2/5/08
Jacky encourages overall health, including not only physical and mental health,
but social health too! Vote today because you matter and your vote matters!
2/6/08
Why was there a victory parade for the NY Giants yesterday? They had a goal, envisioned it,
and made small advancements in the Super Bowl. None of the NY Giants' offensive line was even invited to
the Pro Bowl, but yet, they led the team to victory. Today, keep in mind that small advances get you to
your goal--you don't need one huge play to get you into the end zone. Just see your goal in your mind,
actually picture it, and make one small advance today toward it.
2/7/08
Be Prepared! Those are two words that can save any diet or exercise plan. Look at your schedule for the day
either that morning or the night before, and plan out when you will fit in some exercise (and it doesn't take
much to be effective!) and healthy meals. If you don't know how you'll fit in meals, and usually end up in a
drive-thru on those kinds of days, please plan a better solution! Carry around a little bag of almonds in your
car or purse; keep a low-fat granola bar in the glove compartment, and then you'll have something reasonably
healthy to hold you over until you can have a proper meal. If you are prepared, but just thinking ahead a little
bit, you can save yourself from consuming possibly over 30 grams of fat from a drive-thru meal, fit in a quick
workout to at least maintain your fitness level if not progress, and not feel like you just blew everything.
Just remember, it is small moves like this that make anyone successful with any goal!
2/8/08
Today is the anniversary of Anna Nicole Smith's death, and just a day or two ago we got the news about how
Heath Ledger died. These sad events should teach us something. It seems that these days we are relying on
prescription drugs to solve our problems. While I am sure the pharmaceutical companies would like us to
believe that there is a pill to fix anything, that simply isn't true. In life, we all face days of depression,
stress, loneliness, anxiety...Not to say that we shouldn't seek treatment when necessary--we should!--but a
pill will only mask symptoms, not cure the problem. Today, let's all take an effort to value or family and
friends, some of the best cures for loneliness and depression. Let's also take time for ourselves. Try to do
something you enjoy today. If nothing else, try to go for a walk. The weather in Phoenix is supposed to be
beautiful today! Try going either before or after work, or wherever it may fit in your schedule, just make
it fit! Exercise is a great way to treat many of the above-mentioned problems. It helps boost our self-esteem
and feelings of accomplishment. If you can't walk today, please try to this weekend, and enjoy it! Bring your
favorite music with you, or a family member or friend, and enjoy life!
2/11/08
Today CNN broadcasted another study showing that using sugar substitutes are no better (or could even be
worse) than using regular sugar. This study showed that rats fed foods with sugar substitutes ate more calories
overall than rats fed foods with regular sugar. Here is a link to the CNN report: www.cnn.com.
So, please cut back on fake sugars! Try eating fruit or natural yogurt instead of unhealthy snacks. Please
especially cut back on soda, since regular soda has so many empty calories, diet soda will make you gain at
least as much weight; plus, a preservative in soda (sodium benzoate) has been linked to liver cancer and
Parkinson's disease. Try green tea instead! A small change like that can make your life so much more healthy,
and help you lose weight without feeling like you are dieting!
2/14/08
Happy Valentine's Day! On this day, an important thing to remember is control! Your workplace, your home,
and the media may be filled with images or actual boxes of chocolate. We all know that moderation is key! You
can have a little bit of chocolate now and then and not have completely blown any diet. There are better choices
than others, too. Dark chocolate has more antioxidant-rich cocoa, so that is always a better choice. Lower-fat
products are also healthier, so if you are doing the choosing, pick a lower-fat option. Then, have just enough
to get the flavor and quench a craving, and move on! Go to a different room, or find something to do. Then,
you won't be tempted with it around you--out of sight, out of mind! Enjoy the love this day is meant to celebrate!!
Tell someone you love them today!
2/15/08
On Friday, February 15th, CNN reported a study that shows that obesity is linked to more forms of cancer than previously thought. Click here to view this report. The surprise is that leukemia and non-Hodgkins, and even skin cancers seem to be increased in obese people. So, to lower your risk, try to lose weight if you are overweight. Start today! Some tips for preventing cancer include eating more fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly, and managing stress. Try going for a walk this weekend--the weather is supposed to clear up and be beautiful! Join me Sunday morning for a walk that raises money for a good cause! Go to www.HeartToHeartPetarama.com for more details!
2/20/08
The economy is clearly hurting. Today oil closed over $101 per barrel for the first time ever. The unemployment rate is higher than predicted. The housing market is struggling. There are simple things that you can do that would help your finances, and your waistline at the same time!! First of all, Starbucks is a booming company in this country. If you regularly buy coffee at Starbucks, perhaps that is a place you could cut back. At Starbucks, for $5, you could get a Caffe Latte, a Caffe Mocha, a Caramel Macchiato, a Cinnamon Dolce Latte, a Pumpkin Spice Latte, a Peppermint White Chocolate Latte... What do all of these have in common? They EACH have at least 10 grams of fat! Some have more, or double that! Switching to black coffee would save you about $2 or more per visit, all the grams of fat, and at least 150 calories. Make this small change today! A difference of 150 calories per day, 5 days per week, is 750 calories per week, at 50 weeks per year (2 weeks off work per year), is 37,500 calories per year, or 10.7 pounds of body fat, per year! Is the coffee really worth that amount of money, and is it really that good? Save the calories, save the money, and save your waistline!
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