Just ONE MINUTE to prevent disease

A very disturbing link that shows important it is to take just a minute to wash up. Eww! Please think twice about leaving the restroom without a good lathering with soap and water. Astonishing statistics!

No Gym Required

There are big pros and cons to working out at the gym, and working out at home or in the outdoors. I happen to be one who rarely, if ever, enjoys being at the gym. I'm mentally "done" with it long before I finish my workout. This list of full body exercises complete with video tutorials makes me think again about paying my gym membership each month. 

http://lifehacker.com/5839197/how-to-get-a-full-body-workout-with-nothing-but-your-body

However, every time I leave the gym a bit early and declare that I'll do my ab exercises or lunges at home - I have about a 0.001% success record of actually doing it. Has anyone found success with home workouts? What tips do you have on motivation for a home-based exercise routine?

24 Ways to NOT diet, and lose some weight!

This WebMD slide show caught my eye right away! Who doesn't want to lose some unwanted weight without dieting? Check out this great list of small changes that could make a big difference. Slide #16 is one I know I should use more often. It really works! Slide #13 is one I've been pondering lately ... What about you?

http://www.webmd.com/diet/slideshow-no-diet-weight-loss

Let's Move Day

Religious organizations have long provided physical care for people by sponsoring feeding programs for the homeless, soup kitchens, orphanages, etc. A new physical need is becoming more and more apparent. Childhood and adult obesity is off the charts in North America. Some church groups are recognizing the changing needs of society. These days less people are dying for a piece of bread, and more are dying because of too much bread. 

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has long had a focus on healthful living, and this year's "Let's Move Day" is another way of reaching their communities for health. On September 25, people across North America will MOVE, to start that step in the right direction for health. Consider joining the movement! Whether you are taking a run or playing volleyball, your steps count toward health. To join "Let's Move Day", visit the site online. 

Forgetting to Breathe

It sounds strange, but I'm so stressed at work these days that I think I'm forgetting to breathe. Several times a day I catch myself gasping for breath after what must have been too long a period of concentration. Even when I do breathe, I never feel quite caught up on oxygen. I find myself wondering if I've developed asthma or something, but I think I'm just really stressed out.

This doesn't seem to happen after I've been home for an hour or two, watering my garden or checking the mail. Once I get out of my high-stress environment I breathe just fine. These days medical workers know the big deal that stress is. The physical and emotional toll can be high. Ulcers, back and neck pain, eczema, stomach pain, even baldness and infertility are linked to stress in some cases. Our bodies are a careful balance. What signs have you seen that stress has worn on you now, or in the past?

Things Change ... so can you

I've held on to a lot of statements as my identity over my lifetime. I believed them, repeated them, and when reality said otherwise, I just counted it as a short blip on the screen before I inevitably returned to the "me" my words had created. I used to think that I "WAS" a girl who always had long hair, who hated running, who never got a traffic ticket, and so much more. I realize now, those labels were something that may have applied at a time in my life, but I don't own them, and they don't own me. My life is fluid, and no label guarantees me anything. I can cut my hair and love it. I can (unfortunately) get pulled over. I can go for a run and feel good. I can change and still be me. My world is open. I am not my past unless I refuse to walk into my future.

Something New

Not only does doing the same exercise routine get boring - it doesn't challenge our muscles or our metabolism in new and challenging ways. I ran across this list today of some unusual options to keep fit. I know I love Zumba (might have to consider upgrading my gym and going), but there are some other great options too. Some I've never heard of.

Click here for a list of Excersises you've never tried.