In addition to being essential to general health and well-being, exercise is helpful in managing many MS symptoms. A study published by researchers at the University of Utah in 1996 was the first to demonstrate clearly the benefits of exercise for people with MS. Those patients who participated in an aerobic exercise program had better cardiovascular fitness, improved strength, better bladder and bowel function, less fatigue and depression, a more positive attitude, and increased participation in social activities. Since 1996, several additional studies have confirmed the benefits of exercise.

Inactivity in people with or without MS can result in numerous risk factors associated with coronary heart disease. In addition, it can lead to weakness of muscles, decreased bone density with an increased risk of fracture, and shallow, inefficient breathing.

An exercise program needs to be appropriate to the capabilities and limitations of the individual, and may need to be adjusted as changes occur in MS symptoms. A physical therapist experienced with the unique and varied symptoms of MS can be helpful in designing, supervising and revising a well-balanced exercise program. Any person with MS who is initiating a new exercise program should also consult with his or her physician before starting.

Periods of exercise should be carefully timed to avoid the hotter periods of the day and prevent excessive fatigue. With some guidelines, a good exercise program can help to develop the maximum potential of muscle, bone and respiration, thereby avoiding secondary complications and gaining the benefits of good health and well-being.

Source:National Multiple Sclerosis Society

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Ok it is time to shake the cobwebs from this blog and shake it up. The next Walk Kansas starts March 9th. Who in Kansas is going to join in with me and do this 8 week program?

For information follow the link above and lets rock Kansas. Let’s show the country we can move up the ranks as being in the top ten healthiest states to live in. Being in the backside of the top 30 is unacceptable. Let’s rock the house on March 9th.

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WASHINGTON - Jan. 7, 2008 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing recommendations to the regions affected by severe winter weather and flooding in Western states. USDA is hopeful that this information will help minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses due to food spoilage from power outages and other problems that are often associated with severe weather events.

“Power outages can occur at any time of the year and it often takes from a few hours to several days for electricity to be restored to residential areas,” said USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond. “Without electricity or a cold source, foods stored in refrigerators and freezers can become unsafe. Bacteria in food grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 and 140 °F, and if these foods are consumed, people can become very sick.”

Steps to follow to prepare for a possible weather emergency:

• Keep an appliance thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer. An appliance thermometer will indicate the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer in case of a power outage and help determine the safety of the food.
• Make sure the freezer is at 0 °F or below and the refrigerator is at 40 °F or below.
• Freeze containers of water for ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator or coolers after the power is out.
• Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately — this helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.
• Plan ahead and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.
• Store food on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water in case of flooding.
• Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours. Purchase or make ice cubes and store in the freezer for use in the refrigerator or in a cooler. Freeze gel packs ahead of time for use in coolers.
• Group food together in the freezer — this helps the food stay cold longer.

Steps to follow after the weather emergency:

• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.
• The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) and the door remains closed.
• Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items after 4 hours without power.
• Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below when checked with a food thermometer.
• Never taste a food to determine its safety!
• Obtain dry or block ice to keep your refrigerator and freezer as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot full freezer for 2 days.
• If the power has been out for several days, check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance thermometer. If the appliance thermometer reads 40 °F or below, the food is safe to refreeze.
• If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still contains ice crystals, the food is safe.
• Drink only bottled water if flooding has occurred.
• Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water. Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers.
• Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and retort pouches (for example, flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches) can be saved. Follow the Steps to Salvage All-Metal Cans and Retort Pouches in the publication “Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency” at: www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/
  keeping_food_Safe_during_an_emergency/index.asp
• Thoroughly wash all metal pans, ceramic dishes and utensils that came in contact with flood water with hot soapy water and sanitize by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
• When in Doubt, Throw it Out!

FSIS has available a Public Service Announcement (PSA), available in 30- and 60-second versions, illustrating practical food safety recommendations for handling and consuming foods stored in refrigerators and freezers during, and after, a power outage. Consumers are encouraged to view the PSA at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news/Food_Safety_Videos/.

