Valentine's Day Quiz!

1. What is often done on Valentine's Day?

2. The Catholic Church feast day is said to be in honor of?

3. What is romantic love?

4. What is used for the mutual exchange of love notes?

5. What Valentine symbols are commonly used?

6. Who is Cupid?

7. According to legend what does Cupid like to do?

8. How would you describe Cupid's physical characteristics?

9. How many valentine greeting cards are sent each year?

10. What is the largest card sending holiday?

11. What percentage of valentines are purchased by women?

12. What is regarded by historians as purely a matter of legend?

13. When was the feast of St. Valentine first declared?

14. When did the Catholic Church remove St. Valentine's Day from its official calendar?

15. When was the 1st recorded union of Valentine's Day with romantic love?

16. What is it common to call each other on Valentine's Day?

17. When were the first mass produced valentines of embossed paper lace?

18. What has the Greeting Card Association been giving since 2001?

19. When was the practice of exchanging cards extended to the giving of gifts?

20. What started to promote Valentine's Day as occasion for giving jewelry?

21. What is platonic love?

22. What do women in Japan and Korea do on Valentine's Day?

23. What is the Valentine chocolate known as in Japan?

24. What might you say to someone on Valentine's Day?

25. Why do some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February?

26. What did printed cards replace?

27. When did Americans begin exchanging hand made valentines?

28. Where can you find the oldest known Valentine card?

29. What is Esther A. Howland, known as?

30. Name a well known great romance?

31. What day is February 14 in the Gregorian Calendar?

Go online to www.TheEdgeMagazine.org for the answers to this fun Valentine’s Day Quiz

February 2011 Calendar of Events

Every Monday
Bingo!! Come join our seniors every Monday right after lunch until about 3:00 p.m. for some fun games of Bingo, at the Crossroads Senior and Community Center.

Every Tuesday
Vernal Chamber of Commerce Meeting held at Golden Corral in Vernal at 12 PM.

Every Wednesday
Spanish & English Story Time for kids at the Uintah County Library at 2:00pm. For more info call 789-0091.

Every Friday
Golden Age Center Dance open to the public. Dances held at the Golden Age Center beginning at 3:00pm.

2011 Water Summit
February 1rst At Western Park Arena 9:30- 4:30. Cost is $25.00  The keynote speaker will be Lt. Gov. Greg Bell.   $25.00 registration fee includes all sessions and lunch if pre-registered by Feb 5^th.  $30.00 at the door.  For more information Contact Heather Hoit at the Uintah County Office 781-0770.

Quilters
Meet the 2^nd and the 16^th  from 9:00- 3:00 and the 8^th from 7:00pm- 9:00pm. Come join the fun and watch the fabric fly at the Crossroads Senior and Community Center.

API Meeting
Feb 9^th  6:30 @ 7-11 ranch.  For more information Contact Bob Ballou at 724-2500. Or e-mail Bob at rballou@ubtanet.com. 

Legal Service
Feb 9^th 3:00-5:00pm at the Crossroads Senior and Community Center.

Breakfast for your Brain
February 9^th and 23^rd. Seniors join us at 11:30 for breakfast and a workout for your brain! This ongoing class will help strengthen your memories and overall brain function! Proven to aid in the prevention of  Alzheimer  Disease.

Foster grandparent and R.S.V.P.
February 14^TH  in service and luncheon

Vernal shopping trip
February 16^th with transportation provided for $2.50

Feb. 14^th Valentine's Day 

Learning Link Parenting Class, "Positive Discipline". Child care available. February 15^th 11:00am-12:00pm.
Classes are geared to parents with children under the age of three. Pre-register at least 24 hours in advance. For more information Call DDI Vantage Coordinator Judy Amillatequi 722-3008  Classes located at 187 W. Lagoon St. or visit our website at
www.ddivantage.org

Social Security 
Feb  17^th, 9:30-1:00 at the Crossroads Senior Center 50 E. 200 S. Roosevelt.  Please bring all of your information. For more information call Duchesne County Chamber of Commerce at
722-4598/ 722-4597.

