Travel Blog

Losing weight the healthy way is pretty straightforward once you put your mind to it and have a little bit of knowledge. We were inspired to write this article based on a story that we read about a man whose name is Bryant. He was 40 years old, weighed 442 pounds, and was eating up to 8000 cal a day. He indicated that he needed 5500 cal to maintain his weight and that was amazing to him.

The average person needs less than 2000 cal to maintain their body weight assuming the regular active day.

Losing weight the healthy way

He did not know how his diet had gotten so out of control. But he viewed food as immediate gratification while going to the gym takes work. Walking takes work and moving takes work. This man through a lot of hard work and managing his diet was able to get down to 178 pounds!

He started by taking baby steps gradually reducing his diet from the 8000 cal per day until he was down to only 2100 cal per day. Simply reducing his calorie intake made a huge difference in helping him to lose weight. In addition he started exercising more which in turn burned more calories. he kept a log of how many steps he would take every day , how much exercise he would do every day and of course how many calories he ate every day.

Admittedly it takes a great deal of focus, and hard work to commit to exercising every day. It also takes commitment to reduce your diet but his results clearly show that it can be done. For more information about losing weight the right way, click here.

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Below you will find some sample exercise programs. See a doctor before beginning any exercise program. Have a physical examination and have the Dr. recommend one of the exercise programs or another version for you. If your doctor does not make a recommendation, Make a self-assessment of your physical condition and choose a program yourself. Once you’ve begun the program, reassess your choice. If you feel like you are overexerting yourself, slow down. If you aren’t feeling the effect from your walk, try a faster pace.

Exercise Program – Dues and don’ts:

• Do see a doctor and talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise program and get a full physical. Let the doctor choose an exercise program that is right for you.
• Do drink water, extremely important on hot and humid days, drink before, during and after your walk.
• Do you eat well, avoid Junkfood and all products with high-fat think cholesterol. Eat 3 moderately sized meals a day.
• Do you choose a smooth level surface which will result in less fatigue and fewer injuries.

• Don’t continue walking if you have chest pain, or overly tired, dizzy, feel pain or experience shortness of breath or can’t hold a conversation with someone. Stop walking and immediately see a doctor.
• Don’t walk right after or before meals. Walking two hours after meal and waiting 20 minutes after you walked to eat should be sufficient
• Don’t walk outdoors if it is extremely cold, hot or humid. Try an inside track or mall instead.
• Don’t walk on ice or walk during a lightning storm. Head for cover but not under a tree.

It’s now up to you!

Fitness in Winter Months is important. There are safe ways to accomplish or maintain your fitness regimen. This lady is enjoying herself, out on the road jogging. She is jogging on the gravel portion to maintain her grip and not slip on the ice. She has conditioned her body to deal with the colder air. As long as she keeps moving she will be warm with even the light clothing she is wearing.

The only criticism that we have is that she should be running on the left hand side of the road facing oncoming traffic. She should not be wearing earphones. She should be able to hear vehicles coming from behind her. We are not totally sure that she is wearing ear phones. But many joggers will wear them to help them focus and maintain their pace. This can be very dangerous for joggers in that they are not aware of their surroundings and are often hit by oncoming vehicles. Fitness in winter months or anytime really is also about being safe.

Fitness in Winter Months

If you are going to work out outside in the winter time, take the time to condition your body to deal with the cold weather. Not only do you have to build your muscles up to be able to jog for longer distances, you need to condition your lungs to deal with the deep breaths of cold air. In extremely cold weather protect your lungs by covering your face and especially your nose and mouth. In addition plan your route. For example you never want to be in a position where you have a chance to cool off and no where to go to get warm. The clothing you wear needs to be ready for cold weather. Your shoes are probably the most important since you need to have a really good grip to deal with ice and snow. In fact you may want to have several pairs to allow one pair to sufficiently dry out when using another.

Fitness in Winter Months – Workout Inside

In extremely cold climates, many people head off to the gym or walk in malls to avoid the cold weather, the snow and the ice. This can be far safer than working out outside. however there are other sports to consider such as cross country skiing, down hill skiing and snow shoeing.

For more exercise information, click here.

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Shoes make the Walker: shoes are the single most important piece of equipment for the walker. They can be the difference between having a fun, relaxing walk and an uncomfortable painful walk. It is important to get a good pair of walking shoes with the following characteristics.

• Provide support and comfort to all parts of the foot.
• Have enough toe room that you can wiggle your toes.
• Add firm support at the heel.
• Have flexible cushion so in order to aid in the walking gate and to absorb shock.
• Be made of breathable material, preferably leather, or fabric to allow perspiration to dissipate.
• Be lightweight

Walking Equipment

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An Athletic woman jogging in the winter.

It’s cold outside and you are really not up to running in the summertime let along in the middle of winter like this woman shown in the picture. She is trying to Stay Fit During Winter Months.  So How to stay fit during winter months like this woman shown in the picture? This is the question many people ask themselves, especially those that do not belong to a gym and those people who prefer to exercise outside. With winter snow conditions, even running is questionable due to the slippery conditions. Biking is possible provided that you have the right equipment, such as knobby tires and perhaps even studs in your tires. But what do other people do who want to Stay Fit During Winter Months?