News organizations and power companies can obtain hard copy (Beta and DVD) versions of the PSA by contacting the Food Safety Education Staff in FSIS’ Office of Public Affairs Education and Outreach by calling (301) 344-4757.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

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Resolutions ready? Take the plunge

12/29/2007By KALEY LYON

Hays Daily News

It’s back!

As 2008 draws near, The Center for Health Improvement is preparing for a repeat of what turned out to be its most popular event yet, Pound Plunge.

The program, which encourages locals to eat healthy and exercise right, shocked staff members and the entire community when about 1,500 people signed on last year to drop the pounds.

While it’s too soon for exact numbers, the second annual event is expected to be another big one, said Stephanie Schaffer, fitness manager.

“They keep coming in every day,” Schaffer said of this year’s registrations. “I’m expecting a lot more.”

The 12-week weight loss program will begin on Jan. 10 and end April 3. Each team must consist of four members, and the deadline to register is Jan. 6.

The beginning of the year is a good time to have such an event — New Year’s resolutions often help keep participants motivated, she said.

“New Year’s is a time when a lot of people in our country set goals,” Schaffer said. “The big thing is to lose weight and to exercise. It’s just a perfect time of the year to implement a team like this.”

Overall, the routine will be about the same as last year. Participants will receive a weekly nutrition or exercise tip to help them drop pounds and keep them off, she said.

The teams also will weigh in each week to track their progress, and at the end of the program, the team with the highest percentage of weight lost will receive a prize.

Unlike last year, when only the first place team received a financial award and free membership to the center, the top three teams will be rewarded.

Also unlike last year, team members will have the opportunity to weigh in on new digital scales, and individuals’ blood pressures will be recorded at the beginning and end of the program to gauge improvement, Schaffer said.

The program isn’t limited to the center — it strives to include the larger community and encourages participants and other local entities to get involved, she said.

“It’s just about getting people moving,” Schaffer said. “It’s just to teach people about fitness and exercise and nutrition, and they love it.”

Schaffer said she expects many of last year’s participants to try it again, and there also are many new team members already signed up.

“I think we’ll have people who did it last year who had great success. They’ll come back,” she said. “I think you’ll have people who did it last year and maybe have found out they need to do it a different way this year. And then you’re going to have the people who are going to come back, and this motivated them to lose weight and keep weight off.”

Deanna Staab, Hays, is one such individual. She participated in last year’s health challenge and has continued losing weight ever since.

At November’s Pound Plunge reunion, Staab took first place for having lost, and kept off, the highest percentage of body weight since the challenge began in early 2007.

Staab lost 13 pounds during pound plunge, and by continuing to eat and exercise healthy since then, has lost an additional 24 pounds.

“I really enjoy it,” she said. “I feel better and started exercising regularly, so that was the key — just to lose a little at a time.”

Staab’s team dubbed themselves the “hot tamales,” and the team support is what kept her going, she said. Her goal for Pound Plunge 2, which she has already signed up for, is to lose an additional 10 pounds, she said.

“I’m just happy about it,” Staab said. “It’s a good deal and everybody should sign up. It just gives you an idea of where you’re at and what you should be doing.”

Reporter Kaley Lyon can be reached at (785) 628-1081 Ext. 138, or by e-mail at klyon@dailynews.net.

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In my psychology of sport and fitness class we have been discussing the use of imagery and how it can help performance of those who are athletic. I got to thinking today before I sat down to write my column for this week that it could also apply to other aspects of daily living for those of us who are non athletes as well.

P.S.  Use positive words when doing imagery it helps reinforce what you hope to accomplish.

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Google Says Its Health Platform Is Due In Early 2008

Google plans to bring its immense data storage and organization capacities to the field of medical care and patient records, Marissa Mayer, the company’s head of search, said at the Web 2.0 Summit.

