Stay Fit During Pregnancy

GBB Note: Like we always say, there's nothing more beautiful than a healthy pregnant woman!

(NAPSI)-A world of benefits to you and your growing baby is at your feet...if, doctors say, you move those feet. Regular, moderate exercise-favorites include walking and water aerobics-can help reduce the risk of developing gestational diabetes for some women; lessen pregnancy-related woes such as backache, bloating and constipation; increase energy; and improve mood.

"Even women who weren't exercising before becoming pregnant can start an exercise program," said Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, RN, executive director of the National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC), long a trusted source for women's health information. "The key if you fall into this category is to check with your health care professional to ensure there are no medical reasons to avoid exercise."

Exercise Ideas

Some simple guidelines for exercising while pregnant include:

• Aim for 30 minutes of mild to moderate physical activity most days of the week. Women who have been inactive should start off slowly, with just a few minutes a day, and add five minutes a week until reaching the 30-minute level. Be sure to warm up, cool down and stretch.

• Moderate strength training helps your muscles and is safe for women who were doing such training before becoming pregnant.

• If you weren't exercising regularly before your pregnancy, low-impact exercises are probably best. Walking, riding a stationary bicycle, using an elliptical machine, swimming or taking a water aerobics class can be great ways to get active.

• After the first trimester, don't do exercises for which you must lie on your back.

• Exercise in the cooler parts of the day to protect yourself from overheating.

• Drink plenty of fluids.

"While exercise is good, women should avoid contact sports or those that require them to jump, change direction quickly or have a higher risk of falling," added Battaglino Cahill, naming soccer, basketball, tennis, skiing and horseback riding as examples.

More Tips

You can find more tips from the National Women's Health Resource Center on staying fit and healthy during pregnancy in the Pregnancy & Parenting Health Center at www.healthywomen.org.

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Reduce Holiday Stress In An Hour Or Less

(NAPSI)-The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration. However, with your ever-growing to-do list, from organizing family gatherings to finding the perfect gifts-not to mention grocery shopping, cleaning and decorating-all too often words such as "joy" and "celebration" are replaced with "anxiety" and "stress."

In fact, a recent survey by Lindt, a premium chocolate confectioner, found that two out of three women admit they are stressed during the holidays. While many women spend time perfecting their hostess techniques and buying gifts for loved ones, they often forget to take time out for themselves. The survey also found that in order to relieve stress, the majority of women, if given the chance, choose to go shopping, indulge in premium chocolate or visit their local spa. It's well known that when trying to avoid stress, it's important for women to remember that taking a personal time-out, even for only a moment, can make a big difference.

Whether you have an extra hour before you have to pick up the kids from school or you find yourself with only five minutes of precious "me time," here are five tips from Lindt that will help you forge through the holidays without forgetting about yourself!

1) 60 minutes: Go ahead, pamper yourself by booking a massage or a facial and let a professional soothe away your tension. A classic massage from your local day spa should leave you rejuvenated in under an hour.

2) 45 minutes: Book an appointment to have your hair blown out by a pro. The experience of having your hair styled will leave you feeling and looking like a million dollars at a fraction of the cost.

3) 30 minutes: Feed your brain by reading. Whether it's fact or fiction, read at least a chapter a day. Your mind will wander to a different place and forget about that lengthy to-do list.

4) 15 minutes: Take a cyber-break. Sign online to check out the latest celebrity gossip and news. Catching up on others' busy lives will help you briefly forget the stress of your own.

5) 5 minutes or less: Treat yourself to something indulgent, such as one smooth-melting Lindt Lindor Truffle, to help you momen-tarily escape the strains of everyday life.

For more information, visit www.LindtLindorTruffles.com.

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Fit Or Fooling Yourself?

(NAPSI)-The good news: Baby boomers are living longer and leading more active lives.

The not-so-good news: There's still room for improvement when it comes to long-term health. According to a recent survey of baby boomers, the majority are feeling young, eating healthy and putting less focus on age-related health issues such as hearing loss, elevated blood pressure and declining eyesight. The findings are in stark contrast to those of the National Center for Health Statistics, which reports that half of Americans in the 55 to 64 age group have high blood pressure and two in five are obese.

So are boomers fooling themselves into a false sense of security when it comes to their overall health?

