Archive for the 'Health' Category

How Fat Can We Get?

The race to get fat is on!

And, according to research released by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, most Americans are going to place in this race with a big fat blue ribbon.

The research points out that if Americans keep gaining weight at the current rate they’re gaining; in just eight years 75% of Americans will be overweight and 40% will be obese.

Raise you hand if you’d like to come in last in this race.

Our kids are affected as well. It’s not fair to train them for a contest that will kill them.

Sorry if I sound agitated, I do tend to be chipper and positive — look on the bright side.
But when my son and I go to the city park I count far more chubby kids than slim kids. More parents sitting on the bench then playing Frisbee or swinging with their children. It’s sad. Many of the people my age aren’t going to live to see their grandkids. Fat will do them in early — if they even have grandkids. Studies show that overweight individuals have a much harder time conceiving.

Right off the top of my head I can think of two revolutionary ways to stop this…

Eat better and exercise.

Cutting out soda and fruity sugary drinks will help too. As will trimming down food portion sizes and actually hanging out with our kids; setting a good example by playing with them, outside in the fresh air.

Other key points found by Johns Hopkins:

• Currently 1 in 3 adults is obese.
• 80% of African American women over the age of 40 are overweight.
• Asians born here in America are four times more likely to be overweight than their foreign born cousins.
• 16-34% of children (11 million) are overweight and many more are at risk of becoming overweight.
• Women ages 20-34 years have the highest rate of increased weight gain.

But no one is entirely off the hook. The overall fact remains that 75% of ALL Americans will likely be overweight by 2015. Imagine what this will do to the already escalating health care costs.

This is serious. I hear peppy talks by fitness trainers. I see nicely worded articles about slimming down youth. I feel all warm and fuzzy when I learn that yet another overweight pregnant woman thankfully gave birth to a healthy baby.

But honestly, I think we’ve reached the point where happy pep talks and saying “robust” when we mean “grossly overweight” has got to stop. It’s not working. Maybe knowing that we’re willfully harming our children will work. Maybe considering that there soon won’t be enough healthy people to care for the unhealthy people will work. Is death a motivator to get in shape?

Maybe…

If you’d like to see your children grow up healthy and happy you can visit:

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Youth Becoming Healthy

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences kids page

Healthier US.gov

Why not make a choice right now that you and your children will lose this race. All you have to do to get started is click on a link above. It’s that simple.

Posted in Child Abuse, Exercise, Healthy Eating, Healthy Living, Nutrition for Adults, Weight Management | 3 Comments »

Green Ideas for Kids!

Kids can make a difference for our planet as well as any adult.

Kids today, have a distinct advantage over us adults — they’re being raised in an environment and communities that are already aware of the consequences of not being green.With a little help from parents who care, kids today are going to change the world we live in for the better.

Read and discuss this list with your kids! Your kids (and you) can try these easy ideas for going green and saving the planet.

Recycle: Okay, that’s a given in most places today — but not all. In my neighborhood in Albuquerque there were barely any recycling resources. If this is the case where you live write a letter, or have your parents help you write a letter to public officials in your area. Make your voice heard. You can even draw a picture to show how you feel. Don’t know where to write try starting here.

Don’t let go: Of that cool balloon. Each time a helium balloon floats away they may end up hurting animals and fish. Helium balloons fall (eventually) back down to the earth and strong winds can blow them to our oceans. A sea animal may try to eat the balloon and that could kill the animal. Balloons can also wrap around small animals and hurt them. No matter how much fun it is to let your balloon fly — don’t. If you want to fly something fun that won’t hurt animals try building a kite with your parents.

Brush your teeth: Now, simply brushing your teeth won’t save the planet– you will have a beautiful smile though. However, you can help to save lots of water by turning off the sink faucet each and every time you brush. Also stay away from pump dispenser toothpastes; they add much more waste to our landfills than a normal tube. Some companies are even making toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes that you can recycle. Take a look at your local co-op and see what’s available.

