Are YOU Grateful?

I just spent a few days in the hospital - as a visitor - and it's made me even more grateful for my health. I'm not getting any younger and all things physical aren't as easy and I often experience some level of discomfort or pain, but I'm upright and independently mobile so I'm way ahead of the game compared to a good percentage of folks I've seen lately.

Then I got home and found 5 Reasons Not To Be An Ungrateful Bastard over at Ending the Grind. The post is really good and well worth reading but what hit closest to home for me was one of the comments where Adrienne said:

"Until you’ve been around death and sickness a LOT, you just won’t get it. I’m grateful to be healthy and given a chance to have another day on this earth."

It's so easy to take health for granted. How often do you actually stop and think about your health when it's good? Poor health demands your attention, but good health is much quieter.

So if your health is good, show some gratitude, ok? And if it's not so good, do whatever you can to improve your condition.

How to Have a Full Life

I so enjoy the email newsletter I get from Morna McEver Golletz each week. She always has helpful info and an interesting story to share. A recent newsletter contained the following food for thought:

Morna McEver Golletz is the founder and CEO of the International Association of Creative Arts Professionals where creative arts entrepreneurs craft business success. Her weekly e-zine offers tips, techniques and inspiration to help you craft business success from your creative arts passion. You can sign up for a FREE subscription at http://www.creativeartsprofessionals.com.

Affordable Care Less Affordable Under the Affordable Care Act

I just did some research and found that "affordable care" will actually cost me twice as much under ObamaCare. So...how is that "affordable"? In addition, not only is the cheapest plan available to me in 2014 more than double what I could have in 2013, I'll also have far fewer choices - from the current 27 down to only six! These screenshots from eHealth comparing my 2013 and 2014 choices tell the story better than I can.

2013 - 27 plans starting at $226/mo

2014 - 6 plans starting at $456/mo

But won't I get a tax credit to help pay for my health insurance? At this exact point in time, NO. Why? Because I live in a Medicaid-expansion state and my income is below 138% of the federal poverty level, so I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE - in my current situation, if I want to avoid Medicaid, I can either buy health insurance privately or pay the penalty for being uninsured.

Now let's do the math...

The lowest-priced plan available for me in 2014 is $456/month, which comes to $5472 per year, which is a hefty chunk of change for a couple with an income of less than $20,000. If I refuse to play and choose to pay instead, my penalty for 2014 will be about $200. Hmm. Nearly $5,500 or $200 - sure doesn't take a financial genius to figure this one out!

Let me be clear - I am not currently eligible for premium assistance because I qualify for Medicaid. Well, that's great! It's free health care, right? NOT! I will not be forced onto Medicaid for one very good reason that you can read about in a previous post.

So...what to do? Well, fortunately I don't have to decide today. In fact, this first year only, I have until the end of March to figure it out. And I do have a few ideas, which I'll share as they unfold.

Have you figured out how YOU will fare under ObamaCare?

Urgent ObamaCare Warning for Lower Income Folks 55 and Over

Attention lower-income adults 55+ in the USA - you may be forced onto Medicaid under ObamaCare! That’s right - if you're uninsured and your income qualifies you for Medicaid, you don’t have a choice.

Health care at no cost to you – what’s not to like? Well, it’s called estate recovery. And if you end up a member of a managed care organization it’s even worse. And where I live, everyone on Medicaid is managed by Partnership HealthPlan, which is a managed care organization that administers California’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, in some counties.

Well, here’s a little tidbit from Partnership HealthPlan’s Member Handbook, page 18, “The State of California must seek repayment of Medi-Cal benefits from the estate of a deceased Medi-Cal beneficiary for services received on or after the beneficiary’s 55th birthday. For Medi-Cal beneficiaries enrolled (either voluntarily or mandatorily) in a managed care organization, the State must seek recovery of the total premium/capitation payments for the period of time they were enrolled in the managed care organization. Additionally, any other payments made for services provided by non-managed care providers will also be recovered from the estate.”

If you’re going to die with nothing, I guess this doesn’t affect you. If you’ve worked and saved to amass a few assets to leave to your kids despite the fact that your income happens to be under 138% of the federal poverty level, you’re screwed. Well, I guess technically it’s your kids that are screwed.

