Healthy Living Frugally

Lower Risk of Diabetes

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:50:00 +0000

Looking through MSNBC News today I ran across an article about decreasing your risk of diabetes. Since diabetes is very prevalent on both my mother and fathers side of the family, I was very interested in the article.

High-Intensity workouts to diabetes proof your body

It states that regular exercise with alternate high intensity and slower pace exercise will keep your insulin levels normal.

"Add this interval routine to the end of every workout: Walk for 60 seconds, followed by a 30-second sprint, for four cycles. (You can also do the same slow-fast ratio on an exercise bike, rowing machine, or in the pool.) If you’re strapped for time, make this your workout for the day." Men's Health By Denny Watkins

I don't know that I will be doing much of this routine. I think running 6.5 miles a day will do me just fine.

The article doe say that you can do the same kind of workout on exercise machines like the elliptical, bike, etc.

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:18:00 +0000

My sister, Margaret and I have been busy with a new hobby. Margaret decided to get healthy and start running. She has run a few 5Ks, 10Ks, and a couple half marathons. She has convinced me to start running with her. What really convinced me was two things.

We are running to raise money for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation.
We will be running in Napa Valley (can anyone say wine at the end of the trail)

I had a friend who died a few days before Christmas who suffered from Crohn's disease most of her life. Then we discovered that another friend of ours has a son with Crohn's. He is 12 years old and just found out that he has the disease last July. He has had some issues dealing with all the complications.

For those who do not know what Crohn's is, it is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus, causing a wide variety of symptoms. It primarily causes abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody if inflammation is at its worst), vomiting (can be continuous), or weight loss, but may also cause complications outside the gastrointestinal tract such as skin rashes, arthritis, inflammation of the eye, tiredness, and lack of concentration. Crohn's disease is caused by interactions between environmental, immunological and bacterial factors in genetically susceptible individuals. This results in a chronic inflammatory disorder, in which the body's immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract possibly directed at microbial antigens. Crohn's disease has traditionally been described as an autoimmune disease, but recent investigators have described it as a disease of immune deficiency.

So since Margaret is a major competitor, we have decided to make a competition out of raising money. We each have a website that you can donate to (Margaret convinced her husband to run as well). All money goes directly to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation.

To donate to Margaret go to:

http://www.active.com/donate/napa12midastl/stlMDublo

Donate to me (Tina) go to:

http://www.active.com/donate/napa12midastl/stlTRapp

To donate to Chad (Margaret's Husband) go to:

http://www.active.com/donate/napa12midastl/stlCDublo

Please support our new endeavor to help raise money to find a cure for Coltyn and others with this disease.

Walgreen Walk and Save Program

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:16:00 +0000

Last night I was getting caught up on the Biggest Looser and they had announced that they were teaming up with Walgreens. I was very excited, so I went out and finally found the website.

Walk with Walgreens

Now you can walk, track your steps and get coupons to use at Walgreens. Use those coupons with sales and Walgreens register rewards and get a lot more for free.

I am very excited about this program and plan to use it. I printed off the coupon for a pedometer and created a profile. The best thing is that it is all FREE!!!

What a way to get going early on a New Years resolution or just maintain your healthy lifestyle and save money.

So, Grab your pedometer, put on your walking shoes and lets save money!!!!

Health Benefits of Vinegar

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 19:13:00 +0000

I have discovered a book called "The Vinegar Anniversary Book". It gives thousands of way that vinegar has been used. From anything to weight loss, to help arthritis pain, to clean the house.

Vinegar has been used for medical purposes since the beginning of time. Traditional Chinese Medicine has used vinegar as medicine for years. Diluted vinegar in ears has been used for ear infections in the past. It has been proven to kill dangerous bacteria on contact.

The book gives easy recipes to:
- Calm an upset stomach
- Ease leg cramps
- Soothe sprained muscles
- Control appetite to lose weight
- Relieve coughs
- Banish nausea
- Arthritis pain
- Cool sunburns
- Boost memory
- Eliminate bladder infections
- Chase away a cold
- Reduce infection
- Treat blemishes and age spots
- Replace household cleaners

I just purchased my copy from the Kindle store at $4.99. You can also get a copy direct from the pu,publisher for $19.95 plus $3.98 shipping and handling. Mail your check or money order payable to Jame direct Inc., Dept VA1047, 500 S. Prospect Ave, Box 980, Hartville, Ohio 44632.

I will be saving some money on house hold cleaners and maybe even lose these last few pounds.

Wii Active 2

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 22:28:00 +0000

I have been working out to the Wii Active 2 for a little over a week. I had some issues with the arm and leg remotes, but I think that I figured that out.

You can set up a person, just like Wii Fit and pick a trainer. It will set up a training schedule for you. You can adjust the length of the workouts to 15 minutes to 45 minutes. There are other workout sessions other than the scheduled programs.