Feb. 21st   Presidents Day

 
 

 
 

If you have any information that you would like to be included in the Calendar of Events then please email us at michelle@

TheEdgeMagazine.org
OR
Send it snail mail
PO Box 287
Neola, UT 84053

 
 

Braggin' Rights

"Mike's Elk" - Photo Courtesy of Kaleb Thomas



"Sunset over Kevin's favorite hunting ridge" - Photo Courtesy of William Anderson



"Jenn's First Elk" - Photo Courtesy of Brian

"What are you looking at?" - Photo Courtesy of Gayle Olsen

Oh What To Do - February 2011

By: Whitney Lefler

What is there to do in Tabiona? As a Senior at Tabiona High School that is a question that I hear all of the time. My answer, "Follow me around for a while and I will show you. "

    Many people get the perception that life in a small town is quiet and laid back, I have found it to be just the opposite. Tabiona High School has a student body of around fifty students. With so few students we get the opportunity to be involved in anything we choose. Early on I chose sports. And when I say sports, I mean all the sports that are offered in our school. I participate in Volleyball, Basketball, Drill team, Cheerleading, Track, and this year I decided to add Cross Country to my list of fun things to do.     

    For the past four years of my High School career I have had three sports that are all going on at the same time. From November to March, I am involved in Basketball, Drill team, and Cheerleading. With an agenda like this I spend many hours at the school, either for practice or games. There have been times I have been at the school from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.. Sometimes my mom will say, "Next year you better give something up." I tell her, "I can't I love them all!" So about October I start drinking orange juice, and taking my vitamins, so my body can keep up too!

    It all starts in August with Volleyball, and Cross Country which goes until the end of October. Some days I would have a Cross Country meet, and then have to hurry home for a Volleyball game. That means a one hour or more drive home. I get about a one week break before basketball practice begins. This year I decided I would try out for Homecoming queen during that one week break, just so I wouldn't get bored. Then in November let the games begin, my favorite of all the sports start "Basketball." This might be my favorite sport, but it is also the busiest time of the year for me. On a game night I can change uniforms three different times. I start out in my cheerleading uniform, then at half time of that game I change into my drill team costume and perform at half time, then change back into my cheer uniform to cheer the boys on. Each day can present a different sport as well, one night I play a basketball game, and the next day I am off to a drill team competition, and then cheering at a boys basketball game. Basketball season ends in March. I get a two week break before Track begins.

    Does it all end at the end of the season? Absolutely not! In the summer I attend camps, and we continue with drill team, cheerleading practice , and fund raisers all summer long. As well as work a full time job. In August it starts all over again with Volleyball. Am I complaining? Definitely not! I wouldn't have it any other way.

    Not only have I participated in each sport but I have been a Varsity starter since I was a Freshmen. I have lettered in each sport every year. I have been on the All-State Drill Team for two consecutive years. I have been awarded the MVP in Volleyball, and Track, and the "Best all around Player" in Basketball. As well as being awarded the "Female Athlete of the year" in 2010. My first year in cross country I made it to State. I do not just choose to participate in these sports, I choose to excel.

    At times it gets to be a bit daunting to keep up with my schedule and still maintain a grade point average that will allow me to stay on the team, but I do it. I have been an honor roll student each year as well.

    This year I have decided to add becoming an Emergency Medical Technician to my schedule. I have been taking classes since August. I have class two nights a week, four hours a night. So every Monday and Wednesday I go straight from practice to class. This routine helps me maintain self discipline, and I know that if I can do this I will be prepared for a rigorous schedule at College next fall.

    As I get ready to leave this small town, and go out into Urban America I ask myself, "What is there to do in Provo?"

 
 

Friday Nights In A Small Town - A Fairy Tale Ending - February 2011

By: Jennifer Rook

    A few of my childhood friends and I were reminiscing (on Facebook, of course) recently about a favorite winter, Saturday morning ritual we all took part in way back in the day: The Saturday morning movie matinee at the Vernal Theater. We recalled some of the never-before-heard-of movies that we enjoyed each winter such as "Against A Crooked Sky", "Snow Queen" and some popular titles from the 60's including "Darby O'Gill and the Little People" "The Yearling" (until it melted before our eyes on the screen one day) and quite a few Pippi Longstocking adventures. We thought we were the luckiest kids in the world to get to go to the movies every weekend.

Turns out we were some of the lucky ones. Not all of my friends were allowed to attend the matinees. Their parents didn't approve of the movie content unless it was a Disney offering or some cartoon. Subsequently, these are the same parents now who ban movies such as Harry Potter and anything that has to do with magic and evil nemeses. It all makes me wonder though; are they really avoiding such movie elements by allowing G rated Disney movies and other happy cartoons?

