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Money...Everybody Wants Some!

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:25:26 +0100

Everybody is looking for a way to make money. Money to pay bills. Money to purchase the finer things in life. Money to retire on. Go no further!

If you are looking for an opportunity, are able to share with friends, family, and strangers, than you are in luck. On Tuesday, January 26, 2010, at 7:30 PM, another business opportunity meeting will occur at our home. For more details, feel free to email me at achampionsplaybook@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

One Third of Americans Are Obese

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:00:58 +0100

According to a Wall Street Journal column posted on WSJ.com on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, one-third of American Adults. Now more than ever it is neccessary to find inovative ways to change America's path to heart disease, stroke, and other illnesses which can be attributed to obesity.

In a effort to help Americans, Advocare representatives have combined a grouping of products that make a difference in the weight loss habits of people like you and me. Just like a car that needs an oil change every three months, using the items found in a 24 Day Challenge will help you turn your BMI from towards obesity and head it toward a more healthy you. Maintenance products can then fill in the gaps for the remaining nine and a half weeks.

ONE THIRD OF AMERICANS ARE OBESE
courtesy of WSJ.com

WASHINGTON—One-third of American adults are obese, according to new U.S. government figures released Wednesday, but the rate of increase seen in recent decades has slowed.

Figures from the National Center for Health Statistics showed 34% of American adults age 20 and older were obese in 2007-08 while 68% were considered overweight or obese. In children ages 2 through 19, 17% were considered obese while 32% were considered overweight. Broadly, the figures are similar to rates seen in 1999-2000.

"Obesity remains high and is a significant public- health problem in the U.S.," said Cynthia Ogden, one of the main researchers involved in tabulating the data and an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's health- statistics unit.

But, she said, the rapid increases in obesity rates seen during the 1980s and 1990s are slowing for most groups. Researchers did find an increase in the number of boys who are considered the "very heaviest," or those who are above the 97th percentile on a growth chart.

The figures are taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which are a set of studies that are designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. Data from the surveys are collected on two-year cycles with the most-recent data being from 2007-08.

"I see this as relatively good news," said William Dietz, the director of CDC's division of nutrition, physical activity and obesity. "It suggests we've halted the progression of the epidemic."

Still, much needs to be done in order to reverse the trend, and the White House is expected to soon announce new efforts to address obesity including getting involved in efforts this year to rewrite legislation that governs school breakfast and lunch programs. "The administration recognizes that control of obesity is related to health reform," Dr. Dietz said.

The obesity figures were taken from 5,555 adults and nearly 4,000 children who are considered r epresentative of the U.S. population. For adults, researchers looked at body mass index, a measure that estimates body fat by using a person's height and weight in the calculation. Those with BMIs of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight and those who are considered obese have a BMI of 30 or greater. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered a normal weight for adults.

In children, researchers look at growth charts that plot children's weight and height and then compare the charts by age group. Children at or above the 95th percentile for weight are considered obese while those at or above the 85th percentile are considered overweight.

Proportion of Obese Adults Increases 85%.

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:51:50 +0100

Americans are getting bigger, that is not good. Who wants to live longer? If you do, then first read this article, then start the 24 Day Challenge. Make a difference in your life. I did 53 pounds ago!

Obesity Rise Hurts Health More Than Smoking
Study Shows Obesity Epidemic Creating New Challenges to Public Health
By Jennifer Warner WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Jan. 5, 2010 -- America's obesity epidemic now poses an equal or greater threat to health-related quality of life than smoking, according to a new study.

Researchers say that as obesity in America has risen dramatically in recent years -- and smoking rates have declined -- the contribution of obesity to the burden of disease and shortening of life has increased while smoking's role has decreased.

The study showed that from 1993 to 2008, the proportion of smokers among U.S. adults declined by 18.5% while the proportion of obese adults increased 85%.

Using information from nationwide annual health-related quality-of-life surveys conducted during the same time period,
researchers calculated the Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) lost due to these two major health risk factors.

The results, published in the American Journal of Preventive Health, show that smoking-related QALYs lost remained relatively stable during this time period at 0.0438, or 16 days of healthy life lost per adult population. Meanwhile, as the obesity epidemic increased the quality-of-life problems caused by obesity increased and accounted for 0.0464 QALYs lost.
Researchers say smoking had a bigger impact on deaths while obesity had a bigger effect on illness.