The Wii Active 2 comes with a green exercise band, but you can set up the program to use weights instead. There is also an option to use the Wii Fit Board.

I don't like about the program is the beginning promotion always plays. If there is a way to skip it, I have not found it yet. If you know how to skip the beginning, please let me know. One other thing is that sometimes it takes forever to go to the next exercise. Once you complete the reps required on a particular exercise, it tells you that you did a great job and lets you know what the next exercise is going to be and what equipment you will need. Sometimes this takes more time than I care to wait. Which means that if you only have 30 minutes to exercise, you may want to opt for a 15 minute workout because of the time it takes in between the exercises.

I do like variety in exercise routines, so I will continue to use the Wii Active as well as The Biggest Loser Wii program, Wii Zumba, and the Wii Fit. The Dance programs are fun and will get your heart rate up. I like the Just Dance and Michael Jackson The Experience games. I just bought the Country Dance game and will be playing that in the next few days.

I do like using the Wii exercise games to help me stay in shape. Hopefully it will help me lose a few extra pounds as well. That will work if I can stop eating snickers bars after lunch.

If you have a Wii, I would recommend the Wii Active. It will exercise your muscles in a different way than the other exercise programs.

Is new technology good for us or killing us?

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:46:00 +0000

I read an article in the local newspaper last weekend about antibacterial soap and the chemical Triclosan. When I found out that Triclosan was in Colgate toothpaste, I went to my medicine cabinet and looked to see what kind I was using. Yep, it was Colgate. I promptly started reading the package. On the tube of toothpaste was a warning to stop using the toothpaste after 4 consecutive weeks.

This morning I heard the local DJ on the radio call a specialist in the area about the same subject. The specialist said that Triclosan was so bad for you that even the hospitals in the area are no longer using antibacterial soap.

This caused me to do some research. Discovery Fut & Health has a great article about antibacterial soap and Triclosan. The FDA says that it can cause issues with hormone levels and is concerned about the use of products with Triclosan, but it is not anything to worry about. The article in The Washington Post has this quote from the Deputy Director of the Center for Dug Evaluation and Research.

"For triclosan, the science is changing," Throckmorton said. "Based on what we know, we don't have evidence to suggest this chemical is a threat to human health. However, we have to understand better the health effects and we have to work with other agencies to collect that information and then decide whether or not we need to change how it's regulated."

With this new scare of yet another chemical in so many products, I wonder, is all this new technology that is suppose to help us live longer really killing us. I know that I am allergic to artificial sweeteners. Especially Aspartame. Aspartame is now in just about every gum that is made. I have to ask restaurants what kind of lemon aid they use, because most of them have aspartame.

A friend told me a couple of weeks ago that she is losing her hearing which is a side affect of drinking large amounts of caffeine. It is just crazy how much chemicals and excess consumption of anything can cause such havoc on the human body.

It really does make me want to just clean out my house of any kind of chemicals and processed foods. Of course I wouldn't have much left in my house. I have found a couple of toothpaste recipes that I may try as well as look in the Tightwad Gazette (I am pretty sure she had a toothpaste recipe in there). I will no longer buy Colgate toothpaste, and I will be using a lot of vinegar and lemon to clean my house. This will save me some money that is for sure.

Have you made any changes in your normal cleaning products because of the chemicals?

In a Lull

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 01:26:00 +0000

I want to be motivated, but for some reason the alarm keeps going off to early in the morning. That and I am trying out the Wii Active. It is great when the remotes work.

I have had the Wii Active for a while, but never opened the package. I finally decided to use it. The first day was great, but then the remotes would not sync. That and I have a burn on my arm where the arm remote is suppose to go, so I will post a full report later when my arm heals and I can get the remotes to work.

Right now I am having motivation issues. During the day I am motivated, but when it really comes down to exercising, I find all the excuses in the world not to. So, tomorrow is another day and another opportunity to get my butt out of bed and exercise.

I am also having issues with not eating very healthy. I have been so busy that I don't take time to cook. I find myself eating whatever is available. Mostly chips and cheese.

I have devised a plan for the rest of this week. Tomorrow while I am working out, I am going to put some fish in the oven to cook for lunch tomorrow. I have plenty of frozen veggies to go with the fish. On Thursday ($10.00 off day at Shop-N-Save), I will buy a roasted chicken for the rest of the week and weekend. This will save me time and money.

Stay tuned for the Wii Active review. How are you staying motivated?

Struggling

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:40:00 +0000

Sorry I have been MIA. I realized that since I have not been writing articles here and on Frugal Sisters, my health and finances have gone down the tubes. I have lost some weight and kept it off, but I am not were I want to be. I am ready to make a lot of changes.