    Take, for example, Snow White, a little princess who is so pretty her stepmother hates her. HATES her because she's pretty. In fact, this woman hates her stepdaughter so much, and is so completely and totally jealous of the girl's beauty and charm, (and by the way, I'm just SURE she coveted that heavenly, melodic singing voice that seemed to tranquilize small birds and mammals too. Who wouldn't want that power? ) that she hires a hit man to murder the girl. (and just where is the loving father in all of these cartoons anyway? It seems the father is always absent and therefore totally oblivious to the abuse his freakishly gorgeous daughter suffers at the hands of some evil woman he's married to) Evil Queenie demands the hit man cut poor little Snow's heart out and threatens him with his own death if he does not return with the heart in a box. (Do you suppose she was going to keep the heart in the box on the mantle? Or preserve it and display it in the trophy room?)

So, the hit man, a hunter by trade, somehow coerces Snow White to follow him deep into the woods. The moment he raises his hand to stab Snow White the hunter realizes he's in the wrong line of work and should stick to killing animals. He lowers his knife and instead runs Snow White off like a stray dog. The deer heart he brings back to the Queen tricks her for a while, but soon that magic mirror gives the hit man away and she knows Snow White is still alive. So, she whips herself up a magic potion, yes I said MAGIC, changes her identity and tries to poison Snow White numerous times.
Well, Snow White, by this time, with no obvious survival skills and brains whatsoever, runs like a scared kitten through the dark and scary woods until she finds a little cottage. No one is home, so she goes ahead and breaks in. It just happens to be dirty so what does the brainless little pretty do? Well she cleans right up and then bakes a pie for the poor orphans who live there. Because that's all women know how to do apparently; clean and bake after running blindly through the dark and scary woods. She is but a meek, mild, frail girl and so pretty that when the grubby little men who inhabit the cottage she has broken into and rummaged through come home, they are awe-inspired by her beauty and let her stay once she promises to be good eye candy AND cook and clean for them.
So stay, she does. But Snow White is so stupid, she lets the evil queen trick her and poison her twice before she finally succumbs to the famed poison apple. The Evil Queen soon meets her demise as she tumbles off a rocky cliff. And creepily enough, the grubby little men who are lamenting the loss of their gorgeous new slave just can't bring themselves to bury her dead body so they encase it in a glass coffin, creating a shrine unto which they bow daily.
But OF COURSE a handsome prince of regular height finds the sleeping princess and just can't resist a lovely kiss on her dead, frozen lips under that glass coffin (isn't there a syndrome or a sickness for people who do stuff like that? Isn't it illegal?) The kiss awakens the dead Snow White (can you imagine the morning breath that girl had? Death breath! Mmmmmmm…attractive!) and they fall instantly in love and are married that same day. I think he may have already known what a stellar housekeeper she was though. I'm sure her pie baking skills were renowned throughout the kingdom by this time as well because, after all, it's hard to keep seven little men quiet who just hit the domestic jackpot. It's truly a great premise for a wonderful children's cartoon isn't it?
I guess singing and whistling dwarves are what makes it all okay. The Brother's Grimm wrote many dark, scary, gory tales but Hollywood movie producers clued into the whole "musical numbers makes it all better" trick and now turn many dark movies of magic and mayhem into box office gold. The underlying themes are all the same, but singing dwarves and pretty princesses who can charm small animals and rodents somehow make the subject matter more endearing and precious. I'm not sticking to the Disney only route, however. I learned early on that Disney movies are just as scary and thrilling as non-whistling dwarf movies. Thanks to the Vernal Theater (and never-heard-from-again actors like Stewart Peterson, the blonde, teenage God who starred in "Where the Red Fern Grows" and "Against a Crooked Sky") and the Saturday Morning Matinee series. Grab some popcorn and a drink and I'll see you at "the show".

 
 

The Basin's Dirtiest Jobs - Water Truck Driver - February 2011

By: Jennifer Rook

    We are happy to debut this latest feature; "The Basin's Dirtiest Jobs". We hope to highlight some of the dirtiest jobs in the Basin and introduce you to some of the hard working folks from our community who get dirty every day or have to deal with undesirable substances, perform nasty tasks or deal with all manner of muck, slime, dirt, guts, oil; you name it. If it's a Dirty Job, we want to tell you all about it.