Quite possibly, says Dr. Stephen Sanders, diabetic expert and Internal Medicine specialist at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo. "A recent Energizer Keep Going. Live Healthy survey uncovered the disconnect between health perceptions and health realities among this age group," says Dr. Sanders. "That's why it is so important for boomers to be proactive, to take charge of their health and to undergo routine screenings for all common age-related health issues."

Dr. Sanders also stresses the connection between these health screenings and maintaining a high quality of life. For example, untreated hearing loss could mean the difference between living independently and requiring assistance, says Dr. Sanders. "If you can't hear the phone, doorbell, fire alarm, etc., it's going to be extremely difficult to maintain your independence. If you have a hearing issue--and one-third of boomers think they do--get a hearing screening to determine if you need a hearing aid," he advises. "If not, you put yourself and others at risk."

For those ready to improve their lifestyle, Dr. Sanders has six tips:

1. Routine health screenings are extremely important preventive efforts and the key to healthy living and disease management.

2. Diabetics must work to keep their blood sugar as near to normal as possible--one of the best ways to do so is the regular use of a glucose meter.

3. Be sure to maintain all your vital devices. People who use blood pressure monitors, glucose monitors and insulin pumps should have backup batteries available for all their medical devices.

4. Get up to speed on the latest technologies. From discreet hearing aids with wireless technology to hearing aid battery dispensers, such as the Energizer® EZ Change, it's easier than ever to remain active.

5. Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice--anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster.

6. Utilizing devices such as pedometers, calorie counters and MP3 players can help make exercising fun and enjoyable.

Dr. Sanders urges everyone--and especially boomers--to make health a priority. By incorporating these six simple steps, people of all ages can achieve better health and meet their health and fitness goals.

For more tips from Dr. Sanders or to learn more about the Energizer "Keep Going. Live Healthy" program and specialty batteries that power important health and medical devices, visit energizer.com/livehealthy.

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How to Stay Motivated and Keep Your Workouts Fresh

(ARA) – Whether it's walking the dog every day or getting to the gym three times a week, sometimes your exercise routine can feel like just that … routine. There are simple ways to keep your workouts fresh and renew your motivation to get moving for health and fitness.

* Have a plan and post your goals.
Whether it's losing weight, increasing endurance or just feeling healthier overall, having a plan makes it easier to stay on track. Posting your goals gives you something to work toward. Print out your goals and hang them on the wall above your treadmill or start a personal fitness blog and put your goals out there for everyone to see. Do some research online and talk with your doctor to make sure your goals are healthy and realistic. Unrealistic goals mean certain frustration.

* Reward yourself when you reach your goals.
Did you manage to exercise 30 minutes a day for an entire week? Reward yourself by getting a relaxing massage. Did you lose a few pounds? Take a night off, relax and watch television or read a book. Have you reached your weight loss goal? Splurge on a new MP3 player to listen to during your continued workouts. Try not to use food as a reward, especially if your goal is to lose weight.

* Work out with a friend.
Exercising with a friend can make your workout time fly. They may have new ideas and you can help keep each other on track.

* Try something new.
Working out can be fun with a new piece of equipment like a Sports Hoop -- a weighted hoop you swivel for just 10 to 15 minutes to provide cardiovascular benefits, tone muscles and burn calories and fat. Spend time each day working out with the Sports Hoop Workout DVD and you can trim your waist 2 inches and lose up to 4 pounds every month. For more information the workout that feels like child's play visit www.Sports-Hoop.com or call toll free (866) 700-5668.

* Change the order of your exercises.
If you're in a routine you could be in a rut. Simply changing the order you exercise in can help shake things up. If you walk three days a week and do cardio on Tuesdays, try walking at a different time of day or doing cardio two days in a row.

* Take it outside.
A change of venue can add great motivation, especially when you're out in the fresh air and sunshine. Even inclement weather can provide an extra push -- you'll run faster when you want to get out of the rain!

* Subscribe to a fitness magazine.
Magazines offer new plans and inspiration. Plus the photos of fit people can be great motivation when you picture yourself fitting into those new workout clothes.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Tips To Take The Pain Out Of Cold Weather

GBB Note: Cooler mornings have arrived in Fayette County. The weather is just perfect for getting out and walking the cart parts in Peachtree City, Here are some tips in case the morning stretch makes you stop and pause.

