Archive for the ‘Health and Fitness’ Category
Midlife Fitness May Mean Healthier Old Age, Study Finds
Posted: August 31, 2012 at 4:20 am
By Jenifer Goodwin HealthDay Reporter Latest Senior Health News
MONDAY, Aug. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Staying physically fit in middle age makes it less likely that you'll develop chronic diseases ranging from heart disease to certain cancers in old age, new research finds.
"Not only do the people with higher fitness live a little bit longer, the onset of chronic disease occurs even later, so that the amount of time you spend in your life with chronic diseases is compressed into a smaller period of time," said senior study author Dr. Jarett Berry, an assistant professor of internal medicine at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas.
For people who are unfit in middle age, the data suggest that even a modest increase in fitness could translate into fewer chronic conditions.
For the study, researchers examined information on nearly 19,000 men and women with a median age of 49 who were taking part in the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study, which has tracked the health of mostly white, healthy, well-educated participants since 1970.
Researchers matched up data from the Cooper Study with Medicare claims information starting when participants were 65. Follow-up occurred for a median of 26 years.
Participants' fitness levels were divided into five quintiles, or fifths, based on how fast and how long they could run on a treadmill.
The most fit at midlife were less likely at age 70 and up to develop a host of chronic diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, colon or lung cancer, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetes and heart disease than the least fit.
Fitter patients were also somewhat more likely to live longer, and to spend more of those years free of chronic diseases or with fewer chronic diseases, the researchers said.
An analysis of about 2,400 people who died during the study found that fitter people had fewer chronic diseases during their last five years of life. The most fit spent about 50 percent less time with four or more chronic diseases than the lowest fitness group, and 34 percent more time with only one or no chronic disease.
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Midlife Fitness May Mean Healthier Old Age, Study Finds
American Specialty Health Insurance Company Names Daniel Yunker of Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council to Board of …
Posted: August 30, 2012 at 8:18 pm
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 30, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Specialty Health Insurance Company (ASH Insurance) has named Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC) senior vice president and chief financial officer Daniel T. Yunker to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Yunker will join current ASH board members George DeVries, Paul Peterson, Monte Dube and several senior American Specialty Health chief executives.
"We are delighted to welcome Dan to our team," said ASH Insurance chairman and CEO George DeVries. "His financial, regulatory and technology experience will be invaluable as we continue to grow and expand the product offerings that we offer health plans and employer groups."
Yunker has been on the executive team of MCHC since June 2005, with responsibility for internal finance and accounting; regulatory programs, including the Wage Index and associated appeals; Human Capital Services, including the MCHC Employee Benefit Plan Trust, information technology, including the Healthcare Information Exchange (MetroChicago HIE); business development; and business performance programs and services. He also has been entrenched in the health care reform debate, sizing up the impact that reform legislation will have on the delivery of health care and working closely with health care leaders and members to address the challenges of a rapidly changing system.
Prior to joining the Council, Yunker was a vice president at Aon Corporation and spent five years at the national Healthcare Financial Management Association, where he was responsible for designing and implementing programs and strategies to contribute to the success of members and their organizations.
Earlier in his career, Yunker worked in various leadership roles at Delnor-Community Health System, and is a founder of both IPS, a Chicago-based physician-practice management company, and Air Angels, Inc., an aero medical flight company. Yunker holds a master's degree in business administration from DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management and a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering/psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
About American Specialty Health Insurance Company and American Specialty Health
ASH Insurance is a health insurance company domiciled in Illinois and admitted in 43 states and the District of Columbia. Through this company, employers in various states are able to directly purchase supplemental group riders for specialty health care from a specialty benefits health insurance company. This makes options such as chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, nutrition services, and naturopathy more readily accessible to local workforces. ASH Insurance products are currently approved in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Available benefit options vary by state.
American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) is a national health services organization that provides a total population health management program, specialty health care management programs, and fitness programs to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups, and trust funds. Based in San Diego, ASH has over 900 employees and serves nearly 31 million members. For more information, visit ASHCompanies.com or call 1-800-848-3555. Follow us on Twitter @ASHCompanies!
