A New Year...A Healthy You!

I had a plan on New Year's Eve. I knew exactly what had to be done. I was thinking about my plan all day on December 31, and I even discussed my plan with fellow co-workers who committed to the same idea. We were dedicated in our insight to make this next year happen with earthquake changes in our lives...and it all was going to start on New Year's Eve with a big plan.

I told everyone I knew about my plan for New Year's Eve: staying home, watching a movie, popping some corn, lighting some candles, and most importantly and dramatically, writing out a life plan. At the stroke of midnight, instead of a notebook of goals, resolutions, changes, and detailed plans, I looked down at my blank page and then looked at the clock. It wasn't the only the beginning of a new day, but the beginning of a whole new year. And, so far, I had nothing written down to start the day with.

This was a grand idea, but when I look back on my ambition to write out goals and resolutions that required extraordinary actions on my part to make incredible changes in my already complicated life, I realized that the change is in the small things. It made me think that big changes rarely happen without the baby changes we make everyday. It's one day at a time, living in the moment, being present in the now, making the change for that instant second that results in the dramatic effect in our lives.

Looking back on my New Year's Eve experience, I think I am beginning to understand what appreciating the moment is all about. Reflecting on what is happening in the present moment can also be a meditative way to start out the new year while embracing the life time experiences of the past year.

I know many people who make New Year's resolutions that enhance their appearance by trying to commit to unrealistic diet plans and fantastically outrageous exercise plans. Don't worry! I'm not about to recommend some impossible goal for you. All it takes is for you to be present in the now and take the appropriate action. Getting tested for HIV can be frightening and intimidating for some people, but knowing your HIV status can put you in the driver's seat and back in control of your life. Taking advantage of the opportunity to know more about your health and accessing resources to help you build a better life is what knowing about HIV status is all about. Quitting smoking, starting to exercise, decreasing alcohol intake, eating a more balanced diet are all great goals, but taking an HIV test is something you can do right now, in the present, to change your life for the better.

Learn something about yourself today...make the change today...get tested today....know your HIV status today. Start changing your life today.

Wishing you the very best of 2013!

Until next time.

Written by: William Tinley - Public Health Nurse
To read more of William's blog posts, visit Stop HIV Jeffco.

Perfect Time to Quit!

Anytime is the perfect time to quit smoking, however a lot of people are inspired by the New Year.  For those who want to quit, there are several helpful resources available.

• Colorado Quitline - 1-(800) QUIT NOW – This service offers free phone coaching over multiple sessions to help you quit with a trained cessation specialist.  It also includes help to get nicotine patches.
• The American Legacy Foundation’s web-based support offers another free resource for those ready to quit.
• Kaiser Permanente has a series of free webinars to support quitting. Break Free for Life, Freedom from Tobacco, and Quit Tobacco Successfully are designed for the busy person who wants to customize their own plan and get ongoing support.
• For spit or chew tobacco users, try www.mylastdip.com for a self-help approach to quitting.
• High school students wanting help with quitting should check with their school counselor or contact the American Lung Association of Colorado about Not On Tobacco groups. These 10 session series help teens with skills and resources to navigate the quitting process and stay quit. Visit www.notontobacco.com or call the Colorado office of American Lung at (303) 388-4327.
• Get more resources on how to quit here.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and affecting the health of smokers in general.  But there is good news for those who can drop the habit.  Quitting smoking has immediate as well as      long-term benefits for you and your loved ones.  Don’t give up and don’t be afraid to ask for help or utilize the resources listed above! For more information on tobacco, please visit us online at jeffco.us/health.

Do You Know Your BMI?

A new year is here.  For many, this means a New Year’s resolution to shed some extra pounds.  Loosing those pounds can help prevent and control high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and stroke!

But exactly how much do you need to lose?  One of the best ways to find out is by calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI). We’ve taken the calculation out of the equation and provided a simple BMI chart below!

Find your height and weight to get your BMI. A high BMI (over 25) usually means you have a higher amount of body fat and a higher health risk.  

If your BMI is higher than 25, and you would like to lower it, there is help. Visit Eat Right.org for tips on weight loss and JCPH Nutrition Services for healthy eating information.   Enjoying the beautiful outdoors in Jefferson County is another way to not only reduce your stress and get fresh air, but a great start to getting active and lowering your BMI.  Check out Jeffco Outdoors for a list of parks and trails that are close to you!