But don’t take my word for it. I’m no expert and it would be nice if someone could prove all my research has been in error. Just do a Google search for ‘Medicaid estate recovery’ and see what you find. But be sure to dig deep and also find what the rules are in your state – some just recover for long-term care as required by the feds while others (like California) recover for everything. And be sure not to confuse Medicaid with Medicare, which currently isn’t part of the estate recovery scene.

Bottom line is that if you are 55 or over and get signed up for Medicaid, whether voluntarily or not, you are agreeing to your state recovering anything spent on your behalf through the program. Even if you NEVER use Medicaid one time, if you're a member of a managed care organization, you will be accruing indebtedness to the state each month (through capitation payments for your managed care) that may be recovered from your estate. So before you apply for your mandatory ObamaCare, you’d best be figuring out whether you’re going to be forced onto Medicaid and what your long-term consequences are.

So...what's your plan for dealing with ObamaCare?

WhoKnew Cookie Review

I recently had a $5 CVS extra bucks coupon that I had to spend before it expired and went into the store planning to buy Oreos. Well, Oreos were not on sale but right next to them was a similar looking cookie that was! WhoKnew is supposed to be a healthy Oreo alternative, I guess. So...two packs of WhoKnew for $5 or one pack of Oreos for $5.79...not too hard to decide!

But how do WhoKnew cookies taste? Well, they're definitely NOT Oreos. But they are a decent substitute. The cookie part is fine but the filling is...gritty. My sweetie said it was like eating chalk but I think it may be more like crushed up calcium pills. Never having eaten either, I can't say for sure.

What I like best about WhoKnew cookies is that you CAN have just a few. A serving size is three cookies and that's plenty. It took us a couple days to go through the one pack that sat open on the counter within easy reach of four snackers, so what does that tell you?

I've often wondered what kind of addictive ingredient is in Oreos. I mean, is it just the high fructose corn syrup that makes you crave more and more and more...or do they put something more sinister in there, too? Seriously, can you eat just one? Can you eat just one package?

Substituting WhoKnew cookies for Oreos will save us calories (we'll eat less) and maybe even give us a little nutritional boost. Who knew?

Fidgeting for Weight Loss

I'm just finishing up a really interesting class through Coursera on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Health. During the past week, we've been studying energy balance and how calories are burned both during activity and at rest at various rates depending on individual metabolism and other factors. This got me to thinking about fidgeting. Can increasing your fidgeting help with weight maintenance or weight loss?

I remember being told as a kid to stop fidgeting. After all, what teacher wants a fidgety kid? It's disruptive to the rest of the class, right? I wasn't particularly fidgety so it wasn't a problem for me to stop. But now I think I'm sorry I did. How many calories would I have burned over the past 40+ years if I had continued to fidget?

Right here on the home front, we have an example of how this works in real life. We're all in our 50s now (there are five in our little non-random sample) and experiencing various rates of middle-age spread, some more than others. After I got onto this whole fidgeting thing, it occurred to me that the one member of our little group who has gained the least weight with age is the one who is fidgety. He rarely sits still. I've been watching him closely over the past few days and now it's no secret to me why he eats more than the rest of us but isn't getting broader.

I realize fidgeting isn't the whole story here. There are many other factors involved in weight maintenance but I think increasing my level of fidgeting is worth considering. Like any other habit, it seems fidgeting can be learned so I think I'll start swinging my foot while sitting here at the computer with my legs crossed and see how it goes for me.

A Different Take on Alzheimer's Disease

"People think it's a terrible tragedy when somebody has Alzheimer's. But in my mother's case, it's different. My mother has been unhappy all her life. For the first time in her life, she's happy."

~ Amy Tan

Belly Fat Blues

I just started Nutrition and Physical Activity for Health through Coursera and found that measuring your waist to help screen for possible health risk is NOT the same as measuring for clothing size. Dang! If I measure correctly, I'm teetering on the brink of too fat around the middle. So now I'm signing the belly fat blues.

I've been measuring my waist for close to 50 years. My mom taught me to sew as a kid and my baby doll pajamas even won third place in the adult division at the county fair when I was only 8. I also took sewing in high school (remember Home Ec?) so I learned how to properly take measurements under the watchful eye of Mrs. Giovanetti. Well, from a belly fat measuring perspective, I've been doing it all wrong.

