I truly enjoy the excitement generated by our Art Contest! With this years new sponsor, Southwestern College, entries are steady with the postmark deadline being tomorrow.
The contest promotes creativity through art as an effective method for artists of ALL ages(grades K-12, adults ages 18-49, 50+) to express their dreams and ideas for a successful life and a better community. The vision of healthy self-improvement through friendly competition continuesin the Art Contest!
I'm hoping to eclipse last years total of 1,789 adding to our 16,787 ten year total.
I'll let you know.........
Wid
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Can Parents Influence their Children’s Eating Habits?
As I have researched these blogs on physical fitness and proper nutrition, I ran across another issue regarding the challenge parents face in coaching their children away from unhealthy eating without making for strained relations and possible psychological problems. How do parents get their kids to understand that their intake of food impacts their overall health without making them rebel or be unduly self-conscious of the consequences.
I am talking about the young man who knowingly eats more than he should, or the daughter who treats food warily – always concerned about her waistline. Neither may be considered obese or anorexic, but they represent a larger group of young people who fall between those widely publicized (and much more complicated) extremes.
In recent years, worry about what and how much children eat has intensified because of the frequent references to obesity. Then there is the concern with children back in school where parents cannot monitor their eating habits. It’s encouraging, however, that school cafeterias and vending areas are providing fewer sugary soft drinks and fried foods, and class bake sales are more apt to feature calorie-reduced brownies.
Even with all this increased awareness, parents are having to sort out all the conflicting information regarding diets and weight control. Beyond genes, which obviously play a fundamental role, is soda pop a major factor? What about too little sleep?
An article in The Republic this week reports that one in five youngsters isn’t getting enough Vitamin D and could be at risk for a variety of health problems, including weak bones, infections, diabetes and some cancers. The deficiency is even more prevalent among Minorities. The American Academy of Pediatrics indicated that children can get 400 units of Vitamin D by drinking four cups of fortified milk daily or eating lots of fish. Exposure to our Arizona sun is another source of Vitamin D.
As one parent pointed out, “We get nutritional advice, but that’s not the same as eating advice.” My best answer is that parents should encourage sensible eating and vigorous physical activity by engaging in both themselves, thereby setting the example their children hopefully will follow. Another good suggestion is to involve your children in the shopping for, and cooking of meals as a way to heighten their consciousness about food and proper eating habits.
~ Lew Shaw
I am talking about the young man who knowingly eats more than he should, or the daughter who treats food warily – always concerned about her waistline. Neither may be considered obese or anorexic, but they represent a larger group of young people who fall between those widely publicized (and much more complicated) extremes.
In recent years, worry about what and how much children eat has intensified because of the frequent references to obesity. Then there is the concern with children back in school where parents cannot monitor their eating habits. It’s encouraging, however, that school cafeterias and vending areas are providing fewer sugary soft drinks and fried foods, and class bake sales are more apt to feature calorie-reduced brownies.
Even with all this increased awareness, parents are having to sort out all the conflicting information regarding diets and weight control. Beyond genes, which obviously play a fundamental role, is soda pop a major factor? What about too little sleep?
An article in The Republic this week reports that one in five youngsters isn’t getting enough Vitamin D and could be at risk for a variety of health problems, including weak bones, infections, diabetes and some cancers. The deficiency is even more prevalent among Minorities. The American Academy of Pediatrics indicated that children can get 400 units of Vitamin D by drinking four cups of fortified milk daily or eating lots of fish. Exposure to our Arizona sun is another source of Vitamin D.
As one parent pointed out, “We get nutritional advice, but that’s not the same as eating advice.” My best answer is that parents should encourage sensible eating and vigorous physical activity by engaging in both themselves, thereby setting the example their children hopefully will follow. Another good suggestion is to involve your children in the shopping for, and cooking of meals as a way to heighten their consciousness about food and proper eating habits.
~ Lew Shaw
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Facing the Brutal Facts . . .
Management guru Jim Collins has made a career out of understanding why companies and organizations succeed. Two books he has written – Built to Last and Good to Great – are considered business classics. He currently is researching how companies manage to navigate through turbulent times. Many of his conclusions can be applied to what we need to do as individuals to get through these tough times.
