Stand UP for Your Break Time, You Need It!

There is now an Emerging Science of Sedentary Behavior  and Neville Owen , Ph.D., Head of Behavioral Epidemiology at Australia's Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, presented evidence that suggests sitting for long periods of time is associated with health risks – even for people who are regularly physically active. Sitting time is emerging as a strong candidate for being a cancer risk factor in its own right. "It’s highly likely that the longer you sit, the higher your risk. This phenomenon isn't dependent on body weight or how much exercise people do," said Dr. Owen. However, recent evidence suggests that key indicators of cancer risk are lower when prolonged sitting is interrupted with brief (1-2 minute) breaks

Currently, Dr. Owen and his research team are conducting a randomized trial investigating the link between regular desk breaks and activities that promote standing to cancer risk biomarkers. Evidence from this study might lead to practical recommendations on workplace health, says Dr. Owen, such as removing office waste baskets so you have to get up and walk to them…no more waste basket hoops…, using standing desks…Not as bad as it sounds. 

 I have a set up with my laptop on a counter so that I can stand at times when I am working…, and meetings with standing breaks.  

By now, we've all heard advice to "Take the stairs, not the elevator." Which is good but there are many more ways to infuse your day at work with more activity:

• Set the timer on your computer to remind you every 60 minutes that it's time to step away from your desk and take a short walk down the hall.
• "Walk with me." Got a quick thing to discuss with a co-worker? Instead of sending an email, ask him or her to join you for a walk to hash it out on the go. The pedeconference: It's not just for TV characters anymore.
• Keep light hand weights in your office to use while reading email or talking on the phone.
• During all phone calls and phone meetings, stand up and walk around.
• For a more vigorous activity break, ask your employer to put a punching bag or chin-up bar in your break room. ..just pack some deodorant J
• Your office or cubicle wall is all you need for simple activities like stretches, vertical push-ups and leg lifts.  I have my elastic bands here with me so that I can do it too! 

TAKE A BREAK TODAY!!

November is National Adoption Month

Did you know that November is National Adoption month?  Well, I must admit that I had no clue about this month. If you said November to me I and I thought turkey and black Friday. But now as an adoptive parent it is such a huge part of my life and since I keep running into people who are clueless like I once was and who want to know more I'm going to give you the scoop so that you can be in the know!

Adoption Awareness Month is a nationwide campaign in November to encourage families throughout the United States to open their hearts and homes to children waiting to be adopted, the particular focus is the adoption of children currently in foster care. During the month there is Orphan Sunday which is a Sunday set aside for churches to engage their congregations and communities to hear God's call from the Bible to care for orphans. It's this Sunday, November 6th.  Then there is National Adoption Day which is a collective national effort Celebrated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, to raise awareness of the 114,000 children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families. This year it's November 19th.  

For the last 11 years, National Adoption Day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true by working with courts, judges, attorneys, adoption professionals, child welfare agencies and advocates to finalize adoptions and find permanent, loving homes for children in foster care.  Foster care is supposed to be temporary. Unfortunately, as thousands of our country's children know. foster care sometimes lasts as long as childhood. Many foster children are legally free for adoption, but on average, nearly two-thirds have been in care more than two years, and only one in five will be adopted. There are thousands of children  that need a permanent home and loving family. If you've ever wanted to be a parent - to help children grow and develop to their fullest potential – this month is for you to learn more and consider adoption. Children of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, are waiting for parents to make a difference in their lives. They are waiting on YOU!!

Here are a few facts:

• There are an estimated 408,425 children in foster care in the United States, and more than 107,000 of them are waiting to be adopted. 
• Through no fault of their own, these children enter foster care as a result of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. 
• On average they wait for 3-5 years for a family
• The average age of children waiting for an adoptive family is 8. 
• Nearly 28,000 children reach the age of 18 without ever finding a forever family.
• Married couples, single females & single males can adopt

To find out more about adopting a child in the United States, please visit 

www.nationaladoptionday.org or call 1-800-ASK-DTFA.  And here in TX visit

http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/Adoption/ 

In an upcoming blog I will share with you my adoption story from foster care and how God orchestrated things so perfectly.  And how we continue to have divine appointments with other adoptive families and adopted adults who keep us inspired. Plus I will share ideas on how you can help even if adoption is not what you have been called to do.  You can still care for orphans in a very meaningful way!!