Jennifer Nicole Lee America's Sexiest Fitness Mom Coined Top Sexercise Expert

Sexercise? Sounds crazy (combining something we love with something we loath) but studies have routinely found that the right workout can boost libido, increase stamina and boost body confidence. So we asked fitness expert Jennifer Nicole Lee for advice.

She gave us some tips from her new book, "The Jennifer Nicole Lee Fitness Model Diet: JNL's Super Fitness Model Secrets to a Sexy, Strong Sleek Physique."

Jennifer Nicole Lee has now joined the "Most Desirable Women" list as the mecca of news, CBS News.com named her com "America's Sexiest Fitness Mom", interview at JNLSexyFitMom.com. Yes, this motivational weight loss success story turned mega-super model mogul has many titles, now not only is she a bestselling author, highly sought after cover model, key note speaker, successful international spokes model, but now she is "America's" "sexiest" "fitness" "mom".

More than just your average fitness model, Jennifer Nicole Lee (JNL) is a name that needs no introduction. Famous for her inspiring 80-pound plus weight loss success story, JNL is now known as the top profile leader in the fitness and wellness industry as well as the esteemed CEO to her multi-million dollar empire, JNL, Inc.


It all started when JNL, who was reaching 200 pounds after bearing two children, miraculously lost 70 pounds that brought all eyes on her and later was crowned as “Miss Bikini Diva Universe” champion. She instantly became an icon for women and fellow moms across the world, who got very motivated by her weight loss success story. Everybody wanted to know how she did it, everybody wanted to know her secrets. Seeing this as a glimmer of opportunity to help others realize and achieve their lifestyle goals, JNL agreed to share her motivational weight loss success story when she was featured in The Oprah Winfrey Show, The CBS Early Morning Show, Fox & Friends, Inside Edition, and The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, inspiring millions of viewers all over the globe.

This empowering experience has undoubtedly shot JNL into the health and fitness industry and gained her the respect of countless professionals. JNL started to appear in many television commercials, print ads and billboards in over 100 different countries, all thanks to her #1 global hit, the Ab Circle Pro, which is currently ranked #1 as the best selling exercise equipment to date worldwide. It is so successful that JNL, who is not only the spokes model for product, but also a partner, co-creator, and designer of the product, had to in fact, dub her voice into over 20 different languages just to put up with the product’s demand for various different countries.

That is when this mega-brand mogul initiated her brand new division to her empire on July 4th 2009, entitled JNL World Wide, Inc., which was inspired by Kathy Ireland – her mentor and idol that she so looks up to. Her newly created JNL World Wide, Inc. division again took the world by storm where she teamed up with her partners to create the exercise equipment of the future and made it successful on an international stage.

The fitness guru, lifestyle consultant, fitness model and most importantly devoted wife and mother who authored the “The Mind, Body, & Soul Diet: Your Complete Transformational Guide to Health, Healing & Happiness”, states that it is indeed a blessing to be in the position that she is in right now.

“I have been able to turn my passion for fitness and motivating people into a lucrative business on a global level. My team and I are busy making plans already for the future, well into 2011 and beyond. I just wrapped shooting and filming for The JNL Experience, which is the 2010 – 2011 swimsuit calendar. This truly does mark the new era for JNL Worldwide, Inc. and JNL, Inc. I can’t thank all of my fitness friends and fans for their support.”

JNL has indeed succeeded to walk her talk. She really believes that everyone deserves to increase the quality of their life and that with healthy diet, exercise and a fierce determination, anything is possible. When she is not busy running her empire, JNL can be found making monthly appearance to over 90 million households on the #1 interactive shopping channel. Her second book, “The Jennifer Nicole Lee Fitness Model Book” is now available.

She is now sharing her top super fitness model secrets in her bestselling books with other women, so they too can be sexier and fitter. Her latest literary work is fittingly entitled "The Jennifer Nicole Lee Fitness Model Diet: JNL's Super Fitness Model Secrets to a Sexy, Strong, Sleek Physique"

And just take a look for yourself at the sexy photo gallery of JNL that CBS News.com showcased, along with the breaking news at JNLCBSNews.com and JNLSexyFitMom.com.

