1. Live smoke-free. For a person who smokes, quitting can seem like an insurmountable task, but it is the number one thing you can do to improve your heart health. Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease and according to the CDC, causes one of every four deaths from the disease. Smoking can…

• Raise triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood)
• Lower “good” cholesterol (HDL)
• Make blood sticky and more likely to clot, which can block blood flow to the heart and brain
• Damage cells that line the blood vessels
• Increase the buildup of plaque (fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances) in blood vessels
• Cause thickening and narrowing of blood vessels

2. Monitor your blood pressure. Aiming for a blood pressure under 120/80 mm Hg can decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease. Continuous high blood pressure can damage your arteries by making them less elastic, which decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart. Following a heart-healthy diet and exercising regularly can help maintain a healthy blood pressure. Talk to your doctor if you think your blood pressure is concerning.
3. Maintain a healthy body weight. Having a high body weight can be a contributing factor to cardiovascular disease. Being overweight can lead to fatty material building up in your arteries. When those arteries get clogged, it can lead to a heart attack. A healthy diet and regular cardiovascular exercises, as well as strength training, can help maintain a healthy weight.
4. Get active! The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 150 minutes of moderate activity (like brisk walking) per week. Another great goal would be to strive for 10,000 steps per day. Even simple activities like walking can have a tremendous positive impact on your health. Your heart is a muscle, and like any other muscle, needs exercise to get stronger!
5. Eat a heart-healthy diet. Make vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, and lean protein mealtime staples. Instead of focusing too much on what you must limit, focus on adding more of those heart-healthy foods into your everyday diet. Limiting sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar can also help maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle.

The end of summer and the arrival of fall prompt transitions of all kinds. As you reach for a sweatshirt and hot coffee, you know it’s the right time to make some seasonal changes in your skincare routine as well. Just like the change in seasons, your skin needs to change too.

So how do you change your skincare routine for fall? Here are a few suggestions and product recommendations from Leslie Guiot, Skincare Specialist at our Oasis Spa.

REPAIRING SUMMER SKIN 
After a summer of sunshine, heat, and humidity, it’s time to deep cleanse the pores of SPF and perspiration. Customized facials will help as well as brighten and even pigmentation that has darkened from all that extra sunshine. Exfoliation at home that’s specific to your skin type can also improve these issues. A series of non-invasive peels or microdermabrasion services can quickly get your skin glowing for the fall.

In the hustle and bustle of life, as we know it, it is easy to let exercise slip down on our list of priorities. Of course, having a personal trainer is a great way to stay consistent and motivated, but if that is not of interest to you, having a workout buddy might be just the thing you need! Knowing that someone is counting on you to show up is great motivation. Here is a list of reasons to have a workout buddy, and what to look for in someone to share your health and wellness goals!

Meet Denise Ervin. Fun Fact about Denise...she was the FIRST new member to join Milestone after the 2020 COVID-19 government-mandated shutdown. We are thrilled to be able to share Denise's story & love for Milestone with all of you; take it away Denise!

One of the biggest barriers to improving health and fitness is a lack of motivation. Most people just sit around waiting for motivation to strike like lightning. In some rare cases this might happen, but most of the time we will be left waiting and wondering when we will get our lives together. Often motivation only comes from seeing results. Once we see results, we are then enticed to continue the actions that got those results in the first place. So how do we see results in the first place? One option would be to hire a Personal Trainer. 

Stay cool this summer with these tasty chilly smoothies packed with flavor and nutrition!

It can be very frustrating to show up to the gym day after day, week after week, and still not see the results you would like on the scale. Sometimes it's enough to make you want to quit your exercise routine, altogether. While that might be the most appealing thing to do in that instance, what if you chose to look at exercise for its many other benefits other than just weight loss? Exercise has been linked to many, many positive outcomes that have nothing to do with losing weight. Improvement in areas related to depression, relationship issues, improving medical issues, bettering sleep, and prolonging a person’s ability to be independent are just a few of the lengthy list of the benefits of exercise.

Leave the boring behind - spice up your exercise wardrobe with fun pops of color that are sure to give you the energy you need to crush your fitness goals!

No more black pants!! As a person who has always enjoyed fashion, working out, and like many others…had body insecurities. I always found it so interesting that the fashion industry tried to make us all feel as if we were not our best… unless we had on all black. We didn’t look our thinnest… unless we had on all black. We did not look our tallest, sleekest, most sophisticated, or even professional…unless we had on all black. On New Year’s 2014 I decided to step out of the “black pants” world and live life in color. I made it my New Year’s Resolution that year to not buy another pair of black workout pants. I decided to step outside of my “black pants” brainwashing and program myself to love my body in every color of the rainbow.

While there are many ways to celebrate Mother’s Day, a delicious brunch is always the best way to start her day then she can relax and unwind. You don’t have to worry too much about your cooking skills, Chef Teresa has shared one of her favorite easy recipes that’s sure to impress! 

Women often make sure to have screenings for breast and gynecological health but forget about their bone health. Having good bone health is important for you to remain mobile and active in the second half of your life.