Dr Tom Potisk goes to Hollywood? On CBS live television?

About to walk in to the CBS studio - Hollywood California

Yep, just when you thought I was nothing more than Milwaukee material. Ha!

And it was a blast too!

About to walk in to the CBS camera room.

Watch Dr Tom Potisk interviewed on a live TV interview.

Listen, I’ve got a profound God given message for all of you. And, as I watch things playing out in the news media of the world, I’m more convinced than ever that you and  you’re family are in grave danger if you don’t take heed.

Dr Tom Potisk with the anchors of KCAL CBS news in Los Angeles at the Hollywood studio.

My message is that our conventional health care system is killing us. Just look around at the perfect storm developing: an aging population, an obesity epidemic, skyrocketing insurance costs, an already overly-strained national budget, a looming doctor shortage, rampant fraud in research, a diabetes epidemic, more and more processed and preserved food, and I could continue.

Alan Greenspan said “The biggest threat to our economy is healthcare.” Yikes!

It’s not my goal to scare anybody. But yes, this particular truth that I carry in my message is justifiably scary.

I’m happy to report that I’m equally sure  this health care problem is completely fixable.  However, it’s completely up to you to take action. Your employer, your medical physician, your insurance, and certainly not the government is going to do this for you.

I’m also happy to report that the solution is not all that difficult – just a few simple lifestyle changes on your part will make a profound difference.

So what is the solution? It’s whole health healing. Just take a few minutes to read the inspiring, entertaining, and short articles on this website.

My book Whole Health Healing contains even more details.

You’ll find all you need there.

And will you help me? Please? I can’t do this alone. I need you to spread the word also. If you know of anywhere where I can share my message and talent as a motivational speaker, or if you have any media connections in TV, radio, or magazines, please contact me – tpotisk@aol.com.

May God bless you and your family with whole health,

Dr Tom Potisk AKA The Down to Earth Doctor

- For more wellness tips be sure and get my  4 free health reports on the right side of this website.

-And have you seen my other fantastic wellness blog -, and one specifically on marketing and business management for doctors?

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Back to school time brings lots of emotions.

For students is usually excitement and nervousness.

Dr Tom Potisk 4th grade

For parents it’s relief. LOL!

My 3 teenagers started school this week , and my wife and I are celebrating. Yay!

I’m a proponent of rewarding kids for good grades. Dangling a carrot for good performance is an activity congruent with real life. I give them cash for each A they obtain on their report card. When I reminded them of that recently, they immediately started calculating how many good grades they need to get an Ipad. That’s a good warm-up for mathematics.

They were not so happy when I reminded them of a few after school rules. Like no TV  or computer games until their homework is done. And their chores have to be finished. And they have to exercise first. Wow, I seem like a meanie don’t I. But I mean well – it’s called tough love; a good idea.  I highly recommend it for all parents.

Let’s not forget about kids health. I recently gave a radio interview on WENG with the topic “How to Sickness Proof Your Child for Back to School Time.  The key is all about building stronger immunity. My family and I have enjoyed having medical bills at or near zero year after year (about 16!) Pretty phenomenal. I believe any family can decrease their health care. medical, hospital, and insurance expenses using my whole health healing lifestyle recommendations. In fact, I wrote the book on it.

We do a lot of things to maintain that superior wellness level. You can learn our secrets by reading my previous posts.

But here is an important, inexpensive, and simple one – give the kids garlic. Garlic is a wonderful immune boosting food. It’s anti-viral. Use lots of it in your cooking. Better yet, pickle some cloves by dropping them into your pickle and olive jars. let them soak in the brine for at least 2 weeks. Them give the kids one at least weekly, more if they get some symptoms. Kids love it. That make for  great natural and holistic health.

And you’ll love the savings!

May God bless you and your family with whole health,

Dr Tom Potisk – Author of Whole Health Healing: The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages, Wellness Wins: A Simple guide to a Happier, Healthier Life and Reclaim the Joy of Practice: An Advanced Guide for Advancing Doctors

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Be sure and get my 4 free health reports available on the right side of this website.

Oh, and by the way, have you seen my other cool websites – http://www.wholehealthhealing.com. And specifically for doctors – http://www.reclaimthejoy.com.

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Asparagus time?

Sorry for my strange excitement about asparagus, but I always look forward to picking and eating the first fresh batch from my garden. I just picked some today! It’s usually the first green vegetable available every spring. And if you can get it fresh, like picking it yourself from your own garden, it is absolutely fantastic. It’s even good raw!

I’m big on gardening by the way. I even recommend it in my book Whole Health Healing – The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible For All Ages. Gardening does amazingly good things for your overall health and wellness.

Asparagus growing is a great analogy for most things in life, like relationships, careers, faith, and prosperity. In case you haven’t noticed, all the great things in life take time – it’s a lesson in patience.

Asparagus as an analogy for life? LOL. Yep you read it correctly. That’s why they call me the “down to earth” doctor.

For example, many people tell me they would like to grow their own asparagus, but they lose their enthusiasm when they learn that it takes a couple of years from the time you plant until the time you can pick. And worse yet, if you plant and lose your patience, picking too early, then your asparagus won’t come back.

Even more like the realities of life, there are a few particulars. You must plant in good soil, and not just anywhere with good soil but in a sunny spot. And this sunny spot with good soil must be well drained – not in a low spot. Whew, it’s getting complicated isn’t it? Oh wait, don’t forget that there are going to be weeds, lots of weeds that you have to keep up with!

So, there is a procedure, and rules, and a way to do it, and it takes time. Welcome to reality! This is about the way the world works when you want something good.

Sorry to depress you but this story gets brighter if you read on. LOL.

But in the end, the efforts in growing asparagus are all worth it. You’ll know what I mean if and when you ever take your first bite of just picked asparagus. Mmmm, mmmmm!

Now, there is an option; you can just go out and buy it. Most grocery stores carry asparagus, and at this time of year, spring, it’s very reasonably priced.  Not a bad alternative to growing it yourself, eh? I can’t argue, even that store bought asparagus has it’s benefits for your health and can be quite tasty. Enjoy it!

Sorry to steal some of your asparagus joy, but the reality is that the store bought, corporate grown stuff may likely contain potentially harmful toxic residues from the insecticide and herbicide applications. And the nutritional content is lacking compared to the home grown or organically grown variety because the soil it was grown in is likely mineral depleted. Don’t forget I said “sorry”. The lesson here is that taking shortcuts, taking the path of least resistance, has it’s consequences. (You might argue that you’ll wash it thoroughly. Sorry again, washing is always a good idea, but the toxins are known to be in the flesh also.

So there you have it – lessons in life from asparagus. The lessons being that good things take time and effort but it’s usually worth the bother, and that if you lose your patience acting too quickly you may not have another chance, and that you can take short cuts but there is usually a price to pay for it.

And then there is the issue of faith. Yep, you must have faith that your efforts will produce, and that also is an important component for life.

No, this is not a dream. LOL.

Now, I’m going to cook my favorite asparagus recipe: 2 scrambeled eggs mixed with chopped asparagus (1/2 inch pieces) and topped with grated Swiss cheese. This must be what heaven is like! Thanks God.

What lessons have you learned by observing the world around you?

If you like what I write, be sure and subscribe free by clicking on the orange RSS icon.

