From Pain To Personal Gain

Investing in You

2008-09-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I was sitting around with a bunch of my friends at a picnic.

When I am at a party, at least one of my friends usually pulls me aside.

“Hey, Mike, I was wondering if you can take a look at something for me. I hurt my shoulder about a week ago and the pain won’t go away.”

“Did you do anything about it?” I asked.

“I took some Advil, but it really didn’t help”, he said.

I evaluated his shoulder and arrived at a working diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear. I told my friend that he would most likely need to have treatment for two to four weeks and that he should determine which provider and what facility are covered by his insurance.

He complained that his co-pay is $40 for every visit and he questioned why there isn’t a pill he can take to fix his problem. I told him there is medicine to block the pain, but the medicine won’t fix the problem.

He is in the contracting business. He works with his body every day. If he doesn’t get his shoulder repaired, he may do further damage and, more importantly, may not even be able to do the type of work he does.

“Okay”, I say. “Let’s put it this way. At $40 per visit with a typical treatment parameter of 6 to 12 visits, you can expect to pay out $240 to $480. How much are you worth? “

He replied, “That’s a lot of money.” I reminded him that if he can’t return to work or if he loses his job, he would be out way more than $480. Fortunately, he listened and invested his money in some treatment. He lucked out as he felt much better after only eight visits.

So my question to you is: How much are you willing to invest in yourself?

Are you willing to purchase healthier foods, go to the doctor when necessary, pay for a gym membership, or purchase a new piece of exercise equipment?

Investing is not just about money.

Are you willing to invest in your education, possibly returning to school to get a degree or a certificate?

Are you willing to invest in motivational seminars and materials?

Are you willing to invest in working with a wellness coach or a personal trainer?

Are you willing to invest in your time and learn a new hobby?

As a society we have a tendency to spend money on products or things that provide immediate gratification as opposed to investing our time or finances in something that will produce a great return on that investment.

Think of it this way. You are willing to save money each week or each paycheck towards your savings /retirement (or at least I hope you are). What are you willing to invest in yourself each week?

The greatest investment is YOU!

To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!

Dr. Michael J. Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results

To learn more about my e-book please log onto http://tinyurl.com/2hqf44

Traveling Pain Free

2008-07-22T14:15:00.001-07:00

Although we are halfway through summer, many people are still planning to go away on vacation. Traveling presents special concerns to those with back pain, neck pain, or other chronic conditions.

Since the price of airline tickets has been rising at an alarming rate, many have decided to travel by car. This can be fun, but it also can wreak havoc on your lower back and neck.

Here are some action steps you can take to help avoid and manage neck and back pain when driving.

If you are the driver, sit as close to the steering wheel as comfortable. Position yourself so that your knees are slightly higher than your hips. Keep your elbows slightly bent with hand positions at the lower part of the steering wheel (think clock positions 7 & 5 rather than 10 & 2).

Consider using a back support. The back support should have a base for your buttock region and a low back support for your lumbar spine (lower back).

It’s important to exercise your legs while driving. Contract your thigh muscles, tighten and relax your calf muscles, and squeeze your gluteal muscles periodically. Performing abdominal contractions alternating with sucking in your gut (abdominal hollowing) will help with lower back discomfort.

In addition to exercising your legs, you should stretch your neck muscles by performing neck range of motion maneuvers. Let your head fall to your chest; look up to the sky; tilt and rotate your head in each direction. Obviously, these exercises should be performed while at a complete stop if you are the driver!

To improve the circulation in your hands, loosen and tighten your grip. Change hand positions as often as possible.

Whether you are the driver or a passenger, I recommend taking ice packs for your travels. Just keep them in a cooler and you can use the ice packs for your neck, shoulder, or lower back.

The most important advice I can give you is to take breaks. It will take you a bit longer to arrive at your destination, but the extra time will be well worth it. There is nothing as crucial to enjoying your vacation as beginning it without pain!

That’s it for now and if you are heading for vacation, I wish you a pain-free, relaxing and enjoyable time.

To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!

Dr. Michael J. Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results

Bubble Wrap

2008-07-01T21:16:00.000-07:00

Today I want to discuss bubble wrap. That’s right the packing material.

You might be thinking, “Oh, this guy has gone over the edge.”

Well, I haven’t, at least not completely over the edge, maybe teetering.

How can bubble wrap help you?

One of my patients’s been trying to quit smoking and was gaining weight because he was sitting in front of the television eating instead of smoking. Weight gain is very common for those who are refraining from smoking.

The answer to his problem was to occupy his hands. I told him to get bubble paper. As you can imagine he thought that was a very strange idea.

Maybe it was but it worked. The act of popping the little plastic bubbles kept his hands busy (plus it is fun) while he was watching television. Obviously, his craving for nicotine was not any less but the bubble paper acted as a distraction.

Using this same thought process I recommend bubble wrap to many patients who are on a diet as sitting in front of the television is often associated with eating snacks. So the answer was to keep the hands busy by popping the bubble wrap.

So that’s how bubble wrap helps my patients. Try it!

