End of Semester Got You Fried? Come to StressBusters!

StressBusters is Back!

Thursday, May 6th
12:30-2:00pm
Atrium Outdoor Plaza

Bouncy Castle, free popcorn, chair massage, games, and more! Join in the fun!

Walk the Bridge Weather? 65 and sunny!

Lace On Your Sneakers and Get Ready to Walk

This Thursday, April 29th

1-2:30pm.

Gifts for every walker.

Join us! We launch from the Atrium.

See you there!

Turning 21? Celebrate Safely

Its no secret that many people consider the 21st birthday as an open invitation to binge drinking. However, even among students who plan to binge drink (more than five drinks ina hour, and more than eight drinks in a single drinking episode) they often end up drinking a lot more than they planned. According to the Center for Substance Abuse Research at University of Maryland, College Park, two thirds of college students drank more than anticipated on their 21st birthday--from a planned average number of 7 drinks to 12 actually consumed.

As researchers note, "More than half (55%) of celebrants in this study reported drinking free shots in bars. In addition, students who drank more than anticipated were more likely to engage in 21stbirthday drinking traditions (e.g., drinking 21 shots, drinking at midnight) and to have more influential peers present that encouraged drinking. Overall, 61% of all those who drank to celebrate had one or more influential peers present and 60% engaged in one or more 21st birthday drinking traditions."

Extreme drinking at this level is an invitation to serious alcohol poisoning, and possibly even death.

What are some suggestions for safe birthday drinking ?
First, consider skipping the bar routine altogether. Say no to free shots of cheap liquor and instead indulge in a few very special drinks or cocktails at home or at a restaurant. Make your celebration drinks a part of a meal--rather than drinking simply for the sake of drinking.

Set your drink limit ahead of time and ask a friend to stay sober and keep count. Once you reach your drink limit, switch to non-alcoholic beverages.

Happy Birthday--be safe and have FUN!

Free Nicotine Gum and Patches

Get Free Help to Quit Smoing!

The Health Department's annual 16-day Nicotine Patch and Gum Giveaway Program to help New Yorkers quit smoking is now underway. Smokers who want help quitting can apply to get patches or gum at no cost by calling 311 or completing online application at nyc.gov/nycquits. This year's giveaway will run from March 10 through March 25. Nicotine Patch and Gum Program http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/smoke/smoke-nrtpatch.shtml

Love Movies But Go Easy on the Popcorn

With the latest Oscar's season behind us, the reckoning moment is here: watching all those amazing movies in the past three months, elbow-deep in a popcorn tub, can really pack on the pounds.

Consider this!

One large tub of buttered popcorn and full-sugar soda contains as many calories as an adult should consume in a single day. And that is BEFORE you get your free refill.

Movie-watching make-over tip:

1. Skip snacks at the movies--save money, calories, and time standing in line. Treat yourself to a small treat afterwards and talk over the movie with friends.

2. Pack small treats from home--a bag of pretzls for that salty, crunchy urge, or bite-sized fresh fruit.

3. Order the small bag of popcorn, eat it slowly and share with friends.

4. Walk or ride your bike to and from the movies--build a bit of exercise into your movie-watching habits.

See you at the movies!

March is National Nutrition Month

Building a Healthy Diet
Nutrition advice seems to be everywhere these days. It's hard to turn on the TV, open a magazine or even log on to the Internet without finding diet suggestions. Celebrities with milk mustaches tell you what to drink, nutritionists debate what portion of your diet should come from carbohydrates and public health officials sound alarms about America's growing obesity epidemic. Given the overwhelming—and often conflicting—amount of information out there, it's no wonder that many Americans are confused about nutrition. So whose advice should you take?

Would you be surprised if the answer is Uncle Sam's?
That's right, the U.S. government. Every five years, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture review the most recent scientific literature on nutrition and simplify the information into a document called the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This information can be found online at http://www.health.gov/DietaryGuidelines/.
These guidelines are aimed at Americans who want to prevent chronic diseases associated with a poor diet and inactivity, and the guidelines are general enough to apply to people with a variety of preferences and lifestyles. To help you remember the recommendations, here are the ABCs on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans:

Aim for fitness:
Aim for a healthy weight
Be physically active each day

Build a healthy base:
Let the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid guide your choices
Choose a variety of grains daily, especially whole grains
Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables daily
Keep food safe to eat

Choose sensibly:
Choose a diet that's low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat
Choose beverages and foods to moderate your intake of sugars
Choose and prepare foods with less salt
If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation

Be aware of what you are eating when away from home.
Pay special attention to what you eat when you're away from home. Snacks and meals at work, in restaurants or when socializing with friends make up a significant portion of daily caloric intake. Choose these foods wisely. Try to eat fruits, vegetables and whole-grain foods. When dining out, order fish, chicken, or lean meat and ask that it be grilled, rather than fried.

Take your time with weight loss.
If you need to lose weight, do it gradually. Losing a half pound to two pounds a week is a safe and realistic goal. Forget about miracle diets and adopt healthy eating habits and exercise regularly. It may seem to take forever to reach your target weight, but research shows that people who lose weight steadily are most likely to keep the weight off and then maintain a healthy weight.

Stay active.
For at least 30 minutes most days of the week, be physically active. Walking, bicycling, golfing, dancing or taking exercise classes are just some of the ways to be active for at least a half hour.
Or you can break up your exercise time. Walk instead of drive. Take the stairs. Rake leaves. Clean the house. Play with your children. Push a stroller. Walk the dog. It will add up.

Reduce your salt intake.
Choose fresh, frozen or canned vegetables without salt added or with low-salt content. Look for labels that say "low-sodium." Leave the salt shaker in a cupboard, not on the dinner table. Go easy on condiments such as soy, ketchup and mustard, which can add a significant amount of salt to your food.

Resources
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Information Center offers information at http://fnic.nal.usda.gov
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion provides tips on Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid, as well as meal planning on a budget, at http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/
The American Dietetic Association offers nutrition resources, and can help you locate a registered dietitian in your area, at http://www.eatright.org
Chivari, T. (2010, Reviewed). Building a healthy diet. Raleigh, NC: Workplace Benefits.

News for New Parent Students: Skip the baby walker!

When searching for something to distract or occupy your new baby while you study, its tempting to reach for the baby walker. Recent research, however, has demonstrated that baby walkers are not only dangerous, but also delay normal mental and motor-skill development. Read the New York Times discussion for more information here.

Need to corral or distract baby? Try stationary activity centers that add mental stimulation without developmental delays. you can also sit your baby in a high chair and provide toys in the tray, or consider using a play pen or play yard.