How to measure belly fat

Measuring for clothing is easy. Just wrap the tape around the smallest part of your middle and don't cheat by pulling too tight. That's it. Measuring your waist circumference for health assessment happens in a whole different area - lower, where you have more girth. Yikes! So instead of being a couple inches below the danger zone, I'm right at the limit with no wiggle room.

If you'd like to be depressed, too, just grab your trusty dusty tape measure and raise your shirt...and you'll probably have to lower you pants, as well. Feel around on your hip bones slightly to the front, looking for the highest spot of the bend. Don't cheat by feeling the highest part toward the back or your measurement will be wrong. Once you've found the right spot, measure around with your tape level. NOTE: You'll be measuring below the navel.

How fat is too fat?

Risk of things like heart disease and Type 2 diabetes goes up once your waist exceeds 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men. Remember - a larger waist doesn't automatically mean that you'll have health problems, only that you're at higher risk.

So am I too fat around the middle? Yep - probably so. I've always carried weight around my middle and this hasn't improved with age. Now I just hope the class gives me some doable ideas to edge back away from the precipice!

Care to join me?

Interested in Nutrition and Physical Activity for Health? It's not too late to sign up for this 6-week class, and it's free. Hope to see you there!

Would You Rescue a Drowning Child?

Well? Would you? Of course, you say! But do you even know how to tell if someone is in trouble? Can you identify a drowning victim in time to save them? Only if you know what to look for. And you probably DON'T!

Say what? Yes, once again we've all been Hollywooded up. Did you know that what you've seen on movies and television to depict drowning is usually 100% FALSE? You know how they wave and sputter and call for help? NOT TRUE! In fact, except in rare circumstances, doing any of these things is impossible for a person who is drowning.

Excerpt from article on Slate.com:

"Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may just look like they are treading water and looking up at the deck. One way to be sure? Ask them, “Are you all right?” If they can answer at all—they probably are. If they return a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them. And parents—children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why."

If you knew all this already, great! But it was news to me. So head on over to Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning on Slate.com to find out what drowning really looks like so that you can be prepared to recognize trouble and rescue the victim - you'll likely have less than a minute to get them out of the water! And please pass the Slate.com article link on to everyone you know.

How the Food Industry Hijacks Your Health

Eat 'real' food!

Please Note: The following is reprinted with permission from the author, Stacey Curnow. I receive Stacey's Special Delivery ezine (link at bottom) and recommend that you sign up, too.

- and Ways to Protect Yourself

Do you ever think eating real foods in the right amounts and at the right times can be a lot of work?

Well, yes, it is work.

Making healthy choices takes energy – but as I've said before (and I'll probably say again), whether you take steps to address them or not, problems generally require you to expend mental energy no matter what (in this case, by making you stress about your weight and body image), so you might as well apply that energy to a solution.

So if you're worried about your diet, why not expend that energy in an area that'll lead to more benefit for you and your health? It does mean doing some work, but it doesn't mean you'll have to struggle. And it DEFINITELY doesn't have to be confusing.

Why won't it be confusing? Because eating – the most natural thing in the world – only becomes confusing and difficult when we have external rules to follow and we aren't following the wisdom of our own bodies.

So my suggestion for you is for you to forget every food "rule" you've ever heard and just remember this truth: You can trust your inner wisdom when it comes to fueling your body with the right food, at the right time and in the right amount.

So why does it seem so hard? One of the main reasons is that we get DISCONNECTED from our bodies' natural wisdom. We go on complex diets, we agonize over calories, we even subject ourselves to a lot of sophisticated medical tests to see if we're allergic or sensitive to the foods we eat. But none of that is necessary if we reconnect with our bodies. Make that connection, and all you have to do is pay attention after you eat.

Of course, the industrial food industry has made paying attention very difficult. They do better when you eat more of stuff that's cheap to produce. And so they've tinkered with some very unhealthy foods to make them taste absolutely delicious and practically addictive.

So the first step to getting connected with your body is cutting out all processed food. Once you've done that, you can become a research scientist investigating food. Pay attention to what happens to you after you eat – how you feel, how you act – and you'll soon reach some conclusions about the best foods for fueling your body. Trust me – if you don't know now, the knowledge will come as you put your food to this simple test.

As you make your discoveries, don't be blinded by preconceptions about "good" or "healthy" food. Not any one diet is ideal for everyone. I have friends and clients who eat widely varied diets – from vegan, to mostly raw (but including wild-caught fish and beef from pasture-fed cows), to Paleo (meaning mostly meat, nuts and veggies, and practically no grains), to Mediterranean (my choice). All of these diets involve eating vastly different "fuel foods," and all are perfectly healthy.

