My colleague and friend Robert Ferguson, MS, CN, CEO of Diet Free Life, works tirelessly as a certified nutritionist and coach. He recently appeared on the Ricki Lake Show:

In the video we meet Steve, who has lost 200 pounds and wants advice about how to teach those same lifestyle changes to his daughter Jordan. When asked about what kind of dialogue needs to occur in the family to encourage these changes, he gives excellent advice. The trick is to talk in terms of energy and metabolism, while removing judgement from the equation completely. This way, instead of seeking approval, kids can focus on building a sense of holistic health.

Communication in the home is the most important element in teaching a healthy lifestyle. Kids are information sponges and have the capacity learn good or bad habits — this is why it is so important for parents to explain why yo-yo dieting is not the way, and to show how good habits can not only change the way you look, but also the way you feel.

To learn more, visit Robert Ferguson’s website DietFreeLife.com.

As seen in part one of the Marriott Bridges Foundation introduction video, Emmanuel, an inspiring student with a disability, helped SOMA Orthopedics during his internship. Emmanuel has earned his place at SOMA Orthopedics with his great attitude, helpful translation skills, and strong work ethic. In part two of the Marriott Bridges video, we get a more personal look at Emmanuel’s work and home life.

More About Bridges:

Bridges from School to Work was established in 1989 by the Marriott Foundation to enhance employment opportunities for young people with disabilities by effectively matching them to employers’ entry-level workforce needs.

The Bridges staff, working one-on-one with young people, aids their transition from high school, helping them to successfully enter the workforce and find a job that fits their interests and abilities, while planning for long term vocational growth.

Currently, Bridges from School to Work provides businesses with customized job placement and workforce development solutions, which enhances both productivity and workforce diversification. With a strategic approach and two decades of experience, the program has demonstrated a record of success with more than 3,500 employers and 16,000 youth served.

Watch this video on YouTube or Vimeo.

Many years ago I was featured in a promotional video by the Marriott Bridges Foundation about the “Bridges from School to Work” program. The Bridges program helps students with disabilities by preparing them for workforce needs through a one-on-one course. To this date, it’s still one of my favorite programs and videos. This video features a high school student Emmanuel Gala being interviewed by my colleague Nancy Johnson and myself at SOMA Orthopedics. This video is very heart-warming, and I have the greatest respect for this program.

Watch other Bridges success videos.

About Bridges:

Bridges from School to Work was established in 1989 by the Marriott Foundation to enhance employment opportunities for young people with disabilities by effectively matching them to employers’ entry-level workforce needs.

The Bridges staff, working one-on-one with young people, aids their transition from high school, helping them to successfully enter the workforce and find a job that fits their interests and abilities, while planning for long term vocational growth.

Currently, Bridges from School to Work provides businesses with customized job placement and workforce development solutions, which enhances both productivity and workforce diversification. With a strategic approach and two decades of experience, the program has a demonstrated record of success with more than 3,500 employers and 16,000 youth served.

by Louise Gately and Moshe Lewis MD

Horse back riding is my love and has been my entire life. I started out at the ripe age of 7 and at age 57, I am still able to haul myself up onto my sweet mare and enjoy all that the hobby offers.

One hectic day almost 30 years ago, I came across my first obstacle that threatened my abilities to enjoy what I love so much. I was preparing my two horses for a show and needed to ride both horses each day before the sun set. I worked a job that required sitting all day every day. Combine all of this together, a rushed twisting motion carrying a 50 lb saddle, led me right into the hospital for 7 days in traction.

In order to ride today, here are some tips that may prove handy and avoid further pain:

Before and after a ride, pelvic tilts are really helpful. Dr. Lewis says pelvic tilts are often recommended for those who need to develop support in the low back, low abdominals, sacroiliac joint and adjacent structures. They are very subtle exercises that strengthen the support muscles around the low back, particularly the abdominals. Specifically, pelvic tilts wake up the nerves in the core posture muscles that live in the pelvis, they also help to strengthen those muscles, which in turn stabilizes the low backs well as stretch tight muscles around the hip, for example, the hamstrings, psoas and/or quadriceps.

1. Store saddle at a little higher than your waist.
2. Bending at the knees, lift saddle at the swell and cantle.
3. Move toward horse.
4. Lift strongest leg to rest on a bench or stool.
5. While still bending the standing knee, rest saddle on raised knee to bring over the cinch and stirrup from the farthest side of the saddle to you.
6. While still with raised knee, raise saddle up to chest, leaning it against your chest. All of the weight will be on your upper body and arms. At this point, move toward horse and move hand from cantle to skirt of saddle. This motion gives you added height and  will allow you to place the saddle on the horses back rather than swinging onto horses back. Your back and the horses back will enjoy this much more than swinging it up there.

Note that any twisting is not recommended. I have everything set up as always moving forward. Remember to take your time, your horse loves calm assertive attitude. Keep your head straight.

One of my patients, Jim Fitzpatrick, was recently interviewed in the Mercury News on his on going fight with chronic pain and his success despite this disability. He also recently completed an interview with Cheryl Jennings and myself about alternative approaches to chronic pain at ABC. I am really proud of Jim and encouraged by his will to conquer pain.

Excerpt from the Mercury News article "From roller derby to art gallery":

About 10 years ago, the South San Francisco resident was coping with mobility issues and chronic pain after retiring as a firefighter due to a disability.

He went through years of physical therapy until, in recent years, his doctor recommended a treatment known as myofascial release, which decreased his pain and made him more mobile again.

Wanting to help others coping with chronic pain, Fitzpatrick and his doctor recently discussed his successful treatments on an episode of ABC7 TV's "Beyond the Headlines."

Read more at Mercury News: From roller derby to art gallery