Sometimes a blood test can be a reliable, inexpensive way to provide answers to ongoing health concerns.  Do you feel unwell? Do you have problems with feeling unusually tired or lethargic. While blood testing does not replace a thorough medical history, physical examination and evaluation by a registered medical practitioner, a blood screening test can be a useful tool.

Health Testing Centres are one such provider of screening blood tests ranging from targeted and inexpensive tests to a full gamete of blood tests including multisystem review and cancer screening.

I do not advocate healthy asymptomatic people volunteering for broad based cancer and blood screening. However, I can acknowledge that in some situations where primary health care is unavailable or unaffordable, a blood test from such a provider can offer peace of mind and reassurance.

Some of the tests on offer include STD testing, Blood chemistry, cholesterol and triglycerides, thyroid function, prostate testing (PSA), liver function tests (LFTs), cancer screening markers, hormone and endocrine levels, glucose tolerance diabetes tests, and allergy testing.

Prior to arranging a blood test always consider the implications of the results. How will you feel if the test detects an illness that has a serious impact on your health? What am I obliged to divulge to my insurance company or future insurance company and how will that affect my healthcare in future? What will I do if a blood test is abnormal but not specific for a particular illness? Will I be able to attend a medical practitioner for reassurance or will this create unnecessary worry for me?

Blood tests range from inexpensive to over $1,000 so are not something you should embark on without serious thought. However if you feel the need to have greater control of your health care without the guidance of your primary health care provider, they may be just the answer.

The temptation to overspend and sink into the deep pit of credit card debt can be too much to avoid. Prepaid debit cards like the GreenDot prepaid card can be a great alternative. Assign a fixed amount of money to your prepaid card and you can shop without the worry of overspending and overborrowing.

The features that might appeal to you with the GreenDot card include:
- no mandatory bank account
- no credit checks
- no minum balance required
- no penalty fees or late payment fees
- no overdraft fees
- free card activation
- able to deposit your salary directly onto the card
- monthly statements
- dispute management if you are overcharged or unhappy with a merchant
- safety of a company established in 1999 and trusted so your money is secure
- use GreenDot worldwide, anywhere Mastercard is accepted
- more than 50,000 outlets worldwide accept GreenDot deposits
- more than 18,000 worldwide ATMs accept GreenDot debit card

One drawback to the GreenDot card is the $5 fee each time you load. The GreenDot card, like other prepaid cards does lack an overdraft facility which may leave in a difficult situation if your expenditure exceeds your available funds. This is also an advantage as credit and the high interest payments attached to it with regular credit cards can lead to long term pain.

I was discouraged from trying weight training. “If you lift weights you might start to ‘bulk-up’ like a man”, my girlfriends thought. Certainly I didn’t want to look like a body builder; I just wanted to lose some weight and tone up. My doctor suggested it after diagnosing me with low bone density. He explained to me research that demonstrates that strength training (or resistance exercise as he called it) has profound effects on the musculoskeletal system and can reduce osteoporosis and lower back pain problems.

I started with very light weights and at least ten to fifteen repetitions per set. By using lighter weights with a greater number or repetitions, my personal trainer had suggested this would be a good starting point to improve muscle tone. I only was able to commit half an hour three times a week, but that was all it took to notice a difference.

I wasn’t losing much weight, but my clothes were looser and my body felt firmer. The slacks that required a deep breath to fit into now felt comfortable. My personal trainer had suggested my posture needed improving so I was working to improve my stabilizing muscles across my back, neck, shoulders, hips and abdomen. I am starting to notice the difference. I have been plagued by headaches and migraines for much of my life but I have been fortunate to have had relatively few of these since trying the weight training.

One aspect I am falling down on is improving my diet. My doctor wants me to increase my intake of dairy products (particularly cheese and yoghurt) to improve my calcium intake and to increase my protein intake. I find it quite hard to get a good amount of protein in my diet as I rarely eat meat or eggs. My personal trainer has suggested protein supplements. There seem to be vast number of types available - soy protein, whey protein, and a vast number of brands. My plan is to try a single serve of a protein supplement each day when I find one I enjoy the taste of and which works for my body.

If you’ve struggled with weight loss and haven’t tried weight training I would thoroughly recommend it. And my girlfriends (and partner) think I am looking great!

I recently had a guest stay over at short notice and my apartment was admittedly in a state of disarray. He left with the words “you could really do with a house cleaning service“, words other guests might be too polite to utter but indeed he was right.  But how how does one choose the ideal house cleaner?  Here are some questions I found important:

• What cleaning products do they use?  Some companies seem to want you to buy your own products (which is an added cost for you), while others provide their own products. 
• Does the cleaning service use environmentally friendly cleaning products or harsh chemicals?  This is particularly important if you have children (or even much loved pets) who might be sensitive to some chemicals.  You should also be comfortable the cleaning products won’t stain or damage your property.
• Does the service have insurance?  Accidents happen and whose expense will it be to rectify the damage?
• Does the cleaner work for a larger franchise or company or are they a one person business?  There are advantages of engaging with a wider brand.  They may be able to arrange a replacement when your cleaner is unavailable.  Choose a cleaning franchise or company can demonstrate a high level of traning for their cleaners.
• Do they charge per hour or per job?  Cost per job offers cost certainty, but you need to be very clear exactly what tasks will and won’t be completed at each visit for it to work successfully.
• Will they give you a free estimate and discuss your requirements before starting?  A free estimate is important as it will help ensure you and your cleaner are on the same page.

