KE TA A Take LK WA Love XOXO CONTR L YOUR HEART ™ Eat Well. Stay Active. Reduce Your Risks. ™ COMMITTING TO YOU! IN CONTROL! TAKE CONTROL’S PERSON OF THE MONTH: JENNY B. By Laura Del Guerra, RD, CDE Our person of the month is someone who had to commit to herself in order to see meaningful health transformation. Jenny first joined our Education and Support Program in order to take advantage of the group education calls and newsletter, but when her A1c began to rise she moved to the Risk Reduction Program for additional education. “I never felt any symptoms of high blood sugar but I knew that if I did not lower my blood sugar it eventually would come back to haunt me.” Jenny’s mother in law had diabetes and “never followed the rules.” She suffered complications from diabetes, and eventually passed away from kidney failure. Over the course of the last 11 months Jenny has lost 35#. In addition she has improved her blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and her A1c. She notices that her joints no longer ache and a bad knee no longer gives her problems. She has done this through hard work and perseverance. She states, “There is not one thing that motivates me. It is a combination of many things.” I have been impressed with Jenny each time I talk with her. She is that unique individual who didn’t give up even when she was not seeing the results she expected and wanted. Most may have given up or perhaps even gone on a ‘diabetes vacation.’ She admits to feeling ‘incredible frustration when despite her efforts, her A1c level refused to budge. “I felt like, what’s the point?” If it (A1c) is going to be high I might as well eat what I want.” She states her biggest obstacle to change was the diet. “Initially, I was not testing my blood glucose so when I ate something too high in carbohydrate I could not see the effect it was having.” “I had to accept that this was going to go on forever, and I had to act even though I could not feel the symptoms.” (continued on page 2) Like us on Facebook for all the latest news and updates! www.facebook.com/pages/Take-Control/349999402767 TA K E CON T R O L–PO B O X 9 1 3 2 MI S S OU L A , MO NTANA 5 9 8 0 7 1 UPCOMING TAKE CONTROL EDUCATION CLASSES All education is telephonic. Please dial 1.866.200.5786 when prompted enter the following conference ID 9935742# CALENDAR By DEIDRE FRAME This month’s newsletter focuses on commitment, more importantly, COMMITTING TO YOU. The month of February naturally allows for commitment. Valentine’s Day falls in February, a day where we honor the ones we love and are committed to whether it be a partner, parent or child. It is a month that focuses on heart health, where we commit to taking better care of the organ that symbolizes Valentines. February 1st is Go Red for Women, the American Heart Association’s day to take action on women’s heart health. All of these things remind me that I first must commit to me before I can commit to others. This is a lesson I wish I had learned as a young wife and mother, but better late than never. It is easy to always put others needs ahead of your own when you have children, aging parents, or a work load that isn’t going away anytime soon. It can seem selfish putting yourself at the top of the list, but keep in mind that if you fall ill or stress takes over, the people who are counting on you lose out. Taking care of yourself is your first line of defense. Pamper yourself in little ways that are important to YOU. It may be a manicure or massage. There may be certain foods that the rest of your family doesn’t like, but make you happy. Treat yourself to them once in a while. There are things you should do for yourself even if you DON’T like them, such as exercising and eating a healthy diet. Respect and love yourself by COMMITTING TO YOU. FEBRUARY 2013 EDITION RESOLUTION TO REALITY February 5th at 7pm Taught by Laura Del Guerra RD, CDE and Shannon Jones, Health Coach Struggling with your New Year's food or exercise resolution? Let the staff at Take Control help you turn your resolution into reality. We'll help you increase your odds of success by giving you tips, strategies, and assistance with goal setting. Additional topics include behavior change, building a healthy pantry, setting up an exercise plan and more! HEALTHY 4 LIFE (must be registered to attend) Wednesdays, Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27th 12:00 to 12:30 CALORIE KING BOOK $11.50 includes Shipping and Handling End the guesswork. You will find the calorie, fat and carbohydrate counts for your favorite foods in this convenient, pocket-sized, and colorful book. This book is the favorite choice of consumers as well as health care professionals. With more