Let someone else play with your stuff: Before throwing that old toy away see if a friend of yours might want to trade one of their toys for your old toy (always ask an adult before doing this). If no one wants your toy donate it to a thrift store or charity that gives toys to other children who may not have as many cool toys as you do.

If you want to learn more about how to save your planet visit The Environmental Kids Club. At this website you can even become an official planet protector and get free coloring books and games.

Or read this book: Good Earth Art: Environmental Art For Kids, for more ideas

Have fun and always stay green!

Posted in Healthy Living | 1 Comment »

Have a Wonderful and Safe 4th of July!

The 4th of July is a great time for families to get together. A nice warm day, picnics in the grass, icy watermelon, slip & slide fun (hey, do they still have slip & slides?), and the amazing firework displays.

It’s a fun and family focused day of the year.

But sadly, many accidents can and do occur on the 4th each year. Not to put a damper on the day’s festivities but there are some simple facts you need to know to keep your family safe and healthy this 4th.

Facts & figures

I could give millions of accident stats for the 4th — there’s no shortage. However, let’s just look a few biggies offered by The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):

• “In 2005, 10,800 people were treated at hospital emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries.
• The highest risks of fireworks injury are to school-age children. In 2005, nearly half of the people injured by fireworks were under the age of 15.
• Fireworks can result in severe burns, fractures, or scars or even death or disfigurement that can last a lifetime.
• Even sparklers, which are considered by many to be harmless, reach temperatures of more than 1,000° F.
• Based on the amount of time and quantities in use, fireworks pose a higher risk of fire death than any other consumer product.“

On July 4th there are more U.S. fires reported that on any other day of the year — and fireworks account for half of these fires. The figure that surprised me was the sparklers — which are seemingly harmless. I always have let my son use them in the past but I’m re-thinking that this year. Each year the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) promotes a list of safety tips for 4th of July firework safety.

This year however, the AAP is doing something new. The NFPA has come forward with, instead of safety tips, a new recommendation that tips aren’t needed. What’s needed is a call for everyone to leave the fireworks to the professionals. The AAP agrees with the NFPA and so this year’s tips are a little less bulky and a lot safer…

“Legal or not for consumers, fireworks are too risky for amateurs leave the fireworks to the professionals.”

Besides saving you some reading this tip could save your family money, stress, and more importantly maybe your health or life. So follow this year’s one tip. Gather the family, pack a picnic, and head to the nearest community fireworks festivities for a fun and safe 4th.

Safe & happy July 4th wishes from Family Resource!

Posted in Child Safety, Healthy Living, Holidays, Personal Safety | 1 Comment »

Candy Cigarettes: Simple Fun or Simply Dangerous?

Raise your hand if you rode the bus to elementary school. Me pick me! So, yes I rode the bus. I remember standing miserable in the cold and rain. I remember how one bus driver hated kids and was constantly threatening to, “Turn this bus around.� I remember the fights between growing boys. And I remember the smoking.

The smoking! Yup smoking… In the fifth or sixth grade the “cool� boys started bringing candy cigarettes to the bus stop.

It seemed innocent enough; however, to morning commuters we probably looked anything but. A bunch of kids aged six through twelve standing around in a circle while bubble gum smoke swirled around our heads. Finally a parent commuter drove by and ended our smoking fun.

Good thing too because a recent study featured in the July issue of the journal Preventive Medicine reports that kids who ‘light up’ candy cigarettes are more likely to light up the real thing when they’re older.

Dr. Jonathan Klein, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Rochester, and lead researcher on the candy cigarettes and his team studied around 26,000 adults and found that 12% of adults who had never had a candy cigarette when they were young report adult smoking habits while 22% of adults who did have candy cigarettes as a youngster report adult smoking. Also the study showed that there was a correlation with the amounts of candy cigarettes people chewed down as a kid. As kids chew more their rates of adult smoking increase.

