Thursday, April 22^nd is the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day which is celebrated by people all over the world since the Spring of 1970.  Today we don’t see any rivers burning, lakes dieing, an Indian with a tear running down his cheek as he views his streams and woodlands littered with debris.  Much progress has been made in protecting and preserving our environment.

Thanks to the many concerned citizens and politicians who saw what was happening and got us thinking – for at least one day a year – of the impact we have on the environment and the problems we were causing.  In 1970 Congress designated April 22^nd as a day to show our concern and commitment to protecting and preserving our environment.

Initially the emphasis was on the pollution caused by large companies and factories.  But as time went on, we began to realize the huge effect that individual homeowners and families have on the environment.  The fertilizers we use that runs-off our property to the lake; the amount of “stuff” we send to the landfill, much of which could be recycled; the household cleaners that contained phosphates and led to the lakes dieing.

Today, fish are living in the Cuyahoga River, on most days in the summer we are able to swim in the lake water, our parks are clean and filled with walking and biking paths encouraging to enjoy the outdoors.  We celebrate these achievements and commit ourselves to continue and do even more.

At home, let’s make every day Earth Day.  What’s one more thing we can do to make our home friendlier to the environment and safer for our family?  Possibly we could do a better job of shutting off lights and our computers and other electronic devices when not being used.  Or we could be more diligent in recycling; or begin changing over to CFL light bulbs; or shut-off water while we are brushing our teeth and shaving; use recyclable bags; start a compost bin. . .  Or Google “Earth Day” for many ‘green’ suggestions.

And let’s take a good look at the household cleaners we’re using.  More than 9 out of every 10 suspected poison exposures occur at home with household products. According to a 15 year study presented at the Toronto Indoor Air Conference, women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who work away from home.  The study concluded that this was a direct result of the increased exposure to toxic chemicals, many of which are found in common household products.

There are some “Green” cleaners that are safe, effective and economical.  They clean at least as good as, or many times more effectively, as name brand cleaners.  They cost the same or less per use as the name brands – sometimes much less!  We’ll discuss these and other alternatives in future articles.

For now, how will you demonstrate your personal responsibility and commitment to make every day Earth Day, to make our planet and your home safer and more environmentally friendly?  To live in harmony with Nature?

It’s February already, how well did you do with your New Year’s weight loss Resolution in January? How well did you manage your weight during the holidays? I met my goal of weighing the same or less on January 5th as I did on Thanksgiving morning – Hooray!

My new goal is to lose 5 pounds and 1 inch from my waist by June – when our entire family (5 sons and daughter-in-laws and 13 grandchildren) will vacation together in a large home on the Outer Banks, North Carolina. In addition to the obvious health benefits, I want to be a healthy role model for our family. I lost 1 pound in January – 4 more to go!

My plan includes working-out a 3rd day each week at our recreation center and to do some exercises at home the other days. I’m concentrating on smaller portions and eating healthy snacks between meals. My favorite snacks are:

1. Roasted unsalted soybeans, pistachio nuts (they’re slower to eat), almonds and walnuts
2. Low calorie and low fat crackers like, WASA Snacking crackers (crunchy or dunking) and Triscuit Thin Crisp crackers.
3. Air popped popcorn with NO butter, especially as an evening snack with a glass of water
4. At least 2 fruits every day: bananas, oranges, apples, pears or cantaloupe – be sure to wash them with a mild cleanser
5. 1 or 2 veggies: zucchini, peppers, celery and salads (careful with the dressing)

Two things are working especially well for me: the snack bars and energy teas from Shaklee. They satisfy my cravings, speed-up metabolism naturally, build lean muscle mass and give me a boost of energy:

Cinch Snack Bars:
Cinch Energy Teas:

Do you have a weight management goal? What is it and what’s working best for you?

How’s your weight?  Is there more and more of you as we move through this Christmas season?  Take my challenge and earn yourself an award – you’ll feel healthier and be proud of your accomplishment.

Here’s the challenge: weigh the same or less on January 5^th than you did on Thanksgiving morning – Scouts honor.  That’s it.  It’s simple.  You can do it.

Years ago I gained weight during the Christmas season as usual, except this time it was 8 pounds!!  It took until the end of May to lose those pounds.  I said I would not let that happen again.  Now I weigh myself Thanksgiving morning – and every morning during the season.

I prepare for every party with their drinks and foods by cutting back on my calories that day and the next day if needed – it’s easy to control one or two pounds.

My preparation includes having plenty of fruits, veggies and low calorie foods available.  I especially rely on the Cinch Shakes, Meal and Snack Bars and Teas from Shaklee Corporation.  They are nutritious, filling, taste good – and help me maintain lean muscle while losing fat.

This has been a successful approach for me and others that I’ve shared it with.  Take my challenge – and start 2010 as a Winner!

For more information click here.

Living with good health and vitality this cold and flu season will take a conscious daily commitment.  We are now dealing with the “common flu” and the H1N1 Swine flu.  Our ability to stay well and avoid the various flu pathogens and deal with the stress of the holiday season depends on a strong, vibrant immune system.

There are some common sense, simple things we can do to be sure our immune system is functioning at its peak:

• Get plenty of rest: 7 – 8 hours for adults, 9 hours or more for school age children.

• Wash your hands frequently: soap and warm water for 30 – 60 seconds; or hand sanitizers if washing is not possible.

• Wash your countertops, desk tops, bathroom wash areas, door knobs, phones, remotes, etc. with an effective germicidal product.  We use Shaklee Corporation’s Basic-G – its been tested and shown to be effective in neutralizing influenza type A viruses and many other microorganisms.

• Eat a healthy diet: commit to eating FIVE servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day for their antioxidant and immune supporting nutrients.

• Take a vitamin supplement: because we don’t eat as good as we should, take at least a quality multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.  Be sure it has at least 800 iu of vitamin D which is essential for a healthy immune system.  I give our family Shaklee’s Vita-Lea Multivitamin & Mineral tablets – it contains 23 essential vitamins and minerals at clinically proven levels for optimal health, including 800 iu of vitamin D.

• Control stress: we are fast approaching the holiday season with all of its extra activities, partying and deadlines.  The stress can drain our immune system and “welcome in” Mr. cold or Mrs. Flu.

The EPA issued a statement that it believes, based on available scientific information, that the currently registered influenza A virus products will be effective against the 2009 – H1N1 flu strain.

These are some suggestions for living a life full of vitality during the holiday season and every day.  What additional suggestions do you have?