Stay Fit During Winter Months

There are many exercises that individuals can use to help them stay fit during winter months. We will list as many as we can think of here, knowing that some may not appeal to everyone. Select those that work for you and they may include one or a combination of exercises that grouped together allow you to burn the calories you need to over the cold winter months. Here we go:

• Walking anytime, outside, the mall, to work, etc at least 10k steps
• Basement Gym, lifting weights, skipping, treadmill, etc
• Watching your diet and reducing the number of calories
• Completing a series of exercises – sit ups, push ups, chin ups etc
• Staying active all of the time and avoiding the couch
• Skiing – Downhill and cross country
• Snow shoeing
• Standing at work

From the above, you should get the idea that being active will burn calories and keep you from eating when you are bored. For many people, this can be extremely important. Staying inside away from the cold can be very boring, however, if you do not get moving and take advantage of your lifestyle to keep moving, then not only will your fitness decline, you will probably gain weight as well.

For more information about exercise, click here.

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Running – no….cycle – No… Skating – No. None of these activities can make the claim that walking can! Walking for exercise is the number one participation sport worldwide. Why? Well here are a few good reasons.

Easy to do. There is no great challenge to walking. It does not require any special skills or advanced conditioning. Walking doesn’t require any special equipment or clothing. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes, comfortable clothing, a pedometer, and you’re all set.

Healthy when Hippocrates said that walking is man’s best medicine, he didn’t realize that thousands of years later, new benefits of walking would be discovered daily. Some health benefits of walking include:

• Burns almost as many calories as jogging
• Eases back pains
• Slims your waist
• Lowers blood pressure
• Reduce the level of bad  cholesterol
• Reduces heart attack risk
• Enhances stamina and energy
• Lessons anxiety and tension
• Improves muscle tone
• Easy on your joints
• Reduces appetite
• Increases aerobic capacity
• Can be done in short bouts
• Slows down osteoporosis bone loss
• Can be done when you’re traveling

Walking for Exercise – Safety

Safe walking: walking is probably the safest exercise you could do. It doesn’t require prior training or conditioning and doesn’t involve a great deal of physical exertion in the beginning. Studies have shown that due to the design of our body, walking is more natural than sitting, standing or running, and walking is not as stressful to the body like other exercises. For example, running is much more stressful on the heart and joints and leads to many more injuries. The shock impact of a runner step is 3 to 4 times the person’s weight. For walking is only 1 1/2 times. Some sports like basketball and tennis can have as much as seven times a person’s weight.

While walking his easier on your body, it can be just as beneficial as running helping you lose weight. If you run for 30 minutes at 5 mph you will burn about 285 coats. If you walk for 30 minutes and 165 cal, 225 on a slight incline of 5%, and 360 cal on a 10% incline.

Walking: no advanced degree required there is no need to buy expensive videos, computer programs or manuals in order to learn how to walk. All you have to do is walk. Find a method that is comfortable to you and that’s all there is to it. Here are a few helpful hints on walking:

Posture is King:

In order to get the most out of walking, good posture is crucial. Keep your head up and your spine straight and look straight ahead. Keep your arms and shoulders loose, do not look down to avoid possible Road obstacles.

Take the regular breaths: never hold your breath.

Walk don’t run: to get the most out of your walk you should keep a brisk pace, but not fast. We should be able to individually determine the correct place shortly after starting our walk. If you think it is difficult to breathe easily, you’re obviously walking too fast.

Is your body trying to tell you something? The expression, ” if it feels good do it”, applies to walking in the opposite is also true. If you have a lot of pain or discomfort, check with your doctor.

Stride: try to take long, smooth strides. Your motion should be fairly effortless, with your arms at your sides for balance.

Watch for future posts about Walking for exercise. The next one will be “walking equipment”. For more posts about getting enough exercise and how to approach exercise, click here.

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When we are traveling, we look for cleanliness and hotels that meet the same standard no matter where we stay. The Holiday Inn Express – Surprise Arizona meets this requirement very nicely.  Very clean hotel and rooms, free parking, and great breakfast. Nice rooms with standard Holiday Inn furniture, fridge, coffee, etc. We do not want surprises when we arrive late at night and this one clearly met our requirements. We would stay at this Holiday Inn Express any time and would recommend it to anyone looking for a place to stay. Another location that we can vouch for is the Holiday Inn in Fort Stockton.

Holiday Inn Express – Surprise Arizona

Very good breakfast again standard at the Holiday Inn Express – Surprise Arizona
Electrical plugs are available in the breakfast area to charge smartphones and computers. Many hotels that are not modern or have not been upgraded do not have these features. When your cell phone battery dies or your computer battery fails, you need a place to plug it in and recharge it so that you can continue working.

The front desk clerk was friendly and helpful, the kitchen staff was also friendly and helpful. They kept everything clean and immaculate despite a few kids and adults making a little bit of a mess. Tables were quickly cleaned and ready for the next guest to have their breakfast.

There are no restaurants nearby, and you really cannot walk to one either. Plan to take your car to any restaurant in the area. Traffic is not too bad in the area at night.

Lots of parking at the hotel, in a nice residential neighborhood. If you are looking for nightlife, then this is probably not the place to stay. There are more business people and travelers like ourselves passing through the area and staying at this particular hotel. We will stay at this hotel again in Holiday Inn Express – Surprise Arizona again the next time we go through the area.

For more posts about hotel services, click here.

