Prescription Card Mailings Raise Concern: Have you received one?

Prescription card mailings raise concern

Reno residents are receiving them, and though they're apparently legit, caution is urged on discount and privacy assurances.

By John Green - The Hutchinson News - jgreen@hutchnews.com
A free prescription discount card from a company with United States in its name and a Washington, D.C., mailing address began arriving in mailboxes in Reno County this week.

The mailing, emblazoned in several places with the phrase "Form 1013" and containing a "resident code" rather than a recipient's address, looks like an official government notice, opined Reno County Department of Aging Director Barbara Lilyhorn, who is familiar through her job with government forms. Nowhere in the literature is there a claim of government sponsorship or an affiliation with federal health programs. But that doesn't make Lilyhorn feel any better about the mailing, arriving during a period when qualifying seniors must enroll or re-enroll for Medicare prescription coverage.
A bit of Internet research into the company and discussion with local and state pharmacy reps indicate the company is apparently legitimate - insofar as it offers a prescription discount via a contract with a large drug management corporation.

But it also raises a number of red flags consumers should be aware of before taking the card to their local pharmacist.

In many cases, advised Don Kaufman at Fraese Drug, using the card may actually cost consumers more.
 
And it may also open the user to a barrage of targeted marketing by other companies.
 
"Most discount cards, in our estimation, are worthless," Kaufman said. "Ninety-nine percent of the time, when we run those through, our cash price is less than what the discount price is. If a customer brings one in and wants us to run it through to save money, we do that. We want to keep our customers happy. It does guarantee a price, but it's usually not as low as you can get if you shop around. Nine out of 10 times, our price is lower."
 
Who?

The company, United States Prescription Discounts, is a subsidiary of New York-based Script Relief LLC, which itself is a subsidiary of LOEB Enterprises. LOEB formed the LLC in October 2011. The company's D.C. address listed in the mailing is actually just a Post Office box.

Other names used by the company for its discount prescription cards, according to the Better Business Bureau of New York, include Alternate Help Rx, National Prescription Savings Network, RxRelief and The Healthcare Alliance.

Better Business Bureaus in several states have received complaints about the company's literature, which promises on the discount card itself savings "up to 75 percent on all FDA-approved drugs at pharmacies everywhere," and in the enclosed literature, "an average 50 percent on all your prescription medicines."
On its website, and in information in a booklet in the mailing, however, the company advises that the card is intended for people who are uninsured, underinsured, in the Medicare "doughnut hole," or for purchasing a prescription not covered by their insurer's formulary.

Also, the discounts, the company responded in a BBB complaint, are off the manufacturer's suggested price.

"Our program is not designed to add discounts to discounts you are already receiving from your current provider, nor is it designed to reduce your co-pay," the website for Script Relief advises.
 
And while it may be used to discount drugs for patients in the Medicare Part D supplement gap or "doughnut hole," drugs purchased using the discount card can't be counted toward the Medicare deductible to get out of that doughnut hole.
 
The payoff?

The card is free and it doesn't require that users register with the company to use it or fill out any forms or paperwork. So what does the company gain when a consumer uses the card?

Apparently two things: The company acts as a middleman between the pharmacy and the company actually purchasing drugs in bulk - Catamaran - and it collects a fee from the pharmacy for each transaction submitted; and when the card is used, Kaufman noted, the personal information attached to the purchase is forwarded to the company in order to complete the transaction.
 
Scrip Relief promises in literature in its mailing that "Your privacy is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act," and that it "will never sell or rent any personal information with a third party."

Within the privacy policy on it website, however, the company states that use of its services doesn't create a "... confidential, or privileged, relationship, or any other relationship that would give rise to any (HIPPA privacy) duties on the part of the Script Relief."
 
Elsewhere the site offers the caveat that it's not responsible for the privacy practices of websites linked to or integrated into its sites, "including the sites of our partners," and it states: "We may contact you from time to time about our website, or other affiliated Script Relief services we believe may be of interest to you."

In other words, the personal information may be given to related marketing companies, a.k.a. LOEB Enterprises, owned by Michael Loeb, which identifies itself on its website as "experts at influencing consumer behavior. We combine sophisticated targeting and segmentation with a deep understanding of market dynamics."

The company has been involved in three different ventures since it was formed in 1992, its website says: the Synapse Group Inc., which developed a process of automatically renewing annual magazine subscriptions, rather than soliciting renewals every year; Priceline, conceived by partner Jay Walker in 1995, as a means of offering consumers discounted airfares and travel accommodations via a "name your own price" auction model on the Internet; and Script Relief.
 
Buyer beware

"There are a variety of (discount cards) out there," said Chellie Ortiz, vice president of operations for the Kansas Independent Pharmacy Service Corporation. "There's no way somebody is going to say, 'I don't do anything but offer these fabulous cards.' There's got to be a financial benefit, whether its value-added, to make what they're selling look better, or they're charging patients $20 a month, or it's an outside vendor collecting data from the prescriptions and reselling it."

Like Kaufman, Ortiz noted that a pharmacy's discounted price is often less than offered by the discount card, and some pharmacies offer their own discount card.

