Awaiting creative answers for health care costs

For decades, there has been wide disagreement over what national health care should look like. The result of that disagreement is a disjointed, mismatch of those with Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and no insurance. Meanwhile, health care costs seem to be forever rising in spite of the reforms (Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare) designed to make care more affordable.

Trim the Fat: Stick with the goal or move on?

Year-end update: –6.8 pounds

A year ago, I started this blog series with the idea of focusing my entries on health and wellness news while updating readers about my personal goal to lose weight. It’s been an interesting year, with this blog covering everything from news from the American Heart Association to the advent of Kentucky Fried Chicken’s not-altogether-healthy-but-less-fatty grilled fare.

As we prepare to welcome a new year, I find myself thinking about resolutions and what I’d like to change in the next 12 months and beyond. As you may note from the number posted above, I obviously did not hit the pound-shedding goal I set for myself.

Bike, Bus, Walk Week off to a good start

Maria’s weight change: +1.2 pounds last week; -2 pounds total

Anybody who’s trying to shed weight knows (or should, anyway) that exercise is a key component. But sometimes, knowing the right thing is much easier than actually doing it, whether the issue at hand is weight loss or helping the environment.

This week is a good opportunity to combine efforts on both fronts. Today’s the first day of the 12th annual Bike, Bus Walk to Work Week, which runs through May 15. Ozarks Greenways is challenging local professionals to use alternative modes of transportation – walking, bicycling, public transit or carpooling – to get to work at least one day during the week.

Given that working in more exercise is an ongoing challenge for me, I decided that I’d make the most of this week.

Trim the Fat: Temptation comes calling

There are certain truths in life.

If you want rain, wash your car.

If you want your car to stop making a funny noise, take it to a mechanic, he won’t hear a thing.

And here’s another one: If you want to be tempted by all kinds of fattening goodies, commit to starting eating more healthy foods in pursuit of weight loss.