knowledge, nutrition, fitness and fun JAN/FEB 2017
Get charged!
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FEBRUARY IS HEART HEALTH MONTH!
To prevent heart disease: 1. Don’t smoke 2. Exercise regularly 3. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables 4. Maintain a healthy weight
Signs of a heart attack: 1. Pain areas: in the area between shoulder blades, arm, chest, jaw, left arm, or upper abdomen 2. Pain types: can be like a clenched fist in the chest 3. Whole body: dizziness, fatigue, lightheadedness, clammy skin, cold sweat, or sweating 4. Gastrointestinal: heartburn, indigestion, nausea, or vomiting 5. Also common: anxiety, feeling of impending doom, sensation of an abnormal heartbeat, shortness of breath, or shoulder discomfort
Do you have/or have you renewed your CPR card? If you are a non-union MacMillian and you are interested in getting or renewing your C.P.R. card contact me at monika.katona@ macmiller.com
MAINTAIN (OR LOSE) NOT GAIN CHALLENGE
Now that the temptations of holiday cookies are behind you it’s smooth sailing to the finish line, or is it? Remember, the challenge ends AFTER the Super Bowl! See you at the final weigh in on February 6th, 2017.
Beat the winter blues While winter activities deliver some enjoyment, for many people that’s not enough to counteract the melancholy caused by long months of dreariness and gray skies. Minimal sunlight can mean major “blahs”. Yet, if one takes certain steps, things will begin to look brighter! Here are some suggestions: GET COLORFUL: This is a way to trick your brain into thinking that it’s sunny and beautiful outside even though there’s a blizzard shutting down the town. So make a conscious effort to wear bright green, purple, blue, and pink – at the very least, these garish colors will divert attention away from the gray. STOCK UP ON VITAMIN D: Since we get most of our vitamin D from the sun, it’s a good idea to take a vitamin D supplement during the winter months. Certain foods are good sources of vitamin D, including cod liver oil, swordfish, salmon, tuna, milk, yogurt, sardines, eggs, and cereals fortified with vitamin D. CATCH UP ON BOOKS & MOVIES: Winter is a great time to get to those books and movies you’ve been meaning to read and watch. Give yourself a lofty goal – like reading the classics you’ve always wanted to, or the top 10 alltime classic movies you have never seen. And, include some comedies to keep you laughing! TRY SOMETHING NEW: Research shows that trying something new essentially rewires our brain. Take advantage of your days indoors to learn a new musical instrument, or maybe cook up something different for dinner. START A PROJECT: Odds are you have no shortage of indoor home projects that need to be done. Winter is the perfect time to take those on… declutter the house, paint some rooms, organize files. These are productive activities that will take your mind off the winter doldrums. EAT WINTERY FOODS: If you have a slow cooker, winter is a great time to experiment with tasty moodboosting soups and stews. Try squash, eggplant, sweet potatoes, and turmeric. SIT BY THE FIRE: There aren’t many activities more relaxing than sitting by a fire. Just watching the glow of the embers and warming your body is soothing. And if you don’t have a fireplace, find a local coffee shop, and borrow theirs – that’s what it’s there for!