Fitness Section

Ching-Chee Chan, Ph.D.

All Rights Reserved

Egret Publishing Inc. November 1999

Acne

If thalidomide in the form of an ointment at low concentration is applied to the trouble spots during the night, it may be able to calm down locally the overreactive immune system. With minimum absorption of thalidomide into the blood stream, it may be able to avoid problems with the development of the fetus. The ointment can be developed if there is enough interest. (See also thalidomide in emulsion)

Sleep Disorders

Do you wake up in the middle of the night and cannot get back to sleep? You may have neurological disorders. You may have problems dissipating the excess heat accumulated in your body. Toss and turn but you are unable to get back to sleep even after reducing the number of blankets. If you have neurological disorders, you may not realise that you are too hot and worse still it may take longer to cool off because the neurological systems play a role in getting rid of the excessive amount of heat in your body.

You may be too cold but your brain may be telling you that you are too hot because you have neurological disorders. After reducing the number of blankets, you still cannot get to sleep but you keep getting up to go to the toilet every half hour. Your bladder may be trying to tell you that you are really too cold. In this case, ignore your brain and listen to your bladder.

Sleep disorders are more complicate if the heart is involved.

Weight Problem

Many people use dangerous methods to reduce their body weight. There are slower but less dangerous methods. Reduce the intake of food and be active. It is very simple but it is very difficult to carry it out because it is difficult to resist the delicious food in the refrigerator. Most people can do it if they understand psychology and physiology.

THE METHOD IS FOR ADULTS ONLY

You have your breakfast at seven and you feel hungry by twelve, an interval of five hours. Yet one usually does not feel hungry in the morning and it has been about twelve hours since dinner in the previous evening. The body and mind may be awake in the morning but the digestive tract is still asleep and it can remain asleep for a few more hours as long as it is not awakened. Do not eat solid or greasy food, just drink water, tea or coffee and the digestive tract may remain asleep. You can postpone breakfast until it merges with lunch. After you manage the first step then try postponing lunch until it merges with dinner, resulting in eating one meal a day. You need to exercise some psychological control. Do not watch other people eat, keep busy. The mind has to be in active mode, your brain being in charge not being led. You are driving a car, not just a passenger. When you are writing, your brain is leading under its own power. When you are reading your brain is being led and you are following the text, this being in passive mode. This is a method to prevent you thinking about food.

You must exercise to prevent loss of muscle which you need for work. You want to get rid of the excessive fat in the waist or belly. Lack of exercise will result in losses in the wrong places.

We all know not to drive too fast while going downhill in case of emergencies. It is the same principle while losing weight. Your weight will not change for the first few weeks because the excess energy stored in your system. Do not lose more than one pound per week. When the desired weight is reached, start eating one extra meal to stop the weight declining further. Be reasonable. A person needs some fat for emergency. It is nature's way of insurance. Too skinny is unhealthy.

Many other problems such as aches and pains . . . etc. are also discussed in a booklet, entitled "A Practical Approach to Some Physical Problems." Click here for Catalogue.

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