Since we are talking about TV watching I want to share how you can use TV watching to your advantage.

In these two case scenarios sitting and watching the television was detrimental. I often request my patients to keep physically busy while they are watching television.

While TV viewing you can perform exercises such as marching in place during commercials, stretching the muscles of the lower back and the hamstrings (back of legs), alternate between stretches for the upper and lower body, perform abdominal conditioning with proper technique and do pushups. You can even grab some dumbbells for arm and shoulder work.

How much TV do we watch? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), kids in the United States watch about 4 hours of TV a day. Some studies indicate that American adults watch 3-4 hours of TV per night.

To summarize, if you are dieting or trying to quit smoking (or if you are not on a diet or trying to quit smoking) and you find that sitting in front of the TV is your worst enemy try bubble wrap. In addition to keeping your hands busy consider exercising when watching television. If you watch a minimum of two hours of TV per night and you devote 30 minutes (in 5-10 increments) you will have exercised for 3.5 hours for the week.

That’s it for now. Stay Well! Stay Healthy!

Dr. Michael J. Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results

P.S. To learn more on how to create a life of health, wealth
and happiness log onto http://tinyurl.com/2hqf44

It's Okay When Goals Change

2008-06-26T19:19:00.001-07:00

My friend is attending graduate school. He is not having a good time. Actually, he is failing. It’s quite unfortunate because I feel that one day he will make an excellent clinician.

When he called me the other day, he was at his wit’s end. He kept saying over and over again, “I am a failure. What am I going to do if the school kicks me out? How will I survive and make a living?”

I am sure you can understand his frustration. But is his life over? Nope. Maybe the post-graduate work was not for him or maybe the school itself was not the right choice.

I explained to him that “life is not over.” He just has to choose a different course. “But I failed,” he kept replying. I said, “Okay, you failed. Maybe this profession is not the right one for you.”

This was difficult for him to hear, let alone understand, but maybe it’s the truth.

I explained to him that life can change course. How many inventors started down one path and ended at a different destination?

It is important to know that there can be more than one way to arrive at your destination. I shared with my friend that he has opportunity sitting at his feet. He still has the ability and opportunity to choose his destination. He has the opportunity to change his goals.

Here’s what I want to share with you specifically with respect to goals.

Goals can change.

That’s the beauty of this journey we call life. It’s TBD (To Be Determined) and you are the one to determine your course. It’s okay if you do not complete a specific goal. It’s not the end of the world.

It’s a good idea to re-evaluate your goals. If you are using the SMART approach (acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time) with your goals and did not complete your goal, maybe the time was too short to complete that specific goal or maybe the goal was not specific enough or was not realistic to begin with.

And sometimes you might need help or guidance to achieve your goals. A great idea is to let your best friend or a supportive family member review your goal(s) and ask if he/she thinks the goal(s) are attainable.
That’s it for now. I hope you have a great week.

Remember, when life veers off in a different direction, just keep hold of the steering wheel and do your best to direct life towards your destination.

To Your Health, Happiness & Wealth!

Dr. Michael J. Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results

It's Okay When Goals Change

2008-06-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

We Will All Be There Some Day

2008-06-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to treat many elderly people in my office. Sure, some are cranky and miserable, but so are some young patients. Most are filled with life and wants more than needs, and they are a lot of fun.

To be honest with you though, 20 years ago when I first began my practice, treating the elderly was very tough for me. I thought to myself, "Is this how I am going to end up? Am I going to be sick, cranky and in pain?"

I soon found my answer in an 82 year-old woman. Her skin was sagging and it looked like she had one foot in Heaven's door. She was receiving treatment for neck pain. She was very quiet. I thought she was either sleeping or in deep thought. And then as if she were awakened from her sleep she said, "Doctor, can I tell you a dirty joke?" To humor her I said, "Sure", thinking to myself, "How dirty can this be and why is she whispering?" Well, let me tell you, she told this joke with the most colorful language. It was a great joke and I laughed my you-know-what off.

She then said to me, "You know, doctor, although I am old and it looks like I have one foot in the door to Heaven (started to get worried as I thought she might have been reading my mind), I am not dead yet."

I couldn't wait for her to return for her next visit. She always had great stories and jokes to tell. She treated with me for a few months and I learned a lot from her. I think that at times I got more out of our sessions than she did.

So here was my paradigm shift. Ever since then I love treating the elderly. And when I have a patient over the age of 75, I always ask what they consider to be the secret to longevity.

The common denominator, the commonalities with those living a robust elderly life, is not smoking, daily exercise, the consumption of fruits and vegetables more than meat, and moderate alcohol use. In fact, recently researchers from the University of Cambridge statistically analyzed studies of about 20,000 relatively healthy subjects aged 45-79. The study concludes that you can add about 14 years to your life by embracing four life style habits:

1. Don't smoke.
2. Get regular physical activity.
3. Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
4. Drink alcohol in moderation.

And I would add one more:

5. Use your mind every day. Do puzzles, work on the computer, get a hobby, write a letter, play cards, etc.

And the real key to longevity is to have parents who lived for a long time. Sometimes it's just in the genes.