Isn't if funny when you realize that when one area of your life gets off track that the rest of the areas follow. Not only am I struggling to get back on track financially, but physically as well. I have devised a 3 year plan to get my life back into balance.

First, pay off credit cards and loans. Since I won't be spending so much money and time shopping, I will have plenty of time to exercise and prepare healthier food. I am implementing the Sunday cooking rule, which is preparing as many meals as possible on Sunday for the week. I don't have a lot of time during the week to cook, so I will make everything on Sunday so I don't have any reason to stop at McDonald's.

The heat in my area is finally breaking (isn't it sad when 92 is cool). I will be able to get back out and work on my yard to get it ready for winter. I have 3 trees I need to cut up which will give me plenty of wood for the fireplace and will save money in heating bills. It will also get me off my butt and moving.

This blog has always kept me focused, so I plan to get back to writing again. I learn new ways to stay healthy when I help others do the same. The next article will be next week on Julia Child. I just read a book and it is very interesting.

Exercise for You

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 13:28:00 +0000

I finally had time to sit and read my new free magazine "Self". In just the first few pages I read a very good article about Deschanel. She has some really good advise about exercise and keeping your mind active.

It really does make sense to exercise to keep your body healthy. When your are active your muscles stay toned and you are able to do the same things you did when you were younger.

Deshanel recommends that you mix things up. I know I get a little bored doing the same routine over and over. I have built up enough exercise DVDs, Wii Exercise games, and equipment that I can exercise to my mood. If I don't want to exercise really hard, I do yoga or Tai Chi Chu. If I really have a good book that I want to finish and get some exercise in at the same time, I work out on the elliptical. If I want to just have some fun, I use the Wii dance or zumba. I still have plenty of Exercise DVDs like The Biggest Loser workouts, Susan Powter (she was really big in the 90s), and a few more.

This time of year is great to just get out and play yard games. Badminton, Volley Ball, or soft ball will get your heart rate up. Laughing your butt off just goofing off will burn a lot of calories.

The best thing is you can get all this for free if you have a Library Card. You can check out a new exercise video every week. You will never get bored. Yard Sale season is in full bloom. There is always exercise equipment and videos. Most store are discounting exercise equipment this time of year. If all else fails, ask for your favorite video or equipment for your birthday or start making hints for Christmas (only 182 more days left).

I like the way my body looks when I exercise regularly. I am by no means skinny. The Wii still has me in the overweight category. But I am working on being healthy inside and out. It may be a slow process, but it is working for me.

Diet and Exercise

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:31:00 +0000

As I am getting older I have learned that my body does not respond as well as it use to and some of the tricks I used before no longer work. But something must be working. While doing some retail therapy at Borders the other day, the clerk said that it looked like I had lost weight after looking at my drivers license. It was nice to hear that someone notices I had lost 10 pounds since that picture was taken.

I decided to make things simple. I am not on a special diet. I don't exercise like a crazy woman (like my sister Margaret is doing right now and she is 14 years younger than me). I am taking my own advise that I have been given on this blog.

I am cutting calories, but still having a treat every so often. I am exercising for 30 to 40 minutes 5 days a week. Right now I am doing yard work, which is a lot with 3.8 acres to take care of. But I am also taking time off to relax. I now have a wonderful screened in back patio that keeps the bugs away, but I can still enjoy being outside. In fact I am writing this from the patio now.

Watching the squirrels fight and play, the family of blue birds flying around the yard, and other birds chirping away. Occasionally Speedy the Goat chimes in (my sister Margaret's pet). I had forgotten what it was like to just sit and be with nature.

I am not losing weight like on the Biggest Loser, but slowly it is going down. I have dropped 2 pant sizes in the last 6 months and hope to drop a couple more before the end of summer.

If you are stuck and not losing, change your routine. Maybe take a day or two off, but be mindful of the calories you eat so you don't undo all the hard work you have put in. Take a nice walk in the park or a bike ride along a bike trail. Maybe get a some friends and family together and play a yard game like volley ball or bad-mitten. Go for a swim in the public pool or go to a water park. Have some fun while losing weight.

Well, off to do some more yard work so that I can enjoy it the rest of the weekend.

Sleep

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Wed, 04 May 2011 18:18:00 +0000

Reading an article from O Magazine from 2006 (yes, I am behind in my reading), I came across an article "What to do When You Are Overwhelmed". One of the questions was "What if I Don't Have Enough Time?". The answer was get enough sleep.

"But consider this disturbing fact: Sleeping even a single hour less than our bodies require reduces our cognitive capacity dramatically. Much as we try, we can't fool our bodies. Consider this statistic: Even a single hour less sleep than you need to feel fully rested takes a significant toll on your capacity to think clearly and logically when you're awake. Sacrificing sleep is self-defeating. So, what's the solution? It's not to manage your time better. It's to manage your energy. –Tony Schwartz"

I have found this to be soooo true for myself. If I don't get enough sleep because I have to get so much done in a short period of time, it actually takes me longer to accomplish the tasks. I don't think clearly, my energy is low, and I end up making more mistakes than normal.

