Health Education

Happy Thanksgiving!

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Happy Thanksgiving! Have a warm and safe holiday!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fw2ycOzj2sF9jGabdzVVFN3RiO8rUUeudnsolkRXNMEC5hGvoCv3yLfcx3wJKzLtCpUkjwVlDjFjLxIxOnbQfLRtEDFmZ6dO98a8ZRkGWifJYp0nJyr3Ytotuf3IuW-ofpFmC7Kgi6k/s1600/thanksgiving2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fw2ycOzj2sF9jGabdzVVFN3RiO8rUUeudnsolkRXNMEC5hGvoCv3yLfcx3wJKzLtCpUkjwVlDjFjLxIxOnbQfLRtEDFmZ6dO98a8ZRkGWifJYp0nJyr3Ytotuf3IuW-ofpFmC7Kgi6k/s200/thanksgiving2.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/holidays/thanksgiving-safety">Click here</a> <span style="color: #783f04;">for important Thanksgiving safety reminders from the National Fire Protection Association!</span></div>

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Have a warm and safe holiday! Click here for important Thanksgiving safety reminders from the National Fire Protection ...

9:00 PM

WE HAVE A MOVIE ON 'MUSKAAN' :)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We are happy to announce that we have a movie on the 'Muskaan' project of Family Health and Education.</span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Please watch the movie in Youtube by clicking on the link below.</span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></h4><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b> <span style="color: orange;"><u> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l84VABVXGc4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l84VABVXGc4</a></u></span></b></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Let us know how you feel about the movie in the 'Comments' section.</span></span></b></div><span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: orange;"><b></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcUqm67IUuDxKGa4FGZUivHKwaiIw3yg4VwGk2j_HW0-KJz5zZg9P6b9cgeT-mZSldT_jD6KuNer3xYpdjHLWrVSQoOVfuP5ytaRoUU7vllg7tPf1MJ3nNHV0abQuWybYAguQbypUIzHN/s1600/DSC04835(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcUqm67IUuDxKGa4FGZUivHKwaiIw3yg4VwGk2j_HW0-KJz5zZg9P6b9cgeT-mZSldT_jD6KuNer3xYpdjHLWrVSQoOVfuP5ytaRoUU7vllg7tPf1MJ3nNHV0abQuWybYAguQbypUIzHN/s640/DSC04835(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">--- </span></span></b></div></div>

WE HAVE A MOVIE ON 'MUSKAAN' :)

We are happy to announce that we have a movie on the 'Muskaan' project of Family Health and Education. Please watch the movie in Y...

4:13 AM

The new trans fat? Acrylamide 11 Years Later.

<span style="font-size: large;">My blog site search engine is currently broken.  This is unfortunate because several years ago,  I wrote a post about a chemical found in french fries that was linked to cancer or which actually caused cancer in experimental studies involving mice.  Of course the mice were fed foods with much more of the chemical than most of us would be exposed to, but anytime a substance is considered a carcinogen or in the case of acrylamide a "<a href="http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/generalinformationaboutcarcinogens/known-and-probable-human-carcinogens" target="_blank">probable cancer causing substance</a>," I tend to steer as clear of it as possible. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">When I wrote about acrylamide years ago, it did not pose much of a threat to me as I don't eat french fries, chips or any white potato foods.  But the latest report regarding acrylamide includes cereal based foods (which includes cookies, crackers, whole grains and cold cereal) and COFFEE!   This is a sad day.  (To be fair, the first report may have said the same thing and I glossed over it).</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Acrylamide is not a naturally occurring substance, but one that is created during some cooking processes.  For example, using really high heats in frying, baking and roasting (coffee beans are roasted and that is how coffee becomes tainted with acrylamide).  In this way, acrylamide reminds me of the harmful chemicals that are created when red meat is grilled and for that matter, the cancer causing chemicals in cigarette smoke (which among other things, also has acrylamide) - the chemicals aren't there until you or someone else <i>does something</i> to the product. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The FDA has issued some guidance to food manufacturers and growers to help them reduce the amount of the chemical that is 'created' when the foods are processed.  With regard to chips and fries, the sugar in the potato seems to interact with the heat causes acrylamide to develop, so farmers are encouraged to grow low sugar potatoes. For coffee lovers, it is good to know that some types of coffee bean have less acrylamide after roasting than others - the FDA report notes that one lower acrylamide coffee bean is the arabica type (my sister had long ago convinced me it was the better tasting roast and I agree).  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The cereal foods category has me a little perplexed and concerned both personally and professionally. Acrylamide is created from an amino acid in the grains, called asparagine.  When the grains are heated at high temperatures, this amino acid is effected. According to a report I read and link below, the major culprit is whole grain, yes ~ the kind we are supposed to eat more often. I wonder if this means my cereal bars, made from All Bran, oat bran and Kashi Go Lean, or my mini cakes, made from whole wheat and soy flour are sources of acrylamide in my diet. Not cool. This will be a challenge for the FDA because they encourage us to follow the dietary recommendations from the USDA/DHHS  which focus on a plant based diet high in whole grains and fiber.  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The FDA is currently studying the impact of acrylamide in levels Americans are likely to consume (i.e., less than the mice did) in order to determine if more serious measures need to be taken.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">For now they recommended avoiding french fries and chips and dark or burnt toast.  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some FDA links that offer more information. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/ChemicalContaminants/ucm053569.htm#risk" target="_blank">FDA Q and A  </a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/ChemicalContaminants/ucm151000.htm" target="_blank">Food sources and cooking </a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">This next link is the <a href="http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/ChemicalContaminantsMetalsNaturalToxinsPesticides/UCM374534.pdf" target="_blank">report to industry </a>and it is very telling, e.g., it discusses growing, transporting, storing and prepping potatoes in a way to reduce the amount of acrylamide that will be produced when those specific potatoes are fried.   The report has a section on cereals and coffee as well. When I was reading this I began to feel the general public's frustration with nutrition science and guidance.  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, a <a href="http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=1113&tid=236#bookmark08" target="_blank">public health statement</a> from the CDCs Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry from 2012.</span>

The new trans fat? Acrylamide 11 Years Later.

My blog site search engine is currently broken. This is unfortunate because several years ago, I wrote a post about a chemical found in fr...