And be sure to get my 4 free holistic health reports on the right side of this website.

Lastly, Have you seen my other popular blogs? For the general public – http://www.wholehealthhealing.com, and specifically for doctors – http://www.reclaimthejoy.com. Enjoy!

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Humor and laughter in health care? Well some would say that our current health care system is a joke! Har, har!

But seriously, we all need to laugh more. It’s a vital component of optimum wellness, and it’s been lacking. No wonder so many people are ill.

My engagement picture

Humor and Laughter Therapy are not new. Way back in the 1300s Henri de Mondeville, Professor of surgery advised. “Let the surgeon take care to regulate the whole regimen of the patient’s life for joy and happiness, allowing his relatives and special friends to cheer him, and by having someone tell him jokes”.

I learned a lot about humor from my patients during my 25 years as a holistic family doctor. I included several funny stories in my book Whole Health Healing: The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages. Thanks to those of you who made me laugh all those years. I needed you! For example, one day a patient told me she had just gotten cataract surgery. “Can you see better now?” I enquired. She looked up at me, squinted her eyes and said sheepishly “Well, I can see your grey hair now.” Yeah, thanks for your humor gang!

My son Mike keeps me laughing!

Even the Bible says that “ a merry heart doeth good…” and “ ….a cheerful look brings joy to the heart and good news gives health to the bones”. I suspect God has a sense of humor; I get that feeling every time I get out of the shower and see myself in a full length mirror. LOL!

And let’s not forget the most powerful figure in the land, the king. He could choose who he had around him. He could choose his soldiers, his court, his family, but who did he choose to have closest to him? The jester. The person who made him chuckle.

It’s not too late to rediscover some humor.

Here is a good one: A husband was reclining and drinking beer while watching television. Suddenly, after watching something about Living Wills he hollered out to his wife “Hey honey, I want you to know that I don’t want to end up like a vegetable, given fluids and reliant on some kind of machine!” So his wife pulled the plug on his TV, threw away all of his beer and showed him the website http://www.thedowntoearthdoctor.com/!

“Laughter is the most inexpensive and the most effective wonder drug. Laughter is a universal medicine”. -Bertrand Russell.

Laughter is good medicine:

• Five minutes of good belly laughing is equal to twenty minutes of jogging
• Humor is a great diffuser of stressful moments
• It is a cardiac and respiratory exercise, increasing heart rate, blood pressure and respiration, short term, and then lowering them dramatically.
• Raises metabolic rate
• Increases oxygen consumption by lowering amount of residual air in lungs
• reduces level of water vapour and carbon dioxide in lungs, thereby reducing risk of pulmonary infection
• Relaxes muscles (even those not involved in laughing)
• excellent exercise for facial, thoracic, abdominal and other muscles
• twenty seconds of laughter can double the heart rate for three to five minutes, which is equivalent to three minutes of strenuous rowing.

Here is another of my favorites: An elderly man and wife go to see a doctor. She is accompanying him because of his difficulty hearing. The doctor completes his interview of the gentleman and states “I want to order some tests. I need a urine sample, a stool sample, and a semen sample.” The man looks at his wife and asks “What did he say honey?” She frowns, leans over to him and shouts “Just give him your underwear!”

So, let’s look for the humorous side in everything whenever possible, including health. Start every morning by reading the comics in your local paper.

What funny stuff can you come up with today?

If you like what I write, feel welcome to click on the small orange RSS box in the upper right hand corner of this web site, and you’ll receive all my future posts for free.

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For the general public: http://www.wholehealthhealing.com , and specifically for doctors: http://www.reclaimthejoy.com

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Healthy snacks? The two words don’t seem like they should be seen together. LOL!

The Healing Fudge

But there really are many excellent and delicious snacks that are inexpensive and easy to make.

This morning I overheard my 13 year old daughter complaining to her mother (my wife):

“Mom, why don’t we have any chips around here like my friends have at their house? When my friends come over here and I show them what we can snack on, they say we are wayyyy too healthy!”

Mission accomplished! I consider her complaint a compliment! LOL!

I truly believe my family is healthier than most. I proclaim that not to brag, but because I want you to know that it can be done. But expect a few complaints!

Keeping junk food out of the house is about the only way to control your family’s consumption of it. If you have to buy some for a party or other special event, hide it out in the garage. I’d recommend my favorite hiding place – under an overturned bucket!

Here are some of my favorite healthy snacks:

1) Popcorn. Make sure you use grapeseed oil or coconut oil to cook the kernels and then pure melted butter for the topping with sea salt. It’s easy to fill up fast on popcorn. Forget any of the microwave varieties, they are likely among the most unhealthy of all snacks. Avoid movie theater popcorn like the plague!

2) The Healing Trail Mix. Why is it healing? Because healing demands specific nutrients for cellular rebuilding, stronger immunity, and optimum organ function. These recipe  ingredients specifically address these nutritional needs.For example, the raisins, dates and carob are high in fiber and anti-oxidants, the walnuts contain essential oils, the soy nuts are known to be a great protein source, and the sea salt is a healthier alternative than conventional salt because sea salt contains many minerals. The carob chips are a healthier alternative to chocolate. This recipe is a wonderful balance of fiber, healthy carbs, protein, and healthy fats. It’s also low glycemic and gluten free. And the taste? Fantastic! Kids love it!

The Healing Trail Mix recipe:

1 cup raisins

1 cup unsalted walnuts

1 cup roasted unsalted soy nuts

1 cup carob chips

½ cup chopped dried dates

1 /2 teaspoon sea salt

Mix thoroughly

3) The Healing Smoothie. Yes, this is really a drink but makes a great snack. What makes this healing? The cranberry juice is known to be an anti-bacterial (kills your bad bugs), the blueberries and green vegetable  are very high in anti-oxidants (keeps you fresh), the lemon juice is known to aid in detoxification( removes your pollution), the coconut water is high in electrolytes (minerals), the bananas are known to contain an excellent glycemic/fiber balance (won’t make you hyper), and the protein powder helps to minimize the insulin response( keeps you strong).

The Healing Smoothie recipe:

½ cup cranberry juice

½ cup blueberries

¼ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

½ cup coconut water

2 frozen well ripened bananas

1 tablespoon whey protein powder

4 ice cubes

Add one green (preferably organic) vegetable i.e. green pepper, cucumber, or spinach leaves.

Blend all ingredients in a large blender for 1 minute on high. Makes two 12 ounce servings.

4) The Healing Muffin. What’s so special about this? The egg, olive oil and flax provide essential oils beneficial for cardiovascular and brain function. The sea salt contains trace minerals helpful for a strong immune system. The refried beans are a great protein source. The oatmeal, figs, and whole wheat flour are a great source of fiber and are low glycemic. The carob chips are a healthier alternative to chocolate.

The Healing Muffin

The Healing Muffin recipe:

1 egg (preferably from organically raised chickens)

¾ cup soy milk

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 cup whole wheat flour

½ cup flax

½ cup oatmeal

½ cup chopped figs

½ cup refried beans

3 tablespoons baking powder

1/3 cup honey

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 tablespoon vanilla

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 cup carob chips

Mix all ingredients thoroughly, and fill pre-greased muffin pan receptacles about ¾ high.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Makes about 12 muffins.

