Healthy Hints

Eating is an official sport in Oklahoma

2011-06-13T17:44:00.000-07:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

It’s become a national pastime to nosh around the clock. No, not rock around the clock, but nosh as in eat your way through the day. Finding the best combination of tasty vittles, good atmosphere and fun staff at restaurants, seems to score points and excites the fans. One thing that misses the mark in a number of eateries is the health factor. There are plenty of places with lovely atmosphere, yummy food, and maybe even fun staffs. However, if I want to eat out with my friends, I have to order some horrible salad made with near-white lettuce, cardboard-tasting tomatoes, and maybe something green that resembles cucumbers shipped from Brazil three months ago.

Brazilian food is good, of course, but I think we grow cucumbers in Oklahoma that would be a little fresher. Be that as it may, there is a great Latin American/Mexican restaurant in Edmond that I tried over the weekend. If you have ventured down Broadway, you would have seen what might be considered a little “hole in the wall” near 7^th Street, called Zarate’s. If you haven’t been there, you must. Yum, yum, yum and since I’m writing about it in this blog, it has healthy menu items. Plus, an added (great) bonus is that everything is made right there so if you want to change something from white rice to red rice, for example, all you have to do is mention it to your very helpful wait staff.

I ordered the vegetarian platter filled with plantain, linguine, two or three yucca fries, an assortment of vegetables, rice and a side of sauce. The party atmosphere was filled with fun music; I really wanted to get up and dance, but my husband would surely slide under the table pretending he doesn’t know me. Now, not everything at Zarate’s was healthy. There’s plenty of dishes with your fat laden cheeses, super fried fajitas, nasty double fried beans, and desserts made with sugar, salt and fat. So, if you want to go out with a group, there’s something for “them” and there’s something for “us” who want to stay healthy and away from the cardiologist. I didn’t taste any of the drinks, but maybe that should be something for you and then you can tell me about it in the space below.

Another bonus: hablamos español. Comer feliz!

You too can be über productive at work

2011-06-07T13:09:00.000-07:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

I know I haven't blogged in a while, but I have a real excuse; I got a new job and have been settling in. There are a lot of details to learn and I haven't had the time to discuss efficient nutrition or preventive medicine here. Now that I have some semblance of what I’m doing at the new job, I want to get back to discussing mental health, happiness and a stress-less life. Notice the words “stress free” are missing from that last line? You don’t want stress free because that would mean you are dead. You just want enough stress to keep you alive but not so much as to make you miserably unhappy. One part of life that makes some people hate living (at least for 40 hours a week), is their job. They have a boss that needs some prompting on how to treat others. Plenty of evidence unmistakably shows when employees have a lack of control over their work, or lack the ability to participate in decision making, and/or have no support from management they tend to stay home more—or they wish they could stay at home and are not über productive at work. Whether they are physically ill, mentally exhausted, or just plain tired, they call in sick. I was one of those people who could not call in sick to my last job for a variety of reasons, but I often felt like it. The people were very nice, but management needed training in dealing with subordinates and getting the best from their people. Of course I have lots of stories of those days, and will probably write a book some day, but this blog is about health and maintaining or improving it, not about a wonderful misery.

Having a great job is probably one of the best ways to alleviate stress. You like your work, your colleagues, your boss; these are the things that help with sanity. If you have a less than optimal job, there really are things you can do to help with stress. The best, of course, is to move your body. Don’t worry about form or if you are doing things correctly, just move and have fun. If you like to run and/or walk, you can go to http://www.edmondrunwalk.org/ and check out the schedule for events or daily training “experiences.” Other things you can do are on the motivation page of www.edmondHEALTH.org. And, of course, my favorite page to surf through is http://www.zenhabits.net/. These are the places you can go to counter or neutralize stress. You just don’t want to let your dreadful boss get the better of you. After all, you’ll need that extra pep in your step to get away from him or her and get another job.

Health Care Spending 101

2011-04-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

If the success or failure of an entire health care system in the United States hinges on cost alone, then this country’s health care system is a dismal failure. In the 1960s, national health expenditures were nearly $28 billion. In 2007, they grew to $2,241 billion. Since the population grew by only 62 percent during that same time period, this means the increase in per capita dollars has ballooned from $148 to $7,421.¹ With all this money spend on health, one might think that the health indicators such as infant mortality and life expectancy would be impressive, yet on a global scale it is not. Therefore, if success of a health care system is indicative on its degree of value than this would not be a dismal failure, but merely a disappointing unsuccessful venture. Compared to other industrialized nations, the percent of gross domestic product for which health expenditures are responsible, is much higher. In 1960, the percent was only 5.1 while in 2006, the percentage shot up to 15.3. Today, health care is responsible for one-sixth of this country’s economy. There are three major reasons that might account for the rise in health care costs¹: people are investing in more health care resources, higher quality health care services including high technological equipment, and increased use of insurance and higher incomes led to high health care costs in the long run.

“If the supply of health care is fixed, its competitive price rises to such an extent that the consumer is worse off in the presence of insurance than in its absence.” ² In 1960 only 48 percent of health care costs were paid by third-party payers. Forty-six years later, that percent increase to 85¹. The technological advances in combating diseases have no doubt had an impact in people’s health of this country, yet some wonder if the financial costs are worth it. In addition, people are using more health care services whether they are through tests, consultants, or increased amounts of medications. With all of the increased use of goods and services in the health care sector, couple with an increased population, the success or failure of the health care system is vital to the success or failure of this country’s whole economy.

Just in case you want the resources

¹ Folland, S., Goodman, A.C., & Stano, M. (2010). The Economics of Health and Health Care (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
² Wright, D. J. (2006). Insurance and Monopoly Power in a Mixed Private/Public Hospital System. Economic Record, 82(259), 460-468.

Enjoy eating out again

2011-04-12T13:59:00.000-07:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

I’ve been trying to last a week without dining on anything other than what I prepare. And when I say week, I really mean a five-day business week because I know every weekend I go out to breakfast either at Java Dave’s in Edmond, The Full Cup off of Classen Blvd. or some bagel place. It’s just one of those things I do after a run (runwalk) with friends, or a long bike ride. Everything tastes better after I’ve burned off several hundred calories. Plus, I know I’ve earned that naked bagel and coffee, or old-fashioned soy oatmeal – it’s all guilt free. Remember, doesn’t matter if you walk or run a mile, it’s still about 100 calories. Therefore, just one little 5K is a bagel and coffee. A nicer 10K lets me have a bagel, coffee, and a ton of fruit. Anything more…. well, you get the idea.

However, during the weekdays, I only get to run walk maybe 15 to 20 miles and cycle the same. Every Monday, I have delusions of grandeur and think I can make it through Friday by not eating out. By Wednesday, I’m back to saying, “OK, next Monday, I’ll start again.” There are always friends to lunch with, a spouse who likes to eat out, or some other tasty morsel to share with others. Therefore, I’ve decided to drop that crazy idea of only eating my preparations (plus, the fact that I hate to cook and would rather clean your bathroom, all helped me come to this conclusion). Instead I make sure that the restaurant where I spend my dollars offer good, healthy food. Contrary to popular belief, there are many eateries where you can enjoy healthy food in Oklahoma. Simply take a look at their menus to determine what foods they stock, then create your own meals. Think plants. Think fruits, veggies, whole grains, and legumes. Usually the chef will create something just for you. Avoid the cheeses and fried foods as much as possible unless you need to gain weight and you’ve got an extra heart you can spare. You can eat just about anywhere; you simply need to be creative.