In a recent interview, he is quoted as saying: “In my research, we are trying to understand what distinguishes those who prevail when the world goes out of control from those who don’t. It’s a great human question; it’s not a business question. All of us are walking around with a little thing in our stomachs that says: ‘I don’t feel very good in all of this.’ That’s more or less the new norm.”
Jim argues that what is happening is not unprecedented as many contend. He points out: “We have this arrogant view that we’re the first people to experience change, that we’re the first to experience volatility and uncertainly. When you take a look at history, there have been many other difficult times, and we have survived.”
“Almost across the board, people are worried. But you have to believe we will prevail, that we will get through this mess. But it’s vital that you not be the Pollyanna who ignores the brutal facts. We may be in this for a long time, but we must strive to turn whatever difficulty we may be facing into a defining event, use it as the catalyst to make ourselves much stronger, recognizing that our character is being forged in a burning, searing crucible.”
Wid
In a recent interview, he is quoted as saying: “In my research, we are trying to understand what distinguishes those who prevail when the world goes out of control from those who don’t. It’s a great human question; it’s not a business question. All of us are walking around with a little thing in our stomachs that says: ‘I don’t feel very good in all of this.’ That’s more or less the new norm.”
Jim argues that what is happening is not unprecedented as many contend. He points out: “We have this arrogant view that we’re the first people to experience change, that we’re the first to experience volatility and uncertainly. When you take a look at history, there have been many other difficult times, and we have survived.”
“Almost across the board, people are worried. But you have to believe we will prevail, that we will get through this mess. But it’s vital that you not be the Pollyanna who ignores the brutal facts. We may be in this for a long time, but we must strive to turn whatever difficulty we may be facing into a defining event, use it as the catalyst to make ourselves much stronger, recognizing that our character is being forged in a burning, searing crucible.”
Wid
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
You can be in control
I recently read an article in our local paper discussing Dr. Andrew Weil’s new book, “Why Our Health Matters.” Dr. Weil is the founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.
He stresses the importance of making smart decisions if you want to eat for optimum health and achieve a healthy weight. His bottom-line prescription is to cut down on all food products made with any kind of flour and sugar.
He goes on to say that sugar and processed carbohydrates are the primary culprits in the obesity epidemic. “They are the main drivers of obesity, insulin resistance and eventually Type 2 diabetes. Many of the problems we see in society are the result of the mismatch between genes and sugar and processed carbs that are predominant in fast foods and refined or manufactured foods – basically all products made with any kind of flour and sugar.”
According to Dr. Weil, we should focus not only on how much we eat, but also what we eat. He advises people to fill their shopping carts with vegetables and lean meats and to stick to the outside aisles in the supermarket where you’ll usually find unprocessed foods.
His concluding advice: “You can take responsibility for your own health by making smarter choices, even something as simple as quenching your thirst with water instead of that sugary soda.”
Wid
He stresses the importance of making smart decisions if you want to eat for optimum health and achieve a healthy weight. His bottom-line prescription is to cut down on all food products made with any kind of flour and sugar.
He goes on to say that sugar and processed carbohydrates are the primary culprits in the obesity epidemic. “They are the main drivers of obesity, insulin resistance and eventually Type 2 diabetes. Many of the problems we see in society are the result of the mismatch between genes and sugar and processed carbs that are predominant in fast foods and refined or manufactured foods – basically all products made with any kind of flour and sugar.”
According to Dr. Weil, we should focus not only on how much we eat, but also what we eat. He advises people to fill their shopping carts with vegetables and lean meats and to stick to the outside aisles in the supermarket where you’ll usually find unprocessed foods.
His concluding advice: “You can take responsibility for your own health by making smarter choices, even something as simple as quenching your thirst with water instead of that sugary soda.”
