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Ideas and stories to inspire your health and fitness regiment.

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Page 1: Healthy Living 2012

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Page 2: Healthy Living 2012

Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, January 13, 20122 HEALTHY LIVING

By Edward R. Laskowski, M.D. Mayo Clinic

Elliptical machines: Better than treadmills?

You can get an effec-t i v e a e r o b i c w or kout w it h

both an elliptical machine and a treadmill. In general, you can let your fitness goals determine whether you choose an elliptical machine or a treadmill – or a differ-ent piece of exercise equipment.

However, elliptical machines might offer some advantages over treadmills. For example:

• Using an elliptical machine can be less stressful on your knees, hips and back than is running on a t read m i l l . Wa l k i ng on a t readmi l l, however, exer ts about the same force as using an elliptical machine.

• Unlike treadmills, some elliptical machines are equipped w ith movable upper body handles or poles, similar to ski poles. These allow you to exercise both your arms and your legs.

• Most el l iptical machines can be pedaled in reverse, which allows you to work your calf and hamstring muscles a bit more than does forward motion.

Using an elliptical machine is gen-erally considered low impact. An elliptical machine might be a good alternative to jogging, whether on a treadmill or outside. An elliptical trainer shouldn’t cause knee pain if you’re using it correctly.

You may experience knee pain, though, if you have an underlying knee problem, such as degenerative a r t h r it i s . W it h c er t a i n k ne e injuries, using a stationary bike might be a better option than using an elliptical machine. Talk to your doctor about what exercise is right for you if you have any injuries or health concerns.

And what if you’re training for a 5K run or other road race? A treadmill is probably a better tool to prepare you for running events. But even if running is your main aerobic fitness activity, cross-training with an elliptical machine or other low-impact exercise equipment can help keep you fresh and prevent overload injuries.

If you use an elliptical machine, remember to ma i nt a i n good posture to help ensure the most effective workout.

Keep your shoulders back, your head up a nd your abdomina l muscles tight. Look forward, not

down at your feet. And don’t lean on the handles – let your lower body support your weight.

– Courtesy of MayoClinic.com

The February 2012 issue of Consumer Reports detai ls how to choose a machine “you’ll use without breaking your budget” in which they list the results of their tests of 35 treadmills and 18 elliptical exercisers. The article also lists “7 ways to ramp up your workout:

• Try an interval program.

• Don’t lean on the machine.

• Squat while you pedal.

• Side step.

• Push and pull the handlebars.

• Don’t get too into that magazine.

• Walk to the gym.”

For more information, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.

www.sunjournal.com

Page 3: Healthy Living 2012

Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, January 13, 2012 HEALTHY LIVING 3

Exploring natural remediesAs prevalent as prescrip-

tion medications are, all-natural remedies

for common illnesses and condi-tions are still a viable alternative to prescription medications for many people. But are these all-natural options safe?

In 2011, Apple founder Steve Jobs lost his batt le w ith pancreatic cancer. Reports indicate that Jobs, a devout Buddhist, delayed surgery and other traditional treatments for almost a year while he participated in hol ist ic t reat ments for t he cancer. Some of these included ju ice fasts, bowel clea nsings, acupuncture, herbal supplements, and even a vegan diet. Eventually, Jobs had surgery, but some experts feel he waited too long.

Although conventional care is often an effective means to treating ill-nesses and other conditions, there are many doctors who agree that implementing natural remedies at times can be safe and effective. Furthermore, not all natural rem-edies are without merit, and some traditional medicines are actually derived from natural, plant-based ingredients themselves.

According to surgeon and author, Dr. Walter C. Thompson, “Herbal med ici ne is sa fe because it ’s natura l. A f ter researching the literature, one can truly say that, at the very least, herbal medicine is safer than conventional drugs.”

Those thinking about incorporating natural remedies into their health regimen can consider the following options:

• Nervousness and anxiety: Try lettuce, chamomile, valerian, and rose petals.

• Pain relief:Use omega-3 fatty acids, green tea, ginger root, and tumeric.

• Itchiness: Witch hazel, jewelweed and aloe vera are effective.

• Feminine issues: Parsley, basil and goldensea l can a l lev iate s y mpt om s a s s o c i at e d w it h menstruation.

• Antibiotics: Oregano and garlic are purported to have antibiotic qualities and can fend off harmful bacteria.

