New Year..... New You?

"New Year. New You?"

Or are you as over that little jingle as I am? Not that there isn't some truth to it... but what is it that makes the mark of a new year so important that it makes people instantly motivated to DO GOOD for themselves finally? Personally, I get annoyed by it all and the sudden flood of people to they gym. I'm sorry, I've been going to the gym of our apartment complex at least 3 days a week for almost 6 months now and when we went Tuesday night it was RIDICULOUS!

Todd sarcastically even asked " you all live here?!" when we walked in... of course no one heard our mumbles over their blaring ipod's, but still... Where the heck did these people come from. We of course saw the two faces we always see at the gym... but there were about 30 other sweaty, determined faces we'd never seen in all our time at the gym. All the cardio machines were taken and wait lines had started. Most of the equipment was occupied and most of the floor space was being hogged. I almost left, but I was feeling quite motivated that night and finagled the last empty bench and got to work. Impressively, I felt GREAT that night. I did an upper body workout since I was going to be limited by the crowd.... but it was worth it.

I won't worry about the crowd too much. In a week or two they'll be gone.....

Well, I should say it more like... they'll all be coming at different times and more sporadically because of other engagements, work, dinner, etc.... I do hope they all keep up the good work though! (just not when we want to hog the gym! ;) hehe) It is inspiring to see everyone working hard, but I wish it wasn't just a "fad" the new year brought on to so many people.

I realllllly want Americans to see their health differently. It's not just putting hours in at the gym. It's about what we put in our body and what we push our body to do. I've said it a hundred times before, but our body is the one gift from God we must cherish and care for to fulfill our Purpose. This is one gift we can't exchange, we can't return and we don't get a "replay" button on. I want everyone to do their best always to care for their body... not just for a few weeks at the new year...  and here or there. Always! Yes, we aren't perfect, and yes, I love a few too many peanut m&m's at times... but I acknowledge these errors in my day to day living. I cut out calories elsewhere or tack on an additional 10 minutes in my workout to burn the extra 100 calories. It's all choices I make. There isn't a little devil twisting my arm telling me to eat these m&m's or not to get my work out in today.... it's alllllllllll me.

That's true for all of us. We make time, money and energy for everything we WANT to do. So why isn't a healthy lifestyle you WANT to have?!

As most of you know, if I can get on my "roost" about anything... it's all about this. Making yourself a priority. Love yourself enough to make yourself important. Important enough to take care of.

In 2012 make the decision this year to make LIFELONG changes and commitments to YOURSELF! Make small changes all the time for the better... it's easier that way. It's always harder to stop smoking overnight than it is to taper off of the cancer sticks.... all decisions are like this. Start low and go slow.... eventually you'll make many changes for the better and be able to MAINTAIN those changes forever!

-This week, add more water. Even if it's just one more glass a day..... whatever it is, just start.
-Next week, walk more. Start with ten minutes a day and add a minute each day once that starts to feel "do-able".
- Try to skip the salt. Just move the salt shaker from the table and enjoy your food the way it is, naturally. :)
- Next month, do jumping jacks in the bathroom on your breaks. Short bursts of cardiovascular activity not only help with your endurance, but aid the body in "pressure washing the vessels" of plaque and cholesterol build-up!
- Get a physical. Seriously - find a doctor. Go to your appointment. Write down your numbers - your height and your weight. Make sure they check your cholesterol, blood sugar (and A1C), thyroid, etc... Don't forget your numbers.
- In a few weeks, try a workout class. Any kind. Do something for FUN. Make friends while you're there. (they'll probably convince you to come back).
- Next month - cut out your sugary drinks.

These are just a few examples you can change or add to your routine. Share your ideas and goals with the other readers... You might have an idea that has helped you and can help others too!!

I have high hopes for us in 2012 friends! I'm working on my personal goals (for another post) and want to help you with yours. Trust me - I'm going to need LOTS of encouragement this year from you guys.... but know, I'm here for you too!

Share your thoughts and ideas, questions and comments. We're all in this together. We all need accountability, and you're mine. :)

Hugs and Love! Happy 2012!
- a.