We recently stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Fort Stockton and were not very impressed. Normally we depend on the chains such as the Holiday Inn Express chain because they maintain good standards of cleanliness and breakfast menus. Not so with this particular hotel:

• No coffee in the morning for breakfast
• Phones did not work in our room and had to move
• Gravel in the parking lot from construction
• Gravel tracked into the hotel and onto the floors
• And onto the upper floors where there were new carpets
• Even elevator walls were dirty from someone rubbing a dirty muddy hand on the walls

Do not stay here at this hotel.  They wanted $137 per night for a room and did not even give us a discount because of the issues we identified. Even worse was the attitude of the front desk clerk in the morning. He actually smirked when I complained to him. Told me there was coffee in my room and there was nothing he could do about it. The manager was not in and there were no coffee filters to make coffee with. Nothing he could do about it.

With this attitude, even though they are spending a lot of money upgrading the hotel, it will deteriorate very quickly and all of the investment will be for nothing. We plan to never stay there again and will do what we can to warn other travelers that they should not stay at this location. You would think that with online reviews etc and customers reading them, these hotels would smarten up. No wonder many are struggling and they have no idea why their customers are going to other locations.

We were on a tight schedule otherwise we would have reported it to central reservations. While they might not do anything at least we would have had some satisfaction.

For more posts about hotel services, click here.

We went to see the Houston space Center in Webster Texas which is just outside Houston. We stayed at a Holiday inn Express in Webster, Texas which is about six or eight minutes from the site. It was very easy to get from the Hotel to the space center. The Houston space Center is also known as the Johnson space Center.

The Houston space Center is an interesting place with lots of information and lots to see. Be prepared to spend the day and doing lots of walking as you move around the center. There is one main building with a variety of demonstrations. There’s also two trams that will take you to different buildings on the site. Try to sit on a rear tram away from the engine so that you can hear the narrative as you move between buildings.

Houston space Center – Tickets

You can also get into the Houston space Center by buying tickets on site. You can get them cheaper by purchasing them at the hotel we are staying. Customers can save about seven dollars per ticket.

There is also an audio tour that can be purchased. However, you really don’t need the audio tour on the first day. If you go back a second day it would be interesting and more informative. Their presentations at every location are given by resident astronauts and other specialists. Plan to be there for the day and also plan to do lots of walking.

For more posts about things to do while traveling and entertainment, click here.

We recently stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Webster Texas and overall found it to be very clean, updated, and modern. This is a place we would definitely stay at again if in the area. The Holiday Inn Express Webster Texas met the standard we expect for the Holiday Inn Express chain.

Holiday Inn Express Webster Texas

Rooms were clean and met the standards we expect at a Holiday Inn Express. Breakfast was also very good and had everything we needed. They have a very nice pool and hot tub at the back of the hotel. We did not try it but saw some people enjoying the hot tub.

The only issues we had with the hotel are that it is hard to find. There are very few electrical plugs in the breakfast area to plug in computers or smartphones to charge them.

Fortunately, we had a GPS or I am not sure we would have found the place. There is a back road leading from the back of the mall to the hotel property which greatly simplifies things, but it is full of potholes so drive slowly.

The front desk clerk could not help at all with electrical plugs and there did not seem to be any except for one on the wall where a lamp is plugged in. I needed to charge both my smartphone and computer so I unplugged the lamp. This is definitely an area that should be improved on.

For more posts about hotel services, click here.

It is Wednesday at the Beau Rivage Casino and hotel in Biloxi Mississippi and seniors (+50) get to enjoy breakfast and lunch buffet meals at half price. The Breakfast Buffet Beau Rivage special is for the month of January and may continue in other months.

The number of items available was plentiful, the quality was excellent as was the service. At a price of $12.99 normally, it is even more of a good deal when you are eating for half of that price.

We enjoyed almond nut pancakes, fluffy biscuits, slices of ham, eggs cooked any way you want them, and of course orange juice and coffee. There were lots of other items available, but you can only eat so much and these items were our choices.

Breakfast Buffet Beau Rivage – Seniors Day

It was also busy, but not so crowded that it was uncomfortable. We only waited in line for about 5 minutes and sat in a booth that was both private yet easy to get to the buffet. If you are in Biloxi, this is a breakfast you should not miss.

Lunch might have been a bit busier, however, we did not see long lines of people waiting. They have a large restaurant and can accommodate a large number of people.

For more details about Biloxi, Mississippi, click here.

There are more and more seniors retiring every year. In fact, we are going to be in the majority over the next decade. Our health care organizations are already reeling over the increased requirements from seniors and changes to health care needs. The bottom line for senior health care solutions is that we can hope for help from government health care or we can increase the odds of having a healthy life by taking care of our selves to decrease the potential need for hospital care. After all who wants to wait in a clinic or hospital for hours at a time or have to deal with increasing levels of disability. We may not be able to eliminate these issues, but we can surely improve our lifestyles by taking care of ourselves. The following are a few ideas about what you can do regardless of your age or general health.

Senior Health Care Solutions – What You can Do

The following is a general list of potential solutions for people of all ages with a particular focus on seniors. Obviously each of these suggestions should be tailored to your age and ability. We will expand on these ideas a bit later.

• Tailored Exercise programs
• Stay active even in old age
• Manage your diet, add vitamins as needed
• Maintain proper weight for your body
• Active social life with friends and groups
• Keep up with friends
• Ask for help when needed from family and professional groups
• Stimulate the brain as well as the body

Tailored Exercise Program – age, ability, and general health will dictate what you can do and how aggressively you follow your exercise regime. The point is to get out there and run, walk, stroll, play sports, take up golf or whatever you enjoy, just get moving for at least 15 minutes every day. You need to get your heart rate up and increase your breathing rate to get any real benefit.