In past articles I have proven that sleep deprivation can lead to illness, depression, and weight gain. I still have nights were my mind is so busy listing everything I need to do that I can't sleep. On those nights I try to clear my mind by closing my eyes and just concentrating on the darkness that I see. Most of the time that work, but not always.

Try to schedule your day so that you get a full nights sleep. You may just have to ask for help or say no.

Here are some other articles that may help you realize sleep is a great thing.

Sleep and weight loss

Sleep can prevent colds

Lose Weight While Sleeping

9 Habits that can make you look Older

Zumba Review

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 19:51:00 +0000

I have been hearing about Zumba for a long time and have been wanting to try it. So bought the Zumba for Wii.

I have had it for a couple of months and tried to learn the steps, but I was having a really hard time. Then the chatter from friends and family has increased in the last couple of days about Zumba. Talking with my cousin, she said that you just have to do the workouts and not do the step instructions.

I decided that I would just do it and see what happens. This morning I put in the Zumba Wii workout and went straight to the single game. It was so much fun. I didn't realize it had so many other options. And you can compete with another person or you can team up with someone and play against another team. (Margaret you are on for a game on Mother's Day.)

I really had a great workout. I am going to add it to my workout schedule. I will do the Wii Fit for a week, Wii Biggest Looser for a week, and Zumba for a week. Next month I will add the Wii Active 2. Slip some time on the elliptical and Tai Chi Chih and I think I will have plenty of variety to keep me from getting bored and my body from getting use to the same routine. I am hoping the variety in routine will help me break through the plateau I have been on for a couple of weeks.

I did gain 1 half a pound yesterday from eating a lot more than I normally do. But I only have 8 more pounds to go to get to my ideal weight. I am hoping to be at my goal by next month for my niece's wedding. I am so excited about the changes in my body and energy I now have.

It is amazing the small things I can do now without issues like crossing my legs without my foot going to sleep. Picking up limbs in the yard without feeling like I am cutting myself in half when I bend over or getting sick to my stomach. Sitting with my legs crossed and not cutting off the circulation in my legs. Just the little things I can now do without issues is amazing with only losing 10 pounds. It is just amazing.

What I learned about my own body

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 02:56:00 +0000

It is interesting how life reminds you how far you have come. A friend is having issues with arthritis. He has been dealing with it for a long time and it seems to have become worse. He asked me what I take for my arthritis. I admitted that I don't take any medications.

In 1995 I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The first thing I always do is research until I feel I have as much information as I can possibly get about the subject. I look at normal medication as well holistic success. Then I decide what is the best method for me to help my issue. I found that stress, my emotional outlook on life, and my eating habits all affected my body. At that time I was in deep financial debt, I ate a lot of fried and processed food, I was so stressed out, angry at the world, and deeply depressed. I knew that I needed to change my entire life style in order to heal my body.

I started reading books on finances, healthy eating, and spiritual awareness. I watched the Oprah Show which just started having Dr. Oz, Susie Orman, Dr. Phil, and Sarah Ban Breathnach as guests. I did whatever the books and the experts on Oprah said to do. Slowly I started getting out of debt, feeling physically healthy, and having an attitude of gratitude. I joined some different Yahoo groups to keep me accountable.

My friend has shown me that I have started down that slippery slope and that I was headed back to the life I worked so hard to get out of. He reminded me that I needed to get back to becoming balanced in all areas of my life.

In order to get back to a happier healthier life I have gone back to what helped me out the last time but with a twist. I love books and that will always help me, but I have added some fun books to my reading as well as those about health, finance, and spirit. I have added All You and O Magazine to my reading list. (It so happens that in this months O Magazine there is an article about how your emotional outlook on life can affect your health.) I watch the The Biggest Loser, The Susie Orman show, Dr. Oz, Till Debt Do Us Part, and The Big Bang Theory. Instead of Yahoo groups, I use blogs, Facebook, and Twitter to keep me accountable.

A few other things I have added to help me get back to balance are:

Meditating
Writing a list of things that I am grateful for
Exercising with the Wii, elliptical, and doing yard work
Spending time in nature either in my back yard or walking the bike trail along the river near my home
Spending time with friends and family
Helping at the women's shelter
Making sure I get enough sleep

Some books that have changed my life:

The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford
Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach
The Richest Man from Babylon by George S. Clason
The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn
You The Owners Manual by Mehmet C. Oz and Michael F. Roizen

Life can be the best thing ever or it can be miserable. It is all about the choices you make. I choose to be healthy financially, physically, and emotionally.