than 15M copies sold, the CalorieKing Counter consistently receives the highest average reader-rating of all counters and similar books. FOOD & EXERCISE JOURNAL $5.00–includes Shipping and Handling Use this pocket-sized diary to prevent "calorie amnesia" and control your weight! The perfect companion to The CalorieKing Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter book. This pocket-sized 10-week diary helps you track exactly what you eat and drink and how much activity you do. Keeping a food journal greatly improves weight-loss success and maintenance for most overweight people. In fact, "self-monitoring" by using a journal is the most powerful predictor of long-term success for weight control. Please contact Take Control via email at [email protected] or call us at 800.746.2970 to order your book and/or journal today! MONDAY-FRIDAY • 7A M -5PM M S T 1.800.746.2970 Take KE TA A LK WA XOXO Love YOUR HEART CONTR L Eat Well. Stay Active. Reduce Your Risks. ™ 14 HEALTHY WAYS TO CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY IN CONTROL! (continued) Her advice for people new to the program? “Listen to the group education classes. But it’s more than just listening. You actually have to take the recommendations and put them into practice.” Jenny acknowledges that it’s not easy. “At first I tried to pick and choose what I wanted to do. It didn’t work. I had to do it all in order to see results.” “I probably have given up for periods of time. I know I have. But when you feel like it’s too much, have a heart to heart with yourself. Ask yourself: ‘What do I really want?’ We are the only ones that can control this. Giving up is giving up on yourself and everyone who is relying on you.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Keep up the good work Jenny! February is Heart Health month. Here are 14 healthy ideas to celebrate this Valentine’s Day. Why not try a gift or date/activity that is more thoughtful and less stressful? 1. Treat your sweetie to a home-cooked meal, or better yet, cook together. This allows you to gain control of what goes into the food as well as portion size. Look up some heart healthy Valentine’s recipes, no need to be a gourmet chef, try something simple. 2. Sign up for a couples dance lesson–like Salsa or Tango. 3. Satisfy that sweet tooth by substituting dark chocolate for milk chocolate. There is a higher number of flavonoids in dark chocolate. Choose chocolate with at least 60 percent cocoa content that uses cocoa butter instead of hydrogenated oils. CONQUERING WEIGHT LOSS ROADBLOCKS... As we move into February I want to tackle the question “Why am I gaining weight now that I have started exercising?” There are a few reasons for this. One is the famous compensatory eating. We can feel more entitled to eat since we did a good job exercising. Overestimating the amount of calories we burned during exercise is another reason. We often overestimate how much we burn and underestimate how much we consume when it comes to calories. Here are a few tips to help: 1. Drink lots of water. Often appetite cravings post workouts are due to dehydration, not a true need for calories. 4. Schedule a couple's massage at a spa or at home for more privacy. 5. Indulge in a luxurious bath for two. Light some aromatherapy candles and add some Epsom salts to sooth to the skin. 6. Try ice skating. 7. Visit a winery or local restaurant featuring wine tasting (limit yourselves to 2-4 oz. glasses). Red wine has the added benefits of flavonoids, just like dark chocolate! 8. Watch a Romantic Comedy- Share a bowl of heart healthy popcorn and laugh together. 9. Write a poem that describes your feelings on beautiful paper for a handmade Valentine. 2. Write down what you eat. The simple act of logging your food can help you keep track of what you are eating. Having a meal plan for what you’re going to eat for the day can also help you avoid unplanned munching. 3. Be more realistic about energy burned during exercise. The most accurate way to calculate the calories you have burned is by using a personal heart rate monitor or calorie tracking devices. These devices can offer more accurate information and take away the guesswork. There are also online resources available to help estimate calories burned based on your weight and age. (Online physical activity calorie calculator– www.acefitness.org/calculators/physical-activity-calorie-calculator.aspx 10. Take a dip in at a local hot springs, heated pool or Jacuzzi. 11. Buy a gift from www.ShopHeart.org that benefits the American Heart Association. 12. Send a fruit basket to your loved one that has natural sugar as well as healthy nutrients instead of sending sweets with added sugars. 