Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Indoor Exercise Activities for Rainy Days

Indoor Activities

It’s too cold, too hot, rainy, icy, or snowy outside today. It’s true that older adults can be affected by heat and cold more than others, but bad weather is no excuse to cancel your exercise for the day! With a little creativity, you can be active indoors in a variety of ways:
  • Walk on the treadmill, ride the stationary bike, or use the rowing machine that’s gathering dust in your bedroom or basement. Or use one at a nearby gym or fitness center.
  • Work out with an exercise DVD. You can get a free one from Go4Life.
  • Go bowling with friends.
  • Join a local mall walking group.
  • Walk around an art gallery or museum to catch a new exhibit.
  • Check out an exercise class at your neighborhood Y or senior center.
  • If you like dancing, take a Zumba® or salsa class.
  • Try yoga or Tai Chi.
  • Go to the gym and work on your strength, balance, and flexibility exercises or set up your own home gym. All you need is a sturdy chair, a towel, and some weights. Soup cans or water bottles will do if you don’t have your own set of weights.
  • Go to an indoor pool and swim laps or try water aerobics
  • How about a game of indoor tennis, hockey, basketball, or soccer?
  • Go indoor ice skating or roller skating.
  • Maybe it’s time for some heavy duty cleaning. Vacuum, mop, sweep. Dust those hard-to-reach areas.
  • Play ping pong with the grandkids.

Quick Tip

You’re more likely to exercise if it’s convenient. Put your hand weights next to the sofa so you can do some lifting while you watch TV. Walk around the house when you talk on the phone. Make an extra trip up and down the stairs when you do the laundry.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Blue Bell Ice Cream Recall

Blue Bell Ice Cream is voluntarily recalling select lots of Rocky Road pints produced in its Brenham, Texas, plant because they may be mispackaged and actually contain Cookies 'n Cream Ice Cream. That ice cream contains the undeclared allergens soy and wheat, which may present a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction risk to people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy or wheat.

National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, and CDC recently released a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), “Reduced Disparities in Birth Rates Among Teens Aged 15–19 Years — United States, 2006–2007 and 2013–2014.” http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6516a1.htm?s_cid=mm6516a1_e The report highlights that teen birth rates have fallen nearly 50 percent among Hispanic and black teens, dropping the national teen birth rate to an all-time low. While dramatic declines among Hispanic and black teens have helped reduce racial/ethnic gaps, birth rates remain twice as high for these teens nationally compared to white teens, and more than three times as high in some states. Data also highlight the role socioeconomic conditions play, finding that higher unemployment and lower income and education are more common in communities with the highest teen birth rates, regardless of race. Learn more about reducing disparities in teen births.

Dining Decisions Game

 Dining Decisions game [ http://www.cdc.gov/features/dining-decisions/index.html ]Which keeps you fueled longer, an apple or bacon? Play the Dining Decisions game and find out. Learn More! [ http://www.cdc.gov/features/dining-decisions/index.html ]

New e-newsletter available on adolescent sexual health

 A new monthly email newsletter is available from the University of Minnesota's Center for Leadership Education in Maternal & Child Public Health, highlighting research, resources, events, and trainings related to adolescent sexual health. Read past newsletters or sign up to receive future emails at: https://www.ncfr.org/professional-resource-library/adolescent-sexualhealth-enewsletter

How to keep students with special needs safe online child internet

Students whose disabilities make face-to-face communication challenging can find a social outlet online, but they need guidance on appropriate, safe social media usage, psychologist Kortney Peagram says. In this article, she outlines four guidelines for teachers and parents to monitor students' online usage. National Public Radio - http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/04/07/473085222/what-special-ed-teachers-and-parentsneed-to-know-about-social-media