The New York Times shared that e’ve all been there: after ages trying, you finally find a workout that’s actually doable, somewhat enjoyable and totally fits into your schedule and lifestyle. Score. But if you’re still looking for that ideal routine, high-intensity interval training may be your answer.

According to a recent study published in PLOS ONE, researchers found HIIT which involves relatively brief bursts of vigorous exercise separated by periods of recovery, was more enjoyable when compared to continuous, moderate forms of exercise, making it more likely people would stay the course long-term. For the small study, participants tried three different workouts on a stationary bike: riding 40 minutes at a continuous moderate-intensity, riding 20 minutes at a vigorous-intensity and riding for 20 minutes, alternating between one-minute of all-out effort and one-minute of recovery. The highest ranked in terms of enjoyment was the HIIT session.

This may be because mixing intense bursts of activity with recovery intervals helps break up the monotony of continuous, steady-state workouts while also helping to reduce the total amount of training time needed. Of course it’s important to note that just because it’s enjoyed, doesn’t mean it’s easy.

The bottom line is that if you like what you’re doing, whether that’s dancing or running marathons, you’ll do it regularly—and you’ll be healthier as a result.

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The Daily Herald Newspaper posed this question on January 26 in its Health and Fitness section: Are you packing on pounds while climbing the corporate ladder?

If so, you’re in good company: in a 2013 Harris Interactive survey of more than 3,000 workers conducted for CareerBuilder, 41 percent of respondents said they’d gained weight in their current jobs. ABC News and Health.com reports.

Workers who spend long hours sitting at a desk (like administrative assistants) and have high stress levels (like engineers and teachers) were more likely to have gained weight.

The truth is, there are lots of reasons your work could be affecting your waistline. “It really has to do with diet, physical activity,and behavior,” says Katherine Tryon, a medical doctor with the Vitality Institute, a global research organization based New York City. Here are some potential factors, and how to steer clear of their consequences.

The most obvious cause of work-related weight gain is the lack of physical activity many employees get from (at least) 9 to 5, and in the CareerBuilder survey, workers pointed to “sitting at my desk most of the day” as the number-one reason for their expanding waistlines.

Though it’s true that research shows people who stand or walk throughout the day burn more calories, which can translate to fewer pounds gained over time, a 2013 British study failed to find a strong link between time spent sitting and obesity. The authors say that while sedentary behavior certainly doesn’t help, there are clearly other factors fueling weight gain as well.

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Joanne Shroyer from www.Heaters.com shared that if you are a caretaker or family member living with a senior citizen, you may already know that the winter months can be a difficult time for them.

Because elderly individuals have less body fat and less insulation as a result, it can be hard for them to stay warm even when the temperatures outside have yet to drop. Elderly patients typically have limited mobility which also makes it difficult for them to maintain an optimal core body temperature. These factors unfortunately put them at risk for hypothermia.

Hypothermia

In order for your body to properly function, it has to maintain a consistent core temperature of around 97.7–99.5°F. Hypothermia is when your body temperature drops below 95°F. This can happen when you are exposed to cold weather or submerged in cold water. In the case of elderly individuals, the temperature outside or inside the home does not have to be very low to cause this.

High Risk Patients

While any elderly person is at risk for hypothermia in cold temperatures, diabetics and those with heart disease or active thyroids are even more vulnerable. Many senior citizens take prescriptions medications and this, too, can increase their risk. This especially applies to medications treating nausea, depression, or anxiety. Even over-the-counter cold medications can increase the risk.

Symptoms of Hypothermia

If you are concerned that your elderly patient is getting too cold and is at risk of hypothermia, keep an eye out for excessive shivering, increased heart rate, dizziness, fatigue, or even mild confusion. As hypothermia becomes more moderate, patients may start to slur their words, have a weakened pulse, and even try to remove warm clothing as a result of increased confusion. Always have a thermometer handy to take their temperature. If their temp is 96 or below, call emergency services immediately.

Treatment

If your elderly loved one is approaching a dangerous drop in temperature, there are some measures you can take before calling 911. When hypothermia starts to set in, your primary objective is to warm the patient up gradually. Layer on clothing and light blankets and give them warm drinks to sip. Try to move to a warmer location but do not increase the surrounding temperature abruptly. Do not force the patient to exert themselves. However, if you are ever in doubt, always call 911.

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The Glenbard Parent Series : (GPS) Navigating Healthy Families presents “How Children Succeed! Beyond Smart — How Grit, Curiosity, and Character Help Kids Thrive” at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 21 at the College of DuPage McAninch Arts Center (MAC) 425 Fawell Blvd. Glen Ellyn.

Why do some children succeed while others fail?  Can character, rather than IQ,  be the secret to real and lasting success?

The story that is often told about childhood and success , stresses intelligence over all:  with the greatest success coming to those children who score the highest on tests — from preschool admissions ‘exams’ to high school SATs. In this provocative program, New York Times best-selling author Paul Tough cogently argues that the qualities that matter most for life-long success in our children have much more to do with personality skills such as  curiosity, optimism, perseverance, and self-control.

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