5) The Healing Fudge. No you are not dreaming! Yahooo! Yes, fudge can be healthier and still taste great. This recipe avoids the excessive sugar and less healthy fat of traditional fudge. But remember, we still need to control ourselves! LOL.

The Healing Fudge recipe:

Sorry gang, this recipe is only obtainable when you purchase my book from this web site. If my withholding of this recipe makes you want to scream, I can assure you that you will scream in delight when you taste this fudge. You can order the book securely by clicking HERE. When you order, you’ll receive my free bonus ebook: The Healing Cookbook which contains the fudge recipe and a dozen or so of my other favorite healing recipes.

Again, we must control ourselves with all these recipes. You’ll likely feel fuller faster because of the wholesomeness of the ingredients.

So there you are, 5 healthy snacks that are easy to make, tasty, affordable, and delicious. I developed these recipes to complement my book Whole Health Healing: The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages.

Whoever said the food we healthy folks eat doesn’t taste good? Enjoy!

By the way,  have you seen my other popular blog/web sites?

For the general public: http://www.wholehealthhealing.com

Specifically for doctors: http://www.reclaimthejoy.com

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Farm life for me is a lot of work, but it’s fun work! Well,  most of the time. LOL.

This time of year, fall, involves getting many things done outside before it’s too cold to do them here in Wisconsin. I finished up with my firewood pile, started pulling out the garden plants, had the pigs butchered, now it’s time to blaze some trails. Yep, every fall I make some trails across my acreage for hiking and cross country skiing. My land is rented out to the government in a program called CRP, Conservation Reserve Program. The government planted wild flowers and wild grasses as a sort of prairie restoration. According to them, this gives the land a bit of a rest, allowing it to build up minerals and nutrients, and acts a refuge for wildlife. I see deer, turkeys, coyotes, pheasants, hawks and cranes all the time, I guess something the government does actually will work sometimes! LOL.

These wild grasses are taller than me!

As part of the CRP arrangement, I’m permitted to cut a trail for my personal use. It’s not easy to cut through wild grasses that are 8-10 foot tall. But leave it to me, the “Down-to-Earth” doctor, to get it done simply, economically, uniquely and in a fun way. For example, I use a mower that is 87 years old! LOL. And I love the thing. It’s a horse drawn McCormick Deering sickle mower.

Dr Tom Potisk with ancient sickle mower

Sickle mowers were popular around the turn of the century and used to cut grain and hay. It has a 6 foot long reciprocating cutting blade that slides along the ground essentially scissoring the grass off, leaving a perfect trail for my needs.

My fresh cut trail through prarie grasses

The way I found this gem of a machine was kind of funny. Since my gas powered riding lawnmower would never handle this “jack-and-the-bean-stalk” size wild prairie grass, I drove over to the local used farm implement dealer expecting to buy a big tractor for the job. I told the salesman there of my needs and I saw big dollar signs in his eyes.

“Well, I’m going to sell you this tractor for $3700.00 and this mower attachment for $1200.00,” he said gleefully with a big smile.

Just then I spotted this old sickle mower off to the side nearly covered in grape vines.” How much is that old thing?” I interrupted.

“Oh that’s  over 80 years old and to be used as  a lawn ornament. It’s $60.00,” he said as he attempted to wave it off and pull me towards his office.

“Well does it work?”

“It was brought here decades a go as a trade in, but it likely still works because those things are made tough, to be pulled by a horse. Now step over here and I’ll draw up the papers for your tractor and…..”

“Forget the tractor” I declared, “I’ll take the old sickle mower!”

The look on his face was like that of a child whose puppy had just been taken away. I’ve been using it successfully year after year. I pull it with my small skid loader.

I love it’s simplicity, “tank” like solidness, and that it does not burn any fuel itself. I often wonder what stories it would tell of the farmer that originally used it and the long gone horses that pulled it.

I bet it would also say “I’m made tough and I’ll keep going strong if you give me good maintenance!” Oh boy, I feel a blog post coming on about prevention of health problems.  LOL.

What would you tell younger people about your health maintenance?

Email me your comments at email@wholehealthhealing.net.

And by the way, have you seen my other popular blog sites?

For the general public:  http://www.wholehealthhealing.com

Specifically for doctors: http://www.reclaimthejoy.com

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Back to school already! Where did summer go?

And you were just getting used to staying up late and sleeping in! It’s not fair right? LOL. That’s what I used to say and what I still find myself saying about many other things, even now at age 49.

But with age comes wisdom, and I wrote this article for all kids and young adults who want and need to be healthy. And yes, even adults would be wise to pay attention to the items I’m about to share. LOL. I’m still learning myself, and believe that we are all students for life.

I'm a student of the Bible.

Okay students, listen up! First of all, know that placing some effort and attention on your health and wellbeing is quite worthwhile. You and sometimes I may think that life isn’t fair but in truth, it really is. You really do get what you pay for, and even the Bible says that you essentially reap what you sow, meaning that you get what you deserve. Thus, taking better care of yourself mentally, spiritually, and physically will pay off in good ways.

For example, would you like to have more energy, and clearer thinking? Or how about clearer skin? How about better athletic performance? Want to have more muscle and less fat? These are all attainable with the proper action and effort, read on!

Secondly, start your mornings with a healthy breakfast consisting of a protein source like eggs and some fresh fruit. Skip the sugary cereals, processed juices, soft drinks, or bread items. These poor quality food choices may seem to provide an energy boost, but really result in an energy drain for the rest of the day. No time for eggs in the morning? The solution is simple; just boil some eggs the day before, then peel and eat in the morning.  Eat healthier breakfasts and you’ll soon notice that you won’t feel so tired in the afternoon, and you will be more calm throughout the day. Your body will have a better composition of less fat and more muscle.

Keep up the good eating habits by having a big salad every day for lunch or dinner, avoid fried foods, and slow down – take the time to chew thoroughly and really enjoy the unique taste of every food. Yes, even veggies! LOL.

There are many other tips on eating, exercise, and even posture in my new book Whole Health Healing – The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages. You can order the book by clicking HERE.

Posture is important for health/wellness

Thirdly, know that your brain is a lot like a computer- garbage in equals garbage out. Have you experienced the frustration of a slow internet connection or a malfunctioning hard drive? Your brain will behave the same way if it’s mistreated. It’s hard to deny that our brains and minds are among the most unique and valuable gifts from God that we have, so don’t take them for granted. Protect them! This means avoiding any brain/mood altering recreational drugs, also caffeine, alcohol  and even tobacco products.

Set a personal goal that you’ll grow old being able to say that you never used cocaine, marijuana, or any other dangerous and illegal products. You’ll be glad you did!

And remember that your brain also feeds on content. This means you should be very selective about what you are reading, watching, and listening to. Feed your mind with a lot of violent content and you’re likely to be violent. Feed it with negative, depressing content and you’re likely to be negative and depressed. Instead, search out and feed your mind with uplifting, educational , ethical content that will help move your life forward in a positive productive way. There is a big difference between being aware of what’s out there and participating in it.

My family and I explored replicas of the Nina and Pinta (Columbus's boats) this summer.

