November 4th, 2009 05:00am
Kelly Epperson
A 35-mile crack in the Ethiopian desert has made headlines that a new ocean will form. Hmm. When I was in school, I had learned there were four oceans. (If a new ocean does indeed happen, who gets to name it?) I had also learned that our solar system had nine planets. Scientists have now demoted Pluto from planet status. Hmm. Students of geography also know that countries change names and boundaries too. The lesson here? Things change.
Whether we like it or not, or whether we agree with it or not, life is ever evolving. Life around us and life within us. I venture to say that our inner evolution is more important than global happenings, but we’ll save that for a cocktail party debate. Drinks, anyone?
We need to be a participant in our outer world. We also need to be aware that we too are here to change and to grow. We need to face and embrace the change in our own personal status. I was a young girl, then a young mother, now a not-so-young woman with two teenagers. Do I want to go back? No. Do I want to fast-forward into the future? No.
The most important thing we can do is to learn to be alive in the here and now. The me that I am today is not the same me that I was a year ago. I have had experiences, good and bad, that shape me. Every day, every month, every year, we are continually affected by our outer relationships. How we handle them is the inner growth.
Some people adopt a negative spin. If you think the world sucks, then your world will. If you think life ain’t so bad, your world will be considerably brighter. Clothes do not make the man. Attitude does. And it takes honing and toning.
Maybe you are naturally a glass half-full kind of person. Most of us have to make the choice to see the positive. But what a difference it makes. Take one week and choose to see the positive. Take one week and every time you start to complain, stop yourself. Take one week and focus on all the good in your world - inner and outer.
My money says you will see and feel a difference. We can marvel. We can appreciate. Some days, we can simply take a deep breath and trudge on. I know people who eat right and exercise, but neglect the inner self. They take care of the body to look good, but what about working out the soul to feel good? Isn’t feeling good the real goal?
Take the one week attitude adjustment challenge. I promise you, when you take care of your inner health, it makes the diet and exercise come easier too. If planets and oceans can change, we can too.
www.kellyepperson.com
November 3rd, 2009 05:37pm
Jan Jann
Y«Vets – Serving Those Who Served Us
For the men and women who proudly served our nation - their sacrifices and efforts have earned them the support of our community and of our local YMCA. Rockford’s YMCA has partnered with the Vet Center and Vietnam Veterans Honor Society to offer the new Y«Vets Program. For $25 disabled veterans can utilize the YMCA facilities on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sunday from 1 to 3 PM for a six-month period.
This program gives full facility access to veterans who could benefit from rehabilitative exercise and recreation. Facilities at both the downtown Pennock Branch and the Northeast Branch in Loves Park include a warm water pool, exercise and rehab equipment, and recreation on the basketball courts. The Pennock Branch also features an indoor track, whirlpools, steam rooms and saunas. Fitness and exercise classes offered during these times are included at no additional charge.
This offer is extended to all disabled veterans from all branches of the military. Special thanks go out to Nick Parnello, Sr. from the Vietnam Veterans Honor Society and Jim Elliot at Vet Center Rockford Outstation who worked diligently through the details to get this collaboration started. For more information contact the Vet Center at 815-395-1276 or the Vietnam Veterans Honor Society at 815-968-1040.
November 2nd, 2009 10:46pm
Betsy A. Hornick, MS, RD
You may chew gum to freshen your breath or maybe you just enjoy the taste, but did you know there are health benefits from chewing gum? It is well known that chewing sugar-free gum after eating can help clean your teeth. Emerging research shows that other benefits of chewing include stress relief; better focus, alertness, and concentration; and weight management.
In Wrigley-sponsored research, gum chewers report feeling more calm and relaxed in dealing with everyday stress when they chewed gum. Research also found the act of chewing can increase blood flow to the brain by 25 to 40 percent, which may help improve the ability to learn, retain, and retrieve information. In teens, chewing sugar-free gum has been linked to better academic performance in school.