Please share your restaurants and food concoctions with us all, below.

Tired of no sleep

2011-03-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

Sleep. Just the word makes me want to yawn. How about you? Do you feel like yawning right now? Are you? Yawn, yawn, yawn. Yup, you’re doing it right now if you are in the least bit sleep-deprived. Sleep is what so many people crave today and seldom get the amount they actually need. According to the Centers for disease Control and Prevention, inadequate amounts of sleep are linked to car accidents, industrial accidents, medical errors and other occupational disasters. Yet, if you type for a living (for example) the result of your slumber-less habits won’t be deadly, just embarrassing – but only if you are about typoes.

The lack of sleep for other desk jockeys (such as me) won’t prove lethal if we fall asleep at our desks unless we slam our heads on the computer while we literally “fall” asleep. On the other hand, falling asleep at work might be lethal to your career, especially if the boss just happens to stroll through the cub-barn and hears those melodic sounds of zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Instead of downing a handful of uppers or drinking cupfuls of caffeine, there are alternate ways to keep you alert when necessary that won’t affect your ability to peacefully snooze when you choose.

Drink. Not alcohol because that does strange things to your body, mind and sometimes reputation. Instead, drink really ice-cold water. In fact, if you drink eight ounces of ice cold water right after one cup of coffee, the effect will be the same as drinking two cups of coffee. Hey, two for the price of one—can’t beat that.
Walk. Talk a brisk walk around and if the temperature has dropped, take advantage of this body-wakening weather by walking outside. Moving those legs might get that mind moving which will motivate you to creatively engage with others. That’s academic speak for “have fun.”
Calisthenics. Remember those old jumping jacks and push-ups Jack LaLanne had our mothers do in the 50s and 60s? Well, they’re baaaaack. These are simple exercises you can do to strengthen your muscles while keeping you alert. And, if nothing else, do them in the cube-barn and people will stay clear of you as they may question your sanity. Whatever works, right?

Getting tired is a part of life – occasionally. However, don’t make it a part of your day-to-day life because going through life tired is just going through the motions. That’s not fun. And remember: he who has the most fun in life, wins.

Regroup. Recharge. Renew.

2011-03-24T06:10:00.000-07:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

Regroup. Recharge. Renew. These are words that can help you make it through weeks of never-ending conflicts. Imagine living as if you were continuously running endless numbers of back-to-back marathons. NG—this is Not Good. You will be entering Stress City Central. The only time you’ll really avoid stress is when you leave this planet -- and I’m not talking about becoming an astronaut and zooming off to other planets. Consider the following few ideas that might work in the short run.

• Sweep everything off your desk and start over, but then you may have to get another job which could add to your stress level – no money tends to do that to some people.

• Emit a primal scream in your cubicle or office, but then again the result might be the same (see above).

• Voodoo. This helps only if you know the magic words and the magic placement of those pugnacious voodoo pins. Chanting helps, yet if you don’t chant the right verse, you may just put a spell on your office plant.

• Fantasize about another job, another life, or whatever puts a smile on your face. We won’t go into that – this is a family blog, after all.

If none of the aforementioned appeals to you, then perhaps a proven tactic for long-term effectiveness will work. Rituals and routines. Studies are clear that those who work out in the morning, for example, are much more apt to maintain their regiment. These people have created a routine. It’s like brushing your teeth. That ritual is performed every day without thought.

If you establish a run/walk ritual you won’t need to think about it. You’ll just get up in the morning, don your workout clothes and start moving. Before you actually wake up, you’re half-way through your routine. By that time, you may as well finish it because if you run/walk outside, you’re a couple of miles away and you’ve got to get home.

The question of the day is: what are you going to do tomorrow morning at 4:30? Hint, the answer is NOT sleep. You can always respond below by posting a comment either with your real name or anonymously. Would love to hear from you.

Hate to Cook

2011-03-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

This blog will be short and sweet because it's geared toward those who are not chefs, hate to cook and/or just have no time to cook. Yet you still require fuel for running, walking or whatever it is you do. If this is you, then you need to visit Karl's Kafe. Karl's a guy who runs and walks, is in good shape but would rather clean your bathroom than cook. It's not that he doesn't know how, it's just that he hates it as much as doing his taxes. Yea, he does those once a year because he is forced but no one forces Karl to Kook. Therefore, he's come up with some delightful ideas. Check it out here. Then click on Karl's Kafe. You might get some ideas of your own.

I ran. At last.

2011-03-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

By Susan Clark

When I first started writing this blog the first of January I started a journey of movement and walking and a hope that I might actually pick up running some day. Well, I wouldn’t call it running as in “I’m a runner now” just yet, but after getting the “go-ahead” from my doctor last month after a full checkup, I’ve incorporated three one-minute runs into my 20-minute walk. Actually, the way it works is I walk for a brisk 10 minutes and then alternate one minute running, one minute walking, one minute running, etc. for a total of six minutes and then walk for four more minutes followed by stretching. I will do this every other day and add more running intervals each time. That was Monday and today, Friday, I walked eight minutes and alternated running with walking for 10 minutes, followed by a two-minute walk.

Those of you who run may laugh but different things enter my mind as I pick up the pace. One, before I started this I consulted with a long-time runner about how my feet should land on the pavement or treadmill. I had read something about this in a women’s health magazine saying something about not landing on my heels first (which I thought odd since we walk heel first). She quickly told me just to run, that these magazines only confuse “newbies.”

Newbie, eh? Is this an endearment, an official noun in real runner’s world, or is there a chuckle behind it? Probably all three! Glad to have a new title. Other things that enter my mind, especially the first two times, “I can’t wait for this minute to be over,” “this might be easier if I weighed 100 pounds,” “I wonder if I’m really cut out for this,” “this should be fun, right?”

I’m still working on the inner thought of “this should be fun,” but the other thoughts are starting to dissipate as I’ve completed my third walk/run workout. I really do feel terrific, both physically and mentally, after my workout. I notice when I run and then return to the walk, the walk feels like I’m gliding almost. On the days in between when I’m not walking/running I’ve started some strength training with hand weights and lots of stretching.

I’m trying to now find something on my iPhone that will assist me with my timing and make this easier to do outdoors. There is a free program called Runkeeper that I’m going to learn to use. It’s spring in Oklahoma and what a great time to get out and experience the great outdoors. I’m stepping it up and look forward to sharing my experience after another week. I’d love to hear other’s thoughts on what running means to you, why you do it, and is it fun? How does it fit in with the other things you enjoy doing? Until next time…

Back on the healthy bandwagon, ready to ride

2011-03-07T13:46:00.001-08:00

By Susan Clark

Well, life has its interruptions. I haven’t written in a while mostly because of the usual demands—work, family, and more work. My workouts haven’t completely fallen to the way side, but I had an incident a few weeks ago that slowed me down. I kept feeling a “pinch” right in the center of my chest—on, off, on off, all day. A million messages and headlines went through my mind regarding women and their heart health, but I had no other alarm symptoms so I regarded the flurries as a peculiarity, not worthy of a trip to ER and yet hmmm……I even held my arms over my head, made sure I could smile, and all those things they tell you to do if you think you are in trouble. That was a Sunday. Monday, the “pinches” dwindled to just a few, same with Tuesday, and Wednesday. By Thursday, they disappeared.

