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.