Is it a cold or the flu?

Every year cold-and-flu season sprinkles its misery on just about everyone. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Americans suffer from a staggering one billion colds every year and have a 20 percent chance of getting the flu. Adults average 2-4 colds a year; kids typically get more, with some getting as many as 12 colds every year.

You and your family may be next, and it is important to know whether you have a cold or flu.

Colds rarely cause serious complications; only about one percent of cases lead to complications (mostly sinus or ear infections). The flu, on the other hand, is responsible for around 200,000 hospitalizations every year. A virus is the cause of both colds and flu and though they share many symptoms, each illness has telltale signs.

Flu versus Cold

In general, flu tends to come on fast, makes you feel exhausted, and is more intense. The flu comes and goes quickly. Flu is more likely to leave you with a lingering cough or feeling tired for weeks. If your muscles are achy and you have a temperature, you most likely have the flu. You are the most contagious five to seven days from when you first feel bad.

Colds, on the other hand, start with a runny or stuffy nose and maybe a sore throat that you may have felt coming on for days. When you have a cold, you either don't have a fever, or it is very mild. You are most contagious during the first three days of getting a cold, during that sore throat phase.

If you are coughing, sneezing, or have a sore throat, then you are more likely to be in the cold camp, where a headache will put you more in the flu camp; but these symptoms are shared by both illnesses.

Take a look at this chart to determine if it is a cold or flu:

Prevention is the Key

As with almost any illness, prevention is your best strategy. When you start seeing that people are getting sick around you, remember to eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep. The number one prevention tool you have is to wash your hands frequently.

When to Pay Attention

The big concern about colds and flu is not the illness itself, but what occurs afterwards.

Bacterial infections (which can be much worse than a virus) are more likely to happen in someone with the flu. Any long-lasting fever suggests a bacterial infection. If a cold goes on for more than 4 or 5 days, or if you are coughing up yellow phlegm, then you should to seek the advice of a doctor.

Severe flu, like the Swine flu, is associated with persistent vomiting and diarrhea. Pneumonia (lung infection) typically presents as a fever that returns after being gone for a few days.

The warning signs that mean you should visit your doctor are painful swallowing, a long persistent cough, vomiting, severe diarrhea, shortness of breath, or any rash. Most colds and flu come and go without any problems and are easy to take care of on your own. Paying attention to your symptoms will help guide you in your decision to seek additional care.

Thank you Shaklee for the info! 

Shaklee can help you in the prevention of cold and flus! Products like Nutriferon help boost your immune system and fight off free radical which can cause a case of the icks! He is a link, check it out: http://mjshealthyway.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=20962  

Have a healthy and productive week! 

Mike 

Shaklee, America’s number one natural nutrition company! http://mjshealthyway.com  

Shaklee and the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games-Bobsledder Curt Tomasevicz: From the short burst to the long haul

As a “pusher” on the U.S. four-man bobsled team, Shaklee Pure Performance Team member and elite athlete Curt Tomasevicz knows how to expend tremendous amounts of energy in a short time—very short. “My job is 95% complete after the first five explosive seconds out of the gate,” said the 2010 Vancouver Games gold medalist. “But for those five seconds I need to pack in all the energy, focus, power, and agility I can muster.

Preparing for those crucial five seconds is now Curt’s full-time obsession. “Our routine includes six to eight hours a day of training: sled runs, squatting up to 600 pounds, bursts of sprints and pushing, and, of course, wedging into the sled thousands of times.” He added, “It takes a long time to ‘feel’ a good run, but when it all comes together, it’s definitely worth the years of hard work.”

Curt and his teammates are gearing up for the 2014 Sochi Games in February, where they will sidle up to their missile-like sled, a sleek blend of aluminum, carbon-fiber, hard rubber, and steel skids. They’ll surge through the mile-long ice chute in less than a minute, attaining speeds up to 95 miles per hour, where three of the four team members simply can’t see what’s happening—a phenomenon fairly unique in the sports world.
But what they can’t see for about 55 seconds they certainly can hear. “It’s loud!” Curt exclaimed, “Especially when all your senses are attuned to every little detail of the run.  The wind noise, the gasping of the pushers, and the skids on the ice are nearly deafening. There are no Zamboni machines to smooth the track, so the knifing on the bumpy ice goes right into our helmets.”