But why?
Klein says, “It allows the marketing that goes into tobacco advertising to operate on children long before they have access to cigarettes… these candy products promote smoking as a socially acceptable activity.”

Danny McGoldrick, research director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, brings up another point to consider. McGoldrick compares candy cigarettes with a kids learning curve. For instance first comes candy cigarettes, than with the cigarette companies coming out with flavored smokes, why not move on to that, and than on to the full blown real thing. It makes sense. I’ve heard many a teenagers state that cherry flavored or licorice flavored cigarettes must be safe because they don’t taste bad.

But are candy cigarettes even around anymore?
Well, I thought about that too. Personally, I thought that they’d been outlawed long ago. But they haven’t. They’re just a bit more underground. Now, with kids being so internet savvy, all it takes is a few clicks of a mouse and you can find oodles of chewy smokes on the web. I just did a few minutes ago. It was simple. Your kids will find them too.

So, make candy cigarettes just as off limits in your home as the real thing. But obviously that won’t stop the bus stop kid smoking parties. The best defense is to talk to your kids early about the dangers of tobacco and then practice what you preach.

To learn more about how to talk to your kids about tobacco visit Kids Health.

Posted in Alcohol and Other Drugs, Parenting, Smoking, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

My bald patch covered with WHAT?

Everyone has one or two family members who are balding. If your family is genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness, maybe you have alot more. Historically men have gone to some pretty crazy lengths to conceal their thinning domes. Have a look at these few famous (and not so famous) examples:

The flamboyant Elton John opted for the tried and tested toupee. Steven Segal had a hair transplant to restore his hairline (hair was taken from the back of his head and planted at the front). But who is the last guy and what’s on his head?

Well according to the website of Australian leading hair transplant surgeon Dr Ray Woods that is a picture of “Justin�, one of the world’s first patients to undergo chest to scalp hair relocation. In a marathon procedure where Dr Woods removed and relocated each individual hair follicle one by one, Justin’s hairline was slowly reconstructed – from his chest hairs. And it grows. Quite alot actually.

Two years on it looks something like this:

Remarkable! I, for one, didn’t realize chest hair could grow that long. Which made me wonder if there were other doctors out there transplanting body hair.

I stumbled across transplant surgeon Dr Jeffrey Epstein who speaks on his website about transplants involving the “central chest or pubic triangle�. Does this strike you as odd? I can’t help but wonder: if a doctor offered to treat your baldness by to moving your chest, abdominal, or (heaven forbid) pubic hair to the top of your head would you want to go ahead with it? Would you feel okay with having your short and curlies groomed and on full display for the world? Or could you think of better things to spend the estimated $20,000 plus cost on?

Posted in Hair loss, Health | 1 Comment »

Controversy surrounds cancer vaccine Gardasil

I’m angry that the world’s first cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, is causing a splash of alarmist headlines with its introduction in Australia. The vaccine, developed by leading immunologist Ian Frazer, is being administered to 230,000 Australian teenagers in a $400 million federal government initiative.

Gardasil prevents cervical cancer by immunizing against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus, known to cause 70 percent of all cervical cancers.

Headlines such as “girls collapse after cancer vaccine� have been frontpage news in Australia warning of side effects such as dizziness and nausea. One Melbourne based social commentator went so far as to suggest in today’s Herald Sun newspaper that the vaccines rollout is just a revenue raiser for the medical profession and urging parents to keep their children from the queue.

That particular article by Neil Mitchell annoyed me as it dramatized a small number of girls who fainted (a common happening to adolescent girls after any injection) but failed to recognize the hundreds of Australian women who die from this preventable disease each year. Heaven help the parents who follow this man’s advice blindly.

I was happier to read the response of “Anne� an immunization nurse who spends her working days administering Gardasil, amongst other vaccines, to school children. While she couldn’t count the hundreds of children (particularly the girls) who have fainted, cried, or reported bizarre non-physical reactions to all injections she has given – she had never seen a child who hadn’t recovered. Her daughters were first in line for Gardasil, and moaned about it as school children do. But they knew how lucky they were.