"Because of the marked increase in the proportion of obese people, obesity has become an equal, if not greater contributor to the burden of disease than smoking," write researcher Haomiao Jia, PhD, of Columbia University, and colleagues. "Such data are essential in setting targets for reducing modifiable health risks and eliminating health disparities."

24 Day Challenge

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 04:50:11 +0100

It's sweeping the nation and you can have it sweeping the pounds off of you! From September 1, 2009 to December 24, 2009, I participated in two 24 Day Challenges. All told I lost 53 pounds and 22 total inches. I now exercise three days a week after not exercising for over 25 years. In June 2010 I plan to run in a local 5K event called Sunburst. If you think these results are great and want to have the same, contact me now by clicking here!

What is your New Year Resolution?

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:43:36 +0100

According to the internet site Squidoo, the following are a list of ten common resolutions people make yearly. They are:

Resolution #1: Get In Shape

Resolution #2: Quit Smoking/Drinking

Resolution #3: Spend More Time with Family and Friends

Resolution #4: Get Out of Debt

Resolution #5: Get Organized

Resolution #6: Do Better at Your Job

Resolution #7: Learn Something New

Resolution #8: Travel More

Resolution #9: Help Others

Resolution #10: Improve Yourself

I am proud to say that in 2010 I will meet each of these resolutions based on what I started in 2009. Only #2 has no opportunity to be met since I wuit smoking many years ago and I consume less than 12 beers in a year (2009 total). If you want to know more, just look around the site and then contact me for the next session where you can get involved!

ADVOCARE INDEPENDENCE BOWL introduces IWantSpark.com & IWantSlam.com

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:13:55 +0100

It has been in the making since last May and it has finally arrived! What is it you might say? Well it is the Advocare Indepence Bowl and this game will kick off an ad campaign featuring UNPAID endorsers. See the "Flash" below for more information!

AdvoCare Independence Bowl Introduces IWantSpark.com & IWan
tSlam.com

What a night! Millions tuned in and watched the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl on ESPN2. The AdvoCare commercials were outstanding and millions of people found out about SPARK & SLAM. You might be saying to yourself, “I Want Spark” or “I want Slam.” Well, iwantspark.com and iwantslam.com is now available or If you’d like to try a FREE sample of SPARK or SLAM-CICK HERE. We will see that you get your FREE Sample. Thanks for visiting AChampionsPlaybook.com!

You may also want to visit our store to order your SPARK & SLAM!

THE COMMERCIALS ARE A HIT!! DREW BREES ROCKS!!

On Monday night, December 28, 2009, Advocare sponsored the Advocare V100 Independence Bowl game in Shreveport, LA. During the game, televised live on ESPN2, commercials featuring unpaid endorsers New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees, St. Louis Placekicker Josh Brown, Colorado Rockies baseball player Brad Hawpe, Entertainers Kutless and Michael W. Smith, and Womens Professional Soccer player Carli Lloyd, talked about the qualities of SLAM and SPARK. The campaign offered users the opportunity to get free samples at Iwantspark.com and Iwantslam.com. If you missed the opportunity to get your own free sample, or would like to know about what SPARK and SLAM can do for your health and wealth, go to our FREE page or Click This Link!

FREE SPARK or SLAM!

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:32:55 +0100

On Monday night, December 28, 2009, Advocare sponsored the Advocare V100 Independence Bowl game in Shreveport, LA. During the game, televised live on ESPN2, commercials featuring unpaid endorsers New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees, St. Louis Placekicker Josh Brown, Colorado Rockies baseball player Brad Hawpe, Entertainers Kutless and Michael W. Smith, and Womens Professional Soccer player Carli Lloyd, talked about the qualities of SLAM and SPARK. The campaign offered users the opportunity to get free samples at Iwantspark.com and Iwantslam.com. If you missed the opportunity to get your own free sample, or would like to know about what SPARK and SLAM can do for your health and wealth, FREE Samples of SPARK and SLAM are available by going to FREE SPARK or SLAM!!

Fat Free Is Not So Fat Free!

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:42:39 +0100

YOU CAN ACTUALLY GAIN FAT ON A FAT-FREE DIET...

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?...

Through a process called LIPOGENESIS (LIPO = FAT, GENESIS = BIRTH OF)...

Your body can actually CREATE NEW FAT out of carbohydrates...

Let's take a classic fat free breakfast... a bagel with orange juice...

That's at least 100 grams of carbs (well over the per meal limit of 30 grams!)...

When excessive carbs trigger INSULIN, your fat cells take up the carbs that are in the bloodstream...