When Curt and his teammates won gold at Vancouver in 2010, it was the first time an American bobsled team claimed the top honors since 1948. That was way too long for the American team members, who want to rule the winner’s podium not for a short burst but for the long haul.

“I have complete confidence in all of Shaklee’s products and the purity of their ingredients,” says Curt. “Shaklee allows me to stress over the competitions, instead of what I consume.”

What do you consume to help reduce your stress and power through your challenges?  Please comment below!

The Shaklee Pure Performance athletes are either Distributors or dedicated users who have received compensation for their partnership and/or complimentary Shaklee products.

Info Thanks to Shaklee Health wise blog!

If Shaklee can power our olympians, it can power you, naturally! http://mjshealthyway.com

Have a healthy and productive day!

MJ

Shaklee and the 2014 Sochi Olympic Game-The hardest part of the sled: Jamie Greubel

Everything about Jamie Greubel’s bullet-like bobsled points to one intention: speed.

The carbon-fiber shell flows smoothly from the hammerhead shark nose. So slick that even dust can’t settle on it, the shimmering body slices through the cold air as the shiny steel skids skim the frozen track like a beam of light skipping off a mirror. And it even sounds fast: Skaroosh!

Jamie knows all about speed. This Shaklee Pure Performance Team member has been swooshing down ice chutes as a member of the U.S. Bobsled team since 2007, and she’s currently streaking toward the 2014 Sochi Games in February.

“I’ve been chasing this dream for a huge part of my adult life,” said the Cornell University grad, “and now it seems like I can’t get there fast enough.”

But with  the opening ceremony fast approaching, Jamie is right on track to reach her dreams. She’s developed into one of America’s top bobsled pilots and her recent successes include a bronze medal at the World Cup in Calgary in November, as well as a first place finish at the North American Cup.

Having recently returned from intense training sessions on the bobsled track in Sochi, Jamie is thrilled about the possibilities at the Games. “The track offers several challenges with its technical curves and uphill sections, but good teams will bring in some wicked times and I feel very comfortable on that ice,” she explained. “In my mind, I’m already there, and we’re going fast!”

A multisport athlete while at Cornell University, her transition to bobsled went smoothly..  But her greatest asset isn’t merely physical—it’s her mental strength and unrelenting desire to succeed.

Though she flashes a smile that her helmet can barely contain and her soft-spoken nature is anything but icy, Jamie Greubel is a model of steely resolve, fortitude, and jubilant competitiveness that just might power her across that finish line in Sochi faster than anyone else. “That’s my goal,” Jamie said. “I know that nothing of great worth comes easy, and people can accomplish anything they set their mind to.”

Are you heading toward your goals in life? If so, are you like our elite athletes and fueling your way with Shaklee products? Share with me some of your favorite products in the comments section, and strap on your Jamie Greubel attitude—you just might reach your goals with unbelievable speed!

The Shaklee Pure Performance athletes are either Distributors or dedicated users who have received compensation for their partnership and/or complimentary Shaklee products.

Info Thanks to Shaklee Health wise blog!

If Shaklee can power our olympians, it can power you, naturally! http://mjshealthyway.com

Have a healthy and productive day!

MJ

Pieces of a puzzle – getting to successful weight loss

If you have ever wondered what the key to successful weight loss is, you are not alone.

Weight loss and maintenance is a hard puzzle to crack. But after spending years combing the scientific literature I have what I consider to be a good solution to why some people lose weight and keep it off and others don’t.

There are three pieces of the puzzle to weight-loss success.

When people set out to lose weight, they often chose only one aspect of their lives to change. They pick a diet, they join a gym, or they buy a new bathroom scale and pledge to weigh every day. Diet, exercise, and behavior change are three complementary approaches to weight management. Can you successfully lose weight by just changing (for example) your diet? Yes, but when you add physical activity and behavior modification to the mix, you greatly increases your chances to achieve and maintain a healthier weight.

Let’s take a look each piece and see how they fit into the puzzle:

Diet: In order to lose weight you are looking to remove 500-1,000 calories a day from your diet. The biggest problem with calorie reduction is that you feel like you are losing something. The best way to achieve this reduction and not feel hungry is to eat foods that help you feel full. Low glycemic index foods are typically low in sugar and high in protein and/or fiber; the energy contained in such foods is digested and absorbed more slowly, which helps manage hunger and energy levels. Make sure when you cut calories that you are still giving your body the nutrition it needs; I like adding veggies and fruit to a protein smoothie for breakfast as part of my plan. A good multivitamin is another way to make certain you aren’t missing essential nutrients.

