I came accross an article in National Geographic magazine that you may enjoy. It talks about how Paris is going green! The article is written by Jennifer Ackerman and it says:

That we should find nature rejuvenating is hardly surprising. After all, our tribe arose not in cinderbelt but in wild forests and grasslands. Our ears are made not for the stinging scream of sirens but for the sly scratch of a predator’s paws and the whistle of wind that warns of impending weather. Our eyes evolved to tease apart not the monotonous grays of cityscapes but the subtle gold, olive, and burgundy hues that signaled ripe fruit and tender leaves, and our brains to reward our sensory efforts with feelings of deep pleasure.

Could this be why the citizens of Paris work so hard to reinvent dead urban space and neglected squares of hardscape as places of vibrancy and green? Consider Parc des Buttes-Chaumont in the city’s crowded 19th arrondissement. Once this patch of land held an old gallows, then a gypsum quarry, then the city dump. Now the big bucolic park of grassy slopes and grottoes is alive with bloom and birdsong and a healthy jumble of people who spill onto its hilly lawns: kickboxers, musicians, university students perusing their notes or memorizing lines for a play, lovers rolling over one another like tumblers, and old men who have settled themselves on the grass to rest.

 

It goes on to tell about the study by Frances Kuo and her colleagues at:  Landscape and Human Health Laboratory of the University of Illinois.

Read the entire National Geographic Article here.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0610/feature3/index.html

Patient Voices: ADHD 

The NY Times has a wonderful section on ADHD. Here you can hear first hand, from diadnosed adults and children about how ADHD affects their lives.

Click on the link above.

A colleague pf mine, Dr. Rory Stern is hosting a free teleclass for parents and educators.  This 6-week, 12 speaker series will provide you with the necessary information about ADHD.

It starts Monday, May 19th, 2008.  Registration is still open, and recordings of past classes are available for download, so sign up today at:

http://adhdstrategyseries.com

All calls will take place on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 8:30 PM EDT - with a 24 hour replay line available over the Internet.

Featured guest speakers include:

• Tara McGillicuddy
• Evelyn Polk-Green
• Linda Anderson
• David Giwerc
• And many more…

The ADHD Parents Strategy

My ADD brain took this idea and ran with it. What about holding weekly, Sunday afternoon, cooking lessons for our kids? They can help chose the menu, make a shopping list and help with the shopping. The actual cooking will be supervised by Mom and Dad  but the prep work, cooking and clean up can all be done by the kids.

These sessions can also be an opportunity to talk nutrition and how individuals with ADD should focus on getting enough protien, complex carbs and lots of fruits and vegetables.

Ahh, summertime! By this time in the year, we’re all looking forward to the relaxed schedule and easy living summer brings. However, when you and your child have ADHD, transitioning from Spring to Summer is not always trouble-free. Sure, there’s no homework to contend with and no bus to catch but the fast-paced, school-year schedule allows your child the structure and daily routine his ADD brain needs.The core symptoms of ADD, inpulsivity, distractability and restlessness, do not lend themselves well to schedule-free, laid back, summer living. By following my Seven, Sanity-Saving, ADD Summer Vacation Strategies you will still enjoy some down time, with your child. and provide him with the structure and consistancy his awesome, ADD brain needs.

Today, let’s talk about #1: Start Each Day with Exercise

Exercise raises the levels of dopemine and norephrine in the brain. These two nuerotransmitters are key for bringing the ADHD brain into balance. In his recent book, Spark, Dr. John Ratey explains how exercise helps the brain to function at it’s best. He goes into expert detail telling how the brain works and how “exercise changes how we think and feel”.

Dr Ratey suggests that we all move our bodies for at least thirthy minutes each day: very simple advice! He tells us, “In general, I tell my patients to make every effort to institute a regimen of daily exercise - or at least during the five workdays…” The studies indicate that for optimum results, we should strive to have our heart rates measure 65 -75% of max for 30 minutes each day. Well what does that mean?

