The Alaska 100

 

Anchorage resident wins National Volunteer Excellence Award

Patty Ginsburg
Patty Ginsburg poses with memorabilia from the marathons she has run before and since beating cancer. (Photo by Brian Adams, courtesy of Anchorage and Valley Radiation Therapy Centers)

Patty Ginsburg is a 14-year lung cancer survivor leading the charge for smoke-free air, health care coverage and research funding for Alaska.

Ginsburg puts her strong voice to use in Juneau by supporting legislation promoting lung health. She and her husband also started a Clean Air Challenge cycling team that has raised more than $110,000 for the American Lung Association in the last six years.

The American Lung Association has awarded Ginsburg the Volunteer of Excellence Award, which recognizes volunteers whose history or projects help increase the organization’s ability to achieve its mission and impact the community.

– Kelsey Fiedler, The Alaska 100

 

Encourage healthy living during Heart Health Month

Heart Health Month
Support The American Heart Association and wear red on Feb. 2!

We’ve all been touched by heart disease in some way, whether it’s a parent, spouse, child, friend or yourself.

In support of Heart Health Month, GCI – Alaska’s largest telecommunications and technology company – is sponsoring two events hosted on Feb. 28 by The American Heart Association: the Go Red For Women Conference & Luncheon and Red Tie Breakfast.

In February, GCI will make a donation to the American Heart Association for every new GCI TV service; learn more at gci.com. Join GCI in supporting The American Heart Association and its mission to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and strokes.

– Josh Edge, GCI

 

Support Healthy Voices, Healthy Choices with VOA

Volunteers of Alaska
Volunteers of America Alaska offers inpatient and outpatient services for Alaska's at-risk youth, providing counseling and assistance.

At Volunteers of America Alaska, our mission is to prevent adolescent substance abuse before it escalates. We provide a grassroots, community approach, raising awareness of the harmful effects alcohol and drug use have on the development of youth.

Our initiative – Healthy Voices, Healthy Choices – provides education and assistance for Alaska’s youth as they face tough choices. We have supporting programs that reinforce this program, including Camp Hope, for children whose lives have been impacted by substance abuse.

When you apply for your PFD, join us and support our programs by choosing Volunteers of America Alaska when you Pick.Click.Give.

– Debra Reinwand, Brilliant Media Strategies

 

Here’s to health & happiness in 2018!

Take time in 2018 to focus on your health and happiness.

Like most, our team made New Year’s resolutions related to our health and happiness.

Thompson & Co.’s Stephanie Plieness is focused on giving back to our community with the Anchorage Petroleum Women’s Association gala coming up Feb. 10. Tickets are available now. Emily McLaughlin is making a commitment to eat locally sourced meat whenever possible.

For those focused on keeping stress and physical fitness in check, try AIReal Yoga at Anchorage Yoga. And, if you derive happiness from live music like I do, the inaugural Great Alaska Music Festival over Memorial Day weekend is also something to look forward to.

– Liz Baker, The Alaska 100

 

PLAAY Day 2018 encourages fun, physical activity among Alaska’s youth

Students from across Alaska will simultaneously participate in PLAAY Day 2018 via live video feed provided by GCI.

From Ketchikan to Kaktovik, children across Alaska will gather at 10 a.m. on Feb. 22 in school gyms, recreation centers and classrooms over a live video feed and participate in a half-hour of fun physical activity for PLAAY Day 2018, an Alaska Sports Hall of Fame initiative, with connectivity provided by GCI, Alaska’s largest telecommunications and technology company.

Physical activity is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve a child’s self-worth. It increases capacity for learning, reduces chronic diseases, increases positive behaviors and can help prevent depression/suicide.

Visit the PLAAY website for more information.

– Josh Edge, GCI

 

New trends in fitness

Check out the latest workout trends!

No one said you have to fit in, but these fitness trends for 2018 might have you joining in with the crowd!

1. Boxing: It’s one of this year’s top workouts, perhaps because it allows us to meet our fitness goals and relieve a little bit of stress.

Try it: Daniel Boxing School

2. Recovery: With trends like high-intensity workouts in full swing, we’ll see an increased focus on programs that work on recovery, especially in the form of cryotherapy and saunas.

Try it: Northern Oasis Wellness Spa

Other trends include virtual reality workouts and a focus on meditation.

– Kelsey Fiedler, The Alaska 100

 

Alaska nurses offer winter wellness tips

Beat the winter blues and stay healthy by getting outdoors.

It’s a new year, and we’re halfway through winter. Stay healthy and happy with these three winter wellness tips:

1. Get a flu shot if you haven’t already this season. The season usually continues through April, so there’s still plenty of time.

