LK's Grab Bag

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PLEASE NOTE: There is a new page tab at the top of this blog… I have reprinted the initial cosmetics concern post from November 2008 so that others who are joining in can easily find this important information. 

Tuesday, January 13th: On this day in 1992, serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer pled guilty AND insane. If you are not currently giving your body at least 120 minutes a week of dedicated exercise, you might want to plead the same. 

Find something new this week to try… you can always join me Tuesday morning, 8:30, SBCC track… I’ll have lots of “something new” for you.

Tuesday Cosmetic Clean Up:

Liquid Soaps: We touched on bar soaps in December (and there are loads of other good ones I haven’t mentioned… if you have favorites, comment below and let us all know). For those places where a bottle of liquid soap is called for, there is a really wonderful family of products available, all with natural scents, nothing artificial.

It’s called 18-in-1 because it has 18 suggested uses… including hand/body wash, shampoo, shaving, household cleanser (diluted with water or white vinegar), bug spray (diluted), laundry soap…. even try it as a toothpaste (pick your flavor of choice!), as there is no soapy essence.

It is, as was one of my bar soap choices, from Dr. Bronner’s. For extra-green thinking, you can buy it in different sizes (2 oz., 4oz., 8oz., 16oz., 32oz.) and then refill them from larger containers, as they sell all scents in large, gallon or half-gallon jugs as well.

I use these liquid soaps in the shower and bath, and at the sink as a hand wash. Doc Bronner was kind of a nut-job (just read all the stuff on the label!) but he did invent some good, CLEAN, quality soaps. Click on the link below for more info… these can be widely found at health food stores:

Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Liquid Soaps

To understand the difference in making quality soap, click on this link.

And… Tuesday Sweat Issue:

Got your attention, didn’t I?

The subject of a healthy deodorant has been tossed about for years. A few readers here have asked for some direction, but we should ALL sit up and take note: the concern we heard way back when about aluminum compounds in deodorants and anti-perspirants was NOT URBAN LEGEND. The FDA has issued an opinion:

As mandated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), all antiperspirants containing aluminum and aluminum compounds are now required to carry warning labels.

According to the FDA, people with reduced kidney function “have impairment in normal renal excretion of aluminum.” In addition, the FDA encourages kidney patients to consult a physician before using aluminum-based products on a regular basis.

Because of this development, many companies are now providing aluminum-free alternatives to products in an effort to serve the needs of its consumers.

So…. if we have REGULAR kidney function, should we feel great about asking our hopefully-healthy kidneys to clear this stuff? How long will my kidneys be happy doing that? And, much like putting on sunblock to go to the movies, do we REALLY need anti-perspirant all the time? 

Check CosmeticsDatabase.com under deodorant to get well-rated products. Deodorants aren’t such a problem, but effective anti-perspirants without aluminum compunds… that’s a another story. I would appreciate any and all feedback on this issue… it’s a big problem. You can also try this :

Put about an eighth of a teaspoonful of baking soda in your palm (you’ll need more in certain types of water – up to a teaspoon). Add about a quarter teaspoonful of water, enough to get it wet (or more, if you had to use more for your type of water). Dissolve the baking soda into the water – the liquid should feel slippery, since sodium bicarbonate is a base. Apply directly to skin. Then go have a normal active day. Adjust quantities as necessary – you may need less, you may need more. 

Tuesday Life Lesson:         

It’s a Beautiful World

Tuesday Nutrition Tip: 

Take this nutrition assessment and it will generate an analysis and suggestions for ways to improve your nutritional intake.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

Tuesday Body Re-Alignment:

Have you become a one-trick pony when it comes to exercise? (Some of you may be barn-sour as well!) It is important to vary your types of exercise so that you cycle through everything the body needs to stay running in tip top shape. Make sure you are getting your 4 exercise groups:

1. Aerobic capacity needs to be challenged by exertion …. preferably in short intervals to the point of breathlessness. Some of the 10 minute workouts linked in the side column are perfect for this. Or, simply introduce short sprints into your standard walk/jog/run that you already do. 

2. Strength training needs to be incorporated to maintain muscle mass as we age. It’s slipping away, people… let’s grab it back and hold on to it. Resistance is needed: weights, rubber bands, body weight. Some types of Yoga and Pilates on the equipment are also good for this (I haven’t lifted weights in nearly 10 years, and am able to get plenty of resistance training).

3. Flexibility will be lost unless you press it. A thorough stretching program can be incorporated after you complete either of the workouts above, or concentrate a whole session to it. The static stretches held in Yoga are particularly good for increasing flexibility. Remember – when working on your own, deep and controlled breathing will facilitate stretching. Stretches your mind, too 🙂

4. Dynamic Range of Motion is different than static stretching. DROM helps to build coordination and strength throughout the entire range of motion of any given joint. As we age our ability to pull us back from a fall or stay coordinated in sports becomes more difficult. DROM helps this. Pilates is the king of Dynamic Range of Motion. Sport-specific training (like a tennis lesson) is also good, though not usually as well-rounded and body-balanced as Pilates for this. (I’m partial to the Pilates method for a reason… it does a few things that, to my knowledge,  no other method does.)

Tuesday Brain Detailing Game: Can you find the face in the coffee beans?

Tuesday Fun Stuff: Psycho Dogs

Every Tuesday Matters:

• Monday 2: Turn Off Your TV
• Facts:
• 99% of all homes have at least one TV―45% have three or more.
• 56% of all 8- to 16-year-olds have a TV in their bedroom.
• A person watches TV an average of 40 days per year.
• Children spend 1,023 hours a year watching TV compared to 900 hours in school.
• 200,000 violent acts, including 16,000 murders, will be seen on TV by children before their 18th birthday.
• Roughly 70% of all TV shows include sexual content, with an average of five sexual scenes per hour.
• On average, 38.5 minutes per week of meaningful conversation happens between a parent and his or her child.

TAKE ACTION TODAY

• Turn off your TV today. Tape the “No TV” sign to all TV screens so that you don’t turn it on out of habit.
• Designate certain TV-free times throughout the week to reduce viewing hours.
• Remove TVs from bedrooms, the kitchen, etc.
• Make a list of activities to do besides watching TV―activities like reading, biking, swimming, walking, gardening, or socializing with friends. Then start doing them.
• Avoid using TV as a reward―this only increases its power.
• Be more selective about programming―choose history, travel, cooking, home repair/design, and other educational themes.

YOU MATTER

70% of people say that no matter how hard they try, they never seem to have enough time to do everything they need to do. Are you part of that 70%? If you gave up TV for just one day a week, you could exercise the recommended weekly amount necessary for healthy living, read over 20 books a year, or spend more time with your loved ones. Instead of watching reruns of Friends, go make some.