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Palliative Care Focuses on Comfort and Dignity

Jun 3, 2016

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No family is ever ready to face it when it happens: an older parent facing a life threatening illness. There may come a point when a doctor recommends a transition to palliative care. This may be the most important and sensitive phase of treating an illness, and families should enter into it prepared and informed. The two cornerstones of end of life care in Canada are comfort and dignity. Caregivers focus their efforts on easing the patient’s pain and discomforting symptoms. Chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, other dementia-related diseases, cancer, and cardiac disease may eventually lead to an end of life treatment plan. If you or your elderly parent lives in Edmonton, rest assured that there are quality home care agencies you can depend on to improve your parent’s quality of life.

Easing Physical Symptoms

Treatment targets symptoms like chronic or acute pain, nausea, and confusion, as well as a loss of interest in food or an inability to eat. Trained caregivers offer assistance with housekeeping, grooming, managing doctor’s appointments and medications, and if it’s necessary, even help with eating. To find out more about where personal support workers fit in at this stage of treatment, read about palliative care in Edmonton at Mavencare.com.

Addressing Spiritual Beliefs and Emotional Well-Being

Pain reduction is only one part of a system of palliative care, which is typically delivered by a team. Psychological and spiritual guidance may be integrated into the process as well. A spiritual or psychosocial advisor may be an integral part of a team that also includes the doctor and the palliative care nurse.

Respect and Dignity

The aim of this treatment plan is to enable seniors with life-threatening illnesses to live with respect and dignity, free from pain and able to enjoy moments as much as they can. This is the time for family to be present as well as a priest, minister, or rabbi who can help with the patient’s spiritual concerns.

Wish List

Caregivers from Edmonton agency Mavencare are available to help with escorted outings when you’re not available. They provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, but they also accompany patients on simple outings and to social events. Your mother should enjoy herself as much as possible at this stage, and that means attending social events or special occasions she’s always loved or wanted to attend.

Relief for the Family

Palliative care providers in Edmonton give families relief with the knowledge that their loved ones are in the right hands. Families that aren’t able to be near their loved one should consider hiring an agency that uses a home monitoring application to stay in the loop. Families using the Mavencare app receive live updates via texts and photos from caregivers so they always know what’s going on. It’s not always possible to be close to your loved one, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be a part of the process. Stay connected by getting help from an agency in Edmonton.

Skipping Routine Teeth Cleaning Can be Costly

May 26, 2016

1487

Nobody likes getting their teeth cleaned, and it sometimes feels like it’s a waste of time and money. You might find your teeth look the same afterwards and it’s just not that important. It’s time to change that attitude.

You can and almost certainly will incur high dental costs if you avoid this regular appointment for too long. Just like a car, without regular maintenance and attention, your teeth will start to develop more serious problems. It’s recommended that you have your teeth examined and cleaned at least once a year.

Even if it seems like teeth cleaning is just a superficial task, there are serious healthy-related reasons why it should be done regularly. All of these can lead to expensive procedures later on, and you’ll wish you took the time to get your teeth cleaned. So, what kinds of problems can you avoid with regular teeth cleaning?

Gum Disease

Brushing and flossing at home does a pretty good job of keeping teeth clean but it’s not perfect. There is still often a buildup of bacteria-rich plaque on our teeth that is a health hazard if not taken care of regularly. All that constant bacteria starts to effect your gums, and will lead to gum disease. At first, there may not even be any symptoms that this has begun. Eventually, you’ll have tender gums that bleed and chronic bad breath.

Left unchecked, this can get worse and your gums will shrink back leaving you with loose teeth. You can imagine how expensive that will be to fix. Regular cleaning is the smartest way to avoid this potential cost.

Cavities

A thorough cleaning can get any food or plaque build-up out from those hard-to-reach crevices between your teeth. Otherwise, your tooth enamel can start to dissolve from the constant contact with sugars and acids in the food particles. That means holes in your enamel, also known as a cavity.

Not only can regular cleaning prevent the development of cavities, your dentist can catch them when they are small if he or she is seeing you often. That means smaller fillings and less costly dentist bills. Painful cavities will grab your attention on their own, but ones that don’t hurt can go undetected for a very long time unless someone is checking on your teeth.