 
 

Water Truck Driver

    If someone tells you that driving a water truck isn't a very dirty job then that person must not have to do his own laundry after being in and around water trucks all day long. Water truck drivers have to drive through some of the nastiest stuff in the patch, chain up truck tires in thick, sticky mud, and are in and out of those trucks all day long, rain or shine, snow or extreme heat, deep mud or thick dust storm. They are also exposed to some of the foulest smelling water this side of the sewage pond. And that smell sticks. Water truck drivers definitely have a very dirty job.

Water services in the oil field are required at all drilling sites. Water is the conduit for all activity in oil or natural gas wells. Water is needed to drill and Frac' (fracture rock) but is essential during the production phase of drilling as well. Water is used to lubricate the drill bit, control pressure in the well and Frac' rock zones to release trapped reserves. Most times the only way to get water to the well site is to truck it in, and then used water will need to be trucked out as well. Water trucks deliver fresh water to well sites in semi tractor-trailor rigs called transport trucks and smaller rigs called bobtails and pup trailers. Fluids are moved off well sites in the same trucks where it is then taken to treatment sites at disposal and evaporation ponds. Other fluids water trucks haul include potassium chloride and brine among others.

The nastiest part of a water truck driver's job is dealing with flow-back water that has just come out of a well. The water has all manner of drilling fluids and bacteria and debris in it and therefore smells very bad. This water is then stored in a disposal pit where it will wait to be treated and evaporated. But in the meantime it sits to stew as more of the foul smelling water is added. The water truck driver is up close and personal at the disposal pit every run. The smell permeates clothing and doesn't come out in just one wash. "I make my husband strip at the back door." One water truck driver's wife admits. "His clothes just STINK so badly. He uses a company laundry service, but if I have to wash his clothes it takes three or four washes to get them so I can even be in the same room with them. We aired out some of his clothes on the deck after a wash and after being outside for two weeks I finally brought them in and hung them up in his closet. Within twenty minutes that whole bedroom stunk like a disposal pit. It's that bad!"

Water truck drivers also have to drive some of the muddiest roads around. It's not uncommon for a truck to get stuck or slide off a road and require assistance to get back on the road. Chaining up is a daily chore when it's muddy as well but the chains come off whenever the driver hits the pavement and go back on as soon as he's back in the mud. It's a "hands on" experience with the mud, for sure and then there is not only stinky laundry to deal with, there is stinky, MUDDY laundry to deal with.

Hats off to water truck drivers. Your cargo is the lifeblood of the oilfield and we salute you even if we hate to have to smell you when you get home.

Springing Into New Ways Of Thinking For Homeowners - February 2011

By: Crissy Knibbe

Springin' into new ways of thinking for buyers! We all know that buying a home is one of the most stressful things you can do in your lifetime, but it shouldn't be. With the right knowledge and the right people helping you, it should be a fun, exciting and rewarding experience.

    Have you ever wondered: "what kind of home do I see myself living in for the next 3-5 years?" Well, before you start shopping for one, ask yourself that question. All of us, at one time or another, have succumbed to the guilty pleasure of impulse buying. That goes for buying major purchases as well, whether it was a car, a boat, a four wheeler or a 72" flat screen plasma TV. We all have that urge to want something new. Homes are no exception. When you do impulse buy, most of the time, you get buyer's remorse. With the way the mortgage industry is these days, you have to be absolutely, positively, without a doubt certain of your selection or you could wind up with regrets and stuck in a home you don't like for the next few years.    

    Here are some basic tips you should follow when you are ready to start looking for your new home.
    First, always, always, always make sure it is within your price range. That means you need to go talk to a mortgage lender and find out what you are approved for. Too many people start by looking at homes before they know their price range and fall in love with a home that is above their means and get disappointed when they can't afford it.
    Second, make sure that you buy YOUR home. Sounds simple, but a lot of buyers end up with buyer's remorse because they didn't get the home they needed. How much space do you really need? Too small and you may feel like you live in constant clutter. Too big and maintenance may become too daunting. Outline all of your priorities, and work on finding not just a great home, but a great home for you.
    Finally, and the most important thing to do before your search for your home, is to find a great Realtor®. Realtors are the best resource for helping you get started on your way to new home ownership. Realtors will refer you to competent individuals who can provide financing, title work, legal representation, home inspections, appraisal services, homeowners insurance, and more. They are knowledgeable in the real estate laws, mortgage rates, will help you with buyers due diligence (ask me what this is), making sure you don't pay more than what a home is worth and most of all, they are there for you through all the emotional stress you may have during the home buying process. (At least, the caring ones are.)
    Just remember, owning a home gives you a tax break year after year after year. I know you hear Realtors tell you that "now" is always the best time to buy, but it really is. With the prices of homes stable and low interest rates, it is the perfect time to make a great investment. Not only do you get tax breaks, but you get more "bang for your buck" or more home for your dollar. I foresee prices to gradually go up again which will, in turn, drive interest rates back up too.

