Doing housework not only makes you feel better on the inside and outside, it lowers your stress level, and by doing a simple chore with more intensity can burn calories in the process. The American Heart Association categorizes housework as “moderate exercise,” and says that a person weighing 150 pounds who engages in 30 minutes of household chores can expect to burn the following:

General cleaning: 127 calories
Cleaning a bathroom – 200 calories
Doing laundry – 133 calories
Making beds – 130 calories
Washing windows – 125 calories
Vacuuming – 123 calories
Ironing –70 calories

Dusting – 50 calories
Cooking: 92 calories
Trimming shrubs: 157 calories

And if you add 30 minutes of chores to a 30-minute session of a more traditional fitness activity (like walking or biking), you end up with a full hour of exercise — the amount experts recommend for people trying to lose weight. That can be easier on your schedule than trying to fit in a 60-minute workout all at once.

Just a few extra tips when cleaning:

Use  music while cleaning, rock and roll, party hits, anything upbeat that will help you move a little faster and have fun, who says excising / cleaning has to be a bore?

Remember to tighten your abs, whether you are vacuuming or putting away dishes, a few abdominal squeezes is more than you usually get.

Add in some stretches, lunges and squats. When cleaning the shower squat to clean the bottom of the shower and stretch to reach the top. Make a point to stretch your sides when cleaning mirrors. Vacuuming is the easiest way to get in some lunges throughout the day.

When doing laundry load that basket up… lift some weight. If your washer and dryer involves a location with stairs, increase your speed on the steps with a heavy basket. You may be able to burn even more calories. When putting folded laundry away, incorporate squats or deep stretches, stand a little farther from the closet or dresser so you have to reach.

When cleaning non carpeted floors and using a mop, incorporate your lunges into your mopping patterns. But the most effective way to maximize your workout is on your hands and knees scrubbing the floor. Use big circular motions to exercise your arms, scrubbing out a stubborn stain or dirt mark off a floor with some intensity not only helps take out frustrations, but your arms will be burning afterwards.

While even the most intensely calorie-burning chores can’t replace structured exercise completely, every little bit of activity helps. Can you think of a better way to use 30 minutes of your time that provide more benefits than just exercising, such as a more organized house, a beautiful yard, and the feeling of satisfaction from having a clean home.

Staying healthy doesn’t have to be a chore, but chores sure can help staying healthy! Learn more tips and news about healthy living from Health Insurance Specialists. Compare and buy insurance directly from our Online Health Insurance Store >>

There is a new phone app by LowestMed.com that allows you to search for your prescription at all nearby pharmacies and compare the prices. The downside to this app is that it doesn’t account for your insurance, some insurances cover a certain amount of prescription costs and depending upon your current progress with your deductible, you may not have to pay at all. For high priced meds not covered by insurance, LowestMed.com’s app doesn’t really help you find the lowest price. There is a website called PharmacyChecker.com that allows you to search internationally for the best price for your prescription. It also has a pharmacy rating review and includes shipping as well as other fees.

Neither of these tools account for the help that is sometimes offered by the drug companies themselves. It’s always best to visit the pharmaceutical makers website, for example Pfizer offers a program called Helpful Answers that walks you through the various programs you may qualify for and how to apply for them (http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/misc/Default.aspx). Even doing a Google search with your drug name and the word coupon (example: “Lipofen coupon”) will often yield some sort of help. Just like any other internet gimmick out there, keep in mind that there are many frauduelent sites that will want to collect your information for SPAMMING or even your financial information. You should not have to offer ANY financial information online in order to apply for any of these prescription help programs. A good way to judge whether or not a website is legitimate is to look for a BBB rating or VeriSign site certificate (these would be located in the bottom footer of the website), click them to make sure they actually match the site they are on.

If you are looking for a lower deductible health insurance plan, short term coverage, or a new health insurance plan, visit Health Insurance Specialists online store at http://www.benefitstore.net/BenefitStorePage.aspx?broker=320# or contact Jon Belinkie at 301-590-0006.

Following the sage advice we give to clients, our own health-plan has a high deductible and prescriptions need to be paid for until the deductible is satisfied. When presented with the $400 bill at the pharmacy, I decided I had had enough. The good news is that after some research, there is a better way for those of you taking Lipitor. Go to this website and register for the program and Lipitor will now cost you $4 per month, www.lipitor.com.  You will receive a discount card for Lipitor that can be used at participating pharmacies.

I am a lot happier saving 99%  on my prescription costs and I suspect you will be too.

But with all that fun, you have to take time to enjoy the great food. Top of the morning to ya’ with Emerald Eggs for breakfast. An all green lunch with the Green Goddess Dip, and for dinner (probably the most popular Irish meal ever) Corn Beef and Cabbage. And don’t forget to end St. Patrick’s Day with green beer!

For those of us who would still like to maintain our figures during St. Patrick’s day, but stay within the Irish tradition, below is a recipe for Irish Soda Bread. A homemade treat, with only  sixty calories per slice. You’ll be lucky not to eat the whole loaf.