Additional Resources:

Download:  The Jennifer Nicole Lee Fitness Model Diet.

Next-Generation Paleo Diet Signals Change

After the success of her first Paleo Cookbook series, Nikki Young is back with a second cookbook entitled, ‘Simple Paleo Recipes’. This innovative collection of recipes signals another landmark for the increasingly popular paleo diet which is fast becoming a global lifestyle choice.

The paleo diet follows the ancestral hunter-gatherer diet which excludes processed foods, grains, dairy, sugar and preservatives. The paleo diet sticks to a natural pathway, only consuming foods for which the human body was designed to digest; lean meats, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, with no grains, salt, sugar, legumes or dairy products allowed.

The next-generation paleo adaptation brings the paleolithic diet into the modern day by molding the diet to a contemporary lifestyle without compromising on quality of food or deviating from a high nutrient content. Rather than chasing wildebeest across the plains in the summer and scavenging for berries and seeds in the winter, modern paleo followers barbeque lean meats, roast vegetables and concoct colorful salads.

Due to proven reports of better health, and faced with the compelling reality that a modern day diet plagued with chemicals, additives and processed sugars will destroy the body, paleo popularity has soared to extraordinary levels across the globe. Those undertaking a paleo diet have reported an absence of headaches, improved sleep, increased energy, drastically reduced illness and natural, sustainable weight loss. These surface benefits are immediate and apparent, yet long term, paleo has the ability to ward off life threatening illnesses and maintain a high level of internal health well into old age.

This latest paleo cookbook release by Nikki Young comprises 200 brand new recipes, and is themed around simplicity with the intention of increasing accessibility to delicious foods that are simultaneously kind to the body. Speaking on the release of her new cookbook, Nikki Young comments, “The Simple Paleo Recipes cookbook is designed to cater for a person’s entire diet. These recipes follow the staple foundation of a paleo diet which incorporates the nutrients and vitamins required by the body for optimum health. I have included a variety of protein sources, vegetables and fruits, as well as incorporating essential fats through the use of various nut oils; these oils also contribute greatly to the delicious taste of a number of the recipes."

For hundreds of thousands of years the paleo diet has been responsible for keeping the human race strong, alive and fighting illness naturally. It is by no means a contemporary fad diet, but a way of living that is innate to human beings. There is no real effort involved, only the application of instinct to eat foods naturally engineered for the human body to remain healthy.

To assist paleo beginners in getting acquainted with the diet of mankind, the cookbook incorporates a number of useful features. Most notable is a color coded meal recommendation indicator which helps the reader decide for which meal time the recipe is best suited. The PDF formatting provides immediate kitchen accessibility via computer or a mobile device and also ease of access for those wanting to print off a single recipe or the entire cookbook. The reader is helpfully given a shopping list and weekly meal planner so ingredients can be noted down and purchased accordingly. The cookbook also contains a conversion page for global measurement alternation.

Historically healthy cooking has appeared complicated to the masses who have succumbed to a diet of ready meals and fast food takeaways. But rapidly the world is becoming increasingly conscious of food-related illness and the daily suffering caused by a poor diet. Simply by providing an abundance of natural, nutrient rich foods, the paleo diet reduces the risk of lifestyle related diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancer.

The Simple Paleo Recipes cookbook opens up the doorway to healthy eating for all, not just those already useful in the kitchen. As Nikki Young explains, “I wanted to make this cookbook as easy as possible to follow and for people from all walks of life to enjoy. I am passionate about helping people achieve good health and well being by eating the right foods. This new cookbook harnesses that passion in its presentation and content.”

Additional Resources:
Paleo Food List
Paleo Brands
Everyday Paleo
Paleo Momma

Paleo Diet Update to Our Previous Article: Paleo Diet The food of Champions

After a month on the Paleo diet – big chunks of meat, no ketchup, cereal, chips or alcohol – Globe reporter Dave McGinn is ready to stuff his inner Neanderthal back in the cave.

read the full paleo diet article here:

Trying the Paleo diet? Be prepared for Caveman crankiness 


Other Resources:


Paleo Diet Recipes


Should you be eating like a cave man?