Your fat cells very conveniently and efficiently convert those carbohydrates into fat within the fat cell... that is the process of LIPO-GENESIS...

Some folks are still suffering from the FAT FREE push that bombarded is through the 80's and 90's... juice, cereal, skittles, muffins, bagels, pretzels, crackers, pasta... it was all "fair game" due to a generation of health professionals who ignored (or were ignorant of) the science of hormones and figured that eating fat meant gaining fat, and that eating carbs meant not gaining fat...

Again, we're advocates of a MODERATE carb lifestyle (less than 100 grams of carbs per day for most) in which results can be enhanced by clean nutrition, consistent and intense workouts, and targeted nutritional supplementation...

Hope this was helpful!
Answer to help get things on track=24Day Challenge

Diabetes Rates Double, Costs Triple By 2034

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:29:33 +0100

In the following two articles, researchers say that diabetes rates are going to double and the costs triple in the next 25 years. Now more than ever is the need for people to get healthy. Diabetes can be controlled and most cases prevented when people maintain a healthy lifestyle.

When I am not advocating that there is a cure for diabetes, I will say that diet and exercise will make a difference. These two efforts are supported by the products found within the product lines of Advocare. Check out these two articles first, then begin changing your life in a healthy way by participating in a 24 Day Challenge. Just click on the link to the right!

Cost of Treating the Disease Set to Triple, Researchers Say

By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

Nov. 27, 2009 -- If nothing is done, the number of Americans with diabetes will nearly double in the next 25 years and spending on the disease will nearly triple, a new study shows.

An aging population combined with a dramatic rise in obesity has created a perfect storm for diabetes in the U.S., researchers say.

"A perfect storm is a good way to look at it," study researcher Elbert S. Huang, MD of the University of Chicago tells WebMD. "If things stay the way they are right now we will have massive increases in diabetes incidence in this country over the next two decades."

By 2034, as many as 44 million Americans will have diabetes, up from 23 million today, according to the new projections, published in the November issue of the American Diabetes Association journal Diabetes Care.

The cost of caring for diabetes patients is projected to rise from $113 billion to $336 annually, and that is before adjusting for inflation.

These costs will outpace the increase in cases because more diabetes patients will be older and sicker and will require more expensive medical care, experts say.

Trouble for Medicare

Age is one of the biggest risk factors for type 2 diabetes, and the transition of baby boomers from middle to old age will drive much of the increase, the study shows.

As a result, by 2034, half of all direct spending in diabetes care is projected to occur in the Medicare population.

About 8 million Americans covered by Medicare now have diabetes and it cost $45 billion to treat them in 2009.

The number of diabetes patients whose treatment is paid for by Medicare is projected to nearly double to 14.6 million in the next 25 years, and the cost of caring for them is expected to quadruple.

By 2034, annual Medicare spending on diabetes care is projected to rise to $171 billion.

Although little can be done about the aging of the population, much can be done about the other major risk factor for type 2 diabetes -- obesity.

About 65% of Americans are overweight, and about one-third are obese, the CDC says.

The obesity rate among adults in the U.S. doubled between 1980 and 2004, but it appears to have leveled off since then.

The new diabetes model developed by the Huang and colleagues predicts a slight decline in obesity rates in the U.S. over the next two decades.

Target Obesity, Change the Future

All agree that a bigger decline in obesity, achieved though successful public health initiatives, could make a huge difference.

The future projected in the newly published study does not have to become reality, experts say.

"The cost of doing nothing is clearly going to be quite high," study co-researcher Michael O'Grady, PhD, said in a news conference. "To do nothing right now is going to cost billions and billions of dollars."

American Diabetes Association chief scientific and medical officer David M. Kendall, MD says it is now clear that even modest lifestyle changes, such as losing a few pounds or taking a walk most days a week, can drastically reduce a person's risk for developing diabetes.

The Diabetes Prevention Program was one of the largest studies ever to examine the impact of diet, exercise, and drug treatments on diabetes rates in patients at high risk for developing the disease.

The study found that these people cut their diabetes risk dramatically by losing just 7% of their body weight and engaging in moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes, a minimum of five times a week.

Early treatment with the diabetes drug metformin also helped delay or prevent diabetes, but to a lesser extent.

"Even modest weight loss and as little as 30 minutes of exercise five or more days a week and inexpensive treatments can keep people healthy," he tells WebMD. "That is really the big message."

