Eating a well-balanced diet is a key component of living a long, healthy life. Many Americans think that eating healthy means they have to empty their wallets, which isn’t necessarily the truth. Keep the following money-saving tips in mind next time you’re grocery shopping:

• Make a weekly meal plan. Before you go to the store, think about what meals and snacks you want for the

week. Read recipes thoroughly so you can make an accurate list of everything you need, reducing the risk that you’ll have to run back to the store later in the week.

• Create a list—and stick to it. Make a detailed list of what you need to buy before you go to the store. When you get to the store, don’t buy anything besides what’s on the list.

• Plan where you’re going to shop. Many grocery stores run sales or offer coupons for various healthy foods. Check out the ads and plan your grocery list around what’s on sale.

• Don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry. According to the Journal of the American Medical  Association, going grocery shopping when you’re hungry can cause you to spend more money than you initially planned to and can increase the odds that you’ll buy unhealthy options.

• Cook at home as often as possible. Many foods prepared at home are cheaper and more nutritious than fast food. Go back to the basics and find a few simple and healthy recipes that your family enjoys.

• Buy in bulk. For healthy, non-perishable items, it might be more cost-effective to purchase them in bulk. While the initial cost may be more expensive, doing so could help you save money in the long-run.

• Shop seasonally. Fresh fruits and vegetables are usually easier to find and maybe a lot less expensive when purchased in season. Click here for pdf

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced a new four-factor balancing test to determine whether two or more organizations should be considered “joint employers” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The final rule establishing the new test becomes effective March 16, 2020.

Joint employment, or co-employment, situations arise when two or more organizations share the control and supervision of one or more employees.

The DOL holds joint employers equally and individually responsible for compliance with labor and employment laws. The DOL looks at joint employment situations to prevent scenarios where one organization avoids complying with labor standards by using another employer as a “shield.”

The New Test

The final rule requires the DOL to examine whether a potential joint employer:

• Hires or fires the employee;
• Supervises and controls the employee’s work schedule or conditions of employment to a substantial degree;
• Determines the employee’s rate and method of payment; and
• Maintains the employee’s employment records.

Please note that this final rule and new test apply only to joint employment status for FLSA compliance and do not address joint employment status under other federal employment laws.

Speak with Deutsch & Associates, LLC to learn more about these and other employer responsibilities. Click here to download pdf

Picture this scenario: You take up a new exercise routine and you immediately start to drop the pounds. Then, two months into your new routine, your scale stops moving, even though you’re still putting in the time and effort to work out. What’s going on?

When you first start a new exercise routine, your body tends to shed excess water weight, so it appears as though you are really trimming the fat easily and quickly. But these “easy” pounds are the only ones to go fast. After the water-weight loss, your body builds muscle while also burning fat. So, although you may not see a change in your weight according to your scale, your workouts are still facilitating many beneficial changes for your body.

Knock That Plateau

When the calories you burn are equal to the calories you eat, you reach a plateau.

To lose more weight, you need to either increase your physical activity or decrease the calories you eat. Using the same approach that initially worked may maintain your weight loss, but it won’t lead to additional slimming.

Want to feel like you’re winning the weight game again?

Here’s how:

• Instead of giving yourself a weight goal, strive to fit into a certain size.

• Opt for taking your body measurements instead of weekly weigh-ins. As you build muscle, the scale may not move, but you will be losing inches as you tone up. By recording your measurements, you can gauge your success in the gym. Be mindful to only measure yourself once per week, as your body can slightly fluctuate every day.

• Keep a food journal to determine exactly what you are putting into your body. As you exercise more, you may be feeling hungrier and consequently eating more without realizing it. Be sure to also record the portions of what you eat, keeping in mind that 1,200 calories a day is the minimum amount recommended for the average person.

• Watch out for little sweet “rewards” or treats. Avoid indulging in too many temptations as a way to congratulate yourself for a job well done.

• Increase your exercise regimen. As you drop the weight, you burn fewer calories in the same amount of time. In order to shrink your waistline, you will need to increase the amount of time you spend working out.

• Add more activity into your day by taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work, parking further away from stores when running errands, or dancing to music while you clean house.

• Substitute fruits and vegetables into your diet in place of foods that are high in fat and do not provide essential nutrients.

• Mix up a regular workout routine by adding intervals into your 30-minute run, increasing speed during your bicycle ride or adding an exercise class to your weekly workout schedule.

• Add strength training to your workouts, which will boost your metabolism, help your body burn more calories and build muscle.

• Be realistic. If you can’t further decrease the calories you eat or increase your physical activity, you may have hit your “minimum” weight. It is important to still appreciate the goals you’ve made and work to retain your level of fitness. If you think you’re capable of further weight loss, consult your physician about other strategies.

Whatever you do, don’t let a weight-loss plateau cause you to give up exercise and nutrition altogether. Because you’ve already improved your diet and increased your physical activity, you’ve already improved your health. Click here for pdf

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States, causing about 647,000 deaths annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Heart disease is also an extremely expensive disease—costing the United States about $207 billion annually in health care, medications and lost productivity.

What is heart disease?

Heart disease is a term used to refer to several different types of heart conditions. Out of all the different conditions, coronary artery disease—caused by plaque buildup in the walls of the heart’s arteries—is the most common.

What are the symptoms of heart disease?

The symptoms of heart disease can vary, and some people may not even know they have a heart condition until they have a heart attack. Common signs and symptoms of heart disease include shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, heart palpitations, weakness and fatigue.

If you experience any of these symptoms, or if they become more severe or frequent, contact your doctor.

Is heart disease preventable?

In many cases, heart disease can be prevented by living a healthy lifestyle and properly managing health conditions. American Heart Month, organized by the American Heart Association (AHA), is designed to raise awareness about heart disease and how people can prevent it. Here are tips that may help prevent heart disease:

• • Refrain from smoking.
• • Maintain a healthy weight.
• • Limit your sodium intake.
• • Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet.
• • Exercise regularly.
• • Manage your stress.
• • Limit your alcohol intake.

If you are concerned about your risk of developing heart disease or would like to find out more information about the condition, visit the AHA’s website and contact your primary care physician. Download Newsletter