Money is getting tighter and tighter these days. There are still a lot of people out there with no health insurance, as well as countless others with poor coverage. Two women in my office have actually started diagnosing and treating their own minor illnesses based only on reading. There are some things, like diabetes, that I feel must be followed by a doctor. Other things, like whether or not Colonix really works are another matter. I found a website called AskADoctor that allows people that submit a question online to receive answers from three licensed doctors by email for one fee. I myself probably wouldn’t do it but I can see where people with no insurance might find it helpful.

If you’ve seen the show The Biggest Loser you probably know who Jillian Michaels is. A diet trend that I’ve heard is doing well is holding the Biggest Loser contests within groups on a local level. Everyone meets up and puts money in. Participants meet every week for a weigh in. At the end of a certain number of weeks the person who’s lost the most weight gets half of the money. The other half of the money goes to the group sponsoring the meetings, who is also selling their products there as well. It seems like a good way for people who are competitive to stay motivated to lose weight.

Have you ever been to the doctor and had to fill out one of those long questionnaires? Did you know all of the answers? That is to say, did you know what diseases your relatives have had? It’s important, because a genetic factor is very strong in some things. Here’s a project that will help you learn more about your family and prepare you for the next time you’re presented with those questions. Construct a family health tree.

That’s right, I said a family health tree. Have some fun learning more about your background and tracing your ancestors. While building the tree you’re going to encounter some of those same facts that doctors ask such as the family member’s name and their place and date of birth. But you could also include their blood type, allergies, immunizations, illnesses and surgeries. You’ll learn more about your background and be a little more prepared for those questions in the doctor’s office.

I personally don’t like to exercise in the cold. I don’t like to do much of anything outdoors in the cold. If you like to ride a bicycle for exercise but don’t like the cold, consider getting an exercise bike. You can position it near a television if you like. Of, you can ride and listen to the stereo. The advantage of an exercise bike over a real one is that you can ride anytime, even when it’s 105 outside or snowing. You can also ride at any hour, and don’t have to worry about traffic.

I remember when I was young exercise bikes were pretty expensive. These days you can get new low end models for under $100. You can also find higher end used models for free or for a bargain on sites like Freecycle and Craigslist. Riding an exercise bike will be more effective than taking diet pills, and it’s healthier for you. Do you have an exercise bike?