They do have a common thread, though. Look these diets over, and you'll see that a good fuel food is whole (meaning unprocessed, meaning probably NOT out of a package), is fresh, and tastes great.

That said, there are some foods that tend to be very problematic, so I want you to pay special attention if you eat them.

There are not many times when I say NEVER do something, but this is one. I would like you to NEVER consume these two things: Diet Soda/Artificial Sweeteners and Specially Prepared "Fat Free" or "Diet Foods."

Why not? First the skinny on diet sodas and artificial sweeteners:

There is TONS of research that PROVES that sodas make people fat and sick.

And that diet drinks may be even worse than regular sugar sweetened sodas!!

How does that happen? Well the upshot is that artificial sweeteners are hundreds to thousands of times sweeter than regular sugar. That's a good thing, right? No. These sweeteners activate our genetically programmed preference for sweet tastes more than any other substance. Then they trick your metabolism into thinking sugar is on its way. In response, your body pumps out insulin, the fat storage hormone, which lays down more fat. Yikes!

This sweetener-fueled insulin boost also confuses and slows your metabolism down, so that you burn fewer calories every day. It makes you hungrier. It makes you crave even more sugar and starchy carbs like bread and pasta.

Bottom line: Diet drinks are not good substitutes for sugar-sweetened drinks. Artificial sweeteners increase cravings, weight gain, and Type 2 diabetes. And they are addictive.

Okay. Now for the "Low/No Fat" or "Diet Food" Industry. This is what you need to know: Eating Fat Does NOT Make You Fat. The diet and food industry has brainwashed us to think fat-free foods help keep us from getting fat, which seems like common sense. Eating fats makes you fat. Right? But the science tells us otherwise, i.e. not ALL calories are created equal.

And even though fat has more calories per gram (9 calories versus 4 calories for carbs and protein), eating good quality fat can help you lose weight. This low-fat idea was based on bad science. But the food industry was happy to respond by creating a flood of fat-free foods.

The big problem is that the fat is replaced with flour and sugar, and eating large amounts of flour and sugar wreaks havoc on our hormones, like insulin, and correlates with diabesity – that's obesity coupled with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, a combination that – according to integrative physician Mark Hyman – now affects one in two adults and one in four teenagers.

Bottom Line: The key point here is that all calories are NOT the same. Swap out sugar and starch for good fats such as nuts, avocados, olive oil, and grass-fed animal products or wild fish. Focus on quality real food and the rest takes care of itself.

NOW: Having talked about the foods that I believe you should absolutely eliminate from your diet, I want to talk about the 7 Foods that you may want to eliminate or greatly reduce from your diet because many, many people tend to be "Highly Sensitive" to them. They are:

1. Wheat
2. Dairy
3. Eggs
4. Soy
5. Corn
6. Peanuts
7. Sugar

If you eat any of them frequently, I would recommend that you eliminate them from your diet for two to three weeks (if this seems impossible, then eliminate one at a time), and document closely how you feel.

If you notice an improvement in your digestion or your metabolism, or overall feeling of well-being within a week, I would ask you to eliminate them from your diet from now on, or add them back in small amounts as a "test."

If you notice a return of unpleasant symptoms, and you want to feel completely well, you know what to do, right? Will replacing them require some work? Will it require some energy? Yes. Could replacing them give you more energy than you've ever had? Yes, absolutely.

One last thing: I have eliminated most of the foods I mentioned above, with a notable exception being sugar.

So why haven't I eliminated sugar, given all the evidence against it?

Well, because I enjoy it too much, and I think "joy eating" is a happy and healthy part of my diet. I'd say it makes up about 10% of my food intake on a daily basis.

And until I have more problems – or really, ANY problems – with my health, I'm not going to eliminate it.

But BELIEVE ME when I tell you that if I had even so much as the sniffles, or I felt it brought me down into a consistent brain fog, or it led to perpetual mindless eating, I would.

And that's my last word on this subject. If you feel that more than 10% of your daily intake of food falls into the "joy eating" category, then the simple fact is you need to look to other areas of your life for joy.

I promise, as soon as you add more joy to your life away from the table, you will no longer look to food for joy.