Here is my action tip for the week.

If you know some elderly individuals, take them out to lunch, pay them a visit, and most of all listen to them.

Take care and I hope you will embrace this lifestyle and live a life worthy of living.

To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!

Dr. Michael J. Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results

Ice or Heat?

2008-05-16T20:41:00.000-07:00

One of the most frequently asked questions at my office is,"Should I use ice or heat for my pain?" The patient generally goes on to say, "My primary doctor tells me to use which ever feels better, the physical therapist tells me to use heat, and the chiropractor tells me to use ice. I am so confused." I usually reply, "Put ten doctors/chiropractors/ physical therapists in a room and ask a question. You will get eleven different answers."

I will share some scenarios to give you a better idea of which application to use--ice or heat. If you are not sure what to apply, use ice. When an athlete gets injured, you will see him or her immediately receive an ice pack.

For injuries, it is best to use ice, not heat. If you are experiencing a flare-up or aggravation of a condition, use ice. For headaches, I recommend ice. If you have a migraine headache and/or pain over the eyes and pain in the neck (a possible combination of tension headache and migraine), use the sandwich approach. Use one ice pack behind the neck and another ice pack over the eyes.

Stiffness in a muscle or joint responds well to heat. I always recommend moist heat or the heat packs you can microwave as opposed to an electric heating pad. For some reason, most folks achieve better results with the moist heating pad or microwave heating pad.

Let's talk precautions. Never use ice or heat directly on the skin as you could injure and burn the tissue. Always have some kind of buffer (towel, T-shirt, etc.) between you and the ice/heat pack.

Time is also an important consideration when applying ice or heat. In acute cases (a new pain), ice should be used as follows: 15 minutes on, 10 minutes off, 15 minutes on, 10 minutes off and ending with 15 minutes on. In this acute situation, you can repeat this sequence 1 to 3 times a day. If you are icing just once (e.g. after an activity,) apply ice for 20 minutes. You can apply heat for 20 to 30 minutes at a time.

Some of my patients have an aversion to ice. If you are one of those people who react rather than respond to ice, I strongly recommend the following: Put a thin bath towel in the clothes dryer for 20 minutes. Then place the ice pack in the towel and apply to the affected area. Initially you will feel the warmth,then a cooling effect. You can apply this ice/heat for 30 minutes. If your pain does not decrease in three days, I strongly recommend that you see your doctor for an examination.

That's it for now. Stay Well, Stay Healthy!

To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!

Dr. Michael J. Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results

To Believe in Oneself is the Beginning

2008-04-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I watched the movie “Peaceful Warrior,” which tells the story of a young, arrogant gymnast who encounters a wise mentor. The movie is based on the book “Way of the Peaceful Warrior” by Dan Millman. The movie received only two stars (I actually thought it was better than two stars). However, its message should definitely be rated five stars.

A serious accident puts the gymnast out of commission. His doctors tell him that he will not be able to return to the sport of gymnastics. His coach no longer believes in him. Worse, he no longer believes in himself. He meets a wise man who guides him to see the way – that there is a purpose to all events. In short, Dan lets go of his mental baggage, realizes that you don’t give up on what you love, and understands that life’s journey is important and that through the journey one learns about oneself.

The message is simple—believe in yourself. Many of us don’t succeed because we don’t have the approval or support of our families or friends. How many times have you shared a dream or goal with a family member or friend, only to have your words shot down? When this happens, we often begin to lose confidence in ourselves.

The solution is to look inside and believe in yourself. I know that sounds so cheesy, but it’s the truth. And this takes practice. One has to develop the habit of believing in oneself. And you can say affirmations and think positive all you want, but you must also “do”. You must take action.

This belief is best demonstrated by athletes and how they compete. Regardless of your sport, the repeated coaching line is “get your head in the game”. This should be your mantra whether you are starting a business, building or maintaining a relationship, working to complete a goal, attempting to lose weight, exercising, or trying to achieve happiness. Keep your head in the game and be mindful of your thoughts and actions.

When you look at those who have succeeded (however success is defined for each), you will find that they never gave up on their dream or on themselves. And you should never give up on yourself.

This leads me to a brief story I want to share with you. Over twenty years ago I met with a practice management company to learn how to build my practice. I met with the president of the company who told me that if I didn’t sign with them I would always be in debt and I would never succeed. Well, he was incredibly wrong.

When someone tells you that your idea, goal, dreams or aspirations won’t work, don’t succumb to their thought process or lack thereof. Keep in mind that you just have to try. And if it doesn’t work, try a different way. Remember when facing a mountain you have four choices: turn away, go over it, around it or through it. What would you do?

If you get a chance, log on to www.danmillman.com

Take care of yourself. Believe in yourself.

To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!

Dr. Michael J. Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results

P.S. If you need help creating your life map e-mail me at Michael@frompaintopersonalgain.com for your FREE 30 minute coaching session.

