Exercise To Improve Your Posture

You can look 10 years younger and 10 pounds lighter if you stand and sit with good posture. Unfortunately, few people exhibit good posture. In fact, poor posture often develops so gradually you may not notice its symptoms such as back and neck pain and tightness and stiffness, before you notice your shoulders hunching over. Luckily, you CAN correct your posture by incorporating simple exercises and stretches into your workout program. Ideally, getting the help of a personal trainer is best for recommending specific exercises for you based upon your posture. Generally speaking, these are the exercises I recommend for improving posture. (Be mindful of any physical limitations you may have before performing these exercises.)

Side Raises (seated or standing)
3 sets of 10 reps







Seated rows
3 sets of 10 reps








Front pulldowns
3 sets of 10







Ab crunches
4 sets of 40 reps

Ambulances Are Charging Extra For Obese Patients!

An ambulance crew in Topeka, Kansas recently responded to a call for a critically ill patient. Once there, the crew was shocked to see the guy weighed more than 1,000 pounds. The stretcher wasn't sturdy enough and the man couldn't fit inside the vehicle. So, they did the only thing they could. They fork lifted the man and his bed onto a flatbed truck and hauled him to the hospital.
Though this is an extreme example, 1/3 of the people in this country are obese and 10% are morbidly obese(100+lbs. overweight). Ambulance companies say it costs 2 1/2 times more to transport people who are 350+ lbs. and they say it's time those patients start paying more. Ambulance rates for obese patients have gone up in Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska. Look for more states to follow.

Is Your Shower Making You Sick?

I bet you never thought you had to worry about germs here-but according to a new study, that shower head harbors all kinds of bacteria that comes spraying into your face every time you shower. The researchers say for most people with normal immune systems, it shouldn't be a concern. But for people with compromised immune systems, it could be a real problem. They recommend using metal shower heads as bacteria have a harder time clinging to it. They also recommend cleaning your shower head with bleach once a week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

You're As Old As You Think You Are!

According to the National Institute of Aging, the way you view the aging process, positively or negatively, is going to affect your quality of aging. The results of a 50 year study-that has tracked thousands of people through their young adult years into old age- say that 40-50 year olds who have negative views of aging tend to age worse than those who maintain a positive view. Those who fight aging, age better than those who positively accept the decline that comes with it. Research shows you can stay resiliant as you age by eating well, exercising, keeping the brain sharp and hanging out with health-minded people.

The Real Reasons We Eat Too Much!

We all know we're supposed to eat healthy portions, but often times we don't. A lack of willpower isn't always to blame. Here are a couple of reasons experts say why we eat too much.
Not getting enough sleep affects two important hormones. It decreases the hormone that signals your brain that your body has had enough to eat and it increases the hormone that triggers hunger. Studies show that people who are sleep deprived have a 25% increase in appetite.
Constant stress is another trigger for overeating. Your body pumps out high doses of hormones that can increase your appetite and lead you to overeat.