Balance Newsletter - October 2008

Welcome to THE NEW Balanceaustin.com!

Hi there, and thanks for your support of the new Balanceaustin.com!  We’re thrilled about our re-launch of the website and appreciate all of the great, candid feedback we’ve received from you, our loyal supporters.  As you can tell, the website has taken on a whole new look and feel, loaded with better content to help YOU create a better life of balance.  Easily the most significant change has been the addition of blogging to the website.  We have a number of guest bloggers, including Kim Stewart from Majic 95.5, Allison Allen, founder of www.womenbloom.com, Sue Cullen, a life and career coach with www.suecullen.com, and Marny Lifshen, author of the book Some Assembly Required: A Networking Guide for Women. If you get a chance to read up on their blogs, be sure and provide some feedback, they’re happy to interact with you!   If you’ve been with us from the beginning, enjoy the new site. If this is your first newsletter and you’re just becoming familiar with balanceaustin.com, we thank you for your interest and support – go ahead, tell a friend, and create some balance in your life!  www.balanceaustin.com. 

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know the first NBCAM program took place in October 1985 as a week-long event to fill the information void in public communication about breast cancer? The founding members of the Board of Sponsors, the American Academy of Family Physicians, AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation and CancerCare, Inc., distributed brochures, spoke to news reporters, and testified before a U.S. Congressional committee about the crucial need for widespread access to mammography.

Today, the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) organization is comprised of several national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies working in partnership to build breast cancer awareness, share information and provide access to screening services.  October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and balanceaustin.com would like to remind you how you can get involved...

• On Sunday, November 2nd, Austin is host to the 11th annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  Click here for details:
• On October 11th in Houston, the American Cancer Society is hosting its Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk .
• Each year, across the nation, one event brings together entire communities to take part in the fight against cancer. That event is the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®. It’s a time and place where people come to celebrate those who have survived cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and fight back against a disease that touches too many lives.  If you want to be a part of the fight against cancer, Sign up today for the Relay For Life of Belton 2008.

Breast Cancer Screening/Prevention

Information about the prevention of cancer and the science of screening appropriate individuals at high-risk of developing cancer is gaining interest. Physicians and individuals alike recognize that the best "treatment" of cancer is preventing its occurrence in the first place or detecting it early when it may be most treatable.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States, with approximately 200,000 cases diagnosed each year. Progress in the areas of screening and treatment may allow for earlier detection and higher cure rates.  Click here to learn more about screening and prevention.

Sunday Morning Balance Breakfast Hour

Sunday mornings at 8am on Majic 95.5 have become the home of the Sunday Morning Balance Breakfast music feature, and it continues to generate playlists, from you, our loyal balance audience – thanks for sending them in!  In September, special thanks to Sarah Elizabeth Wilson for programming the September 21st edition.  For your efforts, Sarah, we're going to send you a Balance recyclable grocery bag loaded with goodies, including a summer first aid kit!

If you have a playlist that sets your tone every Sunday morning, click here and submit five songs.  This is your chance to program a radio station, even if it’s only 15 minutes!  The next Sunday Morning Balance Breakfast Hour will be at 8am on October 19th on Majic 95.5.

Balance Favorites

At age 32, Kim from www.pinkribbonshop.com was diagnosed with breast cancer.  As devastating as the news was, she had to get on with her life for the sake of her husband (read Danny's story) and three young children. 

Her breast cancer prompted those around her to begin thinking about their own risk, and in turn, Kim wanted to reach out to even more people - to help promote breast cancer awareness in an even bigger way.  The idea for The Pink Ribbon Shop was born.

Breast Cancer has touched the lives of so many - it seems that everyone knows someone with breast cancer.  By wearing PinkRibbonShop.com merchandise, you are helping to spread the word and increase awareness about breast cancer.  You are showing those you know with breast cancer that you care.  You are also helping to support breast cancer research, because a portion of the proceeds from every item is donated to breast cancer organizations.

Balance Favorites #2

OK, so we’re a little biased – they’re a supporting sponsor of balanceaustin.com – but we’re here to tell you that Aesthetica MedSpa is one of the best-equipped medical aesthetics and cosmetic dermatology offices in central Texas. They offer cutting edge skin rejuvenation, hair removal, a full line of skin care products and other cosmetic dermatology services. At Aesthetica, natural good looks are their specialty.  Currently, Aesthetica MedSpa is featuring Thermage, a safe, non-invasive cosmetic procedure that is clinically proven to help smooth, tighten and contour skin to restore a naturally younger looking appearance.  Click here to read all about it!  