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American Specialty Health Insurance Company Names Daniel Yunker of Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council to Board of ...
Chef Johnny Carino Partners with LIVEO
Posted: at 8:18 pm
Austin, TX (PRWEB) August 30, 2012
LIVEO announced today that Chef Johnny Carino has signed on as featured talent for the cloud-based holistic, interactive social health and fitness network. Hosting LIVEOs live-streaming nutrition and cooking programs, Johnny will be an essential part of what makes the health and fitness network different from other online fitness tracking websites.
LIVEO integrates and interoperates with leading performance tracking devices and fitness applications while serving up proprietary fitness tools, performance tracking, wellness content, and social media support system to significantly improve the way individuals and companies manage healthier lifestyles and overall wellness. Top-notch talent such as Johnny Carino starring in live-streaming nutrition, health and fitness programming will help position LIVEO to become the whenever, wherever health and fitness destination of choice.
We are thrilled to have Johnny join us on our revolutionary mission to change the mobile health and fitness market, states LIVEO co-founder and president Danny Davis. His charisma and expertise will play a pivotal role in establishing LIVEO as the preferred way for people and corporations to manage health and fitness.
Carinos passion for cooking began in his Brooklyn kitchen at the age of 12, watching his Sicilian-born grandfather create great pasta and seafood dishes. A graduate of Johnson and Wales University with an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts, Chef Carino was first known for the restaurant named for him, Johnny Carinos Italian Grill (of which he is no longer affiliated). Since then, he has gone on to star in the top-rated cooking show Break Me Off A Piece of That, which recently wrapped its fourth season on PBS in the Texas market. He regularly appears at Flavors of Central Texas, and is known for his high-energy cooking classes at many locations of the world-famous Central Market.
A potentially demoralizing diagnosis of diabetes and other health-related issues have not slowed down the high profile chef, but provided a new direction in life through his volunteer efforts with both the University of North Texas Childhood Autism program and Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas. The former bodybuilder still works out daily and uses cooking to create a healthy lifestyle. His involvement with LIVEO is a natural fit.
ABOUT LIVEO LIVEO is transforming how the market perceives the mobile fitness application landscape, delivering a new, innovative solution that will not only significantly improve the way individuals and companies manage healthier lifestyles and wellness, but will change how the market is perceived. LIVEO is a holistic, interactive social health and fitness network accessible to consumers and corporations online through cloud-based software and a mobile application. It serves as a single source for unique, live-streaming content, capabilities and connectivity designed to help individuals and corporations significantly improve the way they manage healthier lifestyles and wellness. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the company was born from the combined vision of a group of passionate, experienced leaders and their unique mix of experience in both the business and the fitness industries. To learn more, visit liveo.com. For investment opportunities, please email info(at)liveo(dot)com to receive a business plan.
Shine items: Fashion, beauty, health and fitness
Posted: at 8:18 pm
The art of artificial
Love the look of fake nails but hate the upkeep of constantly refilling? Turn to a Texas-based creation, Custom Nail Solutions (www.customnailsolutions.com). Available in five lengths: sport, active, fashion, glamour and stiletto, each nontoxic kit takes an impression of your nails that you'll send in for tips custom fit for you. And miracle of miracles, this DIY endeavor doesn't require any filling or drilling to the natural nails. $139.95.
Drip therapy
If your job has you awkwardly hunched over your laptop day and night, you'll relish the release from Little Drops of Rain, the brand-new treatment featured at Lake Austin Spa Resort (1705 S. Quinlan Park Road. 512-372-7300, http://www.lakeaustin.com). Soothing and therapeutic, the hot drops of essential oils sprinkled along your spine target your stress points, while the accompanying massage sends you blissfully away from your work woes. 50 minutes $165; 80 minutes with massage $215.