2. Bundle up and get outside. Remember to layer, cover your head and hands and wear warm shoes that provide traction on snow and ice. Walk cautiously when you’re out to avoid slips and falls.

3. If you’re sick, stay home. Know that a high temperature with a respiratory infection means you’re contagious. Don’t risk spreading the germs.

– Andrea Nutty, Alaska Nurses Association

 

Keep moving, Alaska!

Winter weather is no excuse to sit still or be stuck inside.

Even in winter there are races held across Alaska. Training for and participating in them can be a great way to stay active.

Or, turn fitness into a social activity by committing to training with a friend. Add these upcoming races to your calendar, and get moving!

• Fairbanks hosts the Snowshoe Classic 5K and 10K on Feb. 3.

• Those seeking a serious challenge may consider the Feb. 17 Susitna 100K or Little Su 50K, both lengthy trail runs.

• Really want to push yourself? The Homer Epic in March has 50K, 100K and even 150K courses to ski, bike or run.

– Liz Baker, The Alaska 100

 

Winter calorie torchers

Ice skating is one of many winter activities that will help you stay in shape!

Exercising in winter requires some extra effort. From the gear to bundling up, we know there are a few more barriers to entry than a jog around the neighborhood on a sunny summer evening. But, effort burns calories! Here are some seriously fun winter activities and the per-hour calorie burn that will help you maintain your fitness goals year-round. Keep in mind that the results may vary based on levels of exertion.

• Snowboarding – 429
• Cross-country skiing – 576
• Downhill skiing – 432
• Snowshoeing – 576
• Ice skating – 504
• Sledding – 468
• Ice hockey – 549

Get outside and stay fit this winter!

– Emily McLaughlin, The Alaska 100

 

Self-care: Spotlight on skin

Add local products from Alaska Glacial Mud Co. and Denali Dreams to your skincare routine.

Resolutions may be cliché, but often January serves as inspiring motivation to initiate a happier and healthier you. The hardest part (besides sticking with it) is choosing which habit to makeover.

One of the easiest resolutions to stick with is improving your skincare regime, something many Alaskans neglect in the harsh, dry conditions of winter. Stick close to home and try Alaska Glacial Mud Co.’s Glacial Facial ($35 for a 3.5 ounce jar) made out of Copper River mud. For dry skin relief, add Denali Dreams’ Alaska Winter Soap to your morning routine ($6.50 for a bar).

– Kailee Wallis, The Alaska 100

 

It would be a ruff life without them

Four-legged friends do more than just improve your mood!

Whether your idea of a perfect pet is one that snuggles with you or is a great adventure buddy, health benefits of having a four-legged companion reach far beyond the smile they put on your face.

In addition to decreasing stress, anxiety and depression on an emotional level, the love you have for your pet can actually lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke, as well as boost your immune system. Become a healthier, happier you by providing a forever home:

• Alaskan Animal Rescue Friends
• Alaska SPCA
• Friends of Pets
• Loving Companions Animal Rescue

– Nikkie Viotto, The Alaska 100

 

Activated charcoal, the hot new cure-all

Activated charcoal caused an Instagram sensation with black cocktails, pizza crusts, juice detoxes and more. (Photo courtesy of Toa Heftiba)

Activated charcoal may not actually cure everything, but it’s currently one of the hottest health and beauty ingredients. Made from heated coconut shells and available as a powder or pill, it binds to toxins and flushes them out.

Here are some trendy uses:

• Face wash and skin care products – It sticks to dirt and oil and reduces acne.
• Hangover prevention – The jury’s still out on the scientific evidence, but 20-somethings swear by it.
• Toothpaste – It can remove surface stains and treat bad breath.
• Ice Cream – Feel less guilty indulging in these snapshot-worthy treats, known for their detoxifying qualities.

– Megan O’Malley, The Alaska 100

 

Happy lamps: myth or miracle for Alaskans during winter?

If long, dark winter days affect your mood, try a happy lamp!

Seasonal affective disorder has little effect on some, but it hits others hard. Some swear that light therapy is the solution. Use a bright light for minutes a day to banish the winter blues? Great!

The theory is that very bright light will affect melatonin, a light-sensitive hormone. Does it really work, or is it a placebo? A better question? Who cares?

If it’s been used to treat SAD since 1984, there must be something to it. If you experience SAD, give it a try. There are very few side effects, and it may be the solution for you!

– Kelsey Fiedler, The Alaska 100

 

Staying fit on a trip

Tip: utilize your room for a quick exercise routine.

The battle of the bulge gets tricky when traveling. But there’s no need to ditch your routine and compromise your exercise plan when you’re on the road.

