Happy New Year! It is hard to believe we are almost through the first month. January always presents me with hope for new ideas and new lifestyle choices like eating better and exercising. It also brings its cold and sobering blast of winter here in Wisconsin and this one has been especially brutal.

What new hopes do you have for 2009?  I hope you are motivated like I am to begin caring for your health better. How about a goal of exercise at least 3 times per week.  I have just read new research that any amount of exercise will benefit your life expectancy.  So don't get worried if you can only start with one small effort per week.  Just start!

For those of you who deal with arthritis either for yourself or for your clients you will notice that it tends to worsen in these cold months. Exercise will improve circulation throughout the body so that is one good way to improve your arthritis.  Warming up achy joints can help too, so get out those rice bags.  We have them for sale at the school or you can make your own: plain rice sewn into a cloth bag that you heat in the microwave for 3 minutes.  It's a simple tool.  I take one to bed with me every night these days!  Water consumption is easy to let go when the temperature drops, but keeping the blood well hydrated will benefit those joints.  The body will draw water from places like joint capsules if it is needed for vital functions.  When the joints are drier they are more painful.  My clients are always amazed at how much less pain they have when they get their water consumption up to the recommended amount:  1/2 your body weight in ounces, i.e. If you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink about 75 oz. of water a day.  I hope these suggestions help!