"We encourage patients to talk to their pharmacist, to see what options they recommend," Ortiz said. "And look at generics. If a generic can be used, it's often much less expensive than with a discount card."

And remember the adage, said both Ortiz and Natalie Goertzen, assistant director at the Reno County Department of Aging: "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is."

"If people have questions about mail they receive, they can bring the info in and we'll look at it," Goertzen said. "If we're in doubt about its legitimacy, it goes to the police."

Source found here.

A Guide to Fall Food

Here is a great food guide for "fall foods"

110 Calories Towards Obesity

I was attending a workshop last year and a point was made that if a child would refrain from one soda/pop a day, they would be helping to prevent obesity. The statistic was that if a child consumed an extra 110 calories per day, they had a 22% greater risk of developing obesity later in life.

If you wanted to consume that extra calories, then you can make your child be active for an additional 1 hour per day to burn it off.

When I heard this I was a bit shocked! Growing up, we pretty much drank about anything, unless it was simply "cost effective" to do something else. I wish my parents had known this concept. I try to practice it in my own kids when they are choosing drinks.

Whether or not we have kids, we can be practicing it in our own lives to help in preventing obesity in ourselves.

Will you skip the extra 110 calories to go to preventing obesity in you or your child?

Here's a short, interesting video that shows sugar in drinks...after watching it, leave a comment and tell me your reaction.

More Equals Less and Less Equals More

There are times in life where the first half of the title holds true but there are other times that the second part holds true. It just depends on what is being discussed. Of course, we are going to talk about some health related areas.

More Equals Less

1. More Exercise Equals Less Weight ~ When you burn calories those calories are going to have to come from somewhere. This means it will come from your stored fuel supply and will attack the adipose tissue or fat cells primarily. The muscle cells can be consumed but that is an extreme situation.
2. More Exercise Equals Less Problems ~ I learned recently that when a person has arthritis one of the treatments is exercise. Also, related to the above scenario, when you have less weight you will have less wear-and-tear on your body due to the unneeded body weight.
3. More Sedentary Equals Less Life ~ Not only is this less for life expectancy, but it is less for one's quality of life. People that are sedentary are just as at-risk as those who smoke for life, one study said. That is scary!
4. More Quality of Life Equals Less Problems Later in Life ~ The better we take care of our self now, the less problems we are going to encounter later in life (aside from any genetic disorders).
5. What would you put in for the rest?

Less Equals More

1. Less Sugary Drinks Equals More Energy ~ The sugary drink we encounter intially will actually go through the "high-low" crash part of the sugary breakdown. We initially have the feel good feeling, but then when the crash comes we feel "blah." The same really goes for many of the carbohydrates that we consume.
2. Less Exercise Equals More Risks ~ The less exercising we do the more we are going to be at risk for other chronic diseases like hypertension, heart problems, weight problems, diabetes, etc.
3. Less Food Equals More Self Esteem ~ Since overweight and obesity are not positive attributes to a person, they often feel bad about themselves. If you can look in the mirror and feel better about yourself than about how much food you ate, you would feel better about yourself. A small disclaimer that we are talking about sensible eating, not starving, bulimia, or anorexia. By less I am talking about eating sensible and not consuming more and more.
4. What else would you add?

Please add comments as we put the two phrases to use to make healthier looks at life.

Stay Fresh and Colorful

We are often drawn to items that are flashy and colorful. Also, it doesn't help to have an item that is new. All these things will help draw the eye toward it. Once the eye is drawn the product, you are likely going to be buying the product. The eye is a powerful sensory organ that will take in lots of information. Sometimes that information will easily draw us in to the compulsion to purchase.

If you're like me, you will be drawn to the colors and flashiness of an item. Colors have a way of drawing us in, almost a "subliminal message" of advertising. We are drawn to the beauty of rainbows, animals, and other things of nature. Let's make our plates look similar.

In addition to smell, seeing color on your plate will help invite your taste buds in to the entree. Load your dinner plans with colorful foods. Look for reds, yellows, oranges, and greens to make your plate come alive with flavor.

This time of year is a great opportunity to see lots of color on your plate - fruits and vegetables are created with colors. Let's use them to our advantage and have some color. Keep in mind that color will draw us in and help us eat more healthy.

What colorful creation will you create today?

Lifestyle Eating and Diet - Part 4 - Calorie Reduction Rebound

So you feel you have some (or a lot of) pounds to shed. You know the logic "calories in versus calories out" and you want to lose a lot and lose them fast, so you decide to eat few calories. For discussion sake, we will use the 2000 calorie diet as our baseline. We will also presume your daily metabolism rate is where it needs to be for this lifestyle.

Knowing what you know about "calories in versus calories out" you will start to eat one piece of dried toast for breakfast, a small bowl of fruit for lunch, and a protein shake for supper. This total is going to be between 1/4 to 1/2 of a 2000 calorie diet - for your entire day! If you are averaging greater than 2000 calories per day, that reduction is even more.

