Before you travel, the following checklist will help you to prepare for a safe and healthy trip: Schedule an appointment with your doctor well in advance of your trip. Have necessary immunizations for your destination. Check insurance coverage for travel abroad. Have your insurance information cards and claim forms with you. Get a letter from [...]
If you're going on vacation—whether to cruise the Greek islands or visit your grandchildren in Maine—a little planning goes a long way. Although we all enjoy a bit of excitement on vacation, most of us don't like unexpected surprises. By thinking ahead and planning for your vacation before you go, the only surprises you'll encounter [...]
Even though it's summertime, children shouldn't be allowed to take a vacation from healthy eating habits, advises Dr. Sarah Armstrong, a pediatrician at Duke University Medical Center. "Routines go haywire, and with nothing to do after a few days in the pool, kids head straight for the refrigerator or snack bar, because they think they're [...]
It’s not just during the holidays; your workplace is likely to be deluged with diet dilemmas on an almost daily basis. The list can seem endless: snacks sent by vendors, candies on the receptionist’s desk, homemade muffins and other treats in the break room, high-calorie luncheons. It’s hard enough to stick with healthy choices at [...]
People who chronically overeat may be suffering from a common eating disorder known as compulsive overeating, also known as binge eating. This eating disorder is characterized by eating large amounts of food, by eating quickly (often to the point of discomfort), and eating when no longer hungry. While many people experience a food binge periodically, [...]
Although most of us love food, a growing number view it as the enemy. Take Leslie Lipton, one of the millions of women with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. In eighth grade, when Leslie's body filled out before her friends, she began to refuse second helpings. Then she skipped food. Then she vomited [...]
Worry, anxiety, and stress can be more than distractions. Constantly replaying in your mind daily problems and fears can affect your mental and physical health. By controlling your attention as you meditate, you begin to feel more relaxed and at peace. And this peacefulness usually lasts far beyond the meditation itself. So, when stress appears [...]
It may be difficult to be happy with what you see in the mirror, but a healthy self-image will help you care for yourself. The Cleveland Clinic recommends: Jot down a list of positive qualities you see in yourself. Ask loved ones to share what they think are your positive qualities. Create goals that are [...]
Create a new you… Another calendar, another year—and that means a fresh start on achieving the goals that are most important to you. This time around, set yourself up for success with well‐thought‐out goals and a realistic action plan. Here’s how: Look inward; think small. Break down large, difficult goals into smaller ones that are [...]
If you're getting ready to make New Year's fitness resolutions—don’t. Instead, design a yearlong fitness plan to make sure that you have effective lifestyle changes in place. Month-by-month plan Use this yearlong plan to improve your health each month: January. Set your goals. Take a look at your life. What's missing? What do you wish [...]