Practice, Practice, Practice

2008-04-10T02:29:00.000-07:00

I had the enjoyable opportunity to watch a local youth baseball game this weekend. These were 9-11 year olds, the minor leagues. There’s no more tee, no pitching by the friendly coach. This is baseball. This is when coaches begin to find their prize players. This is the in-house league. The talent is scouted for travel baseball try-outs. Travel baseball is for the really good players. Long story short, if you don’t play travel by third or fourth grade, your chances of playing ball in junior high or high school are slim to none.

Understanding how my local community baseball league is operated has led me to the realization that in today’s society it’s much easier to be an adult than it is to be a kid.

Baseball is no longer a bunch of little kids running around playing. The kids participate in intense practices. Some kids go to clinics or camps to learn how to play better. Some parents hire coaches at $100 per hour to help their children with fundamentals.

I wonder what our society would be like if more parents took this same approach (intense practices) to teaching their children the fundamentals of exercise, nutrition, money management, wealth building, and having good self-esteem.

Please do not misunderstand me. I think sports are great, and there are many lessons children can learn from playing sports. And one of the most important aspects of playing sports is practicing.

In fact, practice is extremely important for everything you do – whether you are starting a business, trying to achieve happiness, or training for life. You don’t always get it right, but half the battle is won just by showing up.

Let’s take a look at how practice can apply to real life. I have been helping a 42-year-old client train for a 5k run (3 plus miles). When I started with this individual he was 10 pounds overweight, not too bad, but enough to hamper his run. When he first started to run he had pain in his lower back and both knees. He began to discipline himself with exercises I personally developed for his knees and back. He practiced these movements every day until they became second nature. At times he would grumble and groan about practicing, but after a few weeks I heard less complaints and his running improved. Although some practices were hard, he muddled through and did his best.

By applying these same principles of practice (showing up every day, doing your best, learning new strategies, not worrying about failing) to building a healthy, happy and wealthy life, you are bound to succeed.

Just show up and do your best!

To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!

Dr. Michael Kaye

Frozen Computer

2008-04-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

It has been a week and then some since I last sent out a broadcast. I want to thank everyone who e-mailed me to make sure I was okay or to tell me that my broadcast was missed.

Here’s what happened. On Wednesday, March 19, 2008, I was sitting in front of my computer typing as fast as I can (turtle speed). I was putting the finishing touches to an exercise program when I decided to cross reference an exercise maneuver. I popped over to the Internet and typed in my search. I waited and waited for the computer to respond. Nothing. So, relying on my highly technical computer skills, I hit CTRL ALT DELETE. Still nothing. Now it was time to use my second technical move - when in doubt, reboot. Internet came on but froze. Done! Kaput!

Since that is the extent of my technical skills, the following day I dropped my computer off to the specialist. I had several viruses. Even the anti-virus program was tainted. I went eleven days without a computer. I had a computer at work, but I could not access many of my files or e-mail. I was going through withdrawal. The first two days were awful.

Then things started to change. I was spending more time with the family, reading even more than usual, and actually meeting a few friends for lunch and dinner.

Usually I am in computer mode – e-mail, researching and writing (activities of isolation) – but without the computer I went into social mode. And I liked social mode.

In case you are wondering, I am sharing this with you for two reasons – first, to apologize for not getting a broadcast to you in a timely manner and, second, to share with you how I am currently changing my computer habits to find more time for other things.

The action steps that I have taken to change my computer habits are as follows:

The first thing I did was to unsubscribe to e-mails I receive and don’t read. Now I know I am taking a risk by making this suggestion to you. I don’t want to lose a reader/subscriber, but if you do not feel that you get anything from my broadcast, then you should move on (but I hope you don’t).

The second action step was to view e-mail only twice per day, the afternoon and the late evening. I also turned off the little bell that dings every time e-mail is delivered, since I found that knowing I had e-mail was a distraction that I had difficulty ignoring!

Third, I e-mailed my friends and kindly asked them to call me if they have any questions instead of e-mailing me to avoid back and forth e-mail which takes up more time. I also asked my friends to avoid forwarding chain e-mails.

The fourth and last action step involved specific scheduling for computer time. The goal is to work on projects at a given time. For example, my goal is to write 30 minutes every morning, keeping in mind that some writing projects will take more time.

I hope this broadcast was helpful. I love the information age. At the same time, I feel it’s important to engage in human contact. You can’t get a hug from your computer (at least not yet). If you find that you are spending too much time in front of your computer, create a schedule that will allow you to accomplish your work and manage your in-coming e-mails so that you have more time for social activities.

To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!

Dr. Michael J. Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results

My Neck and Back are Stiff Every Morning

2008-03-13T20:45:00.000-07:00

Today I am going to discuss how preparing for your day can help minimize pain in the lower back and/or neck. Activities of daily living—the things you do each day such as getting dressed, going to work, doing the laundry—are usually difficult if you suffer with pain. And the morning time before your muscles are used to moving is often the time when pain is at its worst.

Here are some steps you can take to prepare for the day that will help to control your discomfort:

Get your clothes and any other items you need ready for the next day before going to bed. Don’t forget your socks and underwear! You want to do this to avoid rushing around in the morning. When you have to rush, it is easy to move without being careful, increasing the possibility of injuring yourself.