You are starting to notice the pounds come off, which is making you happy. However, your appetite is not happy, after a few days of a diet that is drastically different than what you were accustomed to eating.

If it has been around the week mark and you go back to your normal way of eating, you have probably not altered your metabolic rate much. You will probably see a gradual weight gain if you haven't increased any in your exercise levels.

However, let's presume that you have begun this regimen and it has continued for a few months, and you are at or near your target weight. You can now fit into the clothes you wanted to wear or look the way you wanted to look. So you are going to return to that previous way of eating or at least increasing what you are currently eating significantly.

You have been training your body to be accustomed to a certain number of calories and have caused your metabolism to be reduced. Now that you are going back to the pre-diet diet, you are going to end up gaining the weight back and you are at a greater risk for being heavier than you were, depending on your calorie intake and your exercise regimen.

Metabolic rate will not alter much in a short amount of time; however, given a greater span of time, we can reduce that rate. Thus, when your diet is now given greater calories to burn, your body will have a high chance of not being able to function in a way to burn all of calories you are giving it. This will result in a likely weight gain. After buying your new wardrobe, you may not be able to fit into that wardrobe.

I have seen this exact scenario in people. Their bodies are trained in one lifestyle, they drastically reduce their calories, resulting in weight loss. Then they return to some or all of their previous calorie intake and gain the weight they were happy to lose.

There is a lot which goes into keeping weight off. Part of it is consistency, determination, commonsense, exercise, and proper diet.

For the normal lay person, 1-2 pounds per week is healthy to lose. If you have a high body mass index (BMI), you may see those pounds be higher in the first few months. But with everyone there will be a plateau period where you will not see the pounds come off like you would prefer. Be patient and look at what may be inhibiting the lack of weight loss. Outside factors, aside from "calories" do impact your body. Stress, for example, can inhibit the body from losing weight. For women, the menstrual portion of the month may also have an impact. Don't become too frustrated, just be patient and sensible.

Next time we will focus on weight loss inhibitors...such as stress.

Healthy Memorial Day Eating

It is Memorial Day weekend. Are you planning on a cookout or to have some time with friends, centered around food?

We have somewhat veered away from the idea of Memorial Day. It has gone from remembering soldiers and other loved ones who have passed, to firing up the grill in the backyard.

If you are planning on getting out and being a part of a backyard grilling feast, then let me suggest some ways to cut back on the calories and other unhealthy aspects of eating, without taking away from the taste.

Meat:

Use turkey dogs instead of normal hot dogs.
Use 96% lean meat instead of 73% or 85%

Bread/Buns:

Look for buns that are low on calories - they taste just as good

Beverages:

Instead of traditional lemonade or Kool-aid, use the sugar-free or Crystal Light variations
Drink unsweetened tea
Use small cups for sugary drinks - have to refill more
Drink water

Desserts:

If you have no control over who makes the desserts, try this - use small plates and not the one you had with your entree.
Engage in conversation and/or sit away from the desserts to elongate time to eat more
Sit with back to the desserts so you do not see them.

Side Items:

Vary the ingredients depending on the product with either sugar-free or low-fat content
If you find low-fat cheese is low on flavor, try using "sharp" cheddar for a replacement of "mild" cheddar, when available.
When using something uncooked that requires milk, use the skim version.

Don't forget to enjoy the fresh fruit and vegetable items!!!

The weekend looks to be very pleasant and it is a great time to be outside! Enjoy some activities...walking, talking, tossing a ball, riding, planting.

Lifestyle Eating and Diet - Part 3 - Skipping Meals

So you want to lose weight and you want to do it quickly. You know that if you reduce your calories you will lose weight. However, if you reduce too many calories you can cause your body to not lose weight or to lose it very slowly. Skipping meals will have negative effects in losing weights. I found a short, concise article that explains it well. So instead of "reinventing the wheel" I am simply going to copy this article in for you to utilize.

Our next article will be to focus on eating too few of calories. In other words, you are not skipping meals, but you are eating too few of calories.

Here's the article from "FitDay"

3 Reasons Skipping Meals is Unhealthy

Skipping meals is often seen as an attractive way to lose weight. Unfortunately, the side affects of skipping meals are much more serious than any potential benefits. Some consequences of skipping meals can include promoting the development of diabetes, inadequate nutrition, and drastically altering the way that your body digests food.

Blood Sugar Drops and Spikes

One of the most important reasons that skipping meals is unhealthy is due to the affect this has on your blood sugar. When you eat a meal, your body breaks up the food. Some of this food is stored as fat, while other parts of it enter your bloodstream as sugar, and work to provide you with energy throughout the day. When you skip a meal, your blood sugar drops dramatically. This not only can make you feel sluggish and tired, but it can also wreck havoc with insulin in your body. If you chronically skip meals, you can be setting yourself up for the development of diabetes later in life.

Inadequate Nutrition

Another important reason why skipping meals is unhealthy is due to the fact that you are more than likely not receiving adequate nutrition. Eating a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats helps not only to ensure that your body functions properly, but can also help in the treatment and prevention of a number of serious conditions. Some conditions that can be improved with proper nutrition include cardiovascular disease, strokes, and some types of cancer. You may believe that you can skip meals and still achieve optimal nutrition by supplementing your diet with multivitamins. And while multivitamins do have their place, research has shown that these pills aren't as effective as real food at providing your body with what it needs. For good health, try to eat as naturally as possible.