I had a full physical scheduled with my doctor, who happens to be a cardiologist I had seen once years before, and I decided to move it forward. Meanwhile, even my friend Lissa (yes, your Lissa) said “this might not be a good time to exercise.” (can you believe she said that?) I did begin walking again after the “pinches” disappeared but decided not to push my time or speed. Long story short, I went to my exam, got my blood work first and once I met with my doctor we went over my numbers. He was pretty sure my “pinches” were muscular-skeletal but with my mother’s previous heart history, he decided I was ripe for a nuclear stress test, which I did the following week. In this test, they inject you with an IV fluid and scan your heart and chest area. Then, you walk on a treadmill at various speeds while hooked up to EKG monitors and a blood pressure cuff.

I am happy to say I passed this test with very good results. My blood work was pretty good too. No need to go on cholesterol medicine and although my blood sugar was a little high, he reassured me I could arm myself with diet (decrease bread and sweets) and EXERCISE! Why, of course…

So I’m back! I guess it’s like when you are on a walking or running path and you circle off the path long enough to see something different, and swing back on. If anything, I feel like I have a new, clean, wonderful bill of health and if I want to be running in a couple of months, I now know there is nothing to hold me back (other than a bum knee) but myself. So, yes, I slowed down, but didn’t give up, and now I’m back to walking every other day or so and next blog, I’m returning to my roots and trying out the new Jane Fonda workout CD…..more on that next time. Some of us (I’m giving away my age here) worked out to Jane in the 1980s so it’s a bit of a full circle.

Hey, what did I learn from this? We’ve read this time and again, but it really is a good idea to have a full physical before starting a new workout plan. And, although my outcome was a positive one, women should always pay attention to their hearts and any symptoms that seem out of the ordinary. Never hesitate to call you doctor! I was glad I did and now I notice a little more skip to my step. Until next time……

Want to save some money?

2011-03-04T07:48:00.000-08:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

I know you’re not smoking, otherwise you’d be reading the “Bad Breath Blog” instead a Healthy Tips blog. However, chances are you know someone that still hangs out with Marlboro man (oh wait, he died of lung cancer), the Camel Comic, or whoever is popular with pushing poison to the population that is most pointedly vulnerable. Ask them if they are so rich then why not throw a little cash your way? After all, they are burning up some serious currency. Therefore, just for you, I crunched the numbers and came up with some surprising facts.

Based on a 2-pack-a-day habit ($5/pack), using a modest 6 percent interest rate compounded monthly, a former smoker could save $3,875 the first year of non-smoking, $4,114 the second year of non-smoking and $4,368 the third year. This does not include reinvestment of the $12,357 saved in three years of not smoking. Your friend’s financial health will improve along with his or her physical health. That $12,357 savings does not even account for the opportunity costs you lose out on when you could spend that money elsewhere. Heck, you could have bought 12,000 lottery tickets and won the big payout of maybe a cool $5 million. Think about it. Is smoking really worth $5 million?

The Importance of Planning--for Real People

2011-02-24T08:10:00.000-08:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

A physical fitness health plan for an organization will not absolutely ensure a successful program, but will help clarify how that organization can move forward with its mission and help support healthy behavior change. This is research and education-speak for plan your day to engage in some sort of physical activity.

You have all heard the worn-out, hackneyed line about people don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan. As old as this cliché may be, it’s worth a second, third, or even 17th look. A plan can help give you direction and a path for your ultimate destination. If you have no goal, you won’t be able to determine success. However, if you aren’t necessarily enamored with the term “success” but want only to have fun when you move, then start planning for more fun. After all, that’s really what exercise, or physical activity is—one big fun-fest. And, while you are having fun, you can be saving your health and attempting to put those medical doctors out of business by not visiting them so much (hey, you’ll only need them for a check-up so they can say “everything’s good; see you next year").

After all, you already know that regular physical activity has consistently been coupled with a decrease in a variety of physical ailments such as cardio-vascular disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and a host of others. So, save your money, have more fun, and go play. You might just enjoy yourself so much, you’ll want to do this every day.

Smoking hurts the non-smoker more

2011-02-15T11:02:00.000-08:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

Smoking or chewing tobacco has been known to cause an overabundance of health problems, yet despite the overwhelming scientific evidence, people still smoke. OK you aren’t a smoker? Then this next little factoid should really tick you off. The intended user (read: smoker) ingests only 15 percent of tobacco smoke while the remaining whopping 85 percent of it is dispersed into the environment where all can “enjoy.” According to T. Oriola in his 2009 article entitled, Ethical and legal analyses of policy prohibiting tobacco smoking in enclosed public spaces, this second-hand smoke “is literally nothing short of assault on nonsmokers.”

The financial burden of smoking and chewing tobacco, along with some accompanying diseases, are passed on to more than just the users. Although the federal government is aware of this, it has made little progress in making tobacco an illegal substance nor has it made any laws of where tobacco can be smoked. Local regulations are quite different in two states: Oklahoma and Tennessee. These states still disallow their villages, towns, and cities from creating ordinances restricting smoking in public places more than the state laws do. Does this make sense to you?

Blizzard circa 2011 and exercise: you can have both

2011-02-03T02:39:00.000-08:00

By Susan Clark

Snow day two, going on three. The local university where I work is headed into its third day without the usual student, faculty and staff crowd beating down its sidewalks. We have been home because the skies opened and we got around a foot of snow and huge drifts. We all knew the storm was coming (some weren’t believers) and we stocked up on enough food to last a week plus movies, wine, paperbacks. We all had visions of being trapped on our own individual islands for a few days with the onset of this unscheduled winter vacation.

I came home before the storm and hopped on the dread, er treadmill and did my 25 minutes which was my new goal this week. Twenty-five minutes of fierce walking (remember I’m the 10-year couch potato), thinking I better do it now before even a flake of snow or sleet hits the ground. I knew ahead of time that even though I might have two to three days ahead of me with complete control over my time, there was an unseen threat, a magnetic pull towards that couch and a good book.

What is it when it sleets and snows and the fireplace is roaring that makes you want to hibernate like a bear. You have hours now that you could pull out that yoga tape, walk or run a marathon on the treadmill, grab those weights.

But, that’s not what you want to do. You want to be a total slug—it’s part of the whole drama of being “forced” to stay at home. I read people’s Facebook during this winter “break” and all people were talking about were movies with the kids, what they were cooking on the stove (chicken and dumplings, beef stew, lots of chili, adult beverages) and lots of photo postings showing massive snow drifts against the front doors and garages leaving them with no means of escape. Oh, and a whole lot of photos of dogs drowning in or rebelling because they were thrown out into this freezing, white canvas. The only people on FB I noticed who didn’t give into the “force” were the athletes. My sister-in-law ran photos of her and my niece doing hours of yoga in the living room,,,oh please.

Long story short, the night of the storm I cooked like a fiend, stayed up late and watched movies, had some wine, slept in and on my first full day off from my busy job, I hibernated like a bear. The only way I let that be ok was to tell myself day that the next day I would be productive.

And I was….I left the treadmill workout to the end of that afternoon but once again felt energized within the first five minutes. I beat the “force” that had toyed with me so strongly the day before. I still did my cooking and caught up with other stranded friends and family on the phone that day, but I got on that treadmill.

