Alpha 150

Sorry its been so long

2011-09-07T21:51:00.000-07:00

But hopefully I am back with helpful advice on losing weight, getting fit and staying healthy!

I am no longer a Army Aunt -- My nephew who the site was originally created for left the service a couple of years ago and is now a peace officer in northern mississippi
he and his wife are expecting their first child ---soooo I am kinda sorta gonna be a grandmah!

See you soon again --- I am BACK!

Why Are Southerners So Fat?

2009-07-09T17:34:00.000-07:00

From Time Magazine
By Claire Suddath
People from Mississippi are fat. With an adult obesity rate of 33%, Mississippi has gobbled its way to the "chubbiest state" crown for the fifth year in a row, according to a new joint report by Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Alabama, West Virginia and Tennessee aren't far behind, with obesity rates over 30%. In fact, eight of the 10 fattest states are in the South. The region famous for its biscuits, barbecue and pecan pies has been struggling with its weight for years — but then again, so has the rest of the country. Wisconsin loves cheese, New Yorkers scarf pizza, and New Englanders have been known to enjoy a crab cake or two. So why is the South so portly?
For one thing, it's poor. Mississippi is not only the fattest state in the nation, but also the poorest, with 21% of its residents living below the poverty line, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Alabama and West Virginia, the second and third fattest states, are tied for fifth poorest. With a poverty rate of 14%, the South is easily the most impoverished region in the country. "When you're poor, you tend to eat more calorie-dense foods because they're cheaper than fruits and vegetables," explains Jeff Levi, executive director of Trust for America. Poor neighborhoods also have fewer grocery stores, even in the rural South. A 2004 study by the University of South Carolina found that most food-shopping options in rural areas fall into the convenience-store category because grocery stores are located too far away. But although poverty puts people at risk for obesity, it doesn't determine their fate. A number of impoverished states — including Montana, Texas and New Mexico — have relatively low levels of obesity. There must be something else. (See the top 10 food trends of 2008.)
Maybe it's the culture. Southerners definitely enjoy their fried chicken (not to mention fried steak, fried onions, fried green tomatoes, fried pickles and fried corn bread). Even when their food isn't fried, they like to smother it in gravy. But while nutritionists frequently blame Southerners' large guts on their regional food choices, the accusation is a little unfair. Just as Californians don't actually live on wheat grass and tofu, Southerners don't really sit around eating fried chicken every day. "I've not come across anything that says the diet in the Southeast is worse than the rest of the country," says David Bassett, co-director of the University of Tennessee's Obesity Research Center. "We're definitely in what I like to call the 'Stroke Belt,' " he says, referring to Southeastern states' high percentage of heart disease and hypertension, "but I think that has more to do with Southerners' lack of physical activity rather than the food." (Read "A Brief History of Barbecue.")
Bassett isn't just talking about neglected gym memberships and people who sit on the couch all day. Physical activity can be something as simple as walking to the bus stop. That's another problem, by the way: the South doesn't have many bus stops. Public transportation is paltry, and for most people, the best way to get around is by car. "You don't really think of riding the train as exercise, but at least you have to walk a few blocks to get to the stop," says Bassett. States like Mississippi and Tennessee also have a surprising lack of sidewalks, discouraging even the most eager pedestrians. Many roads are narrower than those in the North — where streets have wider shoulders to accommodate winter snow — and people who want to bike or jog find themselves uncomfortably close to traffic.
But who wants to exercise when it's 100 degrees outside? The South is really hot and humid. Nobody in Mississippi goes running in the summer — at least, nobody sane. Bassett points out that Colorado, the state with the lowest obesity rate (18.9%), is relatively affluent and has a temperate climate and plenty of trails that lend themselves to outdoor activities. (See a special report on the science of appetite.)
So there you have it. Southerners have little access to healthy food and limited means with which to purchase it. It's hard for them to exercise outdoors, and even when they do have the opportunity, it's so hot, they don't want to. To combat this affliction, some Southern states have adopted programs to fight rising obesity. In 2003, Arkansas passed a school body mass index–screening program that assesses weight and sends the results home to parents. Tennessee encourages its schools to buy fresh ingredients from local growers. And in 2007, Mississippi adopted nutritional standards for school lunches. Most of these programs are relatively new, so it will be a few years before experts can determine their efficacy. "I think there's reason for optimism," says Barrett. "But it's likely that the Southeast will lag behind the rest of the country for some time to come."

Happy 4th A Little Late!

2009-07-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

2009-06-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

2009-06-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

It's The Climb by Miley Cyrus

2009-06-14T17:04:00.000-07:00

I can almost see it

That dream I am dreaming

But there's a voice inside my head saying

"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking

Every move I make feels

Lost with no direction

My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying

Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be a uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing

The chances I'm taking

Sometimes might knock me down

But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it

But these are the moments that

I'm gonna remember most, yeah

Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong

Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be a uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing

Keep the faith, baby

It's all about, it's all about the climb

Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

Perfect People by Natalie Grant

2009-06-12T17:55:00.000-07:00

Never let him see you when your breaking
Never let him see you when you fall
Thats How We Live
And Thats How We Try
Tell The world you've got it all together
You never let him see whats underneath
We cover it upwith the crooked smile
But it only lasts for a little while
(chorus)
There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Lift up your heart and be amazed, and be changedby a perfect God
Yeaaa
Suddenly its like a weight is lifted
When you hear the words that you are loved
He knows where you are
And were you've been
And you never have to go there again
(chorus)
Who lived, and died, to give you life
To heal our inperfections
So look up, and see love, and let grace be enough
There's no such thing as perfect people
YEAAA
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Lift up your heart and be amazed and be changed
By a perfect God
By a perfect God
By a perfect God
Yyeaaa
By a perfect God
Be changed by a perfect God
Be changed

3 Life Lessons From The Biggest Loser

2009-05-20T22:09:00.000-07:00

By Jillian Michaels
Glamour
It's no secret that I have my issues with reality TV. I hate the "Biggest Loser" eliminations. I loathe all the contrived story beats of temptations and challenges. The creative editing makes me utterly bananas and yet here I am, still on "Loser" going into a double season of 8 and 9!
Why? Because the goodness of the show always prevails. Because there are some lessons I have learned while working with my "Biggest Loser" contestants that I think are powerful enough to change the world. Here are some for you to ponder ...
1. Nothing Is Impossible
Let's face it: If I can take a person that is 400 pounds and get them into run-a-marathon shape in four months, we as human beings are capable of just about anything.
2. You Should Never Ask "Why Me"-Instead, Ask "Why NOT Me?"
Society—and sometimes even our own friends and family members—says you are arrogant and selfish if you want to be anything beyond the norm. Strive to become healthier or richer or more successful than average and it becomes a "Who do you think you are?" scenario. That is such a crock.
On "Biggest Loser," my contestants learn to stop asking "Why me?" and ask this question: "Why not me?" Why not me get gorgeous, healthy and famous? Why not me fall in love? Why not me have the career of my dreams? And here is the best part: by putting themselves first for once, they change their lives, achieve their goals and inspire a nation. So, the next time you feel less-than or undeserving of making a healthy change, ask yourself that question: Why not you?
3. You Must Choose To Be Happy
Life will not always be easy. You won't always be happy. Things will go wrong that are unfair and totally out of your control, but ... you have a choice. You can choose to become a victim of these unfortunate events or you can choose to learn from them and grow.
A lot of the contestants on "Biggest Loser" have had very sad lives—some filled with tragedy, all filled with physical hardship. But the ones who succeed do so because they come to find a meaning and purpose in their struggles that propels them towards a beautiful rich fulfilling future.

Girls Rule And Boys Drool!!!!!

2009-05-16T21:25:00.000-07:00

RACHEL ALEXANDRA WINS PREAKNESS ---

FIRST FILLY SINCE 1924!

YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In Memory & Honor Of Our Thin Blue Line!

2009-05-15T04:23:00.000-07:00

In memory of all those who died serving and protecting our communities!

In memory of my Grandfather

John Pat Malone Sr.

VOTE LEYENS FOR MAYOR JUNE 2nd!!!!!!

2009-05-11T21:17:00.001-07:00

Eight years ago Vicksburg was dying economically...

Today in a floundering world economy --- Vicksburg's economy continues to grow!

While the world is headed for a recession we are far from one here in our little part of the world!

Proven Progressive Government and a Mayor who is not afraid to set goals and head toward them.... Our future is his future!

Vote Leyens Mayor June 2nd

For more information contact:

leyensformayor@gmail.com

Or visit or facebook page to sign up:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=93443741893&ref=nf

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-08T20:46:00.000-07:00

The joys of motherhood are never fully experienced until the children
are in bed.

- Author Unknown

RIP FRANK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-05-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

Whether you loved the man or hated the man; Frank was a one of a kind personality which the people of Mississippi will never ever forget!

Let Us Pray

2009-05-06T20:31:00.000-07:00

National Day Of Prayer Is Tomorrow; May 07, 2009

Attend if possible; if not possible take a few minutes to find a quiet place and whisper a prayer for our country, our leaders, our families and friends!

Never forget to give thanks for all things and remember that through God all things are possible!

PUT THE HYDROXYCUT DOWN AND BACK AWAY SLOWLY!!!!!!

2009-05-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

Stop using Hydroxycut products, FDA says

Story Highlights
FDA recalls Hydroxycut products after 23 liver injuries and one death
Hydroxycut products used as popular dietary supplement for weight loss
Damage from product: liver failure, jaundice, seizures, cardiovascular problems

By Saundra YoungCNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Hydroxycut products, popular dietary supplements used for weight loss, have been linked to liver damage and are being recalled, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.
The FDA said it has received 23 reports of serious liver injuries linked to Hydroxycut products, which are also used as energy enhancers and as fat burners.
The reports include the 2007 death of a 19-year-old man living in the Southwest, which was reported to the FDA in March. Other serious liver problems reported included liver damage that resulted in a transplant in 2002, liver failure, jaundice, seizures and cardiovascular problems.
The FDA is warning consumers to immediately stop using 14 Hydroxycut products manufactured by Iovate Health Sciences Inc. of Oakville, Ontario, and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, New York.
The company is voluntarily recalling the following products: Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets, Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets, Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets, Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets, Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets, Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets, Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix), Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets, Hydroxycut Liquid Shots, Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink), Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed, Hydroxycut 24, Hydroxycut Carb Control and Hydroxycut Natural. Watch more on the FDA's concern »
According to the FDA, last year, Iovate sold more than 9 million units of Hydroxycut products, which were distributed widely to grocery stores, health food stores and pharmacies.
"The FDA urges consumers to discontinue use of Hydroxycut products in order to avoid any undue risks. Adverse events are rare, but exist. Consumers should consult a physician or other health care professional if they experience symptoms possibly associated with these products," said Dr. Linda Katz, interim chief medical officer of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
Liver damage is rare, but patients who experienced problems were taking doses recommended on the product label, the FDA said. Symptoms include brown urine, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, stomach pain, itching and light-colored stools.
The FDA has not determined what specific ingredients are responsible for the problems, because the products contain a variety of overlapping ingredients and herbal extracts.
Dietary supplements sold before October 1994 are not required to undergo any FDA review before going to market. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 required manufacturers to ensure a supplement to be safe before marketing. But manufacturers still don't need to register a product with the FDA or get approval before selling a supplement.
The agency can take action against an unsafe supplement once it's on the market. Since December 2007, any serious adverse event reported to the manufacturer must now be reported to the FDA within 15 days.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition, the leading trade association representing the dietary supplement industry, said that both the FDA and Iovate "took appropriate action today."
"We commend FDA for warning consumers of a potential safety problem associated with these products, and were encouraged to see that the company -- Iovate Health Sciences -- agreed to recall the products from the market until further determinations can be made," said Steve Mister, the council's president and CEO.

WASH YOUR HANDS HONEY CHILD!

2009-04-30T21:10:00.000-07:00

The best defense against the swine flu!

Hand washing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cover your mouth with your elbow when you sneeze or cough

Avoid sick people

If you are sick do not go to work or school

Do not return to school or work until you are fever free for 48 hours

Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone by Chris Tomlin

2009-04-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

Amazing grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now

I'm found

Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

My chains are gone

I've been set free

My God, my Savior has ransomed me

And like a flood

His mercy reigns

Unending love, amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me

His word my hope secures

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow

The sun forbear to shine

But God, who called me here below

Will be forever mine Will be forever mine

Sorry This Is Late --- Was Spring Breakin In Orlando Last Week!

2009-04-17T19:25:00.000-07:00

Lord you have given

Each of your children

A hope and a destiny

You gave us life

The day you died

And set our spirit’s free

With each new day

That comes along

We live to honour You!

Losing Weight Is As Easy As 123.....

2009-03-20T22:01:00.000-07:00

10 Tips to Lose Weight for Good
By Dr. Mark Liponis, PARADE Magazine
PARADE

Forget all the complicated eating plans or one-size-fits-all diets. These simple rules are the key to a lifetime of healthy eating:

1. Know how many calories you need to eat each day.
2. Eat 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day.
Letting yourself get too hungry causes a drop in blood sugar and can lead to bingeing. Keep snacks to approximately 200 calories each and make sure they combine protein, carbs and healthy fats.
3. Consume 5 or 6 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
There is no replacement for these nutritional powerhouses, filled with fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. (Dark-colored fruits and vegetables are best.)
4. Become a label-reader.
Eliminate trans fats and saturated fats. Aim for a diet of 40% carbohydrates (whole grains and fruit), 30% lean protein (chicken breasts and turkey) and 30% healthy fats such as olive oil.
5. Choose healthy carbs.
Switch to whole grains—wheat bread, brown rice, fruits and vegetables, for example. Eliminate refined carbs such as sugar and white flour. Limit alcohol consumption, which is fairly high in calories.
6. Practice portion control.
A serving of protein should be about the size of your palm, and a serving of carbs is no larger than a fist.
7. Eliminate sugary drinks and fruit juices.
Switch to diet sodas and water. Aim for 8 glasses of water a day.
8. Eat fish three times a week.
Deep-water fish that contains omega-3s will protect your heart from disease. Look for wild salmon, mackerel and sardines. You also can get omega-3s from fortified eggs.
9. Carry healthy snacks with you.
Fill small bags with almonds or walnuts, or keep a low-fat yogurt handy to stave off candy and cookie temptation. Other good choices: apple slices with a spoonful of peanut butter or low-fat string cheese.
10. Allow yourself a treat.
It’s natural to splurge now and then, just don’t use it as an excuse to binge.
Get Fit Kit
You don’t have to buy expensive equipment or join a fancy gym. Start simply with...
A pedometer: Track the number of steps you take each day. Less than 4,000 steps is sedentary. Optimum goal: 10,000. Aim for 500-step increments, easily achievable if you park your car farther away or use the stairs.
A pair of sneakers: Look for sneakers with firm support at the heel, cushioning to absorb shock and enough room to wiggle your toes.
Comfortable clothes: If exercising outdoors, dress warmly, including hats and gloves; indoors, look for moisture-wicking fabrics.
Light hand weights: Women, try two gradations: 3 and 5 pounds; for men, 5 and 8 pounds.
Get Inspired!
Here’s some advice from the three athletes on our expert panel.
“A good workout can be relaxing—and we all need to break a sweat every now and then,” says Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James, the youngest player ever to win NBA Rookie of the Year.
“Exercise has to be a central part of your life,” says Misty May-Treanor, gold medalist for beach volleyball in the 2004 Olympics. “Eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle help create a foundation for success.”
“You gain self-confidence and strength to face life’s challenges when you choose to be active,” says Kerri Walsh, also winner of a gold medal for beach volleyball in the 2004 Games

An Easy Way to Cut 220 Calories.....

2009-03-19T21:25:00.000-07:00

From www.Realage.com

Removing 220 calories from your day could make a big difference to your waistline, right?

So here's the simple way to make it happen: Set your DVR to record your favorite late-night shows. Then, hit the hay. In a study, people who stayed up late -- and got less sleep as a result -- munched down 220 more daily calories than the hit-the-sack-early crowd.

Nocturnal Noshing

The people in the study with later bedtimes averaged about 5.5 hours of sleep per night. The folks who crashed earlier slept about 8.5 hours. Although the sleep-deprived did not eat bigger meals, they did snack more than the well-rested group -- and usually on high-carb foods eaten late in the evening.

