Considering Group Exercise?

For better overall health and to help handle that added weight you'll need to add a little exercise to your diet.

Why not join a group? Fight that procrastination and join a local group.
This can be just the thing to meet new friends and keep you motivative.
If group exercise classes are new to you, take it slow. Jumping into an intermediate or advanced class can be too difficult, both physically and emotionally.
This may leave you injured and/or discouraged. See: Muscle Soreness here on Sunday, March 11, 2007

Are you new to group exercise? Don't let that stop you. It's a good idea to start with introductory classes.
Pick the class you want to try, find out when it starts. Then arrive early and tell the instructors your new. Your instructors can provide you with special guidance and answer any questions you have.
They'll be happy to help you get started safely. Start with three times a week, then work your way up. If it's only 1/2 hour at a time, soon you'll feel better and look better. Maybe, you'll be the one to give instructions someday. But, you need to start.
Let us know how it's going.

Rat poison was found in the pet food

ALBANY, N.Y. - Rat poison was found in the pet food suspected of causing kidney failure that killed at least 16 cats and dogs, but scientists still don't know how it got there, state officials said Friday.

The toxin was identified as aminopterin, which is used to kill rats in some countries, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said.
Aminopterin is not registered for killing rodents in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, though it is used as a cancer drug. State officials wouldn't speculate on how the toxin got into Menu Foods' now-recalled pet food but said no criminal investigations had been launched.
Scientists at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell and at the New York State Food Laboratory tested three cat food samples provided by Menu Foods and found Aminopterin in two of them. Hooker said they would test individual components of the pet food, as well. The early test results were released to give veterinarians a better idea of how to treat sick animals.
"Any amount of this product is too much in food," Hooker said.
Aminopterin, also used as a cancer drug, is highly toxic in high doses. It inhibits the growth of malignant cells and suppresses the immune system.
In dogs and cats, it can cause kidney failure, according to Donald Smith, dean of Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation into the pet deaths was focusing on wheat gluten in the pet food. Wheat gluten itself would not cause kidney failure, but the common ingredient could have been contaminated, the FDA said.

Bob Rosenberg, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Pest Management Association, said he had never heard of the substance before Friday.

"It would make no sense to spray a crop itself with rodenticide," Rosenberg said, though he said grain shippers typically put bait stations around the perimeter of their storage facilities.
The pet deaths led to a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food produced by Menu Foods and sold throughout North America under 95 brand names. There have been several reports of kidney failure in pets that ate the recalled brands, and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog.
Menu Foods last week recalled "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food. The recall sparked concern among pet owners across North America. It includes food sold under store brands carried by Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and other large retailers, as well as private labels such as Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba.
The company, already facing lawsuits, planned a media teleconference for later Friday, a spokesman said. It is majority owned by Menu Foods Income Fund of Streetsville.
A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates was posted online by Menu Foods and is available at http://tinyurl.com/2pn6mm. The company also designated two phone numbers that pet owners could call for information: (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708.
A spokesman for New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said he was not aware of any criminal investigation involving the tainted food.
FBI spokesman Paul Holstein in Albany said Friday he was not aware of any FBI involvement in the case.
"I don't know where we'll go from here," he said.
___
Associated Press writer Andrew Bridges in Washington contributed to this report.

Pet food maker announces major recall after Dog, Cat deaths

Proctor & Gamble announced Friday the recall of specific 3 oz., 5.5 oz., 6 oz. and 13.2 oz. canned and 3 oz. and 5.3 oz. foil pouch cat and dog wet food products made by Menu Foods but sold under the Iams and Eukanuba brands. The recalled products bear the code dates of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant code 4197, P&G said.
Recalled products on IAMS website:http://us.iams.com/iams/en_US/data_r...RecallList.htm
I can't even begain to think how I would deal with anything like this. The health of little jeffery is the most important thing for me. Before my health and wellness, I'm always think of jeffery's.I saw on the local news last night where at the time, the Company wouldn't return this fellows (I think he said calls) asking for any help they could give him. Now the media has it, that has changed.They set up help lines. He was asking for anything he could tell the Vet, to help save his best friend. Yes, his best friend (Pebbles, a 7-year-old Yorkie like Jeffery) was battling kidney failure after eating dog food that...that look's like ithad Rat poison in it. Pebbles, did pass away late that night.
I feel for all these folk's, you try as hard as you can to protect and care for your Pet and then out of your control something like this. You try andbuy the very best food, so they can have a good long active life by your side.
Then this burns me up. The Corp's that make money off these people and their pet's brush them off. I won't be spending my money on their crap!

Rat poison was found in the pet food

I pull this off yahoo this a.m.

By MARK JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer 40 minutes ago
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070316/...et_food_recall
Updated List of Recalled Cat and Dog Foodhttp://www.menufoods.com/recall/

Butter Flavor on your favorites with less trans fats

Tip: Butter Flavor on your favorites

To save calories and enjoy butter flavor, try a flavored spray or mist. These products contain water, butter flavorings and so little oil that up to 5 pumps or squirts often provides zero calories or fat.
Read the label to make sure. If you really enjoy spreads, look for options labeled "zero trans fat" or "no hydrogenated oil." Watch your portion sizes in order to avoid excess calories.
Better health starts with weight loss. So keeping those portions down along with less tran fats, sounds good.
HMMM - Soybean products?
~~~~Health Fitness Corporation(c) 2007 HealthCalc.Net, Inc. All rights reserved.http://www.healthcalc.net

Having trouble getting a good nights sleep?

*** Today's Tip: Having trouble getting a good nights sleep?

Maybe it's your Sleeping Position. You start to feel it in your nagging back first thing when you get up. I'm not talking about chronic back pain here. If it's real bad all the time, you'll need to see a Professional. Right?
What we're talking about, is when you can't get a full rested night's sleep,it's when you first get up. You feel that sharp pain in your back.

The secret to a better nights sleep could be your sleeping position.
Did you know that sleeping on your stomach can aggravate your back? While there is no perfect position for everyone, one recommended sleep position is on your side with your knees bent.
If you can, try this tip. Place a pillow between your knees. You may have to experiment on the size and firmness.
In addition, check to be sure that the pillow your using for your head allows your neck to remain straight. This is very important. A strained neck can cause poor posture, and this can lead to a sore back. If you've had this problem where it make's it difficult to see your shoes in the morning, let alone put them on. Then it could be your sleeping position. A bad sleeping position could also, aggravate back pain during the day. So, try sleeping on your side, try it with a pillow between your knees and use the right size pillow for your head. Another thing. If the pillow your using for your head is older than you are. And, it's no longer that comfortable anyway. Maybe it's gotten old and hard. Well spring's around the corner, it maybe time to give that old friend a rest, too.
I hope this helps. Let us know. Maybe you've come up with some ideas that have helped you, and you'd wouldn't mind sharing.