Use the above ideas on exercise as an example to apply to the other ideas we have included in this post. for more posts about baby boomer health care, click here.

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Biking in Palm Springs is one of the most enjoyable things to do. With blue skies, good roads and most drivers giving the right away to bicycles, it is a pretty safe place to ride. One of the most important things for people who are biking in the Palm Springs area is to make sure that they have lots of water with them when they head out. Especially if you’re planning to go biking out in the desert, you can become dehydrated very easily. There are not many places to stop at to get a drink of water and get out of the sun so always make sure you bring lots of water, apply lots of suntan lotion, and bring something to eat. You can have a very enjoyable day as long as you have those three things.

Biking in Palm Springs – Equipment

The other important things are the standard issues that most bikers who’ve done a lot of biking know that they should be prepared for. And that is flat tires. Always make sure that you have the repair equipment you feel that you need to repair a flat tire. For some this is probably just a patch and a pump to pump up your tire while others will bring extra tubes so they can replace the tube quickly and then apply a new patch to the old when they return from their day of biking.

The other piece of equipment that the writer likes to bring with him when he’s biking in Palm Springs is a camera. You never know when you’re going to see something interesting that you would like to remember or send to your friends. The camera is a useful device to have along with you whether it is your cell phone or a regular camera.

For more things to do in Palm Springs and the area, click here.

The 50s style 24 / 7 restaurant at the Hard rock Casino Biloxi Mississippi was closed on Monday morning. We like to go to this restaurant for breakfast as part of our tradition when we go to Biloxi. The Hard Rock Cafe closed the 24 / 7 restaurant and refers customers to the satisfaction buffet. You can order the buffet or order from the menu.

However, the price for the buffet and the menu items are about the same price which causes most customers to just take the buffet since the price includes all of your drinks including juice and coffee for the same price. A bit of a scam if you ask me.

Hard Rock Casino Biloxi Mississippi – Buffet

In addition, the actual buffet is not really that great. There are not many menu items available and the food is just average. Many competitors have an extensive number of items to choose from including a chef who will cook your eggs to your personal satisfaction. We would not suggest that you eat at this location during the offseason.

Perhaps the Hard rock Casino Biloxi Mississippi opens the buffet during the high season when there are a lot more people around. We also noticed that the casino was not really that busy either. Even though they looked like they could use more customers, rates for the rooms were still very high and did not tempt us to stay at this location.

For more details about Biloxi, Mississippi, click here.

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We stayed at the Spring Hills Marriott Hotel Knoxville on Turkey Creek road on the west side of Knoxville. Excellent place to stay, perhaps a bit pricey for travelers, but clean and large well-appointed rooms.

Breakfast was very good with the standard hot breakfast fare that most hotels in this class offer free of charge to their customers.

Spring Hills Marriott Hotel Knoxville

The only complaint we would have is that there is a slight amount of road noise from the interstate which is located right behind the hotel. Customers might want to request a location that is on the other side of the hotel away from the interstate.

Also, there are limited electrical outlets for someone who needs to plug in their computer in the morning. If you are traveling with other devices that need an electrical plug, take an extension cord with you.

WiFi is wide open and free so anyone can use it including people who are not staying at the hotel. This is a potential security hazard for anyone using the WiFi. You can counter this threat by bringing a portable router that acts as a firewall to protect your security. The other approach of course is to limit the sites you access with your devices. Stay away from banking and any personal information sites.

For more information about hotel services and places we have stayed, click here.

We visited the Texas Roadhouse Knoxville at 11001 Turkey Dr, Knoxville, TN, and found it to be another excellent restaurant in the chain of steak houses made famous in Texas. We sat at the bar and enjoyed a couple of draft beers, salad, and a combo steak and ribs. Both were done to perfection and the service was excellent.

If there is anything to complain about at this restaurant is that the portion sizes are huge. We often split meals while traveling and since the portion sizes are so large. The food was excellent and so was the service.

Texas Roadhouse Knoxville – Happy Hour?

The only complaint that we would have is that there is no happy hour, but other than that, it is an excellent place to eat. The packed restaurant on a Sunday night is tantamount to the fact that they have great food.

Contrary to what we expected, not all Texas Roadhouses have happy hour every night. It seems it really depends on the location as well as on the day of the week. You only save a couple of dollars if there is a happy hour. It all counts and maybe you will just have one more beer if you are buying cheap drinks.

For many more posts about travel through the US and interesting places to visit, click here.

The Hampton Inn Martinsburg is easy to get to off route 81 in Martinsburg WV. It is a bit tired looking but still better than most. Rooms were fine, service is what you would expect and breakfast was standard.

While this may not sound so great from a review perspective, it is the fact that the Hampton Inn hotel chain can be depended on to provide good quality. There are usually clean rooms, a decent breakfast and free wi-fi with free parking. They are usually located close to the highway and at all major intersecting highways.

Rooms were quiet. There was not a lot of road noise which is important when you are traveling and need to sleep. Logans steakhouse is on the other side of the highway, so you need a car to get to it. There is also Ruby Tuesday’s and a buffet restaurant of some kind next door. It seemed to be busy, but we decided on Logans, a cold beer, peanuts in the shell and an excellent steak.