Altered Metabolism

You typically skip meals for two main reasons. One, you are ultra busy and don't have enough time to grab a quick snack, or two, you are trying to lose weight. If you are one of the people who are trying to lose weight, you may be actually sabotaging yourself by skipping meals. When you eat, your metabolism, which is one of your body's functions, works to break the food down into smaller, usable parts. When you skip a meal, your metabolism has nothing to do. In a way, your metabolism is like a muscle. You must use it, or you will "lose it." When your metabolism does not have to work to break down food, it begins to slow down. Then, the next time you do actually eat something, your metabolism is not able to break the food down as quickly, and as a result the food is stored as fat. Therefore, in order to maintain a healthy weight (or even lose weight), it is essential that you eat regularly throughout the day. Recent research has found that five to seven small, regularly timed meals eaten over the course of a day works best when trying to maintain a healthy weight.

Lifestyle Eating and Diet - Part 2 - Reducing, While Keeping the Palate Happy

So it is about summer time and you want to get to that certain amount of weight or you want to tone up the body by losing some extra weight.

One of your next steps will be to look for the "latest and greatest" or revert back to something you have tried in the past.

How many of you have tried the Atkin's Diet? Paleo Diet? South Beach Diet? How many are still on these? (The Paleo being newest, could have a few "yes" answers).

One of the issues with a diet, which is defined as "a regimen of eating and drinking sparingly so as to reduce one's weight," is that they tend to be temporary. One of the other issues is that people not only reduce what they eat, but also the foods they eat. The idea may be good but the effects are not.

Almost everyone who has tried to stop smoking "cold turkey" will either fight a huge battle or go back to smoking. Quitting something abruptly that your body is used to doing is a big challenge to maintain. People tend to have more success by "cutting back" on habits, versus cutting them out.

Similarly, when you want to cut out all carbohydrates and sugars from your normal lifestyle of eating, which you are already used to eating, is going to have a large rate of people reverting back. Additionally, when you all of a sudden introduce foods that your palate is not accustomed to having, but you eat it anyway, you likely will not stay with eating that food.

As many of our ancestors did not have the most healthy diet, they maintained a sense of fitness due to their lifestyles. The opportunities our modern society provides is likely even more unhealthy but there is a more sensible approach to "dieting" rather than cut out everything we're used to eating.

The short answer is portion control. This allows you to still have the foods you like, but not in the same proportion you had previously. This allows your palate to still enjoy the same foods but in smaller portions.

If your diet was full of a lot of unhealthy options, you will likely not lose a lot of weight. Plus, your overall health may not move into an "ideal" range. However, this is a place to start when you are needing to lose weight.

If you are used to eating at buffets, eat less of the foods you enjoy. If you are used to ordering the larger burgers, buy off the value menu or cut in half. If you are used to drinking sugary drinks, try drinking unsweetened tea or water, or only having one glass instead of 3 refills.

One negative thing you can do when you begin dieting is to skip meals. That is what we will talk about the next time.

For now, see what areas you can cut down on to help keep your palate happy but not enlarging your stomach. This will help you adopt a new lifestyle much easier.

Now it's your turn...what is one of your greatest dieting challenges?

Getting Outside

I want you to think about these few of thoughts...

1. Spending 15+ minutes a day outside decreases feelings of depression and anxiety

2. Even the smallest amout of interaction with nature gives you a psychological boost.

3. When you have a one-to-one meeting take a walk - helps you think better and is healthy - check this short video out by clicking here that speaks of walking and holding a meeting.

I think that we are in the clear for a nicer weather to be on the horizon. With that being presumed, it will be a great time to be outside and enjoy some fresh air. Even if it becomes super hot, there are times at night, with the long days that we can see some relief.

One of my most memorable vacations as an adult was to go to South Dakota. We had very little agenda and we camped in a tent for nine nights. It was very refreshing to be outside. Another camping time was a two night time and that, again, was refreshing.

Those are extremes to spending outside, but there has always been something refreshing and energizing about going outside. I love being outside with my kids and watching them run around. I even hate to bring them inside during the summer because it is light for so long and they love playing. People simply tend to be in a good mood when they are outdoors.

I'd like to see you incorporate this into the workplace. Encourage being outdoors more. Take walks during "break" or have some "one-to-one" meetings outdoor, especially if they are brainstorming type meetings, you think better outdoor!

I can attest to these three things being true. Being outdoors is helpful in so many areas!

Get outdoors!...and see what positive side effects you see as a result!!!

Breakfasts Under 350 Calories

Some of these look very good!!! Making me hungry!

Breakfasts Under 350 Calories

Here is a Corn Flake Crusted Banana Stuffed French Toast for under 350 calories >>>>>>>

Lifestyle Eating and Diet - Part 1

One of the things that people tend to do when "I" walk into a room at a County meeting is joke about not being able to have "good food" and must resort to fruits and vegetables. As much as these foods may be more iconic to "health" they aren't always realistic. Plus, there are other ways to be "healthy."

