Ballet Lessons vs. Martial Arts for Chubby Little Girls
If you’re thinking of enrolling your overweight young daughter in ballet classes, you may want to abandon that idea and consider martial arts.
Though ballet comes with it an association of glamour, glitz and fairy tales, do not let this cloud your judgment.
My Inspiration
I have had a lot of martial arts training over the years at different schools.
I am also an expert in fitness, obesity and weight loss (former personal trainer and group fitness instructor).
In addition, I was inspired to write this article after reading a post in a forum by a mother who was very upset that her chubby young daughter’s ballet classmates were ridiculing her size, and the moms of those students were asking questions about the little girl’s weight.
Damn! Can a child EVER escape judgement for her weight? You’d think that in a discipline as strict as ballet, there’d be no ridicule or judgement.
Okay, you have to expect that other moms, plus the students and even the instructor, will wonder how much an overweight child will progress in ballet.
But keep in mind that ballet classes, traditionally, do not emphasize a “no judgement zone.”
Martial Arts: No Judgement Zone Galore
On the other hand, any high quality martial arts school will let you know upfront that bullying and ridicule are prohibited, and individuality and acceptance are encouraged.
Shutterstock/Kaderov Andrii
I don’t know how many ballet schools offer outside activities for their students, but high quality martial arts schools are known for this: pizza nights, movie nights, bowling parties, hikes, etc.
Martial arts schools offer an opportunity for obese or overweight children — who feel judged and even ostracized at regular school for their weight — to feel a strong sense of belonging and fitting in with other kids!
Ballet vs. Martial Arts Lessons: Comparison of Difficulty Learning
There are elements of ballet that would be extraordinarily difficult for an overweight child to learn — simply because that child is carrying too much body weight.
Ballet is demanding enough even for thin little girls.
Sure, at the beginning, everything will seem equal, but as lessons progress, the difficulties caused by the excess body weight will become increasingly relevant.
But in martial arts, being chubby is not an impediment. In fact, if your young daughter meets the criteria for obesity, she can still progress significantly in martial arts.
Before you think, “Hey wait a minute, my fat child can’t do flying kicks,” keep in mind that leaping and “flying moves” are popularized in films.
In real life martial arts classes, some instructors don’t emphasize aerial moves.
Other instructors will teach them to students who want to learn these.
And yes, it will be more difficult for a fat child to execute a flying side kick, but by the same token, that skinny kid who can fly like a butterfly may also flounder when it comes to board breaking – something that your very overweight daughter can excel in!
I have seen fat little girls and boys win trophies at karate tournaments.
There are many different facets of martial arts training, which is why no particular body type excels!
I’ve seen very stiff legged thin kids. I’ve also seen fat kids who could do the splits and kick high.
There’s also grappling-style martial arts, for which being overweight is not an impediment, and may even be an advantage.
And then there’s kata, also known as forms or patterns: choreographed moves in which the practitioner defends herself against imaginary multiple opponents.
At a tournament, a heavy child can take first place in the forms division for their particular rank. I’ve seen it happen, and it happens all the time.
They can also take first place in the sparring division, also known as point fighting. Some tournaments have board breaking competitions.
Now I’m not saying that children’s martial arts should be all about tournaments and winning trophies.
But tournament competition fosters self-confidence and teaches fat children that obesity doesn’t have to get in the way of athletic participation!
Some martial arts schools do NOT involve tournament competition, and that’s perfectly okay, too.
Kids, including overweight girls, will still develop self-defense, self-confidence and learn to use their bodies in impressive ways.
THE SUBJECT OF WEIGHT WILL ALWAYS BE PRESENT IN BALLET CLASSES
In ballet, let’s face the truth: A chubby girl will feel very discouraged and judged. In martial arts, a heavy body is not an obstacle to excelling.
Of course, an eight-year-old who weighs 200 pounds is going to have problems with just about ANY sport, but I’m talking about the average overweight or even clinically obese little girl (or boy).
- It’s a hardcore fact that weight IS an issue with ballet. There’s no way around it.
- Ballet is a discipline in which chubby students, especially as they get older, will be told they need to lose weight.
But in a high quality martial arts dojo, children will never be told, “You have to lose weight.”
In fact, this hardly happens at ANY martial arts studio, because the instructors know that (can’t say this enough) being heavy is not an impediment to executing a forceful kick, upper body strike, joint lock technique or grappling move.
