Weight Watchers® “Great Eight” Tips to Lose Weight, Maintain Healthy Lifestyle

As the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31 and 2010 rolls in, many of the 60 percent of U.S. adults who are overweight will make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. But this year, instead of hopping on the diet bandwagon, why not stop dieting and start living a healthy lifestyle that could last for years to come?

Weight Watchers, in an ongoing effort to help real people transform themselves and achieve weight loss goals in a safe sustainable manner, has created the “Great Eight” tips to start the New Year off right:

Tip #1: One Step at a Time:
Prepare for success by setting a realistic weight loss goal. Losing just 10% of your starting weight can help you lower blood pressure and reduce risk for having a stroke; reduce the risk of developing diabetes; or for those already affected, losing weight helps to improve insulin function and lower blood sugar levels and cholesterol count.

Tip #2: Move for You:
Get active in small ways that pay off with big rewards. Exercise, in addition to helping shed unwanted weight, offers health and mobility benefits that last a lifetime. Activity can reduce the risk of heart diseases, promotes better sleep, strengthens your lungs and even improves mood. Plus it is a critical part of long-term weight loss success. Research shows that active people are much more likely to maintain their weight loss. Start small and make a commitment—even if it is taking the stairs instead of the elevator—to get up and move!

Tip #3: Don’t Diet:
A sensible weight-loss plan should not deprive or prevent you from eating certain foods or even eating out; it should teach how to eat the right foods and right portions. Experiment and have fun with food by making over recipes you’ve enjoyed in the past by using different ingredients to create a healthier version of the dish. When eating out, don’t be afraid to ask for a weight-conscious menu. Navigate large portion sizes by asking the server to bring only half the dish and immediately pack the other half to go. Instead of going without or being bored, make eating an adventure!

Tip #4: Get By With a Little Help from Your Friends:
Whether it is a husband, wife, mother, sister or friends, losing weight together can positively contribute to weight loss success. Those who go to Weight Watchers meetings lose three times more weight than those that go it alone. Plus, research shows that people who attend a weight-loss program with friends lose more weight and keep it off better than those who join by themselves.

Tip #5: Forgive but Don’t Forget:
There are 21 total meals in a week—if two nights didn’t turn out as planned there are still 19 chances to recoup! Learn from mistakes made in the past and make better decisions in the present. Remember every experience is valuable and don’t let little lapses spoil success.

Tip #6: Shop till You Drop:
It is fun to pick out new pieces of clothing and accessories as weight loss progresses. Use those holiday gift cards to celebrate small successes and keep motivation high.

Tip #7: Lay the Foundation:
A healthy lifestyle program educates people that weight-loss success is about behavior modification—doing things differently—not perfectly. Learn to make better food and activity choices to set the groundwork for overcoming future challenges.

Tip #8: New Year, New You
Believing it can be done, setting an achievable goal and then “going for it” is the roadmap to overhauling a regular lifestyle and making long term weight loss and health a priority. With regular advice, and the assistance of Weight Watchers Momentum™ plan, you’ll learn to “Stop Dieting, and Start Living.”

Celebrating 42 years in Arizona, Weight Watchers is America’s trusted name in weight loss and the global leader in weight-loss services, with approximately 50,000 weekly meetings held worldwide. For information about pricing, programs and services call 1-800-651-6000 or click WeightWatchers.com/Arizona.

Aquafresh Celebrates Amazing Moms in Phoenix

In celebration of mothers and the special role they play within their families, the makers of Aquafresh® announced the “Amazing Mom” Celebration contest for moms in the Phoenix area. The Aquafresh “Amazing Mom” Celebration invites children 6 years of age and older to write in and tell Aquafresh what makes their mom special. If selected, Aquafresh will treat her and 49 other moms to a day of relaxation and pampering at Spa Avania at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort.

“As a mother to seven children, I understand the hard work that mothers put in around the clock for their families. I am thrilled to be part of this exceptional contest that recognizes and rewards amazing moms in Phoenix,” says Brenda Warner, wife of Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner. “What better time than the busy holiday season to give 50 moms a well-deserved break?”