The basic principle to weight management is calories in versus calories out. You keep it even, you stay same weight. You have an elevation on one side or the other and you will either lose weight or gain weight.

One of my first memories of "diets" were related to Weight Watchers or Richard Simmons' videos. I can remember in the early 80s that my mother did one or both of these. Now, she is over 70 years old and does she eat like she did then...no. Why, because it was not a lifestyle change it was a short-term "lose weight" issue.

As a former athletic trainer, I have witnessed people become anorexic due to trying to live up to a certain look. Two extreme cases were females. One went as far as passing out many times and going to see counselor due to the mental/psychological issues related to anorexia.

When it comes to the style of food intake, for the "normal" person (non-diabetic, elevated heart issues, or other conditions), we live in a culture where we are not going to be able to simply have "fruits and vegetables" all the time. Nor are we going to have sugary snacks all the time. Of course there are more health benefits in fruits and vegetables than sugary foods, let's not discount that fact.

One thing that is important to remember that we had plenty of "bad stuff" in the diets of our culture before we were born. But something that made a huge difference was they didn't have all the "lack-of-exercise" amenities" which we have now. Until "recent" (in all reality) if you wanted to get a hold of someone you had to be outside and go to their house, either by foot or horse/buggie. Now, we can e-mail/text/call in a few seconds.

The other problem is, those past generations brought their delicious food with them into a "lack-of-exercise" culture. So we have same good food - fatty, fried, sugary - but we don't burn it off.

Keep in mind that I am NOT suggesting we violate healthy eating, even if we exercise. However, there are times when we may eat a donut or choose to have a shake. There may be times which you do not eat very "healthy" in a given day or weekend. However, may we make it the "occasional" and not the norm.

Another concept to consider is portion control. Buffets are evil when it comes to health. I will be the first to think "I paid for this, I'm going to eat." This generally causes me to eat way more than I needed to in the first place. Most of us can survive on about 650-700 calories a meal. This is roughly around the 2000 diet, without snacks. However, to be about 165 a person needs to maintain about 1650 calories. If you chose to eat at McDonald's and you ate a McDouble (390 calories w/ cheese, 340 without), small fries (250 calories) and unsweet tea (0 calories) you would be close to that amount per meal. It also shows that it adds up with very little food.

The number presented to maintain 165 pounds is number is not limited to intake, this is what you need to have to maintain normal body functions. If you are taking in 2000 but burning 350, then you are going to be in that range. Keep in mind, digestion does burn some calories. Overall it is minimal - so don't count on it for weight loss.

The bottom line is that if we decide to eat something other than fruits and vegetables, which we need a balanced diet, then we need to be moving to burn some calories. We must keep in mind that if we are going to eat the "fun" foods, then we must be willing to burn them off through some sort of exercise routine. Otherwise, we will be gaining weight or increasing our chances for other health-related risks.

Let's eat (even fun things) and move.

Butternut Squash and Fried Sage Pasta

from Self.com
Butternut Squash and Fried Sage Pasta

A hearty bowl of pasta plus savory cheese? You'd never know this whole-grain comfort food is diet-friendly! Squash supplies all the vitamin A you need for the day.

By Kerri Conan

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz whole-wheat penne
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 8 sage leaves
• 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 medium butternut squash (about 2 lb), peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

PREPARATION

1. Cook penne as directed on package.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
3. Fry sage, turning once, until crisp on both sides, about 1 minute per side.
4. Transfer to a paper towel.
5. Add onion and garlic to skillet.
6. Cook, stirring frequently, until soft and golden, about 3 minutes.
7. Add squash, 3/4 cup water, salt and pepper.
8. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until squash softens, 5 to 7 minutes.
9. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking water.
10. Return pasta to pot and add squash mixture; stir over low heat, adding some reserved cooking water if necessary, until pasta is coated, about 1 minute.
11. Serve, garnished with cheese and sage.

The skinny

337 calories per serving, 6.5 g fat (1.4 g saturated), 63 g carbs, 10 g fiber, 11 g protein

Digging a Little Deeper - Addictions

We heard this word, addiction, in grade school as we were educated against habits like cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol. We were the recipients of talks that highlighted those three things. We were warned about how they can negatively impact the body. Those things haven't changed. All those can negatively impact your health.

Is it safe to say that nearly all (if not all) are addicted to something? Basically, if that "something" were taken away it would cause us some sort of physical, emotional, or mental trauma. Keep in mind, trauma isn't meaning that we go to a medical facility.

There was a reason we were educated against the addiction of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol - they are bad for us. However, there are many other things (some of which were not "invented" yet) that cause some trauma if we must go without them.

Some of us may have a sort of addiction to other things like eating, electronics (computer/phone), social media, electronic games, pornography, television, video games, and the list can continue. I can put myself in the categories of electronics and social media. I can confess that if you took my phone away - which includes texting, e-mail, Facebook, and the like - I would be "traumatized." I wouldn't be admitted into a facility, but I would be going through withdrawal. I would want it back...now!