Guide to the paleo diet for athletes 

Consuming Nutrients at the Right Time

Consuming nutrients at the right time and in appropriate amounts can take fitness and performance to a new level. The complex science behind nutrient timing, however, requires the help of sports nutritionists, usually restricting the practice to elite athletes working with professional ‘food coaches’.

Now, renowned sport nutritionists Heidi Skolnik and Andrea Chernus—who work with elite athletes from New York Giants football players to Julliard School dancers—break down the nutrient timing issue for all types of athletes in a hands-on guide. In "Nutrient Timing for Peak Performance" (Human Kinetics, June 2010), they advise when to eat what so nutrients have their greatest impact on athletes’ bodies.

“The timing of nutrients can have a big impact on an athlete’s energy,” claims Skolnik. “Plus, when and how much you eat can help not only with muscle hypertrophy but also with immune function.” She adds that staying well fueled can also reduce the risk of injury.

Skolnik and Chernus explain in layperson’s terms the science behind nutrient timing and detail nutrients like carbohydrate, protein, smart fat, essential vitamins and minerals and the role of fluids and supplements. With that base of information, they provide the strategies, plans and sample menus to help people develop their own individualized Nutritional Blueprints incorporating the Nutrient Timing Principles (NTP).

Before exercise, for example, the authors suggest specific strategies for ingestion of carbohydrate, protein and fluids. Carbohydrate before exercise provides a “topping off” of fuel reserves and blood sugar, says Skolnik helping athletes stamina, concentration and skill remain strong. Pre-exercise protein, meanwhile, may be difficult to tolerate, but small amounts may aid in reducing muscle soreness. Strength athletes, specifically, benefit from a small amount of high-quality protein to aid insulin release, inhibit muscle breakdown and facilitate muscle repair. However, “it need not be immediately before exercise in any special form,” adds Skolnik.

Fluid needs vary by individual, but the authors generally advise drinking 17 to 20 ounces of fluids two to three hours before exercise to supply optimal fluid to muscle tissue in advance of the workout and for any excess to be excreted. They also advise drinking 7 to 10 ounces of fluids 10 to 20 minutes before exercise. “This will help ensure that blood plasma is hydrated,” explains Chernus. “This timing strategy also ensures that there is some fluid in your stomach so that as you drink during your training, absorption will be faster than if you began with an empty stomach.”

The authors go on to provide advice for fueling during and post-exercise, and they give specific guidelines for strength and power athletes, endurance sport participants and stop-and-go athletes.

“Our goal is to help athletes formulate an eating plan to meet their goals,” says Skolnik, “whether they are male or female, compete seriously, participate for fun, or are training for health, well-being and aesthetics.”

Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico, EPA Responds

EPA Responds to the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico


Since the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico on April 22, 2010, EPA has mobilized resources to support the U.S. Coast Guard and protect public health and the environment.  Our Emergency Operations Center at headquarters has been activated, trained EPA responders are working on the scene, and special mobile equipment has been sent to the Gulf area.
We have several online resources available:

1) We're posting updated data and other information on our BP oil spill site (www.epa.gov/bpspill):

• Get air quality and water data
• Find answers to common questions
• Submit technology solutions

2) Connect with us on social media sites:

• Administrator Jackson's personal account of the response to the oil spill: Facebook and Twitter
• EPA's announcements about our response: Facebook and Twitter

3) Please subscribe to our oil spill updates at http://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=USAEPA_389.
You can also visit the coordinated government response site (www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com) for:

• Information about the spill and efforts to stop the oil from flowing
• Hotlines to report oil on land or injured wildlife
• Details of how you can volunteer

Do you think the Federal Government is doing all it can to help stop the oils spill in the Gulf of Mexico?  Let us know by leaving comments.

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Oil Spills Gulf Coast, Keep Drilling Baby

Keep drilling for oil offshore! The latest oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has really brought offshore drilling to the forefront. Now, why would we want to increase our drilling for oil offshore. By increasing offshore drilling, will the increase, increase the chances of another oil spill?

Now the Coast Guard states they will have to start controlled burns to burn off spilled oil too save the coast lines. What impact does burning the oil spill have on air quality for the Gulf Coast?

Tell us what you think by posting your comments below.