It was another force—the force of my own will. I know I’m still in the stage where I have to make myself do what I put off doing for ten years, There will be a time someday where I will feel like I’ve missed something if I don’t walk or run or do yoga. Just like my sister-in-law and a few others I know. But today, I still have to push myself and that’s ok. I know it’s a journey and I promise you, I’m not getting off the bus……hope you all are enjoying your winter break. I’ve gotta get back to my movie…

Let’s get happy, then we’ll get healthy

2011-01-28T10:13:00.000-08:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

Happiness has such healthful powers. Yes, I realize fighting cancer with a smile is one of those myths that goes along with the notion that taking vitamin C will cure you of the common cold, the earth is flat, or there is a little bunny that will bring you candy in the spring. Sure, some people still believe in these notions regardless of the evidence, but let’s just disregard that little group, shall we? You can, though, help yourself by warding off certain diseases with happiness. But, remember, it's got to be before you get any diseases and not after. Think about it: how many unhappy runners do you see out there?

According to Veenhowen's article, Healthy Happiness: Effects of Happiness on Physical Health and the Consequences for Preventive Health Care, the effect of happiness and remaining on this planet is comparable to smoking. One study even shows that the people who have poor social lives have the same cardiovascular health as that of a person who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day. Of course, you’d have to be living in a cave not to know how detrimental cigarette smoking is to your overall health. Therefore, if you connect the dots, you can see that by being a curmudgeon, the chances of you being physically healthy are pretty slim. Conversely, if you find happiness wherever you go, your chances of good health increase dramatically. After all, being happy and healthy go together like PB&J (that’s, peanut butter and jelly). So, get out there and play. You’ll do yourself a world of good both physically, mentally and socially.

Will physical activity facts change you?

2011-01-26T09:42:00.000-08:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

Just in case you don’t know, thought I’d rattle off a few facts about physical activity around the country. Regular physical activity has consistently been coupled with a decrease in a variety of physical ailments such as cardio-vascular disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and a host of others. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Leading Health Indicators, regular physical activity for adults is considered to be 30 minutes a day, at least five days a week or vigorous activity at least 20 minutes per day, three days a week. In addition, adolescents should get the same amount as an adult engaging in vigorous physical activity. As of 2005, only non-Hispanic white men have reached the Healthy People 2010 goal of 50 percent of a population engaging in the aforementioned amount of physical activity. Because regular physical activity is such a disease deterrent, it is important that every able-bodied person engage in it.

The number of Americans who actually participate in the amount of physical activity necessary to impede certain diseases is relatively small. According to the CDC’s database of Prevalence and Trends, only 21 percent of the adult population engaged in any type of physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, in 1996. Just two years later, that percentage dropped to 20.4. By the year 2000, the percentage change was to 21.8 percent of the population adhered to the aforementioned physical activity. At this rate, the percentage of people getting the proper amount of physical activity is almost flat; nearly 80 percent of the population is not getting the minimal amount of movement per week. And yes, Oklahoma is the fifth un-physically active state in the country.

In light of the fact that the cost of treating diseases that could be avoided by participating in physical activity is increasing, one might surmise that the lack of physical activity is no longer a simple routine public health issue but has escalated to crisis mode. I’m not sure if the country has gone that far yet, but it should. So, my question to you is: what really would get you moving on a regular basis? Your blogger friends want to know—as do I.

Until next time….

Walk, and the world walks with you

2011-01-24T16:13:00.001-08:00

By Susan Clark

Into the 4^th week of my New Year’s workout, I have to report last week went well. I did my 20-minute power walk four out of seven days, adding new stretches and a little yoga. All on the treadmill, or as a friend of mine calls it, the dreadmill. She’s an outdoor woman who runs, so I get her attitude, but I reminded her it was my initial means of getting off the couch. It was handy; I didn’t have to suit up in winter wear, just jumped on. But today I got off work early, came home and suited up for the great outdoors—leggings, sweat pants, my thickest socks, my new great shoes, a sweatshirt, neck scarf, gloves and headband. Yes, I felt like a little kid whose mother pushed her out the door into a snowy playland, hoping I wouldn’t fall over backwards.

I will say I felt quite comfortable in the 46-degree weather as I headed to the park. I am envious of people who can go for a walk at this time of day. There were very few of us. I passed a woman walking a small dog, a couple deep in conversation walking two big dogs, a lonely-looking, expressionless man sitting on a bench, a young woman sitting in her car reading, engine running.

The crows ruled for about the first third of my walk until I rounded the corner to the children’s pond where about 150 ducks and a few geese were having at it, playing some kind of “king of the mountain” game, it seemed. Turtles completely absent—I suppose they hibernate? I was the noisy intruder as my feet pounded the ground, lungs working hard, mouth dry. More birds as I walked on entering the woodsy side of the park—cardinals, I think, and of course lots of sparrows.

Nearing the end of my walk, I passed the first lady I saw with the dog who laughed and said, “I guess you can tell this is not a workout for us” as they hadn’t made it very far and I realized I had walked at an extremely good clip. Around another couple and there’s the couple with the two dogs. Wow, I did walk fast and loved it, I felt good. You can walk fast and take in your surroundings at the same time, nothing better than that.

The final reward as I winded around my last corner home was a rhythmic thumping on wood. I stopped and looked up, tracing the big oak for its visitor—a woodpecker. Thinking back to my girlfriend calling my treadmill a dreadmill, I had to admit she had it right. So many wonders in the great outdoors. And yeah, next time, not so much padding and bring the lip balm.

Drugs are not the answer for most

2011-01-20T08:16:00.000-08:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

By now your motivation to eat better and exercise more may be waning. You don't have that same exhilaration you did the first of the New Year. You were all excited to start the new year, a new life, a new you. Yes, 2011 was going to be your healthy year because it started out with a healthy week -- or two or even three. Now, however, the fabulous unfailing feelings are falling and you are wondering what to do to keep the weight loss momentum going.

So, you do what many Americans do, you think about taking drugs. No, I don't mean the illegal kind (even though some try that route, it usually ends in a long-term disaster). I mean the over the counter or physician prescribed drugs. I'm not here to campaign for the "say no to drugs" slogan because how well did that anti-drug campaign really work? No, just want to give you a few reasons why you don't want to take such drugs as the Fruta Plant products in order to lose weight. For one, these drugs have been recalled by the Federal Drug Administration because one or more of the ingredients have been linked to heart attacks and stroke. If you want to read the entire article, just click the above hyperlink.

Then, of course you could pay a lot for Contrave, but you probably wouldn't get your money's worth because even the drug's manufacturer admits it's probably not as effective as previously reported. Now, if the drug's own creator admits this, then how effective do you think it really is?

And then, there is the famous Alli weight-loss medication which some say has unpleasant side-effects. I'll leave the specifics to your imagination. Safe to say, I don't think I'd want to be around someone taking those pills. Anyway, the FDA has already put out the word about counterfeit Alli drugs. A pharmacist may be able to detect a bogus pill, but I'll bet the average Joe or Jane could not.

If you want to learn more about medications, the good, the bad, the ugly, just zip on over to DrugWatch and surf away. When you’re done, go out and play because this will be more helpful for you to maintain that healthy 2011 you.

Stop limiting your food intake

2011-01-17T08:42:00.000-08:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

Are you eating ENOUGH to lose weight? Yes, most weight-loss plans have you eating 4 oz. of this, 2 oz. of that, 1 slice of whole wheat toast, ½ cup of cottage cheese, blah, blah, blah. Who can subsist on this miniscule quantity of food? Not me. I need lots of food to keep me going every day and ½ cup of salt-filled cottage cheese is not going to cut it (yup, cheese has a ton of sodium in it). That’s why I focus on eating lots of natural fiber rich foods (not the faux fiber you find in Fruit Loops and “energy” bars). Eating small portions has never worked for me. Sure, it did for a few days, but then the super hunger monster took over and depleted the contents of my refrigerator right before my very eyes. It was amazing!

