Author Archive

10 Steps To Help You Avoid Losing The Thrill

by on Saturday, April 27th, 2013

10 Steps To Help You Avoid Losing The Thrill
Article by healthdiscovery.net, Recommended by Jessica Loeser, Wellness Outreach Team

What’s your excuse for not making it to the gym on a consistent basis? Locker room too smelly? Eye candy not sweet enough? Music volume making your ears bleed? Feeling intimidated by buff bodies crowding the free-weight area?

Most people start off strong with an exercise program, and then within a few weeks they’ve got an excuse for not being there.

The majority of people will stop participating in a new workout program within the first 90 days which is why health clubs that are packed in January can seem virtually empty by March.

Which brings us to you.

If you’re starting a new exercise program, you’re probably very excited about it, which is great. But that excitement is going to wear off, at which point you’ll begin to notice how much time and effort a workout plan really requires.

And that’s the point where you may be tempted to start pulling back, or even to quit entirely. But we’re not about to let that happen. Follow these steps from the very beginning, and you’ll be one of those dedicated gym members who really get their money’s worth.
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Have a Heart-Healthy Day

by on Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

Have a Heart-Healthy Day
Article by strengthforcaring.com, Recommended by Jessica Loeser, Wellness Outreach Team

For your own well-being, and for the well-being of the ones who depend on you, plan each day in a heart-healthy way. You may be so busy nurturing others that you forget how crucial self-nurturing is for a healthy heart. Remind yourself daily how important your heart is. Love your heart, and it will support you as you extend that love to everyone else in your life.

Each and every day depends on your heart’s performance. It is important to know your heart’s baseline (normal) performance levels, so you will be immediately aware of any abnormal activity. Check with your healthcare professional about what is normal for your heart, given your age, gender, and other factors.

Check Your Blood Pressure

Check your blood pressure regularly and under a variety of different situations and conditions. For example, check your blood pressure after you first wake up in the morning, after a moment of relaxation, after eating, after walking up the stairs, after exercising and before you go to sleep. This will give you a sense, over time, of what the normal blood pressure ranges are, under different circumstances, for your body.
If your pharmacy has one, get a quick read from the blood pressure machine near the prescription counter. Write down your blood pressure in a notebook and chart the date, time, and number. Save the readings for your next doctor visit.
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8 Health Benefits of Laughter

by on Sunday, April 21st, 2013

8 Health Benefits of Laughter
Article by care2.com, Recommended by Jessica Loeser, Wellness Outreach Team

Is there anything better than a contagious giggle that you absolutely can’t control? (Ok, maybe not so good in school or church.) Laughter works wonderfully well in the moment, but it also has some surprising long-term health benefits. In the book A Better Brain at Any Age: The Holistic Way to Improve Your Memory, Reduce Stress, and Sharpen Your Wits (Conari Press, 2009), author Sondra Kornblatt explores how laughter can truly make you feel better.

She writes that the new field of gelotology is exploring the benefits of laughter. It was brought to the public’s awareness in Norman Cousins’ memoir Anatomy of an Illness. Cousins found that comedies, like those of the Marx Brothers, helped him feel better and get some pain-free sleep. That’s because laughter helps the pituitary gland release its own pain-suppressing opiates.

What can laughter do?:

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Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity

by on Saturday, April 20th, 2013

Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activityArticle by mayoclinic.com, Recommended by Jessica Loeser, Wellness Outreach Team

You know exercise is good for you, but do you know how good? From boosting your mood to improving your sex life, find out how exercise can improve your life.

Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. Need more convincing to exercise? Check out these seven ways exercise can improve your life.

No. 1: Exercise controls weight

Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. You don’t need to set aside large chunks of time for exercise to reap weight-loss benefits. If you can’t do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways — by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or revving up your household chores.

No. 2: Exercise combats health conditions and diseases
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5 Arm Toning Exercises to Tighten Skin after Losing Weight

by on Friday, April 19th, 2013

5 Arm Toning Exercises to Tighten Skin after Losing Weight
Article by fitday.com, Recommended by Jessica Loeser, Wellness Outreach Team

After a significant weight loss, your next challenge is to tone up and tighten skin that is left behind. Trying to get rid of loose skin can be extremely frustrating, especially when it’s on your arms where it’s highly visible. Start (if you haven’t already) an exercise program that includes resistance training in addition to cardiovascular workouts and a healthy eating plan. Some people may require surgery to get rid of all their loose skin, but others can tighten skin by simply toning up.

Below are some exercises that will help you tone and reduce extra flab you may have on your arms. Try to do 10 – 15 repetitions of each exercise and repeat for 2 – 3 sets.