When it’s time to break boards, spar, slug at a heavy bag, strike at mitts held by an instructor, perform a kata, grapple on the floor or learn self-defense techniques…WEIGHT DOES NOT MATTER!
What if your overweight daughter is begging for ballet lessons?
Certainly, you don’t want to tell her, “You can’t take ballet lessons until you lose weight.”
But the bottom line is that if your overweight daughter has not mentioned anything about ballet lessons, you should vehemently consider the possibility that getting her involved will result in ongoing pressure to lose weight, rude comments from other parents, plus possibly ridicule from classmates.
You will not find this adversity in a high quality martial arts school. And if you want her to take ballet lessons for weight loss, here’s a news flash: Martial arts will be far more effective at this.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Yuriy Golub
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Dentist Visits Causing Extreme Anxiety? Try Acupuncture
The severe anxiety from even the THOUGHT of seeing a dentist, even if there’s nausea and trembling, can be relieved with acupuncture.
If dental visits have you terrified, acupuncture may be your solution, says a study that reviewed six trials with 800 patients.
- The University of York researchers used a points scale to measure levels of anxiety.
- Acupuncture reduced dental anxiety by eight points.
Petrified of the Dentist
Many people are simply scared out of their wits at the idea of someone “poking around” in their mouth.
Sometimes the issue is more about embarrassment over the condition of one’s teeth rather than fear of pain.
Acupuncture for Dentist Fear
“Acupuncture has severe benefits including pain relief, relaxation and improvement in overall well-being,” says Brijesh Chandwani, DMD, BDS, Diplomate, American Board of Orofacial Pain, with Connecticut & NY TMJ.
Dr. Chandwani, a Harvard Medical School trained acupuncturist, explains, “Dental visit anxiety stems from a few different reasons: unpleasant previous dental experience, strong gag reflex, low pain threshold, chronic pain (or other chronic disease) condition in the body, perceptions of and nature of dental treatments (for example the anxiety is much more for procedures like extraction compared to teeth cleaning).
“While anti-anxiety medications are mostly used to reduce dental anxiety, there is very good proof that behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy and acupuncture are effective — and they do not have side effects associated with drug therapy.
“Research studies have found that auricular (ear) acupuncture is as effective as anti-anxiety medications in reducing anxiety related to dental procedures.
“Very thin acupuncture needles are usually inserted in a few points in the ear for anxiety.
“When available (dentist trained in acupuncture), acupuncture is an excellent modality to alleviate dental visit anxiety.”
The University of York Study
The researchers wondered how well acupuncture would do to reduce the anxiety associated with visits to the dentist.
Sure enough, acupuncture made a clinically significant difference, with that eight point reduction on the anxiety scale.
The full report is in the May 2018 European Journal of Integrative Medicine.
Dr. Chandwani has 15+ years of experience focusing on TMJ disorders and sleep disorders.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Source: sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180501130805.htm
Can You Have Normal Looking Stools with Colon Cancer?
The appearance of stools, such as pencil thin or ribbon-like, or “tarry” or bloody, is often mentioned with colon cancer.
But can stools be normal in appearance while cancer is growing in a person’s colon?
“Yes; many people who are diagnosed with colon cancer report having no symptoms prior to their diagnosis,” says Dr. Saurabh (Seth) Sethi, MD, a Harvard University and Stanford University trained board-certified gastroenterologist practicing in the San Francisco bay area.
Of course, in the early stages of colon cancer, there will be no effect on the appearance of one’s bowel movements; they will look normal.
But what about as the disease progresses and starts causing other symptoms?
At that point, can stools still appear normal?
“People can have symptoms like fatigue (attributed to anemia from slow loss of blood from colon cancer) while poop looks normal in caliber and no obvious blood (patient will have occult blood in stool),” explains Dr. Sethi.
Occult blood refers to blood that is not visible to the naked eye, but that can be detected with microscopic analysis.
If you’ve been experiencing concerning symptoms, but every time you check your bowel movements they appear perfectly normal, this does NOT rule out the possibility of colon cancer.
Colon Cancer Symptoms Other than Abnormal Stool Caliber
• Unexplained fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss
• Abdominal discomfort (pain, cramps, gas)
• Feeling you have to void even after you’ve voided
• Peculiar change in bowel habits
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Diarrhea alternating with constipation
Dr. Sethi explains, “Don’t wait for symptoms to occur to get screened for colon cancer if you are over the age of 50 or if you have a family history of the disease.”
