How to Train Like an Olympian—and Why!

     I consider myself a fit person. But I’m complacent—a little too comfy with my current workout. After reading an article on 45-year old Dara Torres (five-time Olympic swimming champion) and anticipating the summer Olympic games in London, I’m ready to up my workout ante.

     My “go-to” exercise is dance aerobics, but I’ve decided I need to cross train. Cross training varies the stress on muscles because different activities use muscles in slightly different ways (even avid runners experience sore muscles after a day of downhill skiing). Cross training also reduces the risk of overuse injuries such as tennis elbow, runner’s knee, and Achilles tendonitis.

Hair today, gone tomorrow.

Over 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from some kind of hair loss.

     Hair loss can come from any number of different sources. Your genetic makeup, the medicine you take, even having a child can cause you to suffer from hair loss!
     The most common form of hair loss is called androgenic alopecia, more commonly known as male or female pattern baldness. This type of hair loss makes up the vast majority of hair loss cases in the U.S.
     Male pattern baldness typically begins with a receding hairline that creates an “M”-shaped pattern. Eventually that “M” may become a “U” that covers just the back and sides of the head.
     Female pattern baldness typically expresses itself differently than male pattern baldness. Instead of seeing a receding hairline, most women who suffer from female pattern baldness experience a more generalized thinning of the hair that begins in the center of the scalp and may slowly spread outward.

A Family’s Weight Loss Journey

     Imagine losing half of you. At one point, you’re tipping the scales at more than 350 pounds, and later you stand some 200 pounds lighter. Before her weight loss surgery in 2009, Michelle Hoover often used a scooter to get around. Because physical activity made her reach for an inhaler, much of her day was spent in a recliner.
     Michelle’s doctor told her she wouldn’t live to see 50. That news—coupled with a life of type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, sleep apnea, decreased lung capacity, and bad knees—helped Michelle decide to undergo gastric bypass surgery.

Protecting Your Family From Poisons

Imagine you are in the kitchen making dinner while your toddler plays with his toys on the floor. You turn around to stir the pasta sauce and when you look back at your child, you find him chewing on something. You run over to see what it is and find that he has chewed up most of a blood pressure pill that you thought had rolled under the fridge. What do you do?

Fate and the Midwife Plan

On Meritus Health’s website, Nancy Dwyer shared a glowing review of her midwife, Donna Lofton of Women’s Health Center at Robinwood. Here’s what I learned about Nancy’s midwife experience.

Nancy admits that she likes to ask questions to understand the what and the why. When she learned she was going to have a baby, she knew that she wanted the experience to be extraordinary—more than just a medical procedure. She also wanted active participation in decision-making, both during her pregnancy and delivery. Nancy knew she was a good fit for a midwife-assisted birth.

Stop Hiding that Summer Smile!

Whether you are out watching fireworks, camping, golfing, fishing, or swimming, summer is a great time to smile. But if you’re anything like me, you have probably thought to yourself “I wish my teeth were whiter.” Tooth stains can strike anybody, although they are typically amplified by the use of tobacco products, (including smokeless tobacco) as well as some types of food and drink such as coffee or soda.

So, the question is… How can I make my teeth whiter?

The fact is, there are actually quite a few ways for you to whiten your teeth.

It’s Never Too Late to Quit.

     Did you know that tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals and, according to the National Cancer Institute, at least 250 of those are known to be harmful? Included among these chemicals are Arsenic, (a poison commonly used to kill pests) formaldehyde, (a chemical used to preserve dead bodies) and toluene (used to make gasoline, paint thinner, and nail polish remover). This is just the one of the many reasons you should consider quitting if you are a smoker. Below is a list of even more ways that you can improve your life by quitting. Some are obvious, while others may be a bit more obscure, but no less impactful.

The Benefits of Breastfeeding

There’s a lot to be said about breastfeeding. It’s a great way to burn calories while doing something beneficial for baby (and what mother doesn’t like to multi-task?), and it’s linked to lowering the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding also saves parents time and money. Bottle feeding requires mom or dad to warm up a bottle (even at 3:00 in the morning), mix formula, and wash bottles and nipples. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, formula and feeding supplies can cost $1,500 a year. The beauty of breast milk is that it’s free and readily accessible.