Aquafresh “Amazing Mom” Celebration contest entries are being accepted now through Nov. 2 at www.aquafresh.com/amazingmom. Fifty moms will be selected to enjoy a day of relaxation and pampering at Spa Avania at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort on Dec. 5, complete with breakfast, a facial treatment, massage, manicure or pedicure, and lunch, hosted by Brenda Warner.

“We spend a great deal of time making amazing Aquafresh products that help mom with her family’s oral care needs,” says Patrick Seiffert, senior brand manager of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. “Moms spend so much time and energy taking care of their children. This is our chance to recognize and pamper them in return.”

For contest rules and information, visit www.aquafresh.com/amazingmom.

Halloween Doesn't Have To Be Scary For Pets

By Melissa K. Gable

While Halloween is often fun for children, it can be a nightmare for pets. Friends of Animal Care & Control has advice for pet owners to make this year’s holiday safe for furry family members.

Make sure your animals are safely indoors for Halloween. There are many stories of pranksters teasing, scaring or harming dogs and cats that are kept in front yards or wandering the streets on Halloween.
If possible, keep animals safely tucked away in a spare bedroom for the evening. Dogs and cats can quickly dart out the front door unnoticed during the festivities. Even the calmest dog may be scared by costumed visitors – which could result in a bite.
Keep pets away from Halloween candy. Chocolate can be toxic and cellophane or tin foil wrappings could get caught in your pet’s digestive tract – causing illness or possibly death.
Watch your pet around jack o’ lanterns! Curious kitties may try to play with the flickering flame and a rambunctious pup could accidentally knock over the festive pumpkin.
Don’t force your pet to wear a costume. If your dog or cat enjoys dressing up, make sure the costume isn’t constricting or interferes with your pet’s vision. Always supervise your pet while he is in costume.


Easley’s Fun Shop to Help Pets in Need This Howl-o-ween
This Halloween will be anything but scary for Valley pets; that’s because Easley’s Fun Shop has designated Friends of Animal Care & Control and Maricopa County Animal Care & Control to be one of their charities for the upcoming holiday. Easley’s will donate 10% from every sale/costume rental to anyone who mentions Friends of Animal Care & Control (FACCs) or Maricopa County Animal Care & Control. The promotion runs through Oct. 31. Easley’s Fun Shop is located at 509 West McDowell, just east of 7th Avenue in downtown Phoenix.

Money raised through the Easley’s promotion will fund Maricopa County Animal Care & Control’s Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP). Through SNAP, Valley residents in need of financial assistance can have their companion animals spayed or neutered at no cost.

Melissa K. Gable is the Executive Director of Friends of Animal Care and Control.

www.azfaccs.org

Not Just a Gown, a Walking Story

Creative ingenuity with cultural expressions and artistic ploy, designer Danell Lynn brings new life to fashion and human nature. Her company, Dl-couture, is as unique in the fashion world as they are based in humanitarian endeavors. Each year they create a gown where 100 percent of the proceeds go to charity. This year, the gown is made of Arizona Cardinal game jerseys and is signed by the NFC championship team. It is up for silent auction until Oct. 31 and can be seen on www.dl-couture.com. Fifty percent of the proceeds go to Partners in Malawi, 30 percent to Kurt Warner's First Things First Foundation, 10 percent to Threading Hope and 10 percent to Highwire.

Creating a gown each year for charity is a great gesture in itself, but more so because they only make 13 custom gowns a year. Therefore, the exclusivity makes each dress seem almost more like a limited edition work of art than a clothing item. This is because Dl-couture provides beautiful fabrics from all over the world for clients, even flying to pick up the perfect fabric for a specific gown. Lynn also travels the world and hand selects the fabric used in her gowns and buys directly from the merchants, supporting global economy.

"How does it feel to create something that has never been done before?" asks Gillian Ferris-Kohl of NPR, regarding the Cardinal’s gown. As many question, where did the idea even come from to make a gown from NFL jerseys? The answer is simple. "The abstract side of my mind is overly active in creativity and an exact location can not be pin-pointed. It is a blend of my love for art and athletics, and I hope for many more ventures with professional sports," says Lynn.