• In fect ions : Honey ha s long been used to heal and as an anti-

bacterial and antifungal remedy. (Honey is not recommended for babies and young children.)

Many natural foods are effective in preventing and fighting cancer as well. Although natural remedies can be effective, it’s important for pregnant women to avoid any herbs and plant supplements until discussing the risks/benefits with their doctors.

Also, some natural remedies can interact with prescription drugs or increase their potency, so it’s important to talk to a doctor about any plans.

Many natural foods are effective in preventing and fighting cancer as well. Although conventional care is often an effective means to treating illnesses and other conditions, there are many doctors who agree that implementing natural remedies at times can be safe and effective.

The health benefits associated with honey

Honey is a substance pro-duced by bees from the nectar of plants. It may be

used as a medicine.

Honey can become contaminated with germs from plants, bees, and dust during production, and also during collection and processing. Fortunately, the germ-fighting characteristics of honey ensure t h a t m o s t c o n t a m i n a t i n g organisms cannot sur v ive or reproduce. However, bacteria that reproduce using spores, including t he bac t er iu m t h at c au s e s botulism, may remain.

This explains why botulism has been reported in infants given honey by mouth. To solve this problem, medical-grade honey (Medi honey, for exa mple) is i r rad iated to i nact ivate t he bacterial spores. Medical-grade honey is also standardized to have consistent germ-fighting ac t iv it y. Some ex per t s a lso suggest that medical-grade honey should be collected from hives that are free from germs and not treated with antibiotics, and that the nectar should be from plants that have not been treated with pesticides.

Honey is used for cough, asth-ma, and hay fever. It is a lso used for diarrhea and stomach ulcers caused by infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria. Honey is also used as a source of carbohydrate during vigorous exercise.

Some people apply honey directly to the skin for wound healing, burns, sunburn, cataracts, and diabetic foot ulcers. Topical use

of honey has a long history. In fact, it is considered one of the oldest known wound dressings. Honey was used by the ancient Greek physician Dioscorides in 50 A.D. for sunburn and infected wounds. Honey’s healing properties are mentioned in the Bible, Koran, and Torah.

In foods, honey is used as a sweetening agent. In ma nu-facturing, honey is used as a f rag ra nce a nd a moistur i zer in soaps and cosmetics. Don’t confuse honey with bee pollen, bee venom, and royal jelly.

How does it work? Some of the chemica ls in honey may k i l l certain bacteria and fungus. When applied to the skin, honey may serve as a barrier to moisture and keep skin from sticking to dressings. Honey may also provide nutrients and other chemicals that speed wound healing.

– Courtesy of WebMD.com/.

Page 4: Healthy Living 2012

Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, January 13, 20124 HEALTHY LIVING

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

The benefits of taking a sauna bath

Much has been made of the health benef its of sauna bathing. With good

reason. Physically, nothing is more reinvigorating than a deep, healthy sweat every day. Tension fades. Muscles unw ind. Mental ly, we emerge relaxed, revived and ready for whatever the day may bring.

A few minutes a day is all it takes to look and feel better. The body’s response to gentle, persistent heat is well documented and proven day in and out by people all over the world. Which is why more and more doctors are recommending its purifying benefits.

1. Saunas relieve stress.Not surprisingly, sauna bathers m o s t f r e q u e nt l y c i t e s t r e s s reduct ion as t he number one benef it of sauna use. Medica l studies often determine that stress in our daily lives can negatively affect our health. In fact, the vast majorit y of disease (i.e. heart disease) is at least partially stress-related. Heat bathing in a sauna provides stress relief in a number of ways. It’s a warm, quiet space without any distractions coming from the outside. The heat from t he sau na rela xes t he body ’s muscles, improves circulat ion a nd st imu lates t he release of endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s a l l-natura l “feel good” c hem ic a l , a nd t hei r r e le a s e provides a truly wonderful “after sauna glow.”

2. Saunas relax muscles and soothe aches/pains in both muscles and joints.

Under the high heat prov ided by a sauna, the body releases endorphins. Endorphins can have a mild, enjoyable “tranquilizing effect” and the ability to minimize the pain of arthritis and muscle s or ene s s . B o d y t emp er at u r e

also rises from the heat of the sauna. This causes blood vessels to di late, therefore increasing blood circulation. This increased blood f low in turn speeds up the body’s natural healing process via soothing aches and pains and/or speeding up of the healing of minor bruises or cuts. After participating in physical sports, use the heat and/or steam of a sauna to promote muscle rela xat ion by helpi ng to reduce muscle tension and eliminate lactic acid and/or other toxins that may be present.