7:15 PM

Balancing Diabetes in the Holiday Season

The end of the year brings major holidays from a variety of backgrounds. And a large majority of these holidays will bring families around tables for some of the most impressive - and fattening - dinners of the year. While the high carb, calorie and sugary foods may be tempting and delicious, we should <u>all</u> limit our intake of holiday treats. This can be especially difficult for those with diabetes, as the typical holiday foods do not cater to dietary restrictions. However, you can still have a wonderful time eating with your family this holiday season. Here are some tips from the CDC to help you eat well during the holidays:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>At parties and gatherings:</b></div><div><ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5ypQ6aJWSy3ws-AaNNCLr7-OhGQKfOo8uH31RefjFCGULUabx0N7s6Wq53IVAs7TlGlqzVW7gZLxiBARP8lsjR9BqKT-9jMza9QNW-Vabkb8S3jJHkwn5j0XZ12YBLN-rBgfJ2HC6wM/s1600/making-healthy-food-choices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5ypQ6aJWSy3ws-AaNNCLr7-OhGQKfOo8uH31RefjFCGULUabx0N7s6Wq53IVAs7TlGlqzVW7gZLxiBARP8lsjR9BqKT-9jMza9QNW-Vabkb8S3jJHkwn5j0XZ12YBLN-rBgfJ2HC6wM/s200/making-healthy-food-choices.jpg" width="200" /></a><li>You can still enjoy some of your favorite foods, just watch the portion sizes. Load your plate with good things with very small portions of the more fatty foods! </li><li>Watch out for "healthy" options with disguised added fats. Hams coated with glazes and vegetables packed with butter or sour cream can hide major calories. Instead, look for plain fresh vegetables and if there are no alternative options, cut the skin off of meats.</li><li>Choose no sugar added fruit over cakes and pies. </li><li>In addition, if you do not know what options will be served, take the initiative to bring your own healthy options. Not only will you give yourself options, you will introduce your family to more healty choices!</li></ul><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30rmCmQWUHQvmbU3T72QBjj45shm5YOpkV-8A0ZK6aP31i6m1G2Ui2yyvcEQXz3cj1IjbMgKbb9fWD0yzleu3giHs1NwxIsC94MOclXcfyC2bW8mqSIt56yND71qefoCx5gMxrdSmI1I/s1600/holiday_feast_350x280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzKddUKaiTkRu9LJKzlhaZnU5EVIBsyARFYkp0mj9iJrwyi7qs53VwxzGTxkIZaklyjGOO36SRtY_JrwI5Tx7r1aGZCdKM1LE3G1vV6jzqO7w8QfxZukOc8_HxPvnbMrtwzqH3kmTDsM/s1600/88E098A37EA6A4EFD0355D66867156_h296_w526_m2_bblack_q99_p99_cGRYQQmVE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzKddUKaiTkRu9LJKzlhaZnU5EVIBsyARFYkp0mj9iJrwyi7qs53VwxzGTxkIZaklyjGOO36SRtY_JrwI5Tx7r1aGZCdKM1LE3G1vV6jzqO7w8QfxZukOc8_HxPvnbMrtwzqH3kmTDsM/s200/88E098A37EA6A4EFD0355D66867156_h296_w526_m2_bblack_q99_p99_cGRYQQmVE.jpg" width="200" /></a>In addition, If you are traveling, make sure to get a flu vaccine before you go.<br />Make sure travel with double your medication just in case there are traveling issues or delays. In addition, make sure you keep up with your exercise regime, and don't be tempted to skip out on them! A little management can go a long way, helping you to still fully enjoy the holidays in a healthy way!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Click here <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/features/diabetesmanagement/">http://www.cdc.gov/features/diabetesmanagement/</a> to read the full list of tips provided the CDC</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>

Balancing Diabetes in the Holiday Season

The end of the year brings major holidays from a variety of backgrounds. And a large majority of these holidays will bring families around t...

4:00 AM

How Organic Is Your Wine?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-w-q632ZQ1DGBCfCDA6Vaw5WArGiUlewnC-8yjDSoTELsI8ZLDCg0Dq_oiDx_0JCww0PNo7hyEeRfO4M9VBLiNQViy_18dbG_Q_oBCckzZMSpc6SNWx33KsP9blhcQTpCJNXM8M20xA/s1600/organic-wine.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-w-q632ZQ1DGBCfCDA6Vaw5WArGiUlewnC-8yjDSoTELsI8ZLDCg0Dq_oiDx_0JCww0PNo7hyEeRfO4M9VBLiNQViy_18dbG_Q_oBCckzZMSpc6SNWx33KsP9blhcQTpCJNXM8M20xA/s200/organic-wine.png" width="200" /></a>Organic beverage sales make up a significant portion of organic foods sales, with wine being a contributor. For those who prefer to shop organic, organic wine may be the logical choice, but did you know there are different levels of 'organicness' in wines?<br /><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>100% Organic wine</b> is made with organic grapes. In addition there is a strict limit on the additives that go into the wine. Non-agricultural ingredients cannot account for more that 5% of the total product.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAnOoHh-L3NKNRCwOXM5V-vz5xcV4HhSe9BJZui1My1YgaKRjlo2km8y6pb0MzJOphDy9W-0t-cH6aM71wfevYjpWsfFozeJc7pDDsJR5R4SOYZkYrNpQoHas8c8T-ZW25RzgkShuhtg/s1600/usda-seal-2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAnOoHh-L3NKNRCwOXM5V-vz5xcV4HhSe9BJZui1My1YgaKRjlo2km8y6pb0MzJOphDy9W-0t-cH6aM71wfevYjpWsfFozeJc7pDDsJR5R4SOYZkYrNpQoHas8c8T-ZW25RzgkShuhtg/s200/usda-seal-2.gif" width="200" /></a>Wine <b>made from Organic grapes </b>must contain grapes that are 100% certified organic. While there are also specific rules on additives, they are not required to be organic.<br /><br />So how do you tell the difference? Wine that is 100% organic will have the the USDA organic label on them while those made only with organic grapes will not. To learn more about the specifics of what goes into each type of organic wine and decide which is best for you, visit the USDA page: <a href="http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5101613">Organic Wine: Oversight, Labeling and Trade</a> for further information. Remember, organic or not... ALWAYS in moderation!<br /><br />More Resources:<br /><a href="http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/01/08/organic-101-organic-wine/">USDA, Organic 101: Organic Wine</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">~ Enjoy your weekend! And maybe try some organic wine! ~</span></b></div><br /><br />

How Organic Is Your Wine?

Organic beverage sales make up a significant portion of organic foods sales, with wine being a contributor. For those who prefer to shop org...

7:08 AM

What does it mean to be metabolically healthy obese?

<span style="font-size: large;">     Over the past weekend, I read a summary statement for a research study by Camhi and Katzmarzyk, 2013.  I was intrigued because the exercise and health scientists explored the differences in body composition (e.g., % lean mass, fat mass, bone density, central fat tissue) between two groups of obese people. The people in the study were classified as metabolically healthy obese or abnormal obese. The summary statement did not indicate if obesity was determined by BMI, waist to hip ratio, waist circumference or some other measure.</span>  <span style="font-size: large;">It did say how the determination of healthy vs unhealthy (metabolically speaking) was made, and I thought this a teaching point.  (FYI: Simply put, metabolic refers to under the skin - cellular processes. So the researchers were not looking at whether or not there were mental health issues, or physical conditions like arthritis, in this group of obese persons.)  I also do not know why the researchers chose the criteria listed below to determine metabolic health, but each has been independently associated with poor health outcomes, like heart disease, in other studies.  Of the following measures, an obese person in the study who had 1 or less of them was considered metabolically healthy, and an obese person in the study who had 2 or more was considered metabolically abnormal.  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The measures were:</span><br /><ol><li><span style="font-size: large;">a blood pressure reading higher than 130/85 mm/Hg</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">a fasting glucose level greater than 100 mg/dl</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">a waist circumference greater than 102 cm men, 88 cm women (click <a href="http://www.metric-conversions.org/length/centimeters-to-inches.htm" target="_blank">here</a> to convert to inches) </span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">triglyceride level (blood fats) higher than 150 mg/dl</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">hdl (good) cholesterol less than 40 mg/dl men, 50 mg/dl women</span></li></ol><span style="font-size: large;">     I noticed that they did not use total cholesterol levels or LDL levels.  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">     The aim of the study was to see if something about body composition was different between the two groups (could this difference explain the accumulating risk factors).  The researchers did find differences, which were specific to gender.  For most of the body composition measures they assessed(not described here), the metabolically healthy obese had lower values.  For example, both metabolically healthy men and women had lower fat mass and less stomach or trunk fat.  Most every measure was related to a type of adipose(fat) tissue, such that the more fat one had on their body, and in specific places, the more likely they were to have more than 2 of the risk factors and thus be metabolically unhealthy.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">     Take home point.  Your absolute weight is not as important as your body composition and the 5 measures listed here are numbers you might want to pay attention to at your doctor's visits.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>

What does it mean to be metabolically healthy obese?