If you suffer with morning stiffness and you carry a laptop or briefcase, put them in your car the night before to avoid bending and/or carrying objects in the early part of your day. Don’t forget to lock the car!

If your mornings are difficult, set your alarm clock to go off 30 minutes earlier. This will give you extra time to warm your muscles in a hot shower. Speaking of showering, it is best to keep all your bath products at waist level where they can be reached easily. If you suffer with neck pain, you want to avoid reaching overhead and if you suffer with lower back pain, you want to avoid bending in the morning.

You will want to use an electric toothbrush to avoid bending at the sink to brush your teeth. Just five degrees in forward bending at the waist places your lower spine in a precarious position and you may experience sharp pain. If you blow dry your hair and suffer with neck, arm and shoulder problems, you may want to consider purchasing a stand to hold the hair dryer (Google hair dryer holder/stand).

Do some stretches to address the problem region.

If you have lower back problems, you should stretch your hamstring muscles. The hamstrings are in the back of your legs, extending from your sit bones to the back of the knees. To stretch the hamstring properly, lay flat on your back with both knees bent and feet flat on the floor. With one knee bent and foot flat on the floor raise the other leg straight in the air (or as straight as you can) and hold behind the knee for 10 seconds. Repeat. Perform two repetitions of the same with the other leg. The next movement requires both legs straight (as opposed to knees bent). Raise and straighten one leg in the air and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat with other leg. Perform two sets, 10 seconds each leg.

If you have neck problems, the best morning exercises are two range-of-motion maneuvers. Drop your chin to your chest and roll your head to one side. Hold for three seconds, then roll to the other side and hold for three seconds. Repeat. Next, tilt your head to one side (ear to shoulder) and hold for three seconds. Tilt your head to the other side and hold for three seconds. Repeat.

The golden rule of exercise: If there is pain, stop the exercise. If you experience increased pain in your back or neck or tingling or numbness in your arms or legs when performing these exercises, stop the movement patterns and let your doctor know of your symptoms.

The simple act of preparation by stretching your muscles can help manage pain in the neck and lower back. And, yes, most definitely, these exercises should be performed every single day!!!!

To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!

Dr. Michael J. Kaye

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T16:30:00.000-08:00

I am very grateful for all those who have subscribed to my site. I hope that I have been able to help many on their path to health, wealth, and happiness. I love the opportunity to be able to communicate with my subscribers as I care about each and every one of them.

On this Valentine’s Day and every day, I think every person is special to someone.

The media hype and commercialism of this day make it very easy for anyone, be they a teenager or an 85-year-old widow or widower, to feel inadequate if they do not have a romantic relationship with someone. This is sad. Each of you is loved by someone, and probably many “someones”, in this world, and you need to remember that that is what is important.

I just came from the store where I witnessed many men, and some women too, frantically grabbing balloons, cards, candy, stuffed animals, and expensive roses.

I hope that these gifts are truly what their partners were looking for. I hope that their partners appreciate and accept the gift as an offering of love and don’t compare it to what their co-workers or friends received and say that it doesn’t measure up.

I personally would prefer that I have some good quality time with the people I love rather than these things that die or get tossed aside in a week.

Anyway, I just wanted to remind you to take a moment to tell the people you care about that you love them. And I also wanted to remind you that you are loved.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Dr. Michael J. Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results

Life is as Sweet as a Marshmallow

2008-02-04T06:04:00.000-08:00

In the last broadcast I promised I would share my thoughts onthe book, Don’t Gobble the Marshmallow Ever-the Secret to SweetSuccess in Times of Change, written by Joachim de Posada andEllen Singer. This book delivers a compelling message and is worth the read.

The protagonist in the book is Arthur. This story begins with Arthur, who was introduced in Joachim de Posasda’s first booktitled Don’t Eat the Marshmallow…Yet!, graduating from college. Joachim de Posada writes, “Although the former chauffeur(Arthur) has been learning, practicing and preaching themarshmallow principle for five years, his goal-seeking practices fall apart when his life becomes irrevocably altered by success! That’s right—getting what we want (or think we want) can be as uncomfortable, distracting and depressing as failure.”

“This story is a fictional tale based upon a StanfordUniversity study. Children were left alone in a room with a marshmallow and given the choice of eating it then or fifteen minutes later, when they were promised an extra marshmallow as a reward for waiting. Interestingly, the significance of the study came years later when the researchers discovered the children who held out for the reward had become more successful than the children who had eaten their marshmallow immediately.”

In essence the story is about an individual who learned the importance of delayed gratification, then lost his way and began living a life of immediate gratification.

Succumbing to immediate gratification can compromise your goals. One of the best ways to achieve your dreams is to learn discipline and not to give in to your immediate wants and desires.

Delayed gratification can help you to become wealthier and healthier. With respect to nutrition, delayed gratification is the act of avoiding foods that are high in fat and sugar, thereby improving your chances for a healthier life.

