With over 100 events a year not everyone realizes that our Essay contest is "The Biggest " thing we do! This years 15th annual contest attracted 2,878, K to 67 years old, from 47 states bringing the grand total to 47,744 from all 50 states! Plus the Art contest overall total of 18,357 bringing the entire participation to 66,101!
A special thanks to Southwestern College for their inaugural sponsorship of this years Art/Essay contests! We look forward to the "Celebration Banquet" on April 23rd at Southwestern to honor our award winners. Save the date!
ps We had an essay from Bulgaria! We are now international!
Wid
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
U.S. Obesity Rates Stabilizing, but Still Too High
In case you missed the recent press reports, it is encouraging to learn that American obesity rates may have plateaued. That’s the good news. The bad news is that 68 percent of U.S. adults and almost one-third of youngsters remain either overweight or obese.
Based on a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, obesity rates in American adults, which are higher than in any other country, held steady from 2000 to 2008, as did the trend among children ages 2 to 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An adult who is roughly 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight is considered obese. Even the youngest Americans are affected – 10 percent of babies and toddlers are precariously heavy. We’re also told that obesity has overtaken smoking as the biggest overall health threat facing the country.
As an obesity expert with CDC commented, “We may be at the corner, but we haven’t turned the corner as yet.” This is why I continue to urge each of you to . . .
Get Up! Get Active! Get Involved! Get Healthy!
~Wid
Based on a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, obesity rates in American adults, which are higher than in any other country, held steady from 2000 to 2008, as did the trend among children ages 2 to 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An adult who is roughly 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight is considered obese. Even the youngest Americans are affected – 10 percent of babies and toddlers are precariously heavy. We’re also told that obesity has overtaken smoking as the biggest overall health threat facing the country.
As an obesity expert with CDC commented, “We may be at the corner, but we haven’t turned the corner as yet.” This is why I continue to urge each of you to . . .
Get Up! Get Active! Get Involved! Get Healthy!
~Wid
Friday, January 22, 2010
"Serenity!"
So much for the the "serenity" of rain! Tornado watch, airport closed down, flooding, Snowbowl without electricity, I-17 I-40 done, school being cancelled, high winds..........I hope you are all OK!
Wid
Wid
Thursday, January 21, 2010
"Rain!"
There is something special about a rainy day to me! It's soothing, cleansing, thought provoking, reflective, and it can also be disruptive.
Like most things everything in moderation and beware of excess. In Arizona things seem to come to an abrupt halt, in some cases for no reason. Take the early morning ride to work---for no apparent reason I keep thinking there is an accident up ahead because traffic is barely moving and the drive time is always extended. This morning luckily, the accident never occurred.
Construction comes to a screeching stop, school buses run late, no one is quite sure how to dress,
and the sniffles seem to increase. Hence in Seattle nothing changes. Speaking of change, it reminds me that nothing ever stays the same...you either get better or worse.
The weather report says that we should expect a couple of dreary days. My plan is to make them cheery productive days...in other words "get better". Having said that, I like the "Rain".
Wid
Like most things everything in moderation and beware of excess. In Arizona things seem to come to an abrupt halt, in some cases for no reason. Take the early morning ride to work---for no apparent reason I keep thinking there is an accident up ahead because traffic is barely moving and the drive time is always extended. This morning luckily, the accident never occurred.
Construction comes to a screeching stop, school buses run late, no one is quite sure how to dress,
and the sniffles seem to increase. Hence in Seattle nothing changes. Speaking of change, it reminds me that nothing ever stays the same...you either get better or worse.
The weather report says that we should expect a couple of dreary days. My plan is to make them cheery productive days...in other words "get better". Having said that, I like the "Rain".
Wid
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Following Through on Resolutions
The arrival of a new year is a great time to make resolutions to get rid of that excess weight, to be more active and faithful to your exercise regimen, or to commit to following a healthier lifestyle. The idea is to set realistic, specific and measurable goals and then stick with those objectives.
We all start out with the best of intentions. But I’m told that 88% of those who make New Year’s Resolutions do not achieve their goals. There’s an old proverb that says “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” That may be a bit strong, but it tells us that whatever good thoughts, good ideas and good intentions we may have, too often they don’t get translated into positive action that produce the desired results.
According to the Cooper Institute, 76-82% of those who begin an exercise program will drop out, 50% in the first six months.
Between 75-80% of those who begin a diet will revert to their old eating habits.
Between 60-90% of those who attend a quit-smoking program will start smoking again.
If you are serious about following through on your resolutions, you need to ask yourself why you have not been doing that particular activity in the past. The usual reasons are lack of time, not having the right knowledge or understanding of what you should be doing (in other words, not being properly motivated), or feeling you don’t have access to the proper facilities or opportunities to achieve your objectives.
Once you get past whatever has been holding you back and set your goals, think about the difficulty or intensity of the exercise in which you want to engage. While we all want to start out with a bang, it is best to start slow and build from there.
Another good suggestion is to have social support, whether it be a parent, spouse or friend. – people who will encourage and support your exercise routine. Don’t fall into the all-or-nothing trap for physical activity. If you miss a day, just pick it up the next day.
There is no value in simply planning to do good if you actually don’t do it. Once you get into the swing of it, you are on your way to repaving that road.
~Wid
We all start out with the best of intentions. But I’m told that 88% of those who make New Year’s Resolutions do not achieve their goals. There’s an old proverb that says “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” That may be a bit strong, but it tells us that whatever good thoughts, good ideas and good intentions we may have, too often they don’t get translated into positive action that produce the desired results.
According to the Cooper Institute, 76-82% of those who begin an exercise program will drop out, 50% in the first six months.
Between 75-80% of those who begin a diet will revert to their old eating habits.
Between 60-90% of those who attend a quit-smoking program will start smoking again.
If you are serious about following through on your resolutions, you need to ask yourself why you have not been doing that particular activity in the past. The usual reasons are lack of time, not having the right knowledge or understanding of what you should be doing (in other words, not being properly motivated), or feeling you don’t have access to the proper facilities or opportunities to achieve your objectives.
Once you get past whatever has been holding you back and set your goals, think about the difficulty or intensity of the exercise in which you want to engage. While we all want to start out with a bang, it is best to start slow and build from there.
Another good suggestion is to have social support, whether it be a parent, spouse or friend. – people who will encourage and support your exercise routine. Don’t fall into the all-or-nothing trap for physical activity. If you miss a day, just pick it up the next day.
There is no value in simply planning to do good if you actually don’t do it. Once you get into the swing of it, you are on your way to repaving that road.
~Wid
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