Decade of Health Logo
ARNG logo


NGB Army Well-Being
National Guard Bureau Partner, Army Well-Being


NGB Family Program
National Guard Bureau Partner, NGB Family Program


Army Strength Maintenance
National Guard Bureau Partner, Army Strength Maintenance



Decade of Health is Featured in GX Magazine
GX: The Guard Experience
Three photos featuring Guardsmen.
Always Ready, Always There... Always Healthy.
Welcome to Your Decade of Health
ARNG Lighten Up! © Logo

2008 - Weight Management Campaign
ARNG Lighten Up! ©
The ARNG Decade of Health & the American Heart/American Stroke Association are joining forces to encourage all Americans to wage a battle against obesity and maintain a healthy weight through good nutrition, regular exercise, and stress management!

According to the Centers for Disease Control, since the mid-seventies, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased sharply for both adults and children. Data from two NHANES surveys show that among adults aged 20-74 years the prevalence of obesity increased from 15.0% (in the 1976-1980 survey) to 32.9% (in the 2003-2004 survey)1. These increasing rates raise concern because of their implications for American's health. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of diseases and health conditions, including for example, hypertension, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and many others.

These conditions seriously impact Soldier readiness and Family well-being. Are you ready to explore healthy weight management this year? Read more about how you can begin the ARNG Lighten Up! journey with us, and visit this site regularly for current information, healthy tips and recipes, and interactive tools to support a healthy weight management mission and lifestyle.
1SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control web site, www.cdc.gov, http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/.

May 12, 2008
Lighten Up Calendar
Lighten Up! This Week

Weekly News Update
May is Blood Pressure Awareness Month!
Are you one of 30,000 Army National Guard Soldiers with high blood pressure and don't know it?1 If you are, then you may be harboring a SILENT KILLER. Have your blood pressure checked regularly. Learn vital information about blood pressure and heart disease in the Decade of Health "Get Cuffed!" ® toolkit.

Heart-e-Recipe: Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce2
Try this recipe with whole grain pasta for a hearty, heart-healthy meal!   View Recipe...

Food for Thought: Is it a "Portion" or a "Serving"?

  • A "portion" can be thought of as the amount of a specific food you choose to eat for dinner, snack, or other eating occasion. Portions, of course can be bigger or smaller than the recommended food servings.
  • A "serving" is a unit of measure used to describe the amount of food recommended from each food group. It is the amount of food listed on the Nutrition Facts panel on packaged food or the amount of food recommended in the Food Guide Pyramid and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.3

Stress-Buster:
Learn to manage stress. Stress is a normal part of living. Try these to help cope with all kinds of stress.

  1. Take time to relax.
  2. Talk with a friend.
  3. Learn to keep a positive outlook.4

Learn the Terms! Check out this Weight Glossary on the Weight-control Information Network (WIN).
Click here for A through L.
Click here for M through Z.

Need help choosing a safe and successful weight loss program? Visit WIN, the Weight-Control Information Network.

Decade of Health--It's All About You!
Light Reading
ARNG Lighten Up! © News
ARNG Get Cuffed! ® News
ARNG Dental Bytes ® News
Powered By:
HITS logo       HOOAH 4 Health logo
National Guard Bureau Public Affairs Partner

www.ngb.army.mil

www.ngb.army.mil

eFOCUS ROOM
Visit the eFocus Room and participate in the Decade of Health 2007 Campaign Survey.

Decade of Health Toolkit
Tools 4 You:
  • Get Cuffed! ® Toolkit
  • Lifestyle Changes
  • Stress Management
    		•
  • Personal Calculators
  • Calculate Your BMI Now!
  • Decade of Health Podcasts
    		•
    Featured Resource
    This Month:
    mypyramid.gov www.mypyramid.gov

    ARNG Decade of Health Strategic Alliance: American Heart Association - American Stroke Association Logo

    Strategic Alliance:
    American Heart Association - American Stroke Association

    Cheering on the Walkers Fit Friendly National Guard Bureau Readiness Center Springs into Spring
    16 April - National Start! Walking Day: Over sixty National Guard Bureau Readiness Center (NGB RC) military and civilian employees kicked Spring into high gear on April 16th by participating in a one-mile walk supporting the American Heart Association's National Start! Walking Day and the Start! Campaign. Read more...

    AHA Start logos Join fellow ARNG Soldiers and Family members and the Decade of Health team for the Washington DC Area Heart Walk on Saturday, 01 November 2008! Click here to sign up!

    Heart Insight Magazine Click here to sign up for a free subscription to the American Heart Association's Heart Insight Magazine featuring celebrities, great articles, nutrition and exercise tips, and more...


    Heart and blood vessel diseases are Women’s Number 1 Killer –
    a fact that most women don’t know. The Army National Guard (ARNG) and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) are joining forces to battle this silent killer and urge every woman - to make a promise to love your heart!

    Click here to take the GO RED Heart Check Up Survey!     		Go Red for Women Roses
    Take the heart check-up survey now!
    IT'S OFFICIAL--BOOTS START WALKIN'
    Start! is the AHA's groundbreaking national movement that calls on all Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health to live longer, heart-healthy lives through walking.
    Find out more...

    'Get Cuffed!' ® Logo

    2007 - Blood Pressure Awareness
    "Get Cuffed!" ®
    Join the ARNG Decade of Health & the American Heart/American Stroke Association in the battle against high blood pressure NOW!

    You may be harboring a silent killer. Have you been given the checkered flag when it comes to your blood pressure? You must know your numbers, and if you don't, "Get Cuffed!" ® now!

    2006 - Oral Health Awareness
    "Dental Ready = Mission Ready! ©"
     ARNG Dental Bytes ®

    Dental Bytes The first year of the Decade of Health responds to a request by the U.S. Army National Guard, Office of the Chief Surgeon to reinforce and package dental readiness and oral health prevention messages to meet the challenges of ARNG Soldier deployment.

    Every Army National Guard Soldier and Family is entitled to thirteen free issues of the e-newsletter, ARNG Dental Bytes ®. Sign up today to receive your free subscription at www.arngdentalbytes.com.