by Kristi Jain | Jan 17, 2024 | Uncategorized
Now seems like as good of time as any to sit down and write this week’s blog. Today is my day off so in addition to writing, I needed to make time to handle emails, make some calls, go to the post office and grocery store, do dinner prep, set the table, vacuum, mop and get ready for company for dinner that will arrive in a few hours. Is there ever enough time?
THINK ABOUT IT…
“Time is free but It’s priceless. You can’t own it but use can use it. You can’t keep it but you can spend it.” I’m quoting a few things I read in an article on Medium.com which goes on to say “Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money but you can never get more time. To realize the value of a minute, ask the person who just missed a bus, train or plane. To realize the value of 1 second, ask a person who just missed an accident and to realize the value of a millisecond, ask the person who just came in second at the Olympics.”
TIME
When asked, “What’s the biggest mistake we make in life?” The Buddha replied, “The biggest mistake is you think you have time.”
WASTE
Time is precious and shouldn’t be mindlessly wasted. Think about how much you waste and on what. For example, social media. Many of us engage but often don’t realize how many hours we mindlessly scroll or check to see how many “likes” we got on our latest post or selfie. Although we all deserve a pass to mindlessly scroll, think about how those hours might be better used. “It is our choice of how we waste our time. It is our choice of how we use our time.”
ANOTHER QUOTE…
“Time is very slow for those who want, very fast for those who are scared, very long for those who are sad and very short for those who celebrate but for those who love, time is eternal.”
-Willian Shakespeare
TRUE VALUE
Do we forget about the importance of time? If someone gives you their time, they are giving you a gift. Nobody knows how much time we have left. So many lose people who are important to them because we don’t value their time. Some don’t recognize how important someone is until they’re gone.
HDD
There is no time like the present. If you have concerns or issues with your health, now is the time to ask questions, get it checked, get a screening or see your healthcare provider. Time continues to pass as you to procrastinate. Early detection saves lives. If we at HDD can help in the way of diagnostic ultrasound, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Jan 10, 2024 | Uncategorized
The blog this week has to do with the idea of rethinking an old idea. Stay with me on this one. If you’ve been around as long as I have, you understand that what was once old, will be new again, only this time it has been rebranded. I read an inspirational post this morning that got me thinking and needing to adopt the concept. I wanted to share it with you.
60 IS THE NEW 30
We’ve seen the gorgeous “more mature” actors and models grace our movie screens and magazine covers. In years past, if you were no longer fit, young, and beautiful, your career as you knew it was all washed up. Not anymore. Thankfully, for those of us who have been around the sun many times are glad that 60 is the new 30 or so we’d like to believe!
HAPPINESS IS THE NEW RICH
Who doesn’t love and is proud of their “toys?” You know, the spendy car, the boat, the RV, the Louis Vuitton purse (what do mean is it real?) and the Louboutin shoes. We get these things because they will make us feel happy, rich and fulfilled, right? Possessions come and go. They wear out, expire and break. They get outdated or we simply tire of them. One thing that most of us can acquire at zero cost is happiness. Happiness is the new rich.
INNER PEACE IS THE NEW SUCCESS
We’ve all been there, done this. We are at a gathering of strangers the usual conversation turns to “What do you do?” We puff out our chest and go through a litany of things that describe our achievements and success. I certainly hope they are impressed! We find ourselves overly busy and overly stressed. We share our exhausting schedule and wear it as a badge of honor. This is why we are successful, right? Wrong. Maybe taking time to step back, slow down and find some peace is just what the doctor ordered. Inner peace is the new success.
KINDNESS IS THE NEW COOL
Think back to high school. There were the cool kids, then there were the others. The cool kids really didn’t have much to do with those who weren’t in their clique. Think about now. Is it different now that you are all grown up? Treating everyone you come in contact with honor and respect is cool. Kindness is the new cool.
HEALTH IS THE NEW WEALTH
In the big picture, it simply doesn’t matter how much money you have, how big your house is, how expensive your car is or how much you paid for that purse. If you don’t have your mental, physical and emotional health, you have little. This is a reminder to take care of yourself and make your health a priority. Health is the new wealth. If maintaining your health includes diagnostic ultrasound, give us a call at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Jan 2, 2024 | Uncategorized
Today’s blog is a re-run that I believe is worth repeating as the holidays are now history. Ohhhh…that pesky weight gain. Packing on a couple of extra pounds due to holiday festivities, boredom, inactivity or depression tends to happen. Raise your hand if you fall into this category. Yep, me too. I imagine we should start thinking about how to lose those pesky extra pounds.
