Wellness

Protect Yourself Against Swine Flu

The news is everywhere – On TV, radio, online and the newspaper. The speculation is that the Swine Flu breakout may become a pandemic. The key word is MAY. Right now, it is NOT a pandemic. Now is the time to take all the precautions we can to avoid this illness.

First we need to be able to recognize the Swine Flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.”

It’s time to take preventive measures:

Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish and soy.
Take your vitamins every day.
Keep your immune system strong. I like a natural interferon booster.
Drink lots of filtered water.
Wash your hands often. Soap and warm water kill most germs.
Use a hand sanitizer.
Use a saline nasal spray before you leave the house and when you return.
Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth.
Avoid public restrooms, crowded waiting rooms and anywhere lots of people gather.
Avoid sick people. Unfortunately, people are most contagious just before they get sick.
Don’t share personal items, food or drinks.
Keep a positive attitude.

If you get sick:

Visit your doctor. There are tests to determine if you have a cold, seasonal influenza or the Swine Flu.
Prescription medication is available to help you feel better, keep the flu virus from reproducing in your system and possibly prevent complications.
Stay home. You need the rest and you don’t want to infect others.
Follow the guidelines above for prevention. They work well when you’re sick, too.

Prevention is the best course of action. Living a healthy lifestyle keeps your body in the best shape to ward off illnesses of all kinds. You can’t go back and do things over, but you can start from today and make a better future.

What are you doing to get healthy and stay healthy?

Top 10 Weight Loss Secrets

Apr 21st, 2009

by Marilyn.

1 comment

Losing weight isn’t so hard if you do it a little at a time. Find a sensible plan that fits your needs and follow it. Sounds simple, but simple isn’t always easy.

I found a free ebook that sounds like it has solid information. I’ve just skimmed the book and plan to read it soon.

Free download: The Hacker’s Diet and the spreadsheets.

Top 10 Weight Loss Secrets

Surprise! There’s no secret. There’s no shortcut to losing weight. If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you need to change your lifestyle.
Eat less and do more. You gain weight when you take in more calories than you burn. To lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you take in.
Keep a food journal. Knowing what you eat and seeing it in black and white is the first step to making good food choices. A food journal can be as simple as paper and pencil. Or as sophisticated as a computer program. I use CinchCoach as part of my weight management system.
Make eating an event. Plan what you’re going to eat, prepare a plate or bowl, sit and enjoy your meal or snack.
Chew, Chew, Chew. Take small bites and chew well. This helps break down the food. And the saliva starts to break it down. This will help your digestive system.
Find a support system. This could be a spouse, sister-in-law or trusted friend. Make sure it’s someone you can confide in and who will give you encouragement. Stay away from negative people. You don’t need to be nagged or feel like a failure.
Join a support group. Find a local meeting or start one. Or join an online support group.
Walk 10,000 steps a day. Wear a pedometer to monitor your walking. If you’re sedentary, you may only walk 2,000-3,000 steps a day.
Park your car away from the store or building. Walking the extra steps burns more calories. find other ways to add more exercise like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walk 15 minutes with a friend before eating lunch or take a Sunday morning bike ride thru the park.
Think thin. Keep a positive attitude. Don’t expect to lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time. About 2 pounds a week is a good target. To lose one pound, you need to burn 3,500 calories more than what you eat.

Migraine Headache Tips

Nov 22nd, 2008

by Marilyn.

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If you’re getting a migraine, here are 4 things you can do that may help . . .

Take a walk. It relieves stress and stress can contribute to a migraine.
Drink plenty of water.
Warm your hands in a bowl of warm water to increase the blood flow to your hands and away from dilated vessels in your head.
Put a cold cloth on the back of your neck to take excess blood away from your head.

Changing your diet may help to avoid a migraine in the future. Foods that may trigger a migraine include . . .

White sugar
Red meat
Nuts and seeds
Safflower and canola oils

It’s difficult to make big changes to your diet. If you find you can’t quit these foods immediately, try to keep cutting back until you rarely eat them.

In addition to taking daily vitamins, here’s a list of extra supplements that have helped others . . .

Marilyn Kvasnok

Change Your Habits and Change Your Life

Sep 3rd, 2008

by Marilyn.

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We’re all walking down the path of life, but where are we headed? I never used to think about it. I was much too busy taking care of today – And sometimes cleaning up after yesterday. But, if I don’t know where I’m headed, how do I know if and when I get there?

The habits we have are shaping our lives. We start them without even realizing it. And before we know it, the habit has become part of our lives. Whether it’s biting your nails, smoking or obsessive worrying, we have the power to overcome any habit.

A habit takes 30 days to ingrain itself into your life. And it’ll take 30 days to change it. Start today. Take control of just one habit. Change just one at a time. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. It only matters that you start moving in a more positive direction. And it’s never too late to start.

Marilyn Kvasnok

The Fountain of Youth

Aug 12th, 2008

by Marilyn.

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How would you like to feel 25 years younger and live 25 years longer?

Doesn’t everyone dream of feeling younger and living longer? Don’t we all just want to live healthy and happy? I do.

I’ve been a caregiver for about 40 years. My first challenge was caring for my mentally handicapped daughter. She was happy in her own very limited world. In some ways, she acted like a teenager. She wanted to drive a big, blue van. She wanted a boyfriend. And she wanted to get married. Today would have been her 39th birthday. She passed away 7 years ago from undetected cancer.

I’ve also taken care of my aunt for over 20 years. She had rheumetoid arthritis that affected her whole body. And COPD that made it difficult to breathe. She never complained, but as the years went on, she could do less and less. She passed away a year ago.

And now, I’ve taken care of my mother for the last 7 years. After a series of strokes, she had brain surgery to correct the problem. The surgery left her very much like a stroke surviver. She has a very positive attitude and exercises every day to keep the mobility she has – And continues to improve.

So after all this time, I’ve learned there may be some things beyond our control. On the other hand, we can take steps to help prevent or at least delay the onset of disease. I’ve made a personal decision to take my vitamins every day. I have a protein drink and take some extra supplements. I exercise and walk more, even with my arthritis.

I tried drinking a little red wine several times a week, for the resveratrol. But, I really don’t like wine. Now, I found an anti-aging tonic. One teaspoon has the resveratrol equivalent of 100 glasses of red wine. I’ll be adding this age defying tonic to my daily routine soon. It just may be the single most important thing I do for myself. It may not be the Fountain of Youth, but it’ll be close. I’ll report on my progress here.

Marilyn Kvasnok