Staining

While not a medical problem, this is the biggest problem that develops if you skip that professional cleaning. When you get your teeth cleaned every year, you may not realize just how stained they’ll get once the cleaning stops. It’s so gradual. But all of a sudden, years down the road, you will stop and notice how yellow and shaded your teeth have gotten. Unfortunately, it will be too late for a cleaning by then. You’ll be paying for professional bleaching treatments or even veneers to cover years of discoloration.

So you see, there are more serious risks you’re taking by skipping that cleaning appointment. A lot of money can end up getting spent because you make that choice now.

Millennials health issues

May 24, 2016

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In spite of their youth, Millennials (the generation that became adults around the year 2000) can face a number of health issues, often related to poor lifestyle choices.

1. Alcohol

Many millennials drink in excess of the recommended alcohol intake (14 units per week), especially when they’re at college. It’s very easy to go beyond this limit, particularly as people often don’t realise what a unit actually is – filling a glass to the limit can mean that what you think is one drink is actually the equivalent of 1�. Have at least 2 alcohol-free days per week, and never binge drink – it’s not ok to cram your weekly limit into the weekend, even if you avoid alcohol all week.

2. STDs

While you might think that millennials are clued up on safe sex, they are actually at higher risk of contracting an STD. According to the CDC, the 15-24 age group accounts for ? of cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea, perhaps because they are more sexually active than other age groups. STDs can cause fertility problems, and since most millennials will not have started their family yet this can have serious implications for their future fertility. Always use condoms, and consider being tested for STDs, especially when beginning a relationship with a new partner. A monogamous relationship is also the safest sexual option.

3. Mental Health

Mental health issues can hit millennials hard, even though (or perhaps because) this is supposed to be the best stage of their lives. A significant percentage of this age group are on antidepressants, and quite a few suffer from anxiety. It’s important to look after your mental and physical health, seek counselling if you’re having trouble coping with life, and accept that you’re not at fault if you’re having mental health issues – it’s perfectly normal.

4. Weight

Surprisingly, the rate of obesity among millennials is higher than in previous generations. The kind of poor diet that leads to obesity is likely to cause health problems such as heart disease and diabetes in the future. If you want to eat cakes and other treats (and most of us do), make them a small part of your diet and concentrate the majority of your diet on eating healthier foods.

5. Smoking

In spite of the dangers of smoking being well known for decades, younger people still take up the habit. It’s not glamorous, and there are far better and healthier ways of coping with stress. Don’t even start smoking; aside from the risk of cancer and other diseases, smoking will age your skin prematurely. If you’re already smoking, many people have found e-cigarettes to be very helpful in stopping.

Straighten up your act: 7 simple ways to improve your posture

May 20, 2016

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If you suffer from neck or back pain, headaches or find yourself lacking energy it could be down to poor posture. So if you’re looking for tips and tricks on improving your posture read on as we run through 7 simple techniques for developing and maintaining correct posture.

Exercise

Any form of exercise which allows you to focus on individual muscle groups and your range of motion are essential to improving your posture. Classes such as yoga and pilates are great as the low impact movements strengthen muscles without the risk of causing too much stress or damage to them. When trying to improve or maintain correct posture be sure to strengthen core areas such as the abdomen, lower back and pelvic area as these are the areas crucial to posture.

Be Aware

Being aware of your posture throughout the day is key to correcting it. Practising good alignment can feel quite unnatural to begin with and it can be easy to slip back into your usual habits but it is important to be strict with yourself. A good way of reminding yourself about your posture is to think of a certain word, colour or an object of some kind. Every time you see, hear or think of this word or object correct your posture.

Invest in the correct mattress

Whilst asleep there is no way of consciously practising correct alignment and posture. Therefore, it is vital that we sleep on a mattress designed to support our bodies in all the right places. More innovative products like the ones available from Koala Mattress are designed to distribute your body weight evenly giving your skeleton the support it requires for good posture.

Use a good chair

For those who work in an office environment, this point is especially important. If you spend a large portion of your day sitting in a chair be sure to pick a desk or office chair that is ergonomically designed to aid with your posture and stop you hunching over or slouching whilst seated. If you are unable to choose the chair yourself there are products available such as backrests and pillows that can aid with lumbar support.