Motivation and Low Fat Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:21:00 +0000

I am usually at work when Kathy Lee and Hoda are on, so I didn't have any idea that they had the Joy Fit Club. It is a series of people who have lost weight through healthy eating and exercise. No specific diet program or extreme weight loss diet. They took their favorite foods and remade them into a lower healthier recipes.

Video after video of people who have gained hundreds of pounds over the years and how they lost hundreds of pounds. The best thing is that most of them confessed it took them a year or more to lose the weight. And they didn't give up, but kept working to meet their goals.

When you hit a wall or need some inspiration, go to the Joy Fit Club. Need a new way to make your favorite dish, go to the Joy Fit Club. It is amazing to see the transformations.

The Joy Fit Club

Wii Fit vs. Wii Biggest Loser

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:30:00 +0000

Earlier this month I declared my addiction to the Wii. As much as I love the TV show The Biggest Loser, I really didn't like the Wii exercise version. I decided that I would give each (Wii Fit and Wii Biggest Loser) game a week to test out which I liked best. The Wii Fit is still the winner.

There are a couple of things that really bother me with The Biggest Loser game.

For some reason (and if anyone could help me on this one I would love it!!!), I can not get the Wii to recognize that I am doing the jump rope. I have tired just about everything I can and it still will not recognize that I am doing anything. There are a couple of other exercises that I have issues with, but the jump rope is my main problem.
The moving of the Wii Fit Board in and out of position just drives me crazy. They really do need to put together an exercise routine that uses the board and then move it out of the way for the rest of the routine.
I hate when Jillian yells at me to work harder when I am actually doing the exercise, but the Wii is not indicating that nothing is happening.

Some of the things I do like are:

It is cool that you do compete against other people that have been on the TV version when doing the challenges.
You actually do weigh ins with the biggest loser scale and all.
There are different challenges to do, just like the TV version.

For the most part the Wii Biggest Loser game is a good workout, but I am still liking the Wii Fit better.

It has more games to play that make it fun to exercise.
It is fun to find out what my Wii age is for the day when you do a Body Test. (Today I am only 32, which is a lot younger than my actual age).
Over the weekend I unlocked the meditation game. I love doing that one at the end of my workout.

What I don't like about the Wii Fit:

I do have a little issue with the boxing not picking up my moves, similar to the issue of the jump rope. But it does at least still indicate that I am doing something.
I don't know if I just have not unlocked it yet, or if there is not a complete workout routine. You go through and chose an exercise, then you have to click on the next exercise. This takes a little extra time that I don't usually have in the morning.

My favorite exercises on the Wii Fit are:

Boxing
Step (Dancing)
Trying to get the bubble down the river
Jogging around the island (by the way, do you see Mareo on the bridge?)
Hula Hoop
Meditation

I am still sore after a good workout even though I have been using the Wii on a regular basis for a couple of months. It really does work your muscles even though, at the time your doing the exercises, you don't feel like you are doing anything.

Yard Sale season is just around the corner. I would keep my eye out. You could do surveys like Margaret and get enough points to use an Amazon gift card to get a Wii. It could be a present for the whole family. Great for rainy days when everyone is stuck indoors.

I am addicted to WII Fit

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 03:27:00 +0000

Hello, my name is Tina and I am addicted to Wii Fit. I have worked out with the Wii Biggest Loser, but I love love love the Wii Fit.

The Biggest Loser Wii Workout is a little frustrating when every other exercise you do you keep moving the Wii Fit board in and out of position. I get tired of moving the board when I want to just workout.

I admit that I have not explored all of the Biggest Loser workout, but I am excited to get up at 3:30 am and workout with the Wii Fit. I discovered that running around the island that on the bridge there is a picture of Mario. I am excite to see my progress.

Yes, The Biggest Loser Julian kicks my butt, just like on the show. I promise to give it a bit more time and discover all that it has to offer.

The best thing is that my Wii age on average is 10 years younger than my actual age. And I am younger than Margaret who is 14 years younger than I am.

Today I ran around the island, worked my way through the Yoga Poses and a couple of strength exercises. I have worked out at the gym with the best equipment and this workout is much harder and tones my muscles in a different way. I am amazed that doing push ups not only strengthens my arms, but my abs as well.

It is exciting to do well on exercises and find out that you have unlocked new yoga poses or other exercises. The Boxing is one of my favorites.

So, I will finish this week with the Wii Fit and next week I will work out with The Biggest Loser Wii. I will give you an update on what I discover.

Games have not been my thing. Yes I like to play Mrs. Pacman or Spider Solitaire, but I was never addicted to playing any certain game. The Wii Fit I am addicted to and love playing. I would recommend it to anyone. Of course I recommend buying it second hand, I did.