Sleep/Eat Connection:

Researchers suspect the night owls ate more not just because they had more opportunity but also because sleep loss may affect reward-motivation brain neurons in a way that leads to more snacking

Iraq America's Longest War

2009-03-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

6 years later, progress and doubts are legacy of Iraq war

Story Highlights
U.S.-led invasion of Iraq began on March 19, 2003
Six years later, fledgling democracy taking hold, security situation improving
But U.S. lost more than 4,000 troops; at least 128,000 Iraqis have died
Polls show many Americans more focused on economy than lingering Iraq war

(CNN) -- Six years ago Thursday, then-President George W. Bush appeared on television screens across America and somberly addressed the nation.
"My fellow citizens," he began his four-minute speech, "at this hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people, and to defend the world from grave danger."
Six years later, the conflict in Iraq drags on -- with war-fatigued Americans shoving the military operation to the deep recesses of their psyches as they grapple with an economic crisis at home.
Only 10 percent of voters questioned in exit polls during the November presidential elections picked the war as their top issue. Sixty-two percent said the economy was.
"This is already one of the longest wars in American history. There's nothing new in Iraq," said Steven Roberts, a professor of media studies at the George Washington University. "We've read the stories of instability in the government a hundred times. Every single possible story has been told, and so there is enormous fatigue about Iraq."
Against that backdrop, the United States has accomplished much of what it set out to do when it invaded Iraq on March 19, 2003.
Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was deposed, captured, tried and hanged for a brutal and deadly crackdown against his opponents during his regime.
The rate of U.S. troop deaths has slowed.
A surge of 30,000 additional troops in 2007 is credited for security gains the country has made. And a fledgling democracy is taking hold, as President Obama announced that all U.S troops will be withdrawn by the end of 2011.
But America has had to pay a steep price -- literally and figuratively -- to achieve its aims, analysts say.
Taking into account operations for fiscal 2010, the conflict has racked up an $800 billion price tag since it began, the Congressional Budget Office said.
By Wednesday, 4,261 Americans had been killed in the war, according to CNN's tally. The Iraqi casualty count, while harder to ascertain because of the lack of formal record-keeping, has reached at least 128,000, by CNN's tally.
And leaked images of prisoner abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison and America's programs of detention and torture have tarred the United States' image internationally.
"From the first step until now, they destroyed our country," said Sheikh Moffaq Qaraghuli, a Baghdad resident. "Smashed. Not destroyed. Smashed."
As the battles rage on, researchers are still trying to gauge the damage the war has done to troops.
"I still have the nightmares and wake up and find myself downstairs and I don't know how I got there," said Chris Tucker, who did three tours of duty in Iraq. "Faces. Kids' faces. People that you have engaged or you have had contact with. ... You see your colleagues blown up. Things like that."
"I thought we would get there quick and handle our business and we'd be out," he said. "At least that's what we were told anyway."
Tucker received a medical discharge from the army last year and is now a police officer in Savannah, Georgia.
Many in Iraq also are trying to move on, amid the constant fear of suicide attacks in their ruined cities.
The Shahbander cafe, one of Baghdad's oldest, is a favorite haunt of the city's intellectuals. Inside, photographs of five young men hang on the wall. All were sons of the cafe owner, Mohammed al-Khishali -- killed in a car bombing that ripped apart the cafe in 2007.
A month later, al-Khishali lost his grief-stricken wife. For almost two years, he could not bear to reopen the cafe, he said.
"I remember the tragedies every day," he said, as his eyes welled with tears. "But then I decided to take a hard decision to reopen this cafe for the sake of my people, my culture."
Many of the customers who gather there are critical of the U.S. invasion but are equally concerned about a potential withdrawal.
"Iran has ambitions toward Iraq," said Amer Naji, a cafe regular and a former Iraqi diplomat. "With the Americans, they are afraid to do something aggressive against Iraq. But ... when you withdraw, that will be very dangerous."
Iraq and Iran fought a war in the 1980s that spanned eight years and killed at least a half-million people, by some estimates. The U.S. and Iraqi governments think Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard has been training militias and providing weapons, such as roadside bombs, to insurgents operating in Iraq.
So, though many Iraqis agree that 2009 is better than 2008, they worry about 2011 when the United States pulls out.
"We are hopeless," Qaraghuli said. "We are hopeless."

Casualities Thus Far:

There have been 4,578 coalition deaths -- 4,261 Americans, two Australians, one Azerbaijani, 179 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, one Czech, seven Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, five Georgians, one Hungarian, 33 Italians, one Kazakh, one Korean, three Latvians, 22 Poles, three Romanians, five Salvadoran, four Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the war in Iraq as of March 19, 2009, according to a CNN count. The list below is the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors and Coast Guardsmen whose deaths have been reported by their country's governments. The list also includes seven employees of the U.S. Defense Department. At least 31,131 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. View casualties in the war in Afghanistan and examine U.S. war casualties dating back to the Revolutionary War.

Lean Not On Your Own Understanding! Trust God In ALL Things And He Will Deliver You!

2009-03-18T06:54:00.001-07:00

God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. --Ephesians 2:8, NLT

I know that God gave me the path to follow, the willpower; which was always lacking before, and the strength to carry on on this life changing journey --- all credit goes to my Father ---- none to me for I am only a weak human with human faults and failings! Thanks be to God for all things for He is good ALL the time!

Fix Your Worst Diet Habits

2009-03-17T13:49:00.000-07:00

By Joy Bauer

When it comes to food, the wrong habits can be disastrous. Here's how to help yourself eat better and have more energy.

Bad habit: Skipping meals
Letting yourself get too hungry is one of the worst things you can do if you're trying to lose weight. When you finally do eat, you're likely to gobble down too much. It's also much harder to make good choices if you're ravenous.
Fix it: Eat breakfast and then refuel every four to five hours. If you rarely stop once your day begins, plan what you'll eat. Consider easy options like microwaveable healthy meals, low-fat cottage cheese and fruit, or a high-fiber nutrition bar and a container of nonfat Greek yogurt. The healthy carbs and lean protein will provide long-lasting energy.
Bad habit: Eating out all the time
Restaurants are a caloric minefield. Portion sizes can be huge, and chefs often have a heavy hand with salt, fat, and sugar.
Fix it: If you can't cook at home, limit the damage. Avoid alcohol, which contains empty calories and loosens inhibitions, making it tougher to order wisely. Stick with water or have a glass of wine or a light beer if you really want a drink. Tell the waiter not to bring the bread basket, and order a salad instead. This will help curb your appetite. Ask for olive oil and vinegar on the side and go light on the oil. (another option for salad topping is a lemon wedge squeezed over it) Next, pick a lean protein entrée, such as fish or chicken, and choose preparation methods that use little fat, such as poaching, grilling, or broiling.
Bad habit: Using food as comfort
Most people who struggle with their weight use food to help them deal with negative emotions or stress. When the food is all gone, the problem is still there, and it's been compounded by guilt over having eaten too much.
Fix it: Try labeling your feelings ("I'm sad, not hungry"), and remind yourself that eating won't solve things. Visualize how you'll feel after eating, and ask yourself if it's worth it. Then choose an alternative activity, such as calling a friend, taking a walk, or reading. Over time, these activities, not food, will be the first things you think of when you need a pick-me-up.
Bad habit: Eating when you're not hungry
Snacking even though you are full makes the pounds add up.
Fix it: The next time you're about to pop something into your mouth, assess your hunger level. If you're not truly hungry, don't eat. If you're a little peckish, allow yourself to get a bit hungrier. When you do sit down to eat, adhere to the Japanese saying hara hachi bu, which means "eat until you are 80 percent full." Chances are that in 15 to 20 minutes, you'll be perfectly satisfied.

Simple Way To Lower Stress --- Try It Today --- It's FREE!!!!!

2009-03-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

Stressed Out? Snuggle Up!
In today's times, we're all feeling a little more stressed than normal. Can relief be no further away than a good hug? Find out!
By Elena Rover

From the hallowed halls of science comes another excuse to get close: New research shows that hugs and kisses slash stress. Loving touches — and the resulting gush of good feelings — can cut the level of stress hormones coursing through your body by 7 percent, according to a recent study in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. Anything from sex to holding hands can do the trick. You get calmer every minute you’re in contact. So go ahead: pop in a movie and spend the evening snuggling on the couch. You’ll be healthier for it. The stress-snuggle connection was put to the test by Beate Ditzen, Ph.D., a psychologist at the University of Zurich in Switzerland who studied 51 couples for a week, asking them to record their activities and take saliva samples every three hours. The samples were analyzed for levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The results: "Intimacy reduced cortisol levels by improving mood," says Dr. Ditzen.

A Daily Dose:

Every minute spent hugging, kissing, holding hands or having sex translated into a small decrease in stress. Every touch had the same power to soothe. In other words, the 20th hug or kiss worked just as well as the first, and 20 hugs generated 20 times as much stress relief as a single snuggle. Unfortunately, you can’t bank the benefits. Extra physical intimacy today won’t reduce your stress levels later this week. You’ve got to be "in touch" every day. The benefits of loving touch do stick beyond the front door, however. Work-related stress doesn’t stand a chance if you’ve gotten a good dose of closeness, the researchers learned. Sure, a hug can erase the tension of a tough day on the job. But more than that, intimacy actually protects you from feeling work stress at all, whether you have a crummy office, bad manager, long hours, deadline pressure, interruptions or other job woes. So if the day looks like it has challenges ahead, make a date for a little kissing before or after work, or maybe even sneak some in at lunch.

Happily Ever After:

The de-stressing effects of sex and snuggles may explain why happily married couples live longer and healthier lives. Studies have already proven that loving touch can reduce blood pressure and have other health benefits. Scientists have a number of theories about why intimacy is relaxing. For example, a hug can bring on a gush of the love hormone oxytocin, which floods the body and feels great. Angry hugs don’t work, which might explain why unhappily married couples don’t live any longer than singles. Negative emotions seem to ruin the health benefits and de-stressing effect. So if you want to live happily ever after (and make it last), hold out for someone who makes you feel great.

Try This at Home:

If you don’t have a mate handy for hugs, try getting the benefits from friends and family. While the couples in this study were all dual-income with kids, the researchers did not evaluate whether hugs and kisses from children, parents, friends or others might be just as good at scaring off stress. Other studies have linked friendship with good health, longevity and less stress. And Dr. Ditzen agrees that snuggling up to anyone who feels yummy might reduce stress levels.

2009-03-16T22:10:00.000-07:00

For each petal on the shamrock.

This brings a wish your way

Good health, good luck, and happiness

For today and every day.

Five Ways To Boost Your Metabolism from CookingLight.com

2009-03-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

By Scott Westcott
"Metabolism" is the name of the bodily system that converts food calories to energy needed to perform various tasks, like pumping oxygen to muscles during a long walk. Many variables contribute to your metabolism, including heredity, gender and age. But you can quicken yours; here's how.
Exercise more. When you walk, run, or lift weights, you increase the energy required of your body, which raises your metabolism then, and for hours afterward.
"It's not a huge spike, but it makes a difference," says Gary Miller, PhD, associate professor of health and exercise science at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Work out with weights. During weight training, muscle tissue is stressed; afterward, it's repaired -- which raises metabolism.
A woman who strength trains three times a week for six months can build enough muscle to burn 10 to 32 extra calories a day, according to Robert Wolfe, PhD, professor of geriatrics at the University of Arkansas. CookingLight.com: Ultimate move finder
Practice portion control. This helps ensure you don't overload your metabolism with a surplus of unusable energy (that is, food).
Use a food scale or measuring cups to identify proper portions. Or use your hand as a guide. A fist equals a serving of fruit, a cupped hand equals a serving of cereal or grains, two cupped handfuls equal a serving of leafy green vegetables and an open palm equals a serving of meat. CookingLight.com: Exceptional recipes
Eat smaller meals more often. Some experts recommend eating smaller meals throughout the day, known as grazing. "Grazing helps normalize blood sugar levels rather than producing three large spikes, which is what happens eating three meals a day," says Nick Flynn, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.
Determine the amount of calories you need at Mypyramid.gov. Then keep that number in mind as you transition from eating three ordinary-sized meals to five smaller ones. CookingLight.com: We compare similar foods so you can decide which to eat
Laugh it off. When researchers from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, put people into a "metabolic chamber" (a small room that measures heat output in order to calculate a person's metabolic rate) and showed them funny videos, the subjects' metabolic rates rose by 10 to 40 calories. It's a small increase, but every calorie counts for those seeking weight loss, says lead researcher Maciej Buchowksi, PhD.

MSU Bulldog 2009 SEC Champs!

2009-03-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

I've paid my dues -

Time after time -

I've done my sentence

But committed no crime -

And bad mistakes I've made a few I've had my share of sand kicked in my face -

But I've come through

We are the champions - my friends And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -

We are the champions -

We are the champions

No time for losers

'Cause we are the champions - of the world -

I've taken my bows And my curtain calls -

You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it -

I thank you all -

But it's been no bed of roses

No pleasure cruise -

I consider it a challenge before the whole human race -

And I ain't gonna lose -

We are the champions - my friends

And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -

We are the champions -

We are the champions

No time for losers

'Cause we are the champions - of the world -

WAY TO GO DAWGS

Who Am I.....

2009-03-01T19:55:00.000-08:00

Who Do You Say That I Am?

By Tracye WM Prewitt

Who do you say that I am? Profit, Rabbi, magician, teacher?

I say you are the Lord my God, maker of heaven and of earth; the son of man and the son of God---- you are my father and my brother. You are my salvation and you are my best friend.

You lived on earth a long time ago as a man but now your spirit stands beside me every day. You sit at the right hand of our father in heaven and intercede for your little sister when she fails at life and this thing we call Christianity. You never give up on me or tell him I am hopeless no matter how many times a day I stumble and fall short. Thanks for that Big Brother!

You are my comfort and my strength; I could not go through the hard things, do the hard things like make hard decisions, face dark scary things that life brings my way. I could not face these on a daily basis if you were not at my side; holding my hand saying in my heart “Do not be afraid I am here!” You are my light shining through the darkness. I feel your arm around my shoulder when things get difficult and I know that I can carry on somehow because you are there!

So that is who you are to me: Lord, Savior, Father, Brother, Security Blanket, my strength, hope, comfort, and you are my best friend!

Finally Validation For It's The Calories Stupid!

2009-02-25T19:37:00.001-08:00

MSNBC.com

Forget low-fat — calories count more in dieting
Key to weight loss really is limiting and burning off calories, researcher says

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - Low-fat, low-carb or high-protein? The kind of diet doesn’t matter, scientists say. All that really counts is cutting calories and sticking with it, according to a federal study that followed people for two years.
However, participants had trouble staying with a single approach that long and the weight loss was modest for most.
As the world grapples with rising obesity, millions have turned to popular diets like Atkins, Zone and Ornish that tout the benefits of one nutrient over another.
Some previous studies have found that low carbohydrate diets like Atkins work better than a traditional low-fat diet. But the new research found that the key to losing weight boiled down to a basic rule — calories in, calories out.
“The hidden secret is it doesn’t matter if you focus on low-fat or low-carb,” said Dr. Elizabeth Nabel, director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which funded the research.
Limiting the calories you consume and burning off more calories with exercise is key, she said.
The study, which appears in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine, was led by Harvard School of Public Health and Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana.
Slashing caloriesResearchers randomly assigned 811 overweight adults to one of four diets, each of which contained different levels of fat, protein and carbohydrates.
Though the diets were twists on commercial plans, the study did not directly compare popular diets. The four diets contained healthy fats, were high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables and were low in cholesterol.
Nearly two-thirds of the participants were women. Each dieter was encouraged to slash 750 calories a day from their diet, exercise 90 minutes a week, keep an online food diary and meet regularly with diet counselors to chart their progress.
There was no winner among the different diets; reduction in weight and waist size were similar in all groups.
People lost 13 pounds on average at six months, but all groups saw their weight creep back up after a year. At two years, the average weight loss was about 9 pounds while waistlines shrank an average of 2 inches. Only 15 percent of dieters achieved a weight-loss reduction of 10 percent or more of their starting weight.
Dieters who got regular counseling saw better results. Those who attended most meetings shed more pounds than those who did not — 22 pounds compared with the average 9 pound loss.
Lead researcher Dr. Frank Sacks of Harvard said a restricted calorie diet gives people greater food choices, making the diet less monotonous.
“They just need to focus on how much they’re eating,” he said.
Sacks said the trick is finding a healthy diet that is tasty and that people will stick with over time.
‘I just needed more structure’Before Debbie Mayer, 52, enrolled in the study, she was a “stress eater” who would snack all day and had no sense of portion control. Mayer used to run marathons in her 30s, but health problems prevented her from doing much exercise in recent years.
Mayer tinkered with different diets — Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach — with little success.
“I’ve been battling my weight all my life. I just needed more structure,” said Mayer, of Brockton, Mass., who works with the elderly.
Mayer was assigned to a low-fat, high-protein diet with 1,400 calories a day. She started measuring her food and went back to the gym. The 5-foot Mayer started at 179 pounds and dropped 50 pounds to 129 pounds by the end of the study. She now weighs 132 and wants to shed a few more pounds.
Another study volunteer, Rudy Termini, a 69-year-old retiree from Cambridge, Mass., credits keeping a food diary for his 22-pound success. Termini said before participating in the study he would wolf down 2,500 calories a day. But sticking to an 1,800-calorie high-fat, average protein diet meant no longer eating an entire T-bone steak for dinner. Instead, he now eats only a 4-ounce steak.
“I was just oblivious to how many calories I was having,” said the 5-foot-11-inch Termini, who dropped from 195 to 173 pounds. “I really used to just eat everything and anything in sight.”
Dr. David Katz of the Yale Prevention Research Center and author of several weight control books, said the results should not be viewed as an endorsement of fad diets that promote one nutrient over another.
The study compared high quality, heart healthy diets and “not the gimmicky popular versions,” said Katz, who had no role in the study. Some popular low-carb diets tend to be low in fiber and have a relatively high intake of saturated fat, he said.
Other experts were bothered that the dieters couldn’t keep the weight off even with close monitoring and a support system.
“Even these highly motivated, intelligent participants who were coached by expert professionals could not achieve the weight losses needed to reverse the obesity epidemic,” Martijn Katan of Amsterdam’s Free University wrote in an accompanying editorial.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29393995/
MSN Privacy . Legal© 2009 MSNBC.com

Happy Mardi Gras Ya'll

2009-02-24T20:22:00.000-08:00

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!

Let the good times roll!

Have you had your pancakes or king cake today????

We have!

Enjoy the day --- LENT starts tomorrow!

So what are you giving up?

I am giving up caffeine.....

