Got Sole?

Airports in Europe Close

Last modified on 2010-05-04 00:03:26 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I have decided to change directions in my blog theme. Writing about health week after week got a little boring, so I decided to change things up. Each week I will feature a different current event. This week I am going to talk about the delaying of flights in Europe.

Traveling in or out of Europe for the past few days has proved rather difficult. On April 15th, a volcano erupted in Scotland and the volcanic ash clouded the skies making it impossible for flights to leave. The volcano ash covered skies in most European counties. The flights could not leave because once they took off, the pilots couldn’t see because the ash was too thick.

Over hundred of flights have been canceled throughout Europe according to guardian.co.uk. This has left thousand of passengers stranded in various airports across Europe. Not only Europe flights cancel but flights flying out of the states were canceled too.

People have made these airports their homes by eating, sleeping and even bathing in the places. “Time goes by slow,” said Laurence De Loosa, from Belgium who is on her way back home from New York. “The lights were on all night.” It was not so easy to sleep she told Fox.

On Wednesday April 21st, the skies reopened in Europe and the U.S. Around 80 percent of all the flights in Europe are scheduled to leave today. By Thursday the percent should be up to 100, according to European air traffic.

Vancouver 2010

Last modified on 2010-05-04 00:02:05 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I love watching the Olympics. That is basically what I did all day Saturday and Monday. Saturday I watched the Olympics from 1-5p.m. and 7-10p.m. I normally don’t watch that much TV, but I like watching the winter games.

When I watch the Olympics, it makes me want to be an Olympic athlete, even though I won’t. For the next few weeks, my blog will be about the winter Olympics. I will talk about the medals the U.S. has and the athletes who you should look out for. Today, I am going to talk about the speedskating men’s 1500m.

In what was quite a race, Apolo Ohno went on to win his 6th Olympic medal after finishing 2nd in the men’s speedskating 1500 meter. The U.S. also got a bronze medal by 19 year old J.R. Celski.

In the final turn of the 1500 race, three Koreans were leading; Lee Jung-su, Sung Si-bak and Lee Ho-suk. Ohno and Celski were on there tails in 4th and 5th place. On the final turn as the skaters headed into the final straight away, Si –bak and Ho-suk crashed into each other and hit the wall. So Ohno and Celski were able to finish 2nd and 3rd, giving the U.S a silver and bronze medal.

Stay tuned for other great events in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Amazing Fast Food Secrets

Last modified on 2010-05-04 00:00:18 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

A few days ago, when I was with some friends getting ice cream at dairy queen, I was leaving and I noticed a poster that had a full list of all the calories in all of the food dairy queen sells. As I looked at the calories in a small blizzard, I was amazed. So I decided this week’s blog would be all about fast food. It’s hard to believe that something that tastes so good is really bad for your body.

Here are the statics of a small fry from McDonald’s. As you see, from a small amount of fries there are 230 calories. As you know, a small fry is, well, small. There aren’t a lot of fries in the package.

Small Fry
230-Calories
100-Calories From Fat
160-Sodium (mg)

As you look at this, there is pretty much enough said by showing you this. 1190 milligrams of salt is a lot, enough said. Also from McDonald’s.

Quarter Pounder with Cheese
510-Calories
230-Calories From Fat
1190-Sodium (mg)

If you’re getting a salad because you think it is healthier, you’re wrong. This has more calories than a small cheeseburger (which I didn’t show). If you add the salad dressing, it’s just as bad, maybe even worse than a Quarter Pounder with cheese. Also from McDonald’s.

Premium Southwest Salad with Crispy Chicken
430-Calories
180-Calories From Fat
920-Sodium (mg)

Newman’s Own® Creamy Caesar Dressing
190-Calories
170-Calories From Fat
500-Sodium (mg)

Now if you want dessert, have a Dairy Queen blizzard. By eating it you receive a lot of calories, but oh well, it tastes really good. Just don’t have a blizzard too often.

Mint Oreo Blizzard – Small
710-Calories
250-Calories From Fat

Chocolate Xtreme Blizzard – Small
660-Calories
260-Calories From Fat

Tropical Blizzard – Small
500-Calories
220-Calories From Fat

So substitute those foods for other great foods like these:
Golden Delicious or Granny Smith apple
101-Calories
0- grams of fat

The Yoghurt Shop: Frozen Yogurt, Vanilla -100g
153 -Calories
39 -Calories from fat

Yoplait: Strawberry Yougurt- 1tub
67-Calories
2-Calories from Fat

Chocolate Chip Granola Bar -1 bar
180-Calories
64-Calories from Fat

Fruit Leather Bar- 1bar
81-Calories
11-Calories from Fat

Abdominal Work Out Ideas

Last modified on 2010-05-03 23:58:50 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

People want to have good body and abs. Also you will feel good after working out. Since swimsuit season is coming up it might be nice to get toned. So grab a water bottle and get busy.