Physical activity: Exercise–in the broad sense of physical movement–really should be a lifelong habit. Maintaining your weight loss may very well be impossible without some form of exercise. Activities of daily living—like walking the dog–count; finding ways to take more steps each day is another good place to start. Resistance exercise is also important; it helps maintain muscle mass during weight loss, and that keeps your metabolism up. Recent research suggests that how hard you exercise matters, so pick up the intensity as you adapt to an exercise routine.

Behavior modification: When you think about it, we are all a collection of habits and our habits influence what we weigh. Behavior modification means changing what you are doing towards more healthy habits. Experts agree that setting goals, self-monitoring, and learning to deal with your specific challenges all contribute to adopting healthy habits.

On your path to losing weight, you are going to run into many challenges, but it doesn’t have to be that hard. Making small positive changes that you can stick with put you on the path to success. What small changes will you make? Share them in the comments section below.

Info thanks to Shaklee Health Wise Blog

Have a healthy and productive day! 

MJ

Shaklee 180 is a prefect fit for natural clinically proven weight loss! See the difference at: http://weightloss180.com  

5 Seemingly Innocent Things That Lead To Weight Gain-Part 2

4. You Eat At A Crowded Table

Your mistake: You habitually dine with large groups. Imagine that you, a careful eater, go out for pizza with friends. Statistically speaking, here's what will happen, reports Brian Wansink, PhD, director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab, in his book Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think. Dining with just one friend, you'll eat about 35 percent more than when alone; with a group of four, about 75 percent more; and in groups of seven or more, 96 percent more. The reasons for overeating: spending a longer time at the table, mimicking our companions' pace often bite-for-bite, (especially in the beginning of a meal) and defaulting to the group average. 

The lesson: "Sit next to slow eaters," Wansink writes. "They can help you pace your eating, not the speed eaters who eat like they grew up in a family of 12."

5. You Saved a Bunch of Money

Your mistake: Looking at ready-to-eat multipacks makes you overindulge. Stockpiled food is consumed twice as fast as other food in the house, concluded Wansink and his colleagues after an experiment in which they supplied families with either large or small multipacks of food. (Think Warholian spreads of either 24 or 8 soup cans.) The problem is simple: Bulky packages consume too much kitchen real estate; we see them every time we open the cupboard, for instance. Visibility translates into impulsivity, and, before we know it, we're eating more than we intended. 

The lesson: Out of sight, out of mind. Move multi-unit packs of food out of the kitchen and into the basement, freezer, underground bunker...wherever that cluster of bright labels won't catch your eye. Wansink found that the feeding frenzy was worse in the first eight days that new multipacks are the house. After that, people became less attracted to the food, despite a still-ample supply, and ate about the same amount as they did of less-stockpiled pantry items.

Info thanks to the Huffington Post. 

Have a healthy and productive day! 

MJ

Learn how I lost 38 pounds with Shaklee! http://weightloss180.info

5 Seemingly Innocent Things That Lead To Weight Gain-Part 1

1. You Doubled Down On The Quantified Life

Your mistake: You believe wholeheartedly in the “If you can measure it, you can manage it” theorem. That's right, we're recommending that you ditch your digital scale with the two decimal places. When dieters at the University of Utah received a “health index score” that was pleasingly vague -- a weight range rather than an actual number -- they lost up to four pounds in just three weeks. In contrast, when participants received their score in the form of an exact number, they gained up to a pound on average. The fuzzier the feedback, the more room there was to interpret it optimistically, the study concluded. (“Almost there!”) As a result, the goal seems more achievable -- and we become more motivated. On the flip side, a precise number makes us aware of when we're not doing well -- which all too often drives our discouraged self to lapse or quit. 

The lesson: If you weigh yourself daily, even normal fluctuations could throw you off. Instead, get on the scale weekly and use a range as a goal (“I'd like to lose 5 to 10 pounds this year”).