Sweat solution
Give sweat the swipe with Handana (www.myhandana.com), a high-performance athletic band. Created by local tri-athlete Katie Niemeyer, each soft lycra hand bandana slips on like a glove with your thumb in the center hole, and wicks away the perspiration from your brow and face. Washer friendly for easy upkeep. $15. Available locally at C'est Chic (5800 W. Slaughter Lane. 512-609-8728, http://www.cestchicaustin.com).
Emerald eyes
Blink and you'll miss out: This fall's trend in eye makeup calls for funky and bold colors that complement and define, like the new hues from Rochelle Rae. The three refillable eye shadow shades come in themes: Green with Envy, Extremely Violet and Turquoise Tantrum. $50 each. Available at Rae Cosmetics (1206 W. 38th St. 512-320-8732, http://www.raecosmetics.com).
Shifty business
A perfect office look for the stylish career set comes the tee shift dress from Ace & Jig. The rolled sleeves give this flat-front linen and cotton frock just the right amount of edge to go from business to casual, and the front pocket detail, weaved by artisans in India, creates an added pop of personality. $170. Available at Kickpleat (918 W. 12th St. 512-445-4500, http://www.kickpleat.com).
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Shine items: Fashion,
beauty,
health and fitness
Health and Fitness File, Aug. 29
Posted: August 29, 2012 at 9:14 pm
City of RacineHealth Department
IMMUNIZATION CLINICS AND TB TESTS: The City of Racine offers walk-in immunization clinics in the City Hall Room 4, 730 Washington Ave., from 1:30-4 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.
Medicaid/Forward Health cards are accepted only for those ages 18 and younger. Medicare cannot be accepted for any services. Cash, check and credit card (Visa and MasterCard) are accepted.
A $10 fee is requested for residents of the City of Racine, Elmwood Park and Wind Point for one vaccine plus $5 for each additional vaccine with a maximum of $20; and $15 for Racine County residents for one vaccine plus $5 for each additional vaccine with a maximum cost of $25.
People should bring their childs current immunization records.
TB skin tests are available for a $10 fee for residents and $15 for non-residents (results available the following Friday afternoon).
STD CLINIC: The City of Racine Health Department offers walk-in testing to check for sexually-transmitted diseases. The clinic is for Racine County residents and offers HIV testing (if desired) and will be held in the City Hall, lower level, Room 4.
Mondays 1-3:30 p.m.
Wednesdays 9-11:30 a.m.
The fee is $10 for City of Racine, Wind Point and Elmwood Park residents; the fee is $35 for all other Racine County residents. Fee will be waived for inability to pay only for city residents.
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Health and Fitness File, Aug. 29
Health Matters: More people walking
Posted: at 9:14 pm
FORT MYERS, FL -
Good news on the fitness front: more people are walking for their health. Experts see this as a real improvement, especially in the elderly who might find it difficult to exercise.
Mary Ann Smith is almost unstoppable when it comes to her daily walk.
"I try to walk every morning after breakfast. I go three times around our building, which, they say, is about a mile," says Smith.
She is hardly alone. More adults are taking steps to walk regularly.
In 2010, 65 percent of Americans say they walked for fitness at least once in the previous week. It adds up to a 145 million people, up from 15 million in 2005.
"It's definitely important to move and use those muscles because at any age you can have benefits from a little exercise," says Lee Memorial Health System certified fitness instructor Heather Parker.
Heather Parker is a fitness instructor at the Wellness Center of Cape Coral. Many of her clients are up in years, and use walking as a stepping-stone to fitness.
"We have people that come here in their 80s and they exercise for three hours a day," says Parker.
Walking may be a wonder drug. It's one of the simplest forms of exercise and the most beneficial. Experts believe it helps your heart, circulation, bone strength, coordination, even your brain.
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Health Matters: More people walking
Life Time Academy Expands Program Offerings; Launches New Website
Posted: at 9:14 pm
CHANHASSEN, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Life Time The Healthy Way of Life Company(NYSE:LTM) has expanded its Life Time Academy programs to include personal training, group fitness, yoga and Pilates to prepare graduates for successful careers throughout the health and fitness industry. The professional certificate program has also launched a new website, http://www.ltacademy.net, where potential students can learn more about programs, curriculum, faculty and locations.