How Aware or Concerned is the American Public in  Regards to"Oil Spills" in the last 30 days?


See The Results here

Related Articles:


Cost to Clean Up The Oil Spill in the Gulf Coast


Do a search on  Google News for Oil Spills for the Past Month.  The results are astounding,

View all News Articles for the past month on "Oils Spills"

Related News Video:




See NASA Video of the Oil Spill

Earth Hour-the world's largest global climate change event

From melting glaciers to increasingly intense weather patterns, we know that climate change is already impacting life on our planet.

On Saturday, March 28, 2009, at 8:30 pm, our employees will take part in Earth Hour-the world's largest global climate change event. By simply turning off all non-essential lighting for one hour at our company buildings and in our own homes, we will join tens of millions of concerned citizens throughout the world in calling for action to save our planet for future generations.

Earth Hour is an event led by the World Wildlife Fund. In 2008, more than 50 million people in 370 cities around the world took part, as the lights dimmed at Sydney's Opera House, Rome's Coliseum, the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge. Even the Google homepage went dark for the day.

This year, Earth Hour will be even bigger. In cities large and small have said they'll participate…with more signing on daily. They will join international cities such as Auckland, Beijing, Bogota, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Kiev, Kuala Lumpur, Lisbon, London, Manila, Mexico City, Moscow, New York, Oslo, Paris, Rome, Singapore, Shanghai, Sydney, Toronto, Vancouver, and Warsaw.

Energy efficiency isn't just good for the bottom line. We all have a stake in the future of our planet and must learn to operate in ways that don't deplete our world's limited natural resources.

In the weeks leading up to Earth Hour, we plan to take a close look at ways our company can operate more efficiently, waste less and reduce our environmental footprint-not only in our own operations, but throughout our supply chain. Joining Earth Hour is a great way to show our readers and our community that the people genuinely care about their future.

We hope you'll join us in the important and inspiring effort and encourage your own employees, customers and suppliers to take part.

Participating in Earth Hour is easy, fun and absolutely free. To get more information and to have your business listed among those participating in our community, visit www.earthhour.org /and pledge to turn out all nonessential lights from 8:30-9:30 pm on March 28, 2009.
Don't forget-on March 28th at 8:30 pm, switch off. A simple way to help make the world a better place.

How Not To Weight For The Bus

Let' set the stage. Your downtown and your waiting on the bus. You sit down on a bench and then you notice a sign next to you telling you how much you weight. Sound like fun?

Personally, I think it good advertising from Fitness First

Do you like being humiliated into buying a gym membership? This is the type of fitness advertising that can cross the line, but does it? Do you think this is considered public humiliation?





Read the full story here:

Weighting For The Bus - ANIMAL

Power yoga, the fitness mantra of Bollywood beauties

This is an interesting story on how the Bollywood actors stay fit.


Power yoga, the fitness mantra of Bollywood beauties

The Benefits of a Strong Butt

First of all, a strong butt does not mean no butt. Current trends in popular culture, with emaciated models and super skinny actresses, have made real women feel that in any extra "junk in the trunk" is unattractive and undesirable. Not only is this body style not realistic for most women, it is not ideal. In fact, women are genetically predisposed to carry extra weight in their lower bodies to help in childbearing. Additionally, in many cultures a full bottom is considered very desirable and sexy, and a full, round derriere is envied and appreciated by men and women alike.

That being said, a strong, healthy butt offers many health benefits, in addition to making us look and feel better in our jeans. First of all, because of the large size of the muscle group that make up the posterior, the butt muscles make the rest of our bodies work more efficiently.

According to Fred DeVito,V.P. Of Exhale Spa, the Glutteal group (medius, minimus and maximus) form one of the largest muscle groups in the body. Consequently, muscle tone in this area helps to create a strong support base for the pelvic girdle.

DeVito says, "This supportive base relieves pressure on the lower back and also allows for more efficient posterior leg function in movement as well as in standing postures."

Additionally, according to Michael J. Donovan, Ph.D., Presidential Management Fellow at National Institutes of Health, "Strong gluteals can improve your posture, minimize your effort to walk, especially upstairs, and can help with heavy lifting." The "butt muscles" are partly responsible for keeping us upright. Moreover, strong gluteal muscles provide muscular power formost aerobic activities.

