September, 2010Vol 3, Issue 9

Healthy Habits

 Healthy Habituator
All the Fit News to Email
Dear Reader
Healthy Habits FitnessAt Healthy Habits, we help people who are frustrated, unsure, bored, or otherwise unsuccessful achieving their exercise and/or weight management goals. We only work by appointment and feature private exercise rooms, so the focus is on you. We listen to you, we help you where you need help, and we hold you accountable for your "homework."
 
Call us at 684-1607 for a free consultation or trial workout. 
In This Issue
Electable Eleven Supplements
News of the Month
CPR & First Aid Class
Quick Links
Electable Eleven Supplements
OK, so maybe I am obsessed with supplements, since this is the 3rd month in a row I have written about them. BUT, this month is a little different - I actually have some good things to say about them this time. This information comes from the same September 2010 issue of Consumer Reports that I referenced last month.

Consumers Reports, working with the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, identified these supplements as having been shown "to likely be safe and effective for most people in appropriate doses for certain conditions." Obviously not a ringing endorsement, but you may find some of these helpful for the conditions listed:   
  • calcium - bone loss & osteoporosis (with vitamin D), PMS
  • cranberry - urinary tract infections
  • fish oil - triglycerides, heart disease, stroke
  • glucosamine sulfate - osteoarthritis
  • lactase - GI symptoms in lactose-intolerant people
  • lactobacillus - diarrhea caused by antibiotics
  • psyllium - constipation, high cholesterol
  • pygeum - symptoms of enlarged prostate
  • SAMe - depression, pain, osteoarthritis
  • St. John's Wort - depression
  • vitamin D - osteoporosis (with calcium), falls associated with vitamin D deficiency, bone loss in people taking corticosteroids
As you may recall from previous articles, the supplement industry is unregulated, so it is very much "Buyer Beware." If you elect to try one or more of these, here are 6 steps you can take to help ensure that the supplements you take are safe and beneficial:
 
  1. Consult your doctor and/or pharmacist. On this list,only lactase has no known side effects, and only lactase and pygeum have no known drug interactions.
  2. Realize that most supplements have not been tested on pregnant or nursing women.
  3. Look for the "USP Verified" mark, which denotes that the manufacturer voluntarily asked for review by US Pharmacopeia, a trusted, non-profit, standards-setting authority.
  4. Avoid megadoses. It is possible to overdose even on beneficial ingredients.
  5. Report any bad symptoms to your doctor and have him/her relay any serious problems on to the FDA.
  6. Do your research right. Don't take claims for granted. Look for verification of study results by independent researchers. Check out the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements (ods.od.nih.gov), the FDA (www.fda.gov/dietarysupplements) and Consumer Reports Health (www.consumerreportshealth.org).

News of the Month

Healthy Habits Fitness Star of the Month is CS, who is now doing cardio on her own and who was able to complete her first-ever full push up.

Jeanne gets her reward of mints before she earns it working out.

NM grossed out Trainer Mike by watching "Mystery ER" and "Mystery Diagnosis" during her early AM workouts.


Healthy Habits is now on FaceBook. You are all invited to be friends, and hopefully fans. In fact, it would be a big help if you would.   Please click here to sign up.

Our blog page is up and running on the website, or you can also see them on FaceBook.
 

Quote Corner:
KaJo: "I enjoyed that a lot more than I thought I would!"

Joyce, Trainer Gaye's mom to her daughter: "Look, I'm almost 80! I'm doing the best I can!"

 
Welcome New Clients DG & JG, RM & JM, TeR, JenW, HK and SumB.


CPR and First Class
For the first time that I know of, we are hosting a First Aid and CPR class at Healthy Habits, taught by our own Jay Phillips. He will teach the American Heart Association version, which includes Adult, Child and Infant CPR in addition to basic First Aid. The certification is good for 2 years before needing renewal. The class will be held on Tuesday, September 28, from 3-6 pm and costs $45 per person for Healthy Habits clients/trainers and $50 for guests. Maximum class size is 10 people so you get lots of Jay's attention. Call Mike at 684-1607 to register.
Mike Ross-Spang
Healthy Habits