Should Insurance Pay for Exercise Programs?

We are all aware of the health care situation our nation is facing.  We also know that the government would like to have us purchase mandatory insurance.  I got to thinking about this.  They want us to have health insurance, to take care of existing health issues, as well as health issues to come - after all, we are paying out a staggering 2.5 Trillion Dollars in health care per year. 

My first thought was, instead of thinking about how much more we are going to be paying, why not think about what we can do to lower the cost.  The thing that came to mind was diet and lifestyle.  The reason we are in the state we are in, is because of what we have done to ourselves over the many decades.   And it keeps getting worse.  

In order to motivate people to start taking health into their own hands, overcoming disease,  getting healthier, etc, Insurance could pay for exercise programs such as gym memberships, physical activity programs, and medical nutrition therapy (training that includes blood glucose management, nutrition, physical activity and preventing and treating complications of diabetes). Corporations could put workshops into play to educate their employees on how to live healthier lives, possibly installing a small gym. The insurance companies would give discounts to those who are participating in these events, give drastic cuts to employers, or even pay for them. 

It's obvious that many have gotten on the exercise and diet bandwagon to better their health and lose weight and that in itself speaks volumes.  But to have to purchase mandatory insurance when nobody is doing anything to help themselves, and depending solely on the medical establishment to get them well, says nothing about trying to make it better and in the end, is only going to wind up costing us trillions more per year.

So what's your opinion? I feel  that mandatory insurance  is ridiculous. There are many who are unemployed right now who could never afford it in the first place. A full family to be covered exceeds $800.00 per month for basic coverage.  My opinion?  Start educating yourself, make drastic changes in diet and lifestyle.  Insurance wont be necessary, and the cost of health care will have to go down.  Sounds like a plan to me!


Want ideas on how to better your health?  contact me at coachrobin@befitandwellnow.com, and watch for local workshops coming up!
To your health!
Robin


www.befitandwellnow.com for some great exercise DVD programs!

What Good are Blueberries Anyway - they just turn my mouth blue!

Ah Blueberries!  When we think of them, we think of a blue mouth. When my kids were young, we visited my mother in law in Maine. The blueberries there are amazing, BUT they grow in little bushes close to the ground. So while picking not only your mouth gets blue when tasting, but so do your knees and feet (and any clothing that was on you!).   The local blueberry picking site at the farm is in large bushes (under a high tension wire to boot and so they are huge!).  Anyhow, they are much easier to pick and you dont get as blue.  So, when you think about blueberries, do you think of a blue mouth, OR do you think of all the nutrition in those little blue round balls?

The funny thing is, blueberries have been with us for many years.  We know it's blueberry season, and try to get 'em while we can.  Up until recently, blueberries were just another berry that came into season.  Now they are famous!  Why? Because they are a powerhouse of nutrition!

Here are some fun facts - did you know:

Blueberries are not only antioxidants, but may also be the cure all for certain illnesses or diseases?

Blueberries can shrink tumors?  Mice were tested in Ohio State Univ, and were given an extract. They lived twice as long and their tumors shrank.

Blueberries can inhibit the growth of bladder and liver cancer cells?

Blueberries contain a compound chemical related to Resveratrol that may cut the development of liver cancer lesions in half?

Blueberries can cleanse the urinary tract and prevent bladder infections?

Blueberries also:

Promote intestinal health

Fight inflammation related to gout and arthritis

Protects against macular degeneration

Improve cognitive function

Reduce cholesterol

Reduce nasal congestion

And taste great!!! My family loves them in pancakes, on cereal, in shakes and on top of non-dairy ice cream!

I know, but they cost 4.99 a pint!  Maybe its time to consider the health benefits of these little berries, and maybe cut out something a little less healthy and substitute blueberries instead.

Enjoy!!

The Battle of the Bulge

At some point in time, it seems all my conversations with people tend to somehow lead to health - mainly weight loss - especially amongst my lady friends.   It seems somewhere along the line we messed up, or was it we become hormonally incorrect?

