KEENE, N.H. (AP) — Back when he was a self-described friendless recluse, Craig Carey spent hours sitting in a chair doing nothing or driving around in his car, alone. Then a fitness program for people with serious mental illness turned his life around.

"The In SHAPE program gave me something to grab onto. I came out of my shell, I went to other programs ... got a part time job," he said. "I started to say, 'OK, my life is getting back together.'"

Carey, 47, of Keene, was diagnosed with manic depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder 15 years ago. In 2003, he became one of the first clients at Monadnock Family Services to join In SHAPE, a program so successful that the state has won a $10 million federal grant to replicate it at the rest of the state's community mental health centers. The goal is to expand a program that now serves 150 people to 4,500 participants in the next five years.

The average life span for someone with a serious mental illness is 25 years shorter than someone in the general population, a gap that has been largely overlooked even though an estimated 10.4 million American adults — including about 43,000 in New Hampshire — fall into that category, said Dr. Stephen Bartels. He will supervise the program funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

"It can legitimately be said that this is largest and most important health disparity in the nation that has been unappreciated," said Bartels, director of Dartmouth College's Centers for Health and Aging.

People with serious mental illnesses such as depression or schizophrenia are more likely to smoke and be obese, putting them at greater risk for diabetes, heart disease and other chronic disease. And medications used to treat their mental illnesses often cause weight gain or leave them feeling too lethargic to exercise.

Spending money on wellness efforts now will be less costly than expensive treatments for chronic diseases later, Bartels argues. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a sustained 10 percent weight loss will reduce an overweight person's lifetime medical costs by $2,200-$5,300 by lowering costs associated with high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and high cholesterol. A report released this month by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Trust for America's Health found that reducing the average body mass index by 5 percentage points in the United States could lead to more than $29 billion in health care savings in five years.

And there are societal benefits as well, said Ken Jue, who created the In SHAPE program in 2003. Some participants have gone back to work after decades of unemployment. Others have gone back to school.

"As people have become involved in the program and as they begin to improve their physical health, they develop a sense of self-confidence that really frees them up to do some incredible things," said Jue.

Jue, a consultant to Monadnock Family Services, was the agency's CEO in 2002 when he noticed a troubling trend.

"I was sitting in a funeral of a client of the agency ... and I realized in the middle of the funeral that I've been to a lot of these funerals, and people were pretty young. They were in their 50s or very early 60s," he said. "All of a sudden I said, 'This doesn't make sense why these folks would be dying.'"

The acronym in In SHAPE stands for "Self Help Action Plan for Empowerment." Participants are paired with trained health mentors to develop plans that include exercise, nutrition counseling and smoking cessation. Those who don't have a primary care doctor are assigned to physicians at Cheshire Medical Center, who know about the program and work to reinforce it. Students at nearby Keene State College help with the nutrition components, and the local YMCA provides the fitness facilities.

Those partnerships have been key to the program's success, Jue said, and have helped integrate participants into their communities in a way that would not have been possible had the mental health agency just set up its own fitness center.

"Someone with a serious mental illness can become isolated, and social isolation contributes to their poor health status," he said. "So I wanted this to be done in the community."

Participants generally spend about nine months in the program, and there is always a waiting list, Jue said. Research published by Bartels in 2010 found a dropout rate of 20 percent, compared to a 25-33 percent dropout rate for healthy adults enrolled in formal exercise programs.

The research also found that participation in the program was associated with a reduction in waist size, blood pressure and symptoms of depression and an increase in physical activity, readiness to eat healthier and overall confidence levels.

Diane Croteau, 49, of Keene said the confidence she's gained through the program has alleviated her depression and improved her health. She's lost 60 pounds in the last year and works out at the YMCA every week day.

"When I first started In SHAPE, I was a little wary about going and exercising in front of people. But once I started, it wasn't bad, and I got to meet a lot of people outside of In SHAPE," she said. "It's been basically life-changing for me."

