Barb's Daily Dose

Elder Care Consultation

As many of you know, my 94 and 85 year old in-laws, Felix and Edna have moved in with us for the winter. It’s been an on-going adjustment, which in some ways has been like bringing home a new baby. There’s always something new and unexpected that crops up.  I know that many of you are also in the same “sandwich” generation, with teens or 20 somethings at home while also caring for elderly relatives.  I’ve decided to make mine an “Oreo Cookie Sandwich” and have some fun.  You can read about our fun plane ride here.

Get Your Game On - A Healthy Game Day Menu

Some Healthy Tips for Super Bowl Sunday from Health.com

Get your game on - A Healthy Game Day Menu - Health.com.

Get Healthy and Lose Weight

If you’re thinking about losing weight and getting healthy, this recent episode on CBS can help you get started.

I’ve worked on my own weight loss over the last year. I've heard from quite a few people who read my blog and have also had success following this weight loss advice.  I’ve limited my portions and decreased carbs.

Don’t wait another day, start taking the steps you need to get healthy in 2012.

What You Need, and How to Get It - Vitamins: What to Take, What to Skip

Another Great Article from Health.com

What you need, and how to get it - Vitamins: What to Take, What to Skip - Health.com.

Keep a Food Diary to Lose Weight

One of the best ways to lose weight is to become more conscious of what you’re eating and why you’re eating it. Take the first step and keep a food diary. This has been prov-en in countless research studies to help people lose weight.  Once you start to see in black and white how much you’re actually consuming, it triggers some hesitation and thought before mindlessly shoveling in the food.

U.S. Leads Developed Countries in Teen Pregnancy Rate

An Interesting Article from Nurse.com

The teen pregnancy rate in the United States remains the highest of any developed country, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with about 400,000 teens ages 15 to 19 giving birth each year between 2004 and 2008.

Teen pregnancy is a public health concern because teen mothers are more likely to experience negative social outcomes, and infants of teen mothers have higher risks for preterm birth, low birth weight and related complications, according to the CDC.

Continue reading here.

Caffeine Kick - 8 Energy Boosters Under 80 Calories

Check out this helpful article from Health.com

Caffeine kick - 8 Energy Boosters Under 80 Calories - Health.com.

10% Weight Loss

Aim for a 10% Weight Loss in the New Year

If you’re like many people you’ve made a New Years resolution to lose weight. Good for you!  How’s it going?  If you’re like most people, resolve starts to weaken a little bit by about the 3rd week, and it’s likely that you may need a little kick start.

Many people become discouraged and overwhelmed by the idea of losing 30, 40 or even 50 or more pounds. Giving up seems like the only option once you’ve skipped a few work outs or indulged a bit too much.  And yet, you’ve already made some significant changes and it’s a good idea to get back to your healthier habits.

What I Wish I'd Known About Caregiving Priorities

Today's Featured Guest Writer is Neil Bernstein, Senior Editor at Caring.com

What I Wish I'd Known About Caregiving Priorities:  Caring.com Expert/Geriatric Psychologist David Solie. The author of How to Say It to Seniors:  Closing the Communication Gap With Our Elders Talks About Discovering that Parents Want Comfort and Companionship from Their Children, not Management.

With all his expertise in helping seniors navigate their final years, you might think David Solie would have sailed through his years of care giving for his mother without any regrets. In fact, Solie -- a geriatric psychologist, the author of How to Say It to Seniors: Closing the Communication Gap With Our Elders, and a member of Caring.com's advisory board -- admits that, at times, he went overboard trying to "manage" her care.

The Alpha Plan

The Alpha Plan aims to help students make healthy choices in college and throughout their lives.

Every college bound teenage, and their parents dread the Freshman Fifteen:  the plus-or-minus 15 pounds that many students gain in their first year of the college experience.  The cause may seem obvious - many are living on their own for the first time, and are exposed to stress, alcohol, and greasy cafeteria food - but the cure often seems harder to find.  I recently interviewed Dr. Mariam Manoukian, a physician who practices in Silicon Valley, who has just the prescription:  Her book, The Alpha Plan.