OPRAH
How does one realistically go about weight loss? Oprah Winfrey is notorious for yo-yo dieting. Do you recall back in 1988 when she lost an amazing 67 pounds? On her show she looked skinny, wore tiny jeans and behind her she pulled a little red wagon full of 67 pounds of fat to represent the amount of weight she lost.
WHERE DOES FAT GO?
Well, I’m sure Oprah’s stagehands took that 67 pounds of lard and heaved it in the dumpster. If only it were that easy. The question becomes, when one loses weight, where does it go? If you believe that when we lose fat we eliminate it via the colon or during urination, you are partially correct. The rest is a bit surprising.
ALL IS LOST
Theconversation.com reports, as the process of fat loss progresses, fat cells shrink drastically in size. The byproducts are converted to carbon dioxide and water. 84% of fat loss is exhaled! You exhale the carbon dioxide and the water mixes into your circulation until it is lost as urine or sweat (which is the remaining 16%.) In other words, nearly all the weight we lose is exhaled. Disposal of these byproducts is greatly elevated during exercise due to increased breathing and sweating. Who knew?
DON’T HYPERVENTALATE
I knew you’d ask. NO, breathing more will not make you lose weight. No need to huff and puff till you pass out. The only way you can consciously increase the amount of carbon dioxide your body is producing is by moving your muscles. Nice try!
THOSE PESKY CELLS
When you lose fat, these same cells can shrink although their number remains roughly the same. The primary reason for changes in body shape is a reduced size of fat cells and not the number of them. This means if you don’t maintain weight loss, they can easily grow in size again.
ULTRASOUND AND FAT
The above mentioned are fun and interesting facts about fat and weight loss. You may wonder how this relates to ultrasound. Another fact is that obesity interferes with ultrasound assessment because it is difficult for ultrasound wave signals to penetrate fat to picture the organs underneath. As a result, the image becomes unreadable.
DON’T PANIC
Don’t panic! If you need an ultrasound, a few extra pounds are not going to make an image unreadable. If you are sporting significantly more than a few pounds, for the sake of your health, you may consider trying to get that extra weight off. It is a work in progress one day at a time. If we can help with your ultrasound needs, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Dec 20, 2023 | Uncategorized
It is finally here! Please allow each and every one of us at High Desert Doppler to wish you a very Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali or simply another joyous holiday season. Whatever this season holds for you, make it a peaceful, healthy, memorable celebration!
CHILL
In the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle, slow down, take some deep breaths, chill and enjoy. I hope by now we have come to understand that it isn’t all about material gifts. Consider the gifts of health, love, kindness, compassion, patience, and understanding.
DR SEUSS
“It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ‘till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
-Dr. Seuss
DON’T LET YOUR HEALTH SUFFER
In pursuit of a happy healthy holiday season, the following suggestions from StayWell.com are not only good ideas to help you navigate the holidays, but every day.
- Don’t let a busy season or a stressful life compromise your health. It is suggested that you take a few minutes each and every day just for you.
- Make time to prepare family meals at home. During the holidays, it is easy to resort to restaurant fare, party platters, Uber Eats, Grub Hub or other unhealthy fattening fast food.
- Schedule exercise. It doesn’t matter how you move. Just move. Remember, motion is lotion for your joints.
- Avoid trying some new pre or post-holiday fad diet to shed those extra pounds. Be kind to yourself. Be sensible with your weight loss strategies and goals.
- Be sure to get 6-8 hours of sleep each day.
- Stay hydrated.
- Do less and enjoy more!
DON’T GET DISTRACTED
The holidays can keep us busy and can distract us from things that require attention. You are the best judge of your health and wellness. As the holiday season grinds to a halt, take time to relax. Be still and do frequent body scans from head to toe. Assess how you are feeling. Don’t ignore it. If something doesn’t look or feel right, concerns you or requires attention, make the call, schedule the appointment, get scanned and get tested. Get informed and get healthy.
HDD
At HDD, we celebrate Christmas. From the bottom of our hearts, John, myself and each one of our prized team members thank you for being an important part of our role in providing you with diagnostic ultrasound and x-ray. Allow us to wish you the safest, happiest, healthiest, and very merriest Christmas ever. See you next year!
by Kristi Jain | Dec 13, 2023 | Uncategorized
We are almost halfway through December. Are you maintaining your sanity? I’m hanging onto mine. While some people don’t do much, others have a full schedule. John Jain, our CEO and my husband and I fall into the latter category. When will we find time to get it all done? The answer? Get moving.