He's My Dad (improvised from He's My Son by Mark Schultz)

2009-02-23T21:07:00.000-08:00

I'm down on my knees again tonight
I'm hoping this prayer will turn out right
See there is a man that needs
Your help
I've done all that I can do myself
His wife is tired
I'm sure You can understand
Each night as he sleeps
She goes in to hold his hand
And she tries not to cry
As the tears fill her eyes

CHORUS:
Can You hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can You make him feel all right?
If You can hear me
Let me take his place somehow
See, he's not just anyone He's my Dad

Sometimes late at night
I watch him sleep
I dream of the man he used to be
I try to be strong and see him through
But God who he needs right now is You
Let him grow old
Live life without this fear
What would I be living without him here
He's so tired and he's scared
Let him know that You're there

CHORUS:
Can You hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can You make him feel all right?
If You can hear me Let me take his place somehow
See, he's not just anyone He's my Dad

Can You hear me?
Can You see him?
Please don't leave him
He's my Dad

Something To Think About

2009-02-17T21:02:00.000-08:00

Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live.

Jim Rohn

This Is Why Your Fat --- From Time Magazine!

2009-02-16T17:47:00.000-08:00

http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/

Americans are tired of being called obese, tired of the stock footage on the local news channel of headless people with unsightly bulges and tummy rolls (wait, was that me?). We get it. We eat too much crap. Maybe they should start showing exactly how bad that crap is on the news, then it might make a difference. That's where "This is why you're fat" comes in. Warning: Don't eat before, during or after you've seen this blog.

At its subtlest, the food featured on the site — gathered from various submissions or happened-upon sickening recipes — can be as gentle a dietary poke as a two-foot tower of oreo creams in between two pieces of oreo cookie. It's like a chocolatey metaphor for America being way-beyond double-stuffed. But before you're even ready to take in the atrocities of 7 lb. breakfast burritos and the jawdropping Turbaconucken (yes, a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey, all wrapped in bacon), you're exposed. And it will haunt you. As will the deep-fried candy bars, the over-representation of bacon and a ship made entirely of meat that might actually be all the world's heart attacks collected in a bowl. If you're inspired, post your own "nasty goodness," otherwise, drop the cheesecake on a stick and have some broccoli.

Faith, Hope, And Love But The Greatest Of These Is LOVE!

2009-02-13T21:39:00.000-08:00

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.....

1 Corinthians 13; 4-8

My Soldier In Iraq

2009-02-10T19:04:00.000-08:00

Sgt Jonathan Prewitt

Be Bold Be Strong For The Lord Your God Is With You!

Francesca Battistelli - Free To Be Me

2009-02-08T20:06:00.000-08:00

At twenty years of age

I'm still looking for a dream

A war is already waged for my destiny

But You've already won the battle

And You've got great plans for me

Though I can't always see

(Chorus)

I got a couple dents in my fender

Got a couple rips in my jeans

Try to put the pieces together

But perfection is my enemy

And on my own I'm so clumsy

But on Your shoulders

I can see I'm free to be me

When I was just a girl

I thought I had it figured out

See my life will turn out right

And I'll make it here somehow

But things don't always come that easy

And sometimes I would doubt, 'cause...

(Chorus)

Sometimes I believe

That I can do anything

Yet other times I think I've got nothing good to bring

But You look at my heart and tell me

That I've got all You seek

And it's easy to believe, even though...

(Chorus)

Undo by Rush Of Fools

2009-02-06T23:28:00.000-08:00

I've been here before, now here

I am again

Standing at the door, praying

You'll let me back in

To label me a prodigal would be

Only scratching the surface of who

I've been known to be

[Chorus]

Turn me around pick me up

Undo what I've become

Bring me back to the place

Of forgiveness and grace

I need You, need Your help

I can't do this myself

You're the only one who can undo

What I've become

I focused on the score, but

I could never win

Trying to ignore, a life of hiding my sin

To label me a hypocrite would be

Only scratching the surface of who

I've been known to be

[Chorus]

Turn me around pick me up

Undo what I've become

Bring me back to the place

Of forgiveness and grace

I need You, need Your help

I can't do this myself

You're the only one who can undo

What I've become

Make every step lead me back to

The sovereign way that You

[Chorus]

Turn me around pick me up

Undo what I've become

Bring me back to the place

Of forgiveness and grace

I need You, need Your help

I can't do this myself

You're the only one who can undo

What I've become

Guess What Guys......

2009-01-25T17:08:00.000-08:00

But you can get Osteoporosis too! YES YOU CAN! As well as Breast Cancer and other "girly" diseases. But since this blog at the moment is dedicated to Osteo and its causes and treatments lets delve into the fact that men too can get Osteo.

Though women are four times more likely to acquire it, about 5 million men in this country have osteoporosis, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. A disorder in which bones become weakened, osteoporosis is sometimes called the "silent disease" because it has no symptoms. It often manifests itself in fractures of the hip, wrist, spine, and other bones. Among both sexes, it is responsible for 1.5 million fractures a year. Scientists are still piecing together just how osteoporosis develops, but it is well known that a key factor is deficiency of the mineral calcium.

Osteoporosis is seen less often in men than in women for several reasons. Men generally have greater bone mass than women, and in males, bone loss begins later and advances more slowly. But men do have a hormonal drop-off in testosterone similar to women's reduction of estrogen after menopause. Testosterone levels may naturally become lower as a man ages.

Factors that raise the risk of osteoporosis include:

*Cigarette smoking
*Excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption
*Lack of exercise
*A diet low in calcium
*Poor nutrition and poor general health.
*Malabsorption (nutrients are not properly absorbed from the gastrointestinal system) from conditions such as Celiac Sprue
*Chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and chronic hepatitis C, an infection of the liver
*Immobility, such as after a stroke, or from any condition that interferes with walking
Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. When vitamin D is lacking, the body cannot absorb adequate amounts of calcium to prevent osteoporosis. Vitamin D deficiency can result from lack of intestinal absorption of the vitamin such as occurs in celiac sprue and primary biliary cirrhosis.
*Certain medications can cause osteoporosis. These include heparin (a blood thinner), anti-seizure medications phenytoin (Dilantin) and phenobarbital, and long term use of corticosteroids (such as Prednisone).

Why Do Bones Break Down? And The Results Of Bone Break Down!

2009-01-20T20:22:00.000-08:00

Although bones may seem like hard and lifeless structures, bones are living tissues that are like muscle. Bones respond to exercise and a healthy diet by becoming stronger. Bones make up our skeletons and provide structure and support for our bodies. However, bones are more than that; they also act like a storehouse for minerals that our bodies need, such as calcium. During a person's lifetime, the body constantly breaks down old bone (through a process called resorption) and builds up new bone. Any time old bone is broken down faster than new bone is made, net bone loss occurs. Bone loss can lead to low bone density (osteopenia), weakness of the bone, and eventually osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis (or porous bone) is a disease in which bones become weak and fragile. Porous bones are more likely to break. Osteoporosis is a serious disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Without prevention or treatment, osteoporosis can progress without pain or symptoms until a bone breaks (fracture). Fractures commonly occur in the hip, spine, and wrist. Osteoporosis is the underlying cause of more than 1.5 million fractures annually (300,000 hip fractures, approximately 700,000 vertebral fractures, 250,000 wrist fractures, and more than 300,000 fractures in other areas). The estimated national cost (hospitals and nursing homes) for osteoporosis and related injuries is $14 billion each year in the United States.

Bone loss occurs when more bone is resorbed than is formed by the body. Many factors determine how much old bone is resorbed and how much new bone is made. Some factors people have control over (such as diet), but some factors are out of their control (such as age).

Most new bone is added during childhood and teenage years. As a result, bones become larger, heavier, and stronger (denser). Bone formation continues until the peak bone mass (maximum solidness and strength) is reached. Peak bone mass (or bone density) is reached around age 30. After age 30, bone resorption slowly begins to exceed new bone formation. This leads to bone loss. Bone loss in women occurs fastest in the first few years after menopause, but bone loss continues into old age. Factors that can contribute to bone loss include having a diet low in calcium, not exercising, smoking, and taking certain medications such as corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are medications prescribed for a wide range of diseases, including arthritis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, and other diseases. Corticosteroids may cause osteoporosis when used chronically.

The only reliable way to detect bone loss is to have a bone mineral density (BMD) test. People with strong risk factors for osteoporosis should have a BMD test.

Recommendations in the United States are that all women 65 years and older should have a BMD test. Postmenopausal women younger than 65 years who have one or more risk factors (in addition to being postmenopausal and female) should have a BMD test. Tests that are used to measure BMD include dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and quantitative ultrasound (QUS). See Bone Mineral Density Tests for more information.

For more information contact:

National Institutes of Health

Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases-

National Resource Center2

AMS CirBethesda, MD 20892-3676

(800) 624-BONE (624-2663)

OsteoInfo@osteo.org

Author: Bruce A Baethge, MD, Rheumatology Fellowship Director, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Texas at Galveston

What Is Calcium And Where To Get It

2009-01-19T14:00:00.001-08:00

Calcium, the most abundant mineral in the human body, has several important functions. More than 99% of total body calcium is stored in the bones and teeth where it functions to support their structure. The remaining 1% is found throughout the body in blood, muscle, and the fluid between cells. Calcium is needed for muscle contraction, blood vessel contraction and expansion, the secretion of hormones and enzymes, and sending messages through the nervous system . A constant level of calcium is maintained in body fluid and tissues so that these vital body processes function efficiently. Bone undergoes continuous remodeling, with constant resorption (breakdown of bone) and deposition of calcium into newly deposited bone (bone formation). The balance between bone resorption and deposition changes as people age. During childhood there is a higher amount of bone formation and less breakdown. In early and middle adulthood, these processes are relatively equal. In aging adults, particularly among postmenopausal women, bone breakdown exceeds its formation, resulting in bone loss, which increases the risk for osteoporosis (a disorder characterized by porous, weak bones).

Dairy products, such as milk and cheese, are a well-known source of calcium. However, some individuals are allergic to dairy products and even more people, particularly those of non Indo-European descent, are lactose-intolerant, leaving them unable to consume non-fermented dairy products in quantities larger than about half a liter per serving. Others, such as vegans, avoid dairy products for ethical and health reasons. Fortunately, many good sources of calcium exist. These include seaweeds such as kelp, wakame and hijiki; nuts and seeds (like almonds and sesame); blackstrap molasses; beans; oranges; figs; quinoa; amaranth; collard greens; okra; rutabaga; broccoli; dandelion leaves; kale; and fortified products such as orange juice and soy milk. (However, calcium fortified orange juice often contains vitamin D3 derived from lanolin, and is thus unacceptable for vegans.) An overlooked source of calcium is eggshell, which can be ground into a powder and mixed into food or a glass of water. Cultivated vegetables generally have less calcium than wild plants.

My New Journey

2009-01-17T18:09:00.000-08:00

I recently was diagnosed with Osteopenia (my BDMS results were -2.0) My ObGyn prescribed Actonel once a month (I will be trying to make that a once a week dose so I will remember to take it), upping my calcium to 1200 mg and D to 800 IU, and walk for 30 minutes at least 3-4 times a week (I will try for the 4-5 times a week or more if possible... I need to train for March races anyway!). I will also have to go back for a rescan in 2 years.

My mother has Osteoperosis and she has broken her leg into and had vertebras compress all up and down her spine... I am worried but I will be doing all I can to correct this bone loss and get a good grade next scan!

Together we will walk this learning path together we will research why we lose bone and how we can stop or possibly reverse bone loss.... We will also learn about calcium what it is what it does and how we can get enough of it to insure healthy bones!

Osteopenia: Mild thinning of the bone mass, but not as severe as osteoporosis. Osteopenia results when the formation of bone (osteoid synthesis) is not enough to offset normal bone loss (bone lysis). Osteopenia is generally considered the first step along the road to osteoporosis, a serious condition in which bone density is extremely low and bones are porous and prone to shatter. Diminished bone calcification, as seen on plain X-ray film, is referred to as osteopenia, whether or not osteoporosis is present. The diagnosis of osteopenia may also be made by a special X-ray machine for bone density testing.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes osteopenia, for people 50 and older with lower than average bone density who do not have osteoporosis. WHO defines osteopenia as a bone density between one standard deviation (SD) and 2.5 SD below the bone density of a normal young adult. (Osteoporosis is defined as 2.5 SD or more below that reference point.)

"Osteopenia" has two Greek ancestors: "osteon", bone and "penia", poverty = bone poverty.

from MedicineNet.com

Please Read This Daily And Say A Prayer For Our Soldiers In Harms Way!

2009-01-17T17:19:00.000-08:00

My nephew Jonathan is back in Iraq for his second tour and I am again waiting and worrying please for me read this Soldiers Psalm daily and pray for him as well as for all those who serve our country in wartime. Thank you so much!

Psalm 91
Security of the One Who Trusts in the LORD.

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”

3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark

5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day;

6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

7 A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you.

8 You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked.

9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place.

10 No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent.

11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways.

12 They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

16 “With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”

<< Psalm 91 >>
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit www.lockman.org.

5 Must Have Supplements by Prevention

2009-01-16T17:10:00.000-08:00

#1 Fish Oil --- for heart health

#2 Vitamin D --- for calcium absorption

#3 Reducol ---- lowers LDL

#4 Culturelle ---- probiotic/intestional health

#5 Pycnogenol ---- reduces stiffness and pain associated with Osteo

Prayers Please

2009-01-15T17:57:00.001-08:00

My parents Ween and White ---- my dad's PD has been confirmed by a neurologist so now we start the meds and PTherapy

John Osborne --- an old friend who is have a crisis of faith, and health as well as family problems

Josh ---- my youngest --- his grades

Natalie --- a coworker who has had surgery

Ms Kemper --- another coworker who had a stroke

Zorro Morris --- a friends dad who has Leukemeia

Janie Ruth Williamson ---- my folks friend who has cancer

Jade, Kyle and Scarlett Duncan ---- Scarlett has not been born yet but has problems or suspected problems

our nephew Jonathan, Mr Crowe, and our friend Murray and all other brave soldiers who are being deployed or are deployed ....

our country and her leaders ----

Whatever Your Doing --- Sanctus Real

2009-01-06T19:10:00.000-08:00

It’s time for healing, time to move on, it’s time to fix what’s been broken too long

Time to make right what has been wrong; it’s time to find my way to where I belong

Chorus:

There’s a wave that’s crashing over me, and all I can do is surrender

Whatever You’re doing inside of me

It feels like chaos, but somehow there’s peace

And it’s hard to surrender to what I can’t see, but I’m giving in to something heavenly

Time for a milestone, time to begin again, re-evaluate who I really am

Am I doing everything to follow Your will or just climbing aimlessly over these hills?

So show me what it is You want from me I give everything – I surrender

Chorus:

Time to face up, clean this old house

Time to breathe in and let everything out that I’ve wanted to say for so many years

Time to release all my held back tears

Whatever You’re doing inside of me It feels like chaos, but I believe …

You’re up to something bigger than me

Larger than life, something heavenly

Whatever You’re doing inside of me

It feels like chaos, but now I can see

This is something bigger than me

Larger than life

Something heavenly, something heavenly

Time to face up, clean this old house

Time to breathe in and let everything out

Let's Go Walkin In Historic Downtown Vicksburg

2009-01-05T08:19:00.000-08:00

January 17, 2009

10K run starts at 8:30 am

5K walk starts at 8:35 am

Start and Finish at Horizon Casino Downtown Vicksburg

all information can be obtained from the following website or by stopping by the YMCA on Clay Street in Vicksburg

http://www.mstrackclub.com/

What a great way to kick off your New Years Resolution to get off the couch and move it move it!

Hope to see you all there ---- I am planning on it!

AMEN!

2009-01-02T12:02:00.001-08:00

Ten Secrets Of Skinny People From MSN Health

2009-01-02T11:33:00.001-08:00

#1 They don't diet ---- they change their lives not their diet.... They change the way they look at think of and treat food in their lives.

#2 They keep track of their weight --- they journal their calories, miles walked or run, and they also chart their weight on a weekly or daily basis

#3 They exercise regulary ---- 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day

#4 They don't solve their problems with food ---- ie they don't drown their sorrows in a pint of Haagen Daas Ice Cream

#5 They stop eating when they are full ---- always try and leave at least a third or fourth of your food on your plate at each meal.

#6 They don't surround themselves with tempation ---- don't keep chips etc around ---- keep sugar free/weight watchers/baked alternatives or fresh fruit or veggies on your shelves when you need a treat

#7 They allow themselves treats --- mind you mine are sugar free / fat free alternatives --- never the leaded stuff

#8 They eat breakfast --- Special K and soymilk is my favorite breakfast

#9 They move, stand and fidget more ---- yes fidget and fidget alot---- get up and move

#10 They don't skip meals ---- even if you just can squeeze in a apple and yogurt or banana and yogurt do it --- never skip a meal

New Year ---- New You! You CAN Do It!