Raise your devices

Another key part of practising correct posture whilst at home or work is to ensure your devices are in the correct position. If you find that your laptop or computer is too low making you hunch over this can have a detrimental effect on your alignment. Set up your workstation so that your screen is at eye level allowing you to keep your neck straight and your shoulders relaxed.

Stretching

Being flexible can really open up your back and make it easier to maintain correct posture. Start each day with ten or fifteen minutes of gentle stretching focusing your attention on the back, shoulders and neck. For those of us who are slightly more flexible, you can use a foam roller on the spine during such stretches which will further open up and stretch these areas of the body. Stretching like this can also relieve stress or tension in the muscles which may be affecting your posture.

The String Method

One of the simplest and easiest ways of checking your posture is to use the string method. Imagine that there is a length of string attached to your head which is gently pulling you up towards the ceiling. Alternatively, imagine that there is a book or object balancing on your head.

For many of us practising correct posture may feel slightly unnatural at first however good body alignment is vital for our health, well-being and confidence. Good posture can also help us to look and feel younger. Whichever way you choose to correct or maintain your posture remember to be patient, correcting your alignment can take time and you may not see improvements overnight. Just stick with it, you will soon see noticeable improvements with continued work!

Millennials health issues

May 20, 2016

1986

In spite of their youth, Millennials (the generation that became adults around the year 2000) can face a number of health issues, often related to poor lifestyle choices.

1. Alcohol

2. STDs

3. Mental Health

4. Weight

5. Smoking

Psychological factors of erectile dysfunction

May 17, 2016

2084

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by many factors and among them the psychological factor is a very important one. This factor can cause erectile dysfunction problems in many people. In many cases, it is a secondary reaction to something physical. Doctors have also found that childhood abuse or sexual trauma can also cause psychological factors that result in erectile dysfunction.

Most commonly, the following psychological causes result in erectile dysfunction:

Stress

If you have too much stress in your life, it can cause erectile dysfunction. Stress may develop from different things. It may be related to your job, money, your family life, or anything else. Whatever is the reason for your stress, if you are stressed, you will not be able to perform at the desired level. It will make it difficult to get the necessary erection at the right point of time.

Anxiety

Anxiety is another psychological factor that causes erectile dysfunction. If you have anxiety, you may find it difficult to get an erection when you need it. It may also appear after you experience erectile dysfunction. When you experience erectile dysfunction, your anxiety will increase as you will be worried that the problem will reappear and you will not be able to perform. Such anxiety can cause “performance anxiety,” which is nothing but a fear of sexual failure. It will result in more and future occurrences of erectile dysfunction.

Depression

This is a very common cause of erectile dysfunction. Depression not only affects you psychologically but also physically. When you are depressed, your mind will not be in a condition to support you to have an erection. Even if you are comfortable in a situation, due to depression, you may not be able to perform. Some medicines, which are used for treatment of depression, are also linked with erectile dysfunction.

Guilt

Guilt is a very strong psychological factor and it also causes problems with your sex life. Whether you are feeling guilty that you are not able to satisfy your partner or due to some other reasons, you will not be able to get erection with this feeling. The feeling of guilt will further degrade your performance.

Low self-esteem

Besides causing several other psychological and behavioral problems, low self-esteem can also cause erectile dysfunction. If you have previously experienced erectile dysfunction, you may have a feeling of inadequacy, and in that case, you will not be able to perform in future as well. Low self-esteem means low confidence and therefore, you will be unable to perform confidently and that may make the situation more complex. Low self-esteem caused by other issues unrelated to your performance in bed can also result in erectile dysfunction.

Indifference

This is generally seen in the case of older people and only in few cases of younger people. Due to age and other factors, you may lose interest in sex. This loss of interest may occur due to some medicines or some relationship problems; however, when it happens, there will be issues of erectile dysfunction.

People experience erectile dysfunction at one time or another in their life; you need not worry about that as it is normal. However, if it occurs more than half of the time or is persistent, only then will you need to worry about erectile dysfunction. If it is causing psychological issues, such as distress for you and your partner, you should immediately consult a doctor and get the problem rectified.