• Pound the pavement. It’s the best way to explore while burning calories.
• Pack your goggles. Limit your poolside lounging and do some laps to burn off that pina colada.
• Restock the mini bar. Shove the $10 gummy bears aside, and pack in protein bars and yogurt for a nosh.
• Take the stairs. Skip the elevator and gun your glutes.
• Turn a commercial break into a workout with planks, pushups, lunges and jumping jacks.

– The Houston 100

 

Your ‘one word’ in 2018

A new way to approach resolutions is to choose your "One Word" that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live.

One Word 365 says by choosing your word, it becomes the compass that directs your decisions and guides your steps.

Focus on being rather than doing. Your one word isn’t a constant reminder of what you “should be doing.” It should inspire how you want to live.

Be authentic. Your word should reflect YOU, and no one else. You want a word that’s uniquely yours, and resonates with you on a deep level.

Don’t overthink it. There’s no wrong answer. Don’t analyze it to death. It’s simply about identifying the word that keeps coming back to nag at your heart.

– Christina Johnson, The Tallahassee 100

 

How to Survive the Holidays at the Office

‘Tis the season. Here are three ways to keep your sanity at work during the busy holiday season.

The holidays are already upon us. While this season can be a source of joy, it can also be one of stress. With end-of-year deadlines looming and increased social activities filling up the calendar, here’s how to keep Scrooge from appearing at the office:

• Put in your requests for time off now and don’t wait until the last minute.

• Don’t procrastinate. It’s easy to get distracted with holiday potlucks and parties, but make sure you’re staying on top of your workload.

• Don’t skimp on sleep. Making sleep a priority will keep your energy high and immune system happy.

– Sandra McGrew, The Arkansas 100

 

Movember: Changing the Face of Men’s Health

This Movember, grow a mo, save a bro.

On average, men die six years younger than women due to largely preventable health issues. Thanks to the Movember Foundation, growing a mo can help save your bros. Established in 2003, the foundation’s widely known mustache Movember movement aims to spread awareness and raise funds to tackle men’s health issues like prostate and testicular cancer, poor mental health and more.

Register your chevron, handlebar or Fu Manchu mo here. Use your personal fundraising website to generate important conversations about men’s health this Movember. Got a ‘stache that is worthy of mo exposure? Show it off at an event near you.

– Brad Fleming, Alaska 100

 

Prepare for Flu Season

A syringe and a vile
Flu shots save lives. (Photo courtesy of NIH)

“Flu season” is generally considered to be from October or November to May. The flu spreads through coughs, sneezes, sharing drinks or food, and by touching infected surfaces.

The flu contributes to between 140,000 and 170,000 hospitalizations in the US every year. Estimated annual flu deaths hit a low of 12,000 in 2011-12 and a high of 56,000 during 2012-13.

According to the CDC, everyone six months and older should get a flu shot every year. The vaccine takes about two weeks to build up your immunity, so get your shot by October 31.

– Glenn Gillen, APR, The North Carolina 100

 

Becoming a Smart Health Care Consumer

Alaska's health care costs are some of the highest in the world.

Alaska has some of the highest health care costs not just in the country, but in the world. Costs can be attributed to factors including supply and demand, consumer habits, lack of competition and lack of transparency.

Become a smarter health care consumer with two simple tips. First, avoid out-of-network traps. Stay in network if you can because out-of-network providers have not contracted with your insurance company to accept discounted rates.

Second, examine your health care plan, ask questions and take advantage of preventative care to make sure you’re receiving benefits for the payments you make.

– Lynn Rust Henderson, Premera

 

My Life Today: Susan Jones, Breast Cancer Survivor

Pioneering cancer treatment in Alaska, the Anchorage & Valley Radiation Therapy Center understands the vulnerability and uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis. The center surrounds patients with an entire team dedicated to achieving comfort and peace of mind. When Susan Jones was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, she chose AVRTC after seeing the care and compassion they gave her daughter-in-law years prior. “They know how to take care of you, your heart, your worries. They just take you in and heal you,” Susan said. Today, she’s cancer free and wants to share her experience with the community.

– Shannon Sadler, Thompson & Co. Public Relations

 

A Little Exercise Goes a Long Way

Don’t be afraid to take the stairs. Small changes in your routine can add up over time.

It’s easy to find excuses for why we couldn’t stick to our routine workout schedule — it was too hard, too much to do and we weren’t ready.

However, what if your commitment was to simply walk 15 extra minutes a day? Walk to work, walk during a lunch break, walk the block at night. It may seem like it’s not worth it, right? Wrong!

That small amount of exercise is the exact, constant gentle pressure that is needed to keep pushing yourself. It prepares you, so when the time is right you can make those major changes down the road.

– Emily Krueger, The Boston 100