2. You've Read The Research On Coffee

Your mistake: Inspired by coffee's health perks, you drink five servings -- or more -- a day. Research does indeed show that the coffee cup runneth over with health benefits: It's linked with a reduced risk of type-2 diabetes and some cancers, and improved cardiovascular function. But there may be a point at which coffee drinking backfires bitterly: around five cups. A polyphenol in coffee called chlorogenic acid (CGA) is the cause, suggests a study on rodents at the University of Western Australia. The good news is that CGA in moderation is beneficial and thought to aid weight loss. The bad news is that in excess it may actually worsen the effects of a bad diet. Lab mice that consumed the equivalent amount of CGA in five or six cups of coffee gained more weight despite the compound's reputation as a diet aid. They also developed worse pre-diabetes disorders (increased glucose intolerance and insulin resistance), compared with CGA-free mice that ate the same high-fat food. 

The lesson: Research on the interaction between food and the compounds in coffee is ongoing. But, to be safe, especially on days you're eating high-fat foods, consider limiting your intake to three to four cups. The cutoff also applies to decaffeinated coffee and tea, which, sorry to report, also contain CGA.

You Drink The Seemingly Right (But Wrong) Milk

Your mistake: You substitute skim or low-fat milk for whole or 2 percent. Wait, don't we drink low-fat milk to stay slim? Yet a study led by Mark DeBoer, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Virginia, found that children who drank skim or 1 percent milk gained more weight than those who drank 2 percent or whole (full-fat) milk. He points out that the same link -- fattier milk, lower body-mass index -- has also emerged in large, long-term studies on adults.) DeBoer's theory is that milk fat, compared with other calorie sources, makes us feel fuller, longer -- so we consume fewer calories overall. Instead, many of us drink the seemingly virtuous but unfilling low-fat stuff -- then stuff ourselves with refined sugars and starches afterward. 

The lesson: If you're a milk drinker, try whole or 2 percent in lieu of reduced-fat milk. A large Swedish study found that among normal-weight women, those who drank one or more cups a day of whole milk had a significantly lower chance of gaining weight than those who drank reduced-fat milk.

Info thanks to Huffington Post. 

Have healthy and productive day! 

MJ

Indulge yourself with Shaklee 180 smoothies! The perfect natural weight loss solution! Nothing artificial! See it at http://weightloss180.info 

You can do this!

Many of you maybe finding it hard to keep those New Year's resolutions at the moment, as you struggle to the next day to keep your meals healthy. You have lost some weight, awesome job! Keep taking baby steps each day and continue to make positive changes in your health. These little changes will add up to big changes in time, so hang in there! You can do this! 

I hope you have a healthy and productive weekend and don't lose sight of your weight loss goals!

MJ

Shaklee 180-Helping people lose weight naturally: http://weightloss180.info

What powers Shaklee 180 to help you lose weight naturally?

Shaklee 180 in a breakthrough in weight loss. Shaklee 180 has be clinically proven to help you lose weight slower over time and keep it off! How is this possible you ask? Shaklee 180 contains Leucine, which is a natural amino acid which help retain lean muscle and burn excess fat! Other diets cause people to yo-yo back and forth because the body loses muscle mass.

So, if you're looking for a natural weight loss alternative with no artificial colors, sweeteners, flavors, or preservatives, Shaklee 180 is a perfect fit for you. The chart above explains it all! :)

I hope you have a healthy and productive 2014!

MJ

Shaklee 180, A natural way to lose weight! Check it out at: http://weightloss180.info

How can I help you with your weight loss goals in 2014?

I hope your 2014 is going great and the goals you set for better health and wellness are on pace. Keep up the hard work and determination. You can do this!

Life sometimes side tracks us and we lose sight of our goals. That's why I am here to help. It took me a few years to finally get on track and I did 18 months ago when I committed to Shaklee 180. All I really did was three simple steps: find a consistent exercise routine, portion my meals, and us the Shaklee 180 weight loss program. You might be asking yourself, this can't be the key to success to better health and wellness, but I'm living proof the Shaklee 180 weight loss system does really work with a little determination and consistency with exercise. I am now nearly 40 pounds lighter with more vitality and energy. I weigh the same weight I did when I was 18 years old in 1987. I guess I just aged myself, but age is only a number.  :)

I am here for support to help you reach your weight loss goals in 2014. My goal is to maintain my current weight and eat more fruits and veggies. Of course I still exercise on a consistent basis. So contact me below if you're looking for that lifestyle change.

I am here to help.

Have a healthy and productive week! Make it Stick in 2014!