13. Plan a romantic indoor picnic with healthy finger foods. 14. Without a special someone this year? Avoid the temptation to address negative emotions with food. Instead write in a journal, go for a walk or plan an outing with friends. “Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” –Lou Holtz TA K E CON T R O L–PO B O X 9 1 3 2 MI S S OU L A , MO NTANA 5 9 8 0 7 2 MONDAY-FRIDAY • 7A M -5PM M S T 1.800.746.2970 Take KE TA A LK WA XOXO Love YOUR HEART CONTR L Eat Well. Stay Active. Reduce Your Risks. ™ the doctor might order additional urinalysis and tests to measure blood glucose, HDL and LDL cholesterol and serum potassium. But more extensive testing is generally not ordered unless patients have trouble controlling blood pressure or a secondary cause is strongly suspected, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. In this case, the diagnostic tests will vary depending on the possible cause — for example, tests for glomerular filtration rate if chronic kidney disease is suspected, or CT angiography if congenital narrowing of the aorta is suspected. People with hypertension are also encouraged to measure their own blood pressure at home, so that they are more aware of any day-to-day changes, according to the Mayo Clinic TREATMENTS AND MEDICATION Conventional drugs for treating hypertension include thiazide diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). Though doctors often prescribe more than two types of medication to effectively control blood pressure, the exact dosage and combination of medication largely depend on patients' medical history, race and age. Additional consideration should also be made for patients who can be negatively affected by low blood pressure, such as elderly patients. UNDER PRESSURE Hypertension is defined as having either chronically high diastolic blood pressure—the lower number that registers the pressure in the artery when the heart relaxes between beats—or high systolic blood pressure—the higher number that registers the pressure in the artery when the heart contracts. A person is considered to be hypertensive when systolic pressure is over 140mmHg most of the time or when diastolic pressure is over 90mmHg most of the time, according to the National Institutes of Health. In the United States, there are 67 million people with hypertension and it is the second leading cause of death. Of all the people being treated for hypertension most (54%) do not have their blood pressure under control. The reasons for this are many; some are not prescribed medication, some do not visit the doctor frequently enough to have medication adjusted to goal, and still others stop taking their medication because they cannot feel the effects of high blood pressure. SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES As stated above, most people with high blood pressure don't have any outward symptoms, even if their blood pressure might be dangerously high. However, a few people might experience severe headaches, confusion, fatigue, irregular heartbeats, vision changes, dizzy spells and other symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. Hypertension that is related to another disease—such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes, endocrine disorder and sleep apnea—is known as secondary hypertension. However, the cause for hypertension is sometimes not identifiable. This is known as essential hypertension and, according to the NIH, this is the more common type of hypertension. Diet can also play a major role in the regulation of blood pressure and onset of hypertension. About 30 percent of hypertension is due to excessive dietary sodium and, based on data from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey, as many as 90 percent of adult men and 65 percent of adult women consume beyond the upper limit of sodium in their meals. Although some might think that stress could cause high blood pressure, a 2008 study that looked at 1,484 adults ages 18 to 60 in Brazil, shows that once adjusted for other factors such as age, body mass index and family history, stressed people are no more likely than the general population to be diagnosed with hypertension. The authors suggested that the correlation between stress and hypertension may in fact be due to negative feelings about the disease rather than the disease itself. DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS Routine assessment of blood pressure is recommended during all visits to the doctor. Once it's established that the patient has chronic high blood pressure, TA K E CON T R O L–PO B O X 9 1 3 2 MI S S OU L A , MO NTANA 5 9 8 0 7 HEALTHY LIVING TIPS Clinical studies have conclusively shown that a variety of lifestyle