Instead of starving myself, I just concentrate on eating as many fiber rich foods as possible. When I do that, I can’t possibly eat enough food to gain weight and I actually stay full (and that’s something, for me). Oh, did I mention fiber-rich foods are found in any grocery store in the world? You can eat brown rice, apples, bananas, oatmeal, any type of beans (these are the best), lentils, etc. (oh, and the amount of protein is tremendously high). If you want to lose weight but not the money in your wallet, just click on to the Full Plate Diet. Check out the video and go from there. Won’t cost you a thing. Oh, yes, and they are on FaceBook. Let me know what you think and until then, stay tuned……

At the end of the day, your workouts are up to you

2011-01-14T11:49:00.000-08:00

By Susan Clark

My first goal was to work up to a 20-minute brisk walk (not counting warm-up and cool down) and this week I’ve succeeded. Remember that I started at 15 minutes last week and added one minute per day. I’m following Katherine Switzer’s book “Running and Walking for Women over 40” and she recommends that I continue the 20 minutes for about two more weeks before moving on to the next step. This week has not been without emotion. My Tuesday walk on the treadmill taught me an invaluable lesson that we all know and have been told repeatedly. I was dead tired Tuesday afternoon, almost felt sick and my eyes were so dry from the low temps this week. Came home from work about 4 p.m., laid on the bed with my cat Max and turned on Oprah, which that day was a gut-wrenching fascinating story that made me weep (the cure for dry eye). About 30 minutes in, I decided to at least put on my sweats, slip my walking shoes on, and lay back down to watch the conclusion. I think the emotion empowered me; things felt a bit surreal, and before I knew it, I was on the treadmill.

Five minutes into the walk I felt more energy than I’d felt all day. Somebody has that right. I won’t forget this as I proceed on my plan.

Wednesday was a wash—had to get my hair done after work and I was ok with that knowing I’d work out on Thursday.
Thursday was the day I’m still examining how I could have handled differently. My daughter e-mailed me, begging in fact, that I drive her to a big birthday bash for Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips. Her boyfriend works for Wayne and my daughter knew there would be drinking and she didn’t want to have to drive her car home. My first thought was, my workout…how does this affect my plan for the day? I knew I wasn’t going to let her drive, so I ventured out for a noon walk on campus and it was just too cold (I didn’t have the right clothes). I decided to get my husband involved in the driving because I hate driving at night (have night blindness). So, I thought, let’s go to dinner and I picked a place that didn’t serve alcohol (that’s another story, but for my plan, I limit alcohol to the weekend only). Well, is there a place that doesn’t serve alcohol? Apparently not. My companions quickly ordered a beer. We got to our destination about 30 minutes before my daughter’s boyfriend arrived and I wasn’t going to leave her alone in a bar. So where did we end up? The bar next door while they were finishing touches to Wayne’s party. My husband and daughter became partners in crime and ordered drinks. I got talked into one and felt myself get quite emotional. How did my plan to hit the treadmill land me in a bar? I didn’t even want a drink. And they were having fun—I was the spoil sport.

I see now why some people do their workouts in the morning. You don’t know what your day is going to throw you. Life interrupts and I don’t think it’s right to blame others which might have been easy to do. I’m going to write on this more because it’s an area important to explore. Starting a new work out plan and staying the course is about much more than just doing it…it’s not that simple and others in your life play a role in your success, and yet it’s ultimately up to you. It would be easy if everyone was on the same path, but of course, we are not. It’s Friday now, and I just completed my 20-minute walk and some yoga stretches. Aahhhh…nice, very nice. Later…Susan

Motivation is the key to continuation

2011-01-11T12:24:00.000-08:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

You are now into your second week of the New Year. Anyone getting bored yet? If so, you are not alone because the new athletic gym memberships have already seen a decline in attendance. Why people have already quit their New Year’s resolutions is open for speculation. A couple of reasons may include a lack of specific goals, a lack of knowledge, or a delusion of grandeur. However, I suspect it’s a problem with motivation. Many people have great intentions yet lack the daily or weekly motivation to keep them going. If you have noticed on the Edmond Health website, there’s a link for motivation. Check it out. Also, don’t be shy in commenting on one of these blogs. It not only will motivate the writers, but will probably keep you going as well. An easy way to comment, is simply click the “comments” link on the bottom of each blog, post your comment, click on your profile (if you are shy, just click on anonymous) and then click "post comment." Try it and spread the healthy motivation. Until next time, stay tuned…..

A little stray won't keep this author away

2011-01-10T12:27:00.000-08:00

By Susan Clark

On my last blog, I talked about reconnecting on my walks. Well, as happens with technology, disconnects happen and it did over the weekend. First off, I have to tell you the people I admire most are those who perform their workouts no matter what life throws them on any given day. NO MATTER WHAT! I’m not quite there yet. Ok, in fact,…I get an F for the weekend. I threw a dinner party Saturday night and here was my schedule. I left work early Friday to do my grocery shopping and cooked everything I could cook ahead of time on Friday night. Somehow I came up with a “new” list of things to pick up the following day (resulting in about three hours out and around town), and began the last of the cooking about 3 p.m. I actually threw on my workout clothes and shoes for my errands hoping I would be prompted to head for the trails on my arrival at home. Let me tell you, it took half an hour just to unload the car and well… The final outcome for all my hard work was baked trout, fresh green beans, red potatoes, and a butternut squash sauté along with various appetizers—also a beautiful table set for eight. Cooking is one of my passions and I was showing my parents what a grand cook their daughter was. I know you are saying, “fine, we get that, but what about Sunday?” STAYED IN MY PAJAMAS ALL DAY. Now, don’t tell me you’ve never done that. Today is Monday, and I’m back on track and thankful we’ve got weekends ahead with nothing big like that scheduled. Just took a walk on a beautiful snow-covered campus and will hit the treadmill or park when I leave here shortly.

By the way, I was connecting over the weekend but it was with my family and a couple of friends. We had a great time, and in fact, it was quite special. I still admire each and every one of you, though, who NO MATTER WHAT, gives your body that push it needs and wants every day. I’m working towards that…Susan

Apps are appropriate for your healthy goals

2011-01-10T08:18:00.000-08:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

To meet your healthy goals it is so important to get some real human feedback. We aren’t programmed to “go it alone” and for most people it’s not really fun to exercise by yourself. Well, perhaps it is for the few that interact with the public daily and need to get away, but for most, you really need that support to lose weight, work out, or just eat healthy. For those times when there’s no one around that either understands you or just plain can’t be available, you should turn to your iPhone or smartphone. There’s a myriad of apps that can help you. If you aren’t quite into running, but can’t take the monotony of simply walking, then download the free app, RunKeeper (only free for download in January—RunKeeper lite is free always). This will monitor how long you’ve been running or walking, can make a sound of your choice at every interval you program it, and can tell you how many calories you’ve just burned. It’s a great little application that can even be tied to your Facebook or Twitter account so that your online friends can comment (and keep you motivated).

If you want to keep your caloric intake equal or less than your expenditure, then download MyFitnessPal or Lose It. All you need to do is input what you ate and how much; the device will tell you how many fat grams, calories, carbs, and other items of interest is in your food. You can even input your activity for the day, which gives you extra calories to eat and still lose weight. If you want an online coach to help you with running, download MiCoach. This will help you speed up and work on winning that next 5K or 10K run.