By Richard Martin
InformationWeek
October 17, 2007 09:45 PM

Telling her audience to “expect a lot of activity in the coming months,” Marissa Mayer, Google (NSDQ: GOOG)’s head of search, said today that the long-expected Google Health initiative will formally appear in early 2008.

Marissa Mayer of Google on the keynote stage at the Web 2.0 Summit (click to enlarge image).

Speaking at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco, Mayer outlined the ways in which the search giant plans to bring its immense data storage and organization capacities to the field of medical care and patient records. Google is already the starting point for a large majority of the health-related searches on the Web, she pointed out.

“If you look at health care, there’s already a huge user need, people are already using Google more than any other tool on the Web to find health information,” Mayer said. “And the health care industry generates a huge amount of information every year. It’s a natural core competency fo us, to understand how to organize all that data.”

As in other areas of its business, Google faces a formidable competitor in the race to bring the resources of the Internet to personalized health care in the form of Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT).

Earlier this year, Microsoft acquired Medstory, a Foster City, Calif.-based startup specializing in search software optimized for finding health information. Microsoft has not publicly disclosed its plans for a health-related product, but is said to be working on an offering that combines software with an online component.

“We’re building a broad consumer health platform,” Steve Shihadeh, general manager of Microsoft’s health solutions group, told The New York Times in August.

Google has developed a prototype online platform for its health offering that incorporates personal medical records, health care-related search features, diet and exercise regimens, a localized “find a doctor” application, and other elements, Mayer confirmed. The company has shown the prototype to unspecified partners and is having both Google employees and “trusted testers” beta-test the system.

Mayer took over the health care initiative in August, after the original leader, Adam Bosworth, left the company. She said she’s been holding daily 90-minute meetings with the team developing the Google Health software, working on product refinements, improving features, and so on. While some parts of the system will be free, she says, the health care services and applications could be subscription-based.

While the focus will be on improving health care and making records more accessible and portable for patients, Google will also improve life for physicians, Mayer noted.

“The goal for a lot of doctors is how many patients can they see in a day,” Mayer said. “That means their minutes per patient has got to go down, and the less time they have to spend finding and going over patient records the better. Ultimately we will design a product that’s useful for users, and also helps doctors do their job more quickly and more efficiently.”

The online health care field already has several startups, not all of whom have met with success. Internet-based medical information provider WebMD ” which is already a Google partner — saw its share price drop by 14 percent today after it reported disappointing quarterly results.

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This story ran Wednesday and I just got to read it today. I thought I would share it with my readers because it affects all of  us. I think that this is going to be a positive step in the right direction for getting big pharma to take more responsibility for it’s advertising practices.  This new legislation will also allow for better access to generic drugs a measure I could have used last year when I found out that Zoloft had gone generic by my case worker at voc rehab instead of through my medical card provider who actually encourages the filling of prescription drugs in the generic form first before going with the brand name. As it was they didn’t even pay for my Zoloft I had to go through voc rehab to get that expense covered or go through my nurse practitioners office to get samples. Yeah it has been about a year now since this not so nice roadblock in my depression treatment was thrown in my way, and I should build a bridge and get over it, however, I have to keep reminding people of this because it could have happened to them. I hope that in the future that somewhere along the line people who are on a state medical card will get access to information about the prescritopns they get covered regularly through the medical card such as when it will be offered as a generic, when and perhaps a few other things.

So with that being said here is the story that ran this week.

House Approves FDA Bill That Leaves Out Ad Curbs

Legislation Doesn’t Impose More Restrictions on DTC Messaging

By Ira Teinowitz

Published: September 19, 2007

WASHINGTON (AdAge.com) — The House of Representatives today voted 405 to 7 to endorse new drug-approval procedures that allow the Food and Drug Administration for the first time to fine marketers for misleading direct-to-consumer drug ads.

Curbs, including a ban on ads for all new drugs in a products first two to three years, did not make it into the bill passed today in the House.