Study: Cost of treating diabetes to triple by 2034

By Caleb Hellerman, CNN Medical News senior producer

November 27, 2009 1:45 a.m. EST

(CNN) -- The number of Americans with diabetes will nearly double in the next 25 years, and the costs of treating them will triple, according to a new report.

The figures, in a University of Chicago report released Friday, add fuel to the congressional debate regarding reining in the cost of health care.

By 2034, 44.1 million Americans will be living with diabetes -- nearly twice the current number of 23.7 million, according to the report, published in the December issue of the journal Diabetes Care. About 90 percent of those

with diabetes have type 2, a version of the condition that develops over time.

Accounting for inflation, the direct medical cost of treating them will rise from $113 billion annually to $336 billion, the report says.

Current health care proposals in Congress attempt to slow the growth of spending on chronic diseases such as diabetes by funding programs to prevent disease in the first place, and by offering incentives for insurers and medical providers to encourage early treatment through so-called "accountable care organizations."

In those organizations, doctors might be paid a flat fee to treat a diabetes patient for a year, with bonuses if they meet certain benchmarks of patient health.

The staggering numbers in the new paper dwarf potential savings that have lately been discussed. For example, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius earlier this month released a report urging improvements in diabetes care. If the most successful statewide programs for controlling diabetes could be duplicated nationwide, it estimates, annual savings from reducing hospitalizations and treatment for various complications would total $216 million.

The numbers are disturbing, said Dr. Elbert Huang, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago and lead author of the report. But he said he considers the predictions "very conservative" because they don't account for the growing proportion of overweight children and teenagers, who are at higher risk for developing diabetes.

The estimates also don't factor in immigration, or the rising population of ethnic minorities. Latinos and African-Americans suffer diabetes at higher rates than the U.S. population as a whole.

Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which a person loses the ability to break down glucose in the blood and turn food into energy. The condition often develops when people are young.

In type 2 diabetes, the condition develops over time. The process is complex, but aside from ethnic background, risk factors include having a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease. The most common risk factor is simply being overweight.

Even modest weight loss will reduce the chance of developing type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More ambitious lifestyle changes, such as diet, regular exercise and assistance through counseling lowered the risk of diabetes by 58 percent, even without medication, in a major federally funded study.

The model used by Huang and his colleagues assumes that the prevalence of diabetes in each age group will stay constant, but that the number of cases will grow as the population gets older. For the Medicare-eligible population alone, the paper predicts the diabetes caseload will rise from 8.2 million people to 14.6 million, and that the total annual cost of treatment will go from $45 billion to $171 billion.

To estimate cost, the researchers assumed that the standard progression of the disease, and mix of therapies used to treat it, will remain constant. According to a 2005 federal report, nearly three in four adults with diabetes uses oral medication to control the disease. About one in four takes insulin.

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, according to the American Diabetes Association, and nerve damage and damaged blood vessels are also common. About 15 percent of diabetics require amputation of a lower extremity at some point in their life, according to a 1998 paper in Diabetes Care.

It's certainly possible that medical breakthroughs will improve care, but it's unlikely to lead to lower costs, Huang said. "In the past, in general, medical discoveries have driven costs up, not down."

The study was funded by the company Novo Nordisk, which makes insulin delivery systems to treat diabetics. Novo Nordisk approved the final manuscript, but the authors say the company did not play a role in designing the study or collecting data.

"Without significant changes in public or private strategies, this population and cost growth are expected to add a significant strain to an overburdened health care system," the report concludes.

The new report is concerning, but doesn't change the big picture of health care spending, said Jonathan Gruber, an MIT economist who has schooled many politicians about the intricacies of health care.

"Even without this change, over the next 75 years we've made promises that exceed the revenues we have to pay for them," he said.

There's no compelling evidence that better preventive care can significantly reduce the cost of treating diabetes, Gruber said, but he believes accountable care organizations could make a big impact. He also likes the idea of allowing insurers to charge higher premiums to people who don't meet certain health benchmarks, such as losing weight if they're obese.

"The thing about diabetes, it's among the most preventable of major illnesses," Gruber said. "We need to put patient financial incentives at stake."

Huang said he won't be surprised if the surge in diabetes turns out to be even worse than he projects.

"Prior estimates have all said there would be a dramatic rise in the diabetes type 2 population," he said, but in every case "the actual [diabetic] population has ended up being larger than the estimates."

CALL NOW!!

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:17:25 +0100

CALL ME NOW AT 574-904-7352 TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR THE NEXT SPARK PREVIEW!!