Breakfast was the standard fare and if you stay at Hampton Inn’s a lot, then it does get a bit tired, but it is dependable. There is cereal, fruit, eggs, sausage, yogurt and pancakes. Also toast and bagels along with muffins. You won’t starve and you will eat well. Don’t forget the coffee and orange juice. The Hampton Inn Martinsburg is on our list of future hotels to stay at.

For more posts about hotel services, click here.

Logans Steakhouse Martinsburg has an excellent atmosphere , great bar service and very good rapport with their customers. The bar tender pre-ordered beers before happy hour ended for us to make sure we would get the best price, $3 for an ice cold 22 ounce draft beer. The food was excellent – ribs, salad, sweet potato fries and buns. Salty peanuts are always available at the bar and $3 22 ounce beers for happy hour. This just makes for a great afternoon, especially when you are staying at one of the hotels close by and do not need to worry about driving.

Logans Steakhouse

We always try to plan our trips by staying at hotels that are close to a roadhouse. For example a Logan’s Road House or a Texas Roadhouse. This way we can just walk over to the restaurant and enjoy a great meal. No one needs to worry about drinking and driving because we are walking.

The staff is always friendly. We usually sit at the bar. No need to wait for a table, there seems to be always a spot or two at the bar and they are more than willing to serve you a meal at the bar. The main reason we sit at the bar is that we get to talk to the locals or in some cases other travelers. We find out where they are from, where they are headed and ideas about things to see in the area. It is always interesting when people hear how far we are driving and how long we will be away from home. They are usually quite envious. Many want to know more about our travels and where we are headed.

Whenever you can visit a Logans Steakhouse for great meals and ice cold beer. This is not an advertisement for the chain, we just happen to like this style of restaurant.

We can all use travel tips to help us plan a successful trip. If you plan to be driving to your next destination vacation, plan your route in advance. Make sure to travel with a fully charged cell phone for emergencies. Or make sure that you have a charger in your car.

Road trips provide families with a chance to spend quality time together,. You will also be in close quarters for the duration of your travels. It helps to keep arguments at bay and everyone content by packing a variety of games, etc that will appeal to everyone’s interest.

You may not need your passport if you’re staying inside the country. Ensuring that all of your passengers have adequate identification in the case of an emergency is important. For those who are planning a vacation outside the country, remember that everyone traveling with you must have a valid passport. This includes your travels to Canada, to the US and Mexico. Just in case make sure that everyone is passport is valid well beyond the expected date of your return to Canada or to the US depending in which country you live in.

Travel Tips can Ensure a Successful Trip

No one likes to think about it, But planning for the unexpected is an important aspect of traveling. Take copies of your passport identification. Itinerary and insurance policy with a friend or family member who you can contact while in your travels if need be.

Make sure to take care of any health needs before you leave. Include necessary vaccinations and obtain sufficient supply of your prescription medications.

Always remember that weather with an adult or traveling alone all children traveling outside the country must have a valid passport. Other documentation may be required to allow the child entry into another country, such as a birth certificate, legal forms pertaining to custody agreement and a parental letter of consent if a child is traveling with one parent, neither parents or alone.

Always obtain health insurance, and travel insurance prior to leaving on vacation. Once you travel outside your province, or state, or country your existing health insurance may not provide the coverage that you require. In emergency you don’t want to be worried about who’s going to pay the expensive cost of medical coverage. Always travel with Health and travel insurance.

What are the baby boomer health care solutions that are practical and sensible? There is lots of discussion and debate about Obama health care, how much it will cost and who should have it. But what can each person do to ensure that there retired years are as healthy as possible? They want to have a quality lifestyle during the years after completing their career? We do not know the answer for everyone, but there are some things that can be followed by each individual. It really means taking personal responsibility for your own health, to look after yourself and to follow through on health issues when there is something serious to deal with.  Sine diet is a major part of our health we are starting a series of posts about this subject and we hope that baby boomers and seniors find this helpful.

Baby Boomer Health Care Solutions – What You can Do

The following is a general list of solutions for people of all ages. Obviously they should be tailored to your age and ability. More on that a little bit later.

• Exercise
• Stay active
• Manage your diet
• Maintain proper weight for your body
• Active social life
• Keep up with friends
• Ask for help when needed
• Stimulate the brain as well as the body

Basically it is all about maintaining a healthy body and a health brain. Sometimes serious health issues get in the way, but there is lots you can do regardless of your health. Take exercise for example.

Exercise – maybe you cannot run around the block any longer. Can you walk around the block, can you walk in the mall if it is too cold in the winter? Can you use a walker to go up and down the hall a bunch of times. Whatever your capability is, keep on exercising to strengthen the heart and the lungs as well as your muscles. These are the most important muscles in your body next to your brain.

Apply the same general approach to the other items in our list to ensure that you can continue to live a high quality of life in your retirement. For more posts on health care solutions, click here.

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Everyone is concerned about the cost of healthcare during our old age. However, did you know that there are a number of steps that you can take to mitigating health care costs in old age? They will also help to ensure that you lead an enjoyable lifestyle during your senior years? There are always healthcare issues that we can’t avoid and have nothing to do with, diet, exercise or lifestyle. Taking these steps can improve the odds of having a healthier life during old age and mitigating healthcare costs during that time frame. Let’s all agree that anytime you can improve your quality of life, why would we not take advantage of these opportunities? This is such an important issue for all baby boomers as we age in place. What are some of the steps that we can take with regard to mitigating healthcare costs in old age?