2009-01-01T13:34:00.000-08:00

5 small changes to help you lose weight

Story Highlights:
*Small changes rather than radical ones make diets more feasible
*Examples: drinking water instead of soda, using wheat instead of white flour
*By eating 100 fewer calories every day, avoid the weight gain that comes with aging

By Elizabeth CohenSenior CNN Medical Correspondent

(CNN) -- Tim Kassouf lost 45 pounds, and it all started when he got really mad at his girlfriend.
Kassouf, a 24-year-old marketing manager in Baltimore, Maryland, was moaning to his beloved that he'd gained weight recently. He was worried. The men in his family are prone to heart attacks, and his grandfather died of one at age 29.
But instead of giving Kassouf the sympathy he expected, his girlfriend told him off.
"She said, 'You keep complaining about it but do nothing about it.' I was angry she said that, but she was totally right," Kassouf said.
Inspired, Kassouf made radical changes in his diet.
"That would last about a day," he said.
So he moved on to Plan B: small changes. That worked. Four years after he got mad at his girlfriend, Kassouf weighs 200 pounds, down from 245, mostly by focusing on a few parts of his diet without changing everything.
"What I started to realize is, it didn't have to be all or nothing," he said.
There's actually a name for what Kassouf did: It's called the "small changes approach." James Hill, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, is the father of the movement, and in this month's American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, he writes about how "small changes are more feasible to achieve and maintain than large changes."
For Kassouf, small changes started with soda.
"I was probably drinking 10 Cokes a day," he said. By switching out those Cokes for water, Kassouf saved 1,400 calories a day.
Then he worked on his snacking. He used to eat a 12-ounce bag of Doritos while watching television.
"The show would be over, and the bag would be empty," he said.
Now, he takes a handful out of the bag and puts it on a plate, and that's all he eats, saving 1,350 calories a day.
Kassouf said he lost about 5 pounds just by making the Coke and Doritos changes and then lost 15 more by cutting down on sweets and switching from white flour to wheat flour. Exercising helped him shed 25 more pounds.
Hill said it's tough to say exactly how many calories you have to cut to lose a pound, but he encourages people to think of it this way: By eating 100 fewer calories each day, you can avoid the weight gain that comes with getting older.
Most people gain a pound or two a year, he said, which can really add up. A svelte 130-pound 18-year-old could turn into an overweight 170-pound 38-year-old.
Here are five ways to cut 100 calories out of your diet each day. Doing any one of them could keep you from gaining that typical pound or two a year. The first three tips are from from Kim Gorman, a registered dietitian with the University of Colorado's Center for Human Nutrition. The fourth one is from Starbucks, and the last one is from Hill.

1. Old: whole milk
New: 1 percent milk
Let's say you have milk with your cereal and then a glass of milk some other time during the day. Drinking 1 percent milk instead of whole milk saves you 100 calories.
2. Old: whole bagel
New: half a bagel
Give the other half of your bagel to a friend, and you'll save 100 calories. Depending on the size of the bagel, you could save even more.
3. Old: chocolate ice cream
New: chocolate yogurt or a Popsicle
Swap out the ice cream for the yogurt, and you're consuming 100 fewer calories. You'll save nearly that much if you have a Popsicle instead of the ice cream.
4. Old: latte made with whole milk
New: latte made with skim milk
Order a nonfat latte instead of a regular latte, and you'll save 90 calories.
5. Old: be a couch potato
New: take a 20-minute walk
Walk a mile every day, and you'll burn about 100 calories. Twenty minutes is an estimate of how long it takes to walk a mile; some people are slower, and others are faster. For all you pedometer wearers out there, a mile is about 2,000 steps.

It took Kassouf several years to lose 45 pounds doing the "small changes approach," but he said it's been worth the wait, because he's more likely to keep the pounds off than if he'd made big changes.
By the way, Kassouf is no longer with that girlfriend who called him a complainer, but he's still grateful to her for making him snap to it and come up with a plan for losing weight.

CNN's Jennifer Pifer-Bixler contributed to this report.

The Importance Of Good Nutrition And Taking Multivitamins

2008-12-31T19:11:00.000-08:00

The Hidden Price of Poor Nutrition
Researchers find damage to cells deprived of essential vitamins and minerals.
By Peter Jaret, EatingWell.com

It's hardly news that falling short on essential minerals or vitamins can spell trouble in many ways—from osteoporosis (too little calcium) to anemia (a lack of iron). Now there's new evidence that nutrient deficiencies may pose even more significant dangers.
At Children's Hospital of Oakland Research Institute in California, biochemist Bruce Ames and his colleagues have been observing what happens when cells come up short on key nutrients. It's not a pretty picture.
When human cells are even slightly deficient in zinc, for instance, they quickly begin to fill up with oxidants, which are unstable oxygen molecules that are known to damage cells. Looking inside the affected cells, Ames' team found massive DNA damage, very much like the kind researchers see when cells are exposed to radiation. Damage to DNA can kill cells or turn them cancerous.
"Vitamins and minerals are required to create the enzymes that carry out many cellular functions," Ames explains. "When you don't get enough, you disrupt all of your biochemistry." Extensive genetic injuries turn up when cells are deprived of adequate vitamin C, B6, B12, folic acid or niacin.
Nutrient deficiencies also can impair the function of mitochondria, the tiny organelles that provide energy to cells, Ames says. Most vulnerable are brain cells, which consume more energy than most other cells in the body. Deficiency-related damage to mitochondria may play a role in age-related memory loss and other neurological problems, according to Ames.
These dangers are especially worrisome in light of surveys that indicate a significant percentage of Americans fall short of several nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D and zinc.
How to make sure you don't fall short? The first step is eating a healthy diet, of course, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, dairy and whole grains. For added insurance, Ames believes that everyone should take a daily multivitamin with minerals. Ames says, "I never skip a day."

Happy 2009 Ya'll

2008-12-27T11:53:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a new year filled with the blessings of family, friends, love, joy, and many happy memories! May your faith sustain you through the year to come and always!

"And God Bless Us Everyone!"
Tiny Tim

So Are You Stressed Yet?????????

2008-12-21T22:54:00.000-08:00

Tis The Season
By Tracye W.M. Prewitt

It’s the most stressful time of the year;
with parties for hosting, shopping, and baking, and long lines at Wal-mart…
It’s the most stressful time of the year

It’s the most stressful time of the year; with bumper to bumper traffic, families that gather (let the quarreling begin)……. And there will be practices to attend to and semester exams…. Oh will all this madness ever end! It’s the most stressful time of the year!

It’s the most stressful time
Oh yes, it is the most stressful time
It’s the most stressful time of the year!

This is a work in progress ---- suggestions are greatly appreciated! LOL

My Gift To You!

2008-12-20T22:35:00.000-08:00

The Gift

Written by Tracye Wynne Malone Prewitt November 12, 2008

In a lowly stable; a long time ago; a young couple welcomed their first born, a son…. And Angels sang, shepherds danced and kings took note….. They were not celebrities, they were not wealthy, and they weren’t even royalty. They were a very young commoner couple; who brought into the world its salvation. Their baby was our Messiah, the worlds Savior…. Whose name would be the name above all names… Could you imagine the weight of that moment when this young couple held their miracle, our miracle in their arms for the first time? I am sure they did like all new parents… they counted fingers and toes; these fingers and toes were on the very hands and feet that would be pierced with nails some 30 + years later. They kissed the forehead that one day would be scared by the crown of thorns. They patted the back that one day would be whipped for our sins. Mary and Joseph knew their child’s future…. They knew they would have a son, they knew would call him Jesus and they knew what his ultimate destiny would be….. Joy, sadness, fear, and love must have filled their hearts as they watched this tiny baby take in his new world. I do not profess to be anything close to a theologian but I am a mom… I do know and have felt all the emotions you feel the first time you hold your newborn in your arms.... I know the agony that Mary must have felt when she realized the brevity of the moment…. When she finally let herself think of her little baby’s fate… Joseph had a son, an heir to the family business, and I am sure slaps on the back from all of his friends and relatives but I am sure he had to share in the sadness of what was to come of his son eventually. But being the chosen couple they bore the emotions and the burdens of raising the hope of the world. Mary was there when Jesus entered our world that night in a stable and she would be there when he left our world nailed to a cross… at a strong woman, what a MOM… Remember the woman, who carried our Savior, who bore him, witnessed his life, and grieved his death…. Remember the man who risked his reputation, his livelihood, and his life to marry a pregnant unwed girl, believe that the baby she carried was the son of God, and guard the very life of Jesus from a jealous King by listening to Angels. Remember Jesus’ earthly parents this holiday season. They gave the world the ultimate gift…. Saving grace in the human form of their son… that little baby in the hay… our Lord… Jesus the Christ

STRESS-TABS

2008-12-19T20:16:00.000-08:00

Best Ways to Beat Holiday Stress
By Rebecca Ruiz for Forbes.com
Forbes

Later this month, many will begin preparing holiday feasts, attending parties and shopping obsessively for the perfect presents, all while counting blessings and enjoying the company of family and friends.

Millions will also spend it focused on reducing stress instead of spreading cheer.

From long lines to even longer lists, there are numerous opportunities to become mired in holiday strain, but experts say it can be overcome by tailoring festivities to your liking, as opposed to mimicking the grandiose displays reflected in commercials or movies.

In Pictures: The Best Ways to Beat Holiday Stress

"I encourage people to not just jump on the bandwagon," says Dr. Beverly Thorn, professor of psychology at the University of Alabama. "We need small doses of expectations or else we're setting ourselves up for failure."

Adopting this philosophy is an empowering start, but to be fully prepared for the holiday season you should be aware of the warning signs of stress, common triggers and effective coping strategies.

Warning signs

Though many struggle to manage stress throughout the year, the holidays can magnify underlying issues and emotions. An American Psychological Association study conducted in 2006 found that while 78 percent of respondents reported feeling often happy around the holidays, about two-thirds sometimes or often felt stressed and fatigued.

Dr. Edward Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine who has studied the effect of stress on the body, says the warning signs of stress can include irritability, fatigue, sleep disorders, indulgent eating, loss of enthusiasm and feelings of detachment and angst. People who feel high levels of stress during the holiday season, he says, often function as if they're "in a robotic fog, thinking, 'I don't want to do this. but there are familial pressures and cultural expectations.'"

Drinking and eating excessively, smoking and being overly critical of family members are common negative-coping strategies that signal difficulty in managing holiday anxiety. Aggie Casey, director of the Cardiac Wellness Program at the Benson-Henry Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital, cites these bad habits as well as physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension and an accelerated heart rate as evidence of heightened stress levels.

While it may be easy to identify the warning signs, isolating the source of stress can be trickier.

That's because "stress often doesn't have to do with the event," says Casey, "but with how [people] interpret that situation."

The triggers

Stressful situations might include a combination of family obligations, work commitments, gift-giving expectations, traveling, shopping and cooking within a six-week window—all which add to a perfect storm of stress and conflict.

While spending often ranks high as a cause of anxiety during the holidays, this season may be particularly difficult for families dealing with the credit crisis and layoffs. Americans have already cut back on spending, but one trap to avoid is accumulating debt as the holiday season approaches. That stresses not only budgets, but also parents who have to deal with the debt in January.

Other triggers of holiday-related stress are relationship dynamics and the emotional and physical demands of balancing work and family. Casey says that regardless of the source of stress, one theme is common to most complaints: a sense of powerlessness. This happens frequently when people sense an obligation to attend a family function or work party and feel as if they have no decision-making power. Women often turn to comfort eating during the holidays as a coping strategy, but overeating actually leads to increased feelings of guilt about weight gain and breaking one's diet.

Instead of falling back on counterproductive habits, Casey suggests adopting a new, more positive perspective.

Resolving the stress

For example, when stuck in holiday traffic with a list of groceries and gifts to buy while worried about a visit from the in-laws, try Casey's de-stressing technique of pulling over, breathing deeply, reflecting on the source of anxiety and choosing a response instead of reacting to the situation. This strategy can be applied in most situations with the following directives: stop, breathe, reflect and choose. According to Casey, it's crucial to rethink or re-frame the problem in order to effectively manage any negative feelings.

This coping mechanism is effective when addressing immediate stress, but experts also recommend advance planning and delegating as ways to prevent stressful situations from ever occurring.

Kate Kelly, co-author of Organize Your Life, Free Yourself From Clutter and Find More Personal Time (Wiley, 2007), suggests that families sit down weeks in advance of a major holiday or celebration and discuss what's most important to each individual and what responsibilities that person is willing to assume. For harried and overworked parents, this can mean delegating cooking or shopping to teenagers or adult children. Another essential task to be done beforehand is creating a realistic budget that won't generate additional stress in the months following December.

"Simplification is vital," says Kelly, who encourages families to host potlucks instead of cooking an entire meal. Or invest in one item for the family instead of buying high-priced items for each person.

"You've got to establish something that's workable," she says. "There's nothing worse than a stressed-out person—that's no gift to anybody."

Vicksburg Christmas Miracle

2008-12-15T14:36:00.000-08:00

Cancer victim won't let pain spoil fun

By Pamela Hitchins
Published:
Monday, December 15, 2008 12:15 PM CST

For 25 years, Susie Payne has held her annual Christmas cookie and ornament exchange, and she’s not about to let chemotherapy, pain or the side effects of drug treatment spoil her party.

Twelve years ago, Payne was diagnosed with breast cancer. She fought it for years with surgery and drugs and went into remission, but was recently found to have new tumors in her upper spine, for which she’s undergoing treatment and wearing a neck brace.

This year’s party is set for today.

“I’ve had my moments when I’ve gone out into the back-yard, done my loud crying, but I don’t have time for that,” Payne said in an interview in her kitchen.

Payne leads a busy life, teaching art fulltime at Beechwood Elementary School, working on her own painting projects, scrapbooking and tending to her family.

Just after Christmas she will celebrate her 33rd wedding anniversary with husband Barry, an environmental biologist at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering Research and Development Center. They have two sons, one of whom lives at home.

Rolling spoonfuls of cookie dough into balls for baking, she said, “If you let yourself, you can roll into a ball and not be good for anything. I thought about what I’d do if somebody told me I only had 10 days to live, and what I’d want is just to enjoy my life.”

Payne’s home reflects many of the things that keep her doing just that. She collects Roman’s seraphim angels, displayed in a glass case just inside her front door, and has accumulated many pieces of pottery, from small to large bowls, plates and platters.

Books about famous artists are shelved at one end of the family room and a weaving loom stands at the other. On the counter opening to the kitchen, she’s displayed many of the hundreds of wooden eggs she has designed and painted, including a manger scene with shepherds, angels, kings and animals.

“When I made the manger scene I started with just Jesus, Mary and Joseph,” Payne said. “Then someone wanted to know where the Wise Men were. So I told them, well, they had to follow the star and it took them a while to get there.”

The first egg she made years ago was a Santa Claus, with moveable arms and legs fastened with small eye screws.

“To be in that house at Christmas time is like walking through a wonderland,” said close friend Chris Patin, one of the original cookie swap ladies who has been to most of the parties.

“We have a core group of about six who have been involved pretty much from the beginning,” Payne said. “It’s a good way to get to know people.”

Over the years the invitation list has grown and may top 30 today.

Each woman will bring 12 dozen homemade cookies and an ornament for the Dirty Santa gift game in which turns are taken opening presents and guests have the option of claiming them from each other. During the evening, they’ll sample some of the cookies, play a game or two, visit and later take home dozens of cookies made by other women at the party.

Several traditions have developed, including the pralines one woman brings every year, the punch Payne always makes and the stories that have grown up around the ornament swap where a gift can change hands fast.

For the first few years, the dirty Santa game was not much fun, Payne said. “These nice Southern belles wouldn’t steal from each other!” With a little prompting from her, they got over that. Now the women are on the lookout all year long for the unique, handmade ornaments from all over the country that make for a good, cutthroat evening of trying to go home with the choicest ornament.

Payne will also give out prizes and send each guest home with a handmade ornament she’s created.

Payne was a stay-at-home mother when her two boys were young. She said she spent almost as much time at their schools as she does now as a full-time teacher, volunteering in the classroom, making crafts and painting the wooden eggs she’s known for perhaps even more than her cookie exchanges. Some people even call her “the egg lady.”

Teaching is demanding, but Payne loves it. “It’s fun with those kids. There are a lot who don’t have access to that kind of activity, and they like to hear about the artists.”

She also appreciates another way to stay busy.

You don’t have time to think about your problems when you teach. The kids take your mind off it.”

Payne was just getting into the current school year when she found that the cancer had recurred, invading her upper spine. Despite pain and fatigue, she’s able to say she’s lucky. If the tumors that weakened her spine had grown slightly differently, she might be paralyzed now.

“I was in the lowest possible risk for developing breast cancer,” she added. “But it happens. Don’t think that it can’t, because it can. I always exercised a lot and tried to live a healthy life. And even though I did get cancer, I think that’s helped.”

Patin said she thinks of Payne whenever she hears the Martina McBride song “I Hope You Dance.” “Susie always chooses to dance.”

Five years ago, during a recurrence of breast cancer, one of Payne’s friends thought the cookie exchange might have to be canceled. “No, I told her. Life goes on. We’re having the cookie swap and nothing is going to change it.”

Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com.

But Santa I Can Explain!

2008-12-12T19:48:00.000-08:00

It was the Pug...........

An Ole Fashioned Mississippi Christmas --- A MUST See

2008-12-12T19:32:00.000-08:00

Don't miss Christmas Fest at Ag Museum
By Raymond Reeves

rareeves@jackson.gannett.com

CHRISTMAS FEST

Christmas Fest will be held Dec. 11-13 from 5-8 p.m. each day at the Ag Museum.
Admission is free.

