Body & Mind...

Howell Public Schools likes to focus on Total Wellness
which means the body as well as the mind are included.

Announcing CYNDI APPLIN...

The new massage therapist at the Howell Area Aquatic Center is Cyndi Applin. Cyndi is a certified massage therapist. She specializes in theraputic Swedish massage ranging from deep tissue to relaxation.

Cydi is available for Saturday appointments. Call 517-281-5750 for more information on rates, services, and scheduling. Gift Certificates are available for holidays and all other occasions. The gift certificates can be bought from the Aquatic Center office at any time.

Not sleeping at night? Study results below...

As part of the Nurses' Health Study, researchers looked at 68,000 middle-aged women comparing their amount of sleep with their weight gain. 

· Those who slept 7 to 8 hours per night gained less weight that those who slept 5 hours or less per night.  The difference averaged 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) over the 16 years of the study.  Most women would tell you that amount of weight gain is not much of a concern.  But looking at the data in another way, the women with less sleep were one-third more likely to have substantial weight gain, 30 pounds or more, than the women who got more sleep.

· Women who slept less were more likely to smoke and consume caffeine.

· Unlike some other studies where the subjects who slept less had increased hunger and appetite, the women in this study who slept the least also ate the least. Because the activity levels were the same in both groups, researchers suggest a lower metabolic rate explains the tendency for unstable weight in women who sleep less. 

· Additionally, it appears that decreased sleep that results from menopausal symptoms may play a role in weight gain often associated with mid-life changes.

For tips on getting a better night's sleep, go to the National Sleep Foundation website.

Taking care of yourself means providing for your physiologic needs, which include food and sleep.  Meeting these basic needs helps control your thoughts and behaviors.  It is not surprising then to see the connection between getting a good night's sleep and stable weight.  Far from being an expendable luxury, we know the human body operates best with a routine that ensures adequate food and shut-eye.