Tag Archives: health

Exercise is important, and it can be hard to work enough cardio and strength training into a busy schedule. For some, a gym membership is the key to staying in good physical shape. But, the real question becomes: Will you be getting a good return on your investment into a gym or health club program?

I’m bombarded with offers to join health and fitness clubs in the area. But, when I say “in the area,” these club options are about 20 to 30 minutes from my home. I do work a day job in town, so these work out facilities are convenient from work. So I have to consider whether I want to work a full day and then go right to a gym. Driving home and back would add a lot to the time investment and also to the cost of the membership, since I’d have to pay for extra gas.

I’m sure I’m not the only one to grapple with such issues. 

If you’re tuned in to popular culture, it seems that just about every celebrity is touting the benefits of the detox diet, or cleanse. Of course, these celebrities are thin, toned and have amazing physiques, so it might make you wonder whether you should kick start your diet with a detox program. But just how safe is a diet cleanse?

We’ve all been told that the safest and healthiest way to lose weight is by watching what we eat and exercising on a regular basis. So, when you head to the grocery store, list in hand, are you confident that what you are buying isn’t counterproductive to your weight loss efforts?

I think I’ll take out stock in the Kleenex company. We are certainly giving them some business this winter. From colds to the never-ending sinus infection, it’s been a winter of nose blowing, sneezes, and coughs. But, there are ways to weather the colds and other crud that dog us during the winter months.

Prevention of colds and other winter illnesses is the best cure – of course. I find that my college kids and my sons have adapted well to sneezing into their shirt sleeves at the elbow. This contrasts to my generation where the polite thing to do is to cover your nose or mouth with your hand. The hand approach spreads germs, but it’s a hard habit to break. When I slip up, I hit the hand sanitizer station or wash my hands with hot water and soap. Since I work at a college, I know that I can easily spread germs, so I make a real effort to be diligent about hand sanitation.

I often hear new mothers talk about their birth present. Have you heard about this? It’s a token of appreciation given by the spouse or partner for carrying and delivering their child. This token often comes in the form of jewelry. I received a beautiful necklace, but I got something else as well – varicose veins.

Varicose veins are those unsightly bluish, purplish bulging veins that most commonly occur in the legs. For some people, varicose veins can be extremely painful. A milder form of these varicose veins is referred to as spider veins. Although not painful, these too can be rather unattractive.

It’s here!  Cold and flu season is upon us.  Unfortunately, most of us can’t afford to get sick.  We are busy parents with children whose needs don’t go away just because we are sick.  We have jobs that require our presence and bosses who expect deadlines to be met.  

Some of us even have spouses that, dare I say it, can’t seem to manage the household when we are out of commission.  As a child, getting a cold or the flu wasn’t really a big deal.  In fact, it was kind of a treat to be able to stay home from school, watch television and be waited on by our moms.  Today, as adults, there isn’t anyone to take care of us except for ourselves.  At the same time, we are expected to take care of others.  Really, how can we afford to get sick?

Argh. When the holidays roll around, I wish I were six feet tall with a great metabolism. Alas, I am not. So, I have to watch what I eat, or I can’t get my jeans on as the new year rolls in. Over time, I have learned to enjoy the holiday foods without wrecking my diet, and here are some of my tips for keeping the scales steady when the food is plentiful and sinfully fabulous.

You may be wondering if you should get a flu shot this year. After all, it’s no fun to catch the flu, and it’s easy to pass the flu along to others. The general rule of thumb is that it’s a good idea to get vaccinated against the flu virus; however, it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor before making the decision to do so.

We live in a country where they say that anything is possible.  So, when you walk into your local grocers at any time during the year, it is in fact possible to find just about every variety of produce.  But just because it’s in the grocery store doesn’t always mean it’s at its freshest. 

Where is the “work-life balance” we have all been hearing about for the last decade?  I have yet to meet someone who can honestly says these days that they feel their company not only promotes it, but delivers well on it.