ANOTHER THING…
This morning, along with getting your weekly blog written, I had a list of about 10 things that needed to accomplish. I must prioritize. I understand that being sedentary is one of the worst things we can be. When we stop moving, we start declining. I had to fit in a workout, but when?
I DID IT
By the way, I squeezed in a workout because it is a priority for me. What about those who can’t or won’t? All is not lost. On Good Morning America I heard the term “Micro movements” so I did some research. I’ve not heard the term but have been implementing the concept for decades. Now it has a name!
MICRO MOVEMENTS
Nothing will replace a full workout however a little movement is better that none! One study suggests that a 10 minute workout three time per week increased endurance by nearly 20 percent while another statistic linked longer life spans with running as little a 5 minutes a day. Time.com says even small doses of activity can increase blood flow and improve the body’s ability to regulate blood-sugar levels. Over time, these changes could reduce your risks for conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
DEFINE
What is a micro movement? They are small motions like fidgeting or weight shifting that provide a wide-spread distribution of work throughout the body, promoting healthy tissue from circulation and burning calories. Your body thrives on circulation and oxygen that is produced through muscular contractions. Instead of taking the elevator, take the stairs. Don’t scavenge for the closest parking space. Park farther away to add steps to your day. If you are standing around, try a few calf raises or shoulder shrugs. If you are feeling particularly daring, do some squats or lunges. Remember, any movement is better than none at all.
POSITIVE EFFECTS OF MOVING
Get moving. You can actually improve your brain health, manage your weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen muscles, bones and improve your ability to do regular everyday things. No matter how small, do something. You will find yourself feeling energized, more alert and sleep better!
HDD
At High Desert Doppler we are concerned for your health and wellbeing, hence the health related blogs each week. I hope they inform and motivate you to be at your very best during the busy holidays as well as just every day. If we can help you on your journey to better health through diagnostic ultrasound, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Dec 6, 2023 | Uncategorized
Today’s blog asks the question, are you in the zone today? Did you wake up grouchy and tired? Often this state of being means that copious amounts of coffee are the only means of survival. If this sounds familiar, you are probably not in the zone. Perhaps it’s time to wake up and experience “the flow.”
IN THE ZONE
I was inspired for the “In the Zone” blog from an audio book I’m listening to narrated by Oprah Winfrey. Love her or not, it is a great book that considers many interesting points of view. It is uplifting, inspiring and worth a read (or listen.) It is called “The Path Made Clear.”
IN THE ZONE
First, let’s clarify what it means to be in the zone. If you are in the zone, you are happy or excited because you are doing something very skillfully and easily. Getting into the zone, also known as “being in a state of flow” usually happens when we are…
- Feeling energized.
- In a good mood and doing things we enjoy.
- Have some level of skill that meets the demands of the task.
CRUSH IT
I love days when I crush it! Some days it is natural and easy then there are other days when there is positively no interest in reaching the zone. Occasionally you need to mentally and physically veg out. That’s okay but don’t stay in that state of unresponsiveness. If you’re not feeling particularly motivated, how does one get into the zone?
FOCUS
Performance psychology suggests that if we sharpen our focus and attention you increase the chances of achieving flow. Reduce distractions, both environmental and internal that can get in the way of seeing and doing. Gain confidence and trust in yourself and your abilities. Match your skills and challenges and you will increase the chance of getting into the flow. The feeling is euphoric if you allow yourself to get there.
GOOD THINGS TAKE TIME
It may take some effort to get into a state of flow. It can take a few minutes of seriously focusing on a task to fully reach it depending on the task at hand. FYI, constantly checking social media is a surefire way to derail your focus and yank you out of the zone. Before you “zone out” be sure to check your e-mails, Instagram, and Facebook. Be certain enough friends have “liked” your latest selfie so you can now put your phone away and let it flow!
YOUR HEALTH
Make sure you are staying in the zone when it comes to your health and wellness. Don’t think about your health only when you feel unwell or there is a problem. Your health is your life. Take care of yourself as if your life depends on it because it does.
HDD
We are a team and in the zone and here at HDD. We are dedicated to helping you in the diagnosis and maintenance of your health. When diagnostic ultrasound is indicated, call us at 505-350-3397.
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