Holiday season doesn’t have to mean the demise of your weight-loss goals

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 15 December 2009 20:03

The holiday season doesn’t have to create havoc on your weight-loss goals, according to TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Club Inc., the nonprofit weight-loss support organization.

Follow these ten strategies to navigate the eating season for a great time without a great gain.

1. Don’t go hungry. Arriving at a party on an empty stomach is a recipe for disaster that can lead you to overeat and make poor choices.

Have a light snack of a low-fat, high-fiber food a half-hour before you go, such as yogurt, an apple with a teaspoon of peanut butter, a piece of string cheese, or vegetables with low-calorie dip.

This will help curb your appetite and make it easier to control your intake.

2. Treat yourself. There’s no need to ban your...

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A winter-driving checklist: Things you need to know

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 08 December 2009 20:52

Do not leave the car to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards. You may become disoriented and lost is blowing and drifting snow. The leading cause of death during winter storms is transportation accidents. Preparing your vehicle for the winter season and knowing how to react if stranded or lost on the road are the keys to safe winter driving.

BEFORE

Have a mechanic check the following items on your car.

• Battery

• Antifreeze

• Wipers and windshield washer fluid

• Ignition system

• Thermostat

• Lights

• Flashing hazard lights

• Exhaust system

• Heater

• Brakes

• Defroster

• Oil level (if necessary, replace existing oil with a winter grade oil or the SAE 10W/30 weight variety)

Install good winter tires

Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions. However, some...

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Teens face extra challenge with winter driving

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 08 December 2009 20:46

Winter driving conditions are a challenge for experienced drivers, but for young drivers, winter driving may be a first-time experience.

Now, before students are out of school for winter break, is a good time for parents of young drivers to have a serious conversation about driving safety in winter conditions.

Be sure your young driver knows how the brakes will react to a skid. If the car has antilock brakes, hold firmly on the brake pedal. But with non-antilock brakes, it helps to pump the brake.

Headlights should be turned on to increase visibility. And even four-wheel or front-wheel drive vehicles may encounter winter driving difficulties, so drive with care.

It’s also a good time to review some driving rules. The rules might...

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Homeopathy provides new purpose in retirement

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 08 December 2009 20:18

Bill Woford, who went back to school at age 65 to study natural health, holds his recently published book. When Bill Woford discovered homeopathy as an alternate approach to medical treatment at age 65, he ultimately discovered a new purpose for his retirement years, too.

Now 77, Woford is a committed practitioner in the field and has even written a book on the subject that outlines a quicker way to identify the right remedy for a chronic disease—without the use of prescription drugs.

“Why I was given this discovery, I’ll never know,” Woford said. “I just have to accept it.”

He admits that homeopathy is not a widely understood approach to medicine.

“A lot of people tell me, ‘Oh, it’s herbs,’” Woford said. “But it’s the furthest thing from herbs you ever saw. We do make some remedies out of herbs, but really...

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