She and other participants said the health mentors they've worked with know how to strike a balance between being supportive and challenging. If a participant isn't feeling up to going to the gym, mentors will go to their homes and take them out for walks. If someone is dealing with a medical issue, the mentors help contact doctors.

"It's a personal relationship," said Paula Wheeler, 68, of Keene, another longtime participant. "They offer you a lot of respect, and it doesn't matter where you are. You can be a very in-shape person or you can be a person who really has a lot of work to do, but they're accepting of who you are."

While several mental health agencies in other states have used In SHAPE as a model for similar programs, the New Hampshire expansion is the first time such a program will be implemented statewide, Bartels said.

Carey was glad to hear about those plans and said he hopes others will get just as much out of the program as he has.

"You've got to say to yourself, 'Do I want to be here in 10 years where I am now or do I want to do something with my life? Do I want to stay out of the hospital? Do I want to become productive?'" he said.

"That's what it comes down to. My life isn't perfect ... but it's a far cry from what it was 15 years ago, a far cry. And I'm very happy with it."

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Fitness program for mentally ill expands in NH

NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nutritional company USANA Health Sciences today announced they are teaming up with Dr. Mehmet Oz and Lisa Oz' nonprofit organization, HealthCorps, to help empower young people to live healthier lives. USANA has committed to further HealthCorps' goals of combating childhood obesity and educating children about nutrition and fitness.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110110/LA27593LOGO)

"One of the reasons we chose to donate to HealthCorps is because we share such similar values," said Dave Wentz, USANA's chief executive officer. "Our common mission is to create a healthier world for future generations, while helping people make better decisions today. It's impressive to see how HealthCorps is impacting people's lives."

USANA will be lending a helping hand to an organization committed to dealing with one of the most pressing health issues in the United States.

"Consider that approximately 12.5 million American children and adolescents, ages 2 to 19 years, are obese," Dr. Oz said. "In New York State alone, obesity among children and adolescents has tripled over the last three decades. This is among the many issues that HealthCorps is committed to address, and with USANA's generosity, we are able to do much more with our programs."

The two organizations will kick off their collaboration this afternoon at a "Teen Battle Chef" cooking competition at Columbia University. High school students from the tri-state area will each prepare a healthy dish to present to a panel of judges that includes celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito, Dr. Oz, Lisa Oz, Dave Wentz, and USANA Founder Dr. Myron Wentz. Each teen will receive Circulon® cookware and tickets to the Health and Happiness Summit, a wellness event hosted by Dr. Oz on Feb. 25 at Radio City Music Hall.

"Teen Battle Chef is one of HealthCorps' many educational programs," Lisa Oz said. "The purpose is to teach kids about healthy eating in a fun way, and we are fortunate to have USANA's support."

Erica Irvin, vice president of Students for Food Policy and Obesity Prevention at Columbia University, said the campus was honored to host the event.

"Organizations like HealthCorps are doing work that have long-term ripple effect," she said. "Kids benefiting from HealthCorps programs today may teach other kids about health, be a strong example to their peers and even go on to affect public policy and change in the future. That's what this is about."

To learn more about USANA Health Sciences, please visit: http://www.usana.com

To learn more about HealthCorps, please visit: http://healthcorps.net/

About USANA: USANA Health Sciences develops and manufactures high‐quality nutritionals, personal care, energy and weight management products that are sold directly to Preferred Customers and Associates throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Mexico, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Thailand. Learn more at our website (www.usana.com), read our blog (www.whatsupusana.com), like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/usanahealthsciences), or follow us on Twitter (@usanainc).