Over the past weekend, I read a summary statement for a research study by Camhi and Katzmarzyk, 2013. I was intrigued because the exer...

7:34 PM

November 20, 2013

<h1></h1><h2><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-size: 18pt;">Zumba Inclusive Master Class at Lakeshore </span></b></span></h2><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Ditch the Workout, Join the Party with certified Zumba Fitness Instructor and wheelchair user </span><a href="http://joannefluke.zumba.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">JoAnne Fluke</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"> as she leads an Inclusive Master Class at Lakeshore Foundation. Help us build momentum for this up and coming movement of bringing the Zumba experience to ALL!  This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />Don’t miss your chance to be part of the FIRST EVER United States Zumba Inclusive Master Class right here in Birmingham!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt;">*</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Free t-shirt to the first 100 registrants.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: purple;">Go</span> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=686jfhmab&oeidk=a07e8fjau4m2e3c0170">HERE</a>f<span style="color: purple;">or more information and to register!</span> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div><h2><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Let's Move Active Schools</span></span></h2><h2><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">COME ON ALABAMA!<span style="font-weight: normal;">  We want to win.  <a href="https://myactiveschool.letsmoveschools.org/" target="_blank">Sign your school up today</a>.  There is no cost or obligation.  </span></span></span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyV_pbHTVVfwoEhndHGBB-Ewc2wgE25E7pLVS6WE0cpDik3wlNiQ3mFdnwTuk-_jtXyIJYP5uRBbn9QC_lqnBWjBT6U0yJlbVg76q2sejd7KfuW-9GS595xpJ_kUszr3HItlZ13wlMlU/s1600/Lets+move.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyV_pbHTVVfwoEhndHGBB-Ewc2wgE25E7pLVS6WE0cpDik3wlNiQ3mFdnwTuk-_jtXyIJYP5uRBbn9QC_lqnBWjBT6U0yJlbVg76q2sejd7KfuW-9GS595xpJ_kUszr3HItlZ13wlMlU/s1600/Lets+move.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What is an Active School?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">An Active School incorporates physical activity before, during, and after school for at least 60 minutes per day.</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) is proud and excited to be a part of First Lady Michelle Obama's newly released <em>Let's Move!</em> Active Schools - an unprecedented collaboration to bring physical activity back to American schools. The program provides simple steps and tools, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">including monetary support</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> and training, to help schools create active environments where students get 60 minutes of daily physical activity through quality physical education and physical activity before, during and after the school day.</span></div><h2><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ALEX Lesson Plan Development Session</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></h2><h2> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: magenta;">What it is:</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Join together with some of the best teachers in Alabama for a two-day summit during which you will create outstanding CCRS-based lesson plans in your curricular area to be reviewed, approved, and posted to the ALEX Lesson Plan database.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: magenta;">What to do: </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you would like to attend this workshop in Montgomery, simply click <a href="http://state.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fd81d9db256cf268cba47d2f0&id=1d58b3d9bf&e=dbb933e2bc" style="word-wrap: break-word !important;" target="_blank">APPLICATION</a> and complete the brief application by Wednesday, November 27, 2013. All applicants will be notified of acceptance by Tuesday, December 3, 2013. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">**Note: If you cannot click on above link, copy and paste this URL into your web browser</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wMZN7uqkZFFJ6Sz71Co90CX8pyYeNRN9CtfOxJe37Uo/viewform.*">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wMZN7uqkZFFJ6Sz71Co90CX8pyYeNRN9CtfOxJe37Uo/viewform.*</a><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wMZN7uqkZFFJ6Sz71Co90CX8pyYeNRN9CtfOxJe37Uo/viewform.**">*</a> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: magenta;">Logistics: </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When: December 12-13, 2013 (8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where: <a href="http://state.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=fd81d9db256cf268cba47d2f0&id=6fc0a67ece&e=dbb933e2bc" style="word-wrap: break-word !important;" target="_blank">AIDT, One Technology Court, Montgomery, Alabama 36116-3200</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Each participant will receive $125 per day, for a total of $250. If you live more than 100 miles outside of the Montgomery area, you will receive an additional $25 a day, for a total of $300, to help compensate you for travel expenses. **Attendees are required to attend all 2 full days.** </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Lunch and snacks will be provided each day. Dinner will be on your own. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;">If your application is accepted, additional information will be sent with the confirmation email. </span><br /><br />      <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We encourage you to ask a buddy to apply to help you with expenses, and enjoy Montgomery together! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you, and we look forward to receiving your application online! </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal;">Send questions to Bree Amidon at </span><a href="mailto:lbkeene@uab.edu" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal;">lbkeene@uab.edu</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: normal;">. </span></h2><h2><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></h2><h2><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scale Back Alabama School Program for School Staff. </span></b></h2><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 2014 competition is starting soon!</span></b></h3><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now in its eighth year, Scale Back Alabama is a statewide weight-loss contest that encourages Alabama to get healthy and have fun while doing it.  The 2013 campaign drew nearly 30,000 people in almost every county, and the total statewide weight loss since the beginning of the contest is more than one million pounds!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Scale Back Alabama school program also had impressive numbers with 91 schools and over 2000 school personnel participating last year.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The campaign is geared toward adults and is primarily operated with the help of local employers (companies with 10 employees or more), schools, hospitals and health departments.  Each organization appoints one person to serve as the coordinator for the contest, and individuals compete on teams of four to win the chance at cash prizes. There is no charge for participating in the program.  The program kicks off on January 16,<span style="color: red;"> </span>2014 and teams weigh in during the week of January 18-24, 2014.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Scale Back Alabama School program is an additional component of Scale Back Alabama that gives school personnel the opportunity to be healthy role models for their students and for the school to be entered into a drawing to possibly win nutrition and physical activity oriented prizes.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Becoming a Scale Back Alabama School is easy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Go to </span><a href="http://www.scalebackalabama.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">www.scalebackalabama.com</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">for instructions on signing up for Scale Back Alabama.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">  </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Your school will need a coordinator to get started.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">All schools (k-12) participating in Scale Back Alabama will automatically be enrolled in the Scale Back Alabama School program.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">  </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Students are not allowed to participate and weight loss for students is not being encouraged.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Scale Back Alabama Schools receive special recognition and are entered into a school drawing for prizes that promote good nutrition and physical activity habits for the students.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">  </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">These prizes are in addition to the team and individual drawings for cash prizes.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li></ul><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a win-win for the schools.  <b><span style="color: red;">School personnel work</span> </b>to achieve a healthier lifestyle while their students cheer them on and learn the importance of healthy habits.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scale Back Alabama is a joint project of the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Alabama Hospital Association with generous underwriting from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information, please contact Molly Killman at 334-206-5646 or by email at <a href="mailto:molly.killman@adph.state.al.us">molly.killman@adph.state.al.us</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><h2><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November Resources </span></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.healthetips.com/jam-program.php" target="_blank">JAM (Just-a-Minute) School Program</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The JAM School Program brings physical activity and health education into the classroom. JAM is designed to teach kids (and adults) healthier lifestyle habits. JAM is a free wellness resource for schools.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JAM resources offer a weekly one-minute exercise routine called JAMmin’ Minute<span class="super">®</span>, an athlete-featured more extensive routine called JAM Blast<span class="super">®</span>, and a monthly health newsletter called Health-E-tips.</span><br /><img alt="jam school program resources" src="http://www.healthetips.com/images/jampro2.gif" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="purpleHighlight">JAMmin’ Minute<span class="super">®</span>:</span> A one-minute fitness routine that includes 5 very simple exercises that kids (and staff) can do while either standing at their desk or sitting in a chair. Included on this weekly communication is a health tip, something simple that teaches a healthier habit. These routines are authored by us and we invite schools to submit routines to us!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="purpleHighlight">JAM Blast<span class="super">®</span>:</span> Athlete-delivered healthy living and eating messages with a coordinating 3-5 minute exercise routine that focuses on that athlete’s idea about what is most important for peak performance. Fun facts about each athlete are included.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="purpleHighlight">Monthly Newsletter:</span> A one-page health newsletter packed full of nutrition, fitness and health tips designed for school-age kids and their parents, and school personnel.</span><br /><span class="bold"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Benefits and Uses</span></span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wellness (daily physical activity and health education) for students and staff</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add them to classroom curriculum, to assemblies, to the morning announcements over the PA system</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PE teachers can use these as a warm up or combine several routines for a complete program</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students can lead each other as “JAM Leader” or “Drill Sergeant” of the week</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Set up some friendly competition in the classroom, among staff, or district-wide</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Send home with the kids, publish on your intranet and in the school newspaper, copy and post, video record classes and load to school website</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tool for use to create wellness/fitness ambassadors at school</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Emphasis on establishing daily habits</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Health education that is effective and efficient</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Improves self-esteem and concentration</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone can participate, even the physically challenged</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fun, quick and effective</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="jam works like this" src="http://www.healthetips.com/images/jampro3.gif" /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each week of the school year, teachers and administrators receive an e-communication.<br />This communication will include:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a link to our private JAM Library webpage that houses our JAM routines</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">monthly newsletters</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JAM Good Ideas & JAM Good News</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">success stories from schools</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">highlights of school-authored routines</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">links to kids doing the JAM routines</span></li></ul><span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Why it Works:</b></span><br /><ol><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is FUN!!!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone is doing the same thing at the same time.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Creates a sense of community and belonging.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no judgment or competition.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The JAM routines help improve strength, conditioning and coordination.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brain breaks - Improves performance through more energy & refocusing.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adds more physical activity minutes to your day.</span></li></ol><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="who is behind us" src="http://www.healthetips.com/images/jampro6.gif" /><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The JAM School Program is promoted and backed by leading groups such as Let’s Move!, the American Heart Association, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, NFL Play 60, USDA, National PTA, NBA FIT, Discovery Education’s Energy Balance 101, and NASPE (the largest group providing physical activity resources to teachers across America) plus hundreds of  state and local groups and organizations with health and wellness initiatives.</span></div>