modifications —including weight loss for individuals who are overweight or obese, aerobic exercises, moderation of alcohol intake and a diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and reduced saturated fats and sodium—can help lower blood pressure and decrease the likelihood of hypertension. In fact, lifestyle modifications might even complement antihypertensive drugs and allow medication to be more effective, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. In general, most lifestyle improvements are cheaper and have less adverse side effects than medication, and beneficial effects can extend to other conditions such as type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases. From-www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/276-hypertension-high-bloodpressure.html 3 MONDAY-FRIDAY • 7A M -5PM M S T 1.800.746.2970 Take KE TA A LK WA XOXO Love YOUR HEART CONTR L Eat Well. Stay Active. Reduce Your Risks. ™ SIX WAYS TO HOLD THE SODIUM sodium content down, choose lower-in-sodium sauces and cheese. Pass on the pepperoni and choose healthier toppings such as mushrooms or broccoli. Overdoing salt raises the risk of high blood pressure as well as heart disease and stroke. And most Americans consume way too much sodium. Currently the average person gets 3,400 milligrams of sodium a day—or almost one and a half teaspoons. The American Heart Association wants people to get a lot less—no more than 1,500 mg a day—the equivalent of a little less than two-thirds of a teaspoon. All that white stuff doesn't necessarily come from the salt shaker. "Processed foods contribute more than 70 percent of the total sodium found in the American diet," said Dr. Linda Van Horn, a research nutritionist at Northwestern University in Chicago and spokesperson for the AHA. To help people cut back on salt; the AHA just launched the Sodium Swap Challenge (see related article on page 5). The goal of the challenge is to help Americans reduce sodium intake over the course of three weeks by changing the foods they choose. "The taste for sodium is a learned behavior, which means the more you eat it, the more you want it," Van Horn said. "But the reverse is also true. As you cut back on the amount of sodium you consume, foods taste saltier over time. A low-salt diet is something within your control." Here are six easy ways to jumpstart a lower-sodium life: READ LABELS "We want people to read food labels and track their sodium consumption … to get an idea of how much they are eating, which I'm sure will be surprising to many people," Rachel Johnson, a spokeswoman for the AHA and a professor of nutrition and medicine at the University of Vermont, said in a statement about the Sodium Swap Challenge. Once people know just how much salt is in the foods they eat, it'll be easier to figure out how to cut back. REPLACE SODIUM-RICH FOODS WITH PRODUCE Fruits and vegetables fill you up without adding sodium to the diet. And the potassium that's found in fruits and veggies can keep blood pressure at healthy levels, too. BREAK BREAD WISELY Bread and sodium may seem like an unlikely duo, but some breads can contain a hefty amount of salt. Spend five minutes comparing breads at the grocery store, to find options that are lower in sodium, advised Van Horn. Another possibility: Trade loaf-style bread for pita bread or tortillas, which tend to contain less salt, Van Horn added. CUT BACK ON CURED MEATS They're packed with sodium. "Either avoid them altogether or at least look for forms of the product that have the least amount of sodium" Van Horn said. RETHINK PIZZA The problem with take-out pizza: Between the dough, sauce, cheese and toppings such as olives and pepperoni, sodium can add up. To keep the TA K E CON T R O L–PO B O X 9 1 3 2 MI S S OU L A , MO NTANA 5 9 8 0 7 SPEAK UP IN RESTAURANTS Eating out means people don't know how the food they order will be prepared. But Van Horn said this concern can be addressed. "Many chefs are much more accustomed these days to helping consumers stick with their recommended diets," she explained. In a fine-dining establishment, ask for a reduced-sodium option. Minimizing sodium is more of a challenge in fast food restaurants, however, when condiments and french fries are typically prepared in bulk. In these instances, Van Horn recommended choosing a salad or plain hamburger, without the bun or condiments. Finding lower-sodium foods in fast food venues "can be done, but you have to be very selective," Van Horn said. From: www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/3414-cutting-back-on-salt.html 4 MONDAY-FRIDAY • 7A M -5PM M S T 1.800.746.2970 Take KE TA A LK WA XOXO Love YOUR HEART CONTR L Eat Well. Stay Active. Reduce