10 Natural tips to keep colds and flu at bay.

Do you know anyone that's been sick lately? I see it all the time, my clients get sick and then have to get back into their workout routine after they get well again. Here are some tips i ran across from WebMD and holisticonline.com
Wash hands. The best way to get rid of everyday germs is to wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Plain soap is best. We hear this so much don't we.
Get enough rest. Sleep plays a crucial role in the body's recovery and repair cycle; when people don't get enough sleep, they compromise their defense systems. We run ourselves down by keeping such hectic schedules.
Think clean. Clean surfaces frequently shared with others, such as stair rails, telephones, computer keyboards, counter tops and door knobs, in order to avoid hand to hand spreading of viruses. They even have antibacterial wipes by the grocery carts.
Freshen the air. Germs hand around in stagnant air. Make it a habit to open the windows for a few minutes several times a day to allow fresh air to circulate. I do this one all the time.
Think food first, rather than supplements. Eating healthy and naturally provides a whole nutritional package, comprising a combination of nutrients. Relying on supplements entails ingesting isolated vitamins and minerals that may pass through the body unabsorbed. Unless of course you have been tested to see what your body absorbs.
Use garlic when cooking. Garlic has antibacterial properties and helps detoxify the body. Makes the whole house smell but well worth it.
Drink herbal teas. Teas containing Echinacea, astragalus and licorice root boost the immune system and help inhibit viral and bacterial growth. Even if your not a tea drinker, you should be able to find one out there that you can drink if not for the taste then for the benefit.
No hands touching the face. Most cold and flu viruses enter the body through the eyes, nose or mouth. This is a hard one, even after i typed it i found myself rubbing my eye.
Exercise with gusto. Aerobic exercise speeds up the heart and makes us breathe faster, supplying the body with more oxygen, which in turn, helps increase the body amount of natural virus-killing cells. Of course i love this one :)

Is there something you need but really didn't want to buy it for a one time use?

I ran across this site in Natural Awakenings magazine, www.sharesomesugar.com (although it looks like it would imply something different) and its an online community of people seeking to share or borrow items they occasionally need and would rather not buy, from ladders to carpet steamers and party chairs to kayaks. For those ware of letting just anyone borrow, for example, their sewing machine or pressure washer, the website suggests how users can create sharing groups, based on Facebook friends or email addresses, to collaborate within their already established community. For others they say getting to know new people can be part of the fun.

Do you know anyone that has had gastric bypass?

If you know of anyone that has had gastric bypass surgery and needs a support group to discuss current issues on eating, emotional support and participate in an exercise program, please forward this information to them.
Success for Life! Improve your success through focused discussions and counseling.
When: Tuesdays biweekly 6-8pm
Where: 115 S 26th St, Colorado Springs
Space is limited.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with bypass clients and has had the surgery.
Business owner and former surgery patient.
Myself Certified Personal Trainer
Nutritionist TBA
To sign up go to www.4ubypasssupport.com

Time is running out, 1st time client specials will expire.

If you have been thinking about getting into shape and don't know where to start, the first step you take is don't wait till the first of the year to get started. Don't gain another 5-10lbs between now and the first only to get started on your workout routine and your New Years resolution. Create a healthy you now, still enjoy the holidays and feel better about your weight loss or living healthy goals. How many times has one made a New Years resolution only to go back to their old ways a couple weeks into it? Don't set yourself up for failure. What makes you less important today than the first day of January?
I am changing up my business and will be doing away with first time client specials, so until the end of the 2010 i will honor all specials out there. Currently the specials include;
$39.99 for 8 Get Fit Camp classes value of $72 (pricing will change in 2011).
$59.99 for 3 Private Personal Training sessions value of $150
$159 for 8 Semi Private Personal Training sessions value of $200

Gift certificates are also available, for every $100 you will get an additional $50. Give the gift of health this year and do something special for yourself or a loved one.

The crime vs the punishment; is it worth it?

The Crime: Number of calories in Chili's Jalapeno Smokehouse Bacon Burger with Jalapeno Ranch.
2, 140
The Punishment: 3.25 hours you would have to play backyard football and thats not bench time.

Belly up to the bar. How many calories are in your drink?

In Dec 2010 Men's Health Magazine, they posted some popular alcoholic drinks and their respective calories. Thought it might interest you.
5oz white wine 100 This is what i drink, which looks like the best for you calorie wise
5oz red wine 105
5oz lite beer 103
2oz martini 119
4.6oz bloody mary 120
12oz beer 146
7oz gin and tonic 189
7oz screwdriver 189
6.3oz margarita 327 Remember this one when you are at happy hour and getting 2 for 1
12oz rum and coke 361

Do you drink more than 2 soda's a week? New study...