A strong butt ensures maximal muscle efficiency. "When the gluteal muscles are weak other muscles are recruited to produce certain movements. These recruited muscles function best in a supporting role, so the result will be weaker and, over time, could develop into a chronic, overuse-type injury," says Donovan. Also, the gluteals stabilize the hip joint and, consequently, play a major role in keeping the knee healthy. Strong gluteal muscles help control hip and thigh movement, preventing the knees from folding inward.

Donovan explains, "This is a common problem in women because the female pelvis is wider than the male pelvis, forming a more acute angle between the hip and knee. Hence, strong gluteal muscles help strengthen the hip joint thereby stabilizing the knee joint and helping to prevent knee pain." In fact, the health benefits of having strong gluteal muscles are so well recognized at this point, that development and strengthening of these muscles is a focus of rehabilitation therapy.

Irv Rubenstein, Ph.D. Exercise Physiology and President of, STEPS, Inc. explains that because "studies show high correlations between non-functioning gluteus medius and acl injury, patellofemoral pain syndrome, and low back pain risk, rehab is now directed toward developing the glute medius first in function, then endurance, then strength."

In addition to the health benefits strong gluteal muscles provide to the overall functioning of other muscle and joint systems, they also perform an important metabolic function and play an important role in weight management.

Accorrding to Fred DeVito, "Because these muscles are large in mass, when toned, they are engines that burn calories for fuel. While all muscles act in this way, the gluteals have the greatest potential for burning calories (even at rest) due to their size and mass." The more muscle you have, the more fat your body is able to burn when you are in a resting state.

Since the glutes are a large muscle group, strengthening and increasing your muscles there will begin instantly burning fat. Carrying around excess body fat wears down your muscles and fatigues your body. By carrying around this extra weight, your body is using up the energy you need to work and play. This fatigue can also affect your mood dramatically. Rob Price at SportsWorkout.com, a certified personal trainer and the author of The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Sports.

Numerous health benefits derive from a healthy, strong butt. In addition to making our posture better, our knees function better, our hips less prone to injury and pain, and our other muscles groups work more efficiently, they also turn our bodies into fat-burning machines that enable us to burn calories even while resting. A follow-up article will discuss in detail easy ways to strengthen these important muscles so that your body can get the full health benefits of having a strong butt. Not to mention, you'll look great in your jeans.

How To Find Healthy Restaurant Food Choices Fast

 

The average American eats around five meals at restaurants each week. GoodFoodNearYou makes eating healthy restaurant food convenient. GoodFoodNearYou displays localized search results of the healthiest food at the restaurants closest in distance. The GoodFoodNearYou search empowers people to make smart, fast and healthy dining decisions. GoodFoodNearYou also displays the menus for every restaurant listed in the search results and the typical nutritional values for each menu item including fat, calories and carbohydrates.

Nancy Clark, MS, RD, CSSD, a sports nutritionist and nutrition author says, "If you are looking for food help when you are on the go, GoodFoodNearYou.com is a handy tool. Calorie and health conscious eaters can find menu options in local chain restaurants that will support their nutritional diet goals".

GoodFoodNearYou has the food and nutrition information for 33,000 food items at approximately 220,000 U.S. restaurant locations including popular casual dining restaurants, fast food restaurants, grocery stores and convenience stores. A search on GoodFoodNearYou results in twenty of the healthiest food options at the restaurant locations closest in distance. To fulfill specific diet requirements, search results can be sorted by lowest fat, calories or carbohydrates.

"GoodFoodNearYou came about because of a need we had in the office when trying to order healthy food for lunch," explains Nick Desai, CEO of Global Fitness Media, the company that developed GoodFoodNearYou. Desai is the Founder, Chairman and former CEO of Juice Wireless and inventor of JuiceCaster, an award winning mobile social networking service offered by AT&T, T-Mobile, Nokia and others.

Desai continues, "Diets often fail because they do not fit into your lifestyle. You end up doing what is convenient, rather than what is healthy. We took the convenience of the web and made healthy restaurant food options accessible. We are excited to launch GoodFoodNearYou as there is a great demand for simple lifestyle solutions and location based help with dieting and weight loss".