What can be done to overcome psychological erectile dysfunction?

For psychological factors of erectile dysfunction, you may need to undergo therapy with a sex therapist which may include cognitive behavioral therapy and other types of psychological therapy.

Another form of treatment that has been known to be effective and can be performed alone at home is guided imagery.

The Mental Impotence Healer Program is a recommended guided imagery recording that was created especially for men who suffer from psychological impotence.�Click Here to find out more about the Mental Impotence Healer Program.

Natural treatment for erectile dysfunction

May 16, 2016

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When you are suffering from erectile dysfunction, you should consult a doctor and find a solution which will help you get out of this problem easily and faster. There are different natural treatments available for erectile dysfunction. However, as there are different causes of erectile dysfunction, the treatment options are also varied.

Cardiovascular problems

There is a direct relation of erectile dysfunction with cardiovascular diseases; therefore, it is necessary to take care of those diseases which cause erectile dysfunction. You need to know if you are suffering from any such cardiovascular disease, before you go for any treatment for your erectile dysfunction problem. Your doctor will be able to tell you if you have any problem or not.

Treat your body better

You will need to treat your body better if you really want to get rid of erectile dysfunction. You will need to make some lifestyle changes to get rid of erectile dysfunction, as there are several lifestyle issues which cause erectile dysfunction. This problem is also very common in obese men, which is also a lifestyle-related problem. More physical activity along with a balanced, healthy diet can help many people overcome erectile dysfunction. You can go for a run, go to a gym, or take on any other exercise that you like, but you need to exercise regularly. You can also go for any kind of exercise, such as aerobics or anaerobic, as per your liking. If you really want to satisfy your partner in bed, with the right exercises, you will also need to add a good diet.

Discontinue some medicines

Your doctor may help you get rid of erectile dysfunction by removing some medications from your to-eat list. Several different drugs can also cause erectile dysfunction in people. Your doctor is the right person who can tell you about such medicines and advise you to stop using them if possible. A study found that among the 12 most commonly prescribed medicines, 8 have impotence as a side-effect of the medicines. People using SSRIs, which is a very common anti-depressant drug, may also suffer from erectile dysfunction. Therefore, by discontinuing the use of such medicines, only after your doctor’s advice, will help you to get rid of your erectile dysfunction problem in a faster way.

Stop smoking

Another easy way to get rid of erectile dysfunction is to stop smoking. Smokers have lower levels of nitric oxide in the body, which reduces the flow of blood to the penis. The more you smoke, the more the possibility of having erectile dysfunction will increase. If you want to get it up, it is better for you to give smoking up. You will probably need to choose one from the two, and it is your decision which one you choose.

Boost of self confidence

Many men need just a boost of self-confidence to perform better and get rid of erectile dysfunction. This boost may come in different forms. Sexual therapy may also be necessary to provide the necessary self-confidence. Psychological factor is the most important factor in the case of psychological erectile dysfunction and that is why we need to handle it better. It becomes more important when you once experience erectile dysfunction as anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues may show up. To avoid psychological impotence, you will need to treat the psychological factors causing erectile dysfunction. You will need to nip it at the bud, as it may otherwise become very difficult for you after some time. If you need help, you can always consult a sex therapist or find other solutions that are available, which can cure your problem.

How can you overcome psychological erectile dysfunction?

Guided imagery is a form of treatment that is known to be effective in treating psychological erectile dysfunction or sexual performance anxiety. The Mental Impotence Healer program is a guided imagery recording that was created especially for men who suffer from psychological erectile dysfunction.

Bacterial and non-bacterial prostatitis how painful is it?

May 13, 2016

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Prostatitis is a term that refers to the infection of the prostrate leading to inflammation. Although it affects men at all ages, it is mainly prevalent among men between 35 to 50 years old and is known to affect nearly 1/3 of men aged above 50 in the UK. The primary cause of prostatitis is not known, but medics have identified the two leading causes as bacterial and non-bacterial.

