By Melissa Reynard

It's around this time of year that the newness of a New Year's resolution wears off and people go back to their old habits. Habits that include indulging in that box of chocolates, or buying that bag of potato chips at the store. But if your New Year's resolution had been to lose weight, there's yet another reason in addition to many others that you should keep trying. A study from the Mayo Clinic and other Neurology experts has shown that overeating can double the odds of memory loss as you grow older.

In caloric intake, the higher amount of calories that was consumed, the higher the risk of MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment). Does this mean that you are going to forget everyone's names if you eat too many bonbons? Not necessarily, but it is a risk that you run that will put your memory at a greater loss than the normal decline.

So what's a safe amount of calories to consume in a day? The research study showed that those who eat around 1500-2150 calories a day didn't have much of a change in memory. Those that ate above 2150 calories daily were twice as likely to have memory problems as those who ate below 1500 calories. So don't worry about starving yourself, but use moderation.

Healthy exercise can keep weight under control too. And you don't need to do a high powered jazzercise routine to lose weight. Several exercises have been designed to help seniors, even if they suffer from arthritis or other ailments. Before starting an exercise routine however, you should consult your doctor to know what's best for you.

Senior Friendly Exercises:

Balance: Balance can be important, especially as you age. Often, the equilibrium of youth is no longer there and seniors can be at high risk for a fall. To improve balance, try placing a line of masking or painter's tape on the floor. Then, practice walking heel to toe along the tape. A walking pace is sufficient, and if you mess up, don't worry! Just start over again. When you feel comfortable with the walking pace, try marching along the line. This will improve leg muscle weakness and is a good form of cardio exercise.

Breathing: If you feel winded sometimes, and would like to improve your breathing. The following exercise could help:

The first and most important thing, when doing breathing exercises, is to have correct posture. Shoulders back, ribs lifted will be helpful. A sitting exercise is to sit in a chair, with your right hand on your chest, and your left hand on your belly. Inhale, and feel your right hand rise, this uses the upper lobes of your lungs. Then, inhale so that your left hand rises, which uses the lower end of the lung. This will work both areas and improve your breathing for other exercise. This same exercise can be done standing up as well.

Remember, stay safe and healthy! The ultimate goal is to live the best life that you can.

Sources:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57376486-10391704/overeating-may-double-odds-of-memory-loss-in-elderly/

http://www.eldergym.com/exercises-for-the-elderly.html

By Heather Chapman

Stress is an inevitable part of life, whether it be a stressor due to a good or bad event. Learning techniques to manage your stress is an important function in coping with events, making sound decisions, and being able to bounce back. Being able to identify the sources of your stress and learning methods to handle and control the emotions and behaviors is key.

There are many positive ways to handle stress, including taking on a hobby, starting an exercise program or having a network of people that you can count on. Regardless of the form of your stress relief, it will make the possibility of resiliency a reality. Ensure the people that you come in contact with are also able to handle their life stressors positively.

Many deal with stressors in a negative fashion and may need a trusted ally to keep them on the right path. Some negative coping mechanisms could be, but not limited to; excessive drinking, smoking or eating, withdrawing from family or friends, sleeping, and procrastination of the stressor. If you see drastic changes in the people you know, intervene and ask questions, try to help them cope with the stress to be able to over come and rebound back to life.

For the reader, make sure you have the necessary network of friends and family that is needed to ensure that you also have the tools to bounce back from the daily stressors of life. Planning your estate for the future also requires a network of people to make it a smooth process and here at Cooper, Adel and Associates we can alleviate the stress of estate planning.