3. Saunas flush toxins.Many – if not most – of us do not actively sweat on a daily basis. Deep sweat i ng, however, has multiple proven health benefits. Benefits derived from a deep sweat can be achieved via regular sauna bathing. Due to the heat of a sauna, the core body temperature begins to rise. The blood vessels then dilate, causing increased blood flow. As heat from the blood begins to move toward the skin’s surface, the body’s nervous system then sends signals to the millions of sweat glands that cover the human body. As the sweat glands become stimulated, they produce sweat. Sweat production is primari ly designed to cool the body, and is composed of 99 percent water.

Deep sweating in a sauna can help reduce levels of lead, copper, zinc, nickel, mercury and chemical – which are all toxins commonly absorbed just from interacting with our daily environments. As many doctors will agree, a big reason for the popularity of saunas is that they are one of the best ways to detoxify our bodies.

4. Saunas cleanse skin.Heat bathing is one of the oldest beauty and/or health strategies in terms of cleansing one’s skin. When the body begins to produce sweat via deep sweating, the skin

is then cleansed and dead skin cells are replaced – keeping your skin in good working condition. Sweating rinses bacteria out of the epidermal layer and sweat ducts. Cleansing of the pores has been shown to improve the capillary circulation, while giv ing the skin a softer-looking quality.

Dr. Ben H. Douglas, a professor at the University of Mississippi Medica l Center and aut hor of “Ageless: Living Younger Longer,” attests that, “Sweating is a way of energizing the skin almost the way exercising a muscle energizes it.” He goes on to explain that, when you sweat, the rush of f luid to the skin “bathes skin cells with a liquid rich in nutrients,” which “fills in the spaces around the cells” and even “plumps up” tiny wrinkles. He also mentions that the nutrients and minerals in sweat “are essential to maintaining the collagen structure of the skin.”

Bathing skin in sweat on a fairly regular basis, therefore deters col lagen brea kdow n t hat ca n ultimately result in wrinkles and sags. By continually flushing body waste through individual cells, one eventually brings back vitality, tone and a healthy glow to the skin. Sauna usage is certainly not a cure for acne, but it can often help – due to the deep cleansing it provides from a deep sweat.

5. Saunas can induce a deeper sleep.

Research has shown that a deeper, more rela xed sleep can result from sauna use. In addition to the release of endorphins, body temperature is raised in the late evening only to fall once bedtime comes around. This slow, relaxing decline in endorphins is key in facilitating sleep. Numerous sauna bathers worldwide recall the deep sleep experiences that they feel after bathing and attribute it to the calming heat of a sauna.

6. Saunas bring about recreational and social benefits.

While the social benefit is rarely talked about, it’s really actually quite important. The sauna can be a private, persona l area of relaxation and solitude. However, it can just as easily be a relaxing environment for socializing with family and friends. The sauna room environment is conducive to open, intimate and quiet conversation.

7. Saunas improve cardiovascular performance.

In the high temperatures of a traditional or infrared sauna, skin heats up and core body temperature rises. In response to these increased heat levels, the blood vessels near the skin dilate and “cardiac output” increases. Medical research shows that the heart rate can rise from 60-70 beats per minute to 110-120 bpm in the sauna (140-150 with more intensive bathing), and can

often sink to below normal after the cooling-off stage.

With regular sauna usage, we not only train our heart muscles and improve the heart rate/cardiac output, but we also help the body’s reg ulator y system. Even more cardiovascular conditioning takes place when the sauna bathing is taken in multiple “innings,” with sessions in the sauna separated by a cool shower or a quick dip into a cool pool or lake. Each time you rapidly change temperature (from hot to cool or vice versa), your heart rate increases by as much as 60 percent, which is very comparable to the increase experienced during moderate exercise.

8. Saunas burn calories.W h i le some i nd iv idua ls may experience high calorie burn at first – particularly those indivi-duals in poor shape to begin with – over the long term, saunas are simply treated as one of many tools in our arsenal when it comes to burning additional calories. The

Submitted photoFinnleo’s Passport Series has several unique features – easy assembly with hook and pin simplicity, yet loaded with upgrades usually found only in designer-type saunas.