Mitigating Health Care Costs – Steps

The following are some of the steps that many experts feel will help seniors and really anyone improve their overall health as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle during your senior retirement years. If you are worried about having sufficient money set aside for your health care costs in your senior years, these are some of the steps you can take to improve your overall health and reduce the amount of health care that will be needed.  Here they are in no particular order:

• Maintain the proper weight for your frame and age.
• Always eat a healthy diet following the national food guide.
• Stop smoking
• If you drink do so in moderation
• If you are overweight now take steps to lose weight and get down to the proper level that you are supposed to be at for your age.
• Exercise on a daily basis, whether it is a walk around the block, the gym or swimming
• Taylor exercises to your capabilities and lifestyle.
• Maintain an excellent circle of friends that you see on a daily basis.
• Build and maintain a healthy social life
• Maintain contact with family and take the time to enjoy every day

While some of these may seem obvious, many of us do not stay focused on all of these issues and let exercise slip for example. In time, poor body fitness will catch up with us and we will pay the consequences with high health care costs. Take the steps now to make sure that this does not happen to you.

For more information on health care costs and issues, click here.

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We all know that healthcare costs are very expensive and healthcare plans don’t always cover all of those expenses. As we age, the chances are that we will need more and more healthcare coverage. Most financial advisers will advise seniors that they need to set money aside it to deal with healthcare. Late life health care is a serious issue for many consumers. This is obviously good advice and we certainly encourage this. But there are other steps that middle-age people and seniors can take with regard to ensuring that they have a healthy retirement life.

Diet, Exercise and Late Life Health Care

For example, managing your diet and conducting daily exercise that is suitable for your age will go a long ways to maintaining your health in retirement. This is one of the best areas in terms of value for time spent that you can focus on to ensure a healthy life during retirement.

You may still need to say for healthcare during your old age, but it will be much less expensive if you’re healthy from exercising and eating a proper diet. Most seniors focus less and less and exercise as they become older due to joint problems, weight gain and other health related issues.

Often weight gain leads to more joint problems, diabetes, heart disease, and many other health issues. Focusing on your diet and reducing your way to the recommended level for your age as well as exercising can make a huge difference in your overall health, the amount of prescription drugs that you take, and the support that you will need during retirement. This is one of the best ways to ensure that the money you have will last you in retirement. Stay healthy and stay focused on the proper diet, the proper amount of exercise for your age, and ensuring that your savings will be sufficient to carry you through your retirement.

What about Smoking

Another obvious area is smoking. It has been proven time and again that you will live longer and healthier if you do not smoke. if lung cancer does not get you then stroke or heart attack will and it will happen sooner than if you do not smoke. We can all point to people who have smoked and lived a long life. These are the exceptions. Most smokers will die 10 to fifteen years earlier than they would have if they had only stopped smoking.

For more health related topics, click here.

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I decided to write a blog about what we are going through as a family dealing with what we hope will eventually be a hip replacement for my wife. As I write this she is having severe pain in her hip and we are starting the process of having it assessed with the expectation that she will eventually need a hip replacement, but then we are getting ahead of ourselves. This situation first of course must be diagnosed and get into the health care system so that her hip can be assessed and then the proper corrective action taken. OHIP and Government Bureaucracy will ensure that this process is long. We hope the solution is a hip replacement and not something far worse.

We hope that our friends south of the border read this blog and can avoid the significant delays and extra pain that patients experience in Canada, particularly in the province of Ontario. Our health care is covered, so we cannot go broke, but we do have to wait a long time before solutions to our health issues are resolved. I am going to track the appointments and elapsed time so that readers can appreciate just how much time is involved in our situation. We are also going to attempt to be proactive and expedite appointments etc where and when we can. OHIP and Government Bureaucracy has its plus and negatives.

OHIP and Government Bureaucracy – Time Line

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We saw this joke online and thought it would bring a laugh to readers who are trying to lose weight, the writer included.  It does illustrate the fundamental truth that you have to be active in order to have a successful weight loss plan! Anyone on a diet and anyone who has tried to lose weight in the past knows that not only do they need to watch what they eat, cut down on intake, but also they must become more active so that they burn more calories than they are taking in. This is a fundamental issue. If you want to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you take in each and every day, otherwise, you will not lose weight, you may even gain weight! That is a different kind of diet plan.

We hope you enjoy the following little story!

A Different Kind of Diet Plan for Weight Loss

A Newfoundlander was terribly overweight, so his Doctor put him on a
diet. ‘I want you to eat regularly for 2 days, then skip a full day.

Repeat this schedule for 2 weeks and when you return, you will have
lost at least 3 kilos.’

Two weeks later the Newfoundlander returns and the Doctor is shocked
to see he’s lost 25 kilos.

‘This is amazing!’ exclaims the Doctor ‘Did this happen by just
following my instructions?’

The Newfoundlander nodded…’ I’ll tell you though, by jaesuz, I t’aut
I were going to drop dead on dat 3rd day.’

‘From hunger, you mean?’

‘No, from all dat fockin’ skippin!’