Ironically the young women who need the vaccine most – those in the poorest nations where cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment is inadequate at best– remain the least likely to receive it with the cost estimated at a prohibitive $300 to $500 a pop. Kudos to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation though, who announced last year $27.7 million funding to research methods of introducing Gardasil in developing countries.

Here in the prosperous U. S. of A. only Virginia has passed legislation for compulsory vaccination with Gardasil. Governor Rick Perry of Texas faced an abrupt end to his proposal to vaccinate schoolgirls with the senate blocking him last month. Other states haven’t made it even that far. NewScientist reported some conservative groups believe the vaccine will encourage sexual activity in adolescents by reducing their risks of catching sexually transmitted disease. To me, limiting access to Gardasil for that reason would be like limiting the availability of condoms. While that sort of thinking continues I expect it will be sometime before there will be a nationwide approach to cervical cancer prevention.

In the meantime 15,000 American women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. Personally I want to see Gardasil introduced as a free compulsory vaccine for all school aged girls across America.

What do you think? Would you have your precious daughters at the front of the queue or are you not convinced?

Posted in Health, Health Care, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Fat Suit

It always happens.  I get to my parents’ house and eat like a five hundred pound football player.  It’s pretty disgusting.  But, I can never seem to stop myself.

I spent the whole week the kids were gone reintroducing myself to a more familiar style of eating (you know, more familiar than the stuff your face when you get a chance and eat your kids’ leftovers style that most most moms live by).  I was eating very balanced snacks and even more balanced meals – and ONLY when I was hungry.  As a very busy mom with several other jobs, I find myself eating meals that I don’t want just because I know I won’t have time later.  It makes for a lot of random weight gain and even more weight loss.  So, I spent the week letting my body tell me what it needed – I listened very diligently and found myself feeling good and healthy and energized.  Now, the worst of two eating worlds have collided:  I am back with my kids (cooking three squares for them and helping them eat it all AND the typical overindulgence that always comes with visiting my mom and dad).  I feel so gross.

With the chocolate brownies innocently lying around staring at me, urging me to take just a nibble to the decedent pot of Hoppin’ John that my mom made New Year’s day getting better and better by the day in the refrigerator, I just can’t stop myself.  Top off the complete imbalance of food to people ratio with my unnaturally sensational love of food and eating and you have one big mess.  And one big me.

Granted I haven’t actually gained any more weight than like a pound or two.. And, I know, there are some of you out there looking at my skinny picture on the right and rolling your eyes.  But, come on.  Any woman out there reading, thin or not, knows how awful it is to not fit into your pants in the morning after a pan of pecan brownies with mint chocolate chip ice cream on top was shoved in your mouth the night before.  It’s feels as dirty as waking up in a stranger’s bed with no clothes on and a flask of whisky in your hand.  Not that I know what that feels like.  I would just imagine that it would be about the same.

So.  That’s where my holiday has taken me thus far.  Over-indulgent and feeling fat as a hiefer.  Happy f#@*! New Year to me and all my fat rolls.

 

Posted in Healthy Eating, Lifestyles | 1 Comment »

I’m back!

Well.  Well.  Well.

So the kids decided, after all, that a Disney Post Christmas extravaganza was in order.  We got back from delivering them to my parents last night.  I must admit, the drive home felt like I was reversing some kind of law of physics – the fact that I was driving in the opposite direction from my kids was the most unnatural feeling I have ever had. 

But they are knee deep, as we speak, in Little Mermaid and Buzz Lightyear heaven.  I talked to them this morning and they sound like they are having a blast!  Which was exactly what I needed to hear – it is hard to sleep without them in the house.  But, the fact that they are having an adventure with their Nana and Papa eases my mind greatly. 