November 20, 2013

Zumba Inclusive Master Class at Lakeshore Ditch the Workout, Join the Party with certified Zumba Fitness Instructor and wheelchair user JoAn...

1:24 PM

Diabetes and Pregnancy

<div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">By Winnie Natu, MSIV</span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is important to remember that diabetes can affect people in any stage of life, including  pregnancy! Termed ‘<b>gestational diabetes mellitus</b>’ (GDM), it is critical we raise awareness about this topic as it can have life changing effects not only on mom, but on baby too.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is it?</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">GDM is a type of diabetes that is first seen in a pregnant woman who did not have diabetes before she was pregnant. It usually shows up in the middle of pregnancy.  Like other types of diabetes, it occurs due to resistance to insulin, which is increased because of the different hormones the body produces and balances during pregnancy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Am I at risk for getting it?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The most important risk factors for developing GDM are:<o:p></o:p></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Age      over 30<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Family      history of Type 2 diabetes<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Being      overweight<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Certain      ethnic backgrounds—Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Polynesian      <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">GDM      in a previous pregnancy<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Previous      difficulty carrying a pregnancy to term<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Previous      birth of a baby weighing more than 4 kg.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9ugCQI9GysR_lHP11jXWSoG11raxu2ZaS0e4_Meh0TVc5Lkdk4rZps4MOHWzYjLZiBCsT_eEtaPFwgaVlk3TPCm4nu6aKyvlzY0fMf-EhUkoVwoXIL2Md3ASmaD3mxyknkGQT89lYog/s1600/ucm241915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9ugCQI9GysR_lHP11jXWSoG11raxu2ZaS0e4_Meh0TVc5Lkdk4rZps4MOHWzYjLZiBCsT_eEtaPFwgaVlk3TPCm4nu6aKyvlzY0fMf-EhUkoVwoXIL2Md3ASmaD3mxyknkGQT89lYog/s200/ucm241915.jpg" width="133" /></a><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do I know if I have it?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Doctors test for GDM between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy with a glucose challenge test. One hour after drinking a glucose solution, you will have a blood test to measure your blood sugar level. If it is higher than <b>130 to 140 mg/dL</b>, it means you are at risk of gestational diabetes and will need a follow-up test. This time, you will have your fasting blood sugar level measured and then you will drink another sweet drink. Your blood sugar level will be checked every hour for three hours and if <u>at least two of the readings are higher than normal</u>, you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">How does it affect me and my baby?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">GDM causes baby’s blood sugar to be very high, which means the baby is overfed and grows to be very large. This can cause problems for both mom and baby during delivery and it may be necessary to have a <b>C-section</b>. Because of baby’s size, he or she may be born with nerve damage or shoulder abnormalities. GDM can also raise mom’s blood pressure and cause “<b>preeclampsia</b>”, which might lead to the baby being born early, seizures, or a stroke. Lastly, if GDM is not well-controlled, baby can quickly develop low blood sugar after birth which can be very serious, even fatal. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">How can I prevent it?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnQvxxiMiY15Zf4sOqX5wEGWig23DVRUNfvNjcmw1VDyKHh7G2i3haaO5WmhZz6bRcxmbCVgc3hQHzT-dvlVCr5238-LEfH3-wprCzN_0r-sj9mdcg_oM8QfXssps3yZTQuMj81TA3mA/s1600/health+food+hut+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnQvxxiMiY15Zf4sOqX5wEGWig23DVRUNfvNjcmw1VDyKHh7G2i3haaO5WmhZz6bRcxmbCVgc3hQHzT-dvlVCr5238-LEfH3-wprCzN_0r-sj9mdcg_oM8QfXssps3yZTQuMj81TA3mA/s200/health+food+hut+image.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Follow a <b>healthy diet</b>including foods high in iron (fully cooked red meat), folic acid (green leafys) and calcium (pasteurized dairy). Lots of fruits and veggies with only moderate carbohydrates (pasta, bread, etc.). It is crucial to maintain a <b>healthy weight</b>! Generally, you should gain about 2 to 4 pounds during the first three months and then 1 pound a week during the rest of your pregnancy. Engage in regular and <b>safe</b> <b>exercises</b> including walking, swimming, low intensity aerobics, or pilates.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">For more user-friendly and complete information about gestational diabetes, please visit the following resources:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gestational-diabetes/DS00316/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis">Mayo Clinc information on Gestational Diabetes </a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/diabetes-gestational.html">Gestational diabtetes information from the CDC</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://brochures.mater.org.au/Home/Brochures/Mater-Mothers-Private-Brisbane/Gestational-diabetes">Brochure created by Maters.org</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div>

Diabetes and Pregnancy

By Winnie Natu, MSIV It is important to remember that diabetes can affect people in any stage of life, including pregnancy! Termed ‘ gestat...

