Progressive Health has a ridiculous amount of life changing stuff going on!

Strength and Functional Assessments Are Back

We have added 3 (THREE) mega-talented Exercise Physiologists to the team. This month we introduce 1 of them.

Ryan McDonnell is our newest addition. He has taken over from Frank Vera to do the functional and strength assessments and targeted exercise coaching. Ryan is experienced and ready to help you change your life.

what the Blazes is the functional and strength assessment?

This is a total game changer for primary care. We have learned that muscle weakness is rampant. If we are not measuring your strength, fitness, and balance, and correcting the deficits, then you are turning into a lump of deconditioned protoplasm. No offense: this is just what happens naturally as we age. Importantly, we have learned that when our EP gives you a personalized exercise prescription, that most people have been able top actually do the exercises and get stronger.

What do you measure?

Resting heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, grip strength, Short Physical Performance Battery, Sit-to-Stand Test, push-up test, Sitting-Rising Test, Submaximal Graded Exercise Treadmill Test (Estimated peak VO2, Peak heart rate, Peak blood pressure, Peak exertion), Balance

COMING SOON! In our new medical fitness center, we can do more precise measurements of strength: Single rep max strength testing, Pullups

Who is Ryan McDonnell?

Ryan McDonnell is a clinical exercise physiologist. He graduated with his Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science with a focus in Applied Kinesiology from Rutgers University of New Brunswick in 2017. He is from Deptford, NJ.

Over the last 7 years, he has worked in the fields of physical therapy, orthopedics, medical fitness, as well as cardiac rehabilitation. Ryan specializes in the promotion of health through movement and exercise, as well as healthy lifestyle changes and mindset.He has helped many patients and clients with varying chronic diseases and illnesses work towards their goal, whether it be improving their body’s movement patterns, or to better their overall physical health.

While Ryan’s professional life may occupy a lot of his time, he also enjoys staying active through weight training and playing basketball. But most of all, he enjoys more than anything is getting to spend time with his fiancée Tori, his 3-year-old son Callen and his 9 month old daughter Coraline.

Remember Cure Diabetes?

From 2016-2020, before COVID-19 was a twinkle in your eye, we offered a program called Cure Diabetes. We ran this 8-week program for 20 groups over those 4+ years. Numerous of our participants experienced a dramatic improvement in their diabetes. And yes, many were able to reverse their diabetes and become non-diabetics!

On April 10 and 29, our Successful Aging program will meet twice to talk about how to reverse type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.

How does the Successful Aging Program work?

There is no cost to join Successful Aging. When you choose to attend, we will bill your insurance for a group office visit. You can sign up for the Successful Aging mailing list here.

I don’t have diabetes. Do I care about this topic?

Yes you do! Lowering glucose levels is a key strategy to slow our rate of cellular aging. It’s a major way we can live longer and healthier!

There are some major hacks we can follow to protect our bodies from the accelerated aging that results from diabetes and excess glucose.

Dude, Isn’t it impossible to reverse type 2 diabetes?

Nope. Especially when people only have diabetes for a short time, it might be reversible. Regardless of your type of diabetes, you can 100% reverse insulin resistance, and you can minimize glycemic damage by avoiding certain foods.

How do you reverse type 2 diabetes and Insulin Resistance?

In general, the more you slim the waistline, the more you can reverse insulin resistance. Building muscle and exercise also helps a lot.

How does excess glucose do damage to our body?

Glucose is a sticky chemical and it gets stuck to other biochemicals that it should not. When it does, it causes damage and aging. It can form Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). AGEs cause us to age more quickly. We want to limit the amount of AGEs in our body. One example of an early AGE is Hemoglobin A1c. We routinely measure blood levels of Hemoglobin A1c to see how high has your glucose been over time. Your Hemoglobin A1c level in your blood is a measure of the speed at which your cells are aging. The lower the better.

How can I lower my AGEs and live longer?

2 ways:

1. Minimize the AGEs that we form in our bodies, by lowering our glucose spikes, by eating a lot of fiber, reduce excess calories, and slim down around the waistline.

2. Minimize our consumption of food that has already has AGEs in it. Some foods have WAY more AGEs than others.

Advanced Glycation End Product (AGE) Content of Some Foods

Which foods should I avoid to lower my AGEs and slow my cellular aging?

In general, avoid meat that is cooked at high temperatures.

Earth Day Event: Help Native Plants Thrive in Talley Day Park

Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m to noon.

Please join Dr. Donohue and Dr. Zarek for a rewarding morning of environmental action and community service as we work together to remove the invasive plants that threaten our native species. Leah Brooks, a certified Master Gardener, will be on hand to help us identify invasive species and teach us about the native species. We will meet at the Talley Day Dog Park at 10 a.m. Please bring gardening gloves and, if you have them, clippers. Trash bags, water, and snacks will be provided. This is a family friendly event, but we will work rain or shine. Please register at this link.

What is the most BENEFICIAL thing I can do for the environment?

It turns out that our current system of producing animal products is one our leading contributors to environmental destruction. For Americans, our #1 contributor of rainforest destruction is our consumption of junk foods high in palm oil and saturated fat. For most of the world, the #1 contributor to rainforest destruction is … get this … beef.

By shifting to less processed plant foods, we help the planet and it happens to be one of the most beneficial things we can do for the planet AND for our health. That’s called a win-win my friends.

Earth Day International Plant Based Potluck

Saturday, April 20th, 5:30 p.m., Parish Hall, First Unitarian Church

Join us Saturday, April 20th at 5:30 p.m. in Parish Hall. Bring a vegan dish to share from your heritage (or just a fun international recipe that you like). Non alcoholic drinks will be provided. Bring your own plates, utensils, cups, etc. for easy clean up. We hope to celebrate Earth Day with a healthy plant based meal with you! All are welcome! Register here.