Update: In 2018 the American Cancer Society moved the start of the screening age for average-risk adults to 45.
Many people just don’t get screened, even though they know that they should.
Sure, the prep for the colonoscopy is unpleasant, and the procedure itself – which can catch this disease very early or detect precancerous polyps — can be unnerving.
But the prep and procedure are a picnic when compared to the treatment for colon cancer – which can include having some of your colon cut out.
Follow Dr. Sethi on Instagram (instagram.com/doctor.sethi/).
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/ Monkey Business Images
Trigger Point Therapy Helps Reduce TMJ Disorder Pain
A myofascial trigger point pain specialist explains easy stretches to reduce TMJ disorder pain, plus what you should know BEFORE the dentist files your teeth.
TMJ is often referred to by specialists as TMD – temporo-mandibular dysfunction.
The muscles attached to the mandible — the jaw — become too tight and cause the jaw to close incorrectly.
This irritation in turn causes nighttime grinding, which worsens the muscle tension.
It soon becomes a vicious cycle which can result in clicking and popping in the jaw joint, as well as jaw pain, severe tension headaches and inflammation of the ligaments.
I am a myofascial trigger point therapist — I specialize in muscle pain and dysfunction, which yes, includes muscles in the jaw, face, head and neck.
Hopefully, I can treat a patient before it progresses this far, but sometimes it’s this bad by the time they find me. Fortunately it can be fixed!
What You Should Know BEFORE Your Dentist Files Your Teeth
It is paramount that patients do not allow the dentist to file or otherwise adjust the bite surfaces of the teeth before correcting the muscular imbalance.
If they do so, as the muscles continue to tighten, the bite continues to change, and the dentist will want to keep filing.
Alternatively, when a dentist changes the bite surfaces before the jaw muscles are treated, symptoms persist.
Then, if and when the muscles are corrected, the teeth will no longer match up properly, perpetuating the irritation that leads to grinding, making it more difficult to resolve the problem.
Night Guard
Have a dentist who specializes in TMD make a night guard for the lower teeth.
The upper teeth act as a fulcrum, and a properly constructed lower night guard will help the jaw sit in the proper position against the uppers.
The guard will also protect the bite surfaces from wearing unevenly and making the problem worse until you get the grinding under control.
Self-Help at Home
The advice I give my patients for self-help at home is heat, massage and stretch. These are not a sufficient substitute for treatment, but until and after they get treatment, stretches will help reduce the grinding and the muscle tension.
NEVER stretch if it is painful, and NEVER stretch as far as the joint will allow; just 70 percent or so.
You should feel a comfortable, pleasant stretchy feeling, but never an extreme stretch sensation or pain.
Stretching far enough to feel pain makes muscles reflexively tighten up and can exacerbate the problem.
This is true of all muscles in the body, by the way, not just the jaw. Stretch gently, frequently (as much as hourly throughout the day), and briefly.
A rehabilitative stretch is not held, should be performed while exhaling, and should be slow and smooth — no sudden movements or jerking.
(I sometimes tell my patients to imagine that there is a bee sitting on them, and to stretch smoothly enough as to not alarm it.)
Do this brief, comfortable stretch three times and then stop. Over-repetition can cause muscle fatigue, leading back to muscle tension.
• First, gently stretch the jaw muscles by opening your mouth wide and then relaxing it closed again. If opening is stiff but not painful, you can cautiously assist using your hands.
• Second, with the jaw relaxed, wobble from side to side.
• Third, close your mouth and puff out each cheek, one at a time.
Now do a little massage on the masseter muscles: Place your fingertips on the sides of your jaw, just in front of your ear lobes.
Using gentle pressure, smoothly stroke downward toward the angle of your jaw.
Massage the temporalis muscle — which attaches your jaw to your skull — by placing your fingertips at your temples and smoothing upward and backward into your hair, over the sides of your head.
Remember only to use as much pressure as feels good. In the case of sore, tight muscles, there is no gain with pain. Be kind to them! Never do anything that hurts.
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Top image: Theirry Canuel, CreativeCommons
Should Water for Baby Formula Be Tap, Bottled or Distilled?
It’s a conundrum for many mothers: whether or not water for the baby formula should be from the tap, a bottle or distilled. But it makes a difference.