So then.  What to do?  John and I are all alone – we slept in and ate breakfast in bed.  So many things that we could do with the rest of our holiday but, really, we both seem content to be home and dig into one another.  Since I was a single mom when we met, it is always painfully obvious to us – when we get a chance to be alone – that we never actually dated, in the traditional sense of the word.  We never got to indulge in one another the way other couples do.  Sure.  We had a good time, but always with the pretense that there was a sweet boy at home waiting for me (which meant our evening usually ended at 10pm).  We never felt slighted, it’s just that at times like these, we really realize that we never got to really revel in that new relationship splendor.  And, now that my mind is at ease with the kids being safe and happy, we are able to.  We are able to enjoy what we really love about each other and remember why it is we fell in love.  I hope you’ll excuse me this week if I end up being syrupy sweet about everything, but I have a feeling I won’t be able to stop myself. 

Posted in Healthy Living, Marriage | No Comments »

What’s Worse than Having the Flu?

Having the flu with the Doodlebops song stuck in my head.

 

This is pure torture.

Posted in Poison | 2 Comments »

One Whole Week… Are You Serrrrrious?

I have divulged to you my plans (or unplans, as the case may be) to stay home for the holidays – and not commit ourselves to hauling ass all over Tennessee, Alabama and Florida, crammed in a car for eight hours with two kids (and two grown ups) who want more than anything just to be home with their own tree and presents and friends and Christmas dinner, just to appease my mom. Everyone else understands – they have all admitted that they would never entertain the idea driving 8hours during the holiday season with kids. Everyone but my mom. She did it with us when we were kids – no matter where we were in the world, she made sure that we picked ourselves up out of our relaxing holiday and loaded every present, package and suitcase into our minivan just so that she could be near her parents for Christmas. It was crazy. And, I have decided that it is not how I am going to spend my holidays with my kids anymore. I say “anymore” because I tried – for the last six years I have felt obligated and was never prepared to face the insurmountable guilt that I knew my mom would hash out. Buckets of guilt would be slung my way – with precise aim.  It’s a gift of hers. Everyone’s gotta be good at something, right?

In her defense, though, these are her only grandkids. They mean the world to her and she means the world to them. But, when I gaiged how excited my son was to stay home, the decision was final. I broke the news to her in, probably, the least sensitive manner I could have mustered. Not intentionally – it just happened that way. I said it very casually and as if it weren’t a big deal – because, once we had made the decision, it wasn’t a big deal. To us. Her reaction was very similar to what I would imagine it would be had I told her that I was secretly a stripper and John was a full time pimp down in the lower east side of Nashville. Appalled. I gave her some time to work it out. After a week, she called and said that she and dad had decided that they, if it was alright with us, wanted to pick the kids up the day after Xmas and take them down to Disney World. I know part of the reason is she wants the kids to be around her family for a holiday – and that Disney World is a guise for that. But, hell, I’ll take it.

And, the she said “We’ll be back on New Year’s Eve”. Wait. That’s a whole week. Hold. On. Just. A. Damn. Minute. I’m torn. Half of me (the half that wants to feel like a cutloose and fancy free 29year old) is jumping for joy and spinning cartwheels out on the sunlit, dewey front lawn. The other half (you know, the mom part that can’t imagine her kids away from her – flying down the highway at warp speed with her half deaf father who can barely see through his five inch long old man eyebrows and her junk food addicted mother [godbless'em]) is flipping out and damn near an anxiety attack about it.

A week. That’s a long, looooong time. John, of course, is already counting the hours of sleeping in that a week without the kids amounts to. I, on the other hand, will probably wake up every morning at 630am wishing that a little boy would climb in my bed and warm his toes on my belly and that I could hear a two year old in her crib singing a morning song to herself.. Being a mother is quite certainly one of the most beautiful forms of torture on this planet.

Posted in Daily Living, Holidays, Mental Health, Uncategorized, Vacation and Travel | No Comments »

<< Previous             More Entries >>