About HealthCorps: HealthCorps® a 501(c)(3) co-founded by renowned heart surgeon and two-time Emmy® Award-winning talk show host Dr. Mehmet Oz and his wife Lisa, is building a movement to fight the childhood obesity crisis by helping Americans discover what they are really hungry for and why.  HealthCorps Coordinators carry out unique in-school and community programming targeting high-need populations. Using peer mentoring to deliver a progressive curriculum in nutrition, fitness and mental strength, HealthCorps Coordinators give teens purpose, help develop human character and inspire an interest in health and culinary arts careers. HealthCorps also serves as a unique research laboratory - exploring the complex, underlying causes of the obesity crisis and discovering and communicating solutions. HealthCorps is bringing many initiatives together to address the "Whole Child" and activate the student's mind, body and spirit. As a result, HealthCorps is transforming the educational paradigm one school at a time. The program network spans 54 schools in 13 states.  For more information, please visit http://www.healthcorps.org and follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/healthcorps and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HealthCorps.

Media Contact: Ashley Collins
Executive Director of Marketing, PR, and Social Media
USANA Health Sciences, Inc.
(801) 954-7280
media(at)us.usana.com

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USANA Health Sciences Works With Dr. Oz and HealthCorps to Fight Childhood Obesity

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05-12-2011 13:14 Planning and education are crucial components to making sound decisions when considering retirement. This two-hour webinar will provide information about your CalPERS benefits and the retirement process. Transcript: http://www.calpers.ca.gov

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10-02-2012 11:00 EJ, Kenny and Charles tell Shaq that the Lakers are going to retire his jersey next season! I do not claim ownership or makin' money from this video. All rights reserved by copyright owners. ---- DISCLAIMER! ---- Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

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Inside The Nba - Shaq's Lakers Retirement Jersey - (10-2-2012) - Video

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Ah, the easy life of retirement – not so much for two in five Atlantans who think they’ll need to work. But more than half like Atlanta so much that they’ll stay here, many because of family and friends or the good medical facilities. And while Atlantans think they’ll need $750,000 to retire, the median amount saved is just $100,000. These are highlights of a new survey done for Wells Fargo. The details:

Two out of five (41%) Atlanta area pre-retirees expect they will need to work during retirement in order to afford their lifestyle or make ends meet. Another 40% say they’ll work in retirement because they want to. Fifty-seven percent of pre-retirees in Atlanta plan to stay in the area when they retire; their top three reasons for staying are family and friends nearby, good weather, and low cost of living. Retirees cite similar reasons for settling in the area. Seventy-one percent of retirees cite being close to family and friends as a major factor for retiring in Atlanta. Good medical facilities and not having to relocate are also important. Among 10 major cities including Atlanta, those in Washington are least likely to retire there (38%) and those in Chicago are most likely (65%). Atlanta is close to Miami (55%) and Philadelphia (59%). About a third of Atlanta respondents (retirees and pre-retirees) rate health care facilities in their area as among the best in the country. In Houston, 70% think their health care facilities are among the best. In Miami just 12% do. Atlantans (32%) are closest to Washingtonians (31%). The median amount Atlanta pre-retirees have saved for retirement is only 13% of what they believe they actually need. Atlanta pre-retirees believe they need $750,000 for retirement; the median amount saved is $100,000. Almost 50% of Atlanta area pre-retirees say their biggest fear about retirement savings is that they will do all the right things today and it still won’t be enough. Seven out of ten (72%) Atlanta area retirees are confident they will have enough money to live the lifestyle they want throughout retirement. Despite this confidence, 28% of Atlanta retirees agree that they need to significantly cut back spending today in order to have enough money throughout their retirement. Among Atlanta respondents with children, 41% agree that they will not be able to leave an inheritance to their children due to the money needed to support their retirement. Atlanta pre-retirees under 65 are evenly split 50/50 on whether it is more likely that the Falcons will win the Super Bowl by the time they are 65 or they will be able to retire at 65!

About the Survey

On behalf of Wells Fargo Retirement, Richard Day Research conducted an online survey between December 2nd and December 18, 2011 among Atlanta area residents ages 25-75 with $25K+ in investable assets (total n=366). Comparisons were made to a similar national online sample of n=1,190.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC - News) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.3 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com and wachovia.com), and other distribution channels across North America and internationally. With more than 270,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in America. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 23 on Fortune’s 2011 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially.