3:00 AM

Affordable Care Act Policy Briefing: Presented By Women's Way

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9PcsV-uMpDrqvc7mosJWnH23uMK6JuZyZWSusd4k31289lwZaiMXA8dlkP3tgUlFyqYnfxZlK5WyF6gHepTiTU0tN743zNgrbHamnTvmzUglLBp35tO3D_d7rOSF8azAJ1ZtLLL2JsU/s1600/telephone-ringing.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9PcsV-uMpDrqvc7mosJWnH23uMK6JuZyZWSusd4k31289lwZaiMXA8dlkP3tgUlFyqYnfxZlK5WyF6gHepTiTU0tN743zNgrbHamnTvmzUglLBp35tO3D_d7rOSF8azAJ1ZtLLL2JsU/s200/telephone-ringing.gif" width="200" /></a><b>Want to learn more about what the affordable care act means for women?</b> Take advantage of the unique opportunity to <a href="http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=7526d8be-46a0-4438-bde7-d9471fb8359c&c=68cf6c00-4bfd-11e3-9db5-d4ae5275396f&ch=69ade520-4bfd-11e3-9e0f-d4ae5275396f">join a conference call</a> presented by Women's Way. By simply calling in during lunch, you have the ability to be part of an informative discussion about key provisions, medicare and medicaid advantages and disadvantages, as well as the healthcare marketplace. Time at the end will be saved for questions.<br /><br />The call will be on Thursday, November 21 from 12:00-12:45 pm<br /><br /><a href="http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=7526d8be-46a0-4438-bde7-d9471fb8359c&c=68cf6c00-4bfd-11e3-9db5-d4ae5275396f&ch=69ade520-4bfd-11e3-9e0f-d4ae5275396f">Click Here</a> for event details and instructions on connecting<br /><br />To learn more about Women's Way, visit their website at <a href="http://womensway.org/">http://womensway.org/</a><br /><br /><br />

Affordable Care Act Policy Briefing: Presented By Women's Way

Want to learn more about what the affordable care act means for women? Take advantage of the unique opportunity to join a conference call ...

5:30 AM

Women's Health and the AFA: Now and in the Future

<div class="FreeForm"><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By Justine Shum, MSIV</span></span></div><div class="FreeForm"><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="FreeForm"><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Affordable Care Act has been getting a lot of negative press lately due to problems with its Marketplace website, but we remain hopeful that it will improve access to healthcare. The Affordable Care Act has made a lot of changes for women, particularly by increasing coverage of preventive services. With 2014 quickly approaching, here is a review of the expanded coverage that is specific to women:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="FreeForm"><br /></div><div class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;">Now:</span></u><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="FreeForm"></div><ul><li><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">20.4 million women with private health insurance gained expanded coverage of preventive services including mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, prenatal care, flu and pneumonia shots, and regular well-baby and well-child visits</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Many health plans now provide full coverage of other preventive services including well-woman visits, screening for gestational diabetes, domestic violence screening, breastfeeding supplies and contraceptive services</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> 24.7 million women with Medicare received coverage of preventive services including an annual well visit, personalized prevention plan, mammograms, and bone mass measurement if at risk for osteoporosis</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Women between ages 19 and 25 who would have been uninsured now have coverage under their parent’s employer-sponsored or individually purchased health insurance plan</span></span></li></ul><br /><div class="FreeForm"><u><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Coming up in 2014 & Beyond</span></span></u></div><div class="FreeForm"></div><ul><li><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Insurance companies in the individual and small group markets will no longer be permitted to charge higher rates due to gender or health status</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An estimated 13.6 million women who would otherwise be uninsured will gain health coverage by 2016</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> An estimated 8.7 million women who currently pay for individual insurance will gain coverage for maternity services</span></span></li></ul><br /><div class="FreeForm">Resources<span style="font-family: inherit;">: </span></div><div class="FreeForm" style="line-height: 19.0pt;"><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For a full list of preventive services covered under the Affordable Care Act: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="FreeForm" style="line-height: 19.0pt;"><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts/factsheets/2010/07/preventive-services-list.html"><span style="color: #000099;">http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts/factsheets/2010/07/preventive-services-list.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="FreeForm" style="line-height: 19.0pt;"><br /></div><div class="FreeForm"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;">Good read on why we need Obamacare: </span><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/opinion/sunday/kristof-this-is-why-we-need-obamacare.html?_r=0"><span style="color: #000099;">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/opinion/sunday/kristof-this-is-why-we-need-obamacare.html?_r=0</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="FreeForm"><br /></div><br /><div class="FreeForm"><br /></div>

Women's Health and the AFA: Now and in the Future

By Justine Shum, MSIV The Affordable Care Act has been getting a lot of negative press lately due to problems with its Marketplace website, ...

6:32 AM

Reducing purchases of sugar sweetened beverages

<span style="font-size: large;">   I am posting about a study that was discussed in the popular press this week (if I remember correctly, it was an on-line article from a Boston newspaper).  I have not reviewed the research though I did contact the lead author/scientist, <a href="http://www.healthandsocietyscholars.org/1822/16821/2533" target="_blank">Dr. Jason Block</a> to see if a publication is pending.  That being acknowledged, I will summarize the news story and add a few thoughts. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   At the very least, this study on sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs), like soda, juice, sports drinks,</span> <span style="font-size: large;">flavored whole milk and coffee drinks, offers promising results.  Dr. Block and his research associates tested whether raising the price of SSBs that contain 150 or more calories, would lead to a decrease in purchase of said drinks.  There was a 16% decrease in sales after the price change (1 cent per ounce, so $.20 increase in price).  Without seeing the research article, if there is one, I can't tell you the absolute change in number of beverages sold.  I also don't know what, if anything, the people spent their saved 'soda' money on.  They might have spent the money they did not spend on soda on foods that might be high in sugar or calories, on sugar free drinks, or on nothing. That is an important outcome to assess in these types of studies.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">    In a second study, the same team labeled the SSBs with their calorie content and organized the display of drinks by amount of calories.  I assume that the first columns were sugar free items, then low calorie, then high calorie.  In this experiment, sales of low calorie drinks increased by about 11%. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   The results of this work support both the use of calorie labeling and taxation (price manipulation) to change behavior and thus, improve health.  However, I do not know the details of the study, so I make that assertion with some caution.  I would like to know more about any unintended consequences (substituting soda for chips, eg) and whether or not the changes that were seen were able to be sustained over time.  Lastly, this study took place at one work site and the results might be different elsewhere.  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">    If/when I hear back about the study itself, I will write a follow up post.  I am very interested in this type of population level intervention.  In other words, putting effort toward changing the environment instead of changing people in one on one interventions (like a diet class).</span>

Reducing purchases of sugar sweetened beverages

I am posting about a study that was discussed in the popular press this week (if I remember correctly, it was an on-line article from a B...

