Friday, July 30, 2010

A Slippery Slope We Want

A Slippery Slope We Need
The Huffington Post published a top 10 list of why we want to require labels on products that  include the presence of GEF, or Genetically Engineered Food.  The reasons why to do so are compelling and it's scary to think there is even a possibility that such labeling would not be required. And the possibility is very real. Lobbyists for big agriculture and food manufacturers are working hard to prevent required labels. Why? Three reasons I can think of:
1.  It could add cost to the production process
2. Some consumers may then choose not to buy products with GEF
3. The honesty in labeling could the extend to other things

Number 3 is really what they are worried about. There are very questionable ingredients in many processed foods that we buy, eat and feed to our loved ones. There are huge, gaping loopholes in what is required on labels. For example, most people would avoid something with monosodium glutamate (MSG) if the package had it on the ingredient list. Unfortunately, manufacturers are permitted to use the generic term "spices" on a label when in fact they are referring to MSG.

So, if we actually implement true, honest and accurate labeling for GEF, we are only a few short steps away (or at least the kind of short steps that exist in our policy process), from extending that policy to all of the things that end up in the boxes of processed food we buy. Such a policy would be a huge benefit for the public and a really big pain for the people that put things in our food that probably shouldn't be there in the first place. 

We are a Government of the people. Wouldn't it be nice if the policies they create are also for the people?         

Thursday, July 29, 2010

◆Be.◆ Yawn, so sleepy.... zzzzzzzzzzzz

Consider sleep routine maintenance for your body. In our busy lives and long lists of tasks to accomplish, sleep is sometimes sacrificed. Reconsider, won't you? Part of learning how to Be. well is to pay attention to your sleep. Can you imagine what would happen to your car if you drove it 24 hours a day for weeks at a time?

Experts recommend adults get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. The ideal amount of sleep differs from person to person. One easy way to judge if you are getting enough sleep is the "how do I feel test" when you get up in the morning. If you feel like you want to stay in bed and sleep some more, than your body probably needs more sleep. Yes, simple, and sometimes things don't have to be complicated to work!

The benefits of sleep are significant:

  • Improved mood
  • Better concentration
  • Better health
  • Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
  • Improved memory
  • Reduced stress
  • Stronger immune system
  • Improved ability to control your weight
Plus, sleep simply feels good! If you aren't getting the sleep your body needs, here are some good ideas from our friends at Harvard Medical School. Tonight, get good, restful, glorious sleep.

Sleep will help you Be. well. 

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

◆Eat.◆ Lunch, Redefined

Soup and a salad. Sandwich and a salad. Burger and fries. Very popular lunch choices. A Google search reveals the most popular lunch remains a bologna sandwich. According to FitDay, there are 255 calories in a bologna sandwich with spread. That is a very reasonable amount of calories for your lunch. Hopefully, if you choose such a lunch you would use organic bologna (from sustainable raised sources) and whole grain bread to make it even better. Buying organic bologna and organic whole grain bread might seem expensive, but consider how much money you'd save if you packed your lunch at home and avoided the local deli. 

One step further? Try something new for lunch. Two cups of kale sauteed in garlic and one whole tomato sliced is 138 and 22 calories, respectively. Lunch for a total of 160 calories? Surprisingly enough, it is a very filling choice and it looks pretty, too. Plus lots of Vitamin A, C, lycopene and other nutrients. 

Part of learning to Eat. well is experimenting with different things. And, more importantly, noticing how you feel for the few hours afterward. Most of us feel pretty happy after stuffing ourselves with Thanksgiving dinner and then we lounge around for the rest of the day feeling, well, stuffed. 

A lunch of tomato and kale may not sound great to you. Though you could try it. How about one day during the next week, you choose something for lunch you wouldn't ever ordinarily think about? You may be pleasantly surprised. Lunch, Redefined.


Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Move. ◆ Functional Exercise

Functional exercise is a way to Move. your body in the same way you use your body for daily activities. The idea with functional exercise is to strengthen the body in the ways and places you will actually use your body. Having big biceps doesn't necessarily help you carry heavy bags of fresh, organic vegetables home from the farmer's market.

At its most basic level, functional exercise takes into account that your body is a system not a dissociated set of bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments. The things we do each day rely on our body system to perform and keep us free from injury. Something simple like a squat engages the gluteus maximus, quadriceps, hamstrings, hip rotators, trunk stabilizers, hip flexors and extensors, and the knee flexors and extensors. If you are only exercising your quads, you are more prone to injury when lifting something heavy.