Myth Busters

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:38:00 +0000

The local newspaper had an article on "The Myths of Living Longer". I thought I would share what they had to say. I don't agree with all of them, but you can decide.

#1 Marriage Guarantees a Longer Life.
Not true. It is not married people who live longer, but married men. Yes, married men live longer, but divorce disrupts the path to living past age 70. Only a third of divorced men reach old age according to the Terman study. Women who divorced and never remarried did fine, in fact they loved long lives.

#2 Taking It Easy Adds Years To Your Life.
The Terman study subjects with the most career success were the least likely to die young. Continually productive men and women lived much longer than their more laid-back counterparts.

#3 You Can Worry Yourself to Death.
Terman's study clearly revealed that the best predictor of longevity in children was conscientiousness, being prudent, well organized, even somewhat obsessive. Adults who were thrifty, persistent, detail-oriented, and responsible lived the longest. It is believed that people who are conscientious do more to protect their health and are less likely to smoke, drink excessively, abuse drugs, or drive to fast. These people tend to have happier marriages, better friendships, and healthier work situations.

#4 Friendly, Outgoing People Thrive.
This is definitely not true. Introverted people tend to have more stable jobs, long-lasting marriages, and a responsible work ethics. Highly sociable people tend to go along with social pressures and end up with bad health habits. So don't get to concerned if your child isn't the social butterfly. It may just be a very good thing.

#5 Jocks Outlive Nerds.
Those who were athletes in high school, but became sedentary in middle years lost any longevity benefits. Being active in middle age is the key. You do not have to become obsessive, but moving is the key. Some of those in the Terman study made time for dancing, tennis, and gardening and lived very long lives.

You can find more information about the Terman study and other myths in "The Longevity Project" by Howard Friedman and Leslie Martin.

What your fingers and toes may be telling you

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:10:00 +0000

MSNBC's article about Fingers and toes gives some interesting facts of what your body is telling you about your health. Some of these facts I have heard before, others are just interesting.

There is a lot of talk and research in Britain's regarding the length of your fingers. Especially if your ring finger is longer than your index finger.

Men with longer index fingers are less likely to develop prostate cancer.
Men with longer ring finger than index fingers are suppose to be better business men and more financially savoy.
People with longer ring fingers than index is more likely to be sympathetic toward others.
Men with longer index than ring fingers are better in sports

The state of your fingernails and toes can give you hints on what is going on with the rest of your body.

Moons shown more prominently on the thumbs indicate the health of your blood. If the moons are purple, your blood is not circulating like it should. You may be prone to strokes. To increase blood flow, drink 3 cups of green tea, two tables spoons of ground flax seeds, and (my favorite) have a glass of red wine.
Spoonlike or flat nails indicates vitamin B deficiency.
Frail toe nails is a deficiency in vitamin C.
Bulging spider veins or purple veins show poor circulation and heart disease.
Nails that split, peal, or flake is an indication that you are blood deficient.
Finger nails that are clubbed or round suffer from emphysema or lung cancer

“Being blood deficient can lead to malnutrition of your external body leaving your hair, skin and nails dry,” she added. “This malnourishment is also occurring within your body creating a weaker heart, lower blood pressure and fatigue.”

So what is your fingers and toes telling you? I know that I need to drink some green tea and increase my red wine consumption.

The Wii Kicked My Butt

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:25:00 +0000

A year ago I purchased a pre-owned Wii for next to nothing. Only in the last few months have I actually taken time to use it. The Wii Fit is AWSOME!! As well as The Biggest Loser for Wii!!!

Both Wii Fit and The Biggest Loser for Wii calculate your weight and BMI. They both put together a plan to help you lose weight and stay healthy. The Wii Fit will also calculate your Wii Fit age (similar to the the Real Age that Dr. Oz uses). My Wii age is 9 years younger than my birthday years. Both programs put you through a series of exercises to find out where you are in terms of strength, balance, and endurance. Then they put together a program to help you in your weakest areas.

Yesterday I did some Yoga and strength building exercises. For the most part I did pretty good and didn't feel like I had done much of a workout. But last night and this morning I am sore. I guess I worked some muscles I didn't usually work, mostly my abs. Which means that you don't need to do endless hours of sit-ups to get a good ab workout.

I still use other workout videos and the elliptical, but now I have added Wii games and workouts. This gives me a variety to keep motivated and to work different muscles. Now that I am taking public transportation again to and from work, the extra exercise will help me reach my goal. I hope to lose the last 13 pounds by the middle of May. According to Wii and a few other charts, this will get me out of overweight and into normal weight category.

I recommend getting a Wii. This is a friends and family friendly game that is worth the money. Look for a pre-owned Wii with controllers and games in the local shopper or yard sales. It will be great to have on rainy summer days when the kids are bored. You can also have game night with friends and family.