Dl-couture is considered a rarity in the world of high fashion, not just because of the innovative designs but because of their true mission for blending clothing and compassion. Lynn received her start when she trained at Miami International University of Art and Design, and earned awards such as Advant-Garde Designer of the Year. She was also one of five in the nation winning a spot to present wearable jewelry design in the Lourve Museum in Paris. Situated in Florida’s fashion market, she worked as an assistant designer to a couture house on South Beach before following the road less traveled, embracing her imagination and creating Dl-couture. Lynn took the parts of the industry she loved and left behind that which she didn’t, blending artistic details, sustainability and creativity of fabrics from unique communities throughout the globe, and the seeds began to sprout.

She is building a name for Dl-couture with her graceful ability to carry out even difficult creations, from dresses made of playing cards, to elegant gowns of Chinese silk, to green friendly recycled creations of old jerseys that have hit the NFL playing fields time and again. She has dressed Mrs. World and Miss America and enjoys the variety and excitement that making a pattern only once entails. Clients have playfully mocked her mind's ability to create and expertly execute garments. "What’s next, an engineering degree?" asks a client who commissioned a dress of playing cards for their educational playing cards company.

Dl-couture is a custom clothing line that believes looking beautiful can also be meaningful. It specializes in Haute Couture, and they donate 15 percent of all their custom gown sales to aid those in need. "Every time our clients wear the handmade garments, they are reminded of their commitment to helping children and families less fortunate," says Lynn. "It is not just a gown, but a walking story."

The company is also heavily rooted in humanitarian work. As a global ambassador, Lynn travels the world for aid work and has also developed Threading Hope, a humanitarian entity of Dl-couture that creates and accepts donations from quilters around the globe to bring warmth to a child in need. "We are always looking for those with large hearts willing to create a quilt for us to take to foreign countries,” says Lynn. “Next year we are off to Malawi to deliver quilts to the sickest of the sick in the In Patient ward for Partners in Malawi hospital."

If you are interested in helping to donate go to www.dl-couture.com and click on the Threading Hope page for more information. For more information on Dl-couture or to contact Danell Lynn please visit www.dl-couture.com or email info@dl-couture.com.

Illuminating Awareness in the Fight for a Cure

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this year marks the third annual fundraiser for the Arizona Institute for Breast Health (AIBH), The Pink Light District. The AIBH is a non-profit organization providing education and support to newly diagnosed patients about their treatment options, completely free of charge.

Now through Oct. 31, valley residents will be able to show their support of the AIBH by sponsoring pink light bulbs to be placed on the Canal Bridge located in downtown Scottsdale. Each light bulb is $25 and will serve as a representation of the strength of a survivor, the memory of a loved one, or a personal struggle with breast cancer. The Bridge, which links the Scottsdale Waterfront to the Old Town Scottsdale, will be lit during The Pink Light District Ceremony on Thurs., Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at Olive & Ivy restaurant and stay illuminated throughout the month. All donors will be recognized on the AIBH website in their Pink Light District Honor Album and a personalized Tribute Card will be emailed to the honoree(s) designated.

This year as an added distinction, AIBH will recognize one individual who has made extraordinary efforts in the fight against breast cancer. Now through Sept. 15, AIBH is accepting nominations for The Pink Light Award. The recipient will have the honor of flipping the switch the night of The Pink Light District Ceremony¸ transforming the Canal Bridge into a symbol of hope in the cause’s signature color. To nominate a brave advocate for breast cancer awareness for the Pink Light Award, please go to www.thepinklightdistrict.org.

Julie Robinson, AIBH Board Member and President of corporate sponsor Jani-King Southwest, hopes to showcase the exceptional strides exceptional individuals in the community are making towards the cause. “It is estimated that more than 190,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, 3,900 in Arizona alone,” notes Robinson. “With these kinds of statistics, it is imperative that there is a huge amount of community support.”

