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Mike Manages Multiple Sclerosis (from September 2007 Newsletter)
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"Jason, I just wanted to thank you for your help when I was having great difficulty with my Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Having great tools from good friends and determination in myself has brought me to this point where I can do squats on a BOSU balance trainer. You and Tulsie gave me great strength and balance tools and I just made sure that I implemented them in my training and workouts." --Mike
Mike is a 39 year old man with an active lifestyle that included working out 6 days a week, frequent 3 hour long bike rides, and playing sports such as softball. Mike's first symptoms of MS occured in October of 2005, he had blurred vision in his left eye. He began to lose strength on his right side, his right leg would drag at times, then it began to affect his left side until he could hardly lift his left hand. Mike was not able to work out due to this loss of strength and balance and he was only able to work 50-75% of the time.
In July of 2006 Mike became a participant in a 3-year study to test the effectiveness of a combination of 2 drugs used to treat MS. (More about this study and "CombiRX" can be found in the Oct/Nov 2006 issue of InsideMS.) The improvements that Mike began to have allowed him to start working out again in January 2007. He had received exercise tapes from his physical therapist and rehabilitation team, however, they were geared toward very basic rehabilitation and were not appropriate for his lifetime level of intensive fitness and exercise background. Mike met with Jason and Tulsie in January and they gave him exercises focused on developing his core strength, flexibility, and balance. Mike started working out 3-4 days a week, he rides bike on a spinner at home, and as you can see in the newsletter photo, he has made amazing progress. |
| Interval Training and Nutrition Planning Leads to 90 Pound Weight Loss (from July/August 2007 Newsletter) |
Mike DuBois started doing two personal training sessions a week in May of 2005. He was seeing some improvements, but his weight loss was limited by his recognition that "Arby's 'Five for $5' was not an effective pre-workout meal."
After discussing his preference for a structured approach to weight loss, Mike decided to start the NutriSystem Plan in January 2006, with modifications recommend by his trainer Ryan McDowell to ensure that Mike would get enough protein on workout days. To further promote weight loss, Ryan varies the intensity of Mike's personal training sessions, all of which have a primary focus of strength training. Some training sessions are more intense due to the amount of weight that Ryan challenges Mike to lift. For other workouts, Ryan accelerates the pace and aerobic intensity of the strength training to achieve the "interval training" effect (short-term bursts of aerobic intensity that leads to more rapid weight loss.) At home Mike does short 15-20 minute "circuits" of exercises and a 45 minute walk several times a week.
In just 5 months, with dedication to both his strength training and weight loss programs, Mike lost 90 pounds (from 336 down to 246). Mike's cholesterol level, which due to genetic luck was only 190, has also dropped down to only 150. Other benefits that Mike reports are a significant decrease in back pain. He's glad that he "can fit in a kayak and it doesn't sink." Despite the summer heat, he's sweating less, Mike "used to be in a puddle" when it was hot out. Mike was recently able to enjoy a bike ride with his 12 year old niece, an activity he could not have done 5 months ago. Mike has a leadership position at work, and lunch choices for his office tended toward ordering out fast food. Now that he has changed his approach to eating and the "default" is no longer fast food, everyone in his office is eating better.
In summary, Mike says "my comfort level for participating in life is improved by being physically active." |
| Golf Conditioning Success Story with CES and Titleist Performance Institute (from April 2007 Newsletter in PDF format) |
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Improve your golf game using the CES/TPI Golf Conditioning Program! We start with a detailed assessment in which we perform a body composition analysis, movement screening, and core musculature strength and balance evaluation based upon the Titleist Golf Fitness Program. Our goal is to assess your physical abilities and create a customized exercise program that focuses on correcting imbalances in your body that are specific to the golf swing by improving your strength, flexibility, and balance.
Your Certified Golf Trainer uses the assessment to create your custom exercise program. The Trainer teaches you how to perform your program on your own by following the outline we provide. It includes a weekly exercise schedule, detailed instructions and pictures of the specific exercises.
One 54 year old man tried a lot of different things to alleviate low back pain over the past 20 years. He heard about CES and told his trainer “if this doesn’t work, I’m giving up golf” because of the pain. He trained with his CES/TPI program for the past five weeks and upon his return from Arizona, he said: “Just got back last night. Had a blast. I golfed 5 out of the last 6 days—my back has not felt this good in years.”