The issue is that when we rely on those things too heavily, we are hurting ourselves, similar to addictions to tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. We can also hurt our families with all that has been mentioned because our focus is on the "things" we are missing and not able to focus on our families and give them the attention they deserve.

The question is, have you been impacted by these? Do you want help? One of your Wellness Incentives is "Face-to-Face Health Coaching." These are areas which may be impacting one or more areas of your health, and there is a way to help it. As a previous minister, I am able to counsel you through various issues in life. Let's work on something together to create a healthier you!

National Stress Awareness Day

GAME…Two Truths and a Lie:

Each one of you must take a piece of paper, start writing 3 things about yourself, one out of which must be a lie. When each member of the group has finished writing start the fun. Now one of you read aloud the things that you have written about yourself. Other members have to tell which one is a lie. This is a fun game which will help you know about each one and an individual will know how much others know about him/her.

EXERCISE/STRETCH…

Office stress relief is what you need to improve your productivity and feel more positive about your job and career. Here are four easy exercises you can do without leaving your desk or getting funny looks from your coworkers.

Trunk twists. Sit as tall as possible at your desk (pretend your boss is holding your head up as if you were a marionette). Rotate your shoulders up, back then down (as if you were trying to hold an apple between your shoulder blades). Rest your left hand behind your left hip and slowly twist to that side. Hold for a slow count of ten then return to your starting position. Repeat on the right side.

Chin lifts. Again, sit tall at your desk and rotate your shoulders up, back and then down. Keep your face forward. Then slowly lower your chin until it is resting against your chest. Hold for a slow count of 10 then raise your chin. Now raise your chin up until you are looking at the ceiling. Hold for a slow count of 10, and then lower to your starting position. Repeat as often as necessary to relieve tension in your neck.

Ear dips. Start by sitting tall at your desk with your shoulders positioned as if you were trying to hold an apple between your shoulder blades. Face forward. Slowly lower your head to the left as if you were trying to pin your left ear to left shoulder. Hold for a slow count of 10, and then return to your starting position. Repeat on the right side. Repeat this office stress relief exercise as often as you need to.

While you are doing these first three exercises, you may want to close your eyes and visualize a calm scene, such as a peaceful mountain lake or a quiet country road. Or, you can post a soothing picture on your bulletin board or wall or as a computer screen saver and gaze on it to refocus your thoughts. You will be amazed at how much calmer you will feel.

Play catch. Crumble up a sheet of paper into a ball and toss it in the air. Catch it. This is a great office stress reliever because it gets the whole body involved. Plus it focuses your mind on something else but the task at hand. Everyone needs a chance to play and this is one easy, quick way to do it. If you can, invest in one of those basketball hoops that fit over a wastebasket and use it. Pretty soon, your office mates may challenge you to a quick pick-up game: a new way to look at teamwork.

Of course, if things are really tense, the best office stress relief would be to get up and walk away from your desk, even if it’s just a quick stroll to the restroom or cafeteria. However, going outside would be the best option because it allows you to get some fresh air into your system. Take as long as you need to calm down.

Office stress relief exercises don’t have to be exotic, mystical movements. They can be done inconspicuously and provide almost instant relief, helping you to be more relaxed and more productive. Try them today.

From www.juststressrelief.com

Shed the Stress - Lunch and Learn from April 2013

You can watch the Lunch and Learn from April by clicking here. It is titled "Shed the Stress."

Working Together

It is always good to see people who work together join in with a celebration. Places of business tend to spend a lot of time around each other and grow to be like a family. When one celebrates, they all celebrate; when one suffers, they all suffer.

It was good to be able to see people come together to honor "one of their own" on an occasion when that "one" was going to be leaving. At another workplace, the group has the opportunity to get together once-a-month to celebrate a nominated "Associate of the Month." There is some hoopla and food in both situations.

The best part is, the fact that they are honored, to any degree. The celebration is one form of showing importance, but don't count out the fact the need for attendance.

Attendance is important in working together. Without it, there is a "party" but nothing fun to party without anyone.

As you have a place of work, enjoy the opportunities to celebrate the "wins and losses" and, literally, work together to make it a great place! Said this cliche many times, "Together Everyone Achieves More!"

Incentives: Where is the Value?

Which part of the wellness incentives are the most valuable or important? Is it the monetary portion or the change in lifestyle?

Most are likely looking for the monetary return. That is what people are looking for in the plan. Similar to how a child (or adult) opens the birthday card looking for the money, prior to reading the card. You want to know how much you are receiving in return.

However, as the birthday card illustration is used, is the value in the note from the friend or loved one in the money or the thought? Is the value in the monetary incentive or the long-term positive health effects?

As we live in a pretty selfish culture, we are wanting to know how this will benefit "me" in the end. Unless we have been impacted with something that will cause us to want to change our lifestyle, the pain of changing is too great, thus we will stay in our same lifestyle. When the pain of the current lifestyle becomes greater than change, we will change.