Baby Formula Water: Tap, Bottled or Distilled?
Things to Consider for Your Baby’s Formula Water
• Quality of the tap water in your area
• How are the pipes in your house? Old? Lead pipes?
• Home filtration systems call manufacturer to assess how often to change filter to maintain water quality
• Boiling water may not destroy pesticides and other environmental contaminants.
o USE ready-prepared formula
• How is the overall health of your baby?
o Is the baby immune compromised?
o Was the baby born premature?
• Check with the local water utility.
o The American Dental Association recommends checking your local tap water for its fluoride level.
If it is more than 0.7 mg/L, your baby runs the risk of developing enamel fluorosis, a condition that develops and affects their developing teeth; and hypomineralization of tooth enamel caused by ingestion of excessive fluoride during enamel formation.
• Faint of white lines/white spots on areas of the permanent teeth
TAP
If you choose tap water, allow the cold water (less than 75 degrees F) (not warm) to run for up to two minutes; this helps to reduce lead and other mineral built up in the pipes and bacterial growth.
If your area has “soft water” there can be added sodium in it which can be hard for the baby to excrete through their kidneys.
Call the local municipality to see what other minerals are added.
Only boil the water if your pediatrician or local health department advises you to do so; it is usually not necessary…it all depends on the quality of the water in your area.
If you DO boil, the recommendations are to use a rolling boil for one minute to destroy any possible pathogens present.
Boil any longer and the concentration of impurities increase. Allow to cool before adding to powdered formula and mixing.
Do not REBOIL any previously boiled water, as it increases impurities even further.
Well water is NOT recommended, as it is likely to contain nitrates or iron.
Boiling does not remove nitrates or iron; it just increases their concentration.
This water should be tested and treated to make sure that it is safe for drinking and/or cooking.
BOTTLED
Also called spring water, it comes from an underground source.
Bottled water may or may not have been treated and purified.
Any water you buy in the United States by law must meet the FDA’s standards of water quality.
The mineral content of each brand may vary depending on source, treatment and treating it receives.
“Intended for Infants” on a label for bottled water means it must be manufactured to meet the FDA’s general requirements for commercial sterility – moistly seen on Bottled Water Just for Babies.
Bottled Water “Just For Babies”
• Specifically designed to be used for formula mixing
• Baby water is similar to regular bottled water BUT is approved by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); e.g., Gerber Pure or Nursery Water Nursery
DISTILLED
This is a type of purified water and is filtered of contaminants and natural minerals.
It’s best for irons and humidifiers so there is no mineral buildup that you often get with tap water.
Distilled water, even though tasteless, is seldom sold for dietary consumption and is used for industrial purposes. It’s not recommended for your baby’s formula.
Deborah Malkoff-Cohen’s site is at nutritionbydmc.com
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Why Does Water Sometimes Cause Reflux When Eating?
Though water can cause acid reflux when eating, this isn’t a serious problem and will not harm you.
However, there’s a reason why this occurs, and there’s a very easy solution.
“Drinking water helps neutralize and rinse out stomach acid that has refluxed into the esophagus,” says Dr. Saurabh (Seth) Sethi, MD, a Harvard University and Stanford University trained board-certified gastroenterologist practicing in the San Francisco bay area.
“In general, water is good for managing GERD,” continues Dr. Sethi.
“However, avoid drinking water during meal time, as this can worsen acid reflux symptoms.
“Drinking water with meals over-fills your stomach, which can cause the lower esophageal sphincter muscle to open and allow stomach contents to leak into the esophagus.”
If Skipping Water During Meals Is Too Hard to Do…
If you must have water with your meals (e.g., a zero-calorie thirst quencher that helps with portion control), then make sure you do not gulp air as you drink the water.
Drink the water slowly if you normally gulp and guzzle. You may even want to just give it brief sips instead of a sustained drinking.
You can also see what happens by drinking less water than you typically do during your meals.
Another suggestion is to drink the water 30 minutes before eating, and then have only tiny amounts during the meal.
If the meal is large, this will make you want to drink more water. Plus, eating a lot of food in one sitting can trigger acid reflux — especially if you hurry through the meal.
Cutting back on large meals, then, is yet another tactic to try, in an effort to avoid acid reflux while drinking water with food.
In summary, water — from a molecular makeup standpoint– does not directly trigger acid reflux. The trigger is in how you consume it.