Wid
Thursday, October 8, 2009
"This has a chance"
Good Afternoon Wid,
Please use this e-mail as my expression of interest in putting together a fourth quarter fundraising program which will help both of our organizations. Arizona Office Technology (AOT) would like to formally extend an offer to any GCG board member, supporter or other interested party an opportunity to support GCG with a 5% donation from any business conducted with AOT during the 4th quarter. I would like to sit down Friday and formalize the program if concept is approved. Please understand, AOT’s first objective with any client engagement is to REDUCE their overall costs. Therefore, if one of these organizations engages us, it will be with the singular focus of reducing costs and the bi-product is a 5% donation on their behalf to GCG. We all win!!!
Donald K. Maroney
Vice President of Sales
~ Wid
Please use this e-mail as my expression of interest in putting together a fourth quarter fundraising program which will help both of our organizations. Arizona Office Technology (AOT) would like to formally extend an offer to any GCG board member, supporter or other interested party an opportunity to support GCG with a 5% donation from any business conducted with AOT during the 4th quarter. I would like to sit down Friday and formalize the program if concept is approved. Please understand, AOT’s first objective with any client engagement is to REDUCE their overall costs. Therefore, if one of these organizations engages us, it will be with the singular focus of reducing costs and the bi-product is a 5% donation on their behalf to GCG. We all win!!!
Donald K. Maroney
Vice President of Sales
~ Wid
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Way to Feeling Better
GCSG Board member Andy Dzurinko passed along the following blog from Tim Lane of the Iowa Department of Health which points out that even a minimum amount of physical activity can be beneficial to your health. Tim writes:
“A recent study shows that as little as 10 extra minutes of exercise a day can reduce your risk of major disease and improve your quality of life. ‘Our bodies respond to even small amounts of activity,’ according to Dr. Tim Church of the Pennington Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ‘For sedentary individuals, the immediate health benefits are huge. We saw a change in waist size in just 70 minutes of moderate exercise, such as walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike.’ Short bouts of exercise can also affect how your body metabolizes blood sugar for up to 72 hours.
“Walking a few minutes a day may not cause your weight to drop substantially, but it will reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression, diabetes, and many other conditions,” Dr. Church adds.
Most Americans take approximately 5000 steps a day. Increasing that to 7000 or 8000 will further reduce the risk of disease. And the psychological benefits can be as profound as the physical ones.
Tim concludes with these Thoughts for the Day:
“It always amazes people to see how little activity it takes to feel better.” – Tim Church
“Life is a short walk. There is so little time and so much living to achieve.”
– John Oliver Killens
“If you're not in the parade, you watch the parade. That's life.” – Mike Ditka
“Leadership involves finding a parade and getting in front of it.” – John Naisbitt
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies
within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wid
“A recent study shows that as little as 10 extra minutes of exercise a day can reduce your risk of major disease and improve your quality of life. ‘Our bodies respond to even small amounts of activity,’ according to Dr. Tim Church of the Pennington Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ‘For sedentary individuals, the immediate health benefits are huge. We saw a change in waist size in just 70 minutes of moderate exercise, such as walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike.’ Short bouts of exercise can also affect how your body metabolizes blood sugar for up to 72 hours.
“Walking a few minutes a day may not cause your weight to drop substantially, but it will reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression, diabetes, and many other conditions,” Dr. Church adds.
Most Americans take approximately 5000 steps a day. Increasing that to 7000 or 8000 will further reduce the risk of disease. And the psychological benefits can be as profound as the physical ones.
Tim concludes with these Thoughts for the Day:
“It always amazes people to see how little activity it takes to feel better.” – Tim Church
“Life is a short walk. There is so little time and so much living to achieve.”
– John Oliver Killens
“If you're not in the parade, you watch the parade. That's life.” – Mike Ditka
“Leadership involves finding a parade and getting in front of it.” – John Naisbitt
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies
within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wid
Friday, October 2, 2009
"How tough can it be!"
Why can't people just do what they say......? Return a phone call......? Be on time......? Respond to an e-mail.....? Say please and thank you....? You did a good job.....? Say good morning....? And how about" in this economy"....that's getting real old!
"How tough can it be!"
I'm frustrated...
Wid
"How tough can it be!"
I'm frustrated...
Wid
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