Tasty Bites: Are We There Yet?

By Candy, RN (Steele the Day)

Preparing for vacation is daunting. Count underwear, match one pair of shoes with four outfits, and find someone to feed the cat. Rarely does the preparation turn to you – are you physically ready for your trip? It’s important not to forsake healthy habits in the haste of making your plans. Travel, particularly long airline flights, can wreak havoc on your body, so here are some tips to get you safely at your destination, feeling as well as you can possibly feel.

What Not to Wear

Choose loose fitting clothes and slip-on shoes. You don’t want to be tying tennis shoes when navigating through security. Wear either low-cut socks or better yet, a pair of compression stockings. Blood tends to pool in your feet when you sit, the back of your knees hugs the seat, and it’s important that you minimize the risk of “traveler’s thrombosis,” better known as a blood clot.

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Clean Your Cleaning Items To Help Keep Sickness Away

By MAD21

Lifehacker posted a good article with a few tips on keeping your house clean to try and stave off all the fall/winter sicknesses looming around us.

I never really thought much about cleaning the items I use to... clean.

Of course, all I can think of at this point is the episode of Friends where Monica has a vacuum to clean her vacuum...

A Weight-Loss Strategy

By Kevin (Shooting the Breeze)

I am by no means a weight loss expert but I have learned a few things through experience. Here is a funny but very sound strategy to weight loss:

I think this video illustrates some important truths when it comes to weight loss.  I have experienced all of these truths first hand.  First, it can be very simple.  It is just a matter of eating less and moving more. Now, that being said, it is simple but not necessarily easy.  It is going to mean making some different and sometimes difficult choices. Second, it doesn’t have to cost lots of money.  You don’t have to pay for a program or for special food. You can continue to buy your food (although different food) from your local grocery store. And finally, there is no quick fix to weight loss.  We all want the quick fix but that is not how it works.  It is going to take some work and some time.  It is well worth the effort though.

What truths about weight loss have you learned through experience?

Kevin Martineau has been married 16 years and has three beautiful daughters (10, 7 and 4). He has the honour of serving God through his role as Pastor at Port Hardy Baptist Church on Northern Vancouver Island, British Colubia. He enjoys blogging, reading, photography and watching hockey.

Gov't: Fight Obesity? Add Sales Tax to Soda Tab

By MAD21

I'll just start this post with... OH, COMMON! Seriously??? This is where my tax dollars are going? To decide to fight obesity by taxing soda??

Yesterday, Boston.com reported: "ATLANTA—In a bid to ramp up the public health battle against obesity, a group of nutrition and economics experts are pushing for a tax of 1 cent on every of ounce of sodas and other sweetened beverages....A soda tax would generate tax revenue while discouraging people from consuming extra calories, the authors contend. They cited a series of studies that showed higher rates of obesity and diabetes among women who drank more sugar-sweetened beverages. They argue that a steeper soda tax would borrow the same strategy that helped drive down cigarette smoking while bolstering government revenues."

Really? Is this necessary? If the government is considering fighting obesity, it would be nice if they spent their time a little wiser, possibly come up with a REAL plan/program. This seems to me to be yet another step in the government trying to control something that we should be accountable for as an individual.

Good news is that it doesn't look like it's going to go far.

Alex's Lemonade Stand 1st Annual LEMON RUN!

By MAD21 (via Jen Kelly at ALSF)

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation is hosing the 1st Annual Lemon Run! on October 25, 2009. You can sign up to run a 5k race, a 2 mile walk, and a kid's race. The run/walk begins at 9am and the kid's race is at 8:30am. The event takes place at Ridley Creek State Park in Media, PA. Refreshments and music will be provided!

The Run fee and the Walk fee is $20 per person and the Kids’ Race (10 years old and under) is $5 per child. The first 500 people registered will receive a free T-shirt. Awards will be given to the fastest male and female runners in each age group: 10 and under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, and 50+. Check in will be from 7:45-8:45 am. Please note: the Kids’ Race will start at 8:30 am. Parking is available in lots 11, 12 and 13 and the starting area is located in section 11 for all events.

See you on race day!