MO Arthritis

Resolve to Keep Working Toward Your Goals

Here we are, mid-January!  What that means for many of us is that we've stopped thinking of our New Year's resolutions and have instead resolved to forget that we set a goal in the first place.  In fact, according to the University of Scranton Journal of Clinical Psychology, only 71% of people keep their New Year's Resolutions two weeks past the start of the new year.  But, as we encouraged you in our three-part series (Eat, Move, Steps to Better Health) on making resolutions that stick, perhaps it's time for a shift in mindset regarding New Year's resolutions.

First, it's not too late to set a "New Year's resolution". 

New Year's Resolutions Part 3: Resolve to take Steps for Better Health!

Happy New Year!  In our last few posts (Eat Your Way into the New Year and Move Your Way into 2014), we touched on two of the more popular New Year’s resolutions that Americans make – eating healthy and exercising more/improving personal fitness.  It can be difficult to be successful in keeping a set goal for an entire year though.  So, we recommended that you be specific and include measures when goal-setting.  Ask yourself questions about what you currently do, what you would like to do, and what is recommended by trusted sources.

New Year's Resolutions Part 2: Move Your Way into 2014!

So you’ve thought about it, and healthier eating or dieting isn’t the right New Year’s resolution for you.  That’s okay, because there are plenty of other resolutions you can make!  Another resolution that a lot of Americans make is to exercise more.  In the same Harris Interactive survey with results published by Blue Diamond Growers, 36% of Americans’ 2014 New Year’s resolutions were around personal fitness.  Perhaps you have been part of the 50% of people who make resolutions who break one or all of your goals by mid-January.  But, when you think of setting a 2014 resolution for exercising more or improving your fitness, maybe you want to be in the 50% that succeed in keeping your goal. 

New Year's Resolutions Part 1: Eat Your Way into the New Year

If you’ve been spending time over the holiday season thinking about making a New Year’s Resolution, healthier eating or dieting may have crossed your mind once or twice.  You’re not alone!  In a Harris Interactive survey, results recently published by Blue Diamond Growers showed that 38% of Americans’ New Year’s resolutions for 2014 will focus on eating healthier.  It can feel like there is a lot of pressure on making a New Year’s Resolution, and making it one that you can accomplish over an entire year.  However, simply stating your resolution is to “eat healthier” or to “go on a diet” is not ideal when goal-setting.

Conserving Energy

With shorter daylight hours and colder days and nights, winter can feel like the perfect time to hibernate.  And, in a sense, we do spend the winter months conserving our energy.  When we think of energy conservation, the first thing that often comes to mind is tips and tricks for home energy conservation.  There are an abundance of guidelines that provide energy (and money) saving tips, holiday-specific energy-saving tips, as well as low-income assistance programs for winterizing homes.  Often, the second thought when considering energy conservation is how we can conserve our personal energy, especially for people with chronic health conditions.

Celebrating the Holiday Season

We’re in full swing of holiday seasons.  From Thanksgiving through the start of the New Year, there are many opportunities for family gatherings.  Often, these gatherings are held over shared meals.  Whether you are in the kitchen cooking and baking or enjoying food prepared by others, holiday eating can be a stressor of its own.  The most common concern in regard to holiday consumption is related to overeating, especially of sweets and high caloric foods.  The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has provided some general tips for eating in moderation over the holiday season.  For individuals with chronic health conditions and their caregivers, holiday eating and food preparation may be more stressful.  But it doesn’t have to be!  Check out some tips for planning, cooking, and hosting holiday guests.

• Plan your meal – what will you serve and for how many people?
• Do any of your guests have health concerns that relate to foods that can or cannot be eaten (ie food allergies, gluten sensitivities, or chronic conditions that limit a full diet)?  Ask friends and family in advance and try to be considerate when planning your meal, or go potluck style and ask for everyone to bring a favorite dish that works with their diet.
• Create a shopping list – not just the types of foods, but the amounts too
• Prepare your cooking space and have good utensils/equipment for food preparation and cooking
• Prep food before the big day by baking ahead, chopping vegetables in advance, and freezing prepared casseroles so they are ready to bake
• Give yourself plenty of time, especially if mobility issues are a concern
• Ask for help when cooking – it can often be more fun to cook or bake with a few people
• Set family members or guests to work helping set the table or hang decorations – people often offer to help/don’t want to just stand around while you work.  Graciously accept the offers!
• Take the time to enjoy gatherings with your family and friends – if your chronic health conditions limit your ability to provide a meal, order catering, buy pre-made foods, host a potluck, go out to eat at a restaurant, or attend a gathering at someone else’s home

No matter how you choose to continue celebrating the holidays into 2014, make them a time of love and thankfulness for your family and friends. 

Enroll by December 23 - Health Insurance Marketplace

The Health Insurance Marketplace opened on October 1.  While there were some difficulties with navigating the website, this piece of the Affordable Care Act is still moving forward as planned.  The positive news for consumers is that the enrollment deadline for coverage beginning January 1, 2014 has been extended.  Enroll by December 23 for coverage starting as soon as January 1.  If you enroll, you have until at least December 31 to pay your first month’s premium according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.  To learn more about the different ways that you can apply or to get help applying, click here to see our previous story on navigating the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Walk . . .

It's that time of year!  The 2013 Jingle Bell Run/Walk, sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation, is hitting cities around Missouri this month.  This 5K (3.1 mile) event is an opportunity to join up with friends, family, and coworkers to celebrate the holiday season by giving.  Bonus - you get some physical activity/exercise too!  St. Louis hosted their Jingle Bell Run/Walk in November, but there are 4 other cities in/near Missouri who are hosting this event next weekend.  It's not too late to sign up (see below), so get your bells on and put on your shoes!

How Well Do You Know Your Family?

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, many families are preparing to travel to spend time together for the holiday.  Spending time with your family around the holidays may feel comfortable since you likely have spent a lot of time with them over your years.  The start of the holiday season may even feel a bit predictable as you can say with some certainty who will fall asleep first after the meal, who will complain that a "family favorite" isn't on the table this year, and who will win the fight for control of the remote.  We tend to think that we know our families very well, but there are some topics we generally avoid.  How well do you know your family's health history?

There are many reasons why family members choose not to talk about their health history - they may feel embarrassed if diagnosed with certain conditions; they may not want to worry younger family members; they may not want to answer questions about it; or they may be struggling to understand the condition on their own, much less explain it to someone else.

Flu Season is Here

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) recommends that virtually everyone six months and older get the flu vaccine.  It is especially important for children younger than 5 years of age, pregnant women, adults 65 years of age and older, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, people who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities, people who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, and people with certain chronic medical conditions who are at a higher risk for developing flu-related complications.  Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting with their health care provider. 

While a consistent high-level protection against influenza remains elusive for the present generation of vaccines, all scientists and public health professionals agree that present vaccines still are the best intervention available for seasonal influenza.  Encourage everyone in your care to get vaccinated against the flu now.