Biggest Loser and Prevention Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 22:25:00 +0000

While in line at the grocery story I saw The Biggest Loser Prevention Guide Weight Loss Planner. I definitely suggest picking it up.

All the contestants from last season talk about losing the weight and keeping it off. It also has a lot of websites to go to and recipes to make. And you have to check out the StreetStrider.

The StreetStrider is a combination of bike and elliptical. I don't know that I could actually use the thing. But it looks like it would be a great workout.

Looking through Prevention.com and The Biggest Loser website will give you lots of tips on at home workouts, equipment, books, videos, and recipes.

I would recommend checking out the websites and if you are on FaceBook you can link up to both Prevention Magazine and The Biggest Loser.

I think I am going to try the Baked Eggs in Savory Turkey Cups this week (in the Prevention Guide).

New ways to deal with stress.

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:52:00 +0000

According to new research and the article on MSNBC "Everything you know about beating stress is wrong", eating chocolate, yelling, using your pet as a psychiatrist is what the Doctor is now ordering.

As posted on many other articles on this blog, dark chocolate is good for you and reduces stress. Even J.K. Rowling uses it to fight depression and dementors. I know some a few Hershey's Special Dark pieces always brightens my mood.

Do something you love. Meditation sometimes works for me, sometimes I am to anxious to try to clear my mind. I have a list of things to try to help destress. Read a book, go for a walk, drink wine, listen to music, just sit and watch nature or people watch, work in the garden, clean the house, make some home made bread. It works better when you combine more than one thing as an activity.

If something is really bothering you, let it out. Scream and yell into a pillow. Punch a pillow or punching bag. Make a dummy with the pillows and punch and scream at it.

After my first divorce, my therapist was my dog, Tramp. He was a good listener and always had time for me. Animals can be a better therapist than a human one. I am not saying to get a pet if you can't afford it or have time to spend with it. Maybe volunteer at an animal shelter or borrow a friends pet. You can start a part-time business walking pets. Then you can get exercise, have a therapy session, and get paid.

Don't stay up all night arguing because you were told never go to bed angry. Sometimes a good night sleep will help you see things differently and you can resolve the issue during breakfast. Maybe not that quickly, but still continue discussions the next day. Don't just forget about it and let the unresolved issue hang over your head until the next fight. Then you are just compounding anger and frustration and increasing stress.

Don't dwell in grief. I am in the process of getting a divorce, my Grandmother passed away last month, and yesterday my dog died. Yes, I have my moments of grief even years after my daughter passed away. But there is nothing I can do to bring my Daughter, Grandmother, or dog back. Dwelling on the loss will not do anything for me, family members, or friends. I miss those that I lost every day. I am grateful for the time I had with them and remember the good times. I know that I still need to live my life and I choose to live it with joy of life instead of dwelling on loss.

Find out what helps you destress that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and make it a regular activity. This not only helps you, but those who are around you. Now time for some special dark chocolate pieces. Good thing I worked out this morning.

5 Food to Eat to be Healthier

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:01:00 +0000

I was listening to Cornbread In The Morning and he is gave 5 foods that you should eat to stay healthy. Here they are:

Eating watermelon could reduce your blood pressure. Researchers found that eating watermelon extract lowered blood pressure in subjects with prehypertension.

A diet rich in walnuts could help your body deal better with stress, according to a recent study.

Dieters who consumed milk or milk products were found to lose more weight on average than those who did not. You should, of course, stick to raw milk, which is much healthier for you (Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized or homogenized).

Magnesium-rich foods such as leafy greens and nuts could help prevent diabetes. People who consume the most magnesium in foods are about half as likely to develop diabetes.

Foods rich in omega-3 fats can prevent age-related vision loss. A recent study found that older adults who ate omega-3 rich foods at least once a week were 60 percent less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

I usually eat most of these foods, especially watermelon when in season. But I am not a big fan of walnuts. But I will be picking some up at the store this weekend. I can eat a handful a day to stay healthy. I am ready for spring and a bigger variety of fruits.

Eating Habits of America

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:13:00 +0000

It is so hard to believe that this country is still considered to have an obesity problem with all the program available like the pound for pound challenge and other business sponsored programs, watching the Biggest Loser, and Wii and Xbox games. So why is America still having issues with weight?

Well, there are plenty of reasons.

Emotions that put people into comfort food binges.
Education - some people do not know what is healthy and what isn't. They have don't know what a balance diet is. They only know what they grew up eating.
Money - some people don't know how to use coupons and sale adds to save money on the groceries they buy. They just buy what is the cheapest thing in the store just to have something to put on the table.
Convenience - it is much easier and faster to go through McDonalds on the way home than to cook a meal.