About Richard Day Research (a Market Probe company)

Richard Day Research is a full-service market research firm, located in Evanston, Ill., specializing in behavioral and opinion research among hard-to-reach populations and professional communities. For more information, visit rdresearch.com.

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What Atlantans Think About Retirement

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31-01-2012 22:16 NewEra Minecraft Servers: PvP IP: pvp.neweraminecraft.com Creative IP: creative.neweraminecraft.com SMP IP: smp.neweraminecraft.com Teamspeak 3 IP: voice.neweraminecraft.com Donate to PvP or Creative Server PM me for details Website: http://www.neweraminecraft.com Skype Name theomega831

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ATI Radeon HD 7950 and 7970 VS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 and 580 - Video

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01-02-2012 04:28 With a profound passion for studying vocal performance from the gewtivr eiyhr yhr nrdyocal perjahde for partidng foiscegreat profound passiion for styu

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A Personal Report and Inquiry by Sir Francis Scott - Video

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13-02-2012 05:16 Subscribe and Like 🙂 Video goes to to Grammy as the video and Fair use of video only not for anything for audience to enjoy . Jennifer Hudson's emotional tribute to Whitney Houston went off without a hitch, high notes and all. Hudson performed the late singer's cover of Dolly Parton's song "I Will Always Love You" on a simple black stage and became visibly emotional during the performance. The late singer presented Hudson with her first Grammy in 2008, and Hudson admitted that meeting Houston, who she has said inspired her career, "almost overshadowed getting the Grammy." At a pre-Grammy event, Hudson said Houston's tune "I Will Always Love You" inspired her, adding that she would "create duets with her because I wanted to sing with Whitney Houston." Hudson was reportedly in tears during rehearsals, but was able to make it through the performance. "Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

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Jennifer Hudson - Tribute Whitney Houston 2012 Grammy Awards - Video

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWldLg-Wp40

14-02-2012 18:45 Hello and welcome to Saabkyle04! YouTube's largest collection of automotive variety! In today's video, we will take an up close and personal in depth look at the all new 2012 Dodge Charger SRT-8 392! For in depth tours on all the current SRT performance vehicles (charger, 300c and grand cherokee) just search the channel videos or the respective brand playlists! During this presentation, we will take a 1st person look at what the vehicle is all about beginning with the start up, performance data, fuel economy, the occasional track data, and build quality. Also, I will teach you how to use most of the interior and exterior features in a detailed fashion, that before, you could only get from going to a dealership yourself! Throughout the video, I will highlight key styling and unique differences about the vehicle, any available options, and of course it would not be an enthusiast car video without the good ole engine portion with rev and exhaust note with interior and exterior perspectives. A thorough tour/review of this car designed to give others a greater overall appreciation of the vehicle. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHANNEL SEE BELOW: In this channel you will find in depth reviews/tour of automobiles from all over the world, presented in a more detailed fashion than ever before. Basically, this gives the viewer the chance to view the most detailed 1st person look you can get without going to an actual dealer yourself! Every video is consistent in the way I present ...

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2012 Dodge Charger SRT-8 392 Start Up, Exhaust, and In Depth Tour - Video

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15-02-2012 17:19 Hermanites! I will be at the BSN Booth this year at the 2012 Arnold Classic and I will be giving away TWO BSN Performance Packs to who ever can do the most burpess on Saturday and Sunday! So start practicing and be sure to come see me at the Arnold! Performance Stack Includes - 1 bottle of SYNTHA-6 - 1 bottle of AMINO-X - 1 bottle HYPER FX For the Hermanites who can't make it this year be sure to upload a video of yourself doing to challenge for a chance to be featured in a future SHF Sunday Update! Have fun Nation!

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BSN 2minute Burpee Challenge! - Video