Whole-Wheat Irish Soda Bread   

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400-degrees F and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour, 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2  teaspoons baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; whisk to lighten and remove any lumps. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in 1 3/4 cups low-fat buttermilk (Optional: Add a drop of green food dye to make it extra Irish!). Gently mix with a rubber spatula until combined; do not knead or overwork the dough. Turn dough out onto prepared pan. Gently form into an even and round loaf and cut a shallow “x” pattern across the center using a serrated knife. Bake for 25 to 30 min or until firm and lightly golden. Allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition Info Per Serving (1 large slice – 1/12 of loaf):
Calories: 120; Total Fat: 1 gram; Saturated Fat: 0 grams; Total Carbohydrate: 24 grams; Protein: 5 grams; Sodium: 478 milligrams; Cholesterol: 1 milligram; Fiber:  2 grams
Planning any traveling during this St. Patrick’s Day holiday? Keep Health Insurance Specialists in mind for your trip cancellation and travel insurance, visit our online store here or call Jon Belinkie at (301) 590-0006.

If you are unsure about any of the questions above, it is time to review your homeowners insurance policy.

Homeowners policies tend to differ from state to state. However, a homeowners insurance policy should cover more than just structural damage. But this does not include damage caused by acts of mother nature. Damages caused by Floods, Earthquakes, Mud Slides, Hurricanes, and Tornados are not always covered on an average/general policy. Flood Insurance, for example, is categorized as a policy in itself and is an additional policy that needs to be purchased separately. Flood coverage is available through the federal government under the National Flood Insurance Program, or you can speak with Jon Belinkie at Health Insurance Specialists about it. All other acts of weather may need an additional policy, especially if your home is in an area prone to certain cataclysmic events (such as tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes).

Typically damage caused by snow, or high winds, thunderstorms, or burst pipes, are covered by homeowners insurance. Additional living expenses are often included. If your home can not be lived in after damages, your insurance carrier may pay for the hotel and restaurant bills. Please know this can be for a limited time so check your policy first.

Did you know that the basic policy will cover your refrigerated items in the event of a power outage? The average policy covers up to $500.00 in perishables goods.

Homeowners insurance is also considered a general liability coverage. This means you and the members of your house hold (including pets)  are protected from being sued. Most Homeowners policies will actually cover incidents involving a dog bite. Additionally, Homeowners insurance covers issues completely unrelated to your home; some policies even cover you when you are not home. For example, if you are skating at your local park and lose control and run into an innocent bystander, and they get hurt, your homeowners’ policy may cover the reparation. If your household has a member away at college (living on campus) then the personal property in their dorm may be protected under your homeowners policy.

Now as for concerns with your valuables, this can become complicated. Always consult with your insurance agent with regards’ to any item in your household that has great value; including jewelry, electronics, furniture, paintings, or personal collections. The value of each item will vary and may need to be appraised to determine the value to be included on your policy. It is also a good measure to take inventory of your household items regularly. Include serial numbers, details/specifications about the items,  and photos when possible. It is important to keep this in a place that is private but accessible by internet. In the event of a burglary, you wouldn’t want all of your household items listed on your laptop, only for the laptop to be stolen too. Paper copies can easily be destroyed in a fire, but your best chance it to keep paper copies in a safety lock box or a fireproof safe if inside your home. A great program to use for inventory management in your home is Delicious Monster ($25), a computer program that helps you inventory, detail and price the items you have, then upload them to the internet for a secure location.

If you have never done it before, or it has been several years, take the time and review the details of your Homeowners policy, you can request a copy from your agent if you do not have one on hand. It pays to know what’s included in your policy.

For questions or concerns about your policy or if you are interested in purchasing a new policy, contact John Belinkie with Health Insurance Specialists at (301) 590-0006 or jbelinkie@his-inc.com.

While other health insurance companies are in talks about creating apps much like Aetna, the features that they include in these apps become more interesting. UnitedHealth is planning to combine multiple helpful applications into one, including features from OptumizeMe which challenges friends and family members in contests designed to help everyone get healthier.

Many other applications are floating around out there, designed to help with particular health conditions, such as GoMeals which offers a diabetic friendly restaurant finder, as well as your ability to help others in an emergency such as iMobile Care.

Health Insurance Specialists offers many types of affordable health insurance options including Aetna and UnitedHealth. To compare and purchase online, visit our Online Store Here >>

On average, a single heart attack occurs approximately every 34 seconds each day. It is the one disease that affects everyone, it does not discriminate. Men and women of every race and almost any age can experience a heart attack. Because everyone  is susceptible to heart attacks, everyone should be more educated. To educate yourself on awareness click here for a printable piece that can be (and should be) posted anywhere (your fridge, cubicle, even in your car), be sure to add emergency contact numbers. 

Heart Attacks happen when the blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart is severely reduced or blocked completely. When the hearts’ arteries become thicker due to a buildup of fat and cholesterol the blood supply is diminished. Heart attack symptoms include chest pain, upper body pain, stomach pain (much like heartburn), shortness of breath, anxiety (much like a panic attack), dizzy, sweating and nausea.