With respect to wealth, the simple act of refraining from purchasing the latest fad may increase your bank account (less money out, therefore more money stays in the bank account).

I had written a broadcast some time back asking what you would be willing to give up to attain your goal. And this is what delayed gratification is all about—the ability to give something up for the long-term goal.

If you seem stuck in your station in life, try to figure out what actions you are performing that can be delayed to give you more time to pursue your goals. It’s not easy to give something up, but, if you want something badly enough, you can make the sacrifice to live your dream.

To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!

Dr. Michael Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results

Wills & Trusts

2007-12-22T22:21:00.000-08:00

What’s the difference between Wills and Trusts?

From Charles Schwab magazine “On Investing” Winter 2007 wills have limitations and must go through probate which is the legal process used to value your estate, settle debts, pay taxes and transfer assets to heirs, all of which can be costly and time consuming. Wills are public documents subject to public scrutiny. Anyone can contest a will.

A living trust can provide more flexibility and control than a will alone. You can transfer your assts into a trust, which can pass directly to your heirs when you die-avoiding probate. In essence you retain control of your assets.

The reason wills and trusts are important is for you to protect your wealth for you and your heirs. Wills and trusts are part of your wealth protection plan. I strongly advise an estate-planning attorney to help guide you through this process. For more information checkout www.schwab.com

Dr. Michael J. Kaye
Knowledge, Action, results

What is it?

2007-11-29T20:40:00.000-08:00

“It” doesn’t happen overnight.

“It” takes time and work.

“It” requires guidance and can not do it alone.

“It” requires tenacity and patience.

“It” requires the ability to adapt and change.

“It” requires perseverance in the face of odds.

What is “It”?

“It” is your dreams, successes and passion.

I don’t know many people who are overnight successes.

I don’t know anybody who made it to the top without paying his or her dues.

On the road to success one must weather storms. Sometimes a bad storm will hit and you must adapt and change to the oncoming winds.

Sometimes on the road to success and happiness you have to hunker down and persevere the storm of negativity.

But after all is said and done, if you can stand tall, you will have learned more about yourself and you are that much closer to achieving your dream.

If you are stuck in a storm and need some guidance and direction, give me a shout.

"Nature always takes her time. Great oaks don't become great overnight. They also lose a lot of leaves, branches and bark in the process of becoming great." - Andrew Matthews

Dr. Michael Kaye

Woulda-Coulda, Shoulda

2007-11-23T21:12:00.000-08:00

Stop “Shoulding on yourself”.

There is a great poem written by Shel Silverstein. Mr.
Silverstein is an author of children’s books.

The poem is titled, “Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda” and featured in his
book, “Falling Up”.

All the Woulda-Coulda-Shoulldas
Layin’ in the sun,
Talkin ‘bout the things
They woulda-coulda-shoulda done…
But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From the one little did.

Do you remember being a kid and how tenacious you were
especially when you wanted a new toy or you wanted to go
somewhere?

Do you remember how you asked your parents time and time again
for what you wanted?

Do you remember not giving up?

Imagine if you could harness the same energy and tenacity now as
an adult. What goals would you be able to achieve if you applied
the same energy for your goals and dreams? You most likely will
attain and complete your goals and maybe live out your dreams.

You do not want to be on your deathbed thinking about all the
things you could have done, would have done and should have
done.

Decide now to begin living your dream. You will be much happier
that you did do something. Because doing something is better
than doing nothing

Create small goals and complete them. Make small consistent
changes over time and you will have changed your life.

Here’s to your Health, Happiness & Wealth!

Dr. Michael Kaye
http://www.frompaintopersonalgain.com/

Bookwise Convention

2007-10-23T05:03:00.000-07:00

I just returned from the Bookwise conference and let me just say it was absolutely INCREDIBLE.

It was an awesome and amazing conference and convention that was the First ever for Bookwise.

I went in expecting great things, knowing that theyhad arranged for 10 best selling authors that had soldat least 1,000,000 copies of their books,

Henry Winkler, author of 6 books, with 12 more comingwas doing the closing ceremonies, and of course, the11 Major New Bookwise Revolution announcements,and it still exceeded my expectations.

I will be the blog over the next week, because one
email would be far too long

I will give you the two first announcements.

1. Instead of it being $34.95 every month for a book, andfantastic mentoring, ebook, digital book, and the otherextras I thought exceeded their value already, it willbe $39.95, BUT you get a FULL BLOWN AMAZON LIKE Bookstorewith 1.5 million books, and over 4 million items to sell!

With this announcement they will instantly rival AmazonAND Barnes and Noble, with new stores rolled out in oneyear at 5000.

Plus when this was announced, the peoplethat tested this new price for value model, got almost ZEROpeople that did not jump on board, and each of themgot more members in 10 days, than their entire year prior.

Because with the store, you keep 40% of the profits, plusget a share in the corporate sales from the head office store.

And, you can invite people to merely buy books from youand they get an average of 42% savings on books (we arerivaling Amazon), and you get top commission. WithChristmas coming up it's a home run announcement.

