The Veteran Aid Station

05/22/2024

A lesson in growth.

Much like us, trees must grow in several directions. While we visibly see the up and the out, what we don't see the down - the ROOTS! Sometimes roots take time to grow. We may see a small tree and miss the work that tree is putting in beneath the surface in order to one day be a large tree which bears much fruit! Trees that we have grown up with, already large when we were not...they have weathered many storms, overcome seasons of drought, cold, and heat...but they have only grown stronger for it.

The Redwoods in California are particularly well known for their strength and how high they are able to grow! As those trees grow, their roots intertwine with the roots of those around them, supporting one another and being stronger because of it. Seeing them in person is incredible because they have spent so much time, but the work they put in beneath the soil is just as incredible. It is rare for a Redwood to fall because they have done the work beneath the surface and because they are able to get support from those around them.

Growth takes time, grit, and patience. Others frequently miss seeing it as it happens, just as we miss seeing the growth of the trees that are growing around us every day. But one day, we appreciate the tree for the shade, the fruit, the shelter it provides. Keep putting in the work that others don't see. When you see an old friend and they simply say "you've changed", you'll know it's because you have grown your roots and your foundation.

Thanks for the good words this morning Luther E Harris II!!

05/22/2024

Friends who leverage military discounts: Apparently law was passed last year that prohibits military discounts being applied to insurance claims.

The short story...Prescription progressives from Costa cost $600 (with military discount - thank you Costa!). Going through in-network LensCrafters, that same pair is $900 WITHOUT insurance applied. Applying insurance to LensCrafters, the military discount falls off, and one ends up paying in the ballpark of $400 toward the exact same glasses.

I actually called to say 'what gives' and LensCrafters was super helpful but literally, somebody writing a law said "don't let these people leverage a discount the company would otherwise provide IF they are paying with insurance".

Simply something to be aware of if you are used to your vision insurance being a bigger help toward sunglasses, etc.

02/28/2024

New Marine barracks are allegedly getting these built in 7-day stores.

One of the greatest recruiting challenges the DoD is facing is the number of teenagers disqualified for service because of weight and health issues. A lot of people point to changes in physical activity but the reality is... it's the food!!!

As I think about the absence of nutrition in the typical service member's lifestyle, I look at this and say "wow...you really just want to screw over our men and women and take some more money for the MCCS mafia". Well done MCCS.

02/24/2024

Our time in service included sleepless nights, foreign travel, pain meds, and poor nutrition. By working to help rebalance the digestive tract, the body has the chance to start working the way it was designed. This means key hormones like melatonin and serotonin have the chance to return to normal levels. Running to the bathroom...or spending excessive amounts of time and effort to go are on the target list of symptoms to resolve as well.

I’m looking for six adults to try my microbiome activating drink and two additional supplements for 60 days. Your job is to tell me how the symptoms you have dealt with for years improve. My job is to provide you with the understanding of WHY we can help our body, and support you in staying consistent as we rebuild.

To be clear - we won't be fixing everything in two months as that's not realistic, but I will help you see progress, have some wins, and be in a place where you can decide that it is worth it to continue on. It might not be for everyone and I will only be accepting six this month. If you'd like to be considered for one of the spots, please message me or comment "interested" below.

02/10/2024

It's been a while and I'm changing things up a little bit. For all of our veterans and first responders out there...here is an important little tidbit that is buried deep in a number of studies.

If this is something you have ever dealt with, did anyone ever mention that there are numerous studies demonstrating that some cases of PTSD are associated with an imbalanced gut?

01/10/2024

Ultimate weight loss combo...

Two separate supplement combos come together, both with clinically proven results to help lose weight without starving your body! 💪

For those who want to shed 10-15 pounds by the end of February I only have room for 9 more this month. To be clear - you won't be on a crash diet, you won't be starving, and you WILL feel great! For those who qualify, I've got an extra 30 packets of our Slim Hunger Control drink for you, just to make it that much easier!

Send me a message so I can send you the quiz!!

01/05/2024

Week 1 mission: Common veteran themes of anxiety and insomnia...(Trending or common themes will be outlined for situational awareness). *This is not medical advice but includes references to published findings*

Opinion statement 1: A lot of veterans deal with different types of anxiety both during and after service. General anxiety, social anxiety, OCD, the simple fear of being late for something - all of these things are definitely very real for many! Post traumatic stress also falls within the realm of anxiety but that conversation will be saved for another week.

Opinion statement 2: Many veterans deal with sleeping disorders both during and after service. Some sleeping disorders demand non-deployable status, while others like insomnia are frequently joked about due to the constant stress, shift work, and travel. Late payday nights at the bars, tattoo parlors, or simply hanging in a barracks room then starting again the next day also contributed to poor sleep patterns for some.

