Living Well In Yalobusha County
By Pamela Redwine
The snow last week was nice. I was a little sad that my children didn’t get to stay home to enjoy it, but then when it was gone by 10:40 that morning, I was glad that they had gone on to school. The ice, on the other hand, I can do without! I definitely understand the safety precautions that were taken, but I will be playing catch-up the rest of the month trying to make-up all of the cancelled programs that I had.
The FCS 4-H Club will meet on Thursday, January 24 at 4 p.m. Youth ages 5 to 18 are invited to attend. Please call the Extension Office at 675-2730 to let us know your child will be attending.
Also, on Thursday, we will have a Lunch and Learn program titled “Let’s Eat Right.” Bring your lunch and join us at noon as we learn how to eat right this year.
The Healthy You Exercise Class continues to meet every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m. This is a great time of fun and fellowship as we workout together. If you have “been meaning” to join us, consider this your personal invitation. It is time to take charge and get healthy!
The United Y. C. MHV club will meet on Thursday, January 31 at 9 a.m. This is a very important meeting, as we have items that need to be voted on, and we need all members to attend.
The Renasant Bank Tours Program that was scheduled for Tuesday, January 15, has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 31, at 10 a.m. This program is sponsored by the United Y.C. MHV Club. This is a great opportunity to learn about the exciting trips that the bank will be offering for 2013. After the program snacks will be served. We hope you will join us.
You can keep up with the Extension Service by following us on Facebook at MSH-Yalobusha County Extension Service.
Healthy Weight Week – This week, January 20-26, is National Healthy Weight Awareness week. The reason is most likely as a result of so many New Year’s resolutions focusing on people wanting to lose weight. However, many people simply set resolutions to “lose weight” not to reach a “healthy weight”, and there is a big difference. To become healthier, you need to know why excess weight is so bad for our bodies, what a healthy weight range is, and steps to take in order to reach your healthy weight.
What exactly is the cost of excess weight? In actual dollar terms, in 1998 excess body weight and obesity accounted for about 10% of U.S. medical expenses according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that about one million dollars are spent annually on diet and weight loss products. In terms of overall health, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that excess weight and obesity contribute to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms of cancer. Additionally, excess weight negatively affects blood pressure and cholesterol and put increased strain on your joints. Mentally, obesity can lead to low self esteem because of feelings of rejection, social discrimination, unattractiveness, and guilt from a perceived lack of self control. All of these add up to a very high cost to carry excess weight.
Now that we’ve covered the reasons for reaching your healthy weight, we need to discover what a healthy weight is. One common method for determining your healthy weight range is to use a body mass index (BMI). The CDC website has a calculator to determine your BMI (www.cdc.gov). However, BMI does not take into account how much of your weight is muscle and how much is fat. Another tool is to use waist circumference. Measure just above your hip bones all the way around your waist, holding the tape measure firmly against your skin. For men, waist circumference should not exceed 40 inches and women, unless pregnant, should not exceed 35 inches.
We know now why excess fat is bad for us and what range we’re shooting for, but how do we get there? To lose weight, the basic equation is to eat less and move more. Eating less though doesn’t mean volume-wise but calorie-wise.
Begin by incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet. Substitute low fat dairy products for your usual full fat and choose leaner cuts of meat. Choose whole grains over refined carbohydrates whenever possible. Also remember that some foods, while high calorie, have significant health benefits. These include the healthy fats in avocadoes and nuts as well as the fiber in beans. On the flip side, remember that just because they’re healthy they don’t become calorie-free. Be sure to enjoy these foods in moderation. As you reduce your calorie intake, remember also to watch your sodium and sugar intake. Too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, and too much sugar will cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Finally, don’t forget to drink plenty of water every day to help support proper functioning of all your body’s systems.
Physical activity is also a key ingredient to reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. The government recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity workout, as stated on the CDC website. The best way to get this activity in is to find things you love doing. Take a walk with your husband, ride bikes with your kids, or swim laps at a local pool. If you love dancing, find a class and sign up. Cardio workouts don’t necessarily mean you have to hit a gym.
If you enjoy time on the treadmill, then go for it! If not though, you are more likely to stick with your workouts if you do what you love. To fit in even more workout time, follow simple steps to sneak in exercise. These include parking in the furthest spot when running errands, take grocery bags out of the car one at a time, walk to the mailbox instead of driving, and pace around the table while talking on your phone. You’ll be surprised at how many extra steps you can take in a day by making these small changes!
Article Adapted from: http://voices.yahoo.com/national-healthy-weight-awareness-month-reaching-your-5231061.html