Well Wishes for the NEW YEAR!!

HELLO!

I can't believe it's been an entire month (practically) since I've written. This was not by choice, I swear. I have about 6 drafts started and almost ready to publish.... but they haven't been due to the Holiday buzz, the crazy work and travel schedules and last but not least - our malfunctioning modem and router issues. UGH!

So finally, after hours of Todd patiently holding, calling Comcast and troubleshooting galore... hopefully we'll stay in business! :)

We had a WONDERFUL Christmas together here in D.C.. It was actually a little weird at first. We did all of our family visits before Christmas weekend and I didn't have to work on the holiday. It was wonderful waking up Christmas Eve to each other, casually having a nice breakfast and coffee, taking in the peace that surrounded D.C. on our 10 mile run and knowing we didn't have to rush off to someone's house for all the hustle and bustle that's become an expectation for us. It's not that we don't enjoy our family time, but when you spend more time in the car than with each side of the family.... it's more and more difficult to do (I don't even like thinking about the madness it would be with KIDS!). We realized this summer with our move, we wouldn't be able to take the time off of work that would allow us to be in NC over the holidays to see everyone we want and need to be with. So we made adjustments and split the visits over Thanksgiving and Christmas. What a difference it made. We in no way spent as much time with our family and friends as we wanted to, but we did what we could with the time we had.

Christmas Day was also a nice calm day for us. We slept in and then went to church. We haven't found a home church here in the DC area yet. My work schedule and Todd's training schedule haven't given us a whole lot of Sunday's to join in on fellowship.... but, thankfully, we had Christmas Sunday together to fellowship with the kind and open hearts of Clarendon Presbyterian Church. This small church was breathtakingly beautiful. Small and quaint, but gorgeous. I'm not sure how old the structure is, but the sanctuary is gorgeous. I think there were 10 of us total there Sunday morning. We sang together, read the Christmas Story, and shared our favorite memories as families from Christmases past. It was casual, kind, and  a beautiful way to start our Christmas morning.

I'm thankful we had the opportunity to join this church family in their Christmas morning service. We will certainly be back for a "traditional" service to meet and greet a few more faces!

I hope that each of you had a special and wonderful Christmas holiday celebrating the birth of Christ.

There will be much more to come in 2012. Todd and I have lots of goals for this year... mostly around running/fitness, professional development, financial and as a couple, but all are exciting! :) And yes, as always, I do have a goal to do MUCH more through and with this blog.

Hugs and Happy Holidays friends!! :) I love you all!
-a.

Hope For HIV

I found this great article published by the CDC today for World AIDS day, December 1st. As a nurse, I'm always amazed at how little patients (those with AIDS, those without and their care providers) know about the disease. I don't know HALF as much as I should know about the disease, but after meeting my first AIDS patient while in nursing school.... I've always been intrigued. AIDS is not the scary disease that everyone thought only "gay men" got in the 80's. AIDS is now the scary disease affecting everyone - men, women and children of allllllll races and sexual orientation.

Learn. I don't want another patient telling me "I think I have AIDS... can you test me?" and when I ask them appropriate questions regarding exposure and/or symptoms... they don't know.

So, in an effort to help protect you, society, alllll healthcare providers and myself. Get to learning! Don't ignore the topic. It's out there whether you like it or not. Help keep everyone safe. (and this goes beyond just using a condom!)

You can find more about this article here.

New Hope for Stopping HIV

Testing and Medical Care Save Lives

 

Too many people don't know they have HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). About 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the US but about 240,000 don't know they are infected. Each year, about 50,000 people get infected with HIV in the US. Getting an HIV test is the first step to finding out if you have HIV and getting medical care. Without medical care, HIV leads to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) and early death.

There's new hope today for stopping HIV in the US. Medicines (antiretroviral therapy or ART) can lower the level of virus in the body. ART helps people with HIV live longer, healthier lives and also lowers the chances of passing HIV on to others. However, only 28% are getting the care they need to manage the disease and keep the virus under control. To help stop HIV, get tested. If you have HIV, get medical care and work with your health care provider to control the virus and not pass it on to others.