    So, with all that in mind, I want to help you put the FUN, EXCITEMENT and the REWARDS back into buying a home!

    With spring right around the corner, let's get started in the right direction of finding a great home for you. If you want information on foreclosures, short sales, mortgage rates, how and what you need to qualify for a home loan or if you have already been prequalified by a lender and would like to go look at homes, call me. If you are ready to take the plunge and make a smart, informed choice on a home, there are many financing options still available. Just ask me about them and I will point you in the right direction. If you don't know if you will qualify, call me and I'll help you.

    

If you or someone you know are in danger of losing your home and you don't know where to turn, please call me. I can help you. I take buying and selling real estate seriously and so should you. I am driven to provide the best possible care and service to all my clients, old and new. I am caring, creative and committed to provide the best real estate experience you could have

 
 

Lookin' For Dinner - February 2011

By: Jennifer Rook

It’s winter time and a grumbling belly overrides the feelings of wariness most wild animals demonstrate around humans other times of the year. Deer, elk and even moose have been easily seen this winter happily grazing in snow covered pastures and hayfields, yards and orchards, but have also been decimating any hay stack they can get into as well. Deep snow and extreme cold temperatures are definitely having an effect on wildlife in the Uinta Basin, this winter.



Moose sightings are becoming a common occurrence in Whiterocks, Farm Creek, Lapoint, Neola and even Roosevelt this winter as the moose find their way closer to farms and towns where vegetation might be more readily available. “I’ve seen more moose this winter than I’ve ever seen in my lifetime.” One excited Farm Creek resident admitted. Whiterocks residents are waking up to moose breakfast get togethers in their front yards as well. “I see the same guy every morning.” Says Corinna. “He’s only got one antler left and I see him in my yard pretty much every day and sometimes in the evenings. He likes my trees.”


One moose in particular has discovered a wonderful buffet on the Roosevelt golf course, munching on the various and well-established trees along the course. Homeowners near the golf course are having fun videoing the moose and taking pictures of it. It’s hungry so it’s sticking around and posing for pictures, too.


Luckily for the animals they are all well equipped to withstand extreme cold temperatures and have excellent tools for digging in the snow in the way of strong hooves and legs, but it’s just hard to resist an easy meal when the snow is three feet deep. DWR landowner specialist, Keith Holt, has reported that this winter has been one of the hardest winters in 10 or 15 years, but discourages residents from providing food for deer and elk. Disease can be easily spread when deer and elk congregate in large numbers.


The winter season is an excellent time to take a Sunday drive to see some wildlife in the Basin. Grab your camera and be on the lookout for deer, elk, moose (and even bison if you’re heading south of town out to the Bookcliffs). And don’t forget to send us some of your best snaps.

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Rook




Photo Courtesy of Dax Mangus




Photo Courtesy of Gayle Olsen




Photo Courtesy of Carrie Mair



Truly Fabulous in the Uinta Basin

A New Way To Battle The Sugar Beast - February 2011

One of the keys to reducing diabetes is to provide the proper nutrition in order to help avoid what medical scientists call "metabolic syndrome".

    Many people are unaware that they have Metabolic Syndrome, also called Syndrome X, even though the American Heart Association estimates that 20-25% of the adult population of the U.S. suffers from this disorder.