Your Risks. ™ CHANGE YOUR SALTY WAYS IN ONLY 21 DAYS! tomato soup may have up to 940 milligrams–it varies by brand–and, after you add all of your meats, cheeses and condiments to your sandwich, you can easily surpass 1,500 milligrams in one day. This week, when choosing a soup, check the label and try lower sodium varieties of your favorites and make your sandwiches with lower sodium meats and cheeses and try to eliminate piling on your condiments. Be sure to track your sodium and try to keep your daily consumption to less than 1,500 milligrams. By the end of the challenge you should start to notice a change in the way your food tastes and how you feel after you eat. You might even start to lean towards lower sodium options and will be aware of how much sodium you are consuming in a day – keeping that sight on the goal of having no more than 1,500 milligrams a day and controlling the portion sizes of your meals. As you start jotting down your grocery list, or planning your next meal out, be sure to keep the Salty Six (breads and rolls, cold cuts and cured meats, pizza, poultry, soup, and sandwiches) in mind. Look for the Heart-Check mark on products in your local grocery story and menu items in restaurants. Products that are certified by the Heart-Check Food Certification Program meet nutritional criteria for heart-healthy foods and can help keep you on track during your challenge. (www.heartcheckmark.org) Making an effort to reduce the sodium in your diet will help you feel better and will help you live a heart-healthier life. Take time to educate yourself and learn more from others. Explore links to tasty recipes, get shopping tips, access tools and resources and share your personal Sodium Swap successes on the American Heart Association’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/americanheart and click the Sodium Swap tab. For further sodium tips, resources and encouragement during your own Sodium Swap Challenge visit www.heart.org/sodium. Adapted from: http://newsroom.heart.org/news/change-your-saltyways-in-only-241917 The everyday meal offender that might make your face feel puffy and your jeans look, and feel, tighter. Did you know that by reducing your sodium intake during a three week period you can change your sodium palate and start enjoying foods with less sodium? On Jan. 7, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association launched the Sodium Swap Challenge. Changing your salty ways may be difficult, especially since you have acquired a taste for salt, but don’t worry – making the swap or taking the challenge doesn’t have to be hard. Knowing the Salty Six (common foods that may be loaded with excess sodium that can increase your risk of heart disease), you’ll be able to identify, and keep track of, top food culprits. To get started with the association's challenge, you need to get familiar with food labels and nutrition facts for the foods you are eating. Track sodium consumption over the first two days to get an idea of how much you are eating. Then, over the course of the next three weeks, follow the guidelines below to help lower your sodium intake. Here’s an outline of how you can kick-off your own Sodium Swap Challenge: WEEK 1 Start by tackling your consumption of breads and rolls as well as cold cuts and cured meats. For example, one piece of bread can have as much as 230 milligrams of sodium while a serving of turkey cold cuts could contain as much as 1,050 milligrams of sodium. When your recommended daily intake is kept to 1,500 milligrams or less, it’s amazing how fast it all adds up. Check labels on these items, look for lower sodium items, track your sodium consumption each day, and log how much you’ve shaved out of your diet. Portion control does make a difference. Foods eaten several times a day add up to a lot of sodium, even though each serving is not high. WEEK 2 Keep that momentum going! This week’s foods include pizza and poultry. If you’re going to eat pizza, try to aim for one with less cheese and meats or lower sodium versions of these items or try something different and add veggies instead. When cooking for your family this week use fresh, skinless poultry that is not enhanced with sodium solution rather than fried or processed. Keep your eyes on the 1,500 milligrams of sodium each day and, again, log your results. WEEK 3 As you round out your challenge and embark on the last week of your challenge, your focus includes soups and sandwiches. The two together typically make a tasty lunch or dinner duo, but one cup of chicken noodle or TA K E CON TR O L–PO B O X 9 1 3 2 MI S S OU L A, MO NTANA 5 9 8 0 7 5 MONDAY-FRIDAY • 7AM -5 PM MST 1.800.746.2970 Take KE TA A LK WA XOXO Love YOUR