Stacey Curnow
Midwife for Your Life

Reprinted with permission from the author, Stacey Curnow. If you like this article and you want to give birth to your BIG dreams, sign up to receive her FRE*E eZine, Special Delivery, at http://www.staceycurnow.com/blog/hello-and-welcome/.

How to Stay Young

Well, I'm now firmly into my mid-50s. That's right - I just turned 55. For those who remember the roll out of the National Maximum Speed Law way back in the 1970s...that's kind of how I feel - seems like someone is trying to slow me down! I may even qualify for the senior discount at a few places. How did this happen?

But what does the speed limit have to do with staying young? Not much, but I thought the sign was a cute addition to this post. What I really wanted to share is a cool thing I thought of that anyone can do to help them stay younger.

Have a physical assessment

I recently watched a physical therapist do an assessment of an 83-year-old woman and was impressed with how much he could tell about her condition just from feeling her spine. No x-rays, no scans, no nothing - simple touch. How non-invasive is that? Anyway, it got me to thinking - might it be smart to have an assessment now, while I'm young enough to take some corrective action if I have any problems brewing? Why wait until I'm actually old to find out I could have prevented some pain and immobility? Do I want to be confined to a lift chair? Do I want to use a walker? No! So I made an appointment and had a full assessment done. Happy Birthday to me!

The results were surprising. It seems I stand a little crooked - kind of lower at the left shoulder with my head leaning slightly to the left and forward. I also have some hip issues. So what to do? Well, it's surprisingly simple - a few easy exercises for the hips and some posture work in the mirror. There were several other suggestions, as well, that I will incorporate into my daily routine but the biggies for avoiding problems down the line are the posture adjustment and hip exercises.

Make an appointment today!

When you call to make an appointment, don't be surprised if they don't have a clue what you're talking about. I know my local physical therapist didn't, but he thought it was a great idea. And yes, you can refer yourself - at least for just one or two visits. And yes, you'll probably have to pay for it yourself (my 1.5 hour appointment was $96) but it is well worth the cost for the physical therapist's expertise. So get on the phone now so that you can find out how you can avoid problems in the future and stay as young as possible. Trust me - you want to do this!

Are YOU Flossing Correctly?

We all know how important it is to floss, right? I developed a daily flossing habit over 25 years ago and have been consistent ever since. Now I find out I'm doing it WRONG. What? How difficult is it to run floss between your teeth correctly? Well, my technique isn't the problem - it's my routine. I always floss before I brush. Doesn't everyone? Isn't that the way it's supposed to be done? Apparently not.

According to an article on Yahoo Health, you're supposed to floss AFTER you brush. And don't rinse until after you're done flossing. So now I have to develop a whole new routine. Dang! I hate change! But I tried the new way last night and it worked just fine. And I can see the sense of flossing after brushing now that it's been so clearly and concisely explained. Anyway, from now on, here's what you need to do if you want to floss correctly:

Brush your teeth but don't rinse.
Floss your teeth.
Rinse.

See? Not too hard.

Will Walk for Food - One Easy Way to Increase the Effectiveness of Your Weight Loss and Fitness Efforts

Do you want to know an easy way to increase the effectiveness of your diet and exercise efforts? Get some aerobic exercise BEFORE you eat each morning. Yep - that’s it. My big tip. But does it work?

A Little Backstory

Several months ago, I read about some little-known tips that shave pounds over at myhealthnewsdaily.com. Number four on the list was aerobic exercise before breakfast. According to Dr. Kathleen Hickey, a bariatric physician,

This is when your insulin level should be its lowest, and therefore the energy for the workout has to come from fat. Whenever insulin levels are elevated — which is nearly most of the rest of the day given how frequently Americans eat — fat stores are protected and cannot be used for energy.

Well, this was certainly news to me! So what to do? Go for a little fitness walk each morning before I eat anything. Yes, I WILL walk for food.

But is it Working?

Yes! I was more interested in improved fitness than weight loss, but I always pack on a few pounds over the winter and this year I haven’t. In addition, I am eating whatever I want, whenever I want. The biggest advantage, however, is that I actually get out and walk every day – rain or shine, sleet or snow (gee, maybe I should work for the postal service!) – no breakfast until I do, no excuses.

But Will it Work for YOU?

I don’t see why not. Just make sure you set yourself up for success.

