Oh!Mino - May 2021

Oh!Mino - May 2021

STAY FIT!

MAY 2021

OHMINO.COM

HOW I COPE WITH MY MOM’S ALZHEIMER’S MEET THE WOMAN MICHAEL'S MOM USED TO BE

remember why.” When I reminded her that she was my mother, she became amazed and overjoyed. “That’s so cool!” she would say. “I’m a mom!” Those moments meant a lot to me, but they disappeared in 2020. When the pandemic hit, many independent living facilities shut down completely, including the one where my mom lives. This really affected my family; even my dad couldn’t see her in person. They had to talk through a window, and I could only reach her on Skype. Those Skype calls were horrible. She didn’t recognize me at all, and the technology left her confused for the rest of the day. So, as much as it hurt, I took the advice of her caretakers and stopped calling out of concern for her health. Instead, I started sending cards that they could read out loud to her. This spring, we had to take the drastic step of moving my mom to hospice care. She’s lost a lot of weight and can no longer eat on her own. The only upside is that my dad can see her every other day now. I can visit once a week, but it’s hard for me to see her so thin, with long white hair. In my head, she’s still the feisty, beautiful, redheaded woman who raised me. Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease. It’s unfair to people who get it — and to their families. I can’t believe that my mother, who was so sharp, is going out this way. Still, I’m trying not to be angry. This Mother’s Day, I’m going to focus on my good memories.

For the last several years, Mother’s Day has been a bittersweet day for me. Of course, I love spoiling my incredible wife, Darlene, with the help of our daughters (they go all-out for her, starting with breakfast in bed), but I can’t help thinking about my own mother, too. When I was a kid, my mom was tough but loving. She grew up in an Irish family, so she had a bit of a temper. She wouldn’t hesitate to call people on their BS. That went for my friends, too! It never failed to make me laugh when she nailed someone with a pointed comment. On top of that, my mom was smart. She always beat me at games of skill like Russian Bank and Scrabble. And when I was little, she went back to school to become a nurse practitioner. Then, she got her master’s degree in health care management and ran Cal Poly Health Services. I didn’t get to spend Mother’s Day with my mom last year because of COVID-19, but even if I could have, she wouldn’t have recognized me. My mom has been battling Alzheimer’s for the last eight years, and in 2020, her condition got much worse. Before the pandemic, my mom always recognized me as someone she loved. When I would see her on Thanksgiving or Christmas, she wouldn’t remember my name, but her eyes would light up. “Oh, you!” she would say. “I missed you. I love you so much, I just can’t

Michael with his mom and family

One of the best is from the year I turned 30. On Mother’s Day, I drove my brand-new convertible to the RV park where my parents were camping, and I picked them up for a road trip. We drove down the California coast to Laguna Beach and toasted my mom with champagne and hors d'oeuvres. Then we explored the bluffs, carefree, with the convertible top down. I was young, in love, and holding in a big secret: I planned to propose to Darlene in just a few weeks. It was all I could do not to tell my mom and spoil the surprise! After lunch, we drove to a comedy club for a Mother’s Day show, and I watched my mom laugh hysterically for more than an hour. It’s an even better memory in hindsight. If you can, do me a favor this Mother’s Day and hug your mom.

Stay fit, my friend!

–Michael

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OH!MINO HAS ARRIVED ON SHELVES! OH!MINO AMBASSADOR DR. JOHN MICHALETTI BROUGHT OUR PRODUCT TO 2 STATES

Bike Run shop in Westmont, Illinois, and Pure Muscle Nutrition in Rio Rancho, New Mexico! Both shops are owned by his friends and offer top-tier nutrition products. “I said to [my friend who owns Urban Tri Gear], ‘This is the best type of supplement you could be giving your athletes because it has great electrolytes and is great for endurance and muscle strength. What better all- around supplement can you give your clients than Oh!mino?’” John says. As a doctor, John doesn’t promote products lightly. But the scientific research backing up Oh!mino, combined with the results he’s seen personally, convinced him of its benefits. “Believe me, everything I do is based on a study! Studies are very important, and if [a product] has one, that’s a plus right there,” he says, adding, “Michael has crossed his T’s and dotted his I’s.”