7:22 PM

<br /><h1 style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2e74b5;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Light;">ASAHPERD Fall Conference<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></h1><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t forget that the Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (ASAHPERD) Fall Conference is November 17, 18, & 19 at the Wynfrey at the Galleria in Birmingham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If you did not pre-register you may register during the conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The conference information, schedule, and membership may be found at </span><a href="http://www.asahperd.org/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">www.asahperd.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: red;">Friday, November 15 4:00 PM is the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>final deadline</u> to</b> </span>register for CEU credit for the conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Many people have had difficulty registering for day 3 of the conference<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><span style="color: red;">If you experience difficulty contact the person in your school who handles STI Professional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2e74b5;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Light;">Fitness Testing<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: red;">January 1, 2014 is the deadline to post your fall fitness scores into INow Health</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The INow reporting piece has been revised and is now much more time efficient and much easier to post scores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>To get online training go to </span><a href="http://www.alsde.edu/home/general/hpeinformation.aspx"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.alsde.edu/home/general/hpeinformation.aspx</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">where you will find all of the fitness information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>At the bottom of the page under additional links is the online training and written instructions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please keep in mind that spring testing dates are March 1 through May 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Make sure to check your school calendar for state required testing so that your fitness testing does not conflict with those dates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>June 1 is the final deadline to post spring scores.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If your school is on block scheduling you will test one time and post those scores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2e74b5;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Light;">Grant Opportunities<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div><br /><h2 style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2e74b5;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Light;">Together Counts<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h2><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Find Your Balance Challenge is open to elementary school classrooms in grades K-5 and rewards student teams for taking steps toward achieving Energy Balance in your own school communities. Winning schools have a chance to win a $30,000 Grand Prize Grant. One Second Place winning class will receive a $10,000 grant. One Third Place school will receive a $5,000 grant. Applications will be accepted from August 27, 2013 until January 31, 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Award Amount:</b> $5,000 - $30,000<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Deadline:</b> January 31, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="http://www.togethercounts.com/at-school/win-for-your-school/balance-challenge" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For More Information, Click Here<o:p></o:p></span></span></a></div><br /><h2 style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2e74b5;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Light;">Fund for Teachers<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The purpose of this funding is to enrich the personal and professional growth of teachers by recognizing and supporting them as they identify and pursue opportunities around the globe that will have the greatest impact on their practice, the academic lives of their students and on their school communities. Grants of up to $5,000 for individuals and up to $10,000 for teams will be awarded to select applicants. Pre-K though grade 12 teachers with at least three years of experience and the intent to return to the classroom the following school year are eligible to apply.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Award Amount: $5,000<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deadline: January 30, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.fundforteachers.org/teachers/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">For More Information, Click Here</span></a></span><o:p></o:p><br /><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2e74b5;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Light;">Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, National PTA, Discovery Education<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With support from the National PTA, schools and communities across the nation have the opportunity to apply for a number of grants and other prizes to help them implement a health initiative at their school. Overall, the Smart from the Start program will award a total of $500,000 in grants, training and awards to eligible schools. The winning preschool will be awarded $20,000 and ten runners-up will each receive $2,500. Early childhood education centers and schools with a Pre-K program are eligible to apply.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> A</span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ward Amount: $20,000 or $2,500<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deadline: February 28, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.togethercounts.com/sfts/application/start"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">For More Information, Click Here</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2e74b5;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Light;">American Heart Association<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the American Heart Association, and a team of experts from across the childhood obesity movement have teamed up through the Childhood Obesity Rapid Response Fund. The mission of the fund is to make effective strategic investments in ongoing state, local, and tribal public policy campaigns in order to increase public policy impact on healthy weight and living among children. This funding is mostly targeted at passage of new public policy, however proposals for defense of existing critical policy as well as addressing policy implementation deficiencies are also eligible. Grants will be made only to non-profit organizations. A phone consultation prior to submitting a step-one application is required.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Award Amount: $15,000 - $100,000<o:p></o:p></span><br /><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deadline: Rolling<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/General/Eligibility-for-Funding-Intake-Form_UCM_433237_Form.jsp"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">For More Information, Click Here</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2e74b5;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Light;">The PeyBack Foundation<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The PeyBack Foundation is a nonprofit organization established to assist programs that provide leadership and growth opportunities for at-risk children. Emphasis is placed on programs that have a direct benefit to children through relationships and activities, specifically programs intended to enrich the lives of disadvantaged youth through activities conducted outside the typical school day. Activities include healthy living, mentoring, and leadership skills. Multiple grants averaging $10,000 will be awarded to selected applicants. Nonprofit organizations serving economically disadvantaged youth between ages 6 and 18 in Indiana, Louisiana, Tennessee, and the Denver metro area are eligible to apply. The 2014 PeyBack Foundation Grant Application will be available October 15, 2013.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Award Amount: $10,000<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deadline: February 3, 2014<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="http://www.peytonmanning.com/peyback-foundation/grants"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">For More Information, Click Here</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><h2 style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2e74b5;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Light;">The LEGO Group<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The LEGO Children's Fund will provide quarterly grants for programs with a special interest paid to collaborative efforts and in providing matching funds to leverage new dollars into the receiving organization. Focus areas include: early childhood education and development, and technology and communication projects that advance learning opportunities. Priority is given to programs in communities where Lego operates with a special focus given to organizations serving Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Award Amount: $500 - $5,000<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deadline: January 15, April 15, July 15, October 15<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.legochildrensfund.org/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">For More Information, Click Here</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><h2 style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2e74b5;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Light;">The Safeway Foundation<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h2><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Safeway Foundation supports numerous youth development organizations as well as a broad range of after-school and physical education programs. Local grants are reviewed biannually. For grant requests that are national or multi-regional in scope, requests are reviewed on a quarterly basis.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Award Amount: $2,500 - $10,000<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deadline: Rolling<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For More Information, Click Here<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="http://www.safewayfoundation.org/get-funded/how-we-fund.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">Click here for more information</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><h2 style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2e74b5;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Light;">The Rite Aid Foundation<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Rite Aid Foundation is offering funding to nonprofit organizations that focus on health and wellness in the communities in which Rite Aid operates. The Foundation accepts proposals throughout the year and the submission deadlines for our quarterly board meetings are as follows: July 15, October 15, January 15 and April 15.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Award Amount: Award amounts vary<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deadline: October 15, January 15 and April 15<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="https://kidcents.riteaid.com/#Charities"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">For More Information, Click Here</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><h2 style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2e74b5;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Light;">MetLife Foundation<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h2><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MetLife Foundation supports projects to empower people to lead healthy, productive lives and strengthen communities. The Foundation makes grants in health, education, civic affairs and culture. Underlying the Foundation's programs is a focus on education at all ages and a commitment to increasing access and opportunity. The Healthy Habits program seeks to promote healthy habits and physical fitness for illness prevention, especially among children. Requests are accepted and reviewed throughout the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Award Amount: Award amounts vary<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deadline: Rolling<o:p></o:p></span><br /><a href="https://www.metlife.com/about/corporate-profile/citizenship/metlife-foundation/index.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">For More Information, Click Here</span></a><o:p></o:p><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2e74b5;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Light;"><strong>Voices for Healthy Kids Request for Award<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></span><br /><br /><h2 style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2e74b5;"><span style="font-family: Calibri Light;">Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, American Heart Association<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Voices for Healthy Kids is a new collaboration between the American Heart Association and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation working to engage, organize and mobilize people to improve the health of their communities and reverse the childhood obesity epidemic. Voices for Healthy Kids' Strategic Campaign Fund is awarding grants with a mix of lobbying and non-lobbying resources to support strategic issue advocacy campaigns focused on fighting childhood obesity through state, local, and tribal public policy campaigns aligned with the Voices for Healthy Kids policy priorities. Six awards for up to a maximum of $90,000 per award is available for 501(c)(3) organizations to support strategic issue advocacy campaigns focused on fighting childhood obesity aligned with six advocacy priorities. Applications will be evaluated by an independent review committee and announcement of awards will be made approximately 6-8 weeks after submission.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Award Amount:</span> $90,000<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Deadline:</span> Rolling<o:p></o:p></span><br /><a href="http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Advocate/Voices-for-Healthy-Kids_UCM_453195_SubHomePage.jsp" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For More Information, Click Here<o:p></o:p></span></span></a><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Advocate/Voices-for-Healthy-Kids_UCM_453195_SubHomePage.jsp" target="_blank"></a></span><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas>  <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">  <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">  <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">  <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">  <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">  <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">  <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">  <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">  <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">  <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">  <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">  <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></span></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="http://www.ydeveloper.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Thanksgiving-Holiday-Season.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 162.35pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 4.2pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: margin; mso-position-horizontal: center; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 255.75pt; z-index: -251658240;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:imagedata o:title="Thanksgiving-Holiday-Season" src="file:///C:\Users\nray\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"> <w:wrap anchorx="margin"></w:wrap></v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Advocate/Voices-for-Healthy-Kids_UCM_453195_SubHomePage.jsp" target="_blank"></a></span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Happy Thanksgiving!</strong></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "French Script MT"; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><strong> </strong></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>

ASAHPERD Fall Conference Don’t forget that the Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (ASAHPERD) Fa...