Learn what you can do to prevent HIV through testing and medical care.

Problem

Many people don't know they have HIV or take all the actions to control it.

Testing: More people need to be tested for HIV.

• 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the US.
• Nearly 1 in 5 people (about 240,000) don't know they are infected.
• Getting an HIV test can lead to getting the medical care needed to stay healthy longer.
• People who don't know they have HIV have a higher risk of serious medical problems and early death.
• People who don't know they have HIV can also pass the virus on to others without knowing it.
• Youth and adults should get tested to learn their HIV status.
• People who are at greater risk for infection (have more than one sex partner, inject drugs, or are men who have sex with other men) should get tested once a year or more often.

Treating: Many people with HIV do not receive the medical care they need.

• Lowering the amount of virus in the body can keep a person with HIV healthy longer.
• Keeping the virus under control with medicines greatly lowers the chances of passing HIV on to others.
• Only 28% of all people with HIV know they are infected, get regular medical care, take ART and have the HIV virus under control.
• The number of people with HIV who get AIDS has decreased over time because of advances in medical care and ART.  Still, more than 16,000 people with AIDS die each year.
• Public health professionals and health care providers should help people with HIV make sure to get regular HIV medical care and take their medicines.

Prevention Counseling: Only 45% of people with HIV getting medical care received prevention counseling from their health care providers in the past year.

• Prevention counseling teaches patients how to stay as healthy as possible and prevent passing HIV on to others.  Prevention services include STD testing and treatment services, drug rehab, assistance in notifying partners, housing assistance, financial assistance and other services.
• People with HIV should get prevention counseling and services as a part of regular HIV care.
• People with HIV whose virus is controlled still need prevention counseling and prevention services regularly. 

HIV care in the United States

1.2 million people are living with HIV

What Can Be Done

Everyone can:

• Lower risky sexual behavior by not having sex, having sex with only one partner who you know is uninfected, or using a condom every time you have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.
• Ask your doctor for an HIV test.
• Get medical care as soon as possible if you have HIV, to stay healthier longer and to keep from passing the virus on to others.
• Get tested if you live in a community where HIV is more common.
• Get tested once a year or more often if you have more than one sex partner, inject drugs or are a man who has sex with other men.

US Government can:

• Develop guidelines for health care providers on testing and medical care.
• Educate health care providers and the public about the importance of HIV testing and medical care.
• Fund programs that support effective HIV prevention services and medical care.
• Identify and track differences in medical care, illness and death across different groups of people.
• Help meet the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, including getting all people with HIV into care. (see /www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/onap/nhas) 

State and local health departments can:

• Fund programs that support effective HIV prevention services and medical care.
• Create programs and policies to test people at risk for HIV early and often.
• Provide information about where people can get an HIV test such aswww.hivtest.org.
• Educate people about the benefits of HIV testing, regular care, and treatment.
• Get people who have HIV infection connected to HIV medical care.
• Promote HIV prevention counseling and services as a regular part of care.
• Support community actions to prevent new HIV infections and help people with HIV.
• Help meet the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, including getting all people with HIV into care.

Health care providers can:

• Offer their patients an HIV test as a regular part of medical care.
• Offer their patients STD testing and treatment services.
• Prescribe ART as needed for patients with HIV and make sure the amount of virus is as low as possible.
• Make sure people with HIV continue getting HIV medical care.
• Provide HIV prevention counseling to patients on how to protect their health and avoid passing the virus on to others; refer to other prevention services (for example, partner counseling) as needed.

Motivational Monday: Inspiring a change for the better

While checking out videos online I found this one. It's incredible. (a little long, but worth it)

Roger is the gentleman in the video. He started his journey to a happier, healthier man right before he turned 47 years old and weighed in at 276.6 pounds. He simplified his purpose to three goals:

1.) Health - changing his way of life in regards to diet and exercise to loose "a significant amount of weight".
2.) Passion - to RUN the Boston Marathon
3.) Love - to help save the life of his niece, Julia, and for the love of his wife, Mary.