My last item of advice for you is this: take the high road! My father once said to me “Have fun, but don’t disgrace your family.” This means that anything you would not want your family to know you are doing, should not be done. That’s a great way to filter out any misbehavior you may be tempted with like sexual immorality, stealing, cheating, drug use, and even how you talk. Keep your life clean! If there are times when you’re not sure what to do, seek advice from someone you know you can trust like a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, or pastor.

All these tips I share come down to the fact that our bodies are really temples; temples that hold our Holy Spirits. This is a biblical concept that can be read in 1^st Corinthians 6:19.20. It’s disrespectful to God when we don’t honor God with our bodies. Our health and wellness is really a gift. Take optimum care of your body, mind and spirit. It’s worth the effort.

What changes can you make for this new school year?

By the way, have you seen myother popular blog/web sites?

For the general public: http://www.wholehealthhealing.com.

Specifically for doctors: http://www.reclaimthejoy.com

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The best travel insurance is deciding to have fun no matter what!

It’s really an attitude, a decision.

Dr Tom Potisk like to sail in Eagle River, Wisconsin

Why Do I write on this subject? Because resting, especially on a good vacation is vital for optimum wellness. And things can easily go wrong on vacation or travel, so I don’t want it to mess up your needed and well deserved rest.

Sure, perhaps having coverage in case you need to cancel due to illness,  injury, or family emergency may be a good idea; but what if the weather turns sour? Will you turn sour also? LOL!

What if the place you booked does not meet your expectations? What if your luggage gets lost? What if…….. Well, the possibilities are endless. In fact, you can probably count on something going wrong. I once had Montezuma’s revenge so bad during a trip to Belize that I could not stand up straight due to abdominal cramping. Ouch! And yuck!

Dr Tom Potisk visting an orphanage in Belize

But I still had a great time anyway! I did not even let Montezuma stop me. LOL.

So it’s all about your mindset. You  plan where you’re going, how you’ll get there, where you’ll stay, and what you’ll see; how about planning to have fun no matter what? I once was bumped from an overbooked plane on my way to the Amazon and that messed up my plans royally. Don’t ever fly on Bolivian Airlines! LOL! But the trip was a blast once I got there.

Dr Tom Potisk holding an alligator in the Amazon.

I believe God is ultimately in control of everything, including the things that seem to go wrong and frustrate us; but God also gave us the gift of self determination. So use it and decide that no matter what, your travels will be fantastic! Keep a good book handy for the  travel delays. Save the museums for rainy days.

And how about adding some adventure to your vacations? You can sit around at home; don’t do it on vacation! Check out the local  history, the unique natural characteristics of the region. Try to get off the beaten path at least once in a while. I love searching out natural public hot springs – fantastic! (Yes, I always wear my swimming suit! LOL!)

Dr Tom Potisk likes natural hot springs

And don’t be a slug when you travel. Check out the opportunities for biking, hiking, canoeing, etc.  I love to water ski and do most of it on the Eagle Chain of 28 Lakes in Wisconsin. Keep up the goal of getting daily exercise, even when you are away on a trip, as I recommend in my new book Whole Health Healing – The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages. You can order the book by clicking HERE.

Dr Tom Potisk waterskiing

Are you taking a long plane flight? Many people suffer from stiff necks, jet lag, swollen legs and back pain. Don’t let it happen to you! Follow my instructions in this 1 minute  video:

Airplane flights can be comfortable.

Dr Tom Potisk hiking in Bohemia

The next time you travel, make having fun part of the plan. That’s the best insurance you can get!

By the way, have you seen my other popular blog/web sites?

For the general public: , http://www.wholehealthhealing.com and specifically for doctors: http://www.reclaimthejoy.com

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Best fitness equipment for weight loss? It’s you and all your bones, joints, muscles, and any part of you involved with movement. Especially your brain. Yep, your brain. LOL.

kids

Emily and Mike, strong healthy kids

I say your brain is likely the most important of all because even before you begin any exercise or fitness routine, you must change your brain first. By that I mean your first challenge is to get your thinking correct. There are a few important things you must understand first.

If you are having a deja-vu type experience right now – yes you have heard me or read my material before about this ‘change your brain first’  routine. I say and write the same thing when it comes to altering your eating habits for weight loss, you must change your………….. Okay, okay, I’ll stop, but only if you agree. LOL

I’m adamant about this because the vast majority of people that begin an exercise or fitness program quit within a few weeks or even days. They’ve wasted their time, and maybe money if they paid for some program or equipment, because they didn’t change their………….    Sorry, I almost wrote it again! LOL.

So don’t even start anything until you understand and accept these basic concepts: (My new book Whole Health Healing – The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible For All Ages contains a chapter called Exercises That Really Work and Those to Avoid. You can buy the book by clicking here.

1) Exercise and fitness routines need to be life-long. That’s right, forever and ever, as long as you live. You are struggling with your weight now, because you likely have not been active enough in the past. Yesterday I went rollerblading with my son. The day before that I went bike riding with my daughter. The day before that I swam. And today I’m going to rollerblade again. And the day after that I’m going for another bike ride. Get my point? Seek to partake in at least 30 minutes physical activity everyday and settle for no less than 3 times per week. Make it mandatory – a priority. If you ever stop, you will quickly loose the benefits you’ve worked so hard for.Yes it’s that important. Get angry about it if you have to! But sorry no, the anger does not count towards the………… LOL.

2) Exercise needs to be fun.  The most common reason most people stop the routine they start is boredom. If it’s not fun, it won’t get done! Take a look at rummage sales, flea markets, and garage sales and you’ll see loads of exercise equipment, much of it barely used. You may likely have some stuff you got suckered into that is collecting dust in your attic or basement. Now if you’ve got a routine going with some equipment and you’re enjoying it and keeping it up – congratulations! But that usually is not the case for most others. The rest of us are mere mortals. LOL.

Exercise needs to be fun!

3) Exercise needs to be varied. Yep, it’s that boredom factor again. I advocate having several fun physical activities you can choose from. I even change mine with the seasons because I prefer outdoor activities. In the winter I downhill ski, cross country ski, ice skate, etc. Another benefit of varying your activity is that it works different parts of your body. For example, I’m amazed how rollerblading tightens up my laterals (sides) compared to how swimming and running tightens up my front and back.

4) It does not have to be grueling or painful. Not at all! Even light activities like walking have noticeable benefits. There are no doubt more benefits if you push yourself a bit more, but you don’t have to go overboard. And if you do increase you pace or level of exertion, do it gradually. I believe that if you are uncomfortable in any significant way after exercising – you’ve gone at it too hard.

5) Do it for God not self. Honor God with your body. This is a biblical concept from 1st Corinthians. If you exercise or eat properly because you want to look better, feel better, and impress others, that’s not all bad although selfish. But the entire idea of caring for one’s body works and lasts significantly better when you accept that your body is a gift from God. That’s a more honorable reason to be caring for it optimally. I wrote an article about this you can read by clicking here.

Yes, there are some exercises that are more dangerous than others. You can read my free report called The Five Most Dangerous Exercises You Need to Avoid by getting it from the opt-in box on the right side of this website.

Got it now? If you do you are ready to proceed and succeed. Can I say it one last time please? Your brain has changed first!

By the way, have you seen my other blog/web sites?