This storefront will be available in December sometime,our new rate (extra $4), will start in January.

I saw the store mock up and it is incredible.

2. You may have caught it above, but we are going frombeing able to offer a few hundred books, to 1.5 millionbooks, and a total of 4 million items, CDs, DVDs, Gamesetc, and with delivery options similar to Amazon.

The other major thing to add to this, was the fact thatTEXTBOOKS would also be available, which meant a college kid could open up a store, and blow the campus bookstoreprices out of the water, with savings averaging 42%, PLUSget commission. Or if you have a child attending collegeyou will get those same savings for what they need!

And last but not least in this same announcements, friendsand family or anyone can purchase books from you, at thediscount, and the membership fee is FREE! Unlike Amazonand Barnes and Noble, where you pay an annual fee, this isFREE - and the discounts are deeper.
This is a PREMIUM CUSTOMER, and if they ever decide theywant the extra BONUSES of being an Affiliate (and there aretons), they are of course automatically put with you.

They have now built a relationship with the world's largestdistributor of books - Baker and Taylor

More and more news is being made available about this organization and I will keep you updated.

Dr. Michael Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results

Off to Bookwise Convention

2007-10-14T15:34:00.001-07:00

I am really excited as I am off to the Bookwise Convention.

Some people are not familiar yet with Bookwise so let me share more.

It's not often I get excited about something, but when I heard about this new
business opportunity, I knew it was perfect for my interests, my goals and for many of
you.

If you like books, if you buy books, If you are an author, an aspiring author, or are looking
for a business that fits your lifestyle, and get some great benefits from as well.

When I heard that Robert Allen (he sold 140,000,000 million books), Mark Victor
Hansen (he is the author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series), and Richard Paul Evans
NY Times Bestseller, were putting together a book company that is designed to rival Amazon, yet
pay dividends to its members, and support charitable and literary causes, I was in.
When 10 NY Times Bestsellers united to create a group, and the powerful connections
continued, I just wanted to know - where do I sign. This is the most powerful
group I have seen, and I knew that if I was connected (or anyone else for that matter)
to these people, good things were guaranteed to happen.

So before I give you all of the details, I'm going to give you the how much right
now, because it is so insanely cheap, you really needn't read any further,
sign up and I'll take care of the rest.

The cost is $39.99 to start. And then it is $35 per month.

Although it’s too late to attend the conference you should still take a look at the site www.mybookwise.com/drmichaelkaye

To learn more log onto www.winninginthemargins and use the following passkey 108573

In case you like all the details before you buy, just know that
this offer comes with a complete 100% money-back guarantee, and
you can cancel. No strings attached.

It's a book company. And you can either join just to get discount books, or
if you love to buy books, sell books, review books, comment on books,
you simply love books, you can quickly and instantly make this into a
business and earn money from it.

And the best part is, you'll have my help, and the coaching of some of
the best mentors in the world, including Robert Allen, and get this - for no additional
charge. If I had an offer like this back when I was starting out, it would have
made my life very simple. But, as it is, I will simply add it to my personal quantum
leap strategy, because I love books and I know that this will be huge.

If you're an author, aspiring author or eBook publisher, it's even better,
because you can get your book into their catalog. Once the word
gets out who is running this new book concept, there will be a rush
to get your book listed on their site, and I want to be safely on it
before that happens.

To Your Health, Happiness & Wealth

Dr. Michael J. Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results

A Call to Action

2007-10-02T19:04:00.000-07:00

Merriam-Webster defines the word “catalyst” as an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action.

My “catalyst” for change and call to action was the 9th grade 600-yard dash for PE class (physical education or gym).

Except to me it wasn’t a dash.

It felt more like the Boston Marathon.

Why did it feel this way?

My side had a stitch, which felt like a hot poker, and my lungs and chest were on fire.

The reason?

I was extremely overweight.

But the catalyst, the agent, which provoked me, was my decision to purposely trip myself which I knew would cause scrapes and bruises and I knew the gym teacher would send me to the nurse. Goal achieved. I didn’t have to run any further.

It was this experience, this agent that caused me to change.

It was the end of 9th grade when I began to study nutrition ad exercise. And the learning has never stopped.

The system I use to exercise and train is much different from back then as exercise and nutrition has truly become a science.

Let me ask you this.

What will be your catalyst?

What will be the agent that will prompt a call to action for change?

Does it have to be complete financial loss?

Will it be a diagnosis of diabetes (elevated blood sugars) or high blood pressure?

If you want to achieve your goals whether it is to lose weight, become wealthier, or decrease your stress (and haven’t met your goals or changed) let me be the catalyst.

What will it take for you to make a change?

Let me help you help your self.

To Your Health, Happiness and Wealth!

Dr. Michael Kaye
www.frompaintopersonalgain.com

P.S. To learn more on how to create a life of health, wealth
and happiness log onto http://tinyurl.com/2hqf44

Making Mistakes

2007-09-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

The famous Italian actress Sophia Loren is quoted as saying, “Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life”.

Most people are afraid to try new things in life because they think it will be a mistake or they will fail.