What I love about his message is his FOCUS and that he didn't put a "time commitment" on his goals. He did what he could, when he could, and continued to push towards his three goals.

According to some of the video summary and other info I could find. Roger did exactly what he set out to do. He also ran the London marathon this past April. Julia is also still living.



Don't make excuses. Roger proved that finding a PURPOSE to drive you towards your goals, you will be successful!

Have a great week friends! :)

Workout Wednesday: ABS!

I couldn't remember my last abdominal workout move I shared with you guys, so I thought I'd share one of my favorite (FREE) programs with you at the same time!!

Exercise TV! Most cable companies offer this channel on-demand FREE to it's users. You can also check them out online for free videos, workout plans, dvd's, etc. I'm waiting for the day my running pal, friend and worlds most inspiring training/coach, Katie Wade, gets a gig with Exercise TV too!!


This ab routine is only two minutes - but take the time to give it a try! You've probably spent longer stalking people on facebook this morning.

Walk Fit

This weekend we had the luxury of enjoying a slow morning, sippin' our coffee (or hot tea in Tall boy's case), eating our oatmeal, and watching the news (or reading it on the ipad) before we set out for a long run.

Our local news always has a health and wellness segment that I usually make fun of. It's just done poorly or they have this older gentlemen who's way too buff to be his age (think 70's with padded sweat suit... yes, it's weird). But this time they had on a former football player of the Washington Redskins, Darrell Green. No, I had never heard of him before (I only knew he was with the Redskins b/c of the color of his uniform in the video!). I still know nothing about his professional career... but I am in LOVE with this new program he has launched.

The program is called Walk Fit Health Nation. It's a simple (but awesome) tool to motivate and track your steps each day... but it's even more than that! For about $80 for the year, a price you can't beat, you are given a digital pedometer that uses wireless technology to sync your walking stats (speed, amount, and times) to your computer and on the website. There is an entire network of participates who compete locally and nationally for their stepping goals (everyone is asked to set a minimal goal of 5,000 steps a day, aprox. 2 miles) and "top stepper" awards. Members are able to cheer and encourage other members as well.

I think this tool is a wonderful motivating tool for those trying to be more active with small changes. I know not everyone can just get up and try to start running. But we all walk!! Yes, some of us better than others and some of us, due to weight and/or knee issues, may only want to make walking easier. I also think this program is wonderful for those who don't work, stay at home, or have a job that keeps them "chained" to a desk more than they're aware of.





Who knows, maybe this program is just what some of my readers need. Not a gym, not a trainer, not the latest workout craze... but something that allows them to see, measure and track how much work they're doing, how much weight they've lost without all the fancy gadgets and gizmos.



The easiest way to improve ones health is simple: GET MOVING. The easiest way to get moving: WALK! Research also suggests that if we walk at least two miles a day, we can cut our chance of premature death nearly IN HALF!!

What do you all think? Anyone going to bite? Anyone brave enough to start walking for their health? :)


Remember to find your reason and STAY focused. You won't fail if you put your mind to it, share your goal(s) with your support group, and GET MOVING! Stop wasting time. You've got a life to live! :)

Tomorrow isn't guaranteed. 

Motivational Monday: How Bad Do You Want It?

Wow. I found this message sooooooooooo POWERFUL. Seriously - EVERYONE has to hear this message. (Please share it with your friends and loved ones.)


I had flashbacks of the old school church revivals I would go to as a young lady in the mountains of North Carolina.... it was THAT powerful. Soul moving powerful. Mind changing powerful.

The video is motivating (but not the purpose), but the MESSAGE. "Whoooooo!" (Shamekah Henderson, I said that JUST like you would during our work outs!) It makes you want to give it all up for a taste of success.

LISTEN:

REMEMBER: "When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you'll be successful" 

Like the narration insinuates, what are you willing to give up?  

Sleep? 

Chocolate?

Your TV time?

Sleep?

Working at home?

A clean house?

Sitting in traffic?

Bad knees?

Pounds?

Money?

Depression?

Sleep?

Sanity?

Go ahead. Walk out in to the water. How bad do you want to be successful? 

Real Bad?!? :)