For the general public:  http://www.wholehealthhealing.com

Specifically for doctors: http://www.reclaimthejoy.com

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Diets and holistic health don’t mix together. Pun intended. LOL

The Healing Trail Mix

Not when diets are defined in the traditional sense of following a specific eating plan to lose weight.

Sure, following any of the hundreds of plans that have been promoted in the last few decades may result in some weight loss, but the benefits typically don’t last. Even a diet of eating just cookies works short term. If you’re going to waste your time, you may as well do it by eating cookies! LOL.

The average American keeps getting heavier, especially children, and the new miracle diets keep coming, and the average American keeps getting heavier, especially children, and …….

I suspect you get my point.

But wait, I have this diet that works and I offer a guarantee and……. Gotcha!

Sorry, there are no simple, miracle solutions/plans. There never was any and there never will be. Boohooo!

I am happy to report that what does work for weight management, always has and always will work, is this: careful food selections, self control, occasional splurging (yahoo!), acceptance of how God made you,  and eating slower, smaller more numerous meals.

Why don’t you see this type eating advice advertised  on TV or in magazines anywhere? Because nobody make any money when you do it. Surprise!

In fact, many people will make less money when you follow a healthy holistic eating lifestyle, namely doctors because you will likely be ill less often.

Please become aware that the media and it’s advertisers are becoming increasingly talented at getting and keeping our attention, particularly when it comes to our physical appearances. They place pictures of beautiful people with gleaming muscles (they are oiled), rippling six packs (they are airbrushed or do dozens of sit-ups immediately before the picture is taken),  or worse yet the people are taking steroid type drugs to enhance their physiques.  These “models” are not representative of we typical humans. You and I need to be wise to this. Even though we enjoy looking.

Also, be wary of some of the food products, their claims, and what’s in them.

The top 10 deceiving “healthy” foods that lead to weight gain and other health problems:

1) margarine, because it lacks the  essential oils necessary for a healthy cardiovascular system.

2) artificial sweeteners, because they contribute to inflammation

3) soy, because it can mimics the hormone estrogen

4) most granola bars, because they contain excess sugar

5) most dehydrated fruits, because they have added sugar

6) most juices, because they lack pulp and contain excess added sugars

7) whole grain products, because many people have hidden gluten allergies

commercially grown apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, and imported grapes because they are the top 5 most chemically treated produce and contain toxins.

9) all orange juice, because it is  well known to increase inflammation

10) commercially raised chicken because it’s likely raised indoors, given antibiotics and probably hormones for faster growth

So scrap the diet plans and get the mind set that weight management involves lifelong “good” eating habits like this:

Weight Loss and Eating Tips

♦ Eat smaller quantities and more often

♦ Eat fresher foods

♦ Eat organic grown varieties

♦ Eat slower

♦ Don’t drink more than a few sips while eating

♦ Start a garden

♦ Eat more variety

♦ Add more fresh herbs and spices

-an excerpt from my new book Whole Health Healing – The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages. You can buy the book by clicking here.

Simplistic isn’t it? Better yet it’s neither difficult or expensive. Now you know how I came to be labeled The “Down-to-Earth” Doctor.

The trick, if there is such a thing about weight management, is to change your thinking first. Click on the link to read my article: Weight Loss Solution: Change Your Brain.

http://www.wholehealthhealing.com/?p=162

Now I’m confident you and your size will be okay! Next time, I’ll write about another vital component of weight management – physical activity. So tune in again.

What can you change to better manage your weight?

By the way, have you seen my other blog/web sites?

For the general public: http://www.wholehealthhealing.com

Specifically for doctors: http://www.reclaimthejoy.com

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Healthy family vacations can be possible.

And the kids won’t complain any more so than they do on a standard family vacation. LOL.

Dr Tom Potisk and his family on the White River State Trail

Yes, yes they will still ask “Are we there yet?”, and “Can I watch TV there?”, and “When are we going home?” Get used to it; they’re kids!

But the goal of a healthy, holistic vacation is maintaining some control over nutrition, learning or experiencing something new, and having some fun physical activity every day. And don’t forget, some ice cream is okay! LOL.

The standard family vacations tend to be toxic, boring, inactive, lazy, and unhealthy overeating disasters. Those can bring out the monster in a kid.

Sure, I understand that Mom and Dad need and deserve a break from the grind of their regular routine. God help them! But a bit of pre-planning, and laying down of specific demands can make the whole experience much healthier. Likely, everybody will come back in as good if not better shape than before the break.

Don't forget that kids love fishing!

For example, I’d recommend a trip to the library shortly before the vacation, and demand that each kid pick out a few worthwhile books for the car or plane, and for the dreaded days of poor weather. And make rules that limit electronic gaming time, perhaps only in the car, or no more than one-hour daily and only after physical activity; better yet, leave the electronics at home!

Avoid or minimize media exposure. You’ll find you didn’t miss much except more bad news! LOL.

Bring along a healthy snack bag containing some fresh fruit like bananas, apples, nuts, trail mix, etc.

Lay down the law before the trip, explaining that although you all may likely partake in some lax eating habits, something green needs to be consumed with lunch and dinner. No, it can’t be just green M&Ms or green pop! LOL.

Try hard to maintain the simple eating rule I advocate – having a big salad every day, perhaps making it one of your meals by adding some quality protein. I write more about this in my new book Whole Health Healing-The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages. You can buy it by clicking here.

As for activities, go ahead and sleep later, nap in a lounge chair, lay on the beach, float in the pool, and thoroughly let go of any mental and physical tension you’ve all been harboring; but then get up and explore. Make a little adventure everyday by looking for unique characteristics in your area – a hike, a bike ride, a canoe ride, visit something historical or artistic, anything that stimulates your right brain function. This right brain stimulation is known to be vitally important for thorough relaxation.

I’m known as The “Down-to-Earth” Doctor because of my personal holistic lifestyle and practical, easy-going teaching abilities, and I just love adventures like exploring trails and rally cool, unique areas. I recently took my family on a bike trail near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (45 minutes southwest of Milwaukee). The trail is called The White River State Trail. The beautiful trail, on an old railroad line, runs eleven miles between Spring Valley Road (near Burlington) and Elkhorn along the Racine and Walworth county lines. It passes through the darling, historic villages of Springfield and Lyons. Be sure and stop at the original train depot, now The Pedal and Cup Coffee Shop in Springfield; good food, drink, and people there!

Ask your hosts, hotel desk clerk, or local visitor center about highlights to see in your area. Do an internet search for local bike trails, canoe trails, historical relics, and geographical wonders. On behalf of your kid’s sanity, limit the museums to one per trip! LOL.

My family and I recently visited The Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Hayward, Wisconsin – neat place!

My son Andy at The Freshwater Fishing Hall of fame

So the goal is to not only come back rested, but to come back resisted, mentally stimulated, energized, stronger, educated, enthused, at peace, and in awe of God’s creation.

Your last words should be “That was the best trip since….” and “I haven’t felt better in…”

How will your next vacation be better than ever?

By the way, have you seen my other blog sites?

For the general public: http://www.wholehealthhealing.com.

Specifically for doctors: http://www.reclaimthejoy.com.

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Yeah, you read that correctly – ice cream. LOL. And here is some more good news; you should have some ice cream too!

Dr Tom Potisk next to his Sugar Snap Peas.