You can (a) get yourself a heart rate monitor or (b) do the math and take your pulse. To figure 65- 75% max HR: 220-(your age) X .65 = 65% and 220-(your age) X .75 = 75%. So, if your 40 years old and you want to know what your heart rate should be:

220-40= 180 (this is 100% max HR)

180 (max HR) X .65 = 117 (this is 65% max HR)

180 (max HR) X .75 = 135 (this is 75% max HR)

So, if your 40 years old, keep your HR between 117 and 135 for at least thirty minutes every day. If you don’t like the math, get yourself a heart monitor. You can set your HR goal in the watch and it will keep track of everything for you.

Or like the NIKE ad, you can “just do it!” Get your kids out of bed and hit the road! Walk, hike or bike; it doesn’t matter what you do. Do what you enjoy and do it every day!

Get into a routine:

• Plan the night before
• Put your gym clothes at the foot of your bed, your sneakers on the floor beside the bed and have your child do the same.
• The rule is: Get out of bed and get dressed, down to the shoes.
• Breakfast # 1 should be waiting in the kitchen - either a protien bar, fruit or shake.
• Take it with you and hit the road!

I’d love to hear from you! What fitness strategies work for you and your family?

The Disorganized Mind is a book who’s time has come! Nancy writes about the profession of ADHD coaching, with a depth of expertise and clarity that until now, has not been accomplished. She outlines her core elements of coaching (partnership,structure, process) and teaches readers how to initiate change by applying her strategic tool, she calls the A-N-S-W-E-R.

She tells stories that touched me very deeply. She lovingly talks of her father,  Clair William Young. He passed away in 2004 and yet his caring and determined spirit still lives on in Nancy. She tells us that he was her first ADHD Coach. Amazingly, he took on this role before Nancy’s diagnosis and before ADHD coaching even existed! She also talks about the struggles and triumphs of her clients. With her words she paints an accurate picture of Adults with ADD. Because of Nancy, many will know that we are successful, intelligent and capable of finding our own A-N-S-W-E-R!

If you begin her book not knowing what ADHD Coaching is all about, by the time your about half way through, your understanding about what it can do for you will clearly be understood. This understanding coupled with self-coaching tools and strategies make Nancy’s book a winner!

Working with an ADHD Coach can help you put your money issues into perspective. By developing a partnership with an ADHD Coach you can develop structures that work for you and work through the process of  managing your money.

A few years ago I was given an assignment by my coach. She challenged me to write a story about my relationship with money. She suggested that I tell the story about money as my lover.

From time to time I have gone back to this assignment. As my feelings, beliefs and attitudes have changed the story has evolved.

I’ve included my assignment here for you to read and I challenge you to write about your own love affair money.

My Love Affair With Money

by Diane Ladd

The first time we met I was instantly attracted to him and all that he stood for. I was child and barely understood the complex emotions that he brought out in people, especially in me. My parents fought about him quite often. My brother and I would stay in our rooms until the angry voices stopped.

My father held him captive and controlled his comings and his goings. He kept careful watch over him and would not let us get too close. My dad knew that if he lost control over him, we would set him loose. He said it was a sin to lust after him; he said that if I had too much of him, I wouldn’t get to heaven. I am disappointed to hear this; I do desire him, and I definitely want to go to heaven.

My mom had a secret affair with him. She would hide this relationship from my dad so that she could feel some freedom, some control. She would never tell my dad about the things he bought her and hope that he wouldn’t notice. She taught me that this is what women do in their relationships. My mom never cared for him in the way that a woman should. She loved the things that he could buy for her, but time and time again she would let him slip through her fingers.

He liked my childhood friend much more than he liked me. At Christmas time, he gave her more. She always got what she wanted; all she had to do was ask and then receive. My parents called her “spoiled” and I often saw her being disrespectful. I figured, having too much of him spoiled her. I do desire him still; but I don’t want to be spoiled.

