If My Memory Serves Me Right…

As we all get older, people tell us “you’re going to lose your memory, and it’ll get hard.” The funny thing is, it seems to be true. I’ve seen it happen to my father, my grandmother and now my uncle. They begin forgetting appointments, events, where things are, just about everything. I personally would hate to lose my memory, I mean who would love it? I started doing some research on how to improve your memory. Apparently everyone was worried about the same thing (of course), because there’s a list of seven things you can do to improve your memory.

1. Walking- According to the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, Aerobic exercise is the number 1 thing you can do to improve your memory. Getting your heart rate up benefits brain health and increases attention span.
2. Routine- Break your routine one in a while. An author of the Brainpower Game Plan: Sharpen Your Memory, Improve Your Concentration, and Age-Proof Your Memory says that “neurobic activities” increase your brain’s ability to stay strong against age related damage. For example: Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand.
3. Forget-me-not spots- We’re always misplacing items, like our phone, keys, sunglass…etc., because we’re leaving them in random places. If you designate a certain place to keep such things you’ll know where they are.
4. Names- Horrible at names? One thing you can do to remember names better is to repeat the name after you’ve been introduced, “it’s nice to meet you Betty.” Then makes a connection, “that’s my mother’s name.” Or, “she loves to paint.”
5. Eating- A healthy balanced diet can improve your memory. It also helps keep your weight in check. For specifics, eat plenty of dark vegetables that are leafy, blueberries and grapes.
6. Rest- Get proper rest, you’re likely to remember more with a well-rested mind.
7. Believe it- You have to believe you’re going to remember something in order to remember it.

9 Exercises to Avoid

I started adding exercise to my daily activities. I’m very proud of myself, I was very active in school and now with work and everything else I didn’t highly prioritize exercise. We all know that exercise is important and that we all need it but it is difficult to add in sometimes. If you’ve managed your schedule and have found a way to add some physical activity to your day; Great Job!

When you’re exercising you have to keep in mind that not every exercise is effective or safe for you. Everyone needs to be informed of these nine exercises that should be avoided.

1. Lat Pull-down BEHIND the head- Utilizing this exercise can lead to shoulder problems if done incorrectly.

2. Military Press BEHIND the head- This can also lead to the same problems as the Lat Pull-down.

3. Upright Row- This exercise can compress the nerves in your shoulders, impringing your shoulders.

4. Lying Leg Press with Knees Bent TOO deeply- The problem with this exercise is if you bend your legs too far you can hurt your back and knees.

5. Squats on the Smith Machine- If your feet are spread too far than recommended you can make matters worse to this already risky position.

6. BAD-form on Cardio Machines- Don’t hunch over the treadmill or use a hard grip on the handrails. It can throw off your alignment, messing with your spines, shoulders and elbows.

7. Exercising only ONE part of your body- You can strengthen and tone your body but you should not ancd cannot isolate one section of your body solely.

8. Using a WEIGHT Belt- Essentially your letting your core slack off when lifting weight if you use a weight belt. You need a strong core.

9. Exercising with the WRONG Shoes- If you’re doing everything else correctly and you’re wearing the wrong shoes it won’t help. You can really injure your joints if you wear wrong shoes.

Keeping that Portion in check so you can shape up!

Wonder why 60% of Americans are overweight? We do live in the land of the plenty and that doesn’t exclude our food. With the Spring season on the horizon, other activities are to follow. It’s the perfect time to go outside. We all know that once Spring is here the dreaded bathing suit is near. No fear! There are many ways to ready yourself for the Spring season and the warm weather.

It’s all about portion control and getting over that temptation of having more than you need. Be resourceful. Instead of indulging is Peeps, use their size as a portion. Use the emerging sports as a guide to portions as well. You can use all of those Spring time temptations and sports as a guide.

Here are some examples for the full list click here:

2 TSP peanut butter = one peep
¼ cup dried fruit = 1 golf ball
½ cup cooked rice, pasta or cereal = 1 tennis ball
1 ½ ounces natural or 2 oz. processed cheese = 2 small chocolate eggs

OK Everyone – Sing Along With Me….

…. To the Tune of The 12 Days of Christmas….

On an average day of work,
My open office shared with me:
Twelve chatters chatting,
Eleven eaters eating,
Ten texters texting,
Nine ladies laughing,
Eight copiers beeping,
Seven cell phones buzzing,
Six doors a-slammin’,
Five high heels clickin’,
Four friends IM-ing,
Three thoughtless comments,
Two chatterboxes,
And a boss with endless deadlines!

I found that cute little ditty online…. so I can’t take credit for it, but it was too cute not to share.

With all the madness an open office environment brings, work still has to be done, and deadlines still have to be met.  It’s hard to not get sucked in by all the distractions.

If office distractions and noise is a problem that’s affecting your productivity, try a shot of white noise (you thought I was going to say a shot of tequila, didn’t you?).

Check out this site and plug your earphones in to it.

LINK: http://www.speechprivacysystems.com/white-noise/

Proper Breathing While Jogging

At its most basic, jogging is aerobic exercise, so proper breathing is vital. If your muscles are not getting enough oxygen, nothing else is going to matter. Check out these helpful tips and videos on proper breathing while running. They include the obvious, deeper breathes from the diaphragm, to the not so obvious, three steps per inhale and two per exhale.

The Tulsa Million Mile Initiative

Are you familiar with the Tulsa Million Mile Initiative? This program was launched last October to encourage Tulsans to run, walk, swim and cycle their way to becoming a healthier community. As of today, the initiative has paid off because the goal of one million miles was reached for an official record of 1,006,930!

If you are interested in joining this wonderful cause, log on to TulsaMillionMiles.com where you can log your daily activity and the site also provides information about upcoming events, races, marathons, trail maps, nutrition tips, an iPhone application, and much more! 

Are you currently a part of this exciting program?

Wanting What You Have

Quote for the day:

“When you can’t have what you want, it’s time to start wanting what you have.”  Kathleen A. Sutton

Reading this quote today makes me wonder if in the midst of a weakened economy we are giving up on our hopes and dreams.

Do you believe it is better to keep striving for the things we really want in life, or in these times is it best to find contentment in what we have?

Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs

I know we all tend to plow through the sniffles and the occasional cough without seeing a doctor, but there are some symptoms too important to be ignored. Chest pains, paralysis, and depression are all among this list of six medical ailments that should not be ignored.

Do Hand Sanitizers Work against the Flu?

You bet! Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are tremendously effective in preventing the spread of the seasonal flu, H1N1, colds and other viral- and bacterial-based diseases.

We can’t rely solely on alcohol-based hand sanitizers to get the job done though. Alcohol can kill bacteria but not necessarily clean your hands. That is, it does not remove dirt, which includes organic material such as blood or feces. Hand washing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds to create a full lather and to reach all crevices of your hands and wrists must be the first choice in restrooms.

And remember that in order for an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to be effective,  they must contain at least 60 percent alcohol. Some cheaper brands contain less and are no better than water. Worse, they offer false protection.

Which method do you prefer to stay germ free? For more information, check out the article

Why Should You Use Paraben Free Lotions and Creams? Here’s why

When you buy skin care products, do you specifically look for paraben free lotions and creams? I asked this question to my friends and relatives, and their responses were pretty much the same. They all said no. In fact, most of them had no idea what parabens are and what they do. It really surprised me. Want to know why? Please read on.

Paraben free face care is what most skin experts talk about these days. The sad part is that useful discussions like this do not get enough attention from the mass media. As a result, an overwhelming number of people are still unaware of parabens and their dangers. What are parabens and what is so bad about them? Let me tell you.

More can be found here: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1196511_23.html

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