It’s all about balance. It really is. I’ve watched many people attempt and then fail to improve their health by going on radical diets, become vegetarians, start difficult exercise routines, follow some fanatical health guru, and try to live like Gandhi, when all they really needed was to find balance. And have some ice-cream! LOL.

Here is my family's pile of rollerblades. We love it!

Now I’m a believer and proponent that all things are gifts from God, like alcohol, guns, drugs, money, sex, and even ice cream. And that any trouble associated with these gifts is from abuse of them, not the thing itself.

“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil….” – 1^st Timothy 6:10. (Notice the “love of” part).

So, if you’re going to partake in some of these gifts, make sure you also partake in and use your gift of self-control. Yep, that’s a gift also. In fact that’s a wonderful balance – ice cream and self control! LOL.

We’re talking about choices here.

For example, in regards to weight management and obesity, I notice that people with those problems usually are choosing the large size portions, the all-you-can-eat buffets, and they like to get the “super-size” options when they go out to eat. “Better value” they commonly say. But if you choose the “super size” portions, you become a “super size” person – too big. Click here to read an article I wrote called Weight Loss Solution: Change Your Brain.

I like coffee and coffee shops; I get a lot of work done there on my laptop. I found myself choosing the largest size coffee they had, mostly because it costs less per sip that way. So, I finally took some control of the situation and switched to the small size, drinking it slower, taking the time to really appreciate the taste. Not surprisingly, I found that by doing so, I was just as satisfied, perhaps even more so because I saved some money.

Be wary of savvy servers who tell you “For only 40 cents more you can have the larger size!” I suspect they are part of a covert government or medical industry scheme to keep us American’s overweight. LOL.

Be wise to it all. The price we pay for living in a free capitalistic society is the ease of overindulgence. Set a personal rule for yourself – small sizes only!

Complicated concept isn’t it? If you choose the big items you become big. If you choose the small items you become and stay small. LOL.

In my book Whole Health Healing- The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible For All Ages, I dedicated an entire to chapter to this concept. The chapter is called: Enjoying Eating-And Doing it in Ways That are Good For You, Without Going Hungry. You can buy the book by clicking here.

So live a holistic lifestyle. Exercise regularly, eat smaller portions of wholesome foods, grow a garden of fresh veggies, hug your family, pay a compliment to somebody, read something positive, and have some ice cream – the small size. LOL.

What can you choose that would be smaller than what you’ve been choosing?

By the way, have you checked out my other blog sites?

For the general public – http://www,wholehealthhealing.com.

For doctors – http://www.reclaimthejoy.com.

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Healthy people are more likely to be found outside the USA. Sick thought eh? No pun intended. LOL.

,

Here I am enjoying the sunshine in Tuscany, Italy

But it’s true. Check the list produced by the World Health Organization and you’ll find that the USA ranks poorly in overall health compared to many other countries, even though we have more doctors, the best technology and the highest costs by far. We are ranked as number 39 – you can read more about it and see the list here. The area I live in/near, Milwaukee, Wisconsin is ranked one of the unhealthiest in the USA!

Now before any of you readers write to me and suggest I move away, I want to explain that I still like it here, that the good ole USA is still the best place to live, and that I’m just trying to help us all get and stay healthier. I believe that can happen if we learn at least a little by observing and learning from other, healthier cultures. Can I stay, please? LOL.

For example, I just returned from a wonderful trip to Italy, visiting Rome and then Tuscany. My wife and I  enjoy what we call “adventure vacations” meaning we travel on our own, getting off the beaten path when possible, do something very active like hiking or biking, and try to come back home having learned something from the experience and the real culture. If this all fails we can always count on coming back poorer! LOL.

Tuscany is a beautiful place.

Being the author of the book Whole Health Healing-The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages, I can’t help but focus my attention on the health of each culture I visit. This gives me a good excuse to eat every thing in sight – strictly business right? LOL. You can order the book by clicking here.

Italian people are generally healthier than us in the USA; especially Italian people who live in Tuscany. Tuscany is about 1-2 hours northwest of Rome and is quite rural. It’s also extremely beautiful. In fact my wife and I agree that it is one of the loveliest places we’ve ever visited.

Sorry, for those of you that think it’s all genetic – that’s long ago been dis-proven. It’s really about lifestyle choices.

So what did I observe there about the lifestyles of these healthier people? Plenty! For one thing they generally eat fresher vegetables and fruits there. They mostly do their grocery shopping in small markets that have much locally grown produce. Many of these rural people are prolific gardeners growing much of their own produce.

They use a tremendous amount of extra-virgin olive oil. When I ate at restaurants, the waiter always started out by bringing fresh bread (the bread had little or no salt in the dough) but there was no butter to be seen. Instead they put olive oil on their bread. Of course, olive oil is known to have better quality fats than butter. When I ordered salad, there was no dressing to be found other than olive oil and vinegar. There are olive trees growing practically everywhere you look.

Lunch time at the piazza in Sienna, Italy. Notice the olive oil and vinegar for the salad?

They drink red wine with every evening meal. I saw much less consumption of soft drinks than here.

Fried foods are a rarity, and grilled foods are common – even vegetables, also served with olive oil instead of butter.

Most portions are smaller. Boohoo! LOL.

They eat much slower. Much slower. In fact it’s darn right irritating for us Americans to visit their restaurants because a typical meal takes about 3-4 times as long to be served. We are impatient eaters and overeat as a result.

Lastly but equally important, it’s easy to see that they are far more active than most of us are.  They walk a lot.  In fact, the Italians have a wonderful custom called passegiatta in which they take a stroll every evening.

Very active indeed. I’m not kidding that I picked up an 85 year old hitchhiker! Her name was Tosca and she looked great for her age.

So there you are- lessons from my Italian adventure vacation.

Which of these observations can you incorporate into your lifestyle?

Arrividerci!

Don't forget to explore the mountains of gelato (Italian ice cream) LOL.

By the way, have you seen my other blogs: 1) wholehealthhealing.com & 2)reclaimthejoy.com?

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Drinks can be healthy and fun.

Do you know about my Healing Martini recipe? LOL.

The Healing Martini - isn't she gorgeous?

I’m not kidding! To compliment my new book Whole Health Healing – The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible For All Ages, I invented several “Healing” recipes like The Healing Salad, The Healing Soup, The Healing Muffin, The Healing Cookie, etc. and now I’m delighted to present – The Healing Martini.

I can almost hear the applause coming from around the world. LOL. Your welcome!

Listen, what less would you expect from me, the “down to earth” doctor? Being a practical and creative guy, I experimented with several common foods and drinks, modifying them with healthier ingredients.

Why are these recipes healing? Healing demands specific nutrients for cellular rebuilding, balanced body chemistry and optimum organ function. These recipes contain ingredients that foster/enhance healing. Are you feeling better already? LOL.

Now before any of you anti-alcohol readers write me any hate mail let me explain. I’m not advocating alcohol consumption. If one has a problem with alcohol they should avoid this. But my position is that, like all things, alcohol is a gift from God. And like all things, abuse is the problem, not the thing itself. So enjoy all things in moderation. This recipe by the way is quite weak in the alcohol content.

So here it is – the recipe for The Healing Martini: (drum roll please!) LOL.