In last month’s newsletter, you met Dr. John Michaletti, a periodontist/pro bodybuilder who used Oh!mino to stave off muscle loss after a neck injury. He had to stay away from the gym for six weeks and was worried about losing 3–5 years of gains. “I’ve had injuries before where I couldn't work out and I was emaciated [afterward],” he says. “Oh!mino kept that from happening. I lost a little bit but kept the majority of my muscle mass.” After that experience, John was a convert! He still uses Oh!mino and loves the product so much that he reached out to Michael to see if he could help us promote it. Within no time, he was an Oh!mino ambassador. Today, we send John free products, and he gets a 5% commission on wholesale sales. It’s a fantastic partnership for both sides. So far, he has helped us place Oh!mino in two stores: the Urban Tri Gear Swim

Today, John is working on promoting Oh!mino at his gym, at upcoming shows, and even with his patients. We’re thrilled to have him onboard to help expand our brick-and-mortar footprint! If you’re a fan of Oh!mino and would like to become an ambassador in your community, receive free products, and cash in on a commission, call Michael today at 855-966-3423.

AN ANCIENT PRACTICE WITH MODERN BENEFITS

GIVE TAI CHI A TRY

Yang, Chen, Wu Hao, Wu, and Sun styles. The most commonly practiced form is Yang, which places an emphasis on slow and exaggerated movements accompanied with slow, deep breaths. Because it includes gentle movements, Yang tai chi can be practiced by many individuals, regardless of their age or mobility. Tai chi is also a perfect way for anyone recovering from an injury to exercise without straining their bodies. Benefits For aging adults, tai chi offers many benefits, including balance, strength, and flexibility, which begin to fade with age but are necessary to help people stay active and reduce the risks of falling or developing arthritis. Because tai chi also focuses on the mind and breathing, it also improves mental and emotional well-being.

Martial artist and actor, Li Lianjie — aka Jet Li — is best known for his roles in the films “Fist of Legend,” “Shaolin Temple,” “Fearless,” and “Hero.” He has over 30 years of experience as a tai chi practitioner and is an advocate for the traditional Chinese martial art form. That’s because it comes with a long history that shows its many benefits.

Origins While the exact age of this martial art form is unknown, tai chi can be dated back to as far as 2,500 years ago. Tai chi, also known as tai chi chuan or qi gong, was originally created and used as a form of self-defense. However, practitioners adapted it over the centuries, and many began using it as a form of meditation and exercise. Today, tai chi includes a focus on the mind, breathing practices, body awareness, and motion through slow and deliberate movements. Practicing this discipline brings calm and balance into the mind and body, which can be integrated into every aspect of life.

Learning tai chi is easy, and it starts with attending the right class. Find a local martial arts school or consider joining Jet Li’s online academy at TaijiZen.com. Through this ancient form, you can bring peace, balance, and health into your life.

Forms Tai chi consists of several different forms, including

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‘FINALLY, A LEGIT NUTRITION STUDY!’ THE LINK BETWEEN PROCESSED FOOD AND WEIGHT GAIN

Instagram star, Doctor Mikhail “Mike” Varshavski went truly viral in 2015 after being dubbed “the sexiest doctor alive” by People magazine. Though his good looks brought him initial fame, Doctor Mike’s steadfast approach to his profession as a certified primary care physician is what keeps him relevant. Today, he shares educational videos on his YouTube channel about medicine and health. In his video, “Finally, a LEGIT Nutrition Study,” he breaks down new research on highly processed foods and our health. Studies have shown that a diet filled with highly processed food increases our risk of obesity and diseases like diabetes and heart disease. These all too common health concerns decrease our longevity, yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports: • 42.2% of the U.S. population is considered obese. • 1 in 10 people has diabetes. • 18.2 million adults over the age of 20 have coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease. Despite knowing this, scientists were unsure whether these outcomes were linked to people eating highly processed foods or people not eating enough unprocessed whole foods. Doctor Mike explains that this uncertainty was due to a lack of randomized controlled studies. But in 2019, the

