January 16, 2002 - Volume 1 Issue 5

Welcome to the first edition of the Wellness Insider for 2002! We welcome your feedback and questions. To contact us, please click here. Click for version PLEASE NOTE: We have recently updated our newsletter sign-up form to a quick pop-up window format. The window will appear on any page that you access through this newsletter. You can choose to turn off the message by clicking on the checkbox that reads, "Do not show this window in the future". This first edition of the 2002 newsletter has been sent to you because in the past you indicated you wanted periodic updates from us. If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter on a regular basis, you will need to sign-up. You may do so by clicking here . A Message from Dr. Cooper Greetings from The Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas! This is always an exciting time of year. With the New Year, people have a tendency to be energized and enthusiastic. We're ready to set goals, make changes and improve our lives. Many times that includes losing weight, starting an exercise program, and/or stopping smoking. Here is my advice: Don't set the bar too high! The reasoning behind that statement is based on over 40 years of experience during my practice of medicine. Changing behavior is a very complex issue and we know that if someone tries to change too many things at once, he or she is most likely to fail. Remember that fitness (and good health) is a journey and not a destination. If we take small steps over a long period of time, our success will be much greater than if we start out like a ball of fire, then hit a wall and quit. more... Nutrition Your New Year's Diet Solution Georgia Kostas, M.P.H., R.D., L.D. Does weight loss top your "wish list" for 2002? Here is the "Diet Solution" for that New Year's Resolution! Having counseled more than 20,000 individuals on their diet during the past 25 years, I have seen what works and what does not work. The key to success is a system that enables anyone to build satisfying, healthy meals while enjoying favorite comfort foods without guilt. Among the key points of this diet are: more... Vitamin Supplementation A Bone to Pick About Vitamin A Angela Marks, Cooper Concepts, Inc. If you have been paying attention to the headlines over the last couple of days, you may be familiar with the recently published study about vitamin A. According to the January 2nd issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, too much vitamin A may increase the risk for hip fractures in postmenopausal women. With this new information, you should be questioning its relevancy to your own life and wondering whether you should take heed, right? This question cannot be easily answered until we have more information about its application to men and young adults. Nevertheless, this study does show that women beyond their childbearing years should be cautious about their consumption of vitamin A above the recommended daily allowance (RDA). more... Physical Training Get Focused, Not Discouraged Jill Armayor, Cooper Ventures We have all heard it before, and it has passed many of our own lips in conversation at holiday parties. "This year I am really going to do it. My New Year's resolution is to get in shape." Be honest with yourself for a moment. How many times have you made that promise? We know from research that exercise is one of the best predictors for success in not only losing weight, but also in keeping the weight off. So now that we know that exercise plays an important part in the weight loss picture, how do we increase our odds of sticking to the plan and reaching our fitness goals? more... Women's Health Preventive Care and Screening Strategies Brought to you exclusively from the women physicians at Cooper Clinic As the holiday season has come to an end, a great many of us have taken a moment to look forward into the New Year to set some goals and perhaps make a resolution or two. If improving on bad health habits, getting acquainted with your primary care physician or maintaining your good health is on your list of goals for the year 2002, good for you! To help you organize your approach to maximizing your health in the New Year, we thought we would outline a preventive care and screening strategy for women in the table below. This outline may differ slightly from one you've read in a magazine or seen in literature from your insurance company. It is important to remember that strategies or guidelines for screening can vary depending on the organization that publishes them. more... Click for version

Kid's Corner In a country where more than 10 million children ages 6 to 17 are considered overweight and almost half of these are severely obese, it's more important than ever to educate young people about the importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. If you would like to receive periodic information on kid's nutrition and fitness, click here to automatically be added to the mailing list... Weekly Recipe Tex-Mex Corn Saute Ingredients: vegetable cooking spray 1 teaspoon olive oil 3/4 cup chopped green pepper 3/4 cup chopped onion 1 teaspoon ground cumin 2 1/2 cups fresh corn 2 large ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 to 1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Tabasco) 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro or parsley Directions: Coat a large heavy skillet with cooking spray; add oil and place over medium-high heat until hot. Add green pepper and onion; saute until tender. Stir in cumin; add corn and saute 3 to 5 minutes until corn is just tender. Stir in tomatoes, sugar, salt and hot sauce; saute 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in cilantro. Per Serving: 100 Calories, 3 g Fat from: The Cooper Clinic Solution to the Diet Revolution written by Georgia G. Kostas, M.P.H., R.D., L.D. Shop Online: The Cooper Aerobics Center Sweatshirt Suit up for Fall with The Cooper Aerobics Center sweatshirt... Made of premium weight, 10 oz. fleece (90% cotton/10%polyester). The ultimate in natural comfort by Hanes. Available in Grey and Navy.