Core Wellness Center

Get Away Without Going Away

Family vacations are a great way to bond and take a step back from the hectic schedules that accompany everyday life, but sometimes time or money (or both) make planning an elaborate trip a non-starter.

However, a staycation - a vacation you take right in your hometown (or nearby) - can be much less expensive and fit into nearly any amount of available time with the added bonus of skipping out on potentially stressful travel.

Dr. JoAnn Giesenhaus of Core Wellness Center in Little Falls, New Jersey recently presented a talk about Stress Overload Syndrome to the Passaic County Department of Health Services Health Educators. Only a few weeks later Core Wellness Center offered free computerized posture screenings at the Women’s Health Extravaganza sponsored by the Passaic County Department of Health Services. Dr. JoAnn is a member of The Wellness

Champions™, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization of specifically chosen doctors that represent elite minds in Corporate Wellness. To schedule a complimentary health talk or posture screening for your company, hobby group, sports club or religious organization please call Carol at (973) 837-6677. For more information about The Wellness Champions™ go to www.wellnesschampions.org.

Consider these staycation ideas to take advantage of your local area’s attractions and prove you don’t have to go far to spend quality time together.

Visit local landmarks. Just because it’s not a traditional vacation doesn’t mean you can’t pretend to be tourists. Start by visiting the places you recommend to friends and family from out of town or pick up a city guidebook to uncover hidden spots you may not even know exist. Make a plan to

5 family staycation ideas that won’t break your budget cont. on page 7 cont. from page 6 seek out historic sites, visit local landmarks like museums or try an out-of-the-way restaurant (or two) you’ve never eaten at before.

Camp out in the backyard. Camping doesn’t have to be done far from home. In fact, it can be done right in your own backyard. Pitch a tent to sleep under the stars and plan a night full of traditional camping activities like roasting s’mores, telling spooky stories by flashlight and trying to identify stars and constellations.

Set up a picnic in the park. Pack a basket with sandwiches, fruit and other treats and head to the park. You can enjoy a casual meal then take advantage of the open space for a family walk or game of tag before retreating to the playground to let the little ones expel any leftover energy.

Have a home spa day. If you’re looking for some relaxation but don’t want to splurge on the full spa treatment, plan an at-home oasis instead. Light some candles, run a bubble bath and break out the facial masks and fingernail polish.

Visit an amusement park. No matter where you live, there’s probably an amusement or water park within driving distance. A quick online search before you arrive can help prepare a strategy for hitting the most popular thrill rides and waterslides while skipping those that may not provide quite the same entertainment value.

Find more tips and tricks for enjoying family time together at eLivingtoday.com. (eLivingtoday.com)

How to Help Pets Maintain Healthy Weights

Like their human companions, pets can struggle with their weight. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), in 2014, an estimated 53 percent of dogs and 58 percent of cats in the United States were overweight or obese.

Being overweight or obese can shorten pets’ lives by increasing their risk for insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, cancer, and osteoarthritis. The APOP estimates that unhealthy weights can shave up to 2.5 years off of pets’ lives.

Sedentary lifestyles and overeating can contribute to weight gain in cats and dogs. In addition, choosing the wrong foods for an animal’s activity level may contribute to weight gain.

Is my pet too heavy?

Many pet owners miss signs that their pets are maintaining unhealthy weights. Pet owners may have a distorted perception of just what qualifies as a healthy weight, thinking a few extra pounds make for a robust pet. But those extra pounds could be causing substantial harm to cats and dogs.

The APOP lists healthy weight guidelines for cats and dogs. Cats are easily weighed by weighing yourself and then weighing yourself while holding the cat. Subtract your weight, and then you will know how much the cat weighs.

Dogs require larger scales, and this is something best handled at a veterinarian’s office.

Wellness visits provide more opportunities to get accurate assessments of pets’ weights. Vets can conduct visual assessments to determine if pets are maintaining healthy weights while also sharing information about the ideal weight for your particular animal.

Cats’ and dogs’ waists should be visible when viewed from above. If your pet seems thick in the middle, chances are he or she can stand to lose some weight.

Increasing activity

Exercise and healthy eating are the keys to getting cats and dogs to shed some pounds (animals suffering from illness may need to pursue other avenues to weight loss). Ask the vet how much your pet needs to lose and the role that diet can play in helping your pet to lose weight. Reduce caloric intake accordingly until pets reach the weight their vet recommends. When pets are already overweight, adhering to guidelines on food packaging may make it difficult for pets to lose weight.

Exercise is another key to healthy weight loss. Dogs can go out for walks or engage in other aerobic activity, such as playing games of fetch. It can be more challenging to get cats to exercise. Toys that play into a feline’s predatory nature, such as things they have to hunt or chase, may inspire cats to move more.

Overweight pets need exercise and changes to their diets in order to lose weight and extend their life expectancies. Consult your veterinarian for advice on how to help pets shed pounds they can keep off for years to come.

Dr. Matthew Krupnick is the owner of the Pequannock Animal Hospital. He grew up in Kinnelon and is happy to be home – with his wife, three cats, and two dogs – to provide quality and compassionate care for pets in the community. The Pequannock Animal Hospital is located at 591 Newark Pompton Turnpike in Pompton Plains. You can reach the hospital by calling 973-616-0400.

Fishing is a treasured pastime for Americans from coast to coast, but the experience can be as individual as the person reeling them in. A successful angling excursion begins with thoughtful planning and all the right gear.

If you're new to the sport, gearing up for your first fishing season may feel equally exciting and overwhelming. On the other hand, a seasoned pro can always benefit from periodically taking stock of tackle, gear and other equipment to increase the thrill of a great catch.

License and Registration

With just a few excep- tions, fishing requires a license. Thanks to the internet, a fishing license is easy to come by, even if you're not a resident of the place where you'll be dropping a line. Pay close attention to the different types of licenses offered so you're not vulnerable to fines or penal- cont. on page 13

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