Bacterial prostatitis is caused by a persistent infection of the urinary tract of the prostate gland by a bacteria or germ. The bacterium is believed to harbor in the urinary tract and causes recurrent infections thus resulting in chronic bacterial prostatitis in most cases. Non-bacterial prostatitis is the most common form of prostatitis affecting nearly 90% of patients in the UK. The primary cause of this type of prostatitis is not known, but several theories have been identified such as:

Past bacterial infection
Chemical irritation
Virus and parasites
Infection of nerves in lower urinary gland

Pain associated with prostatitis

One of the early symptoms of this condition is pain usually experienced in the lower abdomen, during bowel movement, during ejaculation, pain in the pubic bone, bladder pain, and pain between the genitals and sometimes at the tip of the penis. The pain can range from mild to chronic pain sometimes lasting for three months depending on the type of prostatitis infection. For instance, patient’s with chronic non-bacterial prostatitis experience pain in their genitals or urinary tract continuously for at least three months. The pain in the lower abdomen and around the anus is mild and non-persistent in most cases disappears after a few hours.

Pain or a burning sensation during urination occurs due to narrowing of the urethra in the prostate gland as a result of the infection. If the inflammation extends to the bladder, the patient suffers frequent urination since the bladder can hold limited amounts of urine. Traces of blood can also be found in the patient’s urine or stool in the case of severe infection. In some cases, the patient may experience difficult urination manifested by dripping or hesitant urination.

Penis pain may be accompanied by itching, throbbing sensation or burning and starts with a mild pain and gradually gets worst. This pain mainly occurs at the tip of the penis. The patient can also experience penile discharge which in most cases is a thick, discolored fluid. This discharge can also contribute to pain during urination since it irritates the penis’ tip.

Pain during ejaculation is another symptom which manifests as discomfort in the penis, perinea ache or testicular during intercourse particularly when ejaculating. This pain is associated with narrowing of the urethra; excessive pressure applied to the bladder, or blockage of the urethra a condition caused by prostatitis. In some cases, pain during ejaculation can lead to erectile dysfunction or decreased libido while some patients experience pain after sex.If the infection affects Vas Deferens or the tube that carries the sperm to the urethra from the testicles, it may lead to impotence as premature sperms get to the urethra. Premature ejaculation and presence of blood in the sperm can also be a symptom of prostatitis.

Though sexual intercourse was associated with prostatitis in the past, it has been ruled out by medics. This condition can be treated by administering various antibiotics and painkillers depending on the type of prostatitis. Prof. DR. Federico Guercini, a leading urologist consultant in Italy, advises patients who experience these symptoms to talk to their doctors and get tested for this condition.

Facts about weight loss surgery

May 13, 2016

2013

Ideally, we would all lose weight using a healthy diet and exercise. �For some of us, diet and exercise isn’t enough. �Once all other options are ruled out, it might be time for surgery. �All surgeries come with benefits and risks. �Take time to learn as much as you can about each of the procedures, before you go under the knife. �Here are some facts about weight loss surgery to get you started in your research.

Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery changes the anatomy of your stomach and digestive system. �Each method reduces the size of the working stomach. �You become fuller, faster.

There are four common bariatric surgery options:

Adjustable Gastric Band (AGB) uses a band placed around the top of your stomach, and creates a small stomach pouch. �This small stomach pouch allows you to feel fuller faster. �The band can be adjusted to be tighter or looser by the surgeon, by adding or removing saline through a small port under your skin. �This is the only bariatric procedure that could possibly be reversed.
Gastric Bypass creates a small stomach pouch at the top of your stomach, closes off the rest of the stomach, and attaches the small intestine. �
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) removes all but a “sleeve” of your stomach.
Biliopancreatic diversion with a Duodenal Switch (BPD-DS) is similar to VSG, but bypasses 75 percent of the small intestine. �

Benefits / Risks / Considerations

According to the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) , “Studies find that more than 90 percent of bariatric patients are able to maintain a long-term weight loss of 50 percent excess body weight or more.” �Besides rapid weight loss for up to 36 months, other benefits that can be seen are:

Improved health in obesity related conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and sleep apnea. �
Hormonal changes that reduce the sense of hunger are possible.
Increasing physical activity become easier, since it becomes easier to move with less weight.