While we have some functional exercises included in the videos on the Cybercise portal, stay tuned for more. Until then, think about your body as a whole and give all of it a little love when you Move. 

Monday, July 26, 2010

Word Power

Last weekend's Wall Street Journal included an interesting article on how language impacts the way we think about things. Cognitive research has shown the words used in distinct cultures influences they way the people in those cultures see the world. In our increasingly global economy, this could have significant impact. If you've have spent anytime visiting other cultures or talking with someone with a different native language perhaps you, too, have examples of "lost in translation."

A friend, colleague and teacher recently published a book called "Medicine Words" and in it discusses the power of the words we use with others and with ourselves. One positive side effect of reading this book is a habit of speaking less. When you start to recognize the power of words, you can become more available to listen to others. This is a good thing.

How often do two different perspectives, a scientific one and one grounded in healing, agree on something? And, how does the power of language apply to a journey toward wellness?  

A large part of your journey to wellness is your ability to believe in yourself. Another part is the willingness to listen to the part of your body that inherently knows what is best for you. Too often we allow other messages to get in the way of us taking care of ourselves. There are millions of those messages out there. If you'd like some samples, turn on the television and listen to the commercials. We also receive messages from the people around us. Remember the article about the size of the people you spend time with is a large determinant of your size? 

Your body knows it feels best when it exercises, eats wholesome, natural foods and does good things in the world each day. If your ears are receiving conflicting messages, either from advertising or the people around you, perhaps you could listen to something else. You could even go a step further when you are around people that send negative messages (conjure up the classic mother-in-law figure who asks if you've gained weight recently). Ignore them or politely and respectfully ask them to stop. 

Our wellness is determined by what we consume. Food and words. Choose wisely. 

Friday, July 23, 2010

Six Months From Now

Today is July 23, 2010. Six months from today it will be March 8, 2011.

Think about March 8, 2011. We'll be nearing the end of winter. If the next winter is anything like the last winter in DC, you may still have piles of snow around. You'll be thinking of spring and looking for the first flowers peeking through the earth. The days will be a bit longer giving you a bit more light in the evening.

What things are in your life are between now and March 8? The end of summer, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, New Year's Eve. Valentine's Day fits in there as well. Where will you be? Same house? Will you have the same job? Will you be expecting a baby by then or will yours be born in the next six months. Will you be married or divorced? Will you take a wonderful trip to somewhere new? Will you see something differently? By March 8, 2011 many people who made New Years Resolutions to get more healthy will have already given up. Sad and true. After three months, 50% of people quit.

Now think about how good you'll feel when you have reached your health and wellness goals. Will your clothes fit better? Will you need all new clothes? Will you sleep better at night? Have more energy to play with your spouse, partner, kids and pets? Will you look forward to exercising and be experimenting with all kinds of new, wholesome foods? Does your skin glow? Do people say, "You look great!"? Find the best things about the new, healthy you.

Imagine actually being that new, healthy you on March 8, 2011. You didn't have to think about making resolutions, you didn't worry about gaining 5 pounds during the holidays. You've been out sledding and making snowmen in the winter and had the energy to do so. Or, surfing at the beach with the stamina to paddle back out over and over. You go to bed at night and rest deeply and sleep soundly. Maybe you've lost some weight. Your body is more flexible and you are discovering new muscles in the mirror. You feel great, you smile more easily, any stressors you meet during the day don't seem to matter as much.

Wow! Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? So... here is the secret... the only thing standing between you now and the new, healthy you on March 8, 2011 is you. And, even more good news... You can change you! Finding your way to wellness isn't difficult anymore. We actually have a plan all ready for you to follow.  Week-by-week, for 24 weeks, you follow the plan. You learn new things, you give up some old things that don't serve you anymore and voila! the new, healthy you.

If today is the day you are going to choose lifelong health and wellness, read more about Move.Eat.Be. and enroll to get started. Today.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Be.

Where is your head? No, not the question your Dad always asked you as in "What in the world were you thinking?" but more a wee inquiry if your head is currently with your body. Granted, I am assuming it is currently attached to your body otherwise you'd be having some difficulty reading this. But is your head with your body?

