It really was a revelation. Wow!  I can get a workout in, while spending time with my daughter.  That has been one of my biggest hang-ups.  I spend a lot of time at work, away from Quinn.  So when it comes to working out, I just have a hard time justifying spending more time away from her.  Kendra really helped me realize that you can integrate workouts into play activities with your baby.

She recommended a few core muscle strength exercises like pushups and yoga moves.  A few other ideas to get a workout with your baby include:

• Dance parties.  Babies enjoy music.  Why not make it a dance party for both you and the baby.  You can really get your heart rate going and your baby will enjoy the entertainment.
• Baby carriers.  My husband and I use a baby carrier all of the time.  By strapping your little one to you, you add extra weight to carry around.  We do normal chores, extra laps up the stairs all while getting in a good workout.
• Baby airplane.  My daughter is almost 20 pounds.  She makes a great weight to strengthen my arms and legs with lunges and arm lifts.  She loves these “games.”

These are just a few ideas to help you rethink your activities with your little one.  It’s a great way to improve your health and spend time with those you love best – your babies!

 So what do you do?  How do you make healthy choices?  I spoke to one of our wellness experts, Kara Boley, here at Priority Health and she recommended that instead of reading the front of a box that I turn it over and read the nutrition food labels.  She said that you should look for five things:

1.  Serving size. Look to see if there are multiple servings in the container. If you are eating more than one serving, be sure to multiply all others nutrients accordingly.
2.  Calories. The total calories tell us the energy producing potential of a food. This energy comes from fats, carbohydrates, proteins and alcohol.
3.  Total Fat. Total fat intake should be 20-35% of your total daily calories.
4.  Sodium. You should try to limit your total sodium intake to no more than 2,300 mg per day (equivalent to 1 tsp of salt). 
5.  Fiber. Not only does fiber help you feel full longer, it also helps reduce blood cholesterol levels, control blood sugar and may even lower your risk for heart disease. Aim to get 25-40 grams of fiber per day.

 Now this is a lot to take in.  And often when I am shopping, especially with my husband and six-month-old daughter, I don’t have a lot of time to read labels. 

Well there is still hope, and help, to make healthy food choices. Kara is collaborating with Shari Steinbach from Meijer to host a fantastic event on the Secrets to Smart Shopping at the Cascade Meijer in Grand Rapids on February 25, 2010.  You are welcome to join us at the event, but registration is required. 

Visit priorityhealth.com to register or learn more.

Not necessarily.

I spoke with one of our wellness folks here at Priority Health and she gave me some great tips to get through the holidays and still enjoy my favorite treats.  Here are just a few tips, that I wanted to share with you:

• Have a snack. Before going to any holiday party, make sure to have a healthy snack before you go.  You’ll be less likely to overeat any of those sweet treats.
• Watch your drinks. Drinking a lot of alcohol not only adds a lot of empty calories to your diet, it often can lead to you eating more food then you would otherwise.
• Keep moving. Make one of your holiday activities an active one.  After dinner go for a walk, or encourage your family to have a dance party.  It’s a great way to add to your holiday festivities.
• Hold a party clutch. This tip cracks me up, but it kind of makes sense.  If you are holding a purse at a holiday party, it only leaves you one hand, so you can’t pile up your plate at the party. And hey, who doesn’t mind the excuse of going out to buy a new, trendy purse to match your holiday outfit?
• Load up on the veggies. I’m sure you have heard this before, but veggies are key.  They are lower in calories and contain a lot of fiber that will fill you up quickly.  It’s a tried and true method for avoiding the holiday weight gain.
• Make a game of it. Challenge your family or coworkers to see who can maintain their weight for the holidays. The winner could earn a few extra dollars or the annual white elephant gift.

Well, I plan to use a few of these ideas during the holiday season, to keep my waistline in check.   I hope you can steal a few ideas to use for you and your family too!

Through their hard work, they’ve made it easier for everyone within our company to give to the community.   And it’s made me think.  How can I make it easier for those around me to help give back?  Maybe we could start with this holiday season.

Here are just a few ideas, I found, of ways to help others give too:

• Purchase a gift basket on someone’s behalf online.  Access of West Michigan puts together food baskets for the community.  You can help donate a basket too by visiting their website.
• Invite friends or family to join you in putting together items for Toys for Tots or a food basket for the local shelter.
• Purchase an online donation for someone.  A great site for this is, Change the Present.  Here you can donate or give a gift on behalf of someone you know.
• Organize a food drive at your holiday family get-together.
• Ask your coworkers to gather their old coats and volunteer to organize taking them Goodwill or a local shelter

I’m definitely going to be approaching gift-giving a little bit differently this year.  What ideas do you have to help make giving back to the community easier?

