Walgreen Walk and Save Program

Last night I was getting caught up on the Biggest Looser and they had announced that they were teaming up with Walgreens.  I was very excited, so I went out and finally found the website.

Walk with Walgreens

Now you can walk, track your steps and get coupons to use at Walgreens.  Use those coupons with sales and Walgreens register rewards and get a lot more for free.

I am very excited about this program and plan to use it.  I printed off the coupon for a pedometer and  created a profile.  The best thing is that it is all FREE!!!

What a way to get going early on a New Years resolution or just maintain your healthy lifestyle and save money. 

So, Grab your pedometer, put on your walking shoes and lets save money!!!!

Health Benefits of Vinegar

I have discovered a book called "The Vinegar Anniversary Book".  It gives thousands of way that vinegar has been used.  From anything to weight loss, to help arthritis pain, to clean the house.

Vinegar has been used for medical purposes since the beginning of time.  Traditional Chinese Medicine has used vinegar as medicine for years.  Diluted vinegar in ears has been used for ear infections in the past.  It has been proven to kill dangerous bacteria on contact.

The book gives easy recipes to:
  - Calm an upset stomach
  -  Ease leg cramps
                                  - Soothe sprained muscles
- Control appetite to lose weight
- Relieve coughs
- Banish nausea
- Arthritis pain
- Cool sunburns
- Boost memory
- Eliminate bladder infections
- Chase away a cold
- Reduce infection
- Treat blemishes and age spots
- Replace household cleaners

I just purchased my copy from the Kindle store at $4.99.  You can also get a copy direct from the pu,publisher for $19.95 plus $3.98 shipping and handling.  Mail your check or money order payable to Jame direct Inc., Dept VA1047, 500 S. Prospect Ave, Box 980, Hartville, Ohio 44632.

I will be saving some money on house hold cleaners and maybe even lose these last few pounds. 

Wii Active 2

I have been working out to the Wii Active 2 for a little over a week.  I had some issues with the arm and leg remotes, but I think that I figured that out.

You can set up a person, just like Wii Fit and pick a trainer.  It will set up a training schedule for you.  You can adjust the length of the workouts to 15 minutes to 45 minutes. There are other workout sessions other than the scheduled programs.

The Wii Active 2 comes with a green exercise band, but you can set up the program to use weights instead.  There is also an option to use the Wii Fit Board.

I don't like about the program is the beginning promotion always plays.  If there is a way to skip it, I have not found it yet.  If you know how to skip the beginning, please let me know.  One other thing is that sometimes it takes forever to go to the next exercise.  Once you complete the reps required on a particular exercise, it tells you that you did a great job and lets you know what the next exercise is going to be and what equipment you will need.  Sometimes this takes more time than I care to wait.  Which means that if you only have 30 minutes to exercise, you may want to opt for a 15 minute workout because of the time it takes in between the exercises.

I do like variety in exercise routines, so I will continue to use the Wii Active as well as The Biggest Loser Wii program, Wii Zumba, and the Wii Fit.  The Dance programs are fun and will get your heart rate up.  I like the Just Dance and Michael Jackson The Experience games.  I just bought the Country Dance game and will be playing that in the next few days.

I do like using the Wii exercise games to help me stay in shape.  Hopefully it will help me lose a few extra pounds as well.  That will work if I can stop eating snickers bars after lunch.

If you have a Wii, I would recommend the Wii Active.  It will exercise your muscles in a different way than the other exercise programs.

Is new technology good for us or killing us?

I read an article in the local newspaper last weekend about antibacterial soap and the chemical Triclosan.  When I found out that Triclosan was in Colgate toothpaste, I went to my medicine cabinet and looked to see what kind I was using.  Yep, it was Colgate.  I promptly started reading the package.  On the tube of toothpaste was a warning to stop using the toothpaste after 4 consecutive weeks. 

This morning I heard the local DJ on the radio call a specialist in the area about the same subject.  The specialist said that Triclosan was so bad for you that even the hospitals in the area are no longer using antibacterial soap.

This caused me to do some research.  Discovery Fut & Health has a great article about antibacterial soap and Triclosan.  The FDA says that it can cause issues with hormone levels and is concerned about the use of products with Triclosan, but it is not anything to worry about.  The article in The Washington Post has this quote from the Deputy Director of the Center for Dug Evaluation and Research. 


"For triclosan, the science is changing," Throckmorton said. "Based on what we know, we don't have evidence to suggest this chemical is a threat to human health. However, we have to understand better the health effects and we have to work with other agencies to collect that information and then decide whether or not we need to change how it's regulated."

