Sunday, October 3, 2010

Healthy Tip......

Since October is Breast Cancer awareness month, I thought I would share some tips I got from SHAPE magazine to help reduce our chances of getting cancer.

"KEEP THE SCALE STEADY- More than 90,000 cancer deaths a year occur due to being overweight. Carrying as little as 10 extra pounds may increase production of sex hormones like estrogen, raising your risk for breast and uterine cancer. And it increases inflammation in your body which may trigger many other types of cancer. I step on the scale every few days. If the number creeps up, I try to exercise a little more or eat a little less to get back on track......ANN KULZE, M.D."

"CUT BACK ON SUGAR- The average American consumes 185 pounds of the sweet stuff in a year, or 5 times the recommended amount. Too much sugar can act like a fertilizer for cancer cells, encouraging them to grow and multiply. I always opt for seltzer or unsweetened tea flavored with lemon instead of sweetened beverages......MARK HYMAN, M.D."

"CLEAN GREEN-We tested more than 20 cleaning products and found they release up to seven carcinogens not listed on the label. Among the worst offenders were air fresheners and bathroom cleaners. Make your cleaners from baking soda and vinegar...REBECCA SUTTON, Ph.D."

"UP YOUR D-FENSE- Vitamin D (aka the 'sunshine' vitamin) plays a key role in boosting the immune system and protecting against cancer. Low levels of D may be connected to roughly 85,000 cancer deaths a year, while having enough of the vitamin can cut your breast and colon cancer risk by 50 percent. That's why I take a supplement with about 1,000 IU every day...JACOB TEITELBAUM, M.D."

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Saturday night hike!

Heath, Wren and I decided to go for a hike Saturday evening. It had been kind of a lazy night hence the p.j. like outfits, so sorry for that! I really liked that centennial trail from earlier in the week so I took Heath there but we started from a different trail head this time. This part of the trail had a lot more creek crossings but still just as beautiful as the shore line of Sheridan Lake.




Thursday, September 30, 2010

Being Healthy....

Ok, so for anyone that knows me at all knows I am obsessed with The Biggest Loser. It can always get me motivated and is such an eye opener of what I DON'T want to become. Realistically do I think I will be 300 pounds one day? No. But, does that mean I still shouldn't choose healthy alternatives? Since this latest season has aired I have been sending emails to a few people for my 'healthy tip of the day." For those of you who don't get my emails, I will now be posting it to my blog. This has nothing to do with the number on the scale either. It's about being able to have the energy to do the things you want to do and feeling good about yourself.

So, for my first 'healthy tip"........

"The main benefits of daily walking which include excellent benefits for the lungs, blood, muscles, heart, bones and joints, brain, cardio system, immune system and just about every other part of the body. These benefits have been well researched and are known to occur with any type of daily walking regimen.

Lack of physical activity is known to be a big problem with cardiovascular disease. Your overall risk of heart disease is increased greatly if you maintain a sedentary lifestyle. A simple 2 mile a day walk can decrease this risk by up to 40%.

  • Buildup Heart Muscle

As you are walking much in the same way as if you are running you are building your heart muscle and the stronger muscle will be able to pump more blood quicker and with less beats. The end result is you have a heart muscle that is stronger, working more efficiently, and for a longer period of time.

  • Strengthen Bones

As women get older: over the age of 40 - bone loss and osteoporosis can become a problem. Any type of weight bearing exercise where you're putting your body weight to use an exercise can help in this loss of bone density that happens naturally for anyone of this age. You can combine walking with any type of strength training to help maintain overall bone density. This type of low-impact activity is excellent for reducing your risk of injuries by almost 10 times comparing walking to running and you are getting all of the same aerobic and health benefits with walking that you do with running. Along with walking you should combine a diet full of calcium and healthy greens to help boost and build up the bones.

  • Control and Manage Diabetes

Diabetes can be hard to manage and maintain. If you can maintain a physical activity schedule you are much more likely to control and possibly even to reverse diabetes. To help control your blood sugar, manage your energy requirements for working out and exercising regularly, walking every day can help you by allowing your muscles to regulate your metabolism and help you control your diet and your diabetes.

  • Weight Gain Solved

Take control of your own weight gain and lose weight by following a healthy diet and get moving more than others by walking every day. A regular walking schedule can help to permanently change your metabolic function and may help you maintain a healthy weight once and for all.

  • Slow Cancer

Regular exercise is also been shown to reduce cancer risk and to even be protective against many types of cancer. Those who walked at least 2 miles a day were shown to have a 60% reduction in dying from cancer compared to those who only walked 1 mile a day. Your immune function and your entire body's natural defense systems may be boosted considerably with normal moderate exercise.

  • Improve Emotional Health

You can reduce your stress and prove your overall mood increase your self-confidence and find a new well for empowerment with regular exercise such as walking. He may be able to lose weight or even maintain a healthy weight like continuing a walking regimen. Fitness walking, hiking, or walking in general can give you at increased sense of empowerment and control.

To summarize the six major benefits of maintaining a daily walking regimen include better health for your heart and circulatory system, building better bone mass and possibly preventing osteoporosis, managing maintaining and regulating and controlling diabetes, keeping your weight under control or balanced, lowering your risk of cancer or of dying from cancer, or improving your overall emotional well-being. Those sound like six really big benefits. Start a daily walking regimen today and see where it leads you."

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Sheridan Lake

Wren and I went for a hike around Sheridan lake today on the Centennial Trail. The trees were absolutely gorgeous with the colors changing and it's perfect weather to be outside! I know this weather is probably not going to last, but it was really nice to be able to get out and enjoy it. Too bad Heath was stuck inside all day at work :(

Wren chasing some ducks!

Run Wren, run!

Wren loves to run along side the car! Sometimes we can't always get outside and play with her but she has a ton of energy she needs to burn! When this happens we usually take her to an empty dirt road and let her run out all of her energy. She's gotten up to 30 mph and it doesn't even phase her! She loves doing this and it's a win-win for everyone! :)




Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Back from elk camp!


Home Sweet Home!

The frog!
Heath and his Dad, Scott

Heath, his dad (Scott), and his brother (Chad) were hunting for elk in Montana. They were gone for about 2-3 weeks living in a wall tent. Unfortunately the elk hunting was slow......still a great time!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

And so it begins.......


Heath and I waiting in the blind.
Heath shot his first antelope with his bow this year! It was extremely difficult sneaking up on these guys in the flat prairie with nothing to hide behind. I think there were a few belly crawls involved!