Disclaimer: Knowledge is the best medicine, but YHC advice is not based on your specific medical condition. We encourage you to learn more, then make an appointment and really talk with your health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
Sometimes I come across interesting tools, for free, that'll enhance health. I love free, and I love health. Structure House http://www.structurehouse.com/tools_bmi.html provides materials on understanding your BMI & metabolic rate, a food diary, and some yummy sounding healthy recipes.
From my read of the rest of the website, Structure House is dedicated to changing all aspects of your life as it relates to food. Kind of a one-month 'Biggest Loser' http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/ with a $9,396 to $10,596 pricetag.
Wish I had the time to go away for a month -- it sounds interesting, healthy, and like real growth, real change-- not just a patch of the weight problem. What about you-- could you take off a minth to reclaim your health and your body? Email me at
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P4P- that means 'pay for performance', and it has your docs in an uproar, or in denial. And I think that it will be bad for your health as well.
If you work hard to control your own disease, we get the credit (and a bit of cash as well). And if you need some help-- you need support to control your diabetes, your weight, your heart failure, your cholesterol-- you have compliance issues, or just need a big kick in the seat-- well, now you're costing us money. It is way too easy to cut you loose. I believe that the patients with lowest health literacy and the most needs will be jettisoned. Read more about it at http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blogs/valjonesmd/pay-for-performance--3298
Had you heard about P4P? Are you in favore, or appalled?
This weekend I spent some time at a Sam Horn seminar www.SamHorn.com; if you don't know her I can only say that this woman has a brilliant mind. She cuts through the fog, the mustard, and the sh*t.
One of my big insights during the conference is that I don't know what it is you're looking for. What your beliefs are for good health. Sam came up with a series of questions, but lets talk about the first of them: What does 'good health' mean to you?
Now don't go rolling your eyes, its not as simple as all that. In our group, and answers included: good sex, pain-free, not short of breath, looking good. None of us had the same answer. My answer: It's when your physical being does not limit the things that you want to accomplish.
Have you wanted to take a hike or go to an outdoor art show, only to hesitate as you're not sure that you can keep up with your friends, or if the weather might be too warm for you? Have you had to consider if you want to take an exotic vacation, as it might be too rigorous? The young don't consider these things, they throw themselves into these activities. I find that I'm no longer young, and if I want to do all the things that life has to offer me, I need to reclaim my health.
So, how about you? Is your health holding you back? What does 'good health' mean to you? Email me at
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And here I thought Yoga was as slow and 'paint-dry' boring an exercise that you could find, but safe, safe, safe. I didn't think that 'hot-yoga' sounded too safe, but that's because I drip as I exercise.
Hmmm. I'm all in favor good health, but it always perterbs me a bit when the government steps in. I hope that universal health care coverage does occur, as I'm tired of big insurance getting big profits, and the docs & nurses who provide the care and expertise getting les & less each year. We're not business people, most of us never will be, and we're being taken advantage of.
But there's a new bit of legislation in the works to shift discussion to prevention of illness in the workplace, as the workplace can't seem to afford health insurance. The bill, the Healthy Workforce Act at http://www.healthpromotionjournal.com/publications/journal/en2007-07.htm, is a 50% tax credit of the cost of a qualified employer health promotion program, up to $200/employee for the first 200 employees and $100/employee for remaining employees for ten years.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will certify which programs qualify, but all programs must have the following specific features: 1) Include at least three of the following four components: health awareness, behavior change, employee engagement, and supportive environments. 2) Use practices that are consistent with evidence-based research and best-practices strategies. 3) Focus on employee populations with disproportionate health burdens, be culturally competent, and meet employees’ health literacy needs. 4) Offer all programs to all employees who work at least 25 hours per week.
They say that enhanced productivity and attendance at work will cause this tax break to be income neutral to the feds, and it will cost 50 cents per dollar spent to your employer. So is this going to be a good deal for all of us? Or an effort to justify lack of health nsurance due to company investment in a health program? Let me know what you think.