HEART CONTR L Eat Well. Stay Active. Reduce Your Risks. ™ COMMITTING TO YOU By Piper Frame, dietetic student The New Year is often a time when we make resolutions to better ourselves for the coming year. However, when we fail to commit ourselves to change, it can be difficult to achieve our goal and we may find ourselves making similar resolutions a year from now. BE READY FOR A CHANGE It can be difficult to change a habit, but it can be even more difficult if we don’t fully commit to the change. That means giving ourselves permission to prioritize it in your life, and allowing some other habits to fall aside. For example, if you decide to begin exercising more, you may have to start BARLEY, BLACK BEAN AND getting up earlier which may mean you’re going to bed earlier. A new sleep AVACADO SALAD schedule may make you more tired for work and you may wonder whether it’s worth it. Forming a habit is difficult and it takes time. This is an important INGREDIENTS thing to remember when you are making a lifestyle change, and it is impor1 cup carrot juice tant remind yourself of the goal you’ve set and why you decided to do it. ½ teaspoon thyme STRIKING A BALANCE Salt to taste When we make a change in our lives we might discover that our work or 1/8 teaspoon cayenne family commitments begin to fall behind. It is important that we learn how to strike a balance. The first few weeks of the change may be more hectic ½ cup quick-cooking barley than we are used to. This is okay. Allow yourself the time to figure out a new 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice schedule that fits the lifestyle change you committed to. It is important not 1 tablespoon olive oil replace one bad habit with another one. Take time to organize yourself and 1 can (19 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained adjust to the healthy changes you are making. 1 cup fresh diced tomatoes STAYING POSITIVE ½ cup diced avocado There will be days when you are unable to fulfill your commitment. It is important to not dwell on these fall backs. Acknowledge that it happened, Combine carrot juice, thyme, salt, and cayenne in medium reflect on why it occurred, and decide to do better the next day. Staying saucepan. 13 Bring to a boil over medium heat, add barley, and positive will be essential in maintaining your goal. You can achieve 20 yourNEW YOU reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook until barley is tender, about goal; give yourself credit for choosing to make a healthy choice and commitEat Well. Stay Active. Reduce 15 minutes.Your Risks.™ ting to it. New Year Take CONTR L 2013 YOUR PATH to success Meanwhile, whisk together lemon juice and oil in large bowl. Transfer barley and any liquid remaining in pan to bowl with HYDRATE: is criticaltoss to every lemon juiceWater mixture; to coat. cell in the body. Make Add beans sure andyoutomatoes and toss to combine. Add avocado and start each day a large glass and gently toss.with Serve at room temperature or chilled. For best take along a refillable READ FOOD before serving. container of water to sip flavor, remove from the refrigerator 20 minutes LABELS: on all day long. Knowledge is power. Add 1/2 cup *Make this salad with brown rice in place of barley. Reading labels helps that you are mixture. Add reduced-sodium chicken broth to theensure carrot juice getting all the 1/2 cup rinsed brown rice, cover, nutrients and cook until the rice is you need while avoiding those tender, about 40–50 minutes. that can be harmful to STOP NUMBER 2 HAVE A PLAN: Do your research. You know yourself best. Develop a plan for your new life based on how you operate and succeed. your long-term health. TA K E CON TRO L–PO B O X 9 1 3 2 MI S S OU L A , MO NTANA 5 9 8 0 7 MOVE! 6 • One of the most 7AM -5 PM MST MONDAY-FRIDAY powerful weapons in 1.800.746.2970 the battle for lasting health. Commit to at Take KE TA A LK WA XOXO Love YOUR HEART CONTR L Eat Well. Stay Active. Reduce Your Risks. ™ SKIING WINTER FITNESS FUN By Shannon Jones, Health Coach Winter can seem like it drags on forever. As a great way to enjoy the snowy months, I encourage you to be adventurous and take part in some outdoor fun. Skiing can be a great coldweather fitness option. Take your pick; Cross-Country or Down Hill. Both offer the opportunity to get some much-needed fresh air and help build muscle mass, endurance, and balance. Nordic skiing has been known to be one of the healthiest and beneficial winter sports. On top of being a total body workout, it can be enjoyed by people of all ages and fitness levels. Nordic skiing combines both a lower and upper body workout and improves balance and coordination. This type of skiing has been recognized as a