Details: (601) 713-3365 or www.msagmuseum.org
In the holiday cartoon special A Charlie Brown Christmas, the lead character laments the commercialization of the season.
Charlie Brown would enjoy the Christmas Fest at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum.
"There seems to be a shortage of what I call non-commercial Christmas events," said Gretchen Cook, organizer of Christmas Fest. "Think about when you go to a Christmas event; there's going to be Scooby Doo or SpongeBob or Dora the Explorer. Typically when organizers do events for kids, they try to appeal to kids with a commercial character. Frankly, I think that's not the healthiest way to have a kids event.
"We're calling this non-commercial. It's free admission, and it's for the younger set; say, toddlers to 11 years old."
The event has taken on a new name as well this year.
"It's called the Christmas Fest, and this is the third year we've done it. The two previous years, we called it the Old Fashioned Christmas and Lights, and frankly that name was too long, so we shortened it to Christmas Fest," said Cook.
No matter what it's called, the event has received attention, as media outlets as far away as Baton Rouge have promoted the Fest as a "go-to" event, according to Gina Aswell of the Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"All of our Christmas events, if they run longer in length (of time) we try to promote regionally, because so many people are trying to find fun things to do that are not too far away that will be a little special and have that Christmas spirit," Aswell said. "The Ag Museum, because it's such a unique attraction and it is Mississippi - it represents what we are and who we are - a lot of people from the outlying areas love to come in and view it. A lot of people can create their own Christmas traditions in ways that don't depend on the economy."
Lights and displays greet visitors as they come through the gates.
"You walk in and there's a miniature lighted village that's been there for decades," Cook said. "There's a living nativity that's interactive, so the kids can toddle in and talk to the wise men. There's about 15 church choirs and school bands performing, rotating in and out each night. The schoolhouse has been converted to the Polar Post Office, so kids can come in and write a letter to Santa and mail it. Then Santa himself is there and he will pose for pictures. And all of this is free."
Going on at the same time is a layout done by the Jackson Society of Model Engineers. The display is based around the rail industry of the 1960s and 1970s in the area, and the village is designed to reflect the Mississippi of that era.
"We have the Lester Alvis Christmas Village on display, the model train exhibit and also a Christmas play," said Elizabeth Johnson with the museum. "The Christmas diner will be open serving spaghetti dinners and will have other items. It will be located in the old Chimneyville crafts center."
Developing that old-fashioned holiday connection is the key.
"Our sponsors have gotten together and realized that we need events that help families build memories and traditions that are not based around spending money," Cook said.

Faith, Hope, And Love --- The Greatest Of These Is LOVE!

2008-12-12T14:15:00.000-08:00

Third Candle - The Candle of Love;
John The Baptist
Today is the Third Sunday of Advent and we will light the Candle of Love.
Last Sunday we lit the Candle of Peace. We light it and the Candle of Hope again as we remember Jesus, born in Bethlehem, our hope and our peace.
Today we light the Third Candle of Advent, the Candle of Love. In their old age God gave to Zechariah and Elisabeth a son called John. John spoke to the people bravely in the desert denying his own comforts and prepared to die for what he believed. John taught that we should share what we have with others, treat each other kindly and show Gods love. He did this because he cared for people and wanted them to repent and find God's forgiveness.
Love is like a candle shining in a dark place. As we look at the light of this candle we celebrate the love we have in Christ.
Lord God, Your witness John the Baptist grew up strong in spirit and prepared people for the coming of the Lord. He loved your people and baptized them in the River Jordan to wash away their sins. Help us to have the same love that we would be witnesses to him and spread the good news of your love. As Christmas draws closer day by day, help us to be ready to welcome him. Amen

My Peace I Bring To You!

2008-12-12T14:10:00.000-08:00

Second Candle - The Candle of Peace
The prophets who foretold the birth of Jesus

Today is the Second Sunday of Advent and we will light the Candle of Peace.
Last Sunday we lit the First Candle in our Advent Wreath, and celebrated the patriarchs, this First Candle reminded us of our hope in Christ. We light it again as we remember our Saviour, born a king in the line of King David. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and we believe that he will come again to fulfill all of God's promises to us, to rule the world wisely and bless all nations.
Today we light the Second Candle of Advent, the Candle of Peace. We remember the prophets who spoke of the coming of Christ, of how a Saviour would be born, a king in the line of King David. The prophet Isaiah called Christ "the Prince of Peace". They told us how he would rule the world wisely and bless all the nations.
When Jesus came he taught people the importance of being peace-makers. He said that those who make peace shall be called the children of God. When Christ comes to us he brings us peace and he will bring everlasting peace when he comes again. We light the Candle of Peace to remind us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace and that through him peace is found.
Peace is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle we celebrate the peace we find in Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus, Light of the World, the prophets said you would bring peace and save your people from trouble. Give peace in our hearts at Christmastide. We ask that as we wait for you to come again, that you would remain present with us. Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your peace with each other. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen.

A Day That Will Live In Infamy! Remember Pearl Harbor!

2008-12-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives:
Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And, while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.
I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.
Franklin D. Roosevelt - December 8, 1941

Join Us For Bethlehem Drive!

2008-12-06T22:35:00.000-08:00

Porters Chapel UMC
200 Porters Chapel Road
Sunday, December 7, 2008
5:30-7:00 Come Join Us

Nativity Scene
Home Scene
and SANTA!!!!!
Luminaries

Cookies!

The First Candle Of Advent ---- Hope

2008-12-06T22:13:00.000-08:00

The first candle is sometimes called the candle of prophecy because it symbolizes the promises the prophets delivered as messages from God; promises that foretold Christ’s birth. Others consider the candle to be a symbol of the hope we have in Christ and so it is called the Hope candle.

Isaiah 60: 1-6

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Lift up your eyes and look around;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from far away,
and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and rejoice,
because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.

2008-11-25T19:22:00.000-08:00

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving!

Have a great holiday filled with family, friends, good food, and FOOTBALL!

BREATHE RELAX IT'S THE HOLIDAYS!

2008-11-23T08:47:00.000-08:00

The Holiday Stretch
No time to work out? Our fast yoga routine firms, de-stresses, and even banishes cravings.

By Holly St. Lifer, Prevention

Cocktails and cookies aside, your workout routine often gets lost in the holiday shuffle, so you're not only eating more, you're burning less. Not to mention the usual stress, which can trigger the body to release excessive amounts of cortisol, the "cravings" hormone that makes you reach for comfort foods high in fat and sugar.

The perfect antidote? Our quick and easy yoga routine.
"Yoga not only reduces stress, but it may also help lessen emotional eating," says Bruce W. Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at the University of New Mexico. His preliminary study found that yoga diminished binge eating by 51 percent, with participants losing an average of six pounds in eight weeks. It may also help on a biochemical level. Researchers at Jefferson Medical College drew blood samples from 16 yoga novices and found that cortisol levels dropped by about 15 percent to 20 percent as early as day one.

Start today and you'll be ringing in 2009 calmer, happier, stronger, and untouched by holiday weight gain.

Workout at a glance:

What you need: A yoga mat or carpeted space

How to do it: This 30-minute plan is designed to flow from one pose to another, so do the moves in the order given, taking time to breathe evenly and fully. When Downward Facing Dog is used as a transition, hold the pose for just a few breaths, then ease into the next move. Repeat the routine three times through. You can do this practice daily, but try to do it at least three times a week. (In a pinch, do our "10-Minute Stress Buster," detailed below.) Begin with the Main Move. If it's too tough, do the "make it easier" option.

The expert: Tom Larkin, owner of Sanctuary for Yoga, Body and Spirit in Nashville, created this workout. He teaches Vinyasa yoga, which focuses on the integration of breath and movement to help reduce stress.

The moves

1. Active Cat
Firms arms, chest, back, abs, butt, legs
Kneel on all fours with arms straight, wrists beneath shoulders, and knees aligned under hips. Inhale and extend right leg behind you, parallel to floor. Exhale, bend elbows, keeping close to body, and draw torso forward, lowering upper body toward floor. Inhale, and in one motion with abs tight, press torso back, rounding spine while bringing right knee to chest. Repeat six more times; switch sides.
Make it easier: Don't raise leg at beginning of move; keep both knees on floor while drawing torso forward.

2. Downward Facing Dog
Stretches and firms shoulders, torso, legs
Kneel on all fours with knees beneath hips, hands 3 to 5 inches in front of shoulders, and toes tucked. Keeping abs tight, tuck pelvis, inhale, and straighten legs by lifting hips until body forms an upside-down V. Exhale and lift hips higher by pressing back from hands; lower heels toward mat. Hold for five breaths. Inhale, look forward, and walk feet up to hands. Exhale and roll up to stand.
Make it easier: Keep heels lifted and knees bent while in upside-down V position.

3. Extended Side-Angle
Stretches and firms shoulders, chest, back, abs, butt, legs
Stand with feet about 3 ½ feet apart, right foot pointing out, left one turned in slightly. Inhale and lift arms out to sides at shoulder level. On an exhale, bend right knee 90 degrees and hinge to right from hips, extending torso over right thigh. Inhale and place right hand on floor behind right foot, extend left arm overhead, palm facing down. Look toward left hand; hold for 5 breaths. Inhale and return to center, straightening right leg. Repeat on opposite side, without standing back up. Transition: Place both hands on floor on either side of left foot. Step left foot back toward right. Exhale and press hips up to Downward Facing Dog. Move to Side Plank from here.
Make it easier: Place elbow on knee instead of bringing hand to floor.

4. Side Plank
Stretches and firms arms, chest, back, waist, abs, legs
From Downward Facing Dog, inhale and lower hips into plank (forearms on floor, elbows under shoulders). Exhale as you rotate to right, turn left arm forward, stack legs, and extend right arm. Hold for five breaths, then rotate back to plank. Repeat to left. Transition: From plank, exhale, lift hips, and straighten arms into Downward Facing Dog.
Make it easier: Bend bottom leg and rest foot on floor behind you.

5. Warrior 3
Stretches and firms arms, chest, lower back, butt, legs
From Downward Facing Dog, inhale, look forward, and walk feet up to hands. Exhale and roll up to stand with feet together. Bend forward and place fingertips on floor. Inhale and lift right leg behind you, abs tight.
Inhale and lift chest and arms. Hold for 5 breaths, trying to lift leg and chest higher. Switch sides.

Make it easier: Keep fingertips on floor, and slightly bend standing leg.

6. Yogic Bicycles
Firms arms, chest, back, abs, butt, legs
Lie faceup on floor with hands behind head, knees bent 90 degrees, and head and shoulders off floor. Exhale, twist right shoulder toward left knee, and extend right leg (be careful not to pull on neck).
Inhale and return to start; repeat to left for one rep. Do 10 times.
Make it easier: Keep knees bent.

The secret to calm
Why is yoga such an effective stress buster? It's all in the breathing. "Long, slow exhalations can quiet the sympathetic nervous system, which is part of the flight-or-fight system, and activate the parasympathetic one, an important part of your body's relaxation response," explains Roger Cole, Ph.D., a scientist based in Del Mar, Calif., and a yoga instructor at Yoga Del Mar.

10-minute stress buster
No time for a full workout? That's just when you need it most. Our mini routine will help you recharge and unwind—without having to slip into workout clothes.

1. Head-to-Knee Pose
Targets lower back, legs
Sit on floor with right leg extended in front of you, foot flexed, left leg bent so sole of foot gently presses into right thigh; arms at sides, palms down. Inhale, lift chest, and lengthen torso. Exhale, twist torso slightly to right, and fold forward over leg. Hold and breathe for about 1 ½ minutes. Inhale and sit back up. Repeat on other side.

2. Cobbler's Pose
Targets abs, lower back, legs
Sit with soles of feet together, hands on floor behind hips. Inhale and lift chest without arching back. Take 10 breaths, then relax, hugging knees to chest. Do four times.

3. Child's Pose
Targets back, shins, tops of feet
Begin on all fours, then sit back on heels. Lower forehead to floor, bringing hands next to feet, palms facing ceiling. Rest for 10 breaths.

4. Corpse Pose
Targets entire body
Lie faceup, legs extended, arms at sides, palms up. Breathe deeply as you focus on and relax one body part at a time from your legs to your head. (If thoughts come to mind, acknowledge them, then let them drift away.) Relax in this pose for at least three to five minutes.

Three more ways to conquer cravings
"Stress can affect how you sleep and eat, and binge eating may be a result of your body's natural rhythms being disrupted," explains Cynthia Bulik, Ph.D., author of Crave: Why You Binge Eat and How to Stop (Walker & Company, 2009) and director of the Eating Disorders Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

These three strategies will keep your body in sync:

Visualize your last meal

. A recent British study found that women who were asked to write a detailed description of what they'd eaten for lunch that day snacked significantly less in the afternoon than those who didn't focus on their last meal. Researchers speculate that recalling a specific, vivid memory activates the hippocampus, an area of the brain believed to be responsible for both decision making and memory recall, giving would-be snackers better appetite control.

Try meditation. It not only increases activity in parts of the brain associated with positive emotions, research shows, but it may also boost production of the crave-controlling neurotransmitter serotonin. New to this relaxation technique? Sit in a quiet place with legs crossed, palms on knees, chest lifted, shoulders back and down. Close your eyes. Inhale and exhale five to 10 times, focusing on your breath. Shift your attention to your back. Inhale, visualizing your breath rising up your spine to the crown of your head. Exhale, watching it fall back down. Repeat for five to 30 minutes.

Get enough shut-eye. Researchers at the University of Chicago found that just two sleepless nights (four hours or less) dropped the satiety-signaling hormone leptin by 18 percent and boosted levels of gherlin, an appetite trigger, by about 30 percent. Those two shifts caused participants' cravings for starchy foods like cookies and potato chips to jump 45 percent.

Aim for at least six (ideally eight) hours of sleep regularly.

2008-11-19T16:52:00.000-08:00

Diet on the Down-Low
By Jennifer Benjamin, Women's Health
Women's Health

Sunday-afternoon football, Thanksgiving dinner, meeting up at the bar for a "baby, it's cold outside" drink—November is a cruel month for any woman looking to drop a few pounds. Even if you have the willpower to avoid nachos, pecan pie, and the Cider Jack special, diet saboteurs can make you feel like a party pooper just for ordering dressing on the side. Bypass the peer pressure and the fat traps with these under-the-radar tips.
Your mission: Get through T-Day without consuming a week's worth of calories.
Your opponent: Pushy, plus-size Aunt Ruth, who eyes your looser-fitting pants and passes you the smoked-bacon stuffing and cheesy mashed potatoes.
Your game plan: Pile on the vegetable sides and white meat. Then, put a scoop of sweet potatoes or stuffing smack-dab on top. It'll give the illusion that your plate is loaded with high-carb goodness, even though it's mostly low-cal fare, explains Lisa Young, Ph.D., R.D., an adjunct professor of nutrition at NYU and the author of The Portion Teller Plan (Broadway Books, 2006). Skipping the dark meat and buttery potatoes will save you a few hundred calories.
Your mission: Maintain your party-girl cover without sucking down more martinis than James Bond.
Your opponent: The co-worker who claims that wine spritzers are for hockey moms.
Your game plan: Order an extra-spicy Bloody Mary and no one will dare call you a pansy. The old-school beverage delivers just 110 calories, and studies show that the Tabasco kick may actually help curb your appetite. Just don't let anyone catch you nibbling on the celery stick.
Your mission: Kick back and watch the game with your man and his friends without listening to comments about eating "rabbit food."
Your opponent: Your guy, who feels emasculated if he can't have something deep-fried with his beer.
Your game plan: Score a smaller butt while you rack up points with his crew by whipping up your own game-time munchies. "Seven-layer dip or onion dip, made with healthier ingredients like low-fat sour cream and cheese and ground turkey instead of beef, can be just as delicious as the full-fat variety," says David Grotto, R.D., author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life (Bantam, 2007). "The guys will have no clue it's healthy." For onion dip, follow the directions on the package but sub in low-fat plain yogurt for sour cream. Serve it with chips for them, and crudités and a light beer (or two) for you, and the boys will keep their heckling directed toward the screen.
Your mission: Stick to your diet at a restaurant without making your friends feel guilty for splurging.
Your opponent: The unsupportive friend who keeps telling you that a little cream sauce and butter-fried calamari never hurt anyone.
Your game plan: "Order two appetizers—one a healthy dish, like broth-based soup—and explain that so many things on the menu look good, you just can't decide," suggests Cynthia Sass, R.D., co-author of Flat Belly Diet (Rodale, 2008). According to a study at Penn State last year, having soup as a first course can help you shave about 20 percent of the calories off your meal. And who can accuse you of being a food prude when you've ordered two dishes?

Third Day In Clinton Concert

2008-11-18T19:45:00.000-08:00

Third Day to perform at Mississippi College
Special to The Herald

TO LEARN MORE

For more information, call Star 93.5 at 601-925-3460, or visit http://www.star93fm.com/.

Billboard magazine rates Third Day(www.thirdday.com) "not only one of the best Christian bands of the '90s, but one of the best rock bands, period."With that kind of reputation, the multi-platinum-selling band is sure to draw a huge crowd for a Nov. 23 concert at Mississippi College's A.E. Wood Coliseum.The visit to MC is part of the group's LIVE Fall Tour with special guests Needtobreathe and Revive. Winners of numerous Dove and Grammy Awards, Third Day has attracted millions of fans around the globe over their 15-year career.The visit to the Christian university follows a number of college stops this fall, including the University of Illinois on Oct. 31 and the University of Indiana Nov. 7. The group performs at First Baptist Church in Lafayette, La. on Nov. 22 before their Sunday evening stop on the Clinton campus. The concert at MC begins at 6 p.m.Tickets are now on sale at http://www.tickets.com/ <http://www.tickets.com/> , LifeWay Christian Stores on County Line Road in Jackson and in the MC Cafeteria. Tickets are $25 for general admission.Making concert plans is MC freshman Jake Cole, 18, who owns six of their albums. A resident of Star in Rankin County, he's seen the band in concert twice in Gatlinburg, Tenn. and once each in Jackson and Hattiesburg. "Third Day never does the same concert twice. Any band that can do that is incredible."A DJ on Star 93.5, MC's campus radio station, Cole is also a believer in the band's message. "All their songs have a really strong Biblical message, a strong God-center in every song."MC's college radio station is one of the concert sponsors. "I forsee a packed house at the coliseum," said Cole, a communication major with a minor in Christian Studies. Normally the home base for Choctaws basketball games, the Gold Dome seats about 5,000 fans.Third Day performers say the group's success surpassed all expectations. "Our career is like a dream I didn't even know I had," said drummer David Carr.South Carolina-based Needtobreathe and Revive, a group with roots in Australia, are also coming to Central Mississippi with a growing and enthusiastic fan base.