Page 5: Healthy Living 2012

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sweating process itself requires a notable amount of energy. That energy is derived from the conversion of fat and carbohydrates in a bodily process that burns up calories.

A moderately conditioned person can easily sweat off 500 grams in a sauna in a single session, consuming nearly 300 calories in the process.” The body consumes said calories due to the acceleration of heart activity. As heart activity increases and as these processes demand more oxygen, the body begins to convert more calories into usable energy.

9. Saunas can help fight illness.

German sauna medical research shows that saunas were able to significantly reduce the incidences of colds and inf luenza amongst participants. As the body is exposed to the heat of a sauna and steam (in the case of traditional saunas), it produces white blood cells more rapidly, which in turn helps to fight illnesses and helps to kill viruses.

In addition, saunas can relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of sinus congestion from colds or allergies especially when used with steam. The steam vapor action helps to clear up unwanted congestion and is a wonderful aspect of the Finnish sauna experience.

10. Saunas feel good.A sauna not only feels good, it’s good for your body. Whether it’s the physiological changes that occur during the warmth of a sauna, or if it’s simply the time spent in the calming and still retreat of the sauna, every seasoned sauna bather agrees – it feels wonderful! As we progress through our stressful everyday lives, the sauna provides a pampering retreat – where we can relax and restore body and soul. Sauna bathing truly makes you “Feel better, look better and sleep better!”

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Dance your way to health

Dance exercise is fun and at the same time, great for your health. Dancing

is anaerobic exercise consisting of different unique steps, that are choreographed to music.

The type of dancing, whether it is the waltz or the samba, the Charleston or the merengue, will determine the f itness benefits you can expect. There are many dance studios and g y ms that have adopted specialized dance exercise classes, but any kind of dance is good for your health.

Th roug hout h istor y, da ncing has been a way for people to interact without words to satisfy t heir recreat iona l a nd socia l needs. Dancing is not only an important social activity but also a competitive sport, and with the popularity of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” competitive dancing and dance exercise has reached new heights.

While dancing is great fun, there are health benefits derived from dance exercise, including improvement in your overall health, a reduction in stress, enhanced energy, easier digestion, weight loss, conditioning of the heart as well as lungs, im-proved cardiopulmonary functions and enhanced muscle tone and bone density.

It has also been revealed that dance exercise can reduce the cha nces for developing such ailments as Alzheimer’s disease as well as other types of dementia t hat a re common ly found in elderly people.

Studies even reveal that regular dance exercise reduces the risk of developing disorders such as carcinoma of the large intestine, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart-related ailments. Besides these health benefits, dancing allows you to remain slim and

young-looking. It is also a great way to get rid of worries as a result of a hectic work schedule and other personal tensions.

There are many different dance forms that offer terrific benefits to your health. However, each dance form possesses different characteristics. Benefits derived from each of these dance forms are also different, and mostly depend upon the duration of the dance, apart from your level of skill.

Belly dancingFor instance, belly dancing is a dance form that finds a prominent position during celebrations and festivals. The benefits of this dance form are the prevention of lower back problems, stress reduction, and enhanced posture. Many women belly dance to improve the firmness of their stomach.

Ballroom dancingLikewise, ballroom dancing for exercise renders such advantages as body conditioning, increased stamina, improvement to the circulatory system, and enhanced f lex ibi l it y. Ba l lroom da ncing is considered to be t he most elegant form of dance. It requires precision and grace, as well as perfect timing.

Salsa dancingSalsa, or the “forbidden dance,” is a lso great for exercise as it offers health benefits including endurance, weight loss, the release of toxins through sweating, en-hanced cholesterol levels, and a reduced heart rate.

Swing dancingSwing dancing, popular in the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s as a response to big band swing music, com-

bines triple steps and steps with syncopated music inspired by the African American and West African cultures. It is a high-paced dance form with lots of energy, and its popularity has not dwindled over the years. Swing dancing is probably one of the most popular forms of dance.

Square dancingThere is also square dancing, a very popular form of dance in the South, which conditions the cardiovascular system, enhances cholesterol levels, strengthens the bones, and conditions the muscles.