Robinson adds, “This is a simple and powerful way to raise breast cancer and breast health awareness – and hopefully become one step closer to finding a cure.”

For more information about AIBH, please visit their website at www.aibh.org.

Giving birth in U.S. riskier than in Cuba or Czech Republic

According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 7 of every 1,000 babies born in the United States will die before their first birthday, and the rates among African American, Hispanic and Native American populations are even higher. Premature births occurring before 37 weeks and low-weight babies (less than 5 pounds) account for the highest number of these deaths.

Since September is National Infant Mortality Awareness Month, Dr. Linda Burke-Galloway, a board-certified ob-gyn, an advocate for quality healthcare and patient safety and author of The Smart Mother's Guide to a Better Pregnancy offers these SMART tips to help pregnant women improve their chances of having a healthy baby.

S = Seek prenatal care early. Tests for potential chromosome problems, including mental retardation and spina bifida (a condition that causes paralysis) can be conducted only in the first and second trimesters. A first trimester ultrasound is also the most accurate in terms of determining a due date.

M = Mention all risk factors such as a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, Rh negative blood, premature labor, bleeding problems or genetic conditions to your healthcare professional as soon as possible. Do not omit information such as smoking or using recreational drugs because such activities can affect your baby.

A = Ask to have your cervix measured during your ultrasound if you have a history of premature contractions or delivery. A cervical length of 2.5 centimeters or less is a risk factor for preterm labor. If you are at risk for delivering before 37 weeks, ask your healthcare provider about receiving steroids to help your baby's lungs develop.

R = Research your hospital and prospective physician or midwife carefully. Is the physician or midwife skilled in managing high-risk conditions? Will your care continue if you lose your insurance? Has the newborn nursery had any recent outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant infections? Is the hospital a level-three facility?

T = Test for potential problems such as gestational diabetes, sickle cell trait and cystic fibrosis, and check for appropriate fetal growth with an ultrasound.

The United States is one of the most industrialized countries in the world, yet The World Factbook indicates that we rank below Cuba, Taiwan, Greece, Ireland, Canada, England, Czech Republic, South Korea and other countries in national infant mortality rate. Being aware of your risk and following these SMART tips will help you to have a healthy baby.

Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center made new beneficiary of Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation's Thirty-Fourth Honor Ball

Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation’s 34th annual Honor Ball has a new beneficiary: cancer research and treatment at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare.

One of the Valley’s most elegant and exciting black tie events, The Honor Ball will be held Saturday evening, Feb. 6, 2010 in The Phoenician Resort Grand Ballroom.

Cancer research at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare is led by world-renowned cancer researcher and chief scientific officer Daniel Von Hoff, MD. New drugs and therapies being studied at Scottsdale Healthcare are the first step from the research lab to cancer patients, and may eventually to approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to become standard treatment.

The Scottsdale Clinical Research Institute at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare administers this groundbreaking cancer research. Cancer research patients from across the United States and beyond are seen by Dr. Von Hoff and his team. Dr. Von Hoff is co-leader of the Stand Up to Cancer “Dream Team” for pancreatic cancer research, and led the study of a potential new skin cancer treatment featured this month in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Several studies conducted at Scottsdale Healthcare have yielded promising results to advance the battle against cancer. Skin, lung and pancreatic cancer clinical trials conducted at Scottsdale Healthcare have been the subject of scientific papers and presentations at recent international cancer conferences.

"Patients in our community have access to ground-breaking, world-class research right in their own backyard," said Mark Slater, PhD, vice president of research at Scottsdale Healthcare. "Our goal is reducing the time it takes to get new treatment discoveries from the research lab to the patient, and we are pleased that proceeds from The Honor Ball will support this important work."

The Honor Ball has raised more than $8 million to benefit Scottsdale Healthcare. To learn more about cancer research at Scottsdale Healthcare, visit www.shc.org/cancer.

Reservations for the 34th annual Honor Ball are $500 per person or $1000 per couple; tables start at $7500. For more information, call 480-882-4510.