Maybe we should look past the monetary portion and just think of it as a bonus at the end of the year. The benefit to the "me" is a healthier life. Reiterating that health is more than physical. Skinny people can have high blood pressure and obese people can have normal blood pressure. Skinny and obese people could have about the same lung capacity if the first one is due to smoking and second one to sedentary lifestyle.

If you are like me, you may want to do be involved in the Wellness Incentives due primarily to the financial portion. However, if you work on creating some variations in your life you will be surprised how easily you can adapt to them and create a more healthier you.

Don't be involved in the Wellness Incentives for the money...but for the return. The return could be seeing your kids, grandkids, or great grandkids graduate or get married. It could also be having a retirement where you can be active. There is a huge list of positives for having a healthier lifestyle...choose one and let it motivate you!

May you readjust your sail of value in the Wellness Incentive program!

Now it's your turn...where do you see the value (now)?

Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day. ~ Sally Koch

Bacon Apple Chicken Stew

From Katrina Pollet, JDC

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups reduced-sodium fat-free chicken broth
1 TBLSP cornstarch
2 TBLSP cider vinegar
1 1/2 tsp chopped garlic
1 tsp dried parsley
1 1/2 lb's raw boneless skinless chicken breast
1/4 tsp each salt and black pepper (or to taste)
3 c peeled and chopped Fuji apples
2 c carrots cut into 1/2 inch coins
2 c roughly chopped celery
1 c roughly chopped onion
6 slices center cut bacon or turkey bacon (I sometimes even use real bacon bits)
Mrs. Dash regular to taste

In crockpot, combine broth with cornstarch and stir to dissolve. Add vinegar, garlic, and parsley, mix well. Season chicken with salt and pepper and add to the crockpot. Add all remaining ingredients except bacon and thoroughly stir.

Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 7-8 hours until chicken is cooked through.

Remove chicken and place in a large bowl. Shred with 2 forks, stir shredded chicken into the stew in the crockpot.

Cook bacon until crispy and sprinkle over each serving.

Makes 6 servings.

Serving 1 1/3 cups 230 calories 4g fat 570 mg sodium 17.5g carb 31g protein

Recipe from Hungry Girl Cookbook.

T.G.I.W.

How many people do you think are on unemployment?

The number that came up when I checked Google, which took me to a Department of Labor statistic said that in February 2013 there were 12 million people in this category across the United States. Mix that with those who are receiving disability which is another 5.6 million. Then, there are those who are not in the mix (i.e. homeless) who do not have an official source of income.

You can add those together or, to some extent, they may be mixed together. Either way, we are thinking over 15 million people who do not have a job in this country. The good news is, you do.

For a select few of you, your job is a really enjoyable job and environment. You enjoy what you do. For others, you kind of like your job, but could think of another job you might like to do more. For the next tier, you are not that satisfied with your job and you come to work because you need the money.

Sure there are things that one may not like about all the things "taken out" of your paycheck before you even receive it. However, just to have the ability to make a difference in your workplace and then feel good about the money you receive is a good thing.

As this is written with the County employees in mind, there are people who take care of physical grounds to make it look good ro easier to travel on - appreciate that. For others, you take care of a lot of paperwork to make sure people know about their property or have proper tagging on vehicles - celebrate that. For others, you help make those you supervise an environment worth working in - give yourself a hand. All of you will assist with one another in various ways, picking up where someone cannot do something or training a newbie as they learn the ropes - thank you for that.

What is T.G.I.W.? It has nothing to do with Friday or Wednesday. However, it is "Thank goodness I work." Maybe it isn't the dream position for various reasons, but you have a job and within your job you can make a difference for your coworkers or customers.

Enjoy your work! You will enjoy it as much as you put in to it!

March Madness

Have you ever been really frustrated - at someone, your job, or even yourself? Maybe it is not frustration, maybe it is just "mad" at someone. Depending on how close you are to that person may determine how much that feeling seems to be pent up inside of you. The longer it is "in" you the more damage it can do. It may stay there for hours, days, weeks, or maybe months (hopefully not years). But it can do some damage to your health.

As I was thinking about what this "month" is known for in our culture, it made me think of "March Madness." This time of year when teams are "upset" and go home unhappy. I was involved in championship game in high school, we lost in the State finals by 2 points and ruined an undefeated season. That was 25 years ago this month and I still think about it.

With that said, the madness that can come through situations in life can cause us to think about it for quite some time. One thing that can help alleviate those pent up feelings is some exercise. Simple "marching" around the block, on a treadmill, around your worksite, around a store, around the hallways in your worksite, and the list continues. If you have stairs, utilize those, as well.

Are you having some "madness" issues? Then don't let it be pent up, but go "marching" and let the body naturally take care of some of those negative feelings.

Go "marching" for the health of it!

Shrimp Scampi

(Picture not from actual recipe)

Shrimp Scampi

2 lbs. med-large shrimp
1 T. Olive oil
garlic pepper to taste

Peel and de-vein shrimp. Heat oil in pan, you may use more or less as you see fit.  Once oil is hot. Place shrimp in pan and sprinkle garlic pepper to taste.  Cook shrimp until done. 