At sixteen I was working and able to see him more often, but I made sure I didn’t see him too much. Sometimes I’d have the opportunity to work more, but I politely refused. I guess I just didn’t want him enough. I never thought I would have him. I never felt as though I had a chance because he loved a different kind of girl; one who’s smarter and more organized. I couldn’t seem to work hard enough or stay focused enough.

As a result, I let others care for him, love him and attract him. I have been watching from a distance afraid to get too close. “We are just no good together.” I thought, “I always seem to make a mistake and then he leaves me abandoned. So, if I let others around me care for him, I can be around him, even if my access is somewhat limited.”

Still, I long to hold him and I find myself wondering, “What would my life would be like if I let myself have him?” I know I could love him, the way he deserves to be loved.

He doesn’t want to be held captive and yet, this is a way some chose to know him, but not me. I welcome him to me now, knowing that he will come and go. When I see him leaving to visit others, I don’t feel jealous or frightened. I believe that there’s enough of him to go around. I know that his energy is still with me. I trust that I will see him again and again as he flows in and out my door.

I see no reason to keep this affair a secret. When others see me with him they are happy for me. By witnessing this abundant relationship, they are able to allow their own relationship to grow and to flourish.

I am preparing place for him in my life. I envision us living a joyful life together. With him, I am able to help others achieve what they desire, as well as helping myself and my family. I know now that he is not bad, sinful or evil; and he is not good. He is what I make of him; he is what I believe him to be.

Finally, I can see him on the horizon. He is walking toward me, with his arms stretched wide open. He comes to me now because I am ready to receive him. I am ready to welcome him home.

Some of you were concerned that you missed out on the deadline. Not to worry, there are more seats available.

Go to www.unwrappingthegiftofadd.com and see if you can secure your seat for this 8 week class.

I wrote a poem titled, Lucky me, I Have ADD. It’s included here, in my blog, so you can read it to your children, and let them know how awesome they truely are!

Lucky Me, I have ADD

By Diane Ladd

My brain is fast, my brain is cool, it helps me when I play,

It makes up stories and remembers stuff, that I did yesterday,

Sometimes, now, when I’m in class, my teacher calls on me,

My brain is playing ball outside, that’s were it wants to be.

My brain is quick and loves to learn about frogs and riding my bike,

But it doesn’t listen to "the talk" about things I just don’t like,

My Mom explains whats going on. She says, "You have ADD!

Your lucky because this makes you smart, creative and fun, like me!

"Your big blue eyes came from your dad, they sparkle and they shine,

Be thrilled to know your awesome brain learns differently, like mine!"

So now I’m learning to use my brain, they way it loves to be,

And now I know my brain is great - ’cause I have ADD!

What we focus on expands. When we focus on ADDing nutritious foods, we begin to ADD more healthy choices and we start feeling healthy, full and satisfied. On the other hand, when we focus on what we can’t eat all we want is what we can’t have. Here at ADD to Life Coaching, I work with my clients on ADDing delicious and nutritious food. Nothing is taken away! Each week we ADD one healthy food or activity and soon enough life is so full of the "good stuff" that the old habits just fall away.

People with symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder benefit greatly by eating vitamin rich, nutrient dense foods each day. Filling up on these foods keeps our blood sugar balanced, our hunger at bay, our mood stabilized and our brain chemistry functioning.

So, What can you ADD?

1. Protein

Lean protein helps to keep our blood sugar balanced. When eaten with each meal and snack it helps to curb our hunger by limiting the insulin rush some experience when eating carbohydrates alone.

2. Complex Carbohydrates

Foods containing fiber help by moving through the system more slowly than simple carbs do. The also help balance blood sugar and keep you feeling satisfied.

3. H2O

Our brain is 95% water! If we want it to function properly it’s important to drink clean, pure water. Soda, and Gatorade do not count. Would you wash you clothes with Gatorade?

4. Fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables contain tons of vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function. The also contain water and fiber. They have texture, making your eating experience more satisfying.

Choose something healthy to ADD to your life today and the the first step to feeling great!