SkyVison and CrossFit

We've had the opportunity to meet some really nice folks from Dr. White's CrossFit community, and even to do some LASIK surgery for a few! This is a really cool company that's just filled with great people. Dr. White wanted to make sure that everyone who reads this blog hears about CrossFit. Did you know that Dr. White's sons own Comet CrossFit in Amherst?! Comet Crossfit

Not only is CrossFit a fitness company, it is one of the most generous organizations in all of the United States. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised by CrossFit and CrossFitters last year in support of St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Just this month the "Hope for Kenya" fundraiser brought in more than $250,000 to build schools and water treatment facilities in Kenya.

And get this: our own Kirstin Hyland (along with Mrs. White) created a HUGE quilt in memory of Joe Lengel, the owner of CrossFit Toledo who was slain at his gym last year. Kirstin will present the quilt at CrossFit Toledo this weekend!

Take this opprotunity to learn about CrossFit  Crossfit Website

Congrats to Comet CrossFit

Has it been a year already? Wow, how fast has that gone?! Comet CrossFit, the family fitness center owned by Dr. White's sons is one year old. Randy and Dan White are the owner-trainers at Comet Crossfit in Amherst and this weekend marks their one-year Anniversary.

"I couldn't be prouder of the boys," said Dr. White. "They've been making their clients more fit, healthier, and just plain better at life! CrossFit is powerful stuff, and Randy and Dan have been doing a great job as trainers."

CrossFit Gyms traditionally mark significant milestones with charitable events, and Comet CrossFit is no different. Tomorrow Comet and all of its members will celebrate their Anniversary with a benefit workout of the day, or WOD, in support for the "Feel Your Boobies Foundation." Feel Your Boobies is an organization devoted to raising awareness of the benefits of breast self-exams in young women. FYB was founded by Beth White's cousin, herself a victim of breast cancer.

Dan White: "We couldn't be prouder of Mom's cousin Leigh and what she's done. We've been planning this for months." Randy White adds "anyone can donate to this great organization, and we'd really love to see all kinds of people come out and join us for our event!" The festivities will include a barbecue and party at the gym in Amherst.

Congrats to the White boys and Comet CrossFit from all of us at SkyVision Centers!

Exercise Powers Your Brain!

As you know by now, Dr. White is a HUGE exercise buff (that's him in the grey shirt on the rope!). In fact he just completed all of the course work and passed his test and is now a full-fledged Crossfit Trainer! Here's an article he'd like to share about the brain health benefits from exercise. By the way, this is a big part of the science background underlying the teaching methods in Crossfit Kids.

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Exercise - long known to promote heart and bone health, among other benefits - increases the growth of brain cells and improves brain function, according to research reviewed today at the American College of Sports Medicine's 15th-annual Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition.

Terry Eckmann, Ph.D., briefed attendees on recent findings, saying the protein known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is "like Miracle-Gro for the brain." BDNF, Eckmann explained, helps to grow new neurons in the hippocampus and helps the transmission of information across the synapses (or connections) between neurons.

Fueling these enhanced brain processes, quite literally, are elevated levels of oxygen and glucose which the cardiovascular system - strengthened by exercise - can deliver to the brain. The brain uses about 20 percent of the body's oxygen and glucose.

Scientists have also found that repetitive gross motor movement strengthens the branching of dendrites, which conduct electrochemical stimulation among neurons. "Dendrites receive messages from surrounding brain neurons, and the more dendrites, the more information can be transmitted and stored," said Eckmann.

Recent studies show that students with higher fitness levels score higher on academic tests and show an improved ability to focus. Scientists have also documented the ability of exercise to help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

"Exercise is medicine and can make a difference in disease prevention and management."

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So make sure you get up off your couch and MOVE! You don't have to do Crossfit, but you may want to give that some thought. Heck, even Charles Barkley is now on the Crossfit bandwagon!

Coach White

Dr. White has been doing a very intense fitness program called CrossFit for more than 6 years. Recently his sons Dan and Randy opened a CrossFit gym in Amherst, Ohio, and Dr. White has been helping out with the coaching duties.

We weren't quite sure what that means! We do know that Dr. White is a master of multi-tasking, coaching and babysitting for one of the athletes at the same time.

Fittest Eye Doc

Do you remember the "Fittest Eye Doc Challenge" from last year? Dr. White does! Not only is he still doing CrossFit, but his sons Randy and Dan (that's Dan with him flipping tires) have opened a CrossFit gym in Amherst, just west of Cleveland and Skyvision Centers.

"People don't think of eye surgery as physically taxing, but it is!" said Dr. White. "I've become a better surgeon by lifting heavy weights and doing the high intensity workouts in CrossFit. It's just a ton more fun now being able to do it with my boys at Comet CrossFit whenever I get the chance to get out there."

CrossFit is constantly varied full-body, functional exercises performed at relatively high intensity. Created by Greg Glassman, it has become the principal fitness program for many special forces groups, SWAT teams, and Firehouses. It first appeared on the internet in 2003 at CrossFit.com and CrossFit Santa Cruz, and there are now more than 3000 CrossFit gyms all over the world. There's even a Kid's program, CrossFit Kids, founded and headquartered by Jeff and Mikki Martin at CrossFit Brand X.

" I firmly believe that every doctor of every kind should do as much as they can to be as fit and healthy as possible!"