I am not a big fan of politics. Yes, I do vote and I complain like most people. But in an interview Mrs. Obama was ridiculed about the food that was served at a Super Bowl party. As with just about everyone else in America, she served junk food. Her response was that everyone eats junk, but keep it in moderation. You can still have the french fries or chips, but make sure you eat fruits and vegetables. The most important, thing I think she said was that you also need to be active. Get off the couch and do something.

The weather in my area has been less than ideal. Yes, I have a WII that I bought for less than 1/2 the store price and an elliptical that I received free as reward for 15 years of working for a company. I use the equipment on a weekly basis. But I also walk in place while watching TV. Do lunges or deep knee bends. Anything just to move and because I am so tired of sitting.

I still eat potato chips and roast marshmallows in the fireplace, but I also make sure that I eat vegetables and fruit. I don't drink as much water as I should, but I do drink mostly water during the day. And yes, I do go through McDonalds and get a Happy Meal every so often. It it just enough food to keep me from feeling like I have not eaten in a week, but cheap enough that I don't blow my budget.

For the most part, I use coupons and sales to buy food. On weekends when I have plenty of time to cook, I make enough food that I put into serving size containers and eat during the week. This saves time and money. I save money by using the stove less by making multiple meals at one time, this also saves time since I only have to cook one day. I have a variety of meals to eat, so I don't get burnt out on eating the same thing everyday.

On one of the frugal blogs that I read, there was a question. Should children be taught about finances and how to budget money. I totally agree with that. And they should be taught nutrition. I have learned later in years that educating myself on issues is the best thing anyone can do for themselves. The saying "Knowledge is Power" is so true. That is why I started this blog and Frugal Sister. I knew that it would force me to learn and to implement what I learned.

Everyone needs to find what works best for themselves when it comes to putting together a budget and becoming healthy. There is no one way, but you will feel better with less debt and a healthy body. So start today. Do some research to find the best program for you. This is a great time to spend some time in the library and do some research. Then use the information you find to implement a program. You will be happy you did.

Growing Food Prices

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:19:00 +0000

A friend gave me a Maxine calendar for Christmas. Last week there was a picture of Maxine at the grocery check out counter saying something to the fact that soon everyone will be in the express lane because they won't be able to afford to purchase more than 20 items. Then it so happens that the local newspaper printed a similar article. So I did some research. It seems that food prices have been increasing since last fall. According to AgResources food prices will increase 12 to 14 percent this year.

With the six percent increase in taxes in Illinois and gas prices pushing past their highest a couple years back, I am not very excited that my grocery bill will be going up as well. So, I have started planning my garden.

The last couple of years JD at Get Rich Slowly has posted on the cost and effort of having a garden. The cost and effort vs savings was significant. Plus the food taste better and is much healthier than buying it at the local grocery store. In an blog post of January 2009, JD gave 7 tips to starting your own vegetable garden as well as a link to container gardening. At the bottom of the article was websites and book so that you can do your own research.

I gave all my canning supplies away when I married my husband. Mostly because we didn't have room or time for a garden. So, I will be starting new this year. I plan to start buying the equipment needed this month and looking for jars in the local shopper. I will be planning with Margaret's husband (who is now my neighbor) to work together sharing equipment and seeds (which is one of JD's tips). I am so ready for spring to get here.

If you want to save money on food this year, check out JD's tips and start planning.

Magazine to help you save money and become healthier

noreply@blogger.com (Tina) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:00:00 +0000

While waiting on my computer to install new applications, I read the All You magazine I just got in the mail. It has so many ways to save money and be healthy at the same time.

For instance on page 12 there are 6 ways to get discounts on or free stuff from stores like KayMart and SeaWorld. On Page 27 there are ways to save money online or download an App to your iPhone. One page 42 - 45, you find tips to help you sleep better. And on page 51 there are 5 reason to exercise in the winter. Plus there are a ton of coupons.

I am a little behind in my O Magazine reading, but in the November issue there is an article about Dos and Don'ts of Vitamin D.

The best article in the O Magazine November issue was about multitasking and how it doesn't really work. I am guilty of this in a major way. I try looking at email or Facebook while talking on the phone and I only catch half of the conversation and what I read on Facebook doesn't really sink into my brain. I am really being rude to the person on the phone and I am wasting time trying to read anything on my computer while talking on the phone. I end up re-reading the posts or emails after I am done with the phone call. So like Catherine, I am now concentrating on one task at a time. I really do save time and energy by doing this.

One other thing I found in O Magazine. Get a fee sample of Nescafe Taster's Choice instant coffee packets (similar to Starbucks VIA Ready Brew packets). You get a sample of all 6 flavors.

If you have not subscribed to All You magazine yet, you are really missing out on some good tips and coupons. Most of the articles for O Magazine are free online. Just go to www.oprah.com/omagazine.html . There are some articles that are in the magazine that are not available online. I don't read a lot of magazines, but I do read both of these every month cover to cover.