The Healing Martini

One shot unsweetened cranberry juice (I used Northland brand).

One shot cherry ale (I used a New Glarus Brewery brand called Wisconsin Belgian Red).

One shot unsweetened coconut water ( I used Naked brand, don’t get any ideas! LOL).

A small dash of stevia (stevia is a natural sweetener).

A lemon garnish twist.

What makes this drink healing? The cranberry juice is a natural anti-bacterial. The coconut water contains essential oils helpful to the cardiovascular and nervous system functions. Cherries are known to be anti-inflammatory. The ale is a low alcohol alternative to the standard high alcohol typical martini. The stevia is a natural sweetener and produces no glycemic response ( does not raise insulin levels).

You can watch me mix this drink in my own kitchen on a 2 minute youtube video here:

http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_annotate?v=761eLTMkHLk

Do you have any healthy, healing type recipes you can share. If so, please post them here. Eventually I’ll be adding these to my book.

Cheers!

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Kids and exercise equals natural health and wellness.

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Kids benefit from swimming

Kids need a lot of exercise and it needs to be fun. Look around my yard and you’ll see a trampoline, skate boards, basketballs, baseballs, tennis rackets, roller blades, bicycles, frisbees, and scooters. I trip over all this stuff on a regular basis. LOL.

I purposely resist buying my kids the motorized stuff because I want them to have exercise more than a thrill ride. They whine about it all the time like “But Daaaad, the neighbor has a dirt bike!” I’m a real meany!

But I urge all you parents to resist also. There are so many neat motorized toys for kids to ride on these days it’s amazing. And I’m not even concerned about kids having accidents with those – it’s quite rare. What I am concerned about is the growing problem of obesity in children. Much of that obesity is due to inactivity in children. They need more physical activity!

Television, video games, and computers are another blessing from God, but like all blessings, abuse of them leads to problems.

In my new book Whole Health Healing, I have a chapter called Raising Healthier Children. In that chapter I explain how I control my kids electronic gaming by requiring that all home work be completed, household chores be completed, and a series of exercises be completed before they get some computer or gaming time. I suspect some adults need this same control. LOL.

Having a variety of physical activities for them is crucial because the most common reason anyone quits exercise is boredom. We are blessed with a nice pond to swim in and I notice that swimming is a wonderful choice for warm summer days. Sometimes it’s hard to get the kids out of the water (and me too!) LOL.

In the right sidebar of this website, you will find an opt-in to receive a free report with more details about getting control of your child’s electronic gaming. If you’ve allowed it to get out of control you’ve got a real challenge to regain control of it. But regain control you must! This is serious stuff. The physical inactivity can lead not only to obesity but also poor posture, blood sugar imbalance, and even weak bones and joints.

I remember my parents and grandparents asking “What’s going to become of the world with all these misfit kids?”

Now I’m asking “What’s going to become of the world with all these unfit kids?”

So fill your yard with all kinds of fun, physical activity. And start using it yourself too! The activity will do you good and the time with your kids will be priceless!

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Gardening is not work unless you let it be. To those of you with soil under your finger nails, I applaud! LOL.

Dr Potisk picks rhubarb

Dr Potisk picks rhubarb

I just harvested a big bag full of beautiful rhubarb and that took all of 5 minutes. How much time did it take me to plant it? None, it comes up automatically year after year.

Yesterday I picked a big bag of delicious asparagus and that took all of 3 minutes. How much time did it take me to plant it? None, it also comes up automatically.

I could go on and on about my apples, pears, raspberries, blackberries. etc. Okay, okay, I’ll admit there are some weeds to yank occasionally, but that’s not work either, in fact it’s how I vent my frustrations from putting up with some of you skeptics! LOL. Yank!

So where’s the work? Hoeing the soil? That’s not work it’s exercise and you’re supposed to get exercise everyday anyway so why not do exercise that will produce something you can eat.

And the benefits? Incalculable! I wish somebody would do a research study on the benefits of gardening. But it’s hard to measure satisfaction. Maybe someone should calculate the sizes of smiles to the amount of dirt under finger nails – I bet there’s a correlation. LOL.

Now I know you can buy satisfactionquite reasonably especially in peak season. And some of the stuff at the farmer’s markets are pretty darn good quality, but the only way to be truly sure it’s grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers is to grow it yourself.

Dr Potisk planting peas

Notice in the above picture some of the shortcuts I take like raised beds (less bending) and landscape fabric covering the soil (less or no weeding). I’m using my knoggin more than my muscles.

All this fun, satisfaction, and health benefits are the reason why I could not resist placing gardening in my book Whole Health Healing – the Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages. Gardening is a must for optimum wellness.

Today is May 11 and already my peas are 3 inches high, onions 6 inches, spinach 2 inches, and lettuce 1 inch high. Around the end of the month I’ll plant tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, pumpkins, lemon cucumbers, regular cucumbers, and zucchini. Then about the only thing close to work is watering. Watering is really hard you know – holding a hose and spraying water –oooooooh! LOL.

So lets get going gang. No excuses! Pick a sunny area. Dig out the grass. Dump a bag of mulch and a bag of manure on there and dig it in. Then buy your plants and plug them in. That’s it. No yard you say? What about pots I ask?

The way I type (with 2 fingers) it took me longer to peck out the above sentences than it will for you to start a garden. LOL.

What do you grow? And if not, why?

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Relaxation comes naturally, if you let it.

I observe how my animals relax and learn a lot from them.

Pork Chop and Quiigley take a nap

I find some people are confused about relaxation. For example, some people will say “I’m going to relax and watch TV” or “I’m relaxing with a good book”. This is only partially relaxing. Remember that we are physical, mental, and spiritual. Watching TV and reading a book may relax the physical but the mental and spiritual are left out. This is quite a problem in our current era. All the media and electronics are wonderful advancements but they are stealing our mental and spiritual relaxation.

Recently, a very popular Pastor was interviewed as he was nearing the final chapter of his life. This world renowned Pastor was asked “Now that you can look back and reflect on your extraordinary life, what would you have done differently that you believe would have allowed you to accomplish even more?” His answer was profound. He said “I would spend a lot of time just sitting in a quiet private spot and just listen to God.” Wow!

So the solution to more relaxation is partly elimination (No, not a bowel movement. LOL). By elimination I mean getting away from and eliminating the distractions that interfere with our relaxation. The mind and spirit need as much rest if not more than or physical selves. TV, radio, internet, cell phones, and even background noise all interfere with our ability to really relax deeply.

This concept of real relaxation is so important that I placed instructions about how to attain it in my book Whole Health Healing – The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible For All Ages.

Now if you have not done a true, deep mind and or spiritual relaxation before, you don’t know what you’ve been missing. You will likely discover an aspect of yourself that you will really like – inner peace. That attainment of inner peace is severely lacking in our American society compared to other cultures – especially eastern cultures.

Start by setting a time to be alone, in a quiet place for at least 30 minutes. This runs so counter to the norm in our society that if someone sees you or learns of your plans they may likely suspect that something is wrong with you. Just laugh it off and tell them that what’s wrong is that you haven’t been doing this enough.

Next, after getting in this quiet solitary place, lay or sit comfortably, pray for inner peace, and then just listen to the things around you. You may hear birds, cars, planes and may likely notice sounds you had not been paying attention to – that is a good start. If it’s a totally quiet place you may likely hear your self breathing or even your own heartbeat – this too is good.