Other forms of dance as exercise to burn caloriesOther important dance forms that offer various health benefits include jazz dance that combines diverse steps; Flamenco dancing, an essential part of Spanish culture; tap, an important rhythmic as well as recreational dance form; modern dance of distinctive styles; folk dance, an important segment of many festivals and celebrations; Chinese da nce consist ing of classical as well as ethnic steps; and ballet, which builds incredible stamina and balance.

The amount of calories expended depends upon the type of dance. For example, swing dancing burns a lmost 235 calories per hour. Likewise, ballroom dancing burns nearly 265. In the case of square dancing, it burns about 280. Dance forms such as belly and salsa burn 400 plus calories per hour.

Apart from these health benefits, dancing is a lso considered an excellent way to add extra cheer to your life, thereby making each day more fulfilling.

Li fe is f u l l of emot ions, a nd an exercise plan coupled with rhy thmic movements such as dance is a great way to lift your emotions, bringing more joy and fulfillment to your life.

Dance might just be the perfect aerobic exercise that can help you move according to your life’s changing emotions and rhythms.

For more information online, visit http://rantsballroomcompany.com/. Contact your local gym or fitness center for dance exercise c l a s s e s ne a r y ou . W hy not incorporate fun exercise routines into your workout program as a promise to yourself to stay fit and healthy this year?

Dance classes offer a fun way to get fit. Above all, dancing is considered a great way to burn calories.

Page 6: Healthy Living 2012

There is no cure for eczema, a skin condition cha racter ized by persistent itching, redness and rashes – ranging from mild to

severe – but targeted skin care plus some lifestyle changes can help manage these symptoms.

While many cases go undiagnosed, millions of Americans suffer from some form of eczema, i nc lud i ng atopic der m at it i s , c ont ac t dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis. In fact, the A merican Academy of Dermatology estimates that over 30 million Americans are affected by atopic dermatitis, one of the most prevalent, long-lasting and severe forms of eczema.

The best way to provide relief and manage the condition is to take a multipronged approach.

There are topical solutions such as prescription and over-the-counter treatments to soothe itching and ease inflammation. And, equally im-portant, there are a few lifestyle habits that can also help to minimize flare-ups and lessen the severity of symptoms:

• Moisturize. Since AD suf ferers a lso have very dry, sometimes britt le, skin, imple-menting a regular at-home routine that includes moisturizer to keep skin moist and protected is essential.

• Soothe. Take warm baths containing bathing supplements formulated to remoisturize, soothe and calm itching while helping to reduce stress. Harsh soap and detergent cleansers should be avoided.

• Shop for solutions. Look for products and ingredients that are scientif ically proven

to help reduce the itchiness, dryness and i n f l a m m at ion a s s o c i at e d w it h atopic dermatit is. One company that has made advances in treating AD is Eau Thermale Avene. Recommended by dermatologists, Avene’s four-product Trixera+ range with patented ingredient Selectiose is specifically formulated to treat the inflammation, redness

and itchiness associated with AD while working to minimize the time

between flare-ups.

• E a t a h e a l t h y d i e t . I nc lud i ng fo o d s r ic h

i n ome g a-3 pol y u n-saturated fatty acids, such as fatty fish, can b o o s t y ou r n at u r a l immune system a nd may be helpful in count-eracting inflammation.

• Maintain a regular e xerc i s e prog r a m . Also, get adequate rest to help maintain good health while reducing stress levels.

• C on sider a l ler g ie s . Food allergies have been linked to outbreaks of eczema. Potential t r i g g e r s i n c l u d e c o f f e e ,

soybean products, wheat, nuts and sweet corn. If you suspect you have a food

allergy, see your doctor.

• Seek help to stop the scratching. Ask your doctor for scratch reversal guidelines to control this habit.

In short, an integrated approach is the smart choice when it comes to the fight against the itching and scratching related to eczema. For more information, go to www.aveneusa.com. (NAPSI)

Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, January 13, 20126 HEALTHY LIVING

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Page 7: Healthy Living 2012

The h o l i d a y s a r e over and for the ent i re mont h

of December, as well as parts of November and maybe even late October, if we’re honest, we’ve managed to avoid the bathroom scale with its blinking lights or reeling dial of truth and shame.

