the NICU fighting for his life, oxygen was decreased to his precious brain.  After our Pediatric Cardiologist was called in to run tests, Tyler was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension and he was life-flighted to the pediatric specialty hospital in downtown Memphis - where we lived at the time.  There Tyler was intubated, on a respirator, then changed to an oscillator with NO.  Then, we got the dreaded wake up call to our parent room in Pediatric ICU - Tyler was not improving and they wanted to put him on ECMO (basically all the blood is routed from the child bypassing the lungs, put through the ECMO machine for filtering and oxygenating, then routed back into the child.)  This was to allow Tyler's lungs to rest and heal.  He was on ECMO for 6 days.  Total 12 days intubation.  Praise God Tyler survived.

Other than asthma - which went from severe to now mild and managed - we were home-free with our precious child.  I am certain the doctors told us bedside about the risk of brain damage or learning disabilities, but you can imagine that was NO WHERE near a concern to us.  Save our baby!!
Fast forward to school.  The youngest child, admittedly spoiled, boy was fidgety, forgetful, never competed his work, hated worksheets altogether, but as long as there were modifications, he could read and learn.  He was a sweet, compassionate child, full of life, amazing little athlete - basically a little boy.

Before Brain Training
In 2nd grade, we met Learning RX owners, Kim Bellini and Beth Buzzbee, at a convention. Learning RX is a brain-training center. We had Tyler assessed. In 2nd grade, we were still able to "make it" in school and at home. Tyler did everything the school had to offer to improve school performance - all the extra programs, extra help and even an intense summer reading program. While his reading level did improve, nothing else did.  We did private tutoring, and both my husband and I, trained educators, also worked with Tyler. 

Then 3rd grade hit. It hit hard. HARD. The pace of school, the demands of the teachers, the expectations for independent working, multi-tasking, remembering 3 things at once (put up your book, pull out your spiral, copy what I am doing, then complete the page) were a NO-GO. Tears. Anxiety. Panic attacks.  Hyperventilating. Missing school due to the above.  Meetings with teachers, administrators, diagnosticians, observing the classroom, etc.  Begging, I mean begging not to go.  Failing every paper, every test, every task. Tyler was defeated, deflated and we were out of options.  We went back at Learning RX, enrolled in one of the longest programs they have to offer and committed all-in for the year.  
"The Year of the Tyler" we called it.
I googled his health condition at birth, and there were just a few clinical studies about these kids.  Of the ones that survived... Of the ones that survived... (breathe), about 50% had severe neural-cognitive conditions such as cerebral palsy and severe mental retardation. But of those that appeared "normal," they were finding that at about age 7-9, these kids were finding learning disabilities and cognitive difficulties.  Well that explained a lot. Brain training also made perfect sense as a solution!  We had hope!  

Our year in brain training with Learning RX in The Woodlands, TX was amazing.  Wow what a year! We came in with no other options.  School was literally impossible  The initial scores scared us for his future.  We were already at a loss for his present.  Then Team Tyler trained the brain.  He learned to work harder than he ever had at anything and push through with his eye on the prize. He worked harder than any of us have worked before.

After Brain Training
Look at him now!!!  School is easy, he is making straight A's (whereas before he made straight F's in 3rd grade). Rather than panic attacks before school, he gladly goes now.  He remembers things that were impossible before.

We find out his post assessment scores tomorrow at his Celebration with the Trainers and Owners.  I don't even care what the scores are!  I know they will be amazing!  Learning RX gave Tyler HOPE again, a love for school and reading, the processing speed and tools he needs for life.  He is taking an AR test today on a chapter book he read in 2 days.  Let that sink in. :)

We are forever champions of Brain Training - especially Learning RX!



Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Tele-What?? Telemedicine.

"What is Telemedicine, Chrissy?" Most people have some vague idea of doctors communicating via high tech and elaborate technology and devices to consult on the care of a patient in a rural setting, or who may be hard to diagnose/ treat.  While that is one kind of Telemedicine, now (drum roll.....) it is so much more!!! Contact me at the form to the right to schedule a time for us to discuss more!

Video: Pediatric Ear Ache
Now, we - you, me, our families and our employees - can consult with a physician 24/7 from wherever we are - at work, on vacation, or at home too sick in bed to drag our self to a doctor, ER or Urgent Care!!!

The company my LLC represents for this benefit is Dr. Connection Benefits, which represents the 2 largest Telemedicine providers in the country - TeleDoc and MD Live.  When you join (or purchase this benefit for your employees), you/ the employee completes a medical history including medications-  just like you would at a new office.  For a really low monthly fee (which is less than half of one copay for my personal family if we were to visit an office), you and your family get unlimited access to this network of physicians for non-emergent, non-DEA controlled needs.

Video: Physician Explains How Telemedicine Works

Too busy or too sick to head to Urgent care for a sore throat, poison ivy,bronchitis or a UTI? Use your Telemedicine benefit!  If needed, the doctor will call in a prescription to your pharmacy and you can pick it up on the way home from work!
It really is as cool and as simple as it sounds!  
In just a few short years, with the changes in healthcare, the rise in the uninsured and under-insured individuals, every company will have a Telemedicine benefit.

I am so excited to be on the front of this wave in healthcare!  You can sign up individually or as a family (called Retail) or you can connect me with your benefits person for your company.  I want to share this information with everyone I can!  Send me an email to the right here, and I will be right back in touch with you!
Remember: Contact me via the form to the right to schedule an appointment to get your company and your family set up!

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

You just NEVER know

At 7:00 AM, most of our neighborhood was awakened to firetrucks in the neighborhood.  Some heard several booms and quickly followed the sound to make sure everyone was alright.  Jason and Lauren Hughes and their 3 girls made it out safely while their house roared with flames. Thanks to Conroe Firefighters, the fire was quickly contained but the house is badly burned.  

The wife of one of the firefighters on the scene is a friend of mine - this is how I heard of the fire. She was diagnosed last November with a brain tumor - benign, but still a brain tumor.  She has 2 boys, one is Kyle's friend.

Another friend of mine whose son is a friend of Kyle's is overcoming Lyme disease.  

Sunday night, we attended live music at Papa's on the Lake with our friends.  As we entered, the cover was $20, with proceeds going to help the wife of another firefighter fight her cancer. Absolutely, we were happy to pay!  We get in and say our hellos.  The woman fighting cancer (newly diagnosed this summer and given 2 years) is the twin sister of another friend of ours whose daughter is a friend of Tyler's.

This morning, the community is coming together to help the Hughes family.  Insurance will tell them today where they are to live during the long road ahead of them to repair the home.  Gift cards for meals are requested.  Conroe HS Choir is accepting donations and gift cards, the PTO President at Cryar Intermediate is working on a receiving place at Cryar, and Gift cards can be given to Mrs. Moore, the music teacher at Giesinger. The gift cards will get to the family immediately.  Send me your email at the top of this blog to find out how to help the Hughes.

Kiss your family.  Help those around you. Hold a door for someone today.  You just NEVER know the battles people are facing.