Featured Health Tip #1 - Why You Need Health Insurance

When you’re young, active and healthy, high medical costs can seem far away. That’s why many Texans forgo individual coverage.  Monthly premiums may seem like a financial burden, and it can be hard to foresee the potential catastrophic costs of an accident or injury.

But the truth is that one uninsured day in the hospital can easily throw you into many years of debt. Not to mention that skipping annual, preventive doctors visits because you don’t have insurance only adds to the possibility that you’ll need major medical treatment in the future.

To protect your long-term health and finances, talk to a health insurance broker or an insurance company such as Scott & White Health Plan about finding the right health plan for you. Many insurance carriers have comprehensive plans to help individuals and families no matter their medical requirements or available budget. You need to shop around for the plan that’s the best match for you.

So look at it this way: If the bad news is that you’re too old to be on your parents’ health plan, the good news is you’re old enough to start taking control of your health and finances.  Or if the bad news is your employer doesn’t offer coverage–or you’re self-employed–the good news is you have the freedom and flexibility to choose the right plan for you.  No matter what, the best news is: You can find affordable, comprehensive health coverage that works for you.

To learn more, log on to the Health and Wellness section at www.balanceaustin.com,  brought to you by Scott & White Health Plan.

Featured Health Tip #2

You know the benefits of exercise programs. And if you've been inactive, you may have also felt them -- with sore muscles and bruised motivation to continue. But a new study in women shows that the old adage is true -- it's never too late to start when it comes to exercise programs.  Here are some basic tips…

• Get a checkup before a workout. A visit to your doctor is wise for anyone beginning an exercise program, but it's crucial for the elderly or others who have been inactive because of health problems. In addition to the obvious -- checking your heart and lungs -- your doctor can help determine if your regimen needs to consider other medical conditions, and the drugs you take for them.
• Start slow. Once you get the green light, the key to avoiding fatigue and muscle pain is to pull out of the gate very slowly. "You hear so much about the importance of getting 30 minutes of exercise a day, but those recommendations should not be viewed as goals if you've been sedentary -- even if you're healthy," Banks says. "Initially, you should actually shoot below your comfort level.
• Go more often. Of course, those few minutes of your exercise program can be done several times a day. First, try to do some activity for a few minutes several times a day. Then slowly increase the time spent in each session. But don't worry about going faster until you've exercised regularly for at least one month. A key to intensity: Ideally, you want to be aerobic enough so you can utter a few words or syllables in each sentence, but not so little that you're speaking in complete sentences or too much so you can barely talk, advises Banks.
• Don't go solo. Although there is no evidence that people are fitter when they exercise with others, they are more likely to stick to an exercise program, or anything else, with the buddy system. "We're always better in the company of others," says Banks.
• Do what you enjoy. While most studies and others have focused on walking because it's among the easiest and most popular forms of exercise, you should pick an activity you like, so you continue it.  It could be gardening, swimming, tennis, or the old favorite, walking. 

This Month’s Featured Podcast

Adriane Berg is the founder of Generation Bold, a sales and marketing consultant to companies seeking to reach the leading edge baby boomer and active senior.  She is also a spokesperson and message point creator for advertising and branding campaigns to reach that market. Ms. Berg has created www.longevityclubonline.com for boomers & seniors committed to successful aging.  Click here to learn more about how she creates balance through her podcast. 

Balance Event's This Month

• Friday, October 3rd, The Secrets of Successful High Earners, Carmelo’s, 504 E. 5th St.  11:30am-3:30pm.
• Thursday, October 2nd, 16th and 23rd, Cool River Café, 6:30p-8:30p
• Sunday, October 12th, Shops at the Galleria, 4pm-6pm
• Tuesday, October 21st, Tiarra Tuesday with Majic 95.5 (Location TBD), 6pm-8pm
• Sunday, November 2nd, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Auditorium Shores.  8am

Feedback

From everyone at balanceaustin.com, thank you for your support! Help us grow this community by providing feedback on how to improve the website content or if you have stories or tips to share. We hope you enjoy the new site.