As part of the program expansion, Life Time Academy has partnered with industry leaders including National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), Yoga Alliance, American Council on Exercise (ACE), and Peak Pilates. Through these unique partnerships students that graduate from Life Time Academy earn their Certified Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Performance Enhancement Specialist, Peak Pilate System Level 1 certification, 5 Star Group Fitness Instructor certification and Yoga Teacher Training certifications.
The health and fitness industry is growing and were seeing more and more people looking into health and fitness careers, says Jeff Rosga, education director of Life Time Academy. Through our expanded programs and live training environments in our Life Time destinations across the country, we are not only providing graduates with better job opportunities but we are giving the necessary skills to be successful in the industry.
Students train at Life Times state of the art facilities in small classes and experience one-on-one interaction with Life Time Academy faculty and administration. As part of Life Time, one of the largest employers in the health and fitness industry, many students end up finding employment through the company.
Professional certification classes are forming now and Life Time Academy is accepting applications. To learn more about the programs or register, visit ltacademy.net.
About Life Time Fitness, Inc.
As The Healthy Way of Life Company, Life Time Fitness (LTM) helps organizations, communities and individuals achieve their total health objectives, athletic aspirations and fitness goals by engaging in their areas of interest or discovering new passions both inside and outside of Life Times distinctive and large sports, professional fitness, family recreation and spa destinations, most of which operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Companys Healthy Way of Life approach enables customers to achieve this by providing the best programs, people and places of uncompromising quality and value. As of Aug. 29, 2012, the Company operated 105 centers under the LIFE TIME FITNESS and LIFE TIME ATHLETIC(SM) brands in the United States and Canada. Additional information about Life Time centers, programs and services is available at lifetimefitness.com.
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Life Time Academy Expands Program Offerings; Launches New Website
Three Common Fitness Myths Busted!
Posted: at 9:14 pm
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire -08/29/12)- Health and fitness has become an integral part of today's culture with more and more people hunting for recommended personal trainer courses to whip them into shape, and to help others achieve their fitness potentials. With the increased interest in health and fitness come rumours surrounding exercise that many people swear by, but just how much truth is in them?
Here are three fitness myths you need to forget:
This is a common misunderstanding. Research has shown that exercise has no effect on your food needs, with the exception of endurance athletes who exercise for around two hours or more a day. To the contrary, studies have shown that exercise can suppress hunger both during and after a workout, so don't stuff your face as soon as you've done a workout - you're only undoing all your hard work.
Wrong! Different food types have different effects on your blood sugar. Refined carbohydrates (white bread, fruit drinks and biscuits) will raise your blood sugar levels incredibly, which can encourage fat storage and weight gain. Fibrous foods like apples and protein will raise blood sugar less. Foods that contain a lot of water, like vegetables and soup will fill you up on fewer calories.
If you diet and don't exercise, there is potential to lose calories in the short term, but experts say that it's exercise that will keep the pounds off for good. Exercise builds muscle, which takes up less space than fat. Muscle tissue requires more calories to sustain it than fat tissue, so effectively the more muscle tissue you have, the more calories you'll burn at rest. So if you're thinking of really trying to get in shape for good, don't just diet, exercise too and check out personal trainer courses if you want to make the most out of your fitness.
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Three Common Fitness Myths Busted!
Geordie Shore’s Vicky Pattison talks to Closer about her health and fitness – Video
Posted: August 28, 2012 at 7:20 pm
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Geordie Shore's Vicky Pattison talks to Closer about her health and fitness - Video
Exercises to Bulk Up the Sides of Your Butt : LIVESTRONG – Exercising with Jeremy Shore – Video
Posted: at 7:20 pm
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Exercises to Bulk Up the Sides of Your Butt : LIVESTRONG - Exercising with Jeremy Shore - Video