National Institutes of Health conducted such a study and was able to prove a causal relationship for the first time. “Eating a diet rich in highly processed food causes weight gain,” researchers concluded. In this study, 20 participants lived in a facility where their meals were prepared for them. For two weeks, participants received meals made only

from highly processed foods, and for the other two weeks, all meals were made with unprocessed foods. On the weeks that participants ate processed foods, they gained 2 pounds per week on average. On the weeks they ate unprocessed foods, they lost 2 pounds per week on average. The study also showed that when the participants ate only processed foods, they consumed an extra 500 calories per day. Doctor Mike theorizes that’s because those foods are addicting, they taste better, and they’re more accessible. If you’re interested in learning more about the relationship between food and health or any other medical topic, check out Doctor Mike’s YouTube channel. His fun and educational videos dive deep into these topics and offer easy-to-understand explanations.

SHAVED ASPARAGUS SALAD Inspired by ACoupleCooks.com

TAKE A BREAK!

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

• 1 lb asparagus spears

1. With a vegetable peeler, shave each asparagus spear from tip to base. This is easiest to do if the asparagus is on a flat surface. 2. Place shaved asparagus in a bowl and blot off excess moisture with a paper towel. 3. In a separate bowl, make a vinaigrette by whisking together lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and olive oil. 4. Pour vinaigrette over shaved asparagus and add Parmesan cheese, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings.

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard

• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

• 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

• 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes

• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

3020 Old Ranch Parkway, Ste. 300 Seal Beach, CA 90740

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1.

Meet the Woman Michael’s Mom Used to Be

2. Coming Soon to a Store Near You?

Bring Peace and Balance Into Your Life

3. Proving the Weight-Gain Culprit Shaved Asparagus Salad 4. Can You Do Cardio at Home? GET YOUR HEART PUMPING AT HOME! 4 LIVING ROOM CARDIO WORKOUTS

parallel with the floor. Using your shoulder and back muscles, pull your arms toward you then back out in front, as though you were rowing a canoe. Repeat this exercise 8–10 times.

Walking for 30 minutes a day is a great way to get in some exercise, but getting in a daily walk outdoors isn’t always possible. If you're unable to enjoy your regular cardio exercise, what can you do? Try these four cardio workouts to get your heart pumping right from your living room. March in Place Marching is a great way to start slowly increasing your heart rate. Start by standing in place then lifting the legs up in a steady march, lifting each knee as high as you can without losing your balance. Make sure that you are also pumping your arms in time with your feet. For the best outcome, lift your legs 20 times. Side Steps Start by standing in the middle of the room with plenty of space for you to step left and right. Take a side step in one direction, then two side steps in the opposite direction, then move back two steps. If you’re worried about keeping your balance, try doing this within an arm’s length of a wall so you can reach out to steady yourself, and remember to keep your back straight. Repeat 20 times. Seated Rows While sitting in a chair, keep your spine straight and shoulders back. Extend your arms until they’re out in front of you,

Dance Dancing is a great cardio exercise and plenty of fun

too! Pick your favorite dance style and start moving those feet. Some styles, such as ballet or hip-hop, can be more challenging, especially if your mobility is limited. However, freestyle is plenty of fun too. No matter how you choose to dance and whether you’re by yourself, with a friend, or with your spouse, turn on some music and start grooving to your favorite tunes. A Note on Safety: Before you get started on any exercises, make sure that the space around you is safe. Give yourself plenty of room to move around so you don’t have to worry about bumping into furniture and accidentally hurting yourself. If you’re an older adult, be sure to have a stable surface nearby just in case. A chair, for example, can help you steady yourself if you begin to lose your balance.

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