Enjoy.

Nephrology Presentation

Lunch and Learn - March 13, 2013

View an audio presentation on Nephrology - the study of kidneys

 http://play.goldmail.com/zp76dkwk2ask - Take Care of Your Kidneys!

Challenge of Change

Whenever I have tried to make some fairly significant changes in my life it seems that they are rarely easy. The easy things are just that - easy. Something significant usually isn't easy but rather a challenge. Challenges are difficult and people like to stay away from anything difficult.

Just making it through school can be a challenge for many. There is work to be done and many do not want to put the work into it to be able to succeed. As you encounter adulthood you may become married and/or have a child. Both being a spouse and a parent involve work. The work involved is rarely what people want to do to become better. They like to just do what is easy - remember there are no challenges with easy.

As you think about our Finney County Wellness program there are going to be challenges involved. Whether you have weight to lose, diets to trim, salt to eliminate, sugar to moderate, blood pressure to lower, or exercise to gain, you will have a challenge before you.

Are you willing to take on the challenge to have a better lifestyle?

As we mentioned earlier, these kind of changes will be met with a challenge. Again, I mentioned that challenges are not easy. Therefore, we must think about how we are going to overcome the challenge with a victory.

Another thing that is common to the challenge is that the victory tends to be exhilerating and rewarding. The work was difficult but the results are worth it. With these challenges, the work is never over. You must always continue to work on things. However, you will greatly enjoy it in the end. You will see tangible results and those will provide successes and successes will motivate to do more.

Now it's your turn...how will you put before you the challenge to change? How will you climb it and reach the top to see the succeses to show you "made it?"

Look for the small victories that hide in each challenge. Fuel yourself off of them as you continue on your journey.

RECIPE: Kale Chips

Maria Castillo, of the Appraiser's office submitted this and said that her kids liked these snacks. Directions: Preheat oven to 275-degrees. Break kale away from stem into bite-sized pieces. Place in bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Add salt and other seasonings to taste. Spray pan and lay out kale - do not overlap Bake at 275-degrees for 10 minutes on each side.

What Would You Like to See?

As we begin this program, we would like to know what you'd like to see on the blog/website.

We have plans to put articles, pictures, recipes, tips, news and the list goes on and on.

Now it's your turn...pleas leave a comment on what we can do for you!

You Can Do It!

The power of the mind is extremely powerful when it comes to the body being able to accomplish something. I don't know how many times in my life I have had to change my mental outlook in order to have the physical portion of my body accomplish what it needed to do. Examples of areas in which I had to "push through" were exercise, tasks on my job, or homework. Once the mind was changed then I was able to press on to the goal.

I can remember several nights in preaching school where I would stay up late preparing for an exam. I would use multiple ways of studying to help me remember the subject matter. There have also been nights that I have worked through being tired to accomplish tasks for work. Those tasks were not even "last minute" but simply because I get a lot of ideas at night.

There are also times where I see the end coming up when I have been exercising and will push through to get to the end - to cross the line or hear the timer beep. It was challenging but the end is exhilerating!

When I would cause my mental capacity to be stronger than my physical I knew I could do it! That brings us to this week's quote...

I have always believed that anybody with a little guts and the desire to apply himself can make it, can make anything he wants to make of himself. ~ Willie Shoemaker, Horse Jockey and Trainer

Some days there are going to be times when the physical side is more submissive to the mental side. In other words, it may be easy to push through your fatigue or lack of interest. Where as others are going to be the opposite. You are going to have to have your mental state climb high to become higher than your physical.

Of course, there are other areas that are not simply physical where you must climb high with the mental. Maybe it is an area like forgiveness, that you must work through some obstacles in order to allow yourself to release the weight you're holding on to daily. Another area may be spiritual. You are having lots of doubts in one or more areas of your spiritual belief or state. You are going to have to challenge yourself to work through and find what you need to achieve the belief that you're hoping for.

As you go through life, remember that the mental can be stronger than the other areas of your life. This will allow you to beat the odds when you are trying to accomplish things in life.

Now it's your turn...What areas in your life are you needing the "mental" to rise up so that you can make something of yourself?

Welcome!

Finney County Wellness Logo,
partnered with St. Catherine's
Hospital. All rights reserved.

Worksite wellness still seems to be somewhat new. The larger the company, the less new it is. But for the rural setting, we are talking about something pretty new in comparison to other types of settings.

However, as many companies see rising insurance premiums, increased sick days, dissatisfaction at work, and an increased population of chronic diseases the need for proactive wellness programs gradually show up on agendas as "needed."

As I focus on a wellness program for a worksite, I found this quote to be interesting...

“Wellness programs cannot survive in today’s economy without a strong linkage to business goals, and high levels of employee participation and engagement" ~ Barry Hall, principal, Buck Consultants.

I am excited to see what the future holds for corporate wellness programs. As they become more and more popular, there will be more and more resources.

The bottom line is that there must be a lot of participation in the part of the employees to make things work.

I hope employees are ready for the future of wellness and will participate and engage in the program that is offered!