Metabolic Syndrome is characterized by having at least three of the following symptoms:

· Insulin Resistance (when the body can't absorb blood sugar or insulin properly)

· Abdominal fat – in men this means a 40 inch waist or larger, in women 35 inches or larger

· High blood sugar levels – at least 110 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) after fasting

· High triglycerides – at least 150 mg/dL in the blood stream

· Low HDL (the "good" cholesterol) – less than 40 mg/dL

· Pro-thrombotic state (e.g. high fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor in the blood) Blood pressure of 130/85 mmHg or higher

 
 

    The American Heart Association states that the "underlying causes of Metabolic Syndrome are being overweight, physical inactivity and genetic factors."
    Researchers have found a connection between Metabolic Syndrome and other conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure and high levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol, all of which are risk factors for Cardiovascular Disease.
    Studies have shown, for example, an increased link between Metabolic Syndrome and atherosclerosis, which occurs when fatty deposits called plaque cling to the interior walls of the arteries, leading to blockages that can cause heart attacks or stroke. People with Metabolic Syndrome are also more prone to developing Type 2 Diabetes, as well as PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) in women and prostate cancer in men.

Diet plays an important role in reducing metabolic syndrome.     One company is trying to tackle the problem head on with nutrition. The Liv International products were developed to help provide some of the important nutrients that we may not be getting in our daily diet. "The American diet has changed radically in the last 30 years. We have gone from eating healthy foods at home, to take out food on the run. Many of the foods that we now eat don't provide the important nutrients such as fiber or trace minerals that are so important to maintaining our health" stated Company President and product formulator Jeff Tuttle. "We believe that through proper diet and exercise that much of the problems associated with metabolic syndrome can be avoided. It's too late to start when the person is diagnosed with diabetes." Green2o, one of the products of Liv, was designed to provide trace minerals, chlorophyllins, antioxidants and fiber, all which are important to reducing metabolic syndrome. The product is also very alkaline which helps maintain the bodies' alkaline/acid balance. Liv International manufactures and sells a number of health supplements designed for optimum health. Tuttle concluded "Our goal at Liv is to help teach people the importance of proper nutrition and that supplementation can help make up for some of the shortfall in our modern diet."

If you are interested in more information regarding the products of Liv International, you can contact Jana Zufelt, the local representative of Liv International at 435-790-4219.

 
 

Ask The Expert: Fitness Is More Than Skin Deep - February 2011

By: Jacey Bauman
I admit that I get a feeling of satisfaction from putting on three layers of clothing and going for a run in cold weather. I enjoy the contrast of crisp air and warm skin as I race my dogs around a deserted park. Winter is a great time to build a foundation of fitness; then when warm weather arrives you are ready to participate in your chosen activities with confidence. The key to exercising outdoors as comfortably as possible in the cold is to layer your clothing. With the right layers you can easily add or remove clothing to stay comfortable in changing conditions. Remember that hydration is just as important in the cold as it is in the heat, so drink plenty of water. We are lucky that there are lots of options for exercise both indoor and outdoor year round here in the Basin, so keep moving and enjoy were you are.
 Q) I am always busy. I get up early, drive to work, sit in a chair all day, and then drive home. When I get home I have kids to take care of and a house to clean. The thought of working up a sweat for 30+ minutes every day on top of everything else that I do makes me cringe. I know I need to be healthier, I am out of shape and would like to lose weight, but I can't commit a large chunk of time to exercise every day. What else can I do to start getting in shape?
        
A) It is often hard to juggle all of the tasks that we want to accomplish each day. However, I believe that making your health a priority improves all areas of your life and is worth the effort. The key to starting and maintaining an effective exercise program is to work it into your life in a way that does not make it just another chore on your to do list. If 30 minutes of exercise at a time is too difficult, then start with ten. Many experts agree that three ten minute exercise sessions a day can be as effective as one longer session. Find ways to incorporate small moments of exercise into your day. You can find exercises that you can do at your desk and do a few of those every hour, or incorporate exercise into your television watching by either exercising or stretching during every commercial. These small moments add up, and as you become more confident in your physical fitness it will become less of a chore.
 Q) My doctor has warned me that I am on the road to becoming diabetic. Type 2 Diabetes runs strong in my family and though my doctor has said that I am prediabetic, I want to avoid the full blown disease. What kind of exercise program is most effective for preventing diabetes?
    