1. Modified Push-Ups

Push-ups are great for strengthening and toning up muscles in your chest and arms. The modified push-up is performed on your knees. Facing down, place your weight on your knees and hands. Keeping your back straight at all times, push up with your arms until they are fully extended; then, slowly lower your body until it almost touches the floor and repeat. If you’re up for an extra challenge, try 10 – 15 regular push-ups.
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5 Ways to Survive the Worst Allergy Season Ever

by on Monday, April 15th, 2013

5 Ways to Survive the Wort Allergy Season Ever
Article by toyourhealth.com, Recommended by Jessica Loeser, Wellness Outreach Team

Spring is in the air – literally, in the form of massive pollen levels that are causing an historic spike in cases of seasonal allergy, also known as allergic rhinitis.

In fact, health experts are calling this the worst allergy season on record, which means the tactics you overlooked last year to survive the sneezing, coughing, runny nose, itchy eyes and various other symptoms may require real attention this time around. Bad news for spring-lovers who can’t wait to emerge from their winter cocoons and enjoy the outdoors. After all, who wants to smell the flowers when doing so causes you to feel miserable?
If you’re an allergy sufferer who’s used to “getting away” with minimal attention to allergy avoidance, this is definitely not the year to push the envelope. With an early spring and record pollen levels, you could be asking for trouble – big trouble. Here are five ways to minimize your risk of succumbing to seasonal allergies this year:

1. Pick your spots: One of the best ways to minimize your exposure to allergens such as pollen is to make smart choices. For example, pollen levels tend to be highest in the morning or when it hasn’t rained in awhile. And let’s not get started on wind, which can not only circulate pollen, but also tends to cause allergy-like symptoms – a bad combination that can ruin your day.
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Healthier Ways to Eat When Traveling

by on Sunday, April 14th, 2013

Healthier Ways to Eat When Traveling
Article by sparkpeople.com, Recommended by Jessica Loeser, Wellness Outreach Team

It’s hard to eat healthy on the road. You’re driving hours to your final destination and the last thing you’re worried about is what you’re eating. All too often people focus on arriving as quickly as possible and overlook taking care of their own bodies. And it leads to exhaustion before you even arrive.

There are many tactics at your disposal to ensure a refreshed and invigorated feeling when you arrive. Believe it or not, nutrition is pretty basic. Step No. 1 – drink plenty of water. Dehydration can cause fatigue and make you feel just plain lousy. Yes, this will mean more rest stops and bathroom breaks. Trust us, it will be worth it in the long run. As a special note, alcohol causes dehydration. Drinking alcohol on the plane (or even the night before your trip) is not the wisest course of action. If you do order a glass of wine or two, make sure to match every drink with an extra cup of water.
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Walking: One of the Best Forms of Exercise

by on Saturday, April 13th, 2013

Walking: One of the Best Forms of Exercise
Article by allthingshealing.com, Recommended by Jessica Loeser, Wellness Outreach Team

Everyone knows he or she “should” be doing regular exercise, but most people have not exercised in so many years that they don’t know where to begin. As a result, people start and stop various training programs and routines. They join gyms, buy workout clothes, spend hard-earned income, and ultimately fail to follow-through because they don’t have a clear idea of how to exercise effectively.

One of the issues relates to the many choices available. You can lift weights, swim, ride a bicycle, run, take Pilates classes, take yoga classes, or play tennis (to name just a few). But the challenge lies in selecting a form of exercise that’s best for you, and then having the specific knowledge to begin training in a way that will be beneficial and not harmful.

It’s actually easy to hurt yourself if you’re returning to exercise after an absence of many years or, for some people, of decades. Doing too much too soon is a typical cause of an exercise-related injury. Doing the wrong type of exercise for your level of preparation is another major cause of these injuries. Getting hurt doing exercise is a real deal-breaker for people who didn’t really want to exercise in the first place. If you haven’t exercised in years, finally work up the motivation to start doing something, and then hurt yourself after a few days or weeks of your new program, quitting and never going back becomes a very attractive option.
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Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken

by on Thursday, April 11th, 2013

Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken
Article by allrecipes.com, Recommended by Jessica Loeser, Wellness Outreach Team

PREP: 15 mins
COOK: 20 mins
READY IN: 35 mins
RECIPE makes 4 servings

“‘If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed’, ye shall make and enjoy this simple, tangy, delicious grilled chicken dish!” — Connie

INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon steak sauce
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
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20 Ways to Spring Clean Your Fitness Routine

by on Wednesday, April 10th, 2013

20 Ways to Spring Clean Your Fitness Routine
Article by shape.com, Recommended by Jessica Loeser, Wellness Outreach Team

It’s that time of year again—the snow’s melting, the sun’s shining, and those thick sweaters in the closet are about to go into storage. It’s the perfect time to reignite your motivation by breaking away from your boring gym routine and embracing the great outdoors. Kick off spring with a healthy start by getting the right gear, revamping your routine, and doing some “spring cleaning” in your pantry. Here are 20 simple tips to get you started.

Spring Training Fitness Tip: Book a Physical
Believe it or not, only about 20 percent of Americans get an annual check-up. Be one of them! While you might look and feel just fine (or really hate needles), it’s important to keep tabs on things like blood pressure, cholesterol, and vitamin deficiencies before designing your workout program.
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