Whether it is a walk around the block to get started or a couple of hours at the gym each day, burning calories from exercise is a good thing to do. But there are other benefits as well. You will improve muscle tone, your cardiovascular will improve and your overall well being will improve. Walking around the block could even improve your social life since you will meet other like minded people in your neighborhood. This can be a great way to meet people.

For more information about diet and weight loss, click here.

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We have all been there, why I cannot lose weight? We try to lose weight. Go to the gym but somehow we just cannot remove the pounds and lose weight. We wonder what is going wrong and are thinking about giving up as far as losing weight is concerned.  Well there is a reason many people fail to reach their goals even if they do go to the gym. There are a number of reasons and most of us just have to realize that we need to focus on really doing what is needed to lose weight. If you recognize yourself in any of the following descriptions, then this could be the reason you are not losing any weight or at least not achieving the goals you have set for yourself.

Why I Cannot Lose Weight?

Going to the gym couple of times a week, but hit the wall before we even break a sweat. If this is you, then you have to realize that you need to push through this wall and really burn some calories. Doing a lackluster exercise routine is not going to help lose weight.

Doing the Same Thing every day or every couple of days will train the body to adjust to that routine. Varying your exercise routine will train different muscles and will challenge your body to respond. Complete cardio training one day and do muscle training the next and focus on different groups of muscles. Each time make sure that your break into a sweat.

Not Pushing Yourself is one of the best ways not to lose weight. Find a partner or someone to compete with. Set objectives for yourself that are increasingly more difficult.  Before you know it the exercise you did when you started will seem like a breeze.

Couch Potato the Rest of the Day – being a couch potato after your exercise with the corresponding snacks that usually go with it will not only ensure that you do not lose weight, you actually could gain more weight. Be active all day long to sustain your loss of weight.

Over Eating is another way to ensure that you gain weight. Use smaller plates which cause you to consume smaller portions. Eat slowly so that your stomach has time to fill up and tell your brain that you are full.

Waste Time at the Gym – is another great way to avoid exercise and not lose weight. Look around you at the gym. How many people actually are working out vs. socializing?

Recovering from a Work Out – allow your body time to recover from a strenuous workout. The muscles you pushed need time to heal, so work one set one day and another set the following day.

Know Your Target Heart Rate – your target heart rate is based on your age and your current weight along with activity level. work this rate so that you can gradually do more at the same heart rate.

Balanced Routine – means varying the routine from one day to the next, working different muscle groups every day. Set the routine and cycle back every few days so that muscles are aging put to work after healing from the last workout.

Have Fun While Working Out – if you are having fun, there is an increase chance you will continue exercising. It will not be boring and you will enjoy your time at the gym, playing sports or whatever it is that is fun.

Hopefully this will help you answer the question, Why I Cannot Lose Weight. For more information about losing weight, click here.

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The picture on the left is an example of one type of CPAP mask that consumers can purchase. There are actually about ten different styles, however the point of this post is not really about the type or number of CPAP masks. Instead we wanted to bring to consumers attention that they really need to shop around to find the best price for their CPAP supplies. In many cases they can be purchased at a discount, sometimes as much as 50%. Medical supplies are priced very high, especially if you purchase them through a medical supply agency or company. Consumers can really save a great deal of money by shopping around to get the best deal. An example will illustrate what we are talking about.

CPAP Supplies Discount

The write recently went to a local health provider of medical equipment. This is a popular one and used by many people including seniors who need various types of supportive equipment. In our case we wanted to replace the hoses and the nasal pillow CPAP mask that is being used. Everything was great in terms of service, fitting etc, until we saw the price for a hose, the mask and the supporting straps. The total came to over $250, the mask itself with straps was $230. At the time we were kind of blown away at the high cost. When the writer mentioned this to the medical professional, the answer was somewhat surprising. First she indicated or reminded me that my health insurance would pay for 80% of the cost. Secondly she mentioned that anything related to the medical field is very expensive.

Well the writer decided to check around to see what other prices there are. Turns out that you can purchase the exact same thing for half the cost online. So should the writer purchase the CPAP supplies at a discount? Well my insurance only pays 80% which means my cost would be around $50. If I purchased the items online ,y cost will be around $20 after putting the claim into my insurance company.

We are not going to purchase the CPAP supplies from our local medical store on principal. This is just a rip off and we have to vote with our dollars to register our dissatisfaction. What do you think?

For information about finding CPAP supplies, click here.

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Consumers can purchase several different kinds of CPAP masks. Often a health consultant will help you choose the proper one to fit your face and one that is comfortable for you. In this post we want to talk about a recent experience the writer had regarding the purchase of a nasal mask CPAP. The current equipment is two years old and they suggest that you replace your mask and hoses at least once per year so we are well over due for a replacement.

Of course the first place I went to for my replacement was the same store that I originally purchased my medical  equipment from. They were quite helpful and really all I needed was a replacement set of hoses and a nasal mask CPAP. Well the price for just the nasal mask and the harness to hold it on came to $220 in Canadian dollars. I could not believe that it was so expensive. Even though my health insurance would pay for 80% of the cost, I rebelled at paying so much for essentially a piece of plastic. They told me at the time that this is typical of what medical devices cost and that I just had to accept it.

Nasal Mask CPAP – Check Online Prices

I decided not to purchase what I needed at that time, much to the disappointment of the medical professional that I was dealing with. I am sure they get a commission for everything they sell. When I arrived home, I checked online and found the same thing for less than half the price from a Canadian supplier. In the US it is probably less expensive than even this online price. I was simply blown away by the difference in cost!