Mistakes are part of a learning process.

If you make a mistake, own up to it and correct it.

You will know what you will need to do the next time.

Listen, I am not perfect.

I have made mistakes along the way.

I’ve made mistakes with investing in real estate and stocks. I took my lumps but I came back better and made more.

This is just part of life.

But one shouldn’t dwell on these mistakes.

Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.

I leave you with the famous words of Oscar Wilde…”Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes”.

Have a great day!

To Your Health, Happiness & Wealth!

Dr. Michael J. Kaye

Don't Let Pain Rule Your Life

2007-09-08T21:05:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the opportunity to speak with a very passsionate woman who wants to help folks who suffer with chronic pain.

She doesn't have any special vitamins to sell you or any gimmicks.

Basically she wants to share her experiences on how she has helped herself and provide people with the same tools that has helped her navigate through the world of pain and the medical system.

Here is a summary of her story…
“I am a 38 year old stay at home mom of 2 young children. I had several chronic illnesses and was in chronic pain for over 6 years. I used methods I learned from studying The Law of Attraction to heal myself. I am no longer on painkillers and am healthier than I have been in MANY years. I am trying to get my story out about how I healed and about how people can self-heal and manage pain naturally”.

She has a great web site http://www.thankfulformyhealing.com and http://healpain.weebly.com/ and a blog http://healpain.blogspot.com

If you have been reading my previous broadcasts you have read time and time again that it’s action that makes the difference.

It’s action that helps you succeed.

If you know someone who is suffering in pain regardless of the diagnosis (as pain is pain) please refer that person to Jennifer’s site.

Even if you were not suffering with pain I would strongly recommend visiting her site and reading her story, as her story is very inspirational.

To Your Health, Happiness & Wealth!

Dr. Michael Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results

P.S. To learn more on how to create a life of health, wealth
and happiness log onto http://tinyurl.com/2hqf44

Start a Walking Program Today

2007-08-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

Many of my patients ask me about the best exercise they can do.

I always recommend the exercise of walking.

The only drawback is that walking takes time and most patients and clients report they are short on time.

To start a walking program, start out slow.

I recommend the following plan:

Walk 10 minutes a day (5 minutes in one direction then 5 minutes back to starting point) for one week; 20 minutes a day for two weeks followed by 30 minutes a day for 4 weeks.

After 7 weeks of walking the next progression is not time spent walking but distance covered in the same time.

The idea is to walk at a faster pace covering more distance but not walking past 30 minutes.

If you are still crunched for time and do suffer with bad knees, hip or lower back you can jump rope.

Combining walking for 10 minutes followed by jumping rope for 5-10 minutes will provide you with calorie burning and fat burning activity.

And not only will you be burning calories and fat but you will also receive benefits of increasing the strength of your heart.

Stay Healthy and Happy!

Dr. Michael Kaye

Business is Alive & Well in California

2007-08-14T06:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a few weeks since I had last entered a blog. I recently had the opportunity to visit California. It's a fun place to visit but to live there is very expensive.

One of the appealing aspects of Southern California is that entrepreneurship is alive and well. There are so many stores and so many of the same type of stores. Every one is selling coffee, food, clothes, surf wear, etc.

It always amazes me as people buy what they want and not what they need.

So if you were thinking of starting a business but are afraid it might fail just think of all the stores or businesses that you currently know that are thriving, then repeat their system and/or make it better.

Don't be afraid of trying.

I'd rather try and fail than never try at all.

If you haven't signed up for my free e-zine please do so.

I just wrote a great article on Adversity.

Take Care & Stay Well!

Raising Kids and their Dreams

2007-07-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

Some of us grew up with parents who told us that our dreams couldn’t come true.

Often these parents were transferring their lack of accomplishments on their children.

Brian Tracy, a well-known author and speaker is quoted as saying, “If you raise your children to feel they can accomplish any goal or task they decide upon, you will have succeeded as a parent and you will have given your children the greatest of all blessings”.

If you have kids or nieces/nephews the greatest gift you can give or offer is to instill confidence and teach the children not to be afraid of trying or failing.

I know there are many adults who are afraid of trying new things in life.

They are afraid of failing.

Where and when does this begin?

It starts in your childhood.

You know how you daydream, “Only if I could do it allover again…”

Well, just think where your kids are today.

Teach the kids to “shoot for the stars”.

Have a Great Day!

Dr. Michael Kaye
www.frompaintopersonalgain.com

Obesity: Still on the Rise

2007-07-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

Obesity numbers have been increasing at an alarming rate.

According to economist Roland Sturm of the Rand Corporation, "The proportion of people at the high end of the weight scale continues to increase at a brisk rate despite public attention to the risks of obesity and the increased use of drastic weight loss strategies such as bariatric surgery".

How do we decrease this obesity trend?

The solution is to educate your children when they are young.

It has to start with the kids.

If you are an adult, start now versus later.

Begin by decreasing all boxed and canned foods.

It is easy to get help these days versus 10 years ago.

Many diet plans are on-line and are easy to access and do not cost very much.

Just start!