Dr. Cash is a surgeon at the Desert Institute of Spine Care
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What is your hobby/sport?
Physical conditioning with an emphasis on weight training, aerobic conditioning and core stabilization activities. As a spine surgeon, the importance of core stabilization cannot be overstated. Core stabilization protects the spine against injury and rehabilitates injured spines. I usually enjoy training with a trainer and a group class. I have lifted weights since high school and I also worked on cardio through cross country running, basketball, rugby and Jiu-Jitsu.
What are the health benefits to physical conditioning?
The hobby allows me to pass the time with an enjoyable activity that has health benefits for the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. Supplementing the activity with a reasonable diet allows you to look and feel better. Perfect form and technique are requisite. There are many instructional videos online and most gyms offer group classes or personal trainers to supervise the activities.
Don't slow down now
- Dr. Jeffrey Cummings: ‘It’s something I’ve been doing for 10 years’
- Dan Heller: ‘I’ve enjoyed basketball since childhood’
- Dr. Andrew Cash: ‘The importance of core stabilization cannot be overstated’
- Dr. Robert Kessler, D.O.: ‘I always feel better after exercising’
- Dr. Trina Wiggins: ‘My patients are my inspiration to keep on going’
- Dr. Teddy Sim Jr.: ‘I felt too intimidated because I was not always the best dancer’
- Dr. Yolanda Flores: ‘Focus on the end goal’
- Dr. Matthew Schwartz: ‘The fundamental part of a healthy lifestyle is eating correctly’
- Dr. Souzan El-Eid: ‘I enjoy doing the cyclone spin class the most’
- Dr. JD McCourt: ‘I’ve been long-distance running for 40 years’
- Dr. Carl Allen: ‘Any day on the golf course is a fabulous one!’
What tips do you have when you’ve “hit the wall” and need motivation to continue?
If you have hit the wall and/or potentially burned out of training for several weeks or months, I recommend taking a break. Give yourself a week off or two. It is important to stay focused and motivated during your workouts. Losing focus may increase risk of injury. If hitting a wall refers to when you are just a little winded or out of energy, I recommend using a heart rate monitor and keep an eye on your heart rate as well as the calories burned and set reasonable goals that you can progressively increase over time with the supervision of a personal trainer.
Are there other activities you would like to try?
I have considered running the Spartan Race, even a half-marathon, but perhaps the most entertaining would be "American Ninja Warrior."
What’s the best diet/nutrition advice you ever received?
The best advice is that if you break your diet, understand that you can recover quickly by not continuing the trend. If you decide to eat lasagna late at night, do not cancel your diet for good; rather, resume your proper diet the next day.
What is your guilty-pleasure food?
Fettucine alfredo with chicken. Ice cream.
What did you eat for breakfast today?
Four eggs scrambled with hot sauce, cup of oatmeal and a bottle of water.