Working-In Your Summer Work Out!

Summer means great opportunities to have cook-outs with family and friends, picnics on the lake, family reunions, Memorial Day, 4th of July celebrations, Labor Day celebrations, summer Cruises and many more. Even though we are more active in the summer in some ways, because of the heat, we often avoid the long walks and moderate exercise that helps keep our weight down. It is hard to work-in your work out!

We have to be careful in the summer because of the possibility of Extreme Heat Related Illness and Death. So as we go about our summer activities we need to stay out of the heat in the middle of the day. Weight management is possible and necessary.

Keep your exercise fun and varied during the summer. Swim one day, walk the next, play a game with the kids on another. Adults need to have about 30 minutes a day in moderate exercise while children need about 60 minutes. Wear comfortable lightweight clothes, comfortable shoes, and sunglasses when doing any work out outside along with a wide brim hat.

Walking is a great way to keep moving in the summer heat. You can walk in the early mornings, late evenings, and even at the local mall. Some of my friends combine shopping at the big warehouse stores with a bit of exercise! Just grab a buggy/shopping cart/basket and walk the aisles for half an hour before you begin your purchases. Drop in a heavy bag of cat litter or dog food to add some resistance as you get your exercise. Grab some water on your way out and pop in a Cinch Tea packet for an afternoon boost! Stay hydrated.

Now, remember a little sun is good for you, you need the Vitamin D, so don’t apply Sunscreen for about 15 minutes each time you go out so you get a small amount of sunshine several days a week. But don’t Sunburn, since according to the CDC, sunburn is bad for your skin as well as makes it hard for your body to regulate your temperature as you go about outdoor activities.

Even on that summer Cruise with all those tempting meals 24/7 you can keep a weather eye on your weight. You don’t have to deny yourself those special treats while you are on that once a year vacation or cruise. Just take advantage of the gym and the promenade deck on the ship for walks and jogs. The gyms at sea are really sophisticated now, with state-of–the art work out equipment. Many ships offer instruction in Yoga, Palliates, low impact aerobics and dance. Take advantage of shore excursions that have moderate to higher excretion involved. And push outs work too. Push out from the dessert table! I know that is hard to do, but enjoy your meals, just don’t overdo! Moderation is rewarded.

So enjoy your summer! Eat those favored summer foods; add some more salads and fresh home grown tomatoes and fresh fruits for great meals. Stay healthy and safe by following common sense and keep moving!

Hurricane and Severe Storm Preparedness Part III

We have gotten the items on our lists done and ready for the next storm. But there are still a few things that can only be done just before the storm hits. These last minute storm preparedness tips are vitally important since they are the linchpins to your plan!

Now, before the storm hits, clean your bathrooms very well. Scrub your tubs particularly well with Shaklee's Basic H2 and Basic G to get rid of all those germs in a safe manner. You want to get rid of soap scum and any mold or mildew. Now that the tubs are clean, find a plastic coffee can top, or a Tupperware Seal that will fit over the drain. Close the drain, and place the seal over the closed drain. Now turn on the cold water and fill the tub as far as you can.

Fill any extra buckets and containers you have also. This water can be used for flushing toilets should the water supply be shut off in a power outage. In many areas electricity is used to pump water and sewage. Also, you can use this water in a pan on a charcoal stove or gas camp stove to boil and wash dishes or use for bathing water. Do not pour hot water into the plastic buckets!! Use your senses and be safe. Keep that cook stove OUTSIDE!!

If the worse happens and you loose the sewage in your home, you can always use the buckets for human waste with a little water in the bottom and maybe some of that cat litter! You will need a place in the yard to properly dispose of the waste, so use this option with care. Check with your local governments for their suggests and rules on proper disposal.

Use GermOff Disinfecting Wipes- Fragrance Free to keep the yucks at bay, but they are not a Baby wipe! Basic G is great to use in a spray bottle to keep the kitchen area clean as well as the bathroom as it tackles over 40 microbes and and several animal viruses.

Basic H2 can be wiped on the bottom of your cook pans before you put them on a camp stove or charcoal fire for cooking. The Basic H2 helps keep the soot off the pan when you are ready to wash up!