(NAPSI)-If you're one of the estimated 27 million Americans who suffer from osteoarthritis, many cold weather sports and activities can seem overwhelming. In fact, colder weather often intensifies arthritis pain.

By following a few simple tips, people with arthritis can reduce the impact that pain has on their lives:

• Maintain your exercise program-It's not just the cold weather that causes joints to stiffen, but inactivity. People who are normally active in the summer can become sedentary when it's cold.

Lack of exercise raises the risk for cardiovascular disorders and other chronic illnesses and can also make the muscles of the body less efficient and increase fatigue, stress and anxiety.

If the weather outside is prohibitive, find an indoor activity such as mall walking, dancing, swimming at an indoor pool or yoga. Be sure to warm up before and cool down after your workout to help prevent strains, muscle soreness and other injuries. Talk to your health care provider before beginning a new exercise routine.

• Try hot and cold therapy -Both warm baths and heating pads help ease the pain while ice packs reduce inflammation and swelling. Try starting with cold therapy to help with inflammation and then switch to heat therapy for stiffness.

• Layer your clothing-By wearing multiple layers of clothing, you can avoid rapid temperature transitions between indoors and out.

• Take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever-Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Aleve work to relieve everyday aches and pains. Aleve has also been shown to provide 24 hours of relief with just two pills-something not found with other OTC brands.

For more information on how to effectively manage pain, visit the Osteoarthritis Resource Center at www.aleve.com.

When the weather outside prohibits outdoor exercise, consider an indoor activity such as yoga.

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Supplements Can Serve As Stress Buffer

(NAPSI)-When it comes to reducing stress, many believe following the right diet and taking nutritional supplements can often be a big help. Experts say when people are stressed, they do not always eat as much or as well. Here are some tips:

• Eat smaller meals more frequently to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Make sure protein and fiber are part of every meal.

• Exercise. It burns calories and helps to fight stress.

• Look for a natural-food multivitamin containing B vitamins and minerals to help convert food to energy, B and C vitamins to help support the body's ability to handle stress, chromium to promote stable blood sugar levels, and iodine to support healthy thyroid function and metabolism. Antioxidants are also found in natural-food multivitamins and help to protect tissues and cells from damage caused by stress as well as exercise.

Some say this type of natural whole-food multivitamin--as well as herbal supplements, probiotics, omega-3 fish oils and antioxidants, such as CoQ10--from a reliable source, such as The Vitamin Shoppe, can help to guard against deficiencies.

This can help ensure that other aspects of health and fitness--such as hair, skin, nails, the immune system--are not sacrificed during times of stress.

Learn more at www.vitaminshoppe.com.

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Spring Shape Up: Easy Routines for Beautiful Health

(ARA) - When it comes to getting in shape, celebrity fitness trainer Kim Lyons from “The Biggest Loser” knows it’s all about forming healthy routines. Lyons has provided support and encouragement to millions of people looking to lose weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle. “I tell my clients that they are not going to see drastic changes in their weight and appearance over night. So it is important to stay motivated by adopting smaller, easy habits that give them the reward of feeling more healthy and beautiful along the way,” says Lyons who just released her new book, “Your Body, Your Life.” Here she offers some unique tips to help you shape up inside and out: * Take notes – Purchase a small notebook that fits in your purse or briefcase, and get in the habit of keeping a “compliment journal.” Record compliments you receive and browse through it once a day for motivation to stick to your healthy, beautiful habits. * Brush up – Just like your body, your smile should be not only beautiful on the outside but healthy on the inside too. Try new Crest Healthy Radiance, a system of daily fluoride toothpaste and weekly deep clean strips that strengthen enamel below the surface and deep clean to whiten. It whitens four times better than the leading whitening toothpaste for results that will motivate you to keep going. * Weigh in – After you start your fitness program, step on the scale one time each week to monitor your progress. You will be able to track your progress and remind yourself that you are getting there. * Choose one – If getting healthy seems too overwhelming, pick one small bad habit and focus on eliminating it for one week. Then pick another for the next week. Do this for 12 weeks and before you know it you will have twelve new healthy habits. * Celebrate – Take time to reward yourself for your healthy habits each week. When you reach a major goal, take a day off and go to the beach or treat yourself to an evening out. Adopting these simple routines will keep you feeling healthy on the inside and beautiful on the outside from start to finish of your fitness program. Courtesy of ARAcontent