Keep your fitness resolution strong throughout the year

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 05 January 2010 19:58

With work, kids, friends and family, our days are already full. Taking the time to go to a gym can be a real strain on your schedule. You can cut out much of that time wastage by working out from the convenience of your own home. ARA photo Some of the most popular resolutions with each new year are to get fit, get in shape and lose weight. Though plenty of people jump into new programs in pursuit of those goals, many aren’t able to stay fit, in shape and keep the weight off.

The rich foods and drinks of the holiday season leave us all feeling a little bit uncomfortable, which is another factor that sends people to gyms and to stores in search of workout videos.

After that point, though, a plethora of complications can arise and sabotage those good intentions. It’s hard to get motivated, going to the gym takes time many people don’t have, workout DVDs don’t meet individual needs, it can be intimidating to go to a public gym and on and on.

And when these issues...

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Whole-life: a source of cash for retirees

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 05 January 2010 19:57

Most people buy life insurance for the policy’s death benefit. But financial professionals say whole-life insurance can also supplement retirement planning because it’s flexible and helps policyholders address their ever-changing circumstances. A rising number of American households—nearly 45 percent—are “at risk” of not having enough money in retirement, according the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

But some retirees have discovered a surprising source of supplemental retirement income: the cash value of their whole-life insurance policies.

Many retirees will use the cash value of their whole-life insurance policies as a supplemental income stream to see them through tough times. The cash value of whole-life is guaranteed to grow every year, unlike stocks and mutual funds which can have good and bad years.

“My whole -ife insurance policy has always been the best value for the buck,” said Jack Leon, 79, a lawyer in San Antonio. “I’ve always...

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Healthy Geezer: Hip replacements surgery has high odds for success

Written by Fred Cicetti Tuesday, 05 January 2010 19:55

Q I’m considering having a hip replaced. What are the odds that this operation will work?

 

A The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says joint replacement surgery is successful in more than nine out of 10 people. And replacement of a hip or knee lasts at least 20 years in about 80 percent of those who have the surgery.

In the procedure, an arthritic or damaged joint is removed and replaced with an artificial joint called a “prosthesis.” Artificial joints are medical devices, which must be cleared or approved by the Food & Drug Administration before they can be marketed in the United States

The goal of surgery is to relieve the pain in the joint caused by the damage done to cartilage, the tissue that serves as a...

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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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