MJ

Learn of to get 4 canisters of Shaklee 180 smoothies mix for free! http://weightloss180.info

Email: mike@mjshealthyway.com
Cell:    218-428-4448
Office: 715-817-8787

How is your resolution going?

Hello all, I'm just checking in to see if your resolutions for 2014 are still on track. Hopefully you are all on track with your healthy eating and weight loss goals. Shaklee 180 was my key driver to get me to my ideal weight of 171 pounds in 2013. Half way through 2012, I decided to make a change in my lifestyle. I decided to portion my eating, exercise, and start the Shaklee 180 weight loss program. With a little dedication and hard work, you'll be feeling better with more energy and begin to see the pounds melt away. After all, Shaklee 180 helps you retain lean muscle and burn of your excess fat. This is clinically proven and I am living proof that this weight loss system really works. What the heck do you have to lose? Contact me with any question about Shaklee 180 and I can help you reach your weight loss goals.

Learn more about Shaklee 180 at http://weightloss180.info

Have a healthy and productive 2014!

MJ

Learn how to receive 4 Shaklee 180 canisters for free each month!

Contact me at:
Office 715-817-8787
Cell    218-428-4448
Email: mike@mjshealthyway.com

A healthy New Year

How have your New Year resolutions gone in the past? If the results have been less than stellar, try following these steps to make them stick.

The first step is to forget the dramatic changes such as quitting your job and moving to Aruba, learning a foreign language while you sleep, or losing 50 pounds by month’s end—most of these are destined to fail.

Next, make your new year resolutions more like mild lifestyle tweaks instead of full-blown makeovers. I tend to choose small changes that also have the potential for a big health impact; that way, I am most likely to be successful—because who wants to fail?
Here is what I am committing to for 2014. Why don’t you join me and make this year your healthiest:

Go green: Eat something green with every meal. (Yes, this includes breakfast.) Try spinach, kale, broccoli, or any dark-green leafy vegetable. These vegetables are packed full of nutrition and are low calorie. Eating more greens is not only good for you, but good for the environment too! I am good at getting green veggies at lunch and dinner—so I am committing to green Energizing  Smoothees or spinach scrambled egg whites in the morning.

Stop the sugar madness: When people ask me what they should drink, I always say “just water,” that is because the largest single source of unneeded calories in your diet comes from both soda and fruit juices. See how close you can get to just drinking water.
Clean up your water: Since you are now only drinking water, you need the best. This means your water must be filtered. Bottled water is not a healthy choice. It is full of chemicals you don’t want in your body and plastic bottles are an environmental disaster. So avoid them if possible. If you want to get the whole scoop on water, check out our clean drinking water post.

Count your steps: Buy a pedometer and commit to 10,000 steps every day. I must confess to starting early on this resolution by buying a new high tech pedometer called a Fitbit® Zip™ over the Thanksgiving weekend. I haven’t had a day less than 10,000 steps and I am feeling even greater energy than usual!

Prioritize sleep: Modern life makes a good night’s sleep very difficult. (There is just too much to do!) The problem is that losing sleep makes you less smart and more forgetful, reduces your sex drive, depresses your mood, makes you crave carbohydrates, and leads to weight gain. Commit to at least seven hours of sleep every night (eight would be better) and you will see dramatic improvements in your health. I find that I feel so much better when I get at least 7 ½ hours.

Check vitamin D levels: Research on how valuable vitamin D is to our health is exploding. Vitamin D helps support bone health, maintains the immune system, is associated with maintaining brain function, and may be a factor in reducing development of chronic diseases such as arthritis. Have your doctor check your vitamin D blood level (25-hydroxy-vitamin D), and supplement (or get enough sun) until your levels are between 50-80 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml).

Along with the above, I make the following resolutions every year: Keep learning (make education a top priority) and enjoy life to the fullest! Even when I am having a stressful day, I try to find something to laugh about—since laughter is the VERY best prescription I can give you! Too often, we are bogged down with what we have to do just to get by and these two resolutions have served me well throughout my life.
Would love to hear from you about your goals! Post in the comment section and commit with me to a healthy new year.

Info thanks to Shaklee Health Wise Blog

Have a healthy and productive 2014!

MJ

Shaklee and Shaklee 180, providing natural weight loss solutions since 1957! Check it out at http://mjshealthyway.com