Of course, if you don’t have a smartphone or choose not to take it with you on your exercise routes (after all, you may not want 100 percent accessibility by phone), there’s a website for you. Log onto SparkPeople or MyPyramid to have free access to an online healthy diary. You can log in what you’ve eaten and the amount, and the program does the rest. It even sends you periodic motivational messages to encourage you to reach your healthy goals. Of course, there are more websites out there to help, but these are the main ones where you can start. If you know of other sites or apps, please let me/us know. We always love hearing from you.

And as always, stay tuned………….

First Week Workout Is About Reconnecting

2011-01-06T09:26:00.001-08:00

By Susan Clark

Susan, here, just checking in. With my new walking plan and a little stretching and yoga, I’m starting to feel a few checkpoints in my body I have not felt in a while—lower back muscles, that place where the leg meets the hip, a crankiness in my neck. Even though there is a little soreness, it feels good—like an awakening—and I think, goodness, it’s about time…afterall, this is the shell I use to get around in this world. I better feel its parts, the alternative is not good. Starting over is mentally challenging as well, as I shape my busy day to make sure I fit exercise in—as most of us, I can easily come up with good excuses. Balancing full-time work with an exercise program is key to it all for me personally, so I’m now shutting the light out at 10 p.m. and getting up 45 minutes earlier, get to work before most of the rest of the university crowd, and breathe in some early morning quiet, plus I get my pick of parking spaces. At this early date in my new routine, I have chosen to do my workout after work with the flexibility to that changing with the seasons. I give myself about 15 minutes “down” time when I walk in the door and then go immediately for the treadmill or an outdoor walk to the park. I’m still adding one minute to each day’s walk and giving it as much speed as I can, but at the same time, remembering to enjoy what I’m doing. I’m not signing up for a marathon yet…this phase is about reconnection— with my body, with nature, with energy (my own and that around me), with stillness, with light, with optimism. Until next time…Write me your thoughts. I would love to hear comments from people who are starting over after being on the couch for too long. We need to keep each other going!

Salaciously Seductive Foods Can Be Addictive

2011-01-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

A healthy lifestyle includes, but is not limited to, good nutrition. However, it’s really tough for some people to stay away from those big, beautiful brownies and bountiful baked goods. Unfortunately, some of the food on our grocers’ shelves can be salaciously seductive. You can just look at the Sugared Covered Sugar Bomb cereal and your salivary glands explode. The good news is that it’s not only you, it’s human nature. To explain the scientific reasons why we eat the way we do, just click on the hyperlink here and start reading Breaking the Food Seduction by Dr. Neal Barnard.

You can learn the scientific reason why, physiologically speaking, sugar is so addictive. Or read about the fact that excess protein leaches calcium from your body. You can even learn that building strong bones is not done by drinking milk but via weight bearing exercises such as running or weight lifting. The author also entices you to try using this nutrition plan for only three weeks and see if you feel different. No need to have a long term plan, just three weeks of eating the four main food groups – vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and legumes. Who knows, making a change for only a short period of time could become your new addiction. Why not give it a shot? What do you have to lose other than the obvious excess fat, sluggish feeling, and energy draining encounters?

If you think this is something you might want to tempt, click below where it says “comments” and let us know. We would love to chat, so stay tuned…………..

Freeing Herself From Lead Foot Disease

2011-01-03T12:13:00.000-08:00

By Susan Clark

A little background here…I haven’t worked out on a regular basis for about 10 years and as another year ended, I once again became upset with myself that I’d let exercise slip out of my life on any kind of regular basis. I’m 58 years old and when I read an article in the newspaper the other day about a 75-year-old woman who just up and decided to become an athlete I took notice. This woman is now running marathons—she recreated who she was and of course, I could too. I’m a writer, public relations specialist, events coordinator, mother, wife, music lover, spiritual hunter, arts enthusiast—why couldn’t I be an athlete too? Maybe a runner? More background before you think I was always a slacker: I took ballet when I was a teenager, practiced yoga and did the Jane Fonda workout in my twenties, joined and worked out in a gym in my thirties, walked regularly on a treadmill in my forties and then, somewhere about mid-forties, I quit it all.

Until today. I have one New Year’s resolution—to become (uh, stumbling a bit over the word athlete) but something very close to that. Help me on that word! I’m going to become a physically active woman on an everyday (dare I say that?) basis. I told Lissa (actually I think she told me over a glass of wine at a Christmas party) that I’d share my thoughts every few days on a blog so I’ll try to keep that promise. Now, I’m cutting calories too in a wish to lose 10 pounds but I’m not here to write about food. Here to write about becoming an athlete? (still stuttering over that word but…)

January 3, 2011. Day One—got out of bed and stretched and thought about the day. Had a bowl of raisin bran, some skim milk, and some of that Fage yogurt. Back to work at the radio station and catching up after two weeks off. Had a couple of walnuts around 10 and soup for lunch. I promised myself a 10-minute walk on campus mid-day which I just got back from. Windy, but the sun felt good, energizing and I walked past about 10 geese hanging out on a pond looking very content. Walking outdoors stimulates thoughts, spiritual, emotional, and lights up your senses. When I get home, I will stretch and get on my treadmill starting out at 15 minutes. I’m following a plan where you add one minute every day. I will spend the next three weeks walking until I work up some strength and get a bum knee checked out to make sure I’m ok for running. I also plan on adding some yoga. It’s a good feeling and I look forward to feeling my body strengthen. I’m sure each day will be a new adventure and that’s what I’m counting on…until next time…

The Healthy You Starts Today

2011-01-03T10:34:00.000-08:00

By Lissa Wohltmann

Anyone reading this that has started a diet over the weekend and/or joined a gym, raise your hand.

Yup, I thought as much – nearly 90 percent of you. Although I can guess this is probably not the first time you’ve danced this tango and you surely realize it won’t be the last. In fact, you continue to believe this is the year you will finally reach “The Healthy You.” This is the year you will succeed in whatever goal you have in mind.

The famous saying by Albert Einstein about the definition of insanity (doing the same thing the same way over and over, yet expecting different results) has its place in our culture yet many people still don’t heed these words by this famous and brilliant icon. Instead they continue to join a gym and go on “The Diet” January first, year after year. Then they are surprised that they succumb to their old ways before March rolls around. This may sound like discouraging words – but wait – there’s more. Not more discouraging words but more information about “The Healthy You.” There will be more information in this blog that might catapult you towards the village of Healthy Land.

This is not to say you should never start a New Year’s resolution, just think about doing something different this year for your own New Year plan. Tomorrow, Susan will tell you about her own healthy plans that don’t include lofty and unsustainable goals. Stay tuned…

Coming Soon

2010-12-21T07:49:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know people like to say things like "coming soon" and they make a big deal about it for months and months (some even do this for a year). Well, I'm just saying "coming soon" meaning January 3, 2011. On that Monday, we'll have a new format with new ideas and a real plan to help in your healthy quest. We'll be following one gal's quest for better (or existing) physical conditioning and another gal's quest for better eating. To keep this short, we have plans. And, if you would like to contribute, feel free. We would love to have you post healthy questions and/or comments. The more the merrier....maybe?

Public Health Needs Your Help

2010-06-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

In the U.S., at least, one of the biggest enemies to public health is fear of the unknown or fear of what is perceived as the truth. The American Council on Science and Health states that the indiscriminant misconceptions publicized as a pandemic does a great disservice to the real role of public health officials who are charged with keeping the public safe. Therefore, U.S. officials need to be vigilant about the message they send to the masses. If the public perceived a pandemic, massive hysteria may arise and little positive or accurate information can be disseminated.