Research has found that the simple act of chewing gum can help to control appetite, reduce snack cravings, and reduce calorie intake. One study found that chewing sugar-free gum reduced afternoon snack intake by 40 calories and reduced sweet snack intake by 60 calories. It was also found to significantly reduce afternoon drowsiness. Although a piece of sugar-free gum contains 5 calories, the act of chewing gum can burn about 11 calories per hour.
Piece of gum, anyone?
October 28th, 2009 01:38am
Kelly Epperson
I know there is such a thing as Random Acts of Kindness Day; maybe Oprah made it up. I also know every day is a random act of kindness day. If you look for the good (or bad) in people, you surely will find it. (Abe Lincoln made that one up.) It all comes down to choice. My attitude is always my choice regardless of the circumstances I find myself in. After waiting in line for an hour at the rental car place, a lot of people were cranky. I was not thrilled to be standing there either, but complaining would not make the line move faster. They passed out water bottles and remained cheerful behind the counter. When it was finally my turn, I could have been surly like the guy ahead of me had been. I chose to be pleasant. The rental guy commented my birthday was the same as his and he upgraded me to a Mustang convertible for no charge. Score one for kindness.
Kindness begets kindness and trust begets trust. If you face each day with “the world is out to get me” attitude, it most likely will seem to be a dreary and evil place. If this is the only life I get, why would I want to waste time being so negative. What’s the point? Where is there any benefit in that? I’m not the only one who believes people are trustworthy. I went through the Beefaroo drive-thru yesterday (for soup - I am getting healthy after all)(but wow, passing up those fries truly is a test of will power). When I got to the window, I realized my wallet was not with me. I simply said to cancel my order since I had no money. The gal said, “Take the soup. Can you come back later today and pay for it?”
I was stunned. This is not Mayberry. They do not know me personally at the fast food joint. But I was delighted to have a hot bowl of soup on a rainy day and I did indeed return to pay my $3.31. The cashier who accepted my payment simply smiled when I told her how happily surprised I was. She said, “Everyone that happens to, they always come back and pay.”
If you look for the good in people, you surely will find it.
October 27th, 2009 11:16am
Jan Jann
Exercise support is a key to success. There is no question that making lifestyle changes is difficult and the path to a healthy life isn’t the same for everyone. According to the CDC less than 20% of exercisers typically stay with a plan long enough to reap any health benefits. It’s not that people won’t give it a try, because they do - over and over again. It’s just that the ability to stick with exercise is less likely unless and until it becomes part of a daily routine. This is where a wellness coach comes in. It’s amazing that we’ll commit to an agreed upon meeting time to exercise, but we’re less likely to just do it for yourselves or by ourselves. Wellness coaches, like The Coach Approach program at the local YMCA, work with you one-on-one and personalize a plan based on your needs and your current lifestyle. An assessment gives you a starting point. An agreed-upon program gets you committed. And the follow-up meetings not only offer continued motivation, but are a chance to celebrate your successes. Getting started and sticking with an exercise routine can help reduce fatigue, increase energy levels, improve moods, and ward off diseases. So if you won’t do it alone, consider a wellness coach. Call your local YMCA for details.
Roger Shrum gives a great testimony, “Two years ago I was an overweight couch potato. Now, after having graduated from the YMCA’s Coach Approach program, exercise has become a regular part of my lifestyle. The program eliminated my fear of how to get started and helped me set personal fitness goals with the guidance of a fitness expert. Today I’m 70 pounds lighter and can truly say that I enjoy my workout sessions.”
October 14th, 2009 11:42am
Julie Gulbrandsen
Numerous online cosmetic newsletters bombard my email inbox everyday. Most of the info they’re pushing is repetitive so I just hit delete yet this one really caught my eye. “Don’t wear blue eye shadow!” Hmm…wasn’t this the law of the 90’s? Back then while selling at the cosmetic counter we cosmetic cops were ingrained with teaching women how to do their makeup in a more “natural” way. Brown, beige, boring, blah!
Makeup is supposed to be an expression of ourselves. Humans have adorned themselves from the beginning of time. I, for one happen to like blue eye shadow. There, I said it! In fact, I wear it everyday because it looks good with brown eyes. The trick is you don’t really notice it too much. That’s the whole point. You’re not supposed to see the makeup. This is what natural is all about.
