Health and fitness briefs

Pregnancy, marijuana top search hit list

Here are the top five under wraps health searches for 2007, according to search engine Ask.com
1. Early symptoms of pregnancy
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2. How long marijuana stays in your system
3. Herpes
4. Depression
5. Viagra

Some would give up 10 years to lose weight

Some women would take drastic steps to hit their ideal weight, a poll in this month's "Fitness" magazine's shows.
Here are the findings:
> 23 percent would spend a week in jail
> 23 percent would shave their head
> 22 percent would wear a bikini on TV
> 21 percent would trade 10 years of life
> 85 percent would rather have an extra toe than 50 extra pounds.
> 53 percent say they have eaten an entire box of cookies, a bag of chips, a pizza, a cake or a pie in one sitting.
> When comparing actresses as role models, 51 percent would prefer Keira Knightly's body over Queen Latifah's 49 percent.
> 76 percent say they'd rather be known as a "friendly chubby girl" than a "skinny witch
> 52 percent feel the most energetic at their thinnest; 32 percent feel more social.

Study: Healthy habits lead to longer lifespan

To get an extra 14 years of life, don't smoke, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly and drink alcohol in moderation.
That's the finding of a study that tracked about 20,000 people in the United Kingdom.
Kay-Tee Khaw of the University of Cambridge and colleagues calculated that people who adopted these four healthy habits lived an average of 14 years longer than those who didn't.
The benefits were seen regardless of whether or not people were fat and what social class they came from.
Public health experts said they hoped the study would inspire governments to help people adopt these changes.
"This research is an important piece of work which emphasizes how modifying just a few risk factors can add years to your life,'' said Dr. Tim Armstrong, a physical activity expert at the World Health Organization.
"We can't say that any one person could gain 14 years by doing these things,'' Armstrong said. "The 14 years is an average across the population of what's theoretically possible.''

Lack of time is no excuse for blowing off exercise

A lack of time is one of the main excuses people give for not exercising, but experts say it's easy to sneak exercise into your life.
Melina Jampolis, an internist who works with overweight patients in the San Francisco area, advises clients to squeeze in activity whenever they can. She tells them to do five minutes of calisthenics, such as sit-ups or push-ups, in the morning, take a 10-minute walk at lunch, stand or pace when talking on the phone and march in place while watching commercials on TV.
She also recommends active volunteer work: Coach a little league team, pack boxes at the food bank, clean up your neighborhood - anything to get you moving and using your muscles.
While you are watching your favorite show or the news, do a set or two of different exercises, such as bicep curls, tricep extensions, seated overhead presses, forward fly exercises, side leg raises, ankle exercises, lunges and squats. Try to do strength training two to three times a week, she says.

Coloradoan news services



Health, family time, fun, fitness on Project Fit agenda

BY MARIA HERNESTAFF WRITERmherne@republicanherald.com
01/14/2008

For people looking for ways to continue the new year in a healthy and happy way, Pottsville Project Fit has several winter fitness programs and indoor activities aimed at fun, fitness and family time.
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“This is the time of year when people are looking for something fun to do, want to become more physically fit, or spend more time with their families,” said Kim Jackson, community education coordinator for Pottsville Project Fit. “Even though the weather is cold outside, these programs offer the community opportunities to enjoy activities with their family that promote physical fitness and wellness.”Now in its third year, Pottsville Project Fit provides free, high-quality youth and family wellness programs for area residents, funded by the Barefield Development Corp., Pottsville, through grants from the U.S. Department of Education.Project Fit’s goal is to create a healthier community, according to Jennifer L. Wagner, program director of Pottsville Project Fit.“Many individuals and families have been enjoying the variety of programs and events offered by our grant-based wellness campaign,” Wagner said. “In fact, the results of our evaluation we conducted last year showed that our volunteer evaluation participants are exercising more and eating healthier foods.”This month, Project Fit is introducing a new program, indoor cycling classes, held from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. every Tuesday at the community room of the McGeever Community Center, 943 Fairmount Ave., Pottsville.“We’re really excited to be able to bring indoor cycling classes to our area,” Jackson said. “It’s something that people really seem to enjoy, but there are not many opportunities in our area where these classes are offered. Our classes are free, which makes them even more accessible, especially for those who can’t afford a gym membership but want to become more physically fit.”The cycling classes are limited to Pottsville residents only, ages 12 and older, because of limited equipment, she said. “We have seven bikes available, so if someone is interested, they need to call every week to register for the next week’s class,” Jackson said.Pottsville residents can also use the equipment at the center, including treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers, bikes and strength training machines.This McGeever Center is open weekdays from 5:30-7:00 a.m. Mondays through Fridays and 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.A certified fitness instructor is available. To use the facility, you must be a resident within the Pottsville Area School District and at least 12 years old; children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult and those under 18 must have a parent/guardian signature.Those seeking a way to alleviate stress and get energized can participate in the Introduction to Yoga classes also offered at the McGeever Community Center, for people 13 and older from 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.Even though summer is months away, indoor swimming is available during the all-age family swim nights at the D.H.H. Lengel Middle School pool on Monday and Thursday nights and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The hours are 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.Lap swimming is available upon request during family swim nights.In the same facility, fitness enthusiasts can make use of the indoor track, gymnasium and fitness center at the Martz Hall and Fitness Center, which is open from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.Starting Feb. 5 through March 11, Pottsville Project Fit will offer youth dance classes. The classes are open from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. for youngsters in grades one through four and 7:15 to 8 p.m. for youngsters in grades five through 12 at the Salvation Army Gym, 400 Sanderson St., Pottsville.Instructors from the LA Dance Studio will teach youngsters a variety of dances, including line dancing, hip-hop, dances from the movie “High School Musical,” the jitterburg, disco, the electric slide and others, Wagner said. Beginning March 11, children can enjoy indoor and outdoor activities in the FINS After-School Fun Zone. The Fitness, Nutrition and Self-esteem program is a nine-week effort for youngsters ages 10 through 15. The program will run through May 8 from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Pottsville Housing Authority Warehouse, 300 E. Railroad St., Pottsville. The program is being coordinated by Schuylkill YMCA and Pottsville Project Fit.Project Fit is also offering free body fitness classes for people 12 and older from 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the housing authority warehouse. The workouts include classic strengthening moves, resistance training and flexibility exercises.When the weather turns colder, Pottsville Project Fit will offer free outdoor ice skating at the Barefield Outdoor Recreation Complex, 823 Terry Reiley Way, near the Peacock Street Housing Development.“Right now, we’re looking for people who are interested in playing in an ice hockey league,” Wagner said.To sign up or find out more about skating activities, call 628-5079.