Guys, Health Is Your Problems?

Official figures published this week showed that one in 10 over-65s are still employed - that adds up to over a million. Commentators are divided over whether our new, silver-tinged workforce is staying in work because they have to or because their financial situation is forcing them to - but what's certain is that the percentage of employees over the age of 65 is growing.

With that in mind, it's worth planning ahead. Those companies that took action in the post austerity years from 2015 will be reaping the benefits of an older but healthier, more productive workforce.  

Encourage a healthy workplace
Look at the overall health of your workforce and encourage a healthy lifestyle, diet and regular exercise. This can be achieved through simple, low cost measures such as introducing free healthy snacks, removing sugary drinks from vending machines, making water coolers easily accessible, offering lifestyle assessments, bringing in a cycle to work scheme or offering group discounts to the local gym. These simple measures can go a long way to ensuring your workers are 'fit to age'.

Manage the health of 'at risk' employees
Having started to tackle the general health of the workforce, identify those employees who are at higher health risk because of their lifestyle decisions and support them in making behavioural changes around diet, exercise, alcohol intake and smoking. The new wave of online solutions offers a cost-effective and compelling way of delivering this. Lifestyle related issues are your single biggest challenge and without positive intervention, your bottom line could suffer as long term illnesses take an increasing toll on performance and productivity.

Minimise stress
Avoid unrealistic deadlines, encourage lunch breaks and leaving the office on time.  Visibly acknowledge and reward good performance and cultivate a friendly and supportive work environment. These measures can increase the resilience of employees to cope with stress when things get tough at work. Depression is the main cause of sickness absence. Encouraging people to cope well under pressure and bounce back to their normal selves very quickly is an important characteristic in the ever charged office environment and particularly as we grow older.

Be flexible
The years of everyone arriving at 9 and leaving at 5.30 are long gone. With your older workforce in mind, consider the benefits of flexible hours and part-time working which work well for people in their 60s and 70s who want to remain in the workforce, albeit on a reduced basis. Consider mentoring roles within your older workforce, leveraging their years of experience to support and guide younger workers.

Remember that getting older needn't mean poorer health.  By taking positive steps now to improve health and fitness, workers can continue to perform well into their 80s, which is good for them and good for your business. With the number of older workers growing apace, employee health must become a priority and play its rightful part in business continuity management.
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Learn About AM Exercise

A new way to life a healthy lifestyle with AM Exercise.

Exercise is for people with time on their hands, right? Wrong. Exercise shouldn't be considered a luxury; it's a necessity to stay fit and healthy, and one that you should be fitting into your day, whatever your lifestyle.

Working out is the last thing most people want to do after a long day at work. Throw in some impromptu dinner dates, last-minute meetings, impending deadlines or plain-old hunger and tiredness and you have some very convenient 'outs' to skip that workout.

But the excuses soon mount up and, before you know it, what started out as an exercise regime soon becomes an after-thought.

Early morning workouts are the perfect solution to the problem; there are less obstacles (apart from a fluffy pillow) and demands for your time at 6am than at 6pm.

Better yet, there's extensive research to suggest AM exercise might even be better for you than its PM counterpart. "The amount of calories you burn during the day depends on how revved up you are," says Patrick Mackeogh, chief trainer at Yourfitness and head of training at Underground Fitness.

"A great way to get the body activated and the engine burning right through the day is to get training early in the morning."

Exercising early jump-starts your metabolism, keeping it elevated for hours. As a result, you'll be burning more calories all day long. After all, the early bird catches the burn, right?

"Your body will be in optimal fat-burning territory for longer periods during the day due to raising the heart rate early. Think of it as getting more beats per day because you're getting it going early," says Patrick.

It also helps energise you for the day, not to mention giving you a gratifying feeling you've done something good and disciplined before most people have even zapped their porridge.

Studies have also shown that exercise significantly increases mental acuity, enhancing the secretion of neurotransmitters, a benefit that lasts long after your workout ends, which means a brainpower boost too.

"It gets you centred and motivated for the day. It's also a lot easier psychologically to avoid bad foods when you've already worked hard," reveals Patrick.

The good news is you don't have to be a morning person to become a morning exerciser. It takes hard work, practice and a stealthy dedication, but the results are worth it. Start gradually; it takes time to establish a routine, so commit to one morning workout a week and gradually increase from there.

Establishing a good sleeping pattern is paramount. Go to bed earlier in order to wake in time and feel energised. Decide what time you'll need to start waking up at to make your workout happen, and then calculate what your new ideal bedtime should be (most experts recommend seven to eight hours of sleep each night for best health and weight-loss results).

The key is to be prepared so you don't get too overwhelmed with all you have to do when the alarm sounds. Pack your gym bag with your work clothes the night before. Make sure you have everything you need. That way, you can be out the door quickly. If you're working out at home, set up your mat and props.

Be specific when you schedule in a session. Outline the days you are going to exercise and what you're going to do. That way, you can make the most of the time you have.

"Try to involve weights," advises Patrick. "Activating your muscles is much better for getting your metabolism going through the day. Unlike regular cardio that just burns calories and gets your heart rate up, fast-paced weight training like circuits will create a carbohydrate deficit as you burn off the sugars you store in your muscles. The carbs you eat through the day will then be used up, replacing these sugar stores, leaving you in a fat-burning state all day long."

Sign up to a class, book a session with a trainer or join forces with a friend. If you have a specific time and place to be, and someone counting on you, the less chance there is of you hitting the snooze button.