Well I've come to find out, that its not necessarily the hormonal connection, although there certainly are times that it is the problem, along with thyroid issues. Most of the time however, and I say this tenderly, it's what we did to ourselves for many years, that caused that muffin top, or pouch. Oh, and guys, this is for you too!!!

So what was it that lead up to this battle of the bulge issue anyway?  Well I'm happy to say, it's not just one particular thing.  I have found, for myself, it was lack of exercise, and eating at night.  Now, I don't eat a ton of snacks at night, but no matter what it was, I had to realize that my metabolism slowed to the point of not burning off those extra calories at all.  And considering I didn't do much of anything to boost my energy levels during the day, then my system was pretty much depleted at night, and it just held on to the food I put into my stomach like glue!

Here's 5 little tips that I found to be extremely helpful...and trust me, they work!  

1.  Eat your smallest meal in the evening, and don't snack.Ewwww, did I make you shivver? Easier said than done? Well, not exactly. It's really a matter of changing habits.  I rarely ate much for dinner - soups and crackers, salads, fruit.  But the problem was the after dinner 'treats'.  So, instead of eating the jagunda meal at night, eat light, and only drink water for the rest of the night, ending an hr before bed.  

2.  Make Breakfast the biggest meal of the day (lunch would be my second choice).  Studies have shown that people who eat a good breakfast do better in the weight loss area.Now that I have readjusted, i love eating breakfast and dinner, well, I'm not really hungry for much.

3.  Get some exercise. I'm not kidding here!  I know I spend a majority of my day sitting at work.  I found that early morning exercise pumps me up for the day.  If I cant get it in the morning, then mid afternoon picks me up from my mid day slump!  Walking, treadmill, trampoline, exercise DVD programs...whatever. Get the body moving!  Its the only way to get the metabolism fired up to burn calories. AND when I'm just sitting here, I may get my BIG Pilates ball, and sit and bounce while typing....you may see my letters a little wavy!

4.  Make water your beverage of choice. Soda, Coffee, Crystal Light, juices, all add calories, plus other problematic health issues.  Dont like water.  Suck it up and drink it anyway!  The more you drink it, the easier it will be.Try to abstain from tap water becasue of the chemicals, floride, and chlorine. Also, dont think you have to drink a whole gallon a day.  Your body can only process 6-8 ounces at a time.  Fill up your 8 oz container and then just drink 6 to 8 of those a day...or as much as you can. If you want an added boost, squeeze a 1/2 lemon in one of those glasses...cleanses the liver, adds vitamin C, antioxidants and bioflavonoids.  Key is, start slowly, build up...but DO build up!

5.  Diet it DIE with a T!   Skip the fad diets. They may work for a little time, but chances are you are going to gain the weight back.  Eating a balanced, low fat, plant based diet - consisting mostly of fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains and legumes - you will never have to worry about counting calories again!  I've been a vegetarian for about 20 years now (and I'm not saying you have to turn vegetarian although it does add years to your life, reverses disease, and makes you healthier), but at least cut back on the sugar, fat, snacks, and junk.  The bigger the snacks, the larger the slacks folks!   Learn how to create some non-meat dishes, and again, make the most of your food intake for during the day. Oh, and here's a side note.  Eat meals, then don't eat again for 4-5 hrs.  Digestion works in 4-5 hr intervals, and if you eat a snack 2 hrs later, you just turned off the digestion and what you have now is fermenting food that is trapped inside your stomach.  That in itself will cause heartburn, reflux and a host of other digestive issues.  Chances are if you are hungry 2 hrs after you ate, you are really thirsty. So drink the water BUT don't drink with your meals! Dilutes the digestive juices.  Drink up to 1/2 hr before and start again 1/2 hr after meals.  

Got questions?  Bring it on...that's why I'm here!   Email me at coachrobin@befitandwellnow.com.

Your health is wealth!

Robin

RXercise

A new global initiative called Exercise Is Medicine, encourages doctors to prescribe exercise in the same way they prescribe medicine. Early evidence suggest it works!  A study done in New Zealand prescribed exercise to 544 inactive women ages 40 to 74 years of age. 39% were still exercising after two years and they felt better!  Timothy Church, MD, PHD says "Exercise helps ensure you can lead the life you want well into your 80's. There's no pill for that!"  Imagine that...coming from a doctor!  Just goes to show, exercise is the key to better health and longevity.  So pull on those sneakers, dust off that treadmill, and get moving.  Quality of life is something no doctor can give you!