It really does pay to shop around and register your financial complaint by purchasing what you need at less expensive stores or online web sites. Even though my insurance would have paid for the nasal mask, it is the principle of the thing to not always pay the top dollar! I submitted the invoice to my insurance company and they paid the standard 80%.

Another thing that I learned is that  these same medical professionals are waking up to this issue and that they have competition. I went back a month or two later to discuss the cost to see if they would budge at all. I really do value the advice and consultation they provide but just do not want to pay more than double the cost. It turns out that they were willing to provide me with a 20% discount to obtain my business. While the final price was still higher than the online price, the premium was worth it to me for the advice and consultation that I received.

For more details about CPAP mask types, click here.

The picture on the left shows the typical types of CPAP masks that are available from most distributors of CPAP equipment and accessories. In addition each of these masks will be available in a variety of sizes. They will fit people with varying sizes of nostrils and facial features. It is important to have a comfortable fit that also fits securely on your face to prevent air leakage. Air leakage can cause the CPAP machine to not work properly and deliver the wrong pressure to your airways. It is annoying if air is escaping from around your mask. The air around the mask is whistling or bothering your face. It must be tight enough to provide a secure fit. It also must be contoured and sized to fit your face properly.

What is a CPAP Mask

The CPAP mask is connected by a hose to your CPAP machine. It delivers the air to your airways and must be fitted properly as already mentioned. It usually consists of something that fits over your nose and possibly your mouth if you are a mouth breather. Straps that will go over your head to tie it in place. Some people refer to it as a Darth Vader mask. It reminds them of this fictional character from Star Wars.

As you can see there is a variety of masks in the picture. All are design to deliver the basic functions. The choice is really based on comfort, your personal taste and the ability of the mask to do it’s job. For example if you are a mouth breather, then you need a mask that fits over your mouth and nose. Or you need one that includes a strap that goes under your chin to keep your mouth closed while you are sleeping.

The benefit of wearing a mask to deal with sleep apnea far outweigh any discomfort you may feel. Avoiding a stroke, a heart attack and getting a decent nights sleep is by far better than not wearing one or being so vain that you will not wear one. If you suspect that you have sleep apnea, get tested and take the steps you need to deal with your sleep apnea.

For more info on CPAP masks, click here.

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Could it be possible that two meals a day be better than many small meals or even three meals a day? Most of us have heard that eating a number of small meals, usually six, each day is the best way to maintain your body weight. Also your energy and your overall health. Now recent studies are finding that these multiple meals may be over rated. Fewer meals may be the better answer.

Two Meals a Day – The Study

Fifty four patients with type 2 diabetes were split into two groups. Their diets were reduced by 500 calories per day.  The first group had three regular meals plus snacks between meals and after their main meal at night. The second group was limited to two meals a day. They had a large breakfast and a large lunch between noon and 4 pm. They kept their same exercise habits and they maintained this eating approach for two weeks and then switched. Both groups also maintained 50% carbs, 25% protein and 25% fat

Two Meals a Day – The results

Both groups lost weight, but the group that was limited to two fewer meals lost more weight than the other group. They had lower fasting blood sugar levels. They lost or decreased the amount of fat in their livers.

Eating 6 meals per day makes it very difficult to control the calories in total that they eat. While eating only two meals per day, most people will eat fewer calories and possibly lose more weight. The study doctors were not confident that the group eating two meals per day did not eat fewer calories and lost more weight as a result.

They also recognize that it is difficult to not eat a meal at supper time. It is ingrained into our culture and the body is looking for a meal, unless a large lunch was consumed late in the day, which may be one way of compensating for the two meal a day approach. There may also be a tendency to gorge oneself especially if you are overly hungry. With a small number of meals, by the time it is time for the second meal most people are overly hungry. They may eat more calories which negates the weight loss potential.

If you are serious about dieting and losing weight, click here for more info.

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There are small travel CPAP machines, so small that they can fit in your pocket, or even your brief case and compared to some of the larger ones this can be very convenient.  If you travel a lot especially by plane, suitcases are packed tight then a travel CPAP can be very attractive. There are a couple of things that users should consider when traveling with a CPAP. Regardless of what machine you actually use.  The picture on the left is of someone taking the sleep test. We wanted to mention that since people might get the idea that this is the way you have to sleep. Check out the pictures in some of our other posts with pictures that show the various types of masks that can be warn once you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Best Travel CPAP – Still Need Water

Regardless of which CPAP you use, we strongly recommend that you have a humidifier module attached to keep your nose and throat moist during the night. A CPAP without a humidifier can cause your nose etc to become uncomfortably dry during the night and even wake you up. Carry the humidifier portion of the CPAP with you at all times and bring distilled water with you to use so that you do not have to depend on tap water of questionable purity. If you are flying you will have to pack the water in your suitcase or purchase distilled water at your destination. Sometimes it can be difficult to obtain depending on the location you are traveling too.

Best Travel CPAP – Bring Extension Chord

You should also pack an extension chord to reach those hard to reach electrical outlets. It is surprising just how many are located conveniently for the maid. They are not for the customers with all of their electronic devices that need to be recharged. Also for people who also use CPAP machines. The chords do not take up much room. You may be surprised at how much you use it for other devices as  well. A ten foot chord will be more than sufficient.

Looking for more information about CPAP machine travel ideas, click here.

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