Help get this done! Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act

The Older Americans Act is up for reauthorization.

The Older Americans Act (OAA), originally enacted in 1965, supports home and community-based services, such as meals-on-wheels and other nutrition programs, in-home services, transportation, legal services, elder abuse prevention and caregivers support. These programs help seniors stay as independent as possible in their homes and communities. In addition, OAA services help seniors avoid hospitalization and nursing home care. As a result federal and state funds that otherwise would be spent on such care are saved.

Congress is currently considering its reauthorization. Access to preventative care, including fitness related activities are on the table. This is one we need to get done!

Why?

And it's not just fitness pros who think so! Check out what Forbes magazine has to say about why this is a biggie and why it's taking far to long to sign on the dotted line.

And then...

Urge congress to get it done and to include access to fitness services as a pivotal piece of the puzzle that keeps this nation strong and healthy.

Here's a super simple way to get a hold of YOUR representation in Washington, DC to be sure they get that this matters to you.

And then, have a great day.
Erika

Say what you want about Valentine's Day. 

I know some of you are in the 'made up holiday designed to boost the greeting card, flower and chocolate industries' camp. And I have had those years myself.

This year however, I am in. I am buying it whole hog.

Not buying cards, not buying candy or dousing anything in chocolate. I am buying the 'heart' of the holiday.

Becoming a woman in my mid-forties has changed the way I think about health. I firmly believe it is my duty to my myself, my family and my community to care for myself. And that means care for my heart.

Heart disease and stroke, leading killers of folks just like me, costs this country alone well over 400 billion dollars each year. Not to mention the devastating if not deadly effect that both have on a person and their family.

So what causes these killers to creep up on us:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Cigarette smoking
• Diabetes
• Poor diet and physical inactivity
• Overweight and obesity

Are all huge risk- factors. Which is great news!

"Great news" you say? How are those things that contribute to those monstrous killers great news?

Take a look at the list again.

How many of those things are completely outside our control. Smoking is an easy one. Who decides whether or not we light up? (I'm not saying it's easy to quit once we've started. My dear friend Liz just hit the 6-week no cigarettes mark and is still pretty mad about it. Go Lizard!) But ultimately it is ours to decide. Who makes us stand up out of that chair every hour to mitigate the horrid effects sitting has on our blood pressure? Well, for me it's an app I have on my phone that reminds me, but it's my legs that make it happen! 

Even when you consider genetic predispositions and environmental factors, the bottom line is, most of those nasty risk factors are lifestyle related things that we alone are responsible for.

Powerful.

Wonderful.

Scary.

So, when I think about what to give myself and the people I love this year for Valentine's Day I am thinking about hearts. The ones responsible for pumping life sustaining oxygen and nutrients around our bodies.

Here's my plan:

• Washing and cutting up fruit for my kiddos Valentine's celebrations at school today
• Heart thumping beats on a playlist for a morning dance party to kick the day off tomorrow
• Quick 10 minute couples workout with a friend today and my husband tomorrow
• Special hour carved out on the slopes letting my guy pick the terrain (yikes!)
• A longer than our normal 20-minutes-squeezed-in-between-grandkids-and-work cross country ski with my mom
• Dinner in - Chicken and rice casserole made with broth not canned soup, greens and garlic sautéed in grapeseed oil, and full fat, ingredients we can pronounce ice cream in several flavors so everyone can have their favorite
• Hand written notes to my closest friends and family about telling them I am so glad they are on this planet and thanking them for all they do to stay healthy so I can continue to enjoy their company. Okay, so the handwritten part my be dreaming. I hope they won't mind phone calls and texts. I promise they will be heart-felt all the same.
• And, last but not least, a long, hot shower before a full 8 hours of sleep. I hope ;-)

I know there is a lot to learn out there about how best to take care of ourselves. But really it comes down to moving, eating well, and resting. So for Valentine's Day this year think about all the ways you might instigate a little of any or all of those FREE (okay food costs money but you gotta eat) gifts in the lives of those you love. 

Starting with yourself.

Thank you,
Your Heart

PS - Here are some other great ideas for healthy Valentine's Day celebrations.

PPS - Looking for a fun (not free but pretty darn close) way to get moving? Join our Snow Daze Crew. We start on Monday!