With this new scare of yet another chemical in so many products, I wonder, is all this new technology that is suppose to help us live longer really killing us.  I know that I am allergic to artificial sweeteners.  Especially Aspartame.  Aspartame is now in just about every gum that is made.  I have to ask restaurants what kind of lemon aid  they use, because most of them have aspartame.

A friend told me a couple of weeks ago that she is losing her hearing which is a side affect of drinking large amounts of caffeine.  It is just crazy how much chemicals and excess consumption of anything can cause such havoc on the human body.

It really does make me want to just clean out my house of any kind of chemicals and processed foods.  Of course I wouldn't have much left in my house.  I have found a couple of toothpaste recipes that I may try as well as look in the Tightwad Gazette (I am pretty sure she had a toothpaste recipe in there). I will no longer buy Colgate toothpaste, and I will be using a lot of vinegar and lemon to clean my house.  This will save me some money that is for sure.

Have you made any changes in your normal cleaning products because of the chemicals?

In a Lull

I want to be motivated, but for some reason the alarm keeps going off to early in the morning.  That and I am trying out the Wii Active.  It is great when the remotes work.

I have had the Wii Active for a while, but never opened the package.  I finally decided to use it.  The first day was great, but then the remotes would not sync.  That and I have a burn on my arm where the arm remote is suppose to go, so I will post a full report later when my arm heals and I can get the remotes to work.

Right now I am having motivation issues.  During the day I am motivated, but when it really comes down to exercising, I find all the excuses in the world not to.  So, tomorrow is another day and another opportunity to get my butt out of bed and exercise.

I am also having issues with not eating very healthy.  I have been so busy that I don't take time to cook.  I find myself eating whatever is available.  Mostly chips and cheese.

I have devised a plan for the rest of this week.  Tomorrow while I am working out, I am going to put some fish in the oven to cook for lunch tomorrow.  I have plenty of frozen veggies  to go with the fish.  On Thursday ($10.00 off day at Shop-N-Save), I will buy a roasted chicken for the rest of the week and weekend.  This will save me time and money.

Stay tuned for the Wii Active review.  How are you staying motivated?

Struggling

Sorry I have been MIA.  I realized that since I have not been writing articles here and on Frugal Sisters, my health and finances have gone down the tubes.  I have lost some weight and kept it off, but I am not were I want to be.  I am ready to make a lot of changes.

Isn't if funny when you realize that when one area of your life gets off track that the rest of the areas follow.  Not only am I struggling to get back on track financially, but physically as well.  I have devised a 3 year plan to get my life back into balance.

First, pay off credit cards and loans.  Since I won't be spending so much money and time shopping, I will have plenty of time to exercise and prepare healthier food.  I am implementing the Sunday cooking rule, which is preparing as many meals as possible on Sunday for the week.  I don't have a lot of time during the week to cook, so I will make everything on Sunday so I don't have any reason to stop at McDonald's.

The heat in my area is finally breaking (isn't it sad when 92 is cool).  I will be able to get back out and work on my yard to get it ready for winter.  I have 3 trees I need to cut up which will give me plenty of wood for the fireplace and will save money in heating bills.  It will also get me off my butt and moving.

This blog has always kept me focused, so I plan to get back to writing again. I learn new ways to stay healthy when I help others do the same.  The next article will be next week on Julia Child.  I just read a book and it is very interesting.

Exercise for You

I finally had time to sit and read my new free magazine "Self".  In just the first few pages I read a very good article about Deschanel. She has some really good advise about exercise and keeping your mind active.

It really does make sense to exercise to keep your body healthy.  When your are active your muscles stay toned and you are able to do the same things you did when you were younger. 

Deshanel recommends that you mix things up.  I know I get a little bored doing the same routine over and over.  I have built up enough exercise DVDs, Wii Exercise games, and equipment that I can exercise to my mood.  If I don't want to exercise really hard, I do yoga or Tai Chi Chu.  If I really have a good book that I want to finish and get some exercise in at the same time, I work out on the elliptical. If I want to just have some fun, I use the Wii dance or zumba.  I still have plenty of Exercise DVDs like The Biggest Loser workouts, Susan Powter (she was really big in the 90s), and a few more. 

This time of year is great to just get out and play yard games. Badminton, Volley Ball, or soft ball will get your heart rate up.  Laughing your butt off just goofing off will burn a lot of calories.

The best thing is you can get all this for free if you have a Library Card.  You can check out a new exercise video every week.  You will never get bored.  Yard Sale season is in full bloom.  There is always exercise equipment and videos.  Most store are discounting exercise equipment this time of year.  If all else fails, ask for your favorite video or equipment for your birthday or start making hints for Christmas (only 182 more days left).

I like the way my body looks when I exercise regularly.  I am by no means skinny.  The Wii still has me in the overweight category.  But I am working on being healthy inside and out.  It may be a slow process, but it is working for me.