A) I always recommend checking with your physician when dealing with this kind of question. The advice and guidelines that your doctor can suggest are important to your overall health. Assuming that you have a physician's clearance to begin an exercise program, I would give the following advice.
80% of people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight. The good news is that a relatively small weight loss of 5% to 10% can make a big difference to your health. Studies have shown that the combination of cardiovascular and strength training is most effective for helping prediabetic conditions. Aim for 30 to 45 minutes of a cardio activity you enjoy 3 to 5 times a week. Some suggestions could be walking, swimming, biking, or an elliptical machine. Do 30 minutes or more of strength training exercises two to three times per week. Combine this with healthy eating choices and you give yourself the best chance of maintaining or creating better health.
 Q) For the last 3 years my New Year's resolution has been to lose 15lbs. I always start strong. I plan my diet carefully and exercise hard for 2 or 3 weeks. Every year by week 4 I am dragging myself to the gym, and by February I am back to my old habits. I never lose the weight and I can't seem to make any lasting changes. What am I doing wrong? How can I make myself stick to my goals for more than 2 or 3 weeks?

A) You are not alone. A number of studies report drop-outs from exercise programs reach 50% or more by the end of the first 6 months. It is common for gyms to be crowded with an influx of new people in January, only to be back to "normal" numbers by February or March. You are struggling to make lasting changes because you are starting too strong. Your plan to makeover your diet and increase exercise at the same time is overwhelming and stressful so you cannot maintain it. Instead of changing your diet and exercise habits all at once, set small goals to accomplish one at a time. Ease yourself into your new lifestyle by choosing one or two things to work on each week and by letting yourself build upon small successes. Take your time and once you have a solid foundation of exercise and eating habits, then you will be ready to start making bigger goals.
 Jacey is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer who works with clients either in their home or at Freedom Fitness in Vernal, UT. She specializes in turning fitness goals into reality. To submit a question or for more information contact her at

New Additions - February 2011

By: Jennifer Rook    

    There are fifty seven residents in the Uinta Basin who depend upon dialysis to clean their blood every three days in order to survive. Thanks to Uintah Basin Medical Center, those fifty seven residents now have a brand new, state of the art facility in Roosevelt to serve their kidney dialysis needs. The new dialysis center at UBMC is nearing completion and UBMC's newest staff member, Steven Turley Md. is preparing his family for a move to Roosevelt in July. Turley will serve the community as a nephrologist and internal medicine specialist at UBMC.

Dialysis is necessary for those patients whose kidneys are not functioning properly. The kidneys maintain the body's internal equilibrium of water and minerals (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and sulfate). Once those minerals are used, the end products that the body cannot get rid of through respiration are excreted through the kidneys. Dialysis treatments replace some of these functions and are necessary for many patients including some diabetics.

Having a dialysis center here in Roosevelt will be a blessing to many patients who have had to travel elsewhere before now. UBMC Public Relations and Marketing Director, Gary Child, says "The benefit of having a community hospital is being able to keep healthcare money here in the Basin to invest in the needs of the community. If we can provide service as well as or better than the Wasatch Front then we will provide that service." UBMC officials recognized the need for the dialysis center when studies showed the tri-county area (Duchesne, Uintah and Daggett counties) had the highest diabetes occurrence in the state of Utah. Patients will be able to receive dialysis treatments in the new center and will also benefit from the services of Dr. Steven Turley. Child adds, "The new dialysis center and Dr. Steven Turley will not only help those who are currently on dialysis, but it is also our hope to keep people healthy and off dialysis. We hope to help patients manage their diabetes better and to prevent diabetes and other complications. There are many pre-diabetic individuals walking around the Basin as well. They're predisposed to diabetes and don't even really know it. We hope to raise awareness and introduce prevention techniques."

The new dialysis center will be housed in the recently renovated clinic building just across the street from the hospital parking lot. The clinic, which previously housed OB/GYN offices, was completely gutted to construct the new dialysis center. Turley says he is excited to return to Utah to practice medicine and is looking forward to helping Basin residents who suffer from kidney dysfunction and other complications. "The Uinta Basin is a very unique location for a nephrologist. With all the changes that are going on in health care these days I'm happy to have the opportunity to work in a smaller organization. It's fun to be able to be more of a traditional doctor and I hope to help the people who are on dialysis, but I also want to keep people from ever having to have dialysis."

Diabetes and high blood pressure, both treatable and manageable diseases, are two of the biggest silent killers of our time. Dr. Turley explains, "The two biggest reasons people would end up on dialysis are high blood pressure and diabetes. I hope to combat these diseases with prevention. Obesity is a problem that plagues every state in our nation. But, sometimes just returning a patient to a normal, healthy weight is enough to get him or her off diabetes and/or blood pressure meds."