• Pick an aerobic activity that is easy for you to do every morning. For me, it’s walking.
• Have the right gear. For me, proper COMFORTABLE footwear is a must. That means good boots in the winter and light shoes with ample support in the summer.
• Step up your game over time. To get even more benefit from my morning walk, I’ve added a few hills and increased the distance. I also made myself a weight belt from some ankle weights to wear around my waist, giving me the benefit of carrying extra weight without undue strain on my knees.

So what are you waiting for? Make a plan and start getting some aerobic exercise tomorrow BEFORE breakfast. (FYI: This includes no sugar or cream if you drink coffee or tea before exercising.) And if what you try doesn’t seem to work for you, try something else! Consistency is the key, so find what fits into your real life and make it a habit.

NOTE: If you are diabetic, this tip is NOT for you!

Easy Way to Lose Weight in 2012

So, how are you doing with your weight loss goals so far this year? If you're like many hopeful dieters, maybe not so good. In fact, if you made a resolution to lose weight in 2012, you're likely to have slipped more than once by now. But don't despair! There are easy ways to lose weight - really!

First, let's talk about how weight is lost or gained. I ran across The Key to Your Weight Loss New Year’s Resolution which states:

Despite the grim statistics that say most won’t lose weight, you have to know that you can. The body obeys, without fail, certain laws. The laws of body that govern weight loss are simple in concept:

* If you consume less calories and exercise more, you will lose weight.

* If you consume more calories and exercise less, you will gain weight.

* If your calorie consumption and activity level stay the same, your weight will not change.

Period.

Ok - so how simple is that? Now all you have to do is figure out how to effortlessly move into the first category, which I would like to amend to be "consume less calories and/or exercise more" because you can still lose weight doing just one or the other but doing both will speed up the process.

Now for my easy way to lose weight.

Substitute. That's right, a single, simple substitution can add up big over time. For instance, about 25 years ago I switched to fat-free (skim) milk simply because it had fewer calories and I realized I could lose weight with no effort on my part.

How did this work? Well, I typically drink one 8-ounce glass of milk each day. According to the CalorieKing website, non-fat milk has 91 calories, reduced fat (2%) milk has 122 and whole milk has 147. As I was already drinking low fat milk, my switch to skim saved me 11,315 calories per year. At approximately 3,500 calories to lose one pound, this simple substitution equates to over 3 pounds lost weight for the year.

While this may no seem like much, remember that it was effortless. Also, consider how this single change adds up over time. Over 10 years, we're talking 30 pounds! And if I had switched from whole milk to skim, my weight loss would be nearly double.

Yes, there is a disclaimer!

For this easy weight loss tip to work, you can't be making up for the calorie reduction elsewhere. But you knew that, right? So no extra helpings at meals or added snacks or desserts just because you're feeling all virtuous, ok?

This easy weight loss tip works everywhere!

Another substitution that has saved me big over time is my hamburger fix. I don't have them too often but I do love hamburgers. So how can you save calories on this high calorie item?

Well, my preferred fast-food hamburger comes from Burger King and I ALWAYS opt for the Whopper Jr instead of the regular Whopper. Calorie savings? Almost half (340 vs 670). If I have just one hamburger per month, there's over a pound saved during the year. And I knew I was a total success the day I got my Whopper Jr and thought they'd given me the wrong sandwich because it was SO BIG!

So where can you make simple changes that will save you big on calories over the course of the year? Look at the foods you eat regularly and see if there are painless, calorie-saving substitutions you can make to lose weight now and keep it off in the future.

And if you'd like more ideas and inspiration for losing weight, check out
The Over-50's Guide to Losing Weight and Keeping it Off. And no, you don't have to be over 50 to read it!

Please note: I reviewed the guide previously and I liked it enough to sign up as an affiliate. So if you click on a link and buy the guide, a portion of your purchase will go to me.

Yes, YOU CAN Lose Weight After 50



How to lose weight after 50.


Who wants to lose weight in 2012? Or, even if you don’t want to lose weight, who wants to be less flabby in 2012? Yep, that’s what I thought - YOU do. Me, too! While I don’t actually need to lose weight any more (been there, done that plenty over the past 40 years), I sure would like what I have to be firmer (and positioned a little higher up would be nice, too - gravity can be so unkind!).