Sinister soda: Do your pancreas a favor-skip the sugary soft drinks. Chugging two or more sodas a week could raise your risk of pancreatic by 87% over that of people who don't drink soda, a study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention reveals.

The sugar in soda spikes insulin levels and repeated insulin spikes may promote cancer in pancreatic cells.



You may say; 2 sodas a week isn't bad, i used to drink..... there is quite a bit of sugar in those sodas. It's all in the choices we make and the chances we take.

Are you an obese male?

According to George Washington University, the annual cost for a obese male is $2,646, thats 53 private personal training sessions or 106 semi private sessions or 294 get fit camps.
That was just a blurb out of Men's Health so i'm not sure what the cost entails but i bet there is alot more to it, when you start talking health issues etc

Fight Cholesterol with Fat

According to the Annals of Internal Medicine; researchers found that dieters who limited their carbohydrate intake to vegetable sources-but filled up on protein or fat-had 20% higher levels of HDL (good) cholesterol after 6 months. The scientists speculate that the change may be due to the increase in fat consumption, which can boost HDL levels.
So hold the bun, help your heart and cutting carbs can boost your HDL.

Hit the Greens

Here's another reason to load up on produce; a daily serving of leafy green vegetables may lower your risk of type 2 diabetes by 14 %, notes a study review in the British Medical Journal. Polyphenols in vegetables like cabbage and spinach may help ward off the oxidative stress that can lead to diabetes. For an easy side, steam them and drizzle with olive oil.

Do you have any family members that have diabetes? It can control your life if you don't get it under control. My mother and older brother both passed away from complications of the disease and my younger sister also has diabetes. So many other complications can grow from getting the disease.

Find ways to prevent you from getting the disease, its much easier than having to deal with the complications of it once you have it. Exercise regularly, eat smaller meals throughout the day to keep your blood sugar level and find healthy avenues of stress relief are all ways to possibly ward off getting the disease.

Margo from Private Quarters says.....

Wanda, love, love, love this topic. We spend one-third of our lives in bed so how well we sleep is important. Supporting your back and your neck is critical. I actually have a pillow lender program so my customers can get the perfect pillow. I've never had a return!!! I started that after hearing about people with 125+ pillows in their closets that they couldn't return! Can you imagine?!?!? One of the reasons I got involved with Private Quarters bed and bath linens is b/c we noticed a HUGE improvement in our sleep comfort with our first purchased Private Quarters mattress cover. So, next time we talk, ask me why it's NOT all about high thread count when looking for a soft, high-quality, cotton sheet. You can have the lowest quality 1200 thread count sheet if you don't know what you're really looking for...

Give the gift of health to those you love. $150 for $100

Do you need an idea for xmas? Do you have a family member or loved one that won't take the initiative to care for themselves? Give your mom or wife the gift of love. Invest $100 and get an additional $50 to get them started. Offer good until 12/17/10. Buy here on the blog to take advantage of the offer. You will get $100 certificate and i will issue the additional $50 after purchase.

Healthier lunch on school menu: Trouble on the Tray

Good morning all. I was reading USA today as i was enjoying yet another hotel continental breakfast this morning and there was an article talking about a bill approved to improve the safety and nutritional value of food served at schools. The bill will allow for schools to get RID of the junk food. Well it allows them to get rid of it, but will they actually take a positive step forward and DO it? I certainly hope so, they get enough junk food without eating it in the educational environment too.
I wonder how many parents will actually object to the bill, citing their children have rights too. The childhood obesity rate just keeps rising, maybe this will chip away at it just a bit.

How is your bed treating your body?

I am out of state waiting anxiously to attend a think tank mastermind group tomorrow and as i sit here on the bed doing some computer work in yet another hotel room (I had a house fire in Sept so i live in a hotel for a couple more weeks that is), i was thinking about how much time we actually spend in bed and if you get your 8 hours sleep then you spend a third of your life in bed. That is quite a bit of time.

Since I've been traveling and living in a hotel I've been very conscious about bedding and i miss what once was my bed. Can't wait for the new one to arrive. I've been very fortunate that the bed in my hotel (home) is actually very comfy. But i do remember the many years ago when i had a water bed and many back problems to go along with it. I thought my water bed was great for my back until i actually bought a mattress that supported me.

There are so many options out there to choose from in bedding and pillows. If you have been hanging on to the same old pillow you've had for years you may want to think about trading it in for a newer model. Also if your sleeping in a sinkhole, make sure you are rotating your mattress, you get more years out of it and possibly out of your back too.

Be good to your body and you will be amazed at how it will be good to you.