Thank You Yesterday, Today, And Forever More!

2008-11-11T19:23:00.000-08:00

Let's Go Walking In Downtown --------

2008-11-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

50 Mississippi Cities;

1 Mile;

1 Message!

The message of the day was basically ----
GET FIT MISSISSIPPI!
One excellent way to get fit is to move your body! 30 minutes of exercise a day that is all-----
So lets go walkin' Mississippi!

(In photo from left to right are: Emily Bonelli, Mayor Laurence Leyens, Kim Hopkins, and Tracye Prewitt.....)

Lets Go Walkin Vicksburg

2008-11-06T21:37:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, November 8,
Mississippi is goin’ walkin’!
Communities across the state will show
their commitment to living healthier lives.
Join Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi
and the Mississippi Main Street
Association as we take the first steps
toward a healthier life.
Join us at 9 am at the Riverstage Plaza in downtown, Vicksburg… A FREE and fun one mile trek is a great way to start your day! Hope to see you all there!
For details, contact your local
Mississippi Main Street office at:
601-634-4527 or Vicksburg Main Street at:
601-634-4527

One Day. 50 Towns. One Goal.

HONORING OUR VETERANS

2008-11-06T19:44:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your service and sacrifices but most of all thank you for insuring to my children the blessings of liberty!

2008-11-06T18:52:00.000-08:00

The Total-Body Benefits of Berries
Learn about the surprising ways berries boost health.
By Brierley Wright, EatingWell.com

When it comes to health, berries have a fabulous reputation. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants, called anthocyanins, that may help keep memory sharp as you age, and raspberries contain ellagic acid, a compound with anti-cancer properties. All berries are great sources of fiber, a nutrient important for a healthy digestive system. But if you need more reasons to dig into these sun-kissed little fruits, look no further than two new studies, which suggest that berries may be good for your heart and your bones as well.
In a study of 72 middle-age people published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating just under a cup of mixed berries daily for eight weeks was associated with increased levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and lowered blood pressure, two positives when it comes to heart health. Included in the mix were strawberries, red raspberries and bilberries—similar to blueberries—as well as other berries more common in Finland (where the research was conducted): black currants, lingonberries and choke berries.
"At the moment we do not know which berry, or berries, could have been the most active," says Iris Erlund, Ph.D., senior researcher at the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki and lead author of the study. But, in fact, the diverse range of polyphenols—a broad class of health-promoting plant compounds that includes anthocyanins and ellagic acid—provided by the mix of berries is likely responsible for the observed benefits. Polyphenols may increase levels of nitric oxide, a molecule that produces a number of heart-healthy effects. One is helping to relax blood vessels, which subsequently results in lowered blood pressure, says Erlund.
Polyphenols may also help preserve bone density after menopause, according to new research in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. Our bones are constantly "turning over"—breaking down and building back up. After menopause, when estrogen levels plummet, bone breakdown outpaces bone formation, and the result is bone loss, a risk factor for osteoporosis. In the study, rats that had their ovaries removed (to mimic an estrogen-deprived postmenopausal state) and were fed blueberries every day for three months significantly increased their bone density, scientists at Florida Study University discovered. "We believe that polyphenols in the berries slowed the rate [of bone turnover], ultimately saving bone," says Bahram Arjmandi, Ph.D., R.D., the study’s lead author and professor and chair of the department of nutrition, food and exercise sciences at FSU. More research is needed to know for sure whether the benefits translate to humans but, says Arjmandi, the data suggest that eating even a small amount of blueberries each day—perhaps as little as 1⁄4 cup—could be good for anyone's bones.
Bottom line: Dig into a variety of berries regularly to reap the "total body" benefits of their polyphenols.

AAAUUUURRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-02T00:49:00.000-07:00

Chronic Stress
by Rich Maloof for MSN Health & Fitness

Do you have stress—or does stress have you?

Chronic stress compromises the immune system.

Chronic stress is described by the American Psychological Association (APA) as "the stress of unrelenting demands and pressures for seemingly interminable periods of time." It's the ever-mounting, everyday tension that has become of symptom of modern life. The APA further notes that stress is linked to the six of the leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide.

Stress correlates with these and dozens of additional medical conditions—from a ringing in the ears to ulcers, stroke and even AIDS—because it compromises the immune system, increasing susceptibility to illness. Among the most compelling evidence of this is a landmark study from 1991 by Sheldon Cohen, a psychologist at Carnegie Mellon University, who exposed subjects to viruses that cause the common cold. He found that the frequency and severity of colds were directly related to the amount of stress the subjects reported.

Read the APA's description of different kinds of stress here.

Hyper-tense job environments are probably not to blame for hypertension.

It is well known that an acutely stressful situation can precipitate a brief spike in blood pressure. However, the assumed link between job stress and chronic high blood pressure, or hypertension, has been called into question. In an article published in the May 2006 issue of Current Hypertension Reviews, Dr. Samuel J. Mann of Cornell University stated that "after decades of research, the evidence for a relationship between job stress and blood pressure is weak." Mann reviewed 48 studies involving more than 100,000 subjects and found the results too inconsistent to identify job stress as a dominant and direct cause of sustained high blood pressure. Now, stress at work may lead to problems such as overeating, weight gain, or alcohol abuse—all of which increase the risk of high blood pressure. But these are indirect causes, whereas Mann addressed the direct relationship between pressure in the office and pressure in the bloodstream.

Stress reactions are highly individualized.

"There's nothing you can say about stress that’s generic or applies to everybody," says Dr. Paul J. Rosch, president of the American Institute of Stress. For instance, deadlines at work may be daunting for one person while the pressure spurs creativity in another. One mother may regard a baby's cry as beautiful and life affirming while the sound literally drives another to drink. Dr. Rosch explains that people manage identical situations differently using the analogy of a roller coaster ride. "Some of the people are in the back seats with their eyes shut, jaws clenched, and they can't wait for the ride to end. But up front you have the wide-eyed thrill-seekers yelling and relishing every steep plunge—they race to get on the very next ride. And in between you might find a group for whom the ride was just boring. So, was the roller coaster ride stressful?"

Stress is a control issue.

As described in the roller coaster scenario, stress is perception. What distinguished the people in the back from the people in the front was the sense of control they perceived. Stress is all about the subjective response to loss of control.
That's not to say a mortgage payment, a traffic jam or Thanksgiving dinner with the extended family doesn't present a real problem. The way stressful circumstances are ultimately perceived and managed determines whether they adversely affect your health.

Exercise only helps if it’s the right exercise for you.

There’s no sure-fire exercise that reduces stress in everyone. When seeking any stress-reduction technique, pay attention to what promotes the therapeutic response you seek. A physiological result of healthy exercise is the release of endorphins, which reduce pain in the body and counter the effects of hormones identified with stress. But while one person benefits from the endorphin release following an aerobic workout, another may be soothed by the rhythmic movement of a rowing machine, and another may simply enjoy the escapism of wearing headphones while walking around the block. Others engage in group sports and activities, supporting the widely held theory that social interaction is an excellent stress buffer.
To learn more about chronic stress, see the news and overviews on stress from the National Institutes of Health. The National Institute of Occupational Safety has posted several pages concerning stress at work. Also search the pages at American Institute of Stressand here at MSN Health & Fitness.

Thank you to Dr. Paul J. Rosch, president of The American Institute of Stress, for providing background and guidance.

Just Do It!

2008-11-02T00:35:00.001-07:00

Boo Ya'll

2008-10-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

Having Your Muffin And Eating It Too --- Guilt Free Muffin Tips

2008-10-19T11:51:00.000-07:00

Stud Muffins
Four ways to turn a caloric bomb into the perfect snack.
By Liz Applegate, Ph.D, Runner's World

It's nearly impossible to resist a freshly baked muffin. This tasty baked good offers a convenient source of carbs that's perfect for a pre- or postrun snack. But not all muffins are a guilt-free food. They can be oversized nutritional disasters packed with tons of calories and fat and little protein or fiber. Here's how to pick wisely.
Look for low-fat: Muffins with reduced fat can save serious calories. Starbucks' low-fat blueberry muffin, for example, has three grams of fat and 310 calories—as opposed to the 24 grams of fat and 470 calories in the original. When baking your own, reduce the fat by swapping an equal amount of applesauce or plum purée for oil.
Watch portions: Skip muffins the size of a softball, which pack more than twice the calories and fat of the "standard" three- to four-ounce size. If you buy a megamuffin, eat half and save the rest for tomorrow. Better yet, look for a muffin the size of a small apple.
Choose whole grains: The first few ingredients on the label of store-bought muffins should contain whole grains or fiber, such as whole wheat, oat bran, whole corn meal or whole oats. These quality carbs will help fuel your muscles, and the high fiber will keep you feeling full.
Go nutty (and fruity): These add-ins add calories but are worth it. Dried or fresh fruits are packed with antioxidants, while nuts provide heart-healthy fats. Go with your favorites, whether that's raisins, cherries, blueberries, apples, walnuts, pecans or almonds.

Liz's Muffin Mix
The surest way to know you're eating a healthy muffin is to bake it yourself.

Start with this basic low-fat recipe and add your favorite ingredients for a nutritional boost.

2 cups whole-grain flour
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs or ½ cup Egg Beaters
1 cup skim milk, soy milk, or kefir
½ cup applesauce, regular or flavored, such as blueberry or pomegranate
½ cup chopped nuts, or dried, fresh, or frozen fruit

Preheat oven to 425° F.

Fill a muffin tin with 12 paper muffin cups.

Mix the first five dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Slightly beat the eggs.

Mix in the milk and applesauce.

Add wet ingredients to the dry mix.

Stir until just combined, sprinkling in the nuts or fruit.

Spoon into muffin cups.

Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until muffin tops are golden brown.

Calories per muffin: 230
Carbs: 46 g
Protein: 4 g
Fat: 3 g

Add to your shopping cart: Hemp-seed butter:
Hemp may be a relative of the marijuana plant, but it shares none of the psychoactive compounds. The plant seeds can be ground into butter and supply an excellent source of protein, as well as omega-3s. Spread hemp-seed butter on whole-grain bread or stir into yogurt with fruit.

The Essence Of Running or Walking For That Matter --- Thanks MS Track Club

2008-10-18T22:10:00.000-07:00

"Running is a road to self-awareness and self-reliance...You can push yourself to extremes and learn the harsh reality ofyour physical and mental limitations or coast quietly down a solitary path watching the earth spin beneath your feet, but whenyou are through, exhilarated and exhausted, at least for a moment everything seems right with the world."

Anon

HDL, LDL, Triglycerides..... What are your numbers?

2008-10-09T20:54:00.000-07:00

The Cholesterol Question
By Arthur Agatston, M.D., Prevention

The other day, I was explaining to a patient why we needed to devise a strategy to lower her cholesterol, when she waved me silent. "It's hard for me to place too much faith in that plan," she said. "A good friend of mine who always had exemplary cholesterol levels just had a heart attack."
I've had other patients tell me this as well. And in fact, it's true: Many people with relatively low cholesterol do have heart attacks every year, supporting the somewhat contrarian theory that cholesterol is not the main cause of heart disease. Instead, skeptics often point to iron or homocysteine, an amino acid that accumulates in the blood if you eat too much meat and dairy, as chief culprits. Although homocysteine and excess iron can contribute to heart disease, large-scale studies have failed to confirm that either one plays a primary role. Still, those findings have done little to quell the doubts of the naysayers who maintain that cholesterol does not cause coronary heart disease.
I have three words in response: Don't believe them.
Here's why: Virtually every heart attack starts with cholesterol. Each occurs because the waxy substance burrows into the heart vessel wall and eventually bursts, much like a pimple, leaving an ulceration of the artery lining that the body tries to heal by forming a blood clot. This clot blocks the artery, causing a heart attack. In very rare instances, a clot will migrate to the heart from somewhere else, but this is almost unheard of.
Still, how do we explain a heart attack in someone like my patient's friend, who, thanks to her low number, is presumably not forming plaque? Turns out, size and number of LDL particles matter. Think of LDL and HDL (the healthy one) as shuttle buses that carry cholesterol to and from your heart, respectively. If they're small (if one is, so is the other), that's bad. Tiny LDL particles can more easily slip into blood vessel walls than bigger ones. And let's say you have an LDL of 130, a desirable number: If your particles are small, there will be more of them to do their nasty work. Meanwhile, tiny HDL particles are poorly equipped to mop up excess cholesterol and transport it back to the liver for excretion, compared with larger, more absorbent ones. That's why you can have good, healthy cholesterol numbers but still be at high risk of a heart attack.
To quickly find out if your particles may be small, cross-check your triglycerides with your cholesterol numbers. If you have low triglycerides (less than 100) and your HDL is high (greater than 60), you likely have the favored large particles. But if you have high triglycerides and low HDL, your cholesterol is probably of the small-particle variety. Then you should ask your doctor for a lipoprotein subfraction test, which divides your cholesterol into subparticles based on their size and density.
Many people with diabetes or pre-diabetes fall into this group. As the disease approaches epidemic proportions in the United States, it's no wonder we're seeing more heart attacks in people with low cholesterol. It's also no wonder that, to explain the phenomenon, some people may be proposing alternative theories of heart disease.
Just don't believe them.
"If you have diabetes, low HDL, and high triglycerides, get a test that measures the size of your cholesterol particles."
Slash your risk!
Find out which foods can help you lower cholesterol at prevention.com/heartsmartfoods.
Arthur Agatston, M.D., a preventive cardiologist and an associate professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, conducted several groundbreaking studies on heart disease and wrote the international bestseller, The South Beach Diet. He maintains a cardiology practice and research foundation in Miami Beach, FL.

Provided by Prevention

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH

2008-10-09T19:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits.

Satchel Paige (1906 - 1982)

A Little Inspiration For Today

2008-10-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

The distance is nothing --- its the first step that is hard!

A runners creed: I will win; if I cannot win, I shall be second; if I cannot be second, I shall be third; if I cannot place at all, I shall still do my best." - Ken Doherty

"Runners just do it - they run for the finish line even if someone else has reached it first." - Author Unknown

Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts."

Steve Prefontaine

Cholestrol Lowering Tips From Health

2008-10-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

How to lower your cholesterol with better eating

Story Highlights

*Saturated fat is likely to raise blood cholesterol more than any other food in your diet
*Too much abdominal fat is particularly heart-unhealthy
*Soluble fiber helps trap cholesterol in the digestive tract
*You should eat foods containing plant stanols and sterols with meals twice a day

By Kate Stinchfield
About one in two American adults has borderline or high cholesterol levels, which increase one's risk of heart attack and cardiovascular disease.
Statins, medications that lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, are now among the most prescribed drugs in the country (and the world). But medication is only part of the solution: To keep cholesterol under control, maintaining a healthy weight and diet is just as important as taking a daily pill.
The guidelines for treating high cholesterol from the National Cholesterol Education Program recommend that patients try to lower their cholesterol through Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC), which include exercise and a healthy diet, before starting a statin.
Lowering your cholesterol through eating habits and exercise means you can avoid the risk of side effects from medication entirely. Indeed, the only side effects of TLC you'll encounter are more energy, weight loss, and better overall health.
To help decrease your cholesterol without a statin -- or to supplement the statin you're already taking -- follow these guidelines from the TLC diet.
Reduce saturated fat to no more than 7 percent of total calories, and cholesterol to no more than 200 milligrams per day
Saturated fat is likely to raise blood cholesterol more than any other food in your diet (except for, perhaps, trans fats, which are slowly being phased out of many foods). A goal of just 7 percent of total calories is no more than 16 grams per day for most people. To stay within these boundaries, eat more of a plant-based diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and limit red meat, full-fat dairy products, baked goods, and fried foods. Read about more foods to avoid
Read labels and try to track your daily saturated fat grams until you get an idea of how much your typical food choices contain; don't rely solely on the Percent Daily Values listed, since they're based on the diet of someone who doesn't have high cholesterol and thus can eat slightly more saturated fat. An added bonus: Lowering your saturated fat intake means you'll help lower cholesterol intake as well, since saturated fat and cholesterol tend to be found together.
If you're overweight, reduce calories and work toward your ideal body weight
It's unclear exactly why being overweight tends to increase blood cholesterol, but too much abdominal fat is particularly heart-unhealthy. Video: See why your spare tire is so dangerous
Women should strive to keep their waist circumference below 35 inches and men below 40. If you are overweight, losing just 10 percent of your body weight can provide a significant health improvement. Use this interactive tool to see your weight-related health profile.
Add 5 to 10 grams of soluble fiber a day
Soluble fiber is found in oats, beans, fruits, and vegetables -- it's why products like Cheerios can claim heart-healthy benefits. Soluble fiber helps trap cholesterol in the digestive tract so that it passes through your body rather than getting into your bloodstream. Eating oatmeal breakfasts and having whole fruits as snacks can get you closer to this goal.
Add 2 grams of plant stanols and sterols to your daily diet
Plant stanols and sterols are natural compounds found in vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds that compete with cholesterol for absorption into the bloodstream from the gastrointestinal tract and thus decrease the amount of cholesterol that makes it into your system. Stanol- and sterol-enhanced foods and beverages have become commonplace in supermarkets, from margarines and spreads to orange juice. For best results, eat foods containing plant stanols and sterols with meals twice a day.
Practice therapeutic lifestyle changes
These adjustments, combined with exercise and consultations with a doctor, make up the TLC program. By following this plan, you may be able to avoid the cost, hassle, and potential side effects of prescription drugs -- or at least keep your dose down.
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20th OVER THE RIVER RUN

2008-10-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

What: 5 mile walk, 5 mile run, 1 mile fun run (for the youngsters)
When: Saturday October 11, 2008 Race starts at 8:00am and should be over by 12:00 am
Where: Old I -20 bridge over the Mighty Mississippi River; Vicksburg Ms (gather at the visitor center at I-20)
Join us for the running or walking --- it is a beautiful hike over the river ---- competitors come from all over to participate in this race it is a Grand Prix event with the MS Track Club
There will be food, entertainment, awards, etc after the race

more info see

MS Track Club site or the River Region Health System Site

Weight Loss Over 40

2008-10-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

Foods That Fight Fat Over 40
By the Editors of Prevention

Boost the benefits of your workout and burn more fat, faster, with these seven smart food choices. Add them to your daily diet and you can shed about 10 pounds over the course of a year.