The sad fact that we won’t be alone as we trudge our way back to the gym or wander the health food aisles of the grocery store filling our carts with good intentions provides no consolation as we try to squeeze ourselves into those favorite jeans that only a couple months ago fit just right.

According to statistics compiled b y t h e O n e M a i n e H e a l t h C ol l a b or a t i v e a nd pr o v id e d by Shanna Rogers, of Hea lt hy Androscoggin, 39 percent of adults in Androscoggin County and 15 percent of children in grades 9-12 are overweight or obese.

A d m i t t e d l y , t h e p a t h t o ma inta ining a hea lt hy weight can be difficult to negotiate. With limited time, we often reach for prepared foods or “fast” foods that usually contain too much of everything we don’t need, and our stressful lifestyles find us eating as a way of coping.

Karen Burke Lane, of Life Ideals in Lewiston, “works with individuals to examine their relationship with food … in order to create a healthy eating plan.” According to Lane, “It takes time to explore ways to make healthy eating easier by making healthier foods more accessible, familiar and tasty.”

Working with her clients one-on-one, Lane discourages them “from

just looking at weight loss as a number and encourage[s] realistic lifestyle changes (both cognitive and behavioral) that ultimately ma ke t hei r weig ht loss more sustainable in the long term.”

Lane’s process includes six “life ideals” or “self-care practices” which support successful weight loss, including: nutrition, sleep, hygiene, physical activity and so-cial support, as well as relaxation to counteract the stress response and thought restructuring to nurture productive thought processes.

As with the “Life Ideals” program, S t . M a r y ’s He a l t h S y s t e m’s “HealthSteps” offers a weight-loss program called “Lose with Me!” According to Jennifer Smith, MS,

who co-teaches this 12-week class in a group setting with Jamie Pepin, MS RD, “Lose with Me!” focuses on obtaining and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Smith said, “Classes include goal setting to get you started, exercise planning to get you moving, nutri-tion education to ensure you eat well, food and movement journal-ing to keep you on track, and peer support to keep you motivated!”

Mend-A-Body Solutions, a “well-ness and waistline management” prog ra m, has recent ly ga ined

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Page 8: Healthy Living 2012

popularity in the Lewiston-Auburn area. According to Tina Plummer,

a Mend-A-Body wellness coach, “Our goal for each client is to target changes in their lifestyle that will bring about better health and well-ness. Inflammatory foods and high glycemic foods are the major cause of weight gain and health prob-

lems [and] Mend-A-Body Solutions is a low-inf lammatory and low- glycemic lifestyle.”

Plummer said, “Mend-A-Body So-lutions offers education and well-ness coaching, along with great

grocer y support, supplements designed to work specifically with the program, and recommenda-tions endorsing a holistic approach to optimize wellness.” Like Lane, Plu m mer does not necessa r-ily measure success using a scale.

Plummer and Lane agree that an exercise program is as important to the wellness and weight manage-ment process as good nutrition.

According to Lane, “Exercise is integral to weight loss, but, for many people, finding the time to exercise is the greatest struggle [and] Life Ideals works to identify the barriers to getting enough physical activity.”

Adriane Kramer, of Girl Power Fitness in Lewiston, is a Mend-A-Body coach. Kramer also takes the exercise element of the Mend-A-Body program to a whole new level with her popular “Zumba” classes.

“Zumba classes combine exotic rhythms and high-energy Latin and international beats to help class pa r t icipa nts get f it a nd promote soaring energy levels” said Kramer. It’s “a calorie-torching, strength-training dance fitness party,” and the class culture is as welcoming, encouraging and supportive of every individual’s fitness goals as it is pure fun.

Need something a litt le slower? W hile Life Ideals offers various forms of yoga as part of its exer-cise program, St. Mary’s Health System offers everything from tai chi and Pilates to belly dancing and racquetball.

Need a challenge? Healthy Andro-scoggin, “the local Healthy Maine Pa r t ner t hat work s i n publ ic health initiatives and education,” hosts “Get Fit & Win” every year. Rogers said, “Get Fit & Win [is] a healthy weight and physical activ ity program” and Healthy Androscoggin has seen significant weight loss and healthy lifestyle changes in many of its participants.

According to La ne, “Li fest yle change is the answer, and eating healthy is key” to losing weight, maintaining a healthy weight and overall wellness.

Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, January 13, 20128 HEALTHY LIVING

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