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Cholesterol Normalization (from March 2007 Newsletter in PDF format)
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Assessments set a milestone from which to measure your progress over time. One CES client, Bob, just received positive assessment results from his doctor.
Bob just turned 55 and had his "annual" physical in February 2007, 18 months after his last "annual" physical. For the last 16 months, Bob has had twice weekly training sessions at CES, building up to aggressive workouts with Kettlebells, rings, ropes and other means of torture employed by his trainer. With encouragement, Bob did his cardio exercise regularly as well.
Bob had been chronically "lipid challenged" with cholesterol and triglyceride issues requiring medication, but as his internist of twenty years wrote him after his February tests: "All labs are within normal limits with lipid panel looking the best it has ever looked! Normalization of triglycerides and elevation of good cholesterol (HDL) are attributed to aggressive exercise program - keep up the good work!"
In addition to the positive changes on Bob's inside, there has been a favorable reconfiguring of his exterior and a return to vigorous athletic activity without need for any pain medication.
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Pilates and Pain Management (from January 2007 Newsletter in PDF format)
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Larry Yost has been doing Pilates with Amber 3 times a week for 3 years—is he a slow learner? No, Larry has an 11 year old son who still wants to play with his dad, even though his dad had a severe compression fracture of his spine. Larry was a passenger in a golf cart that tipped over and the driver of the cart landed on him.
His injuries were so severe that he has constant pain at a level of “4” on a 1-10 scale. Larry’s pain management plan includes Pilates, regular cortisone shots, and quarterly spinal blocks If Larry misses even 3-5 Pilates workouts his pain level quickly increases to a “7” or higher.
Larry says that “with Pilates workouts I am more flexible, my energy level stays high, and I am not afraid to ski with my son because I know I have the muscle structure in place to support my back.”
Larry travels for work and has Pilates exercises to do at home and while traveling. He knows the exercises well enough to do them on his own, but he says he’s too likely to hurt himself due to his “Type A” personality.
“When I workout by myself I overdo it and I hurt myself. Amber helps me isolate muscle groups more effectively and she pushes me to do a physically intense workout without risking further injury.”
Pilates is a systematic practice designed to develop your body’s core through balancing, stretching, strengthening, and breathing. Pilates dramatically transforms the way your body looks, feels and performs. It builds strength without excess bulk, creating a sleek, toned body.
Pilates was the brainchild of Joseph H. Pilates; born in 1880 in Germany. During WWI, he was an intern at an English hospital and he observed that the injured soldiers, who were confined to their beds, could not exercise.
In response, he created a machine (out of old hospital beds and springs) and designed a method of exercise which could be done in a hospital bed. In 1926, he moved to New York with his method of exercise, which he termed ‘Pilates.’ The exercises can be done on a mat or on specialized machines which help isolate muscles even further.
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High School Athelete "Returns to Play" after ACL Surgery (from December 2006 Newsletter in PDF format)
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Bianca Hall, a player on North High School’s championship basketball team, was given great news on November 13th; her doctor said it’s “okay to play.”
Bianca had surgery to repair a torn ACL in February 2006. Bianca met Janet Karvonen at basketball camp in July. Janet saw Bianca’s innate talent, despite her injury, and sponsored Bianca’s training in our Return to Play Program. CES founder Jason Green has also given Bianca free training sessions to get her back in the game.
Bianca is an “A” student and has received a Peacemaker Award from a local violence prevention program. Due to her experience at CES, Bianca wants to study sports medicine in college.
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“Dear CES, in particular Jason. There are no words to express our appreciation and gratitude for your help with Bianca’s recovery. To know that there are people still left out there like you is wonderful. Without you, your staff, and your company, it is possible that Bianca may not have been able to play [North H.S. Basketball] this season, and for your help, we thank you!”
Sincerely, The Jones-Hall Family
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Allergy Relief from Massage (from November 2006 Newsletter in PDF format)
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CES Client Mike Max, the host of WCCO Radio’s Sports Tonight, shared the following story with CES' owner Jason.
Mike has suffered from allergies for many years; his ears always felt stuffed up and it seemed as if he had tried every drug in the book to manage his allergy symptoms. Mike had 2 massages with Jacque starting in July, and in the subsequent months he said his symptoms have gradually cleared up and he has taken only 5-6 allergy pills in the past 4 months.
Mike continues to get massages and his experience is just one of many demonstrating the health benefits of massage—it’s not just a once a year treat anymore—it can and should be part of your preventive health care routine.
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