1:38 PM

Journal Club: November

<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Looking for a good article to read?</b> Our fourth year students recently shared some very interesting articles with us for WHEP Journal Club, and in addition created some great discussion.Check out these articles:</span><br /><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Characteristics Associated With Differences in Survival Among Black and White Women With Breast Cancer, By: Silber and </span>colleagues. <span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> </span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Risk of Cervical Abnormalities in Women With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Population-Based Nested Case-Control Study, By: Singh and colleagues </span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Patient Knowledge and Beliefs as Barriers to Extending Cervical Cancer Screening Intervals in Federally Funded Centers, By Hawkins and colleges </span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Food Security Maternal Stressors and Overweight Among Low-Income US Children- Results From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2002), By: Gunderson and colleagues </span></li></ul><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><br /><div><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNnv8sCHSAhYI-vmejIBb87NyFmEJG3c64y8_nGgcA8yCPau_ST9SQ55f7-_VniONP_aO_bikxl1jUycX_PL7gWh5WiqQ8poJPvzDau3ItnAms_hkbR-cAgfxOPupFGRmDl8egDuSWHA/s1600/reader1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNnv8sCHSAhYI-vmejIBb87NyFmEJG3c64y8_nGgcA8yCPau_ST9SQ55f7-_VniONP_aO_bikxl1jUycX_PL7gWh5WiqQ8poJPvzDau3ItnAms_hkbR-cAgfxOPupFGRmDl8egDuSWHA/s200/reader1.jpg" width="185" /></a></div><div><br /></div></span></span></div>

Journal Club: November

Looking for a good article to read? Our fourth year students recently shared some very interesting articles with us for WHEP Journal Club, ...

7:56 AM

Cholesterol Lowering Drugs

<span style="font-size: large;">   To my knowledge, there is little evidence to support broad use of statins - or medicines that lower cholesterol.  The goal for treating high cholesterol is to decrease risk of heart attack and early death.  The research I have reviewed only showed this benefit for statin users who have been diagnosed with heart disease or who have had a heart attack.  It is that group that benefits from use. The new recommendations are to give statin medications based on factors (like having diabetes) other than a persons blood cholesterol level.  In a way, this removes the argument of how high the LDL level has to be before medicine is prescribed and at what dose should the statin be started, based on that LDL number.  The cut off number was always arbitrary.  How could there be more risk at 120 and not 119, for example.  But I don't know that this is any better, because it still places an emphasis on pills over lifestyle.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   I share the concerns of CNNs Dr. Sanjay Gupta who equates this shift to medication over changes in diet (and exercise) as a sign of defeat against the prevention of diseases associated with obesity.  Medication is not the solution here and we shouldn't give up on prevention.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">    I understand that efforts to nudge people into better lifestyles has not been successful.  I don't think encouraging people to rely on medicine to fix problems is better than changing the environment to provide people better options (i.e.,  options to be physically active and to eat in moderation).  It does seem that nutrition information and nutrition guidelines are consistently and broadly misunderstood by a majority of persons.  This is in large part due to the complicated and ever changing information out there.  It is confusing and most people don't know what to look for when assessing a food's nutritional content and 'healthiness.'</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">    Just recently, I walked by a man and woman at the grocery store as the man was reading the back of package nutrition label.  (YAY!)  I heard him say, "Oh no, this is loaded with carbohydrates."  I wanted to stop, go back and ask him,"And what exactly does that mean to you?  Why is that a good or bad thing?"   Because if all someone told me was "its loaded in carbohydrates," I could not make an informed decision.  Sugar is a carbohydrate, so are vegetables and grains!  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   Our education and health promotion efforts must be constant, but simplified. Americans consume diets that are high in calories and items that might lead to high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, etc.  The main objective to improve health should be changing the diet (and increasing activity) not medicating the entire country.  Using medication in this way is as foolish as providing more rescue workers to collect the drowning from the river instead of putting a rail on the bridge to keep people from <i>falling in the river.</i></span>

Cholesterol Lowering Drugs

To my knowledge, there is little evidence to support broad use of statins - or medicines that lower cholesterol. The goal for treating h...

7:59 PM

Diabetes & Heart Disease : Key Issues for Women

<span style="font-family: inherit;">By: Justine Shum, MSIV</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div class="FreeForm"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQB2uOya2Hf7iAapUApFcWVNKo83z0xtqD3dfjA7RlamoWlQmjPEJf9cMwd13F9YZpDvbinBJHXXW3k9RmAARxpWRuG8l9nVslCooA0flCId4jFzyAMJmOYm9EMHJgDtNEHrNVJxRC_as/s1600/Symptoms-of-a-Heart-Attack-in-Women-700x395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQB2uOya2Hf7iAapUApFcWVNKo83z0xtqD3dfjA7RlamoWlQmjPEJf9cMwd13F9YZpDvbinBJHXXW3k9RmAARxpWRuG8l9nVslCooA0flCId4jFzyAMJmOYm9EMHJgDtNEHrNVJxRC_as/s200/Symptoms-of-a-Heart-Attack-in-Women-700x395.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Patients with type 2 diabetes are more likely to die from heart disease compared to adults without diabetes. Adults with diabetes are also 2-4x more likely to have heart disease. In women especially, diabetes is a serious risk factor for heart disease. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="FreeForm"><br /></div><div class="FreeForm"><u><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why does diabetes increase risk of heart disease?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div><div class="FreeForm"><br /></div><div class="FreeForm"><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even patients with well-controlled diabetes are at an increased risk of heart disease. This is because patients with diabetes, especially those with type 2 diabetes, often have other comorbid conditions that increase their risk of developing heart disease. These conditions include hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="FreeForm"><br /></div><div class="FreeForm"><u><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What does this mean for women with diabetes?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div><div class="FreeForm"><br /></div><div class="FreeForm"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKYAIJ3rpkhct0eZyj4pXqxG_YrN38izIeonNDVp7CJrItCCteFH3Iy91j4_VIu6l9iAzIReKXR2hYBOwlOQkxXZbHY0NWhm3Sj1KYn6O_DahXPNG8vsKerODlQz5j2q3fXQVMJn7bBs/s1600/rec-woman-neck-pain-master2-isp-10-17-11-md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKYAIJ3rpkhct0eZyj4pXqxG_YrN38izIeonNDVp7CJrItCCteFH3Iy91j4_VIu6l9iAzIReKXR2hYBOwlOQkxXZbHY0NWhm3Sj1KYn6O_DahXPNG8vsKerODlQz5j2q3fXQVMJn7bBs/s200/rec-woman-neck-pain-master2-isp-10-17-11-md.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Women with diabetes are more likely to have heart disease. Even premenopausal women, who normally have  protection due to estrogen against heart disease, lose that protection once they develop diabetes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="FreeForm"><br /></div><div class="FreeForm"><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Women with diabetes who have heart disease also have poorer outcomes after heart attacks. In the first year after a heart attack, women are more likely to die compared to men who have heart attacks. Women are also more likely to have a second heart attack compared to men.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="FreeForm"><br /></div><div class="FreeForm"><u><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></u><u><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What can women with diabetes do about their heart disease risk?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div><div class="FreeForm"></div><ul><li><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">Control your diabetes</span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">: A1C - measure of your average blood glucose control for the last 3 months. Measure at least twice a year. ADA recommends a A1C of 7% although your doctor will may recommend more or less stringent goals</span></li><li><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">Quit smoking!</span></li><li><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">Maintain a healthy weight:</span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;"> Obesity is associated with insulin resistance</span></li><li><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">Exercise</span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">: In addition to helping to maintain a healthy weight, exercise</span></li><li><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">Control your blood pressure: </span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends lowering your blood pressure to 130/80 or lower</span></li><li><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">Lower your LDL (bad cholesterol) level and raise your HDL (good cholesterol) level</span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">: The ADA recommends a LDL level less than 100, and with therapeutic lowering agents, a goal of 70 is recommended for patients with multiple risk factors. An HDL level greater than 45 is recommended, although the higher the better!</span></li><li><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;"> Know the atypical presentation of a heart attack: </span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt;">Heart attack symptoms in women often are different from those experienced by men. Although chest pain remains the most common symptom, women often also experience a burning sensation in their upper abdomen as well as lightheadedness, upset stomach or sweating.</span></li></ul><div><span style="color: #191919;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CYd3mtYQ8x72T_pLGgvrS4nqURcwwhYQEmb5lWCkwCYWcgmJcVlixVL8h-04zWxrz7ihb9f2-PZJ5eWwqCKgFVVPSJk2PyRipOxzHWOl_Uj3bMfZDxd0qzQzkVSQsMAZ6K5dVZeyXOk/s1600/woman-talking-to-doctor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CYd3mtYQ8x72T_pLGgvrS4nqURcwwhYQEmb5lWCkwCYWcgmJcVlixVL8h-04zWxrz7ihb9f2-PZJ5eWwqCKgFVVPSJk2PyRipOxzHWOl_Uj3bMfZDxd0qzQzkVSQsMAZ6K5dVZeyXOk/s200/woman-talking-to-doctor.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #191919;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">And always be sure to talk with your doctor about concerns and changes you may need to make. Remember, taking control is the first step toward prevention!</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #191919;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #191919;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">For healthy tips and resources, visit: </span></span><a href="http://www.diabetes.org/">http://www.diabetes.org/</a></div><div><span style="color: #191919;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><br /><div class="FreeForm"><br /></div>