safe and low-impact sport. There is very little shock to the feet, knees and hips due to the gliding motion. Nordic skiing has proved to be a great calorie burner since it uses so many parts of the body. A 150-pound person can burn about 500 to 640 calories per hour while cross-country skiing, depending on the effort level. Tips for getting started with Nordic Skiing. First find someone with experience, or take a lesson to learn the basic techniques for moving, slowing down, stopping, and climbing up hills. Rentals are affordable and average around $16.00 a day. Don't overdo it. Be conservative in how long you plan to ski. Wear layers of clothing that keep you warm and allow for easy movement. Bring water and healthy snacks. Let someone know where you will be and when you expect to return. Another fun way to sneak fitness into your winter routine is to head for the hills to ski. In contrast to cross-country skiing, downhill skiing involves shorter bursts of energy. It is a power sport that improves balance, flexibility, agility, and leg and core strength. These are essential aspects of fitness that can diminish with age. Downhill skiing qualifies as a weightbearing activity so it offers bone strengthening which helps prevent bone loss. As for calories burned, a 150 pound person burns about 360 to 570 calories per hour while downhill skiing. Tips and expectations for new downhill skiers. Look for beginner packages to get you started. You will probably want to rent equipment at first. Sign up for a ski lesson. Picking a day mid-week will help you avoid the busy time and be more conducive to learning. Understand your own learning style. Watch out for fatigue as a large percentage of injuries happen later in the day when people are more exhausted. Drink water even though you may not feel thirsty to prevent dehydration. Pack a healthy lunch and a positive attitude. You will fall – that’s part of skiing. During snowy winter months look at skiing as a winter fitness option. It can be an enjoyable way to incorporate fitness as we brave the winter weather. Why not take advantage of what winter has to offer and be more active outdoors? TA K E CON T RO L–PO B O X 9 1 3 2 MI S S OU L A , MO NTANA 5 9 8 0 7 7 DRESS WELL FOR WINTER WEATHER WORKOUTS By Shannon Jones Winter fitness gear can make all the difference in having a fun and safe outdoor experience. Whether you're going for a walk, running, skiing, or snowshoeing, dressing for the cold is essential to maintaining your exercise regime throughout the winter. The proper way to dress for cold weather workouts is incorporating layers. Think B.I.T.E. when it comes to layering (Base, Insulation, Top Layer and Extremities). Start with a Base Layer–since this layer goes against your skin you want a material that will "wick" sweat away from the body. Staying dry is essential to staying comfortable during winter fitness. Next is the Insulation Layer. This is the layer that keeps cold out and warmth in. Fleece is the perfect insulation layer. Follow the insulation layer with your Top Layer or outer layer which offers protection. This includes jackets or pullovers. Find a breathable fabric, such as a polyester blend, they help trap heat and prevent evaporation, allowing sweat to build up and cold to creep in. Finally, don’t forget your extremities. Exercising pulls blood away from your extremities and toward your core. So it is important to properly cover your head, hands and feet. Wear hats, mitten and gloves to help with this. As for your feet, look for socks made from a wool blend that are thin but can keep toes dry and toasty even in the coldest weather. Winter is here, so find a winter activity you enjoy, and start living a healthier life. But don’t forget to dress for it! MONDAY-FRIDAY • 7AM -5PM MST 1.800.746.2970 Take A LK WA XOXO Love YOUR HEART CONTR L Eat Well. Stay Active. Reduce Your Risks. KE TA ™ GO RED FOR WOMEN ON FEBRUARY 1ST There’s a lot of talk about inequality between men and women, but one area in particular where women are leading in record numbers: heart disease. It’s the No. 1 killer of women and is more deadly than all forms of cancer. In 2003, the American Heart Association, along with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute created National Wear Red Day® to raise awareness of this critical issue. Each year, on the first Friday in February, millions of women and men come together to wear red, take action and commit to fighting this deadly disease. Women, it’s time to GO RED. http://www.goredforwomen.org/wearredday/ P O B OX 9 1 3 2 M IS S O UL A, M O NTANA 59807 Eat Well. Stay Active. Reduce Your Risks. ™ CONTR L™ Take
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