Have a health filled day!

I Love Natural Health!

I love natural health.  There is so much out there to help us get well without using medications, which we all know carry some pretty hefty side effects.  We have had some great experiences with not just exercise, water, sunshine, and eating right, but with herbs, oils and whole food supplements. Health is wealth...its important to cherish it!

For example, not too long ago my son told me his ear was starting to hurt. Usually if he does a lot of swimming underwater, he gets some form of ear infection. Well, this time I had an idea.  Instead of running to the doctor, and having him tell us the same thing as usual, and prescribing the ear drops (which usually costs me about 100.00 when all it totaled - and I just didn't have the money), I decided to try something different.  And I just happened to have some on hand!

I had an essential oil called Purification by Young Living that I was using to diffuse in the house to kill bacteria and germs and make the house smell nice, and heard that it can help ear infections without side effects (its also great for bee type stings, deterring mold, getting rid of stale smells in the house like cigarette smells, excellent for putting on cuts and scrapes too).  So I took a couple drops on my finger and just rubbed it in behind his ear and down the line of the Eustachian tube. Then I put a couple drops on a cotton ball and stuck it in his ear.  I will say, I had some doubts!   I'm a skeptic, but I also know the plant kingdom has amazing healing properties.  

Anyhow, I repeated that scenario a few times during the day.  The next day I asked my son how his ear felt (since he hadn't said anything, I wasn't going to ask...since it may have meant he was feeling better!).  So he told me his ear didn't hurt as much.  Hmmmmm.  We repeated this for three days, and by then the pain was  gone and he didn't have that full feeling anymore.  And the cost was about 1/3 of what the doctor and prescription would have cost me, plus I can use the Purification for a ton of other things too!! Great job Purification! 

Purification really did the trick..and continues to do the trick for many different things like I mentioned above. It is made up of Citronella, Lemongrass, Lavadin, Rosemary, Meleleuca and Myrtle...making it not only disinfectant, and healing, but also a good bug deterrent!

Wishing you Abundant Health!

Robin

If you would like more information or to purchase the product, click here.

Good Eats!!!

Want some new recipes to add to your collection?  Then just click on the recipe tab above for some good ones. New ones added weekly too!  AND if you have a healthy recipe that you might like posted on my blog (no meat please!) then I'd love to see it.  If I use yours, you will get your web link and info posted at the bottom of the recipe post. Email me at coachrobin@befitandwellnow.com with your recipe.

Meanwhile, check in weekly for new recipes are added all the time! Bon Appetite!

Something Cute for Your Business!

I thought I'd change things up a bit and show  you something really cute that you can do for your business!

I have been involved in Direct Sales for over 12 years now, and I found that at some time or other, I'm going to be giving out either brochures or samples at some point.  Handing a brochure to someone may or may not be effective.  So here's a cute way to present your samples, brochures or anything to your client in a way that will make them feel special!
I use Cello In a Box cello bags and ribbons for this.  What I do, since I am working with Beachbody, is to put a Shakeology sample in the bag with a brochure, recipes and my biz card, and then tie with a matching ribbon.   Here's a picture:


Cute, huh?   So imagine the difference in your recipient's attitude when they receive this, as opposed to just receiving the brochure alone.

You can tailor this to any business!   If you don't have samples, just put a brochure, flier, piece of candy and biz card in there.  Maybe the flier would have info on product with a coupon for discount, or maybe an event you are holding.

These can be so versatile!  Give them to the waitress, bank teller, receptionist in the Dr's office or dentist office, hair dresser, friend.  Be creative...there's a lot you can do with this. And the bags are VERY inexpensive.  Besides, you can use them for a tax write off!
So give it a try!  Take a pic and post it here!

If you'd like more info on Cello In a Box bags, ribbons, bows, boxes, etc....please visit
http://www.celloinabox.com/mall/shopcustadmin.asp?=492

Robin
Health and Lifestyle Coach