Diabetes & Heart Disease : Key Issues for Women

By: Justine Shum, MSIV Patients with type 2 diabetes are more likely to die from heart disease compared to adults without diabetes. Adults w...

1:00 AM

Know Thyself

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">How well do you think you <i>really</i> know yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">You probably have some idea of your capabilities. If you are dining at a restaurant with a group of friends and they ask you to figure out how much each person should chip in then you are probably ‘good at math.’ If you prefer more pictures than words in printed materials then perhaps reading is not your forte. But there are so many other kinds of capabilities to explore.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Nowadays the challenge to ‘find out about yourself’ is a bit more difficult because many of our natural interactions in our environment have been overtaken by virtual ones. It is a common everyday occurrence to be engaged in constant yet remote dialogue with others through devices of artificial intelligence (via texting, tweeting, etc). A whole generation is born into cyberspace to view itself through “face books” with “screen names.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">No this writing is not all about the internet and the lost morals of social media. Nor is it all about using computers for instant gratification or how eventually online classes will replace going to school. (Well alright there may be a few words about these issues later…) The main concern is how to restore our self-knowledge in this digital age. Do we learn more about humanity through live natural group settings or through isolated remote and artificial ones? Let’s start with an observation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7NZZfGgJpsxKtVxO1hyphenhyphenx88-idVrlbJaWJSi7PN1InjvP_XOVl-0OR781_wMGfGIRomXdOL-yA1acxFID3En0gmFeSnaN9hIIhel_zc2xDxAKeTrMLSj7vZUj50jQp8Tqj-reUVGr9gbw/s1600/aqua+class.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7NZZfGgJpsxKtVxO1hyphenhyphenx88-idVrlbJaWJSi7PN1InjvP_XOVl-0OR781_wMGfGIRomXdOL-yA1acxFID3En0gmFeSnaN9hIIhel_zc2xDxAKeTrMLSj7vZUj50jQp8Tqj-reUVGr9gbw/s320/aqua+class.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aquatic Group Fitness Class</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As a lifeguard at a fitness facility I get to watch a few aquatic group exercise classes. During most classes people will move their bodies in the water with some degree of effort to follow an instructor. In nearly every class their effort is usually minimal. Some people are there mainly to socialize, which is really not a bad thing when done the old fashioned way (they cannot bring their cell phones into the water!).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One instructor, Liz, has tried several things to motivate her class so they can get more moderate to vigorous exercise out of it. She is quite innovative. Unlike other classes in which participants seem to tread water in a perfunctory way, her class flows into a variety of arrangements and extensions. Mostly people work at their own rate next to each other, but occasionally she will pair them up, or send them into groups and on one occasion into a large single group.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There is no set routine. Always there seems to be something new. One day she introduced resistance bands in the shallow therapy pool. Another day she called them each by name to do an aquatic exercise using the width of a swimming lane. A couple days later she started playing a new soundtrack of music selections that had a few people smiling and even humming along. In short Liz does not shy away from trying new things and engages her class through lively interaction. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Amazingly the one thing that actually motivated her class to perform moderate to vigorous exercise was beyond the creative plans and thoughtful preparations detailed above. It was simply the fact she became pregnant and continued instructing.  Now she is nearing her third trimester and really beginning to show.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It first occurred to me when she instructed everyone to raise one arm while kicking out the opposing leg in the water. She demonstrated this as she usually does (perhaps with a little added effort since she was exercising for two!). Oddly I noticed nearly everyone put forth an excellent effort and maintained good form. She has done variations of this exercise before and at best I have observed sluggish swaying of limbs but not this forceful range of motion currently and clearly on display. The only difference from her earlier classes was that her pregnancy was certainly not showing as much.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I spoke with Liz shortly after this observation. She agreed with this conclusion and added that this happened in her non-aquatic exercise classes as well. She demurred slightly and suggested another explanation could be her pregnancy naturally leads her to provide more alternatives for each exercise (typically less strenuous ones). The key is she knows her body and therefore can adjust her exercise effort up and down appropriately.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">How well did the people in the class know their own bodies? It seems that for the longest time in this class “they didn’t know they had it in them.” I strongly suspected the people were motivated by a pregnant woman leading exercise class since they could have quite possibly been saying to themselves; “Hey…if a pregnant woman in her last trimester can do that…I should be able to…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Know thyself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A natural living human connection was made in a group environment. Can we reproduce this effect by showing a DVD of a pregnant woman leading exercises for other classes? Actually quite the opposite might occur. Liz had in fact mentioned that a few people were put off by a pregnant instructor and decided to stop going. “Live” events, at any rate, are more stirring than recorded ones. This alone makes me believe online courses will never be as effective as actually ‘going to school.’<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">To know thyself implies an awareness of one’s literacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">lit·er·a·cy<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ˈlitərəsē,ˈlitrə-<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">noun: literacy<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1. the ability to read and write.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">"literacy and numeracy are the first goals of education"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">competence or knowledge in a specified area</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Presently educators are contending with critics who question the value of teaching in America. Perhaps too much emphasis is placed on a desire for student achievement and our placement in world ranking. These assessments focus on math, reading, and science literacy. Certainly in the digital age it makes sense to adding computer literacy to our educational goals. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">                 <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What other literacy may be needed to prepare people to be able to function throughout their lives? Certainly we should try to balance the goals of intellectual achievement in traditional subject areas with a desire for lifelong health and wellness of our student body. To do this the core curriculum must include <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Physical-Literacy&id=8110506">physical literacy</a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Then perhaps our education could really make a splash! </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

Know Thyself

How well do you think you really know yourself? You probably have some idea of your capabilities. If you are dining at a restaurant with a ...

11:54 AM