Dr. Turley comes to the Basin from Louisiana where he finished his medical residency, but he was born in Utah and is excited to get back. "I feel like I'm coming home." Turley says. His wife, Angela was born in Bountiful so she is thrilled to be close to home as well. UBMC officials are pleased to have Dr. Turley aboard and are looking forward to bringing on more physicians in the near future as other construction projects near completion.

Construction on 42,000 square feet of new clinic space is on-going at UBMC. The new wing of the clinic will house three floors of doctor's offices and will allow for a spacious storage basement as well. Child says space at UBMC is currently maxed out so the new addition is very welcome. "Once we have the space, we will add two family practices and another ER doctor this year. It will be nice to have more space for our current doctors as well. We hope to move into the new clinic space by July 1^st of this year." UBMC has also purchased the former Moon Lake building to make over and use for future office space and allow even more hospital growth.

 
 

Here's Your Wake-Up Call Uinta Basin!

Diabetes is a serious disease.  The American Diabetes Association Alert Day is March 22nd, 2011.  Join the movement to stop diabetes.  Visit stopdiabetes.com, join the Stop Diabetes movement, take the Diabetes Risk Test and learn secrets to stop diabetes. Find out if you or your loved ones are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.    

Currently, 23.6 million Americans are living with diabetes and an additional 57 million, or one in five, are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The Tri-County area of Uintah, Daggett and Duchesne counties has the highest occurrence of diabetes in the state of Utah. For many, diagnosis may come seven to ten years after the onset of the disease. Therefore, early diagnosis is critical to successful treatment and delaying or preventing some of its complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation and death.

Studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be delayed and even prevented by making simple changes in your lifestyle. Knowing your risk for type 2 diabetes is the first step to a healthier lifestyle.

Ask the health care experts at ARMC or UBMC for help today or visit stopdiabetes.com and join the movement

 
 

Taking The First Steps - The Healthy Edge - February 2011

By: Shallin Squire

In spite of the jovial "over the hill" and other such references to one's 40^th birthday, Keith Hicken of Pleasant Valley didn't expect his 40^th year to be different from any other. As founder and manager of the Pleasant Valley Hunting Preserve, as well as a lifelong outdoorsman, Keith had been active and healthy for as long as he could remember, so when he and some other Boy Scout leaders decided to take their boys for a six day trip to the High Uintas that summer of 2001, Keith had no reason to doubt he'd be up for the task.

    However, neither the boys nor the animals were as fit or obedient as Keith had anticipated, and getting them off the mountain turned into a nightmare. "I probably went up and down the same 5-mile stretch of trail at least three times," he said. "It was hard. And that's an understatement." When the boys and animals were finally home safely, Keith was miserably exhausted, but carrying on with his usual daily activities was bearable in comparison to what he'd been through.

    After a few days of recovering, Keith joined some friends on a trip to Salt Lake to watch a Utah Jazz game. "I couldn't stay in my seat," he stated. "But it wasn't from the excitement of the game. Instead, I was visiting the restroom every few minutes." It was then Keith began to recognize the dreaded signs of a disease his then 16-year-old daughter, Alison, had been diagnosed with four years before. As soon as he arrived at home, he borrowed Alison's testing equipment and confirmed his suspicion: his blood glucose level was around 400 ("normal" is between 70 and 140, depending on how long it has been since one's last meal).

    Keith made an appointment to see his doctor, who gave the official diagnosis: Type I, or Insulin-Dependent, Diabetes Mellitus.

    Referring to the adjustments Keith had to then make, he said: "It was normal to have a diabetic in our home, but it wasn't normal for that to be me. Although we already ate the types of food a diabetic should eat, I had to learn to do the counting and metering and figuring for myself. That was an adjustment, but I learned rather quickly, and it doesn't bother me at all now." But unlike many patients who are diagnosed with diabetes as adults, Keith didn't have to make any other adjustments to his lifestyle. He wasn't overweight, and the pheasant farm keeps him busy from sunup to sundown, and sometimes more. "I'm on my feet all day," Keith said. "I probably walk and/or run at least 5 miles a day just at work. But I also like to have fun: hiking, water skiing, fishing, just being outside."

    Keith's diabetes is well managed, and thus far he hasn't suffered any complications of the disease. His awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disease led to an early diagnosis and an easier transition into diabetes management, and his health-oriented, active lifestyle continues to bring him the vitality and happiness that he plans to relish for several more decades.