In the event of a heart attack, stay calm  and do not panic, you then need to call an ambulance. When it comes to suffering a heart attack EMT’s are fully prepared. And in the circumstances that your heart  were to stop, they are equipped and trained on how to get it started again. It is their job to get you safely and calmly to the hospital for treatment, as opposed to a scared family member. And more often than not, patients brought to hospitals by ambulance usually get attention sooner than just walking into the ER.

Heart Disease is the number one killer of women, and most of the time women don’t even know they are experiencing an actual heart attack. Most women feel as if they are experiencing acid reflux or simply have symptoms of the flu, or even an anxiety attack (which presents similar symptoms). People commonly relate Heart Attacks to a dramatic scene of events, a clutch of the chest and falling over, but this isn’t always the case. Especially in women, attacks are typically subtler and confusing.

Women experiencing a heart attack often describe the symptoms as shortness of breath, lightheaded and upper back pressure.
Below is what the American Heart Association’s website lists as:
Heart Attack Signs in Women

1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
2. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
3. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
4. Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
5. As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

If you have any of these signs, don’t wait more than five minutes before calling for help. Call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away.

The prevention of heart disease is simple, and the use of medication is not always needed. Lifestyle changes is all that is required. If you are overweight, lose weight. Eat healthier, add more vegetables and fruits to your diet and less greasy fast food. Add at least thirty minutes of exercise to your daily routine (and this does not need to be all at one time, break it up throughout the day, just exercise enough to accelerate your heart). If you smoke, stop! And when feasible try to avoid the stress, meditate or take time for yourself to decompress. Most people don’t think they can afford to lose the time from their busy life to dedicate to themselves, but the cost to others could be devastating when the loss of time is forever from a heart attack.

Health Insurance Specialists, Inc. is an all in one location for comparing and purchasing life, health, dental, vision, travel, pet, identity insurance and more! Visit our online store to compare and buy today www.his-inc.com

To prevent the dreaded drilling and pain, it’s best to stick to those six month visits! So whether you do not have Dental Insurance or are looking to improve or supplement your current coverage, look no further. Health Insurance Specialists provides the one stop shop to comparing and purchasing dental coverage all in one place at our Online Store >>

Some FAQs about Dental Insurance:

What Kind of Plans Are Available?

• There is full coverage dental plans (much like health care plans) with an annual deductible that is tailored to your choice. There are also discount dental plans, you select from a list of dentists covered and pay a pre-negotiated fee.

When Does My Coverage Start?

• Coverage starts on the effective date. The effective date issued will begin on the 1st of the month (at 12:00 a.m.), following receipt of the completed Enrollment Form and payment of the first month of the premium.

On February 2^nd of every year, as tradition we await the determination of the future weather by a groundhog. And not just any groundhog, but a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil.

So the question remains in 2012, did Phil see his shadow?

The answer is yes, according to legend this means six more weeks of winter as opposed to an early spring.

While believing in the four legged forecaster is a belief left for our children, scientists have determined that there is no real correlation between Phil’s predications and the weather. As a matter of fact, Phil is more often wrong then he is right.

But let’s just humor Phil, and say that we are going to have longer winter weather this year, are you prepared? Do you have a solution to overcoming the winter blues? Well we do!

How about a vacation to somewhere warm? The Caribbean, Australia, anywhere near the equator!

Health Insurance Specialists Inc supplies not just Health Insurance, but Travel Insurance (including International travel), Trip Cancellation Insurance, Medical Insurance that caters to vacationing, as well as Identify Theft Protection. Pack your sunscreen for your trip and tuck your worries away, because HISI has you covered for all your vacation preparations.  Contact us today to find the right product to fit your needs.

Health Insurance Specialists, Inc.

Jon Belinkie

17620-B Redland Road
Rockville, MD 20855

Phone: (301) 590-0006
Fax: (301) 590-0661

Email: jbelinkie@his-inc.com

Confused? Overwhelmed? Stressed? Frustrated?

How about a bit helpless?

With all the choices in health care these days, making a selection is nearly impossible. Between choosing which of the many companies to use, who has better coverage,  who has better plans, or who is the most cost effective, it is likely to put a strain on anyone’s frame of mind .

Let Health Insurance Specialists ease your worries and avoid the stress.

Health Insurance Specialists, Inc. offers a variety of services and works with numerous provider  such as  Aetna, Anthem, Assurant Health, Care First Blue Cross and Blue Shield and United Health, just to name a few. It is our intentions that our clients are able to make an educated and informative decision unto which one of our providers best suit their needs with our easy to use plan comparison tools.

Be sure to visit our Benefit Store, where you are able to review all the products Health Insurance Specialists offer.

Our specialized agents are here to take the pressure off, and assist you with your Health Insurance needs. Let us answer your questions, make the comparisons, figure out the details and work the numbers so that your decision is simple to make.

For any other questions or concerns contacting our agents is as simple as pushing a button and sending an email or making a simple phone call. You can also fill out our online contact form and we will get back to you with assistance quickly.

Jon Belinke

Phone: (301) 590-0006
Fax: (301) 590-0661

Email: jbelinkie@his-inc.com