Makeup is supposed to be fun. It can create or change our moods. In fact, according to Cosmeticdesign.com, scientific researchers in Japan recently did a study revealing exactly what goes through a women’s mind when she applies make-up. Using brain scanning equipment, scientists discovered that women experience a wave of euphoria and optimism as they prepare for their make-up routine. The work is important to cosmetic manufacturers because it helps explain the exact reasons why women wear make-up and how it makes them feel better about themselves.
Why women wear makeup? Do we really need science to answer this for us? Maybe because it’s fun and we like the way we look? Every morning I dread having to prepare for my makeup routine but I do experience happiness and relief once its painted on my face. I don’t really care how it makes me feel better. It just does. So I will continue facing the day with my blue eye shadow. Pink eye shadow is banned from my makeup bag unless I want my eyes to look swollen and never in a million years will you catch me wearing orange lipstick unless I want my teeth to look yellow. There ought to be a law but who am I to judge someone else’s art of self expression? What’s really important is that you like the way you look.
October 12th, 2009 11:21am
Julie Gulbrandsen
While visiting my mother in Florida, she told me I needed a pedicure and it would be her treat. It had been a long time since I had one and I wanted Mom to know she knew best. Strip mall here we come!
The place seemed clean to this former nail tech with a germ phobia. Yes, go ahead and tell me I suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder because I’m the first one to admit I have a thing about all the creepy-crawlies we can’t see.
Like many nail salons, the pedicure thrones lined the wall and ladies sat atop like little soldiers, all in a row. A nice gal asked me to climb in the chair, stick my feet in the tub, turn on the vibrating chair massage and relax. The caretakers in my line of work sometimes have a hard time relaxing when having someone else do a service on us. Try as I might I couldn’t help looking up from my magazine to eye all the things she did with her tools on my feet. An hour later I was callus-free with bright shiny, polish and my feet were now ready to face the world. My euphoria was instantly interrupted as I happened to glance up while she was “cleaning” the sink where my feet and hundreds of others had been filed, scraped and oiled. Eek, gasp, heart palpitations! No bleach, no disinfectant! Nada! She used the same shampoo she used to cleanse my feet. For the record, the Department of Professional Regulation in every state requires strict sanitation methods. Does the salon or spa you frequent use the State’s guidelines? You’ll probably never know but there are few things to keep in mind when you visit your spa.
Did the technician wash his or her hands with soap and water before beginning your service? Personally, I do this in front of every client before I touch them and expect the therapists that work in my shop to do the same. I refuse to believe a hand sanitizer is enough because I doubt the debris left on our hands magically evaporates, too. Don’t be afraid to ask the person to wash their hands.
“Double-dipping” of waxing applicators should be a major concern. Did the technician apply wax to your skin and then re-dip the same applicator stick back into the pot of wax? Bacteria thrives in warm, moist places and what a better place to breed disease causing microbes than in a hot can of wax?
When I was in beauty school it was common practice to apply hard wax to a client, remove the hair and then just throw it back into the pot where it would melt again to use on the next client. I always had a problem with this but did as I was told just so I could graduate. Over twenty years later, I’m still hearing of waxing salons recycling the used wax. I’m told they are telling their now former clients they use a “specially formulated wax only available from another country and have a secret and specific sterilization method to remove prior clients’ hair and bacteria”. This is pure nonsense! What it boils down to is the salon owner is not as concerned about your health as she/he is about saving money on inexpensive hair removal supplies.
As for pedicures, I once worked at a place where they thought cleaning the pedicure bowls with scrubbing bubbles was sufficient. When I told the owner this wasn’t good enough he just told me to mind my own business. Don’t think you’re being impolite by asking the owner or technician how and what they use to clean their pedicure sinks, manicures bowls and the tools they use. If you’re still not satisfied ask them to clean everything in front of you before your service. If they have a problem doing this then just leave. You shouldn’t be afraid to speak up for yourself or for your own health. Finally and at last, I’m just minding my own business.