The greatest battle you will have is fighting the thoughts of all the things you think you need to be doing that will initially be popping into your mind. It may take days or weeks to master clearing your mind, but each time you work at it you will get a little closer and you will notice 2 amazing things happen: 1) you will feel more refreshed and energetic afterward, 2) you will find it easier to recall and reclaim that feeling of inner peace in tense situations throughout your day.

You’ll also likely notice health benefits like less musculoskeletal pains, lower blood pressure, and even stronger immunity. Best of all – it’s free. Warning, it’s also addictive! Some addictions are good. LOL

Some people wonder “Why doesn’t God tell me what I should do?” When you get in this totally relaxed state, you may find out God was talking all along – you just did not take the time to hear. This is spiritual relaxation, letting go and letting God.

Do you think it would do you good to really relax?

My dog Lou relaxing

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Natural health methods are not very complicated. For most of us anyway! LOL.

I’m enjoying the morning by sitting next to my dog, sipping a good cup of coffee and reading the paper.

One particular article sparks an old familiar feeling. It’s a frustrating feeling, one I’ve learned to take action on because that’s the only way I get relief. And no it’s not caused by the coffee! LOL.

The article that’s causing a stir inside me is about former vice president Dick Cheney. It says he just had his seventh heart attack. Thank goodness he survived again, I’m happy for that. What frustrates me to take action is that I’d be willing to bet that he doesn’t know about the holistic health measures that could likely help him.

I don’t know Dick Cheney other than what I’ve read about him in the news over the last few years. But I’d be willing to bet that he only seeks traditional medical care for his heart condition let alone the rest of his health. Now don’t misunderstand me, traditional medical care is the best care for acute heart attacks. It can and does save lives. But heart malfunction does not drop out of the sky. Nor do I believe it’s caused by the hand of God, even if you are a Republican (relax it’s just a joke, I don’t claim any political affiliation). There is always an underlying reason behind every health problem, and that needs to be investigated and dealt with because otherwise the same problem keeps coming back, just like his does.

Now, medically trained personnel will say that they do search for underlying causes of health problems through blood tests, urine tests, blood pressure screenings and more. I truly believe most of the docs mean well. And I would bet that Dick Cheney probably has the usual sources of his heart condition as determined by medical testing like high blood pressure/and or cholesterol issues. But still, those are symptoms not sources. In other words, there may very likely be an underlying source of the cholesterol imbalance and high blood pressure.

That’s what frustrates me. That’s what I feel is my God given mission – to empower people like Dick Cheney and you – to make wiser health care decisions.

I don’t believe people are being told all the information nor are they being given all the choices concerning health care.

What sources or causes can there be in the case of a malfunctioning heart? Many, such as poor food choices, lack of exercise, a stress filled mind and even spinal structural imbalance. These are the basics of wellness that easily and commonly get left out in health care. Sure the emergency and crisis care of traditional medicine has its place. God bless them and I hope they help me some day if I need it. But there is a whole lot more to it.

Now, I’ll likely write about all those sources in the near future here in this column. I’ve already got it all covered in my book: Whole Health Healing – The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages. But let me tell you now about the source of health problems called spinal structural imbalance. This is the most common, safest to treat, most easily correctable source I know of. It is the specialty of Doctor’s of Chiropractic just like me.

Keeping it simple, your nervous system controls all your body functions, including your heart. Nerve impulses travel from your brain to your heart and back again. These nerves can get pinched or at least irritated by spinal misalignment. The technical name for that is called vertebral subluxation. When those nerves to the heart are pinched or irritated, the signals get disrupted and the heart won’t function optimally. It’s a structure function relationship. I’ve observed first hand in my own practice that this can be a source of heart problems and many other conditions. The skilled hands of a chiropractor can detect these subluxations and verify them with diagnostics like x-ray or heat scans. The chiropractor can then adjust the misaligned spinal segments to improve the nerve flow. The result can be a better functioning heart.

This principle is unique to chiropractic since it’s inception in 1895, and can be applied, no, should be applied to every health problem. Better yet, go to a chiropractor regularly and get checked and adjusted for prevention. Why regularly? Because the spinal structural imbalance are caused by stress, trauma, and toxins. Who does not have one or more of those in their lives on any day?

So there is my rant. I feel better already.

If you know or see Dick Cheney, tell him this stuff so he can feel better to.

And what about your health?

By the way, have you seen my other web/blog sites?

http://www.wholehealthhealing.com – For the general public

http://www.reclaimthejoy.com – specifically for doctors

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The “down-to-earth” doctor? What the ….?

I didn’t pick the name – “down-to-earth-doctor”. Honestly, it’s what I heard frequently from people who get to know me. At first I didn’t like it. Most of us doctors have over inflated egos you know, so we like big, complicated, and sophisticated titles associated with our names. I’ve got doctor friends with titles like “orthopedic spine specialist” and “ortho-molecular pediatrician”. So why did I have to end up with “down-to-earth-doctor”? Because that’s the real me.

Who am I? Well, this morning as I write this I’m sitting next to my wood burning stove with my dog sleeping at my feet. I just drank a big glass of tomato juice that I made last fall from my garden tomatoes (don’t worry I’m not a vegetarian nor do I encourage it.). And when I’m done writing this I’m going for a walk. Know me yet?

The wood stove is making my right side warm, but my left side is cold (I live in an old but lovely drafty farm house). Know me better?

I just sent my three kids off to school, and my wife off to an exercise class (life is great), but only after frying up some eggs for them from my own chickens (life is even greater). Understanding me?

Soon I’ll be picking up the phone and participating in a radio interview. They’ll be asking me about my book, Whole health Healing and my holistic lifestyle (when you’re different everybody wants to know how and why). Just like you do.

As I write this, I’m feeling guilty because I’m typing with my laptop on my lap (isn’t that why they are called laptops?), and that’s not ergonomic. I’ll need a chiropractic adjustment soon if I keep this up! Both the improper position and the guilt cause spinal subluxations (misalignments). Guilt also you wonder? Yep, and I’ll write more about that in the future. But, are you getting a feel for me?

And I’m typing this with two fingers just like I’ve done with all 7 of my books because, well, …….it’s a long story! Got me now?

Don’t worry, I’ve got or had all the years of college (too many), degrees, awards, reputation, huge practice, thousands of patients, mountains of student loans, and a long resume of accomplishments. But you know what, none of that allows me to help people as much as being “down-to-earth”. A lady complimented me yesterday when she said, “your down-to- earth” nature allows you to relate to people better than any doctor I’ve ever met.”

I struggled with finding “my brand”. I listened to a lot of marketing experts as I was trying to figure out what to do with my book, and they all said you gotta have a brand. After considering all kinds of brands and envying those of others, I finally got my answer – it’s what people are saying about you, nothing more nothing less. That wisdom came from my friend Susan Northey, a branding and marketing genius in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Thank God for friends like that!

I’m good with that title, the “down-to-earth doctor”. That’s me.

What is your brand?

By the way, have you seen my 2 other web/blog sites?

For the general public - http://www.wholehealthhealing.com.

Specifically for doctors – http://reclaimthejoy.com.

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