Even if you are short on time, be sure to schedule in some stretching. "Warm up and cool down effectively," suggests Patrick. "You are more inclined to be stiff in the morning, so jumping in too early is a recipe for injury."

Always have a plan B. A workout DVD is a great alternative for days when you can't exercise outdoors or the gym membership has unexpectedly expired.
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Let Get A Healthy Lifestyle Together

It is an honor for me to kick off National Men’s Health Week for Kauai and Niihau!

Building a strong, resilient and healthy community has been the cornerstone of my administration. Our Holo Holo 2020 program embraces health and wellness in so many ways:

The Holo Holo 2020 vision calls for all organizations, businesses, residents and visitors on Kaua’i to be part of creating an island that is sustainable, values our native culture, has a thriving and healthy economy, cares for all — keiki to kupuna — and has a responsible and user-friendly local government.

Let’s face it: if our health suffers, all areas of our life are affected. It’s a responsibility of each and every one of us to take ownership for creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

When I was growing up, it was much easier to stay physically fit. We walked or biked almost everywhere. Much of our food came from local farms and ranches. Our recreation consisted of running, hiking and swimming. Electronic entertainment was not a distraction from good, old fashioned exercise.

I feel fortunate to have grown up as I did, in the ranching town of Kealia, and I’m committed to making these healthy lifestyle choices much easier for people of all generations to access.
Although Hawaii is a relatively healthy state, we have many challenges. Men in Hawaii are less healthy than women in many ways. According to the Hawaii Health Survey of 2010, there is a much greater prevalence of obesity, asthma, diabetes, high blood cholesterol and hypertension among men versus women.
So, let’s get up and moving guys! Let’s take control of what we’re eating and what we’re doing and commit to making healthier choices today every day moving forward!

And here’s a great start: Join us on Saturday, June 22 for the fifth annual Kauai “Mayor a Thon.” You’ll join hundreds of residents and visitors in a brisk walk, jog or bike ride on Ke Ala Hele Makalae, starting at Kapaa Beach Park.

When you’re pau, you’ll be rewarded with a healthy breakfast, great fellowship, and the satisfaction of knowing you did something positive for yourself and your ‘ohana!

In the words of my good friend, Bev Brody, let’s “Get Fit” Kauai!

Sleep Well For Healthy Lifestyle [Guide]

            Here is what i thought to make the most of your wakeful hours you have to sleep well. Insomnia has been a common lifestyle problem and the numerous distractions of the modern world aid in breaking the natural sleeping cycle. While minimum 8 hours of sleep is commonly recommended for a healthy lifestyle, many of us manage just about 6 hours daily. The recurring insomnia can be attributed to distracting electronic devices, bad eating habits and a lack of routine.




Here are some keys to a healthy sleep:

1. Sleep routine: Make sure you go to bed at the same time everyday and wake up at the same time everyday. Do this for a week without a break and you will find yourself automatically adjusting to those timings.
 
2. Eat right: The most important aspect of eating right to sleep tight is to eat dinner atleast 2 hours before bedtime. Avoid alcohol and caffeine before going to bed because they will interfere with your sleep. Keep your dinner light to avoid feeling uncomfortable at night.

3. Warm shower: Make a bed time routine that will help you physically relax. A hot shower just before bed will relax your muscles and help you slip into sleep very easily.

4. Stay away from electronics: Electronic devices are one of the most common causes of unhealthy sleep. Avoid plugging in earphones when trying to sleep or fidgeting with your phone. Try to keep your television outside the bedroom as it takes away from the sanctity of your sleeping room.

5. Limit nap times: Avoid taking naps during the day as they break your sleep cycle make it difficult to fall asleep at night. At best, take power naps, of 10 – 15 minutes if you feel tired during the day.

Read more at: http://goodtimes.ndtv.com/News_Details.aspx?SubcatDetails=Features,860&cp

National Men's Healthy Weeks [10-16 June]

                    National Men's Health Week is a special awareness period first recognized by Congress in 1994 and celebrated around the globe since 2002. The goal is to educate men, boys, and those who love them about preventable health problems and to encourage them to get more actively involved in their own health care. Early detection and treatment save lives. Men's Health Week is always the week that ends on Father's Day. This year, it's June 10-16.


                 "We invite all men to take advantage of the many health screenings and other health directed activities, that are taking place in their communities during the National Men's Health Week, if not for their own sake, then out of love and caring for their families," said Ana Fadich, MHN Vice President. "Healthier men lead to stronger and happier families."

                  Men's Health Week gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. The response has been overwhelming with hundreds of awareness activities in the USA and around the globe.

                 Additional support for this awareness period comes from the governors and mayors who declare Men's Health Week in their states and cities. Copies of proclamations from Governors and Mayors can be found at www.menshealthmonth.org

               "A visit to a physician is for many men almost a religious experience, " said David M. Parrack, D.O., FACOS, Men's Health Network Advisor / Chair of Surgery & Anesthesia Midwestern University Glendale Arizona. "Pride and fear keep them silent about their health issues until they are suddenly faced with a life-threatening problem. Men's health education based upon a combination of a healthier life-style related to diet and exercise as well as regular physician visits and preventative treatments will be the secret to effecting major changes in men's quality of life and long term survival."

                Men's Health Week is organized by Men's Health Network (MHN), a national non-profit organization whose mission is to reach men, boys, and their families where they live, work, play, and pray with health prevention messages and tools, screening programs, educational materials, advocacy opportunities, and patient navigation.