Lifestyle and technology trends indicate that local search and web and mobile browsing are used more commonly for seeking out information. GoodFoodNearYou improves public access to useful local restaurant food and nutrition information.

"GoodFoodNearYou is a product that reflects the variety of ways people use technology to find information. Global Fitness Media developed mobile application versions of GoodFoodNearYou for GPS enabled devices like the Apple iPhone and the BlackBerry Curve because mobile browsers on cell phones are often used to access location based information on the web," explains Desai.

Start Your Search Today Go To: GoodFoodNearYou

Technorati Tags: Healthy,Food,Resturant,Search,Diet,WWeight Loss

The Ultimate Workout System For Busy Dads

Busy dads around the world are raving about the results they get from only 3 short Dad Fitness workouts a week. With the innovative exercise design found in the Dad Fitness workouts busy dads everywhere are finally losing that belly fat and building lean muscle in only 3 hours a week.

In addition to 8 workout and nutrition bonuses that is included with the Dad Fitness System, for these 3 days only Dad Fitness will be including 3 new free bonuses such as The Dad Fitness Home Workout that can be done in the comfort of your own home with little equipment.



Sean Barker, a busy dad himself as well as a fitness expert to busy dads everywhere realizes that in these shaky economic times the best investment you can make is your health. "The only thing they can lose with the Dad Fitness System is that dangerous heart attack fat" that maybe robbing them out of years of healthy living that they owe to themselves and to their families.

Thanks to Dad Fitness, overweight dads around the globe can get instant access to effective workouts and proper nutrition information with just a click of a mouse.

The Dad Fitness System is available as an instant download so busy dads can get started right away on the New Year-New Dad Fitness Giveaway.

Shy Teens at Higher Risk of Substance Abuse

While shyness is often thought to be relatively harmless, it can in fact have damaging effects on young people. Dr. Bernardo Carducci, Director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast, finds that shy male teens, who may turn to drugs and/or alcohol to help deal with stressful social situations, are at a higher risk than their peers to develop substance abuse.

One way to help shy teens avoid these potential dangers is to encourage them to get part-time jobs at which they are forced to interact with customers.

Thyroid Awareness Month: Check Your Neck, Change Your Life

Some health experts estimate that upwards of 60 million Americans are suffering from thyroid disease -- but because thyroid problems can be tricky to recognize and diagnose for patients and doctors -- the majority of sufferers are not yet even diagnosed. In the past year, one of America's most famous celebrities, Oprah Winfrey, even went public about her own thyroid problem and resulting 40-pound weight gain.

According to thyroid patient advocate and author Mary Shomon, "Millions of people have an undiagnosed thyroid disorder, and don't realize that it is the source of the other health challenges they face. Obesity, depression, fatigue, high cholesterol, infertility, low sex drive, and many other conditions are often the direct result of undiagnosed and untreated thyroid conditions."

To help these undiagnosed thyroid sufferers finally get the help they need, Shomon, the New York Times best-selling author of "The Thyroid Diet" and popular patient-directed books, web sites, and thyroid newsletters, has put together the "Check Your Neck, Change Your Life" campaign, along with a free downloadable ebook -- all designed to help educate and empower people about how to get a proper thyroid diagnosis.

The free ebook, titled "The Thyroid Awareness Month Guide to Thyroid Disease," is available at the Thyroid Awareness Month campaign website

Health Departments React with Alarm to New CDC Surveillance Data

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released national sexually transmitted disease (STD) surveillance data for 2007. The report shows persistent and staggeringly high rates of STDs as well as a disproportionate burden of infections on youth, minorities, and women. Upon the release of this information, the National Coalition of STD Directors called for a renewed commitment from Congress and President-elect Obama to fight the STD epidemic in the U.S.

In 2007, more than 1.1 million Chlamydia cases were reported, which is the largest number of cases ever reported to CDC for any condition. Rates of primary and secondary (P & S) syphilis increased by 15% from 2006, and 65% of all P & S syphilis cases were among men who have sex with men (MSM). In addition, the report shows persistent and growing racial disparities in Chlamydia, Syphilis, and Gonorrhea infections. In 2007, Blacks were 19 times more likely to become infected with Gonorrhea than whites.