A case in point concerns the AIDS/HIV virus. This was once a disease thought to be spread by holding hands or coughing on someone. People were frightened to be around those with AIDS for fear of contracting the disease. Even some children with AIDS were banned from attending school because they may be contagious. All of this was based on fear and ignorance. Fortunately, with time, education and a mass communication campaign to publicize facts about transmission, many people began to understand how this disease was spread and worked to prevent an outbreak. Of course this all took a great deal of financial resources.

However, throwing money at a problem isn’t always the best solution. The oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is one example where money alone will not solve the problem. Billions of dollars have been spent in the past 40 days to resolve the gushing oil, yet as of this writing, nothing of substance has been accomplished. Oil is still rapidly spewing from the earth. This is and will be a public health hazard for years to come.

Globally, the main concerns of public health officials are pandemics, endemics, poverty, and politics. Political abuse, or garnering as much power as possible, is one sure way to collapse well-established public health infrastructure. For example, the once agrarian towns in South Africa became corrupted, militaristic, and led by an oligarchic government. This made it impossible for roads to be built, basic telephone services to be employed, and electricity used for basic human needs. Shipping routes were unavailable for all but the wealthy and the impoverished areas could not afford medicines, good quality food, hospitals to be built, or trained personnel to keep people alive.

Around the world, infectious microbes were cause for a myriad of diseases especially among the poor neighborhoods. The people in these neighborhoods hadn’t the money to spend for proper diets. Therefore, their immune systems were compromised, their living conditions made it possible for the citizens to develop dysentery, and they were exposed to other various bacteria in contaminated waste and poor water supply. Poverty and disease are not mutually exclusive; when a country suffers financially, people’s health is compromised. One person gets the disease and instead of ridding that disease from one person, it spreads throughout the community. Then, the community hasn’t the financial or other resources to combat the situation and it turns into a pandemic. If this becomes a way of life, then this becomes an endemic.

In order for public health officials to thwart calamities and keep its citizens safe, a central government must be (relatively) free from corruption and put its people’s safety and lives ahead of individual power.

Get real for better health: Say no to faux

2010-04-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

'Tis the season for dieting.

It seems everyone is on some sort of a diet – eat grapefruits until you drop diet, the cookie diet, the stress diet, and my favorite, the Hershey Kisses diet.

Instead of introducing you to another fun-filled fascinating fantasy, let’s get real. How about something different this time and something that will work more than a week or a month?

Mark and Phyllis Franklin of Edmond learned about The Full Plate Diet while de-stressing at Lifestyle Center of America, where you are encouraged to eat real food you can buy at real grocery stores. Lifestyle Center of America is a place you can go to relax, learn about healthy living and to recharge your batteries.

It’s a 1,700 wooded-acre campus located in the beautiful Arbuckle Mountains near Sulphur, Okla. The grounds are some of the most spectacular scenery around with wild boar, deer and other animals scurrying about. Just deeply breathing in the fresh air could cut your stress level in half.

The nutritional advice bestowed to the Franklins at this center came from The Full Plate Diet, written by Stuart A. Seale, M.D., Theresa Sherard, M.D. and Diane Fleming, Ph.D., LDN. The book really should be called “Eating Real Food 101,” because the book encourages you to consume food Mother Nature created and not created by a manufacturing plant.

As my friend Rachel told me, if it comes from a plant, eat it. If it is made in a plant, don’t. Not preferred, are foods filled with unpronounceable ingredients such as: calcium disodium EDTA, phosphoric acid, acesulfame K, or pyridoxine HCL (I don’t know what this stuff is, either).

Instead, the full plate diet encourages you to power up your plate by adding food to your plate rather than take it away. The whole key to this is increasing the amount of fiber you eat from 10 grams (what the average American consumes) to 40 grams a day.

“It’s very doable,” Phyllis Franklin said. She loves this new way of eating and has even lost weight although she did not enter Lifestyle Center of America with the expectation she was going to change her behavior much.

“They teach you how to make better choices,” she said about the staff. “It’s incorporating more fiber into your diet.”

High fiber foods include fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains. Fiber-filled foods are naturally low in calories and have the added benefit of giving you that full feeling so your body has no idea its consuming fewer calories than normal. Fewer calories ingested than your body burns simply turns into weight loss. One thing about fiber, though, is the quality.

Not all fiber is created equal. Today, fiber is the buzz ingredient for food manufacturers much like “no trans fats” is the buzz term for food marketers.

They know fiber is considered a healthy way to go, so they inject fiber into anything including candy bars, yogurt and Fruit Loops. These foods are not considered good quality fiber foods because the fiber has been engineered into them.

Now, food manufacturers can boast “high fiber” and more people will buy their product. These are the same agencies that will claim “no trans fats” in orange juice when oranges don’t naturally have trans fats.

Instead of simply eating just regular foods from trees and other plants, people are looking for the magic potion. They think exotic foods from the deep forests of the Amazon have the secret healthful enzymes needed for optimal health and low body fat. They want phytochemicals, antioxidants, detoxification, and weekly cleansing regiments.

What’s really missing, Franklin discovered, is that people are not eating enough real fiber. Instead they are gorging themselves with pseudo fiber and other forms of faux foods.

Franklin even surprised herself with the ease of this program and the fact she doesn’t even crave the old zero-gramed fiber foods she once consumed. Instead she enjoys the natural taste of fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes -- and yes, legumes are fill with fiber as well as protein.

If you are looking for more information on how to get more real fiber into your diet (and even some cool recipes and an online fiber calculator), take a look at www.FullPlateDiet.org. This, I assure you, is the “magic” elixir you’ve been craving.

Riding the bus is good for your health

2010-01-19T07:47:00.001-08:00

If you are like millions of Americans that have been incessantly searching for the magic, easy weight-loss secret, then read on.

Edmond has had this covert, clandestine solution for a while. And yes, they have even tried to get the message out, but for some reason not everyone got the message about this miraculous tonic. Or perhaps some people are cognizant of this method but don’t realize it works because the cost is free and it has no side effects.

They are used to paying lots of money to lose weight and dealing with a whole range of side effects.

The answer is simply this: Ride Edmond’s Citylink bus every day.

Since December of last year, I’ve been taking the bus to my job downtown Oklahoma City as a health and wellness coach. I walk about three-fourths of a mile to the bus stop every morning and then about one-fourth mile from the bus to my office.

I do this every day, which equates to walking 10 miles a week. Since walking (or running) a mile burns up 100 calories, I expend an extra 1,000 calories a week. It takes about 3,500 calories to burn up one pound of fat; after 52 weeks, I’ve burned up 52,000 calories – or better yet, put it in fat pounds -- more than 12 pounds are burned up!

That’s 12 pounds a year automatically and I don’t have to sweat it out, starve myself, or take pills that make me jittery, nervous, cranky or subject to death.

There’s another health reason for taking the bus. You don’t have to worry about the ever-increasing traffic that inundates every road through Edmond or the drivers who can’t seem to maintain a decent speed, thus sending your blood pressure into the stratosphere.

You can meet wonderfully interesting people on your way to and from work, engage in a bit of relaxing small talk or simply sleep an extra 30 or so minutes while someone else pleasantly whisks you to your destination.

Ahhh, doesn’t that sound much better than rushing around, jamming on the brakes because of a rubber-necker, getting to your parking garage downtown, paying those monthly parking garage fees and then of course walking through the sometimes scary parking garage? Plus, a short, brisk walk can only make you smile. Try walking and frowning; see if you can do it.

The next reason for riding the bus is what most people think of – saving money.