Some of the risks and side effects of bariatric surgery are infection, bleeding, leaking from intestine incision sites, blood clots, not being able to absorb enough nutrients, and more.

Other considerations are:

Your lifestyle will change, as will your relationship with food.
Costs for this type of surgery can be quite high. �Medical insurance may possibly cover the costs, if you also suffer from an obesity related condition.
You can expect long-term benefits AND long term commitment. �Make sure you like and trust your surgeon. �You will need to be monitored for the rest of your life, to make sure you remain healthy. �

Liposuction

Perhaps you have already reached your healthy weight range, and have been able to maintain it � but you still have stubborn pockets of fat, that diet and exercise won’t budge.

Liposuction (Lipo), is a surgical procedure that uses small incisions, to insert a long, thin cannula through the skin, and into the fatty layer, to remove fat with high pressure suction. �Depending on the areas you have done, lipo procedures take between 90-minutes to three hours. �

Benefits / Risks / Considerations

Lipo is not a cure for obesity, and is not meant to significantly reduce weight. �But, it is an option to smooth some of your most stubborn pockets of fat, like:

Jaw
Cheeks
Chin
Back
Upper arms
Tummy
Hips
Love handles

Right after the surgery, you will have to take it easy. �Light movement is encouraged, but full recovery takes several weeks.

Liposuction is a serious surgical procedure. �Like all surgery, there are risks. �Make sure you do research on the surgeon and clinic you choose. �Talk with your surgeon. �Make sure you know what to expect. �

The Underrated Benefits of Weight Training

May 13, 2016

1935

If you’re new to the gym – or you’re the kind of person who works out in exactly the same way every visit � the weight racks probably look a little strange and scary. For the completely inexperienced,
weight sets can be daunting. However, they are the real stars of the circuit. If you’re not getting stuck into weight training yet, it’s time to make a start.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to have any special skills or past experience to cosy up to the weight rack and experiment with lifting. You just have to know a little bit about how to lift safely, so that you don’t hurt yourself. This is something that most gyms offer for free; a personal trainer or fitness expert is usually on hand to give you some hints and tips.

This guide to some of the most impressive benefits of weight training will help you start lifting like a true pro.

Great for Burning Calories

What a lot of people don’t realise is that muscle continues to burn calories, even after a workout has finished. This is possible because muscle is metabolically active tissue. So, if you want to shed those pesky pounds and get trim sharpish, you need to be mixing up your gym routine with both cardio and weight training � cardio alone won’t give you that dream body. Switch things up and commit to a regular ‘gym going’ schedule and you’ll start to see results.

Increases Bone Density

According to a number of fitness studies, regular weight training actually boosts bone density. This keeps the skeleton strong and significantly reduces the risk of conditions like osteoporosis. While older people tend to write themselves off as superstar lifters, even before they’ve had a go at it, those who do brave the rack are usually surprised at how rewarding weight training feels. Every great lifter has to start somewhere, so don’t shy away from this corner of the gym, even if you’re slightly older or consider yourself inexperienced.

Supports Athletic Performance

If you play any kind of athletic sport, weight training should be made an integral conditioning component of your gym routine. It is essential for guys who are mad about football or rugby, because it helps build up and maintain endurance. For anybody considering a distance running event � usually one of the many marathons that take place throughout the year � weight training is really important.

Sculpts and Tones the Body

With lifting, you actually get to watch the shape of your body change. You’re not just losing the bits that you don’t want; you’re actually transforming them. This can do wonders for the self-esteem, so don’t underestimate the power of weight training. If you stick with it, keep up with a regular routine, and work towards a set of clear and attainable goals, the body that you’ve always wanted will begin to appear. Patience is key, because this is not an instant process. However, the more work you put in, the more you will get out of your routine.

Releases Stress and Tension

It’s important to understand that weight training benefits more than just the body. It is also a great way to blow off steam and release tension. If you’ve had a bad day at the office and you’re feeling frustrated, an intense lifting session could be the answer. It works because it focuses all of your mental and physical energy in one place and on one simple goal. You don’t have time to think about the mountain of paperwork sitting on your desk when you’ve got weight sets and reps to complete.

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