Although it is early days, I have been very happy with my own local choice of cleaner.  She has so far demonstrated that she is polite and efficient and the cleaning products she uses are neither harsh on the environment or my own health.

November is Men’s Health month and many of my peers are fervently growing their moustaches for “Movember”.  I won’t be growing one.  I have tried.  After a week I am overcome by the overwhelming urge to shave.

However I will do my bit to raise attention to a very worthwhile cause - Men’s Health and prostate cancer.  Prostate cancer is the most prevalent of the cancers in men and most commonly affects men over fifty.  It is important for men to talk to their GPs about prostate cancer and consider have their prostate examined and a blood test called a PSA test. 

If you are over fifty and haven’t discussed prostate health with your GP in the past 2 years make an appointment this month.  If you are younger, or looking for things you can do to improve your prostate health have a look at The Ultimate Prostate Health guide for some more interesting facts on diet and lifestyle factors.

I admit that I own a pair of pajamas that are well worn. But how long can you ignore holes in the fabric because they are comfy?

After some thought, it was time for some new men’s pajamas. I ended up inspecting the offering at Blair. The first thing to say about Blair is that they are not one of those suppliers set up to sell good looking but low quality products over the internet. In fact, they have been around longer than the internet itself; Blair is coming up to its 100 year anniversary as a company. There is a sense of familiarity with their products - they have previously made their way into my home via mail order catalogs. I find it reassuring to buy from a company with a good reputation and be sure that the apparel that arrives in the mail will be good quality.

Today I rarely purchase from mail order catalogs as I spend most of my time online. Blair have one of the largest selections of men’s apparel I have seen. Their sleepware page has more than 40 items including boxers, flannel pajamas, cotton socks, night shirts, singlets, and briefs which you can sort and search through by price or by popularity.

Although the prices are cheap enough, it is worth entering your email address as extra discounts and special offers sometimes are too good to refuse. Also, I particularly like the clearance items, which seem insanely cheap on some lines.

One bug bear for me is the cost of shipping. It does add something to the cost of your order and startling to see your cart total jump by 20% of more. On the other hand, the clothes are so cheap to start with it is hard to feel like you are not getting great value.

I’ve never tried their gift card service but I notice you can purchase one and avoid the hard decisions like choosing the right size and colour for the perfect gift.

I hope to have some new men’s pajamas soon!

Some economists have suggested interest rates may increase another one or two percent over the next 12 months. Whilst 2% might not sound like a lot, it translates to an extra $199 in monthly repayments on $150,000 home loans. For a $250,000 loan, this would be an extra $332 you would have to pay.

Planning ahead is the key
Have you considered what you will do if rates increased? There are a number of calculators online that will allow you to run simulations on your budget. If you know in advance what areas of your budget have the most flexibility it will give you a good grasp on exactly how interest rates will affect your lifestyle. If you are considering a new mortgage, ask your broker to give you an estimate of the payment schedule if rates were to rise by 3%. If you think 3% extra is an impossible demand then you are probably punching above your weight. Proceed with great caution.

Reevaluate and consider your plan regularly
Mortgages, like houses, come with many options. And like housing, needs change throughout our life. Make sure you understand which features your mortgage has, which you need and which you are paying extra for. Do you really need a line of credit? An offset account? If your needs have changed, the right home loan for you has likely also changed.

Make a contingency plan and consider the worst case scenario
If your mortgage is for an investment property, what is your plan if interest rates rise? Will you elect to raise the rent or cut your budget in other ways? At what level of repayments would you need to put the property on the market. Having these plans in writing will help you make a rational decision if you are under a lot of mortgage stress in the future.

Cost to move lenders
Some things in life are forever. Mortgages are not one of them. Read the terms and conditions and know in advance how much you will be out of pocket to take your business elsewhere. Even if you remain a loyal customer to one bank, this information will give you bargaining power if you need to renegotiate.

Overweight?  Obese?  Tried dieting and exercise with no good result?  One of the more radical options to discuss with your local doctor is weight loss surgery. Sound invasive?  Yes and no.
 
The first surgical procedure for weight loss was performed by a surgeon named A Kremen in 1954.  Called an “intestinal bypass”, this rather crude procedure linked the upper and lower segments of small bowel.  The effect was to bypass the section of gut where most food absorption takes place.  Although this was effective, serious complications including dehydration, diarrhea, and salt imbalance were not uncommon.

Surgical procedures for weight loss, like bariatric surgery, have come a long way since then.  Minimally invasive surgery is now an option for some people.  A popular option is gastric banding using new adjustable bands.  Gastric bands simply reduce the functional size of the stomach – sometimes by as much as 90%.  A typical stomach size after gastric banding is approximately 3-4 tablespoons in size.  This reduces the quantity of food which can be consumed in a single sitting, and speeds up satiety.  Gastric bands do alter food absorption.  One advantage of gastric banding is that unlike Dr Kremen’s techniques of the 1950’s, there is no need to cut, staple, or reconnect bowel or stomach tissue.  Recovery time is significantly shorter, and complications are far less likely.  Patients tend to notice the greatest change in their weight in the first 12 - 18 months after gastric banding surgery.  After this weight is more likely to plateau - in my view, this should not be considered to be a major problem.  A good clinic will ensure you are referred off for lifestyle therapy to help you learn new healthier eating habits and behaviors.  These techniques can be used for life.

Whilst I wouldn’t be rushing off to my nearest surgeon because I’ve gained a few extra pounds from Christmas festivities, obese people who have made a genuine effort with less invasive treatment should investigate their options.