According to the American Public Transportation Association, “the cost of transportation to and from medical treatment is staggering and growing each year. Medicaid and Medicare services pay nearly $3.5 billion a year to provide transportation to non-emergency medical treatment. In 2000, more than 100 million Medicaid trips were funded at an average cost of $16 per trip.

“More than half of Medicare ambulance trips (as many as 90 percent in rural areas) may be for non-emergencies at a cost that can exceed $500 per trip."

In fact, nearly 4 million children in families with incomes less than $50,000 a year miss crucial doctors’ appointments because they can’t find transportation that fits in their budget. Because Citylink is free, those people who need to get to their doctor in Edmond can find the medical help they need.

Taking the bus helps me financially because I don’t have to pay for gasoline, oil, maintenance on my car or even car washes. If you want to figure out specifically how much money you could be saving by taking the Citylink, log on to:

http://www.publictransportation.com/contact/stories/calculator_08.asp

Just input your car's gasoline mileage, price per gallon of gasoline, number of miles in your round trip commute and the cost of your bus ticket. Since Edmond's Citylink costs riders nothing, you save even more.

You can even calculate your carbon dioxide emissions by logging on to:

http://www.publictransportation.com/calculators/carbon_08.asp

Studies have proven that air pollution exacerbates asthma and can cause lots of health problems in the elderly. Also, taking the bus is much safer than driving a car to work. Annually, there are 190,000 fewer deaths, injuries and accidents than trips by an automobile.

Plus, according to the National Safety Council, riding the bus is nearly 170 times safer than traveling by car.

Happy Holidays

2009-12-24T06:20:00.001-08:00

Click here to get more mini-SharkBreak widgets - http://www.sharkbreak.com/redirect-sharkbreak.php

Exercise Can May You Smarter

2009-12-02T07:57:00.000-08:00

I've just read the report from HealthFinder.gov that exercise may lead to a smarter, more successful you. Well, I for one, believe it (even if there were no scientific evidence to prove this). And the reason is simple: when I'm moving my body, I feel more alive. When I feel more alive, I think about the world around me and its potential. When I run with my buddies at 4:45 a.m., we are always coming up with interesting and new ideas. This is the time of day when our minds are the freshest. Nothing beats that freshly slept feeling you get after a good eight hours (or six hours of power-sleeping). So, get out there and hit the pavement with a good run, bike ride or even some heavy walking. It will do your body and mind good.

Health Care III

2009-11-20T13:48:00.001-08:00

One more thing to think about concerning the American health care system is the disparity of health care along racial lines as well as between those with money and those without. The chasm between the rich and the poor is growing larger every day. Even the health insurance costs have risen for the poor yet are unchanged for those making more than $75,000 per year. Whites were more than 22% likely to have health insurance than Mexicans and about 10% more than Blacks, Asians or Pacific Islanders. The probability of American Indians and Alaska Natives having health insurance was the smallest of all the other racial groups. During the year 2000, 29.5% of the poor had no health insurance, despite government programs available. These are facts, not opinions; you can always voice your opinions, but it’s important to back them up with facts.

Health care II

2009-11-18T11:33:00.000-08:00

Another problem with health care is the more than 40 million medically uninsured Americans. With such a large number of Americans not being able to purchase medical coverage (or not wanting it), then someone eventually must pay these costs in – at the very least – an emergency. Therefore, this puts another drain on the pocketbooks of either taxpayers or the medical community. Another stressor on health care system today is the affects of managed care on both the patient as well as the physician. In order to control costs, managed care companies have resorted to a micro-management style toward the physician by requiring preauthorization of referrals, monitoring physicians’ care of the patients, restricting medications, and disease management. This may hurt the patient because the physician is somewhat restricted as to how much the patient can be helped. The large managed care company usually does not know the patient’s medical history as well as the physician.

Health care I

2009-11-16T12:23:00.001-08:00

The main stressors in today’s healthcare primarily are linked to financial burdens. They include: health care disparity between the rich and poor and between races; the effects of managed care on patients and physicians; persistent problems with the uninsured; and the politics of privatization versus universal health care. There are philosophical differences between those who think health care is just another commodity and should be purchased in a similar fashion as buying a stove or care, and the people who think all humans have a right to medical care, with equal access to whatever medical procedures exist. The former, known as marketists, don’t want to subsidize others who cannot afford the medical commodity. They want to be able to pay for goods and services privately with no government interference and they don’t feel the need to help out strangers, financially. The latter, medicalists, want a different kind of health care, with expenses shared by all. In the United States, marketists seem to prevail where health care is an ordinary article good or service. If you use a certain commodity, you pay. If you don’t pay, you aren’t entitled to use it. However, if one considers all of the government sponsored medical programs available such as Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and SCHIPS, then the privatization aspect of medical coverage is watered down and the medical coverage cost really is being shared by the masses. Just a few things to think about today.

Watching Television

2009-11-13T10:25:00.000-08:00

Watch much TV of late? Did you know that there were 248 million television sets in U.S. households in 2001, which equates to 98.2% of households with at least one TV? According to U.S. Census Bureau, the average number of televisions per home in 2001 was 2.4 and the estimated hours that adults who watched television in 2004, was 1669. It is so pervasive in American homes that the average adult watching an average of two hours per day watching television potentially could view a full 90 minutes of advertising in an average week. When people watch television, I would hazard a guess they are generally not working out and possibly are chomping on chips.

Snack food promotion and advertising have been extremely effective and symbolizes one of the most financially rewarding investments, according to the Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics. Their triumphs could be a model for the success of a healthy nutrition campaign rather than non-nutritive food campaigns. Since television has been known to be a causative feature in the poor health of people, then perhaps in manner, television can be a help in getting and keeping people healthy rather than a hindrance. Some organizations are trying, but perhaps not as hard as the junque food companies.

Baby Boomers

2009-11-12T15:05:00.000-08:00

People born between 1946 and 1964 -- baby-boomers -- are becoming senior citizens and already are impacting the face of health care significantly. The most substantial demand on the public health system with regard to the growing elderly population is financial. Specifically, people are living longer, suffering more chronic illnesses, becoming more obese, their personal functionality is dwindling; the elderly are spending more money on medications, and are taking advantage of more restorative surgeries. For example, total knee and hip replacements, two procedures to increase functionality for the elderly, has nearly tripled between the year 1980 and 1990. Bypass surgery, another procedure to increase functionality of the elderly, increased 195% between 1995 and 2004. Even chronic diseases among the elderly are on the rise (2007).

In 2002, the cost for long-term care of the elderly was $137 billion, which equates to almost 12% of all health care dollars; more than 60% of that is paid for by the American taxpayer in the form of Medicare or Medicaid. By the year 2035, spending for these socialized programs -- including Social Security – will be nearly doubled. David Walker, Comptroller General of the U.S. testified before the Special Committee on Aging that long term health involving these senior citizens isn’t just consigned to health. It also involves nutrition, transportation, housing, and social support to maintain independent living. All of this will put a drain on financial reserves from both a public view as well as a personal or individual view.

There is plenty of evidence out that that tells us exercise can help prevent diseases among older people. If we could continue with a real health care plan married up with preventive services we could save money in the long run. You need to do your part though. Get out there and take a walk, go for a run, ride your bike or just play with your kids. Wouldn’t you rather have fat wallets and thinner bodies? Think about it.

2009-11-12T10:53:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm just testing this blog out to see if it really works. After, if given the time, I'll be able to keep up with all the healthy and happy news you'll ever need--or want.