It could be many places at the moment. An infinite number of places, actually. It could be replaying a previous conversation, or editing a previous conversation with that nifty snippet you wish you had thought of at the time. It could be wishing you were elsewhere. Not at work. Not at home. Not in traffic. Anywhere but here. It could be writing a script for a future conversation. How you are really going to tell your boss what you really think and how your boss will then totally agree with you and give you a great promotion and raise. It could be daydreaming about all of the great things that will happen in your life once you do "something." Something is often lose weight, get married, get divorced, get a new job, retire...

We spend a great deal of our time in our disembodied head. While it can be entertaining, think about what you miss with all of this brain activity going on. A beautiful flower, a compliment from a stranger, a hug from a child, a cuddle from your dog. Too much to do, your head says, no time for any of that stuff.

If your head is elsewhere, move your body and go and find it. If you can't do that (as, let's face it, sometimes our heads are laying on the beach in Maui), gently call it back. How can you Be. well? Keep your head and your body in the same place.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Eat.

If you are eating food with a label, you understand how to read the serving size on the label. The serving size helps us know how many calories are contained in how much of the food. For example, the serving size for Oreo cookies is 3 cookies which total 160 calories.

How were serving sizes derived and what are they based on? Unfortunately, the answer isn't very scientific and the results could be contributing to our epidemic of overeating. To make matters worse the serving size information on labels can differ from the information contained in the USDA's food pyramid. The serving size on food labels in based on: "typical portion sizes (from food consumption surveys), ease of use, nutrient content, and tradition (of use in previous food guides). For some food groups, certain factors were given more emphasis than others." If you'd like the details, read this from the FDA.

Tradition? Ease of use? Perhaps it is just me, but I think it would be nice if there was some baseline of facts and consistency in how they are applied. We are teaching consumers to read labels, which is better than nothing, but please don't expect the labels to be accurate. The real message here is we cannot rely on what we are told, even from our Government agencies.

Yes, food labels can be useful and provide some information. Being partially informed is better than ignorance. Of course, we know to avoid food that has labels or comes in a box. Eating whole food (aka things that used to breathe), as it arrives from nature, is key. The very best way to Eat. is to explore what kinds of nature's foods, and in what quantities work best for you.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Move.

How much do you exercise each week? If you're like most Americans, the amount is well below the recommended minimum. The CDC recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and at least 2 days of muscle-strengthening activity. Finding the time to fit all of this in can be a bit daunting and many people who can't do it all do nothing at all.

Mistake #1: Not doing any exercise because you don't have time to do "enough."
A little bit of exercise each day is better than no exercise. If you don't currently exercise start with 10 minutes a day. Taking a walk is an easy and effective way to get started.

Mistake #2: Not doing any exercise because you don't have a gym membership or equipment.
A walk doesn't require any equipment. Nor do push-ups or sit-ups or squats. Or grab a few cans of soup and do some bicep curls.

Mistake #3: Not doing any exercise because you don't know how.
There are plenty of web resources to help. And, the links on the exercises listed give you a sneak peek into the written tips and techniques that accompany our animated videos.

Start with 10 minutes a day which (quickly) adds up to 70 minutes a week. From there, we can keep building. The only thing is really requires is for you to decide today is the day you will make a choice for your own wellness.

Will you? Today?

Monday, July 19, 2010

Moments. Days. Future.

The race for FDA approval of the next great drug to fight obesity continues. Last week, an FDA advisory committee voted against endorsing the next drug in the approval pipeline, Qnexa. There are at least two more medications currently vying for FDA approval. The potential value of a newly approved obesity drug? Big, big dollars. In 2009 alone, the over-the-counter drug Alli sold over $370 million and the prescription version, Xenical, hit $345 million in sales. Pharmaceutical companies are spending huge amounts of R&D money to find the next big hit. Will any of them work? Perhaps...at least for a time and before they start causing unintended consequences like heart attacks and death.

Why do we do this to ourselves? Over and over again, day after day, we make choices that are harmful to our health. Americans are literally killing themselves with food and inactivity. We inherently know we should eat real food and get some exercise everyday and yet only 34% of people claim they get the recommended amount of exercise each day.

Enter the people who claim eating well and getting exercise is a poverty problem. And, yes it is. For people living at or below the poverty level the money and time required to exercise each day and eat wholesome foods is difficult to come by. However, the data don't add up to the enormity of our problem. According to the Census Bureau 13.2% of people were living below the Federal poverty level in 2008. For the same period the CDC reported obesity rates at 26.1%. Further, it reports 68% of all adults were overweight. Poverty isn't the only problem. If it were there would be plenty of money in the healthcare system to help the poor overcome their weight problems. I contend we would be able to send all of those living below the poverty level free, nutritious meals each week for the amount of money the healthcare system wouldn't spend on the rest of the overweight and obese.