As we walked in the center, I saw all of these little kids getting ready for dance class.  It was so adorable.  Each one ran into class with their dance shoes in tow.  It reminded me of all of the dance classes I use to take as little kid.  My parents signed me up for dance when I was five and I danced for more than 10 years.  I event taught a few classes myself for a few years.  What a wonderful opportunity.  I learned coordination, rhythm, stage presence and so much more.

I think it is so important for families to try new things.  Not only to build upon all three basic principles of fitness: strength, endurance and flexibility, but also to build so many other skills.  I made friends, learned how to be on stage in front of a big crowd and learned some basic dance steps.  All of these skills are things I still use today.

I also think it is important to keep kids inspired.  Who likes to do the same things every day?  By inspiring them with different activities, they will be more likely to stay active.  They’ll also learn a variety of skills, and who knows, maybe they will find a sport or activity that they are passionate about.

How do you introduce new activities?  Here are just a few ideas:

• Try activity-based video games.  Many kids are glued to their video games.  Why not embrace it and add activity while you are at it?  Not only does it engage your kids, they are learning about coordination and rhythm and burning calories too!
• Play TV inspired games.  Play your own version of Dancing with the Stars or Amazing Race.  You can turn on the radio and make up dance routines on the spot.  You can also set up an obstacle course in your yard, or during the winter months, throughout your house.
• Have your kids try a different sport.  There are many great resources such as Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities center that offer activities for kids to try like dance, swimming, basketball and much more.  Check with your local community center, school or YMCA.

Remember, be creative and don’t be afraid to try new things.  And more important, try these activities as a family.  The opportunities you provide your kids today will teach them skills and healthy habits they will use, long into the future.

I never thought when I was younger that I would be sitting down with my grandparents talking about health care, but here I am.  They’ve been on Medicare for years.  They had no idea what their options were.  And that they had the opportunity to save a lot of money each month.

There are a lot of options out there – from Medigap plans to Medicare Advantage plans.  It can be pretty confusing.  But there are a lot of great places to get good information.

I encourage everyone to do their homework when it comes to their options.  My grandparents were spending a lot of money each month – which we were able to decrease, just by switching their plan.  There are some options out there that are available for $0 per month.

If you are looking to learn the basics, Priority Health offers a Medicare Advantage for Dummies book, free to anyone interested.

The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare services also provides a great tool to compare plans and to learn what is available in your area.

You’ll want to make sure to do your homework and soon – the deadline is December 31.

Every week Shari, the Healthy Living Advisor from Meijer will share simple solutions to healthy living.  Each time Shari and I are together she shares an easy recipe, a smarter way to save at the grocery store or creative ways to get kids to eat healthier.  She’s a wealth of information I know you’ll enjoy!  

Amy is with Priority Health and she is totally committed to living healthy and staying well.  She always has great ideas on ways to get the family moving more and she’s totally up to speed on health care issues real families face.  Plus, she’s a brand new mom trying to determine the best way to balance work and family. 

Then, there’s Kristen.  She’s been a long time friend who always inspires me to make fitness a part of my everyday life.  As the Race Director of the Fifth Third River Bank Run she has a million ideas on how to get moms moving more, schools involved in fitness and empowering communities to be more active. 

Finally, you’ll be hearing from Jamie each week.  We’re calling her “Maranda’s Go to Gal” because that’s exactly what she is!  Jamie is my right hand person here at WOOD TV 8 that helps me make things happen!  From brainstorming ideas for our weekly show to helping make my crazy ideas come to life Jamie really is someone I count on everyday!  

I’m so excited to have these four women on board as bloggers.   Take the time to read their thoughts-I know you’ll find the info. relevant, useful and fun!  Enjoy!

• Where do I get the vaccine?
• Is it covered by my insurance?
• Is it safe?

I did some digging and it looks like Priority Health offers information on its website about what is covered by insurance, how to get reimbursed if you paid for it already , where you can get the vaccine, how to help avoid getting the flu and much more. 

Another great resource is your local Health Department.  In fact, in Ottawa County, they even have a great Facebook page dedicated providing updates on the flu vaccine and school closings, called Flu Granny.

How are you and your family protecting yourself from getting the flu?  Do you have any tricks or tips to encourage your kids to wash their hands?