1) Crunches – They are very basic and a great thing to start with. In the beginning start with 25 crunches a day and then mover to 50 and then so on and so forth. Make sure you are lying down and with your knees up and feet on the ground. Then lift your upper back off the floor and reach for your knees.

2) Sit ups – Also another basic abs exercise and are very easy. Start with 25 a day and every day do more. Do the same thing as a sit up but lift your whole back to your knees. Just like you are sitting up.

3) Do sit-ups with a medicine ball. Some gyms have medicine balls and the weight room here at UHS has a bunch of medicine balls. Using a medicine ball adds a little extra work, and is good for those who regularly do sit ups. Do sit-ups but just hold the medicine ball in your hands while you sit up.

4) Planks- Make sure you keep your butt down and these are really hard if you do it for long periods of time. Put yourself in the up position of the push up position, but lean on your arms except keep your head up.

Quiz #2

Last modified on 2010-02-12 21:03:24 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

If you like my last fun quiz for my blog GotSole, then you will like my new one. I hope you will learn a lot from this quiz and find some interesting things out. Enjoy!

1) The scents of which fruits can make you lose weight?

A) Blueberries and Strawberries

B) Kiwis and Limes

C) Apples and Bananas

2) On average how many question does a 4- year-old child ask a day?

A) about 250

B) about 450

C) about 500

3) The average person falls asleep in how many minutes?

A) five

B) seven

C) ten

D) fifteen

4) Americans eat how much pizza on average a day (in acres)?

A) ten acres

B) fifteen acres

C) eighteen acres

D) twenty two acres

5) A human brain weighs about how many pounds?

A) six

B) five

C) four

D) three

1) a 2) b 3) b 4) c 5) d

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How Often Do I Need to Go to the Doctor?

Last modified on 2009-12-16 20:12:40 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Everyone asks this question once in awhile. I am not talking about going to the doctor if you are sick, but going just for a checkup.

Most doctors recommend getting a yearly check up. This is so the doctor can make sure your body is functioning correctly and you are up to date on the shots you need. If you have health concerns or a rough medical family history, a check up every six months would be best.

If you participate in any school sports, you need a yearly physical to make sure you are healthy enough to play the sport.

So if you haven’t been in awhile ask your parent or guardian to make an appointment.

Health

Last modified on 2009-12-16 20:11:33 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

HEALTH

What exactly does this word mean? Does Health mean how well you take care of yourself, or good foods for your body? It seems that there are so many things that health could mean. So to find a real definition I turned to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

The dictionary‘s definition for health is “the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit; especially: freedom from physical disease or pain.” This is the first definition that they gave me so that is why I picked it. This says that health is the condition of your body, but not just your body; your feelings too. It means also not having any sickness or pain and being well.

Health doesn’t just have to mean what the dictionary says. We can make our own logical definition too. So now you know the real definitions of Health.

Health Quiz

Last modified on 2009-12-14 21:05:44 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Here is a fun health quiz that I made up with the help of www.funfactz.com. I really like quizzes like these because, they are short and have cool information. This has some fun health facts that were new to me and hopefully to you.

1) By what age do most people lose 50% of their taste buds?

a) 35
b) 50
c) 60
d) 70

2) People with what color of hair usually need more anesthesia to go under?

a) Blondes
b) Brunettes
c) Redheads
d) Black hair

3) When a person dies what sense is usually the last to go?

a) Smell
b) Hearing
c) Touch
d) Sight
e) Taste

4) About how much blood does your heart pump each day?

a) 1,200 gallons
b) 2,000 gallons
c) 3,000 gallons
d) 3,500 gallons

5) How often do flu shots usually work?

a) 25%
b) 35%
c) 55%
d) 70%
e) 95%

Answers – 1) c) 60, 2) c) redheads, 3) b) hearing, 4) b) 2,000 gallons, 5) d) 70%

Why Exercise Makes You Feel Good

Last modified on 2009-12-11 19:56:17 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Until this week I didn’t realize how important it is to exercise. Exercise makes you feel great and it is enjoyable. Since Cross – Country is over, I am taking 2 weeks off to rest my body. After the two weeks are up I will start track. Yeah!

This article titled Why Exercise Makes You Feel So Good explains how exercise boosts your energy and self esteem. After all you have to feel great about yourself after some exercise. Also it says that exercise helps relive stress and makes you a more social person. What better way to clear your mind by going out for a jog when you’re really stressed out?