"This report should serve as a wake up call to policymakers and the public that STDs remain a significant public health threat in the U.S., and a scaled up investment of funds are desperately needed for prevention and treatment," stated Don Clark, NCSD's Executive Director.

CDC estimates that approximately 19 million STD infections occur each year, and nearly half are among those aged 15-24 years. African American women between 15 and 19 are particularly hard hit, accounting for the highest rates of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea of any group. The consequences of untreated STDs include infertility, pregnancy complications, cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, birth defects and an increased risk of HIV transmission.

While rates of STDs have continued to increase, federal funding for CDC's Division of STD Prevention has steadily declined since Fiscal Year 2003. This has significantly hampered the ability of STD programs in state and local health departments to deliver critical prevention and treatment services, as well as conduct surveillance. "State and local health departments are responsible for controlling this epidemic and often are the medical providers of last resort for persons with STDs. There needs to be a systematic reinvestment in the public health infrastructure to provide the necessary clinical services to diagnose and treat STDs and contact exposed partners to insure that they are treated and further spread is prevented," stated Dr. Peter Kerndt, NCSD Board Chair and STD Program Director from Los Angeles County.

"In addition to the need for a greater investment of resources for CDC's Division of STD Prevention, NCSD strongly urges Congress and President-elect Obama to support evidence-based prevention programs to prevent STDs, particularly for young people," stated Don Clark. More than $1.6 billion in federal funds have been spent on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, which have been unable to demonstrate effectiveness at delaying sexual activity, or reducing rates of STDs, including HIV/AIDS, or unintended pregnancy. Clark continued, "It is time to end these ineffective and harmful programs, and invest in science based approaches to STD prevention, including comprehensive sex education."

A World First In Gyms

With unemployment figures on the up and doom and gloom an everyday part of the job market, a gym chain popular with celebrities is bucking the trend in a most unusual way by employing five new members of staff as human weights. The 30% increase in the workforce is down to the launch of a new piece of weight training apparatus, the only one of its kind in the world, that uses real life people instead of dumbbells, being launched in GYMBOX's new gym in Bank, EC1.

The human weights, which enable users to flex and curl by 'pumping' human beings, which will be available from 19th January in GYMBOX Bank, are being introduced to motivate gym-goers by allowing them to visualise what they are lifting. Experts in sports psychology agree that visualisation is a significant factor in improving performance and human weights are as visual as it can get.

The human weights are the latest in a long line of unusual initiatives from GYMBOX, who's users include the likes of Orlando Bloom and Christian Slater. The gym were famous for introducing Boob Aerobics to the UK (the workout that can help increase bust size), Chav fighting (self defence for the modern world) and the WAG workout, a course on how to look every inch the trophy footballers wife (instructed by a real-life WAG).

Unlike regular dumbbells, the human weights will come with an optional 'motivation feature' where each human weight will shout words of encouragement to ensure muscles are worked to the max, at the gym goer's request. Otherwise they will just keep quiet and keep still as they are lifted.

For more Information Go To: GYMBOX

More Americans Now Classified as Obese Than Overweight

The number of Americans classified as obese now outweighs the number of people defined as overweight, according to a report recently released by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Read More Here:
More Americans Now Classified as Obese Than Overweight

Coca-Cola Sued Over Deceptive VitaminWater Claims

"A class action lawsuit was filed late yesterday in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Coca-Cola Company alleging that Coca-Cola has used deceptive advertising in marketing its VitaminWater line of beverages. The plaintiff is represented by Whatley Drake & Kallas, LLC ('WDK'), Reese Richman LLP, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)."

Read More Here:
Coca-Cola Sued Over Deceptive VitaminWater Claims:

The Working Lunch Through Live, One-of-a-Kind, Online Experience

More and more office workers are trapped at their desks during the lunch hour. In fact, according to a recent Omnibus survey, 60 percent of office workers in the United States said they eat lunch at their desks at least once or twice a week.(i)

To accommodate this growing trend and bring humor into the work day, Healthy Choice has joined forces with MSN to introduce the "The Working Lunch" a unique Web site featuring a live, four-hour show consisting of improvised sketch-theme comedy segments, directed by visitors.