But is it even possible to lose weight after 50? Or does the 50+ metabolism slow to a snail’s pace and prevent you from shedding even a few pounds? Actually, the answer to the first question is YES. In fact, losing weight after 50 (or at any age) is simple. Not easy, but simple. Losing weight is a matter of consuming fewer calories than you use. Period. See? It is simple. But I know from personal experience that it is anything but easy!

How to Lose Weight After 50

Josh Farrell is a regular 50+ guy who shares his weight loss experience and advice in The Over-50's Guide to Losing Weight and Keeping it Off. Full of tips and nuggets of wisdom, Josh’s guide gave me a lot of food for thought. Keep in mind that I have dieted off and on for over 40 years. I’ve counted calories, I’ve counted carbs, I’ve done liquids, I’ve eaten just certain foods or at just certain times - if there’s a weight loss diet out there, I’m sure I’ve tried a rendition of it at some point. But what I found in the Over-50s Guide was refreshing. Not new, necessarily, but refreshing.

You see, Josh’s approach to weight loss is more about attitude than rules. And yes, what I have learned over the years is that losing weight, and then maintaining your ideal weight, requires a change in your attitude toward food. Or maybe your relationship with food is more accurate. But anyways, Josh has it covered.

What I Like About the Over-50s Guide

First off, the Over-50s Guide has a nice layout - landscape orientation for reader-friendly column width and easy-to-read font size, which I especially appreciate with my aging eyes. Secondly, Josh clearly presents his no-nonsense, doable approach to weight loss. Third on my list of things to like about the guide is that it is concise - no fluff or filler to pad the page count and waste my time. And fourth, the guide is reasonably priced at just $9.98. Good job, Josh!

What You Won’t Find in the Over-50s Guide

If you’re looking for the latest fad or some magic trick to lose weight, then this guide is NOT for you. Josh presents simple, practical info and tips that will work for anyone, even you. But there is no magic, no gimmicks, no strict diet.

So what are you waiting for? If losing weight is one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2012, grab a copy of The Over-50's Guide to Losing Weight and Keeping it Off!

Please note: Josh was kind enough to send me a review copy of the guide and I liked it enough to sign up as an affiliate. So if you click on a link and buy the guide, a portion of your purchase will go to me.

DIY 7 Minutes to Whiter Teeth!

You all know that I'm totally into DIY, right? Well, I just found out about the easiest, most inexpensive way to whiten your teeth at home. Are you ready? Plain old hydrogen peroxide. You know - the stuff you can buy at any grocery store or pharmacy for about a dollar? All you do is swish it around your teeth, spit it out, and then rinse your mouth with water. Takes about one minute each morning and I noticed results in one week. Seriously. Noticeable results in just 7 days!


But is it Safe?


I was going to get all complicated and do a ton of research into this very question. But after reading some info from the American Dental Association and a few other websites, I went to check to make sure exactly which product I had. Guess what? Right on the label it recommends using hydrogen peroxide as a mouth rinse. So I guess that pretty much answers the safety question. Also, my dental hygienist told me a couple of years ago that I could swish with hydrogen peroxide daily as needed for gum health - she just didn't tell me it would whiten my teeth, as well, so I did it only a few times.


So how white are my teeth now? Not blindingly white, but I don't want them that bright! I'd just like to keep ahead of the tea stains that build up between my annual cleanings and this is definitely a way to do that. So far, I've had no negatives other than the stuff tastes nasty so I avoid getting it on my tongue as much as possible. Anyway, if you want whiter teeth for mere pennies, give hydrogen peroxide a try.


PS - I was too lazy to go take a picture of my peroxide bottle so the image is an Amazon affiliate link. But seriously, unless you're housebound or just prefer to have items delivered to your door, go to a grocery store or pharmacy. And for REALLY frugal teeth whitening, wait to buy until the hydrogen peroxide comes on sale.

Can You Avoid Holiday Weight Gain?

We spent the four-day Thanksgiving weekend with kids and grands. In addition to the turkey day food-fest, we also celebrated a birthday on Saturday. What all this means is food . . . LOTS of food. In fact, according to my daughter's digital scale, I gained 2.4 pounds on Thanksgiving alone!

Now, I know that isn't even possible. In order to gain that much weight, I would have to consume over 8,000 more calories than I burned. Even if I did nothing but lie on the couch and eat ALL DAY, I don't think I could possibly gain 2+ pounds overnight. But it got me to thinking about how easy it is to gain weight after 50 and especially over the holidays.

