HEALTH NEWS
Once again, we see today that when it comes to exercising, the watchword is:  moderation...in all things, moderation:
"For people who exercise but fret that they really should be working out more, new studies may be soothing. The amount of exercise needed to improve health and longevity, this new science shows, is modest, and more is not necessarily better.
That is the message of the newest and perhaps most compelling of the studies, which was presented on Saturday at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in San Francisco. For it, researchers at the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health and other institutions combed through the health records of 52,656 American adults who’d undergone physicals between 1971 and 2002 as part of the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study at the Cooper Institute in Dallas. Each participant completed physical testing and activity questionnaires and returned for at least one follow-up visit.
The researchers found that about 27 percent of the participants reported regularly running, although in wildly varying amounts and paces.
The scientists then checked death reports.
Over the course of the study, 2,984 of the participants died. But the incidence was much lower among the group that ran. Those participants had, on average, a 19 percent lower risk of dying from any cause than non-runners.
Notably, in closely parsing the participants’ self-reported activities, the researchers found that running in moderation provided the most benefits. Those who ran 1 to 20 miles per week at an average pace of about 10 or 11 minutes per mile — in other words, jogging — reduced their risk of dying during the study more effectively than those who didn’t run, those (admittedly few) who ran more than 20 miles a week, and those who typically ran at a pace swifter than seven miles an hour."

"PUSH GIRLS"--A REVIEW
So last night I watched an episode of the new reality show "Push Girls"; I'd DVR'd it a night or two earlier.  The show is about 4 young, attractive women who share one big thing in common--they are all confined to wheelchairs.  They are disabled.  One of the women was felled by a very rare disease that struck her when she was a girl.  The other 3 were in very bad car accidents.  One of them is a quadriplegic; she has limited use of her hands and arms, and must live with an in-home caregiver.  The other three are paraplegics; they are paralyzed from the waist down, but have good use of their hands and arms.

So.  What do we have here?  On the whole, I'd urge Moebius adults and parents of children with Moebius to watch this show.  It's interesting.  And you can learn something.  There are some things to keep in mind, of course:  1] The show can be found on the Sundance cable channel.  I don't know how widely available it is; you'll want to check to see if you have it.  The show does however have a website and soon episodes may be available to watch there, too.  2] There's some profanity and some, er, adult themes on the show.  The show isn't for children.  Still, for you adults out there I wouldn't let that distract you from watching it.  3] And I wouldn't claim that this show is about four average women, either.  These are women who were and are very attractive; there are no facial differences here, folks.  One of them was a model before she was had her accident.  They all live in the Los Angeles area.  They all have very strong personalities (but hey, you have to expect that; that's what TV wants).

But it's a good, interesting show.  And we with Moebius Syndrome do have things in common with these women.  For example, just from watching last night:  1] One of the girls remarked that sometimes dealings with other people can be difficult; "They're just not used to seeing someone in a wheelchair," she said.  And for us, people just aren't used to seeing someone with the facial difference produced by Moebius.  2] Yet these women all had relationships going--with non-wheelchair-bound people.  And several times it was said--the significant others of these girls emphasized that the fact that their partner was in a wheelchair simply didn't matter.  And that can very much be the case for those of us with Moebius, too--those without it can relate to you, can want to be with you; it has happened over and over again.  We've all seen it.  3] But it's true--we have to tell it like it is--there are times when a Push Girl, or someone with Moebius, will have big obstacles to overcome.  For example, one of the young women in the show I watched last night was going to try to get back into modeling.  And yet one of those she talked to stated just how difficult it would be for her; he compared someone in a wheelchair trying to be a model to someone without arms trying to pitch in major league baseball.  And yet, though she knew the odds were against her, she was determined to try.  She wasn't going to let anything stop her.  And that's exactly the attitude we wth Moebius have to have, too.

Anyway.  Each episode lasts 30 minutes.  It's interesting; check the show out.


“Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future. ”--Deepak K. Chopra (born 1946)


“An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything, and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men.”--Dr. Thomas Fuller (1608-1661)