Water with lemon
A California study of 240 women found that dieters who replaced their sweetened drinks with water lost an average of 3 pounds more a year than those who didn't. Subjects who sipped more than 4 cups of water a day lost 2 additional pounds, compared with those who drank less. Plus, the phosphoric acid in soda may contribute to bone loss—and osteoporosis—by changing the acid balance in your blood.

High-fiber granola bars
A small British study found that women who eat a fiber-rich, high-carb breakfast burn twice as much fat during workouts later in the day as those who eat more refined (lower-fiber) foods. Try a granola bar with at least 4 g of fiber, like Kashi, instead of the typical bar that contains just a single gram. Refined carbs spike your insulin levels, which limits your body's ability to use fat as fuel, explains Lisa Dorfman, R.D., adjunct professor at the University of Miami.

Ground flaxseed
Flaxseed is rich in fiber and healthy fats, which help stabilize blood sugar, so you're less likely to binge. Some research suggests flax can also help soothe symptoms of hormone swings because it's high in plant estrogens. Ground seeds are easier to digest. Sprinkle them over cereals, soups, or salads; add them to smoothies; or substitute 1 cup of ground flaxseed for 1/3 cup canola, corn, or other oil or shortening in muffins and cookies. Note: Lower oven temperature slightly, since baked goods brown faster with flax.

Walnuts
Instead of snacking on some chips, open up a bag of nuts: Walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may keep you feeling fuller longer. In a one-year study of people with diabetes who were following a low-fat diet, Australian researchers discovered that those who included 8 to 10 walnuts a day lost more weight and body fat. The subjects also reduced their insulin levels, which helps keep fat storage in check.

Hot sauce
Forget bland condiments. If you want to burn fat, spice things up. In a study of 36 men and women, Australian researchers found that following a spicy meal, levels of insulin—the hormone that triggers body fat storage—were lowered by as much as 32 percent. One theory: Capsaicin, the chemical that gives chiles their fire, may improve the body's ability to clear insulin from the bloodstream after you eat, so you're more likely to burn fat following a meal spiked with chile peppers than after one that isn't packing heat.

Cinnamon
Sweeten your oatmeal or frothy coffee drinks with this sweet spice instead of sugar (which has 16 calories per teaspoon) and you can save a couple hundred calories a week, enough to shed 2 to 3 pounds in a year without doing anything else. You'll also be doing your heart a favor as protective estrogen levels decline: Pakistani researchers found that 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon a day could lower heart-damaging cholesterol by 18 percent and triglycerides by 30 percent.

Salmon
Just 3 ounces of canned salmon delivers 530 IU (more than the daily value) for vitamin D and 181 mg of calcium, a power-packed nutritional combination that may be just what your waistline needs as you get older. In a 7-year study of more than 36,000 women ages 50 to 79, researchers at Kaiser Permanente found that those who took both calcium and vitamin D supplements gained less weight after menopause than those who took a placebo. Other research shows that without enough vitamin D, our appetite-regulating hormone leptin can't do its job. Other fatty fish choices include tuna, sardines and mackerel.

Provided by Prevention

Lunch Hour Workout

2008-10-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

Lunch-Break Blasters
By the Editors of Men's Health
Men's Health

Fighting off a desk nap? Jump-start your heart. "A high-intensity lunchtime workout can give your body the boost it needs to power through the rest of the day," says James Batey, an ACE-certified personal trainer at Brooklyn's Fitness Collective. But you'll need a fast workout that you can do anywhere. That's what you'll find below.
The Lunchtime Workout
Perform these moves in order, spending one minute on each exercise—a total of five minutes for each set. Rest two minutes between sets, and don't do the workout two days in a row.
Set 1
Calf Jump with Overhead Arms (00:01)
Stand on your toes with your legs shoulder-width apart, and stretch your arms over your head. Jump as if you were skipping rope. Repeat until the time expires.
Switch Split Jump (00:02)
Start in a lunge position, knees bent. Clasp your hands behind your head. Jump and switch legs midair. Allow your body to descend into the next lunge, and immediately repeat the jump, minimizing your time on the ground.
Speed Side-Shuffle Pushup (00:03)
From the pushup position, extend your right arm and leg as far to the right as possible. Bring your left arm and leg over so you're back in the starting position. Shuffle 10 times back and forth.
Soft Jump Squat (00:04)
Place a cone outside your right foot. Assume a squat position, bending your legs until they're parallel to the ground. Jump over the cone sideways, landing gently with the cone outside your left foot. Go back and forth.
Burpees (00:05)
Do one pushup. Jump into a squat position. Raise your hands overhead and jump up, bringing your knees into your chest. Land on your toes and drop back into a squat. Kick your feet back into a pushup. Repeat.
Break 1 (00:05-00:07)
Set 2
Bear Crawl (00:08)
Assume a crawling position. Bend your elbows and knees, with your hips in the air. Pick a point and crawl toward it as fast as you can. Then move backward using the same form, until you reach your starting position.
Pulsing Sumo Squat with Jump (00:09)
Lower yourself into two consecutive squats, holding each for 1 second. As you rise out of the second squat, explode up and land while maintaining form. Repeat.
High Knees in Place (00:10)
Sprint in place, driving your knees up to your chest. If you feel your legs lagging, hold your hands straight out in front and aim to connect your knees to your elbows.
Pushup with Side Plank (00:11)
Complete one pushup and then immediately push yourself into a side plank. Align your head, neck, shoulders, core, and legs. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat, alternating sides.
Jump Squat/Jumping Jacks (00:12)
Stand with your hands behind your head. Lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the floor, then push up so your feet leave the floor. Land with bent knees, do five jumping jacks, and repeat.
Break 2 (00:12-00:14)
Set 3
Bicycle Crunches (00:15)
Lie on your back with hands clasped behind your head. Lift both legs slightly off the ground. Touch your elbow to its opposite knee, alternating and moving quickly, as if you're pedaling a bike.
Forward Distance Hop (00:16)
With your feet hip-width apart, jump as far forward as you can, using your arms to propel you. Land in a low squat position and immediately jump forward again.
Basketball Shuffle (00:17)
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees into a low squat; shuffle to your left for 10 seconds, then back to the right for 10 seconds.
Heels High (00:18)
Sprint in place, bringing your heels up behind you, as if you're kicking your own butt.
Kangaroo Hops (00:19)
Stand with your legs slightly apart. Extend your arms out to your sides. Jump and drive your knees to your chest, using your arms to balance. Aim for 10 to 15 jumps in a minute.

Big Blue At Pearl

2008-10-05T22:28:00.001-07:00

Big Blue Results From Pearl Invitational Marching Contest......

#4 Overall Band

#1 Drum Majors

#1 Percussion

State here we come!

Over The River Is Coming!!!!!!!!!

2008-10-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

This is me at the Over The River Run..... I am so not ready this year!

Way To Go Big Blue

2008-10-02T20:42:00.000-07:00

Copiah Marching Festival Results For Warren Central HS Big Blue Band--- We are so proud of all of you!

All Superior Rating
#1 Drumline
#1 Color Guard
#1 Band
#2 Overall

The Bands New Program is Locomotion ---- Based on a train trip ---- and it is JUST AWESOME!

Red Carpet Invitational Marching Contest

2008-10-02T20:31:00.000-07:00

When: October 11, 2008

Time: TBA

Where: Warren Central HS Campus

Vicksburg Mississippi

What: HS Marching Band Competition,

Demonstration bands, etc

Competition is being hosted by Warren Central HS and The BIG BLUE BAND!

Concessions will be available as well as Big Blue Merchandise......

Come enjoy an entertaining day of wonderful marching, beautiful color guard corps, and wonderful music!

If you would like to support the Red Carpet Invitational we are selling ads for the program

$100 for a full page ad

$50.00 for a 1/2 page ad

$25.00 for a 1/4 page ad

$20.00 for a business card sized ad

$10.00 for a sponsorship listing

Just let me know if you are interested at getfitvicksburg@yahoo.com --- all ads must be paid in advance and checks made out to Warren Central Bands.... Thanks in advance!

MUFAS

2008-10-02T20:15:00.000-07:00

Meet the 5 Flat Belly Foods
By the Editors of Prevention

To the ancient Greeks, olive oil was liquid gold. For the Aztecs, chocolate was sacred. Almonds were prized by Egypt's pharaohs, and avocados have symbolized fertility for centuries. These can't-live-without-'em foods share more than history; they also share unique health properties. They're packed with monounsaturated fatty acids (also known as MUFAs, pronounced MOO-fahs), those good-for-you fats that protect you from chronic disease and, according to new research, can help you lose fat, specifically around your middle. That's why they're at the heart of the Flat Belly Diet, a unique Prevention-tested weight loss plan.
There are five major categories of MUFAs: (1) oils, (2) nuts and seeds, (3) avocado, (4) olives, and (5) chocolate. Eating one serving of any of these at every meal will help reduce your accumulation of dangerous belly fat; control your calorie intake and you'll lose inches and pounds, too — especially around your waistline.
These mouth-watering recipes make it easy. Each portion contains high levels of MUFA, plus serving suggestions that allow you to create a meal that contains around 400 calories — enough to control your hunger and boost your energy without exceeding your daily needs. You can easily fit these meals into the Flat Belly Diet menu plans, but even if you're not following the diet, you can still enjoy the rich flavor of MUFAs and their numerous health benefits. For centuries, they've been hard to resist.
1. Oils
Pick your MUFA: Canola oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil, peanut oil, pesto sauce, safflower oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, walnut oil
Use them like this: Stir-fry with sesame, peanut, or canola oil; pan-fry in walnut or olive oil; spread pesto on a sandwich, drizzle it over soups or grilled foods, or toss it with rice or pasta; add walnut, sesame, or olive oil to marinades; cook with safflower, soybean, or sunflower oil; use flaxseed oil in salad dressings (flaxseed oil cannot be used for cooking)
A serving equals: 1 tablespoon
Make a MUFA meal with oils:
Grilled Portobello and Roasted Pepper Burgers
2. Nuts & Seeds
Pick your MUFA: Almonds, almond butter, Brazil nuts, cashew butter, chunky natural peanut butter, dry-roasted cashews, dry-roasted peanuts, dry-roasted sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, roasted pumpkin seeds, smooth natural peanut butter, sunflower seeds, sunflower seed butter, tahini (sesame seed paste), walnuts
Use them like this: Eat as a snack; sprinkle on a salad; crush and use as a crunchy topping for fish and chicken (dip fish or chicken in lightly beaten egg white to help nuts adhere); spread nut butters on crackers, bread, or fruit; stir nut butters into soups and sauces to add body and flavor A serving equals: 2 tablespoons
Make a MUFA meal with nuts & seeds:
Vietnamese Beef Salad
3. Avocado
Pick your MUFA: Florida avocado, Hass avocado
Use them like this: Slice and serve with a salad or any entrée; mash with lime juice, salt, and pepper and serve with chips; chop and fold into store-bought salsa
A serving equals: ¼ cup
Make a MUFA meal with avocado:
Chicken with Citrus-Avocado Salsa
4. Olives
Pick your MUFA: Black olives, black olive tapenade, green olives, green olive tapenade
Use them like this: Serve olives as a snack; sprinkle sliced olives on pizzas, salads, or pastas; spread tapenade on crackers or sandwiches; stuff tapenade into chicken breasts or fish fillets
A serving equals: 10 large olives or 2 tablespoons of tapenade
Make a MUFA meal with olives:
Low-Fat Frittata with Smoked Salmon and Scallions
5. Chocolate
Pick your MUFA: Dark or semisweet chocolate chips, shavings, or chunks
Use them like this: Any way you crave!
A serving equals: ¼ cup
Make a MUFA meal with chocolate:
Chocolate Pudding with Bananas and Graham Crackers
Provided by Prevention

URL: http://health.msn.com/nutrition/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100188436

Mississippi Is Number 3 In A Good Way ----

2008-10-02T19:17:00.000-07:00

School lunches in Mississippi ranked No. 3 in nation
By Megan Hollandmholland@vicksburgpost.com
Published:Wednesday, October 1, 2008 12:03 PM CDT

Mississippi has been ranked No. 3 in the nation when it comes to the healthfulness of school lunches, and an official with the Vicksburg Warren School District says the accolade is well-deserved.“It’s the result of lots of hard work,” said VWSD child nutritionist Gail Kavanaugh. “We are last when it comes to obesity, but we are third when it comes to combating obesity — and I think that says a lot about the effort being put forward.”On the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s 2007 School Food Report Card, Mississippi and six other states, including Arkansas and Alabama, received a B+. No states received an A; two received an A-; 21 states fell in the B, C and D range, including Louisiana, Texas and Florida, which all got a B-; and 20 received an F. Mississippi’s grade in 2006 was C.In obesity statistics, for the past three years, CalorieLab Inc. has ranked Mississippi the fattest state in the nation. In 2007, Mississippi’s obesity rate was 32.6 percent. Coming in second on the CalorieLab report was West Virginia, followed by Alabama and Louisiana.The CSPI’s goal is to “help reduce the illnesses, disabilities, deaths and high health-care costs caused by diet and inactivity related diseases and conditions such as heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.”When ranking states on the Food Report Card, the CSPI looks at beverage nutrition standards, food nutrition standards, grade levels to which health policies apply, the times during the school day to which health policies apply and locations on campus to which health policies apply in each public school system.“The grade we were given represents how they feel Mississippi’s approach to health has been through the legislature and extra step
OnlineCenter for Science in the Public Interest’s 2007 School Food Report Card: www.cspinet.org/2007schoolreport.pdf.we have taken,” Kavanaugh said. “They know obesity is an issue here and they chose to recognize us for our efforts in fighting that. I feel very good about the state of Mississippi and the progress we have made.”VWSD Superintendent Dr. James Price said he is pleased with Mississippi’s grade on the Food Report Card.“We have one of the best child nutritionists in the nation,” said Price of Kavanaugh. “People from all over the country call her out to do presentations on healthier lifestyles. Everybody has worked hard and it’s showing.”In Mississippi, from one hour before the start of any meal services period until the end of the last meal period, no food or beverages can be sold outside of those provided by school food services. And, school food services can serve only foods that are within federal meal patterns plus foods necessary to meet the caloric requirement of the age group being served.“We’re not only educating our students on how to live and eat healthy, we’re also educating teachers and administrators — as well as parents,” said Kavanaugh. “Teachers incorporate health education into the classrooms. It has become an important part of the curriculum.”The VWSD is in the process of establishing school health councils that will monitor food and physical activity. Each school will have its own council of which parents, students, teachers, principals, health-care providers, community leaders, government officials, media and law enforcement officers will be part.“We realize not everyone will be able to have all these people in their groups,” Kavanaugh said.In addition to food regulations, the Mississippi Department of Education requires 150 minutes of physical education each week for elementary and middle school students and, to graduate, two semesters of physical education for high school students.“We didn’t become the most obese state in the nation in just a few months or years, and we won’t fix it in just a few months or years,” said Kavanaugh. “It is going to take time, but we are on the right track.”