Holiday Weight Maintenance Secret

So how can you avoid holiday weight gain? Portion control. That’s right, control your portions. I know, I know . . . easy to say but hard to do. But yes, it really is that simple.

• Eat what you want but in moderation.
• Enjoy each meal but leave room for desserts.
• Use a small plate.
• Take small helpings of your favorite foods.
• Decline foods that you don’t absolutely love.
• Forego second helpings.
• Limit your indulgence to just one day, not every day between Thanksgiving and January 1^st.

Ok, so who am I to give advice? After all, I’m the one with the 2.4 pound overnight weight increase, right? Well, yes and no. The scale did show the increase but there are many things that can cause overnight weight gain, such as excess sodium, different clothes, etc. - pigging out on just one day won’t really do it. Pigging out day after day, however, is another story . . .

Live to Be 100: Should You Take Baby Aspirin Every Day?

  

Aspirin therapy - yes or no?

The November 2011 issue of Reader's Digest has 12 tips on how to live to be 100 (see page 187). Number six advises asking your doctor about taking a single 81 mg low-dose aspirin to help prevent heart attack, stroke and cancer. The article also cautions that aspirin use has risks, so be sure to consult your doctor BEFORE starting.


Then I read a September 2011 Costco Connection article on how to make your real age younger (page 37 - and yes, I'm behind on my reading) which states, "If you're over the age of 40 (women) or 35 (men), take two baby aspirin (162 mg total) at breakfast; just make sure to get  your doctor's approval first."


Ok - so which is it? One or two? I'm well over 40 and have been taking one baby aspirin each morning for quite some time. Do I now need to double up? If so, no problem because it's already a habit.


But wait! Further research online turns up some interesting info at the Mayo Clinic website. According to Daily Aspirin Therapy: Understand the Benefits and Risks, "You should consider daily aspirin therapy only if you've had a heart attack or stroke, or you have a high risk of either. And then, only take aspirin with your doctor's approval."

What? I get the second sentence but have not previously heard the first. So do I have a high risk for heart attack or stroke? No. And what about cancer prevention? The Mayo Clinic article doesn't even mention that. It does address stopping aspirin therapy, however, and this may be even more important! In answer to what happens if you stop taking aspirin every day, the article goes on to say that “. . . stopping daily aspirin therapy can have a rebound effect that may increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.”

Are you kidding me? Is this a case of damned if I do and damned if I don’t? What happens if I just miss a day or two? Will that trigger the rebound effect that increases my risk? Or does it take longer? Hmm. Well, beings I have my doctor's blessing to take one baby aspirin each day, I'll continue on with that. But I guess I need to start taking it when I’m away from home, as well. And the next time I go in, I'll ask if I should up my daily intake to two.

So, what about you? Have you talked to your doctor about whether or not you should take baby aspirin every day?

Looking Forward to the Time Change

I am SO looking forward to the time change this year. In previous years, it hasn't mattered to me much, but this year I'm excited! Since I started walking each day before breakfast (which is working out really well, btw), the absolute darkness remaining later and later as the days go by has become a nuisance. And maybe it's even a little bit of a safety issue. There I am, traipsing around out in the woods - yes, I'm on a nice path but when there is no light, rocks just seem to jump out to trip you! And I'd hate to surprise myself and a bear. Highly unlikely one would be out at that time but who knows? Also, I'd really like to eat by 7am, but when it's still too dark to walk without stumbling over rocks until after then . . . Well, let's just say that when 8am becomes 7am in just two more days, I will be thrilled!

Walking in the Rain

First real rain of the season.

It's the little things you do every day that matter over time. This is true is all areas of life - money, health, relationships, etc. Fitness, for instance, requires regular exercise. My preference is walking each morning, followed by a routine of yoga and other stretches. Well, this morning was my first walk in the rain for the season. It was so fresh and clean smelling! It's amazing what a little rain will do - no dust on the trail, everything a little "softer" underfoot - really nice.

Do you have a regular fitness routine? If not, develop one NOW. Don't wait another day. Figure out what works for you and do it consistently. If necessary, try new things until you find the perfect fit. And if what you're doing quits working into your real life, tweak it. At any age, quality of life is key but it becomes increasingly important during the second half. Develop the habit of daily fitness to preserve your quality.