Stress Relief* is a must have before, during and after a severe weather event. To keep your family healthy in the days after a Severe Storm, keep their regular Shaklee Vitamins* handy along with some extra Sustained Release Vitamin C and Alfalfa, Cinch Shakes, Protein Shakes, Cinch Meal Bars, Cinch Snack Bars, Performance, Physique and more!

Keeping your family safe during and after a Severe Storm or other natural event, requires planing and preparation. Think from the end, how you will live in the days after a storm, what will you need and what will keep your family healthy while they wait for conditions to return to normal. Remember your Shaklee products and vitamins as you prepare. Be Safe and Stay Well!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Hurricane and Severe Storm Preparedness Part III

Being prepared for any severe weather event takes planning and preparation. Cold Weather Severe Storm Preparedness has a few more necessities such as more clothing for warmth, more fuel options for warmth, snow blowers, snow shovels and snow mobiles.
This Check list is just a Reminder and Guideline for what you need to think about each year. Since your area and home is unique, make additions and changes as needed. But DO SOMETHING! Don’t wait till the storm is coming. Prices go up, availability of materials diminishes, panic sets in and time is too short to really get it all completed before the storm hits.
Yearly Check List Part II:
Always Hire Professionals if you are dealing with roofs, fireplaces, chimneys, gutters, trees, electrical issues and more. BE SAFE.
Check your Roof and Patio Covers: Give your roof a good once over to make certain the shingles are laying flat and not curling up in places. The NOAA site has several good ideas for securing shingles that are not adhering properly to the underlayment. But the main thing is to get a professional roofer to do any repairs or replacements on your roof!
Clean out Gutters: Since rainfall is going to be an issue get them cleaned out. Clogged gutters cause other problems such as leaks into attics, walls, living spaces and more. Professionals again can be your best option here.
Check your Fireplace and Chimney: Clogged flumes can cause house fires; smoke damage and roof damage so play it safe and call a chimney sweep in to care for your chimney.
Garage Doors: Make certain your garage doors are rated for winds. If not there are kits your can purchase to make them more secure in high wind situations. Reinforce doors at their weakest points.
Doors: Entry doors can be weak if they are not properly installed. Make certain that double doors have one of the pair fitted with head and foot bolts as well as a dead bolt lock 1” long or longer. Each door needs at least three hinges for more security.
Vehicles: Are they ready for a long trip in slow moving traffic? Are they fueled and ready to go on a moment’s notice? Well, what are you waiting for?
Final post coming with more tips & information! Be Safe!

Hurricane and Severe Storm Preparedness Part II

Now that you realize that Severe Storm Preparedness is a complicated process, let’s get started. The sooner you are prepared this year, the quicker you will be able to relax knowing you are ready for any severe storm. And, once the major items are out of the way, they don’t have to be done each year from scratch. Use the following list for reminders as you go through the year.

Yearly Check List Part 1:

Replenish Personal Emergency Kits: Add fresh water, medications and food, snacks, games, personal toiletries, wipes, and whatever your family wants to have for a few days. Freshen and fluff pillows, blankets, and clothing. Children may need new supplies since they grow so quickly! Don’t forget diapers and such too. While you are in the emergency kits, update your important papers with any changes that have occurred. Have you gotten your pet supplies replenished?

Check Shutters: Each year you need to double check your shutters and storm doors. Make certain they are is good working condition, not bent or damaged from a previous storm. Flying debris can bang into shutters at amazing rates and can do damage. Check also to make certain that the locking mechanisms are still working properly. Do this before severe weather approaches. You don’t want to have to be in a rush to get a shutter working properly.

Replace or replenish Fuel and Batteries: Check Flashlights, Radios and lanterns as well as cook stoves and grills. Do you need new bulbs for the lights and lanterns? Fresh batteries will last longer as will fresh charcoal and new matches or cooking fuels. Store in watertight containers in a cool place. Store Matches and fire lighters separately from fuel sources.

Look around the Yard again: How many flowing pots do you have this year? Hanging baskets? Fountains, Orbs, Statues or Firepots? Portable Gazebos, children’s swings, play houses, dog houses, and other out buildings? Remember, if two (2) people can move an object, so can wind! Have a plan on what is going where when Severe Weather approaches.