October 8th, 2009 02:48pm
Kelly Engaldo
As a near vegetarian, it is hard for me to receive all the protein that my body needs. Even if you are not a vegetarian, it is important to obtain 65 grams of protein per day (per the FDA for people consuming 2000 calories a day). Protein is especially critical to our muscles. The daily vitamin I take does not cover protein. To supplement my protein intake, I love protein shakes. While I was purchasing them at the health club, for the sake of price and convenience, I found a great way to combine what I need with what I love. Let me share with you a quick, simple way, without the mess of a blender how I enjoy a protein shake.
1. Purchase your favorite ice cream.
My absolute favorite is Haagen Dazs Bailey®’s Irish Cream. Perhaps this is the small percentage of Irish rising to the occasions?!
http://www.haagen-dazs.com/products/product.aspx?id=79
2. Let stand a moment or IF your favorite ice cream is a little more solid, zap it in the microwave just for a few seconds.
3. Pick your favorite large dish or large glass. The wider the rim the better. We need room to use a spoon to aggressively stir.
4. Stir thoroughly.
5. Sprinkle on top of your softened ice cream s which you already stirred aggressively a soy protein powder such as EAS Soy Protein. Vanilla works wonderfully with the Bailey®’s. I use half of the recommended scoop. This gives me my protein supplement with a little bit of taste of vanilla.
6. Other recommendations: My volunteer friend loves this vanilla soy protein (which we both purchased from Wal-Mart) with orange juice. She says it tastes just like a dreamsicle (remember those wonderful orange and vanilla ice cream Popsicles®?!) – so that is next on my list to try.
7. For more information on your needed daily intake of protein, here is a great article that details your ideal weight complete with calculations of the proper amount of grams per day : http://www.indoorclimbing.com/Protein_Requirement.html
October 8th, 2009 10:40am
Jan Jann
What does health mean to you?
The World Health Organization defines health as the overall state of physical, mental, and social well being - not just the absence of disease. There are three simply areas you can work on to address your health: snack smarter, control your cholesterol, and stop stressing. #1: Snack smarter by reading the food label. The first three ingredients are the most important. Watch out for stuff you don’t recognize and avoid sugars, corn syrup, and hydrogenated oils. Better yet, choose minimally processed and raw foods – they have more nutrient value. Choose foods that include protein, carbohydrates and fiber because those help satisfy hunger. A slice of turkey, a few whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese is a great snack. #2: Be proactive about your cholesterol, know your numbers and get your bad cholesterol (LDL) under control. For people who aren’t high risk the target is 100 or less, for those with coronary heart disease, diabetes or other risk factors the target is 50 to 70. To control your cholesterol naturally eat 5 servings of fruits/vegetables daily – a serving is about the size of your fist. So a banana at breakfast, a baked potato with steamed broccoli for lunch, an apple snack, a salad at dinner with one more veggie is perfect. Also, exercise – aim for 30 to 45 minutes of moderately vigorous exercise most days of the week. #3: Stop stressing because it leads to all sorts of health-related conditions like insomnia, depression, high blood pressure, and heart attacks. The trick is to block the stress hormones adrenaline and noradrenalin. Practice this routine for 10 minutes twice a day: sit quietly in a comfortable position, close your eyes and repeat a word, sound, song or prayer. When other thoughts creep into your mind, simply let them go and focus on your chosen repetition. Following these three guidelines can help you on your way toward total health.
October 8th, 2009 09:56am
Jan Jann
Update on the Golden Shoe Challenge…the YMCA team logged over 22,000 minutes of purposeful activity the week of September 21 – 26 and won the challenge! YEAH TEAM! The Park District team did a fine job at just around 18,000 minutes logged that week – so congratulations to them as well. The purpose of the Golden Shoe Challenge was to generate awareness about how easy it is to include purposeful activity into an average lifestyle. Mission accomplished as about 200 people logged activities that included gardening, golfing, a daily walk around the block before dinner, active playground play with young children, rollerblading, bowling, and cycling. And the bottom line was FUN! Yep, it’s that simple. Have fun with an activity or play with someone you like and you’re engaging in purposeful activity. For more ideas and suggestions go to www.americaonthemove.org. You’ll find a wealth of information.
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