Here is a link to the article that shows why exercise makes you feel great. I thought it was a good article. http://www.fitness-health-talk.com/index.php/why-exercise-makes-you-feel-so-good/

Winter Workouts

Last modified on 2009-11-24 00:05:36 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

As it’s getting into winter here are some ways you can avoid winter laziness.
Go for a Run- Yes its cold outside, but running is really relaxing. Make sure you bundle up if it’s really cold outside.
Jump Rope- This is really easy, because most people have a jump rope lying around their house. Jumping rope is a good cardiovascular exercise, and you can do it in your garage or basement.
Take a walk- If you have a dog, volunteer to walk it for your parents. If you don’t, grab your Ipod and enjoy the scenery
Hike- Grab a few friends on a weekend and head to Turkey Run or other local parks and go for a hike.
Swim- The Aquatic Center has lap swimming at certain times in the week. If you have a bad knee or leg this is a good idea. Swimming is very easy on your body.

H1N1 Flu

Last modified on 2009-11-13 21:17:06 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Many people want to know how the H1N1/ Swine flu started. So with this blog entry, I will explore a few myths and rumors about the flu. Hopefully, you can learn about the flu from this information. I also encourage you to find out information about it.

Rumor: It’s the mostly deadly flu ever. It is even more deadly than the seasonal flu.

Truth: This rumor is false. The H1N1 flu is less deadly than the seasonal flu. It has less deaths than the seasonal flu according to European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s (ECDC)

Rumor: The Flu came from Mexico.

Truth: No one is exactly sure. Mexicans are saying it came from the U.S. The U.S. is saying it came from Mexico. Scientists are still trying to find out where it came from.

Below are some charts that I came across while I was looking for information and thought they were interesting. This is some information that I didn’t know about. The first chart is the number of people who were hospitalized (4,958) broken down into six categories by their age.

The next chart is the number of people who have died from H1N1 (292). This chart is also broken down into six age categories like the above one.

Charts are from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention website: http://www.cdc.gov/

Halloween Candy

Last modified on 2009-11-13 21:16:29 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Now that Halloween has passed, everyone has tons of candy. You don’t feel so bad pigging out on all the little candy bars because they seem so much smaller But be warned! They really aren’t that much smaller than a big candy bar. Two or three little ones easily make up a big one.

http://www.fitday.com/webfit/calories/calories_Snacks_and_Sweets.html

This is a great website that you can use to find out how many calories and how many grams of fat are in all kinds of food.

In an individual Reese’s Cup there are 92 calories and 5.32 grams of fat.

In a Butterfinger Fun Size Bar there are 100 calories and 3.92grams of fat.

In a Milky Way Fun Size Bar there are 76 calories and 3 grams of fat.

In a Skittles Fun Size Bag there are 61 calories and .66 grams of fat.

In an M&Ms Fun Size Bag there are 103 calories and 4 grams of fat.

In a Three Musketeers Fun Size Bar there are 75 calories and 2.32 grams of fat.

A Sweet Twist to Healthy Snacks

Last modified on 2009-11-13 21:15:54 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

When you’re in the mood for a sweet treat try making it a little healthier, so that doesn’t mean pig out on ice cream or cookies. I’m not telling you to give up ice cream forever, just try to moderate what you eat. Remember you are going to have this body forever and it is best to take care of it now.

Instead of: Artificial flavored popsicles that, truthfully, don’t taste that great and have a lot of sugar in them.

Popsicle www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=3224023

Try: Frozen fruit such as grapes or bananas. They taste great and are a nice cold treat.

FrozenGrapeswww.winecountryminute.com/taste/index.html

Instead of: Ice cream, yes it’s good, but frozen yogurt tastes pretty much the same.

Ice cream www.geocities.com/nextgeneration62401/Eli.html

Try: Frozen yogurt this alternative is just as good ice cream

Frozen yogurt thebokenonline.com/…/

Instead of: Potato chips, yes they taste good and are delicious but look at the picture. Can’t you just feel your arteries clogging? www.ces.ncsu.edu/…/rifanote04/rifanote04.htm

Try: Veggie Chips, they’re made out of actual vegetables, and they taste pretty good.

Veggie Chips www.flickr.com/photos/pragmatik/240140622/

Swine Flu-No Surprise

Last modified on 2009-11-13 21:15:24 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

This week my younger sister got sick, she had a temperature of 101; she had a stuffy nose, headache, sore throat and was very tired. I decided to look up her symptoms online and I found H1N1, or the Swine Flu.

This wasn’t a big surprise to me because earlier in the month I had learned in my health class that if you get sick, and have flu like symptoms there is big chance that you have H1N1.