Trim Trees: My neighborhood in Florida had a tree service come out each year to lighten and trim our oak trees in our village. The oaks still had plenty of branches and leaves for shade, but the old, dead limbs were removed and the trees shaped each year. When we went through Charlie, Frances, Jeanne and Ivan, our trees were not so top heavy and were able to sway in the 100+ Mile per Hour winds and not fall over. Also, fewer limbs and branches came down meaning fewer flying objects to bang into houses.

More to come next post! We are going to be Prepared for Severe Storms!

"Easy Open" is an Oxymoron!

I know this has nothing to do with being prepared for a severe storm, flood, earthquake or such; however I just had to make this comment! But, on second thought, maybe it will help us be prepared for those storms after all.
My quandary is that I just don't understand why packaging has to be so hard to open. Today I purchased some Popsicles from a large dairy company with a regional reach. On the side of the box, near the top, there are directions telling you to press the little crescent shaped area to "open". Really? Have they ever tried to open their own box this way? I don't think so, unless they had a sharp knife or razor blade.
I was sitting at red light on the way home, wanting to enjoy a banana popsicle on the short drive home. Should be simple enough; just "press here to open". Well, I got a ball point pen out after pressing did nothing but hurt the tip of my finger. The box did not look any worse for the pressing.
Now I am pounding on the little crescent where the perforations are with the tip of the ball point pen. Nothing would give! Had to tear open the box from the top! All that physical effort to get a banana popcicle. Wow. At least the light was long enough for me to do my breaking and entering.
Which leads me to other packaging that is hard to open:
* Those single serving snack chips or cookie like crackers. Every time I try to open those, I get chips everywhere but in me!
* Small packages of ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and the like are impossible for me! If my hamburger doesn't come with condiments already applied, I eat mine dry or end up wearing ketchup.
* Ever tried to open the peanut packages you get on airplanes? You know, the one with the 21 peanuts. I use more energy opening the package than the protein I get from the 21 peanuts.
* And don't get me started with those blister packages that encase your electronics in clear plastic so you can see it but can never get to it!
* My pet food comes in a 16 pound bag with a plastic "string" that is supposed to be pulled along the top seam to open the dry food package. I just tear at the top seam now, or get my scissors out and cut.
* When I see the words "Tear Here" I look for another area, knowing from experience that the "tear here" area is the strongest area of the package! And forget "Easy Open"! Not happening in this lifetime.

So to be prepared for a storm or to open a box of banana popcicles, you will need to have a set of sharp knives, scissors, chain saw, axe, hacksaw or other sharp implement. These will work on Popcicle boxes as well as tree limbs and other debris from a storm. Stay safe!

Are you Ready for a New Hurricane Season?

Well, Hurricane Season is here again and will be here until November 31st! Are you prepared for a hurricane or any other severe storm? Hurricanes are not the only storms that cause damage and changes in our lives for days or even years! So now, think ahead if you live in a northern climate with snow and ice storms, or in the mid-west with Tornadoes and floods. Whether it is an earth quake or a severe thunder storm, we all need to have some advance preparation.

Do you have a storm survival kit for each member of your family including the pets? Do you have a severe storm evacuation plan for your home in case of storm damage? How about a plan of what to do in case of an mandatory evacuation of your area due to storms? Where will you go? What about your pets? Do you have a horse?

Do you have your important documents in a safe location? Do you have copies of these papers with a family member or friend in another area of the country?

Do you have medical needs that require medications on a daily or weekly basis? Do you have medical needs that require electricity? Do you have a generator? How is it fueled? What can it support? How long will your fuel last? Do you have an outside place to keep the generator?

Do you have a portable cook stove for boiling water & making hot food? Flashlights? Batteries? Solar lights?

Do you have a food supply that does not require refrigeration? Do you have a well or other source for water?

Do you have a chain saw, axe, clippers and such that are not electric? Do you have shutters for your windows and doors? Do you know when to put them on your windows?

Do you know where the safe place is in your home in case of high winds? Does the family know?

Do you have neighbors that might need your help? Do you need help with heavy items?

Did you know that if two people can pick up an item in your yard, so can wind? So where are you going to store all that lawn furniture and hanging baskets and such?

I know this sounds like a lot of things to think about, but having lived through 4 Hurricanes in Florida during 2004, I have a good feel for what happens during severe weather. Being prepared is the only way to enter storm season. Don't wait until the last minute to get your supplies! Do it now and rest easy the rest of the season!