The solution is so simple, it simply isn't. We simply have to stop. We know our bodies don't feel good after indulging in fast food. We know we should turn off the television and go outside for a walk each evening. We know colas and other beverages laden with sugar and sugar-substitutes are not good for us. And yet, we continue. Some of us are in denial and others justify the "just one" every hour of every day.

Yes, it is possible someone, somewhere will come up with a magic pill to erase all of our bad health choices. If that day comes, I'll wait 50 years for all of the side effects to pan out and then I'll write an apology letter. Until then, we can make better choices. Day after day, moment by moment, you can build health and wellness. We believe in you.

"Your future depends on many things, but mostly on you."
Frank Tyger


Friday, July 16, 2010

Step Away from the Box

It has been a bit of challenge to stop counting how many degrees separate most of what we eat is from their natural state. I'm on the hunt for something more dramatic than the soy milk example. If you have any ideas, email them to me.

In the meantime, I am searching for some food that comes in a box which is less than 5 degrees of separation from nature. Perusing the pantry shelves didn't help. A tour through the grocery store didn't give me any ideas either. Perhaps we should simply ban the box. Or better yet, change what is displayed on a box which claims to contain food.

Perhaps if the box displayed what happened to the "food" to get it into the box, we would make better choices when were at the grocery store.


If the box said this would you drink it? I think not.



Thursday, July 15, 2010

Cereal Isn't Real

As promised in yesterday's exposure of soy milk creation, today we'll cover how grain becomes cereal. Cereal is commonly made from corn, wheat, oats, rice and barley. We'll use wheat as our starting point today; the process is the same for all grains.

Wheat - Harvest - Trucked to Plant - Cleaned - Crushed (to remove outer, healthiest, layer of bran) - Mixed with Flavoring Agents (sugar, vitamins, minerals, salt, water) - Pressure Cooked - Dried - Tempered - Extruded - Shaped - Coated (colors, flavoring, frosting) - Packaging - Transport - Grocery Store - You

When you eat a boxed cereal you are sixteen degrees from the breathing wheat. And, when the cereal says whole grain they don't crush it, the rest of the process remains the same.

What is, potentially, the worst thing you could eat for breakfast tomorrow? A bowl of cereal with soy milk. The combination that would be a meal 37 degrees from nature. It simply can't be good for us.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Degrees from Nature

Eat Only Things 5 Degrees of Separation from Breathing
In keeping with yesterday's idea of only eating things that breathe, I began to wonder how far from breathing some of our food goes. Many of the things on grocery store shelves did breathe at some point. Cereal is made from grain; grain used to breathe. Soy milk is made from soybeans and soybeans breathe. So is this really a good rule to live by?

The rule works for kids because they understand simple things are the best. Somehow in the process of becoming adults, the rest of us feel the need to complicate things. So, the simple rule amended for adults: "Eat Only Things 5 Degrees of Separation from Breathing." A few simple examples:
Green Bean: Harvest - Wash - Cut - Cook - Eat (5 degrees)
Fish: Catch - Clean - Cook - Eat (4 degrees)


Get the idea?

Let us contrast this with the creation of soy milk from soybeans. Hang on... this is scary!
Soybean - Harvest - Trucked to Plant - Cleaned - Blended with Other Beans - Steamed - Split in Half - Hulls Vacuumed Off - Cooked in an Enzyme Invalidator - Rough Grinding - Water Added - Finer Grinding - Extracted in Centrifuge - Blended - Aseptic Sterilizing by Pressure and Heat - Homogenizing - Cooling - Storing - Packaging - Transport - Grocery Store - You

There are 21 steps in this process! And what in the world is an "Enzyme Invalidator?" We use something called that on "food" we consume?!?!

I contend there isn't anything in this world we should put in our bodies that are 21 processes away from nature. Perhaps part of our worldwide epidemic of obesity is what we are doing to food before we actually eat it.