Ad groups today hailed the legislation, which could be considered by the Senate tonight and sent to President George W. Bush next week, as a major win for the industry because it avoids ad curbs that had been initially a threat. The final compromise legislation leaves out a number of curbs that could have had a significant impact on the more than $4.5 billion spent annually on DTC ads.

‘Significant victory’
“It is one of the most significant victories for advertising and commercial speech in the past two decades,” said Jim Davidson, lobbyist for the ad and media groups. “It was an earned victory attributable to very hard work on the part of a broad coalition of media and advertising associations and companies.”

Originally both House and Senate leaders had suggested the FDA be allowed to ban ads for new drugs in a product’s first two or three years and further proposed that all ads for new drugs carry a special logo and a warning that not all side effects may have been found. There had also been proposals to require drug makers to devote more ad space to warnings and strike a better balance between positive and negative messages.

None of those made it into the final bill.

Instead, as passed, the legislation’s main effect is to boost the number of people at the FDA who will review ads. It also gives the FDA new authority to fine advertisers up to $250,000 a day for continuing to run any ads challenged as misleading and up to $500,000 a day for a second instance within three years.

In addition, the bill gives the FDA resources to study whether requiring ads to include a phone number to report drug problems would be beneficial.

Range of FDA issues
The new limits are part of broad legislation that also affects how the FDA inspects foods and drugs and tracks reports of drug problems and the fees marketers pay to get FDA approval.

Advances in some of those other areas were praised by representatives and senators. “This bill will give FDA urgently needed new resources, strengthen FDA’s ability to protect consumers from dangerous drugs, provide important incentives to develop drugs for children, safeguard the food we give our families and feed to our pets, help reduce the cost of medicine by ending abusive practices that deny consumers access to generic drugs, and address many other urgent priorities that face the nation,” said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who chairs the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee.

Though he said he wasn’t happy with some of the compromises made, “after so many recent instances in which Americans have been harmed by unsafe prescription drugs and contaminated food, America cannot afford inaction on this important measure.”

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If you reach for food when you’ve got nothing else to do, hold on! There are plenty of calorie-free ways to pass the time. Why not try one of these distractions instead?

• Call a friend and catch up.
• Clean your house, car, or desk.
• Relax with a pot of herbal tea.
• Take a bubble bath.
• Walk the dog, or just go for a walk if you don’t have a dog.
• Kick back — or dance — to some tunes.
• Get creative — paint, draw, stitch, strum! Whatever you do, find an artistic pursuit you enjoy!
• Crack open that book you’ve been meaning to read.
• Go out in the garden and pull weeds, prune, or plant.
• Volunteer! Get involved in helping others.
• Write a letter or an email to a friend.
• Dream! Use downtime to make plans for your future.

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Here is the latest weight loss and fitness carnival these are all great reads and I enjoyed reading them as well. My friend Cindy is in the Blog Mastermind Program with me and she has blossomed in her blogging skills since joining the Blog Mastermind program. Tupelo always has great articles and I have a new favorite with Weight Loss Dude as he puts himself out there through pictures of himself through his weight loss process. That takes guts for anyone to do that.

Flexibility Exercises posted at Weight Master

How to Count Calories posted at Strength for Her

Facing Fear with Deliberate Awareness posted at Tupelo Kenyon

Why I’m Not A Vegetarian posted at Weight Loss Dude

Michelle’s Corner- Tips to ward off weight gain at the office posted at IAmSoOverMe

Coffee and Fitness posted at Go Workout Mom

Being Present Through Sensuality posted at Tupelo Kenyon

A Healthy Career Change posted at ask the CareerCounselor

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These are all great reads I encourage anyone to check them out and spread the word about them.

Simple Toning Meditation posted at Tupelo Kenyon

Why excercise is absolutely necessary posted at 360 Degree Success

Your Friends are Making you fat posted at Witch on White Mountain

The Crude Reality Of Bodybuilding posted at MuscleBolism: Build Muscle Beyond Anabolics

When Business is Incontinent posted at Trust Matters

Dominic Acito.com - Stretching Guide posted at Dominic Acito

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