Figure Skater Peggy Fleming Teams With HealthSaver: Fit for Summer
NORWALK, Conn., May 21 /PRNewswire/ — The warm weather provides the perfect opportunity to get fit for summer. Boost your health and confidence with a plan that combines smarter eating habits with a steady fitness routine.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080415/NYTUFNS1 )
“The key to controlling weight is to eat fewer calories while increasing physical activity,” said Peggy Fleming, Olympic figure skating champion and HealthSaver spokesperson.
If exercise has not been a part of your daily routine, don’t worry. People who start exercising later in life appear to gain the same health benefits as people who have stayed fit their entire lives. Find what type of exercise works for you, and stick with it.
Healthier eating could reduce cancer deaths in the United States by as much as 35 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Health. Keep yourself healthy — and in swimsuit shape! — with a smart diet plan.
Think of food as fuel. Replace unhealthy foods with nutrient-rich options. “Aim for a variety of food while keeping an eye on portion sizes,” said Brad Eggleston, vice president of HealthSaver.
Make this summer your season to shine. Dedicate yourself to a better You! Get Moving — The benefits of regular exercise are not limited to toned muscles and less body fat. Consistent exercise also helps protect against heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, strokes and even depression. — The U.S. Department of Health recommends at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week. Choose cardiovascular activities that suit you. If you’re competitive, join a tennis league. Social? Ask a friend to accompany you on your morning jogs. — To increase your metabolic rate by up to 15 percent, incorporate resistance training into your fitness routine. Tone biceps with dumbbells and upper legs with lunges. Such exercises will help strengthen muscles and increase endurance. Once you’ve mastered the moves, increase weight or difficulty. A challenge will yield results! — Focus on quality. A 15-minute workout done properly may be more beneficial than a 30-minute workout performed in a hurry. For example, don’t rush through sit-ups. Instead, keep focus as you contract your stomach muscles while you ease down to the floor. Eat Right — You don’t have to deprive yourself in order to sustain a healthy, flavorful diet. Choose food from a variety of food groups to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to fuel your day and keep you healthy. — Many Americans consume too many calories with too few nutrients. Make vegetables a key part of your diet. Most vegetables are naturally low in calories and fat. In general, the more colorful a vegetable or fruit, the more nutrients it provides. — Fruits are another nutrient-packed power food that provides essential vitamins and minerals. One banana, one orange and a handful of dried apricots provide the daily recommended amount of fruit. Fruit may also help you feel full. — Don’t let unhealthy snacks sneak their way into an otherwise healthy diet. Instead of potato chips, add fiber to your diet with protein- packed nuts. Or snack on baby carrots instead of quick-stop eats such as French fries. — According to the American Dietetic Association, people tend to underestimate how much they eat. To get a better idea of proper portions, take a week to literally measure your foods’ recommended serving sizes. Also, make a point to be more aware of when you become full. Stay on Track — When struggling through the last lap in the pool or the biggest hill on a bike ride, continue to remind yourself why you want to be fit in the first place. Motivation is often a key element to a consistent exercise routine. — If you can’t seem to find time for workouts within your busy schedule, recruit an exercise partner. A “teammate” can provide a commitment not only to yourself, but also to a friend. This just may be the accountability you need to keep your fitness in check. — If your goal is to look better in your swimsuit for this summer’s beach vacation, hang your swimsuit in a place you can’t avoid, such as on the inside of your closet door. This will serve as a continuous reminder of your ultimate fitness goal. — A goal to “get in shape” can be too broad of a commitment. Instead, establish specific goals, such as to play tennis 45 minutes per day or to eat dessert only once a week.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find success with only better eating habits or only improved physical activity. In order to get fit for summer, your diet and workout routine must work together. Make a pledge to yourself that you will make health a priority. Success will yield results for years to come.
HealthSaver, an emerging health care discount program, offers savings on prescriptions, vision care, complementary and alternative health care treatments, vitamins and supplements by mail and more than 1,500 fitness clubs nationwide, including select Bally Total Fitness, World Gym and Ladies Workout Express locations.
About HealthSaver
HealthSaver offers discounts of 20 percent on vision care, as well as discounts of 10 to 50 percent on prescriptions at participating pharmacies, 20 percent off complementary and alternative health care treatments and fitness club benefits. HealthSaver also offers discounts of 10 to 35 percent on dental care services at some 42,000 participating provider locations nationwide, including routine cleanings, X-rays, fillings, orthodontics, and even popular cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening. Members can also save from 5 to 50 percent off vitamins and supplements by mail. Discounts are based upon reasonable and customary costs or manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) and are only available from participating providers. HealthSaver is not an insurance product or service. More information about HealthSaver is available online at http://www.healthsaver.com/ or toll free by calling 1-800-7HEALTH (1-800-743-2584). A one month trial membership in HealthSaver (http://www.healthsaver.com/ or 1-800-743-2584) costs $1 and can be canceled anytime during the trial period. Unless the member calls to cancel during the trial, membership will be extended automatically and billed to a credit card number at the $149.99 annual fee. Members may call toll free to cancel at any time and receive a refund of the unused portion of their current year’s fee. HealthSaver is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership, insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans.
About Affinion Group, Inc.
As a global leader with nearly 35 years of experience, Affinion Group (http://www.affinion.com/) enhances the value of its partners’ customer relationships by developing and marketing valuable loyalty, membership, checking account, insurance and other compelling products and services. Leveraging its expertise in product development and targeted marketing, Affinion helps generate significant incremental revenue for more than 5,300 affinity partners worldwide, including many of the largest and most respected companies in financial services, retail, travel, and Internet commerce. Based in Norwalk, Conn., the company has approximately 3,300 employees throughout the United States and in 10 countries across Europe. Affinion holds the prestigious ISO 27001 certification for the highest information security practices, is PCI compliant and Cybertrust certified.
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Peggy Fleming http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=57424
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HealthSaver
CONTACT: Todd Smith, +1-615-764-2598, +1-615-202-7944 (M), or AndreaLindsley, +1-615-780-3315, +1-615-415-8886 (M), both for HealthSaver
Web site: http://www.healthsaver.com/http://www.affinion.com/