“The State Employees’ Insurance Board has approved a plan that will charge state workers an extra $25 per month, starting January 2010, if they don’t have a free health screening. If the screening turns up no problems, they don’t have to pay the $25 in the future.

If the screening turns up serious problems with blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose or obesity, then employees will have one year to see a doctor, enroll in a wellness program or take other steps to improve their health. If they do, they won’t have to pay the $25 monthly. But if they don’t, they will have to pay the $25 per month starting in January 2011″

From here: http://www.abc3340.com/news/stories/0808/546108.html

Kinldy have a look. I wanted to object to YAHOO, but did not know how to take it up.

//”Your friend can make you fat

Tue, Aug 19 01:20 AM

If your friend is fat, chances are your curves will become more generous. If she is a shopaholic, a foodie or a snob, chances are you will end up with the habit or trait.

A recent study – conducted on 12,000 people over 32 years – shows that habits are generally socially contagious and that social connect might play a greater role than genetics. People pick them up from those they spend lot of time with and #8230; sometimes getting addicted to them more than the friend.

These include taking up or giving up smoking, turning into a couch potato or becoming an exercise or sports freak. Psychiatrist Dr Rahul Chandhok says cases of peer pressure addiction to drugs and alcohol are common but, increasingly, picking up petty habits from friends is coming into focus.

“There are cases of people starting to stammer because his best friend did or of someone buying costly art because his friend is fond of visiting exhibitions.” Says PR executive Mansi Chugh, “My friend Aditi used to watch TV serials while I was never a couch potato.

She used to discuss all stories and soon I started watching more TV than her.” Media professional Rashmi Nagar said that after her wedding, she noticed how her husband always finished his food.

“I picked up this habit too.” Experts say we befriend people because of a subconscious attraction.

Thus the likelihood that we will eat the food they do, dress like them or indulge in shopping or go to the gym. Psychiatrist Deepak Raheja said, “We look at some friends as role models and thus start behaving like them.

” Psychiatrists warned that it is easier to pick up a habit from your friend than giving up one. Psychiatrist Sunil Mittal says he has seen cases where people develop fake accents from friends and become dog lovers when they hated pets, but ironically no one quits a habit.

“Quitting a habit brings displeasure whereas taking it up is easy and gratifying. People want to explore, discover and win the approval of their peers without bringing discomfort to themselves.

//”.

You’re awesome for taming that monster.

Chocolate Covered Bacon last week didn’t help, though, and this week’s experiment, apple pie made with sausage, onion, and celery… well… it’ll probably be a step or three better than the Krispy Kreme burgers you folks pointed out last week.

LOVES IT!

I find it amusing though, that there will be many MANY people out there who are surprised by this!

Over the past 8yrs with my company, I have fluctuated between 180 and 240 lbs. And I have more strength and stamina than most of my coworkers (men included). And it always surprises them. I replace the bottle for the water cooler and they just stare….every time. And every time I say “I’m a farm girl, people…..there’s muscle under this here fat!”.

Last year I completed the 60 mile long Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk. This year, I am in training for the 2008 event. And even though people know I did it, they still are amazed when I say “yeah, I walked 25 miles this weekend”.

Even when I wasn’t doing the walking I am now, my blood pressure was always perfect. My cholesterol was always perfect.

HOLLA to the Fit fatties!