Stay tuned... tomorrow we're going to explore what happens to wheat in order to it to get into a cereal box. In the meantime, have some real food for dinner no more than 5 degrees of separation from nature.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Eat Only Things That Breathe

Sometimes the best things are the most simple. My 4 year old niece was deciding what to have for lunch and my brother said to her, "Remember our rule." Her response, "We only eat things that breathe." Then she went on to name a list of foods and tell us if they followed the rule. Chips - nope. Pretzels - nope. Corn - yes. Cucumber - yes.

The adults in the room can't be left out of a fun game, so we started naming things and my niece got them all correct. What a elegant, easy way to help kids understand good food choices. Plus, it connects them to the natural state of their food. Meat counts in the yes category, so she knows a hamburger comes from cattle and that cattle breathe.

Credit goes to my brother for sharing something so simple and effective. And he gets credit for being a great Dad, too.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Those Days of One

Was today one? How many times in our lives do we think to ourselves, "This is one of those days!"? You know those kind of days. The plan goes awry, traffic is bad, you have a headache, the car breaks down. It could be a day of little things or it could be a day of big things. Often, the most desired response to such days is going back to bed, placing the covers over the head and not emerging until is passes. Few of us have that luxury so we press on, muddle through and hope for relief.

Another idea is to be grateful for such days... Were it not for the dark, we wouldn't recognize the light. Yes, there are those days when the Universe seems to conspire against us. Yes, there are those days we wish over, want behind us and would like to not live again. But how often, during the really great days do we wish for them again? Do we even acknowledge the really great days while we're in them? Or, are we too busy enjoying them to give them the credit they are due?

Food for thought for your Monday. If you've had a great day, give it some thanks. If you're had one of those days, give it some thanks, too. Thanks for helping you realize how very good the good days are when they are around.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Mantra After Me

As we slide into the weekend, feverishly wrapping up the last items on our to-do lists, I thought I'd share an idea to help you manage the panic and stress that comes with that too busy feeling. If you're proudly wearing your busy badge, this mantra is for you.

When you begin to feel the old familiar "I will never get this done!" feeling this is what you do:

1 - Push the pause button on your mind (most often found in the middle of your forehead)
2 - Take a deep breath
3 - Repeat to yourself the following mantra: "There is always enough time. There is always enough time. There is always enough time."
4 - Take a deep breath
5 - Resume your tasks

Simple. Quick. Easy.

You can do this anywhere and people likely won't even notice. Unless... unless, of course, you are pounding on your pause button repeatedly. Then people might just think your nuts. Which comes with some upside, as well.

Enjoy your weekend!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

3 smiles and 1 frown


Do you remember today? Did anything great happen? Anything bad? This evening when asked "How was your day?" what will you say?

All too often we get caught up in the busy-ness of our daily lives and forget about the little things. I have several friends and colleagues that wear the badge of "busy" proudly on their chest. At some point (was it in the 80s?), being busy became a competitive sport. Many people run around being more busy than the next and then actually add things to do when their busy meter falls below frantic (yes, I have been guilty of this myself).

What do we miss with all of this busy-ness? The smile from a stranger, the hug of a child, the kudos from our boss. Granted, we may miss some not so good stuff too. We stub our toe on a chair, we spill our tea onto some important papers, we hear of the misfortune of a friend or experience some for ourselves.

I contend there is something important in recognizing the good and bad in each day. Recognizing the good helps us remember to be grateful. And the good reminds us life is pretty good on this side of the grass even when we stub our toe. Sure, we'd all like to forget the bad parts of life but they do serve a purpose. The bad parts of life help us to recognize how good the good parts are. Let's face it, life would be pretty boring if everything was perfect. Remember the movie "Pleasantville?"

So here is a little experiment for you today. Near the end of the next several days, make a little list. Record four events/memories/ideas/encounters/thoughts from your day. Three of them will make you smile; one of them will make you frown. Then when someone asks you about your day, you can pick one of the smiles and share the smile. When you're feeling down and too busy to find time for fun, read your list of smiles. Then read your frowns and remember how very good life is.

Give up the badge of busy and remember to be grateful. It might just make all of the difference in the world.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Life Through a Straw

How far would we go? In our busy lives, we are forever seeking the easy answer, the fast way, the quick fix, the lottery win of millions. Somewhere along the path to find the shortest way possible to do everything in our lives, we lost something. The joy of the journey, the feeling of accomplishment. You plant some seeds in Spring and the taste of that first tomato is like nothing else. How much more of life would be that sweet if we only gave it a chance?