Situation: Both the issue of anxiety and the issue of insomnia may be treated with medical intervention. This may include therapy, EMDR, prescription medication, group meetings/sessions, medication, accupuncture, sleep aids, reduction of stimulants, and emotional support animals. Physiologically, these remedies do very little to restore the natural production of hormones which the body depends on for both sleep and positive mental thinking. (On a personal note, it is my greatest recommendation that if you need to speak to a mental health professional you do so. As leaders, we owe it to our Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airmen to set the example for "seeking self improvement" while also working on overall wellness.)

With opinions 1 and 2 set forth above and the situation being that these treatment methods do NOT address natural, physical healing within the body, we focus on the next step. Hormone production.

In 2019 a systematic review in General Psychiatry noted that "six of seven studies showed that regulation of intestinal microbiota could treat anxiety symptoms". It was not the final conclusion that ONLY probiotic treatment should be used, but it is significant to acknowledge there is an improving knowledge regarding the gut-brain axis and the influence the digestive tract has on anxiety.

In 2021, Sleep Medicine discusses sleep disturbances and their relationship to imbalance in the digestive microbiome (biological world). Lowered diversity of good bacteria had ties to adverse neurological function and reduced hormone production. These ties have common themes which include...insomnia! This is an unfortunate cycle as poor sleep patterns reduce the diversity of good bacteria.

Recognizing the common theme is the digestive tract, it is accepted within the science community that 80-90% of both serotonin and melatonin are produced in the digestive tract. The more out of balance the bacterial composition is, the more reasonable it is to expect or even anticipate some of these health challenges.

Other factors that damage the bacterial composition include...
-Chronic or high stress
-Foreign travel
-Persistent use of NSAIDs
-Artificial ingredients and preservatives
-Antibiotics
-Alcohol or to***co abuse
-Poor sleep cycles (as mentioned before)

This is not meant to be medical advice and no advice is offered to cure, treat, or otherwise prevent medical conditions, disease, or states. It is significant to note that resolving issues within the digestive tract is possible through the use of non-prescription lifestyle changes, supplementation, and in some very extreme cases, transplants. The greater the diversity of bacteria within the gut the better. My area of focus as both and advocate and health coach is helping to improve the overall diversity through the first two methods.

This is the first in a 20 week evolution and I appreciate any questions that you may have! I will share several stories within the comments for those who have worked on their digestive tract with the focus of anxiety and insomnia as an example. If you know someone who needs a hand and you made it this far, please feel free to send this to them as it's my goal to help at least three men and/or women this week.

09/12/2023

An incredible mission, please join Jeff, Mary, and the rest of the community this Saturday!!

OUR BIG NEWS!!
Thank you to Deja Mayfield TV from WCTI NewsChannel 12 for covering Hannah's HOPE Non-Profit Organization and our The 🎃GREAT PUMPKIN UNLOAD🎃.
We'll need volunteers to help unload pumpkins this Saturday, September 16th at 9am!
Did you know that last year Hannah's HOPE non-profit organization put $25,000 back into our Onslow and Carteret Community?!

06/27/2023

When doc says "I can't do anything more for this patient, maybe you can help her", it's time to roll the sleeves up and get to work!

Over the past year I've had the opportunity to help one young lady who I've grown to absolutely adore. At a young 80 years of age, her initial goal was to lose 100 pounds. Two sessions ago she decided that if she was going to feel so much better, she may as well figure out what to do with herself and all her energy! This week's session she disclosed that she has finally touched FIFTY POUNDS of loss!!! She is halfway to her goal of reaching a healthy, stable body mass. Her habits have been getting stronger and stronger with accountability and where necessary, we have added a few plant and probiotic supplements to help with sleep, mood, and energy. Her medical exams all continue to document her progress and it is truly a blessing to be part of this journey!

So happy for her and all of those who are working quietly and diligently for themselves and their family. It is so worth it!!

04/24/2023

We first started working together well over two years ago, and this morning told me "I really didn't think this was going to work! After six weeks, I hadn't seen any change. But this is all because of you". She was my very first coaching client. We went in to a coaching relationship knowing exactly where the imbalances were in her life. But the important truth is, I did nothing more than ask the questions.

Because of her effort and her consistency, she developed healthy habits and stepped away from negative influences. She kept the 40 pounds off and has a new circle of friends that enjoy healthy activities for fun. Confident, fit, and healthy...today I had the chance to catch up withy very first coaching client. And because of her, I knew then as I know now - little changes produce incredible results!

03/16/2023

One of my favorite myths is that simply cutting calories will lead to long term weight loss. This is a frequently prescribed method that overlooks countless studies. Short term - it typically works. Long term, it stresses the body and creates a situation where the body may deliberately store fat as a form of self preservation. It also overlooks the hormonal process of fat storage - something that is critical to recognize.

Often time I'll challenge those who say "you just have to eat less calories and you'll be fine!" because they'll quickly defer to "but it has to be healthy, whole foods" when pressed on how insulin works in the body. The reality is, healthy and whole foods are what you should be eating anyway. Your body is designed to tell you when you are full of these foods!

So here is a question for you. If you have used calorie reduction as a long term weight loss strategy, what has your experience been like? How did you feel when you were consuming significantly less calories, and what happened when you stopped?