Right now regular cases of the flu aren’t out. They normally don’t come out until late October or early November. So, if you have gotten the flu early on this year you probably had H1N1.

For more information on the flu, or for symptoms go to www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/. Remember to wash your hands and stay healthy!

Do I Need A Gym to Work Out?

Last modified on 2009-11-13 21:14:47 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Do I need gym to work out?

Many people ask this question and the answer is no. You don’t need a gym to work out. Though it’s nice to have one, you still can weight lift without going to a gym or having a membership.

If you don’t have a gym membership try working out in the weight room at your school. Some schools have weight lifting after school or even a weight lifting club just ask a P.E teacher for information on either.

Another alternative is looking at goodwill or garage sales for dumbbells or weight machines that you can purchase for a small price. Lastly, lookout for advertisements. Sometimes gyms have free trial months were you can go and tryout the gym for a month free.

If you’re interested in joining a gym don’t just purchase the first membership to the first gym you see. Look around your town to find other gyms and their membership fees. Then decide on which one is the cheapest and the most convenient. You don’t want the gym that’s 20 minutes away and five dollars cheaper, when you can go to the one right down your block for five extra dollars.

Before you think about joining a gym ask yourself “How much will I go to the gym?” If you’re answer is less than one time a week, I don’t know if getting a membership at gym is best for you at this time.

And it Hits

Last modified on 2009-11-13 21:14:11 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I have talked about what to do to avoid getting sick, but now what about if you really get sick . Here are some helpful tidbits of advice to help you feel better quickly.

Take Ibuprofen or other over the counter medicines. This will help with any body aches and bring down the fever. Don’t take aspirin because it can be harmful to teens and can cause Ryes Syndrome. Ryes Syndrome affects the nervous system and liver
Drink lots of fluids. Water or juices, even tea, but no soda. It won’t really help and it’s full of sugar.
Get lots of sleep and take it easy. If you feel horrible stay at home, rent a DVD from the store or curl up with a good book. Or just head to your room for a long awaited nap.
Wash your hands frequently. Now you’re sick and you see how much it stinks. So wash your hands a lot so other people won’t also get sick from your drugs.
Go to the Doctor. If you’re getting worse or feel that bad you can go to the doctor and get some prescription drugs.

Here it Comes!

Last modified on 2009-11-13 21:13:22 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

This past week I have been battling a cold and let me tell you it’s not fun. It seems that the whole school has this cold and wherever you go someone is coughing or blowing their nose.

Right now it’s really hard to stay healthy with the flu season just around the corner. As the flu’s going around eat healthily and drink plenty of fluids. Also if you have a cough use Vics Vapor Rub it works great and helps you breath better. If you have a runny nose there’s not much you can do, but just keep lots of tissues around.

Here is a great link: Flu Symptoms. You can use it to find out if you have symptoms of the flu. If you click symptoms checker there’s an evaluation you can take. Also you can put your area code in and track the flu in your area. Take the time to check this out; it’s a really great website.

Ways to Stay Healthy

Last modified on 2009-11-13 21:12:56 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

To start off my blog I thought it would be good to talk about getting sick since the flu season is right around the corner. Here are my Do’s and Don’ts of staying healthy and not getting sick. As a high-schooler, I know some of these rules are hard to follow, but do your best. After all it’s no fun to be sick, and making up the schoolwork can be almost as bad.

Don’t share drinks. (I know it’s hard, especially if you’re in a sport, but don’t even to the mouth doesn’t touch the bottle thing).
Don’t share food. (Tearing a piece off is ok, but I don’t recommend it).
Don’t come to school if you have a fever. (Really, it’s okay to miss some school, stay at home. Relax. No one wants to be around someone who’s sick.)
Do wash hands before you eat. (It won’t take that long to walk to a bathroom before lunch. If it’s too long, you’re pure lazy.)
Do keep a small container of hand sanitizer on you. (If you eat something in class or can’t get to a bathroom, it is a good thing to have. You may also be a person who wants to use it throughout the day.)
Do get some sleep if you’re starting to get sick. (Don’t stay up late the night before a project is due to make it when you had a week in advance to do it.)

Wecome!

Last modified on 2009-10-21 02:37:42 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

With the big H1N1 scare, I thought why not write a blog about health for The Echo? Many people are concerned about how fast the disease is spreading and possible mutations of it.

Health is important to our country. Many people are becoming overweight. Being overweight is just one of the examples of unhealthy behaviors found in the US. Many Americans are living hectic lives and don’t have the time for exercise or don’t think it’s important thus resulting in obesity.

This made me think that writing a health blog would give me more information about health, so I can live a healthier life. Also, give you as readers some more knowledge too. Hopefully you will take my advice, and live a better and healthier life.