Through streaming video technology, this unpredictable, live program is brought to life in the new "prime time" of today's time-crunched office workers. From Nov. 12 through Nov. 25, for 10 consecutive business days, between the hours of 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. EST, Web site visitors to www.workinglunch.msn.com can participate in the digital experience by voting on sketch themes and directing the improvisational comedy group, which includes Second City alumni and actors from the new Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers television commercials.

The live improvised performances will take the form of an actual office meeting, and the ensemble cast will integrate Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers meals, new complete, freshly prepared and healthful lunch options that can be stored in a desk or a pantry, into each sketch. Once produced, the day's shows will be archived on the site. Condensed sketches are embeddable, making them easy to share with friends across the Internet.

According to Nielsen in 2008, people between the ages of 25 and 54 consume 90 percent of their total Internet usage time during working lunch hours, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.(ii)

"'The Working Lunch,' just like Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers, is designed to give busy office workers a lunch hour they can look forward to," said Michael Locascio, vice president of marketing at ConAgra Foods. "This interactive experience provides the online entertainment and humor that deskbound and time-strapped office workers are seeking, while underscoring the convenience, great taste and nutritional value of Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers."

"Our Branded Entertainment and Experiences Team is thrilled to be partnering with Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers to provide our audience with exactly what they need, a break from the work day," said Michael Sigenthaler, director, MSN Branded Entertainment and Experiences. "'The Working Lunch,' is a fast, humorous and entertaining snack that allows our customers to control what they will see next."

"The Working Lunch" is the next step in the overall Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers launch and the growing movement to enhance the way people eat lunch during the work day. This virtual experience will continue with a fresh series of live, online meeting sketches in January 2009.

Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers meals are priced at $3.49 each and can be found in the pasta or prepared-foods aisle.

They are available in six fresh-tasting varieties, including Sweet & Sour Chicken, Sesame Teriyaki Chicken, Ziti & Meat Sauce, Rotini & Zesty Marinara Sauce, Southwestern Style Chicken and Szechwan Beef with Asian Style Noodles.

Why You Should Get a Flu Shot

An Erie County woman is Pennsylvania's first state laboratory-confirmed case of influenza this season, the state Health Department said today.

"The announcement of our first confirmed flu case should be a reminder to all Pennsylvanians to take the necessary steps to remain healthy throughout flu season," said acting Health Secretary Everette James.



"Flu season has arrived and now is the time to protect your health and get vaccinated."

See Influenza Symptoms

The influenza vaccine is recommended for the following high-risk individuals:

-- All children 6 months through 18 years of age;

-- People 50 years of age and older regardless of their medical history;

-- People with underlying health conditions such as heart, respiratory, kidney, liver metabolic, and immune system problems;

-- People with weakened immune systems such as HIV/AIDS, long-term treatment of steroids, and cancer treatment with X-rays or drugs;

-- People who have cognitive dysfunction, and muscle or nerve disorders (such as spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy or seizure disorders) that can lead to breathing or swallowing problems;

-- People who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy who, therefore, might be at risk for Reyes syndrome after influenza infection;

-- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities;

-- Women who will be pregnant anytime during the influenza season;

-- Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children 0-59 months of age;

-- Physicians, nurses, family members, or anyone else in close contact with any of these groups at risk for influenza;

-- Anyone wishing to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill from influenza.

Each year, an estimated 36,000 individuals die from influenza-related illnesses and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized nationwide. Rates of serious illness and death are highest among people over the age of 65 and individuals of any age who have chronic medical conditions that place them at increased risk for complications from influenza.

Recommended ways to prevent the spread of the flu include frequent handwashing, covering your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and, when possible, avoiding contact with others when you are sick.

It is also important to consult with your medical provider as soon as the first symptoms of influenza appear since certain antiviral prescription drugs may lessen the duration and severity of the illness if taken early.

Flu cases traditionally peak between January and March, so individuals should consider getting vaccinated before peak flu season begins. It takes one to two weeks to build up immunity after receiving the flu vaccine.

For more information on influenza, contact the Department of Health at

1-877-PA-HEALTH or visit http://www.health.state.pa.us/flu.