Cereal Savy

2008-10-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

By Cynthia Sass, M.P.H., R.D., Prevention

Here's an eye-opening fact about breakfast: People who skip it are four and a half times as likely to be obese as those who always eat it. Here's another: A new Harvard health study found that those who consumed whole grain cereal seven or more times per week had the lowest incidence of heart failure.
Still not excited? Yet another study from the University of Minnesota reported that the risk of all coronary events was reduced by 10 percent for each 10 grams of grain fiber consumed per day. And because cereal is one of the best sources of these lifesaving whole grains, that means a single daily serving has the potential to slash your risk of heart disease, the number-one killer of women.
A higher intake of whole grains is also linked to lower rates of breast cancer, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke. And then there's this: Cereal is fast and convenient and comes in a gazillion varieties. But that's also its potential downfall. If you don't know what to look for, you could end up with a bowl full of empty calories instead of a nutritional powerhouse. To make sure you're getting the most bang for your cereal buck, follow these tips:
1. Be a fiber fiend
Look for the words "high fiber" on the box; that ensures at least 5 grams per serving. But don't stop there. Check the label; in some brands, the benefits of fiber are overshadowed by the addition of refined grains, added sugar or cholesterol-raising fats.
2. Go "whole" hog
Where that fiber comes from matters, too, so check the ingredient list to find out exactly what those flakes or squares are made from. Millet, amaranth, quinoa, and oats are always whole grain, but if you don't see "whole" in front of wheat, corn, barley, and rice, these grains have been refined.
3. Watch for hidden sugar
The "total sugars" listing doesn't distinguish between added and naturally occurring sugars. There's no need to avoid the natural sugars found in nutrient-rich whole grains and fruits. But added sugars tack on extra calories without vitamins or minerals and can wreak havoc on your blood sugar and energy levels. The best way to tell is to scan the ingredients again. The following terms represent added sugars: brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, high-fructose corn syrup, invert sugar, maltose, malt syrup, molasses, sugar and sucrose. Skip cereals that list any of these within the first three ingredients (which are listed by weight).
4. Avoid sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners
They're sometimes added to boost sweetness without calories. I'm not a fan of anything artificial, and sugar alcohols can bloat your belly, so I recommend avoiding them. Steer clear of cereals containing sucralose, aspartame, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol, maltitol syrup, lactitol, and erythritol. Instead, add natural sweetness by topping your cereal with fresh fruit.
Cynthia Sass, M.P.H., R.D., is Prevention's nutrition director. As a registered dietitian, she's been helping women healthfully navigate grocery aisles for more than a decade.

Ways To Be Lean For Life

2008-09-29T15:00:00.000-07:00

Lean For Life
Edited by Heather Hurlock, Best Life

The smell of bacon in the morning might do more than just get you out of bed ... it could help you lose weight. A recent study by the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, in Chicago, found a surprising connection between good-smelling food and weight loss. For six months, 1,436 overweight volunteers sprinkled savory or sweet calorie-free crystallized smells (called tastants) onto their food before eating, and they lost an average of 30.5 pounds. "Smells are perceived as tastes, so they increase sensory-specific satiety, making you feel full faster," says study author Alan Hirsch, MD. But you don't need tastants to reap these benefits. Simply slow down when you eat, and focus on the smell of your food, says Dr. Hirsch. You'll eat in a less hurried fashion and recognize when you have eaten enough, which translates to fewer calories consumed and more weight lost.

Eat breakfast, drop pounds
A high-protein breakfast (containing 40 grams of protein) is one key to long-term weight loss, according to new research from Daniela Jakubowicz, M.D., and scientists from Virginia Commonwealth University. In their eight-month study, obese individuals who ate a 600-calorie breakfast and a small lunch and dinner lost an average of 40 pounds. The hormones that transform food into energy prevail at sunrise, so a big breakfast with plenty of protein (such as eggs, lean breakfast meats, low-fat cheeses, and protein smoothies) will speed up your metabolism and reduce hunger and cravings later in the day. No time for a big breakfast? Eat an omelet with smoked salmon or ham and a piece of whole-grain toast (about 300 calories) when you first wake up. When you arrive at work, have a yogurt, blueberries, and a protein smoothie (about 300 calories), says Dr. Jakubowicz.

Avoid the weekend fat trap
Even if you work out every day or eat perfectly during the week, you can sabotage your flat belly by indulging too heavily on Saturday and Sunday. A recent study in the journal Obesity followed two groups of people for one year: one group on a calorie-restricting diet, and the other on a daily exercise program. Those in the CR group stopped losing weight on the weekends, and the people in the exercise group actually gained weight, solely from weekend splurging. The key is to maintain your regular eating patterns on your days off: Try to avoid huge brunches and constant grazing, and consider keeping a food diary to ensure your calorie intake is consistent every day.

Burn fat with spices
Turmeric, a spice common in curry dishes, may treat many inflammatory conditions from skin diseases, Alzheimer's, and cancer. Now researchers at Columbia University say the spice shows promise in fighting obesity. When they fed obese mice curcumin, the yellow-orange antioxidant in turmeric, there was a decline in the animals' body weight and fat, even with higher calorie consumption. The study authors recommend adding one teaspoon of turmeric a day to your diet. The spice is found in yellow mustard and pickles, can be used as a rub on meat, chicken, or fish, and makes a tasty addition to vegetable sautés, soups, and stews.

Smile yourself slim
Being happy keeps you thin, according to a new study in the journal Cell Metabolism. The good-mood hormone serotonin reduces your appetite and directly affects your body's ability to store or burn fat: Low levels of serotonin mean more fat storage, while high levels mean you're more likely to burn fat. Boost serotonin levels with exercise, high-fiber/low-glycemic-index carbs (like oatmeal), monounsaturated fats (like avocados), and foods high in folic acid (like wheat germ, lentils, and spinach), says New York City-based registered dietitian Keri Glassman.

URL: http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100216575

GOODBYE BLUE EYES

2008-09-27T20:39:00.000-07:00

"If my eyes should ever turn brown, my career is shot to hell," Paul Newman once joked. No one could deny the magic of those baby blues, not even the heartthrob himself. But after a decades-long screen career and an even more astonishing philanthropic one, the world says goodbye to the gentle-hearted Oscar winner, who died of cancer Friday at age 83.

RAWISM

2008-09-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

Woman goes raw, loses more than half herself

By Jackie Adams
CNN

(CNN) -- Angela Stokes had never been overweight as a child.

But she steadily started gaining weight as a teenager because of an under-active thyroid gland. By the time she graduated from college her weight had ballooned and she wore a U.K. dress size 26-28.

"I was 300 pounds, very unwell, very miserable," recalls Stokes. "I ate junk food all the time. I was very closed down emotionally. I had no interest in dieting; I just wanted to eat all the time ... that was like my comfort in life."

At the time, she says she was so "emotionally shut down" she refused to talk to anyone about what was happening. The weight was also taking a physical toll on her health and she frequently battled infections and illness.

Stokes says living her everyday life became a challenge.

"My mobility was quite restricted ... I was unwilling to participate in things from cutting my toenails to going on a walk with my friends," remembered Stokes. "I tried to give this impression that I felt fine about everything, but inside I was in a lot of pain a lot of the time."

Two summers after she reached her heaviest weight, Stokes was working at a greenhouse in Iceland, when a friend lent her a copy of a book about the health benefits of eating raw foods. Stokes, who had never been interested in diets, says she was completely "absorbed" by the approach.

She started eating raw the very next day.

"Everything in my life completely shifted. It was like a light bulb moment to be like ... 'this is what I was waiting for to reclaim my health,' " said Stokes. Watch CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta report on Angela Stokes' raw diet »

She went cold turkey or "cold cucumber," as Stokes often jokes. She stopped eating meat, animal products and processed foods and instead switched to a diet that consisted of uncooked and unprocessed vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds.

"To me, the thing with raw food is that it just makes sense. It's simple and natural, eating food straight from the earth. There's no rocket science, no mystery," said Stokes. "Once you understand the simple principal that no other animal in the wild eats cooked or processed foods. That's it."

The raw food diet completely transformed her life, she says. Within the first month of going raw, she had her first boyfriend in more than five years. In just two years, she had lost 160 pounds and has experienced dramatic improvements emotionally, physically and socially and is "happier than I've ever been."

Stokes, who now weighs 138 pounds, has kept the weight off for four years and authored several books on "raw foodism" lifestyle.

What tips does she have for people considering a raw vegan lifestyle? First, start slowly.

"I recommend people start out being at least 50 percent raw and go from there," advises Stokes. "Maybe it ends up at some point you are completely raw, maybe not. As long as the majority of the stuff or at least 50 percent is fresh raw food ... then you're tipping the balance in your favor."

Stokes also advises people to start eating things they like such as peaches, plums or spinach and then slowly incorporate more fresh raw foods. She admits the lifestyle can be socially challenging and she encourages people to connect with other "raw foodists."

"It's great to get support. If you look on the Internet and around you, you may find pot lucks," said Stokes. "Read books to inspire you to keep going on this journey."

Matt Sloane contributed to this report.

Way To Go Amory Middle School

2008-09-25T20:52:00.001-07:00

Tied For #1 Healthiest Middle School In America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

from:

http://living.health.com/2008/08/20/americas-healthiest-schools/

The average American child spends nearly 12,000 hours in school, from kindergarten through 12th grade. That’s a big chunk of time during which he or she can develop good (or bad) health habits. Happily, schools today are recognizing the many benefits of a healthy head start—and Health magazine wants to recognize the ones that are doing an A+ job. To find the health stars in America’s vast public school universe, we asked education officials in every state for their nominations; we scored those based on how they measured up to some tough criteria (see How We Chose Our Winners), and the semifinalists were ranked by our panel of experts. Congratulations to all of the inspiring winners!
The Winners:
1. West Babylon Senior High - West Babylon, New York
TIE 2. Rawhide Elementary - Gillette, Wyoming
TIE 2. Amory Middle - Amory, Mississippi
3. Anthony Elementary - Leavenworth, Kansas
4. Richmond Elementary - Appleton, Wisconsin
5. Mountain Valley Middle - Mexico, Maine
6. Miami Springs Middle - Miami Springs, Florida
7. Lakewood Elementary - Cecilia, Kentucky
TIE 8. W.C. Britt Elementary - Snellville, Georgia
TIE 8. South Elementary - Pinson, Tennessee

TIE 2.

Amory Middle

Amory, Mississippi

479 students in grades 6 through 8
A battle against its state’s obesity problem, combined with admirable creativity, make this middle school not only Mississippi’s shining star but also a national model. The fitness push at Amory was off the charts: The school collaborated with a home-improvement retailer to build a rock-climbing wall, set up an on-site fitness center that offers twice-weekly family-friendly activities from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and implemented a school-wide mission to get (and keep) kids moving. “We have become Dance, Dance Revolution,” principal Cheryl Moore says. “We traverse the rock-climbing wall, play ping-pong, power walk, and much more.”
Amory also wowed panelists with its hydration policy, which allows students to bring water into the classroom, and its healthy-snack policy, which bridges the gap to lunch. Plus, the school provides great nutritional education through its healthful lunch menus and special events like the Healthy Wok workshop.
The school’s faculty-driven push to incorporate health education throughout the curriculum earned a high mark from health-ed judge Areva Martin, who saw this as a way to give students “a solid foundation for healthy living.”
By Tracy MinkinAdditional Reporting by Brittani Tingle

Fitness Matters

2008-09-23T20:56:00.000-07:00

Get Fit Mississippi

Get Inspired
Get Moving
Get Motivated
Get Healthy
Get Fit……………..

We don’t want to be number one any more ……
Number one obese state in the Nation that is……

So put down that hamburger and lace up those walking shoes!

The time is now and we will show you HOW…..
At http://www.getfitmississippi.com/

· online journaling
· online message boards
· online support groups
· online recipes, inspirational stories, and fitness news
· and much much more

Any questions contact your Vicksburg Area Point Person for GetFit; Tracye Prewitt at getfitvicksburg@yahoo.com

Great Value Low Fat Sugar Free Ice Cream Sandwiches

2008-09-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

These sandwiches are low fat and low calorie compared to the leaded versions! They are really good too.......

Only 110 calories

And 98% Fat Free

So you can have your ice cream/and cake and eat it too!

Another Reason To Get Potassium In Your Diet And Other Diet Musings

2008-09-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

Lean for Life: Preserve Muscle with Potassium
Edited by Heather Hurlock, Best Life
Best Life

Sarcopenia, the steady loss of muscle mass, threatens every one of us after we hit 40—but there might be a way to slow it down. Researchers at the Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, at Tufts University, found that foods rich in potassium help preserve lean muscle mass. After studying 384 volunteers for three years, they found that those whose diets were rich in potassium (getting more than 3,540 milligrams a day) preserved 3.6 more pounds of lean tissue than those with half the potassium intake. "That almost offsets the 4.4 pounds of lean tissue that is typically lost in a decade by healthy men," says study author Bess Dawson-Hughes, Md. While bananas are the easiest on-the-go source of potassium (each contains about 420 milligrams), there are better sources of the nutrient.

Here are 15 of the best:
Food serving
Potassium
source
size (mg)
Swiss chard, (boiled)
1 cup, 961
Lima beans (cooked)
1 cup, 955
Yams (cooked)
1 cup, 911
Acorn squash (baked)
1 cup, 896
Spinach (boiled)
1 cup, 839
Papaya
1 whole, 781
Pinto beans (boiled)
1 cup, 746
Crimini mushrooms (raw)
5 oz., 636
Cod (baked or broiled)
4 oz., 586
Beets (boiled)
1 cup, 518
Broccoli (boiled)
1 cup, 457
Brussels sprouts (boiled)
1 cup, 450
Cantaloupe
1 cup, 427
Tomato (raw)
1 cup, 427
Banana
1 whole, 422

Lose weight with sparkling water
When researchers from the University of Pennsylvania questioned the accepted wisdom that adults should drink eight eight-ounce glasses of H20 per day for optimum health, it sent ripples through the science community. They asserted that there's no evidence that water cleans out toxins, wards off weight gain, improves skin tone, or has any beneficial health effects. The latest salvo in the water wars, a new study in the British Journal of Nutrition, shifts the emphasis onto the kind of water you drink. Researchers found that drinking carbonated beverages increases satiety and decreases the amount of calories consumed. While the study authors aren't suggesting you drink soda to lose weight, their research suggests that sparkling water may decrease cravings more than still water.

To snack or not to snack?
Contrary to popular nutritional advice that promotes regular snacking, a recent study presented to the Dietitians Association of Australia found that eating more than three times a day does not contribute to weight loss. The researchers found no difference between those who ate three meals a day and those who ate three smaller meals and three snacks a day. "This study actually isn't inconsistent with snacking advice," says registered dietitian Susan Bowerman, assistant director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of California at Los Angeles. "It's the total calories a person consumes over the course of the day that matters."

The case for juice
In recent years, nutritionists have warned that fruit juice is a sugary indulgence that costs more in calories than it's nutritionally worth. But recent studies on adolescents have found that high-calorie, 100 percent fruit juices don't contribute to weight gain the way other caloric beverages do. "While we didn't extrapolate these results out to adults, men can get one-third of their daily fruit servings from 100 percent juice as part of a healthy diet," says registered dietitian Carol O'Neil, Ph.D., the author of the study. Bottom line: One 8-ounce glass of 100- percent juice a day won't pad your gut.
Provided by Best Life

URL: http://health.msn.com/nutrition/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100216094

Happy Ice Cream Cone Day

2008-09-22T17:38:00.000-07:00

On September 22 1903 the Ice Cream Cone was patented.

1903 - On September 20, 1903, Italo Marchiony (1868-1954), an Italian immigrant living in New York, NY, filed a patent application for a "molding apparatus for forming ice-cream cups and the like." U.S. Patent No. 746,971 was issued to him on December 15, 1903. His patent drawings show a mold for shaping small cups, complete with tiny handles - not a cone.
When cones became popular after the 1904 St. Louis Fair, Marchiony tried to protect his patent through legal channels but failed. Since Marchiony's patent was for only the specific mold construction and there were lots of other ways to mold cones, his patent was not much good. Marchiony's ice cream and wafer company thrived at in Hoboken, New Jersey until his plant was destroyed by fire in 1934. He retired from his business in 1938. It wasn't until Marchhiony's obituary was printed in the New York Times on October 29, 1954, that this story was made public.

Happy Fall Ya'll

2008-09-21T22:43:00.000-07:00

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."

George Eliot

FAMILY FALL FOOTBALL FEST ---- Lets Tackle Childhood Obesity

2008-09-19T22:31:00.000-07:00

Museum and Heart Assoc. Fight Youth Obesity By Elaina Jackson, American Heart Association

Sep 16, 2008, 10:37 am

The American Heart Association and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum (MSHOF&M) are teaming up to educate local families about making healthy choices at the 2008 Fall Family Football Fest. The event will include fun activities for kids like football drills, cheerleading clinics, games and prizes. Parents will receive healthy tips about getting their family moving and planning healthy meals. The football fest will be held Saturday, September 27th at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum located at 1152 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, MS from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Ben Williams, a former college All-SEC and NFL All-Pro defensive lineman, will be present at the Fall Family Football Fest.Parents and kids will also get a chance to meet Mississippi Sports Hall of Famers Willie Richardson, W.C. Gorden, Harper Davis and Ben Williams. “We are joining with the American Heart Association to encourage children and families to stay active this fall by participating in sports or finding other ways to get moving,” said Michael Rubenstein, Museum Executive Director. “Physical activity and healthy eating habits are important factors in creating a healthier generation of Mississippians,” said Rubenstein.September is national Go Healthy Month – a time where children and their parents are encouraged to begin healthy habits. Today, 11 million kids are overweight, and an additional 13 million are at risk for being overweight. As a result more and more kids are developing conditions and diseases that would normally be associated with adults—like high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and type-2 diabetes. Mississippi was has the highest rate of cardiovascular disease in the nation and was recently named the state with the highest rate of obesity. The American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation have joined together to form the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to empower kids and their families to make healthy choices to live longer, stronger lives.For more information about the 2008 Fall Family Football Fest or how you can prevent heart disease and stroke for yourself and your family call the American Heart Association at 601-321-1200 or the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum at 1-800-280-FAME (3263). Media partners for this event include JACK-FM and WJTV.About the American Heart AssociationFounded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2006–07 the association invested more than $554 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org.
© Copyright 2001-2002 by Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Museum