We are always creating new tag lines for Cybercise (really, always!). Recently, we created marketing material for our Workplace Wellness program and on the folder, used the phrase, "Wellness. On Demand." When I gave the material to a colleague he asked if he actually had to do anything other than demand wellness. He was teasing me, of course, but it made me think.

Would we, if given the chance, order one-click wellness? Click here and you are instantly healthy? No more avoiding the french fries and burgers. A pint of Ben & Jerry's every night. Sounds pretty good. Would you do it? Given our overuse of prescription medications in this country (many of which are not needed with lifestyle changes), I think most of us probably would go for it. And if we did, what would we lose in the process?

One visual sticks with me.

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Would you give up the hard for life through a straw?

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Change is Hard

Congresswoman Barbara Lee spoke to a small gathering at Tai Sophia Institute today. She spoke about health reform and the work still to be done. She spoke about her work with the Congressional Black Caucus. She spoke about politics and how changing the status quo is difficult. She was gracious enough to take questions from the audience near the end of her time and was asked how she remains hopeful in the light of what are sometimes seemingly insurmountable issues (the war in Afghanistan and energy policy, in particular). Her answer was simple and brilliant. She said change is hard and each one of us has to get up each day and be hopeful. And she said with hope, we can make the changes we need for the better.

If you are working to improve your health, be encouraged and inspired by Congresswoman Lee's words. Change is hard. Stay, hopeful and each day, at each moment, know you can choose hard and choose change.

We believe in you.


Friday, July 2, 2010

You Know Best

Have you ever been to the doctor's office with a complaint of a nagging pain or a strange sensation in your body? If so, your doctor probably asked you a few probing questions, he or she maybe even probed the area in question a bit, and without any definitive answer did one of three things: gave you a prescription, ordered some tests or told you to come back in a month if it wasn't any better. And, we pay for this? Yes, we do and a great deal actually.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not attacking physicians. I happen to like them, have several friends among them, and am ever grateful for the times they've kept my family members alive. We need our physicians. No doubt about it.

I do want to share a, perhaps, radical idea: you know your own body better than your doctor. Gasp! Shocking!

The concept is simple and potentially very powerful. If your body is sending you a message, stop what you're doing and listen to it. We talked about this earlier in the week, read about Your Body is Wise.

Today, on this Friday before a holiday weekend, let's take the idea one step further. Declare yourself your own Primary Care Provider. Be the one best person, in the entire world, to look out for your own health and well being. It is not always a glamorous job, but the rewards are terrific. This weekend, you can enjoy some great rewards: get some extra rest, eat some summer vegetables and go outside and play.

Happy 4th of July!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Move.Eat.Be

Today, we launched our six month wellness program called Move.Eat.Be. This self-guided program will lead our members through 24 weekly segments, covering 12 chapters over a six month period. We created the program to help people find their own path to wellness.

Historically, exercise and nutrition programs were orders telling people what to do and what to eat. As Americans continue to struggle with obesity and our healthcare costs continue to spiral upward, we'd contend the historical programs simply aren't working. We subscribe to the theory that each one of us is different and what works for one might not work best for another. Sure, we include basic tenets (exercise each day and eat more vegetables).

Move.Eat.Be. goes well beyond basic advice and helps our members work toward wellness through information, questions, self-reflection, and practices. Don't worry, this isn't like school. This is like finding yourself and how you can feel your best each day (for the very first time perhaps).

Best of all, the self-guided Move.Eat.Be. program is included in our basic Cybercise membership fee (a mere $10 per month). We have a BHAG (big hairy, audacious goal): Help a Million People Live Well. Let's face it, to reach a million people we have to be affordable and compelling and fun. And we are, if we may say so ourselves!

For more information about Move.Eat.Be. go to this page on our website. From here, you'll find everything you need and if you have more questions, you'll also find a special email address dedicated to this new program. We encourage you to join us and we'd love for you to share this with your friends, family and co-workers.

Will you be one of a million?

UPDATE: May 2012

Keep it simple is a great rule for health and for web portals, so we moved Move.Eat.Be. to its own web home so we are better able to keep things simple and focused. Cybercise will continue to deliver animated exercise videos and the new website at www.moveeatbe.com will be the home of both the online and e-book versions of the Move.Eat.Be. program.

As a special bonus, for those of you who subscribe to Move.Eat.Be. you can get a FREE silver membership to Cybercise by writing to us at moveeatbe@cyber-cise.com.