January 21, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES III & IV • Page 11 Health, Fitness & Beauty Take the first steps toward better overall health (ARA) Taking the first step toward a healthier lifestyle can seem overwhelming. The American Medical Association suggests that one way to start might be with small changes that can lead to big health benefits. “Improving eating habits, increasing exercise, and reducing or eliminating unhealthy behaviors can seem like daunting tasks if you try to tackle everything at once,” said Dr. J. James Rohack, president-elect of the AMA. “By incorporating small changes into your daily life, the process of getting healthier can be more manageable.” Every little step counts when you are trying to live a healthier life. Here are some easy tips to do right now to begin living a healthier lifestyle. To improve eating habits: Order your sandwich on whole wheat bread instead of white bread, and opt for low fat meats, cheeses, and sauces. Drink water or unsweetened iced tea instead of high sugar beverages. Feed your sweet tooth with naturally fruit instead of candy or cookies. Pack lunch at home at least one day a week instead of ordering out. To increase physical activity: Take a walk during your lunch break. Park at the far end of the parking lot, and use the stairs instead of the elevator. Get off the bus a stop or two farther smoking: Ask your physician for help quitting smoking. No amount of smoking is safe and medications are available to help smokers quit for good. Get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays in the home and car and ask family, friends, and co-workers for support. Pay attention to how much you are drinking and sip slowly. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans defines moderation as just one drink per day for women and two for men. Never drink on an empty stomach. Food will help your body absorb the alcohol more slowly. If you need help to reduce or stop drinking, talk to your physician. “Making strides towards a healthier lifestyle is not an all-or-nothing process,” said Dr. Rohack. “Taking even small steps every day, like choosing a healthier lunch option or walking a few flights of stairs a day, can add up to big changes in your health. The important thing is to just keep going. Believe it or not, one healthy change often leads to another.” To better help patients adopt a healthier lifestyle, the AMA recently launched the AMA Healthier Life Steps program. At www.ama-assn.org/go/healthierlifesteps, there are free tools and tip sheets to help you partner with your physician to improve the key health behaviors that have been linked to an increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and many other conditions. The program also includes resources for physicians so they can easily incorporate healthy lifestyle counseling into patient visits. The program tool kit includes a patient self-assessment questionnaire, action plans, and tips to get started and progress tracking calendars. The site also provides links to additional resources, and offers other helpful information, like healthy recipe options, a BMI calculator and a frequently asked question section where you can read answers to the most commonly asked questions about diet, exercise and unhealthy behaviors. “Living a healthier lifestyle not only greatly reduces the risk for chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, but it makes you feel better so you have more energy to go out and enjoy life with your loved ones,” Rohack added. “It’s never too late to start living a healthier lifestyle.” To learn more about the AMA Healthier Life Steps program and to begin using the program’s free tools to help improve your health, visit www.ama-assn.org/go/ healthierlifesteps. than usual and walk the rest of the way. Stand up while talking on the phone. Take a 15-minute break in the afternoon to walk around and stretch. To reduce or eliminate unhealthy behaviors like excessive drinking or But STILL can’t lose that Tummy or Cellulite? Call me about VelaShapeTM A NEW Nonsurgical method of Fat reduction and body contouring • Non-invasive • No Anesthesia • No Downtime Beverly Dunn, MD Waldwick, NJ • 201-445-0032 Dieting? Working Out? Dr. Heather Sculthorpe is proud to present Tracy Collins, a 2006 winner of the Hygienist of the Year from RDH Magazine. Now Accepting Patients Tracy Collins, RDH and Heather Sculthorpe, DMD CHILDREN’S DENTAL SPECIALIST 841 Franklin Ave, Suite 2 FRANKLIN LAKES • 201-891-0096 hsculthorpedmd@yahoo.com Specialty Permit #5582 BRAND NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART OFFICE • Specially Trained Staff • Digital X-rays • Latex-Free • TVs • Video Games • Toys • Prizes SATURDAY HOURS AVAILABLE