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Dear healthwellness82@gmail.com, If you think that it’s safe to sit at your dining room table or on your living room couch, you may feel differently after you read this surprising and alarming report from James A. Levine, MD, PhD, of the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Levine explains why time on your tush hurts your health and tells how to sit safely -- he also tells about a few products you can buy that transform sitting into a more healthful experience. Speaking of dangerous... Bernie Madoff was not the only criminal running a Ponzi scheme to fleece investors -- he’s just one of the few who have been caught so far. Attorney and securities specialist Dan Brecher, Esq., explains why these scams are still around and tells how to identify one before you put your hard-earned money at risk. All the best,  Jessica Kent Editor BottomLineSecrets.com PS: Don’t forget to check out Bottom Line President Marjory Abrams’ latest blog posting: What Would You Be If You Weren't What You Are?. And don’t forget to share your thoughts on the blog with Margie.  Protect Yourself From Soaring Energy Costs This shocking war is eight times bigger than the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. It’s also lethal enough to at least double the price of gas and oil in 2011... Bunker down against soaring energy costs with the one "safe haven" financial plan that could pay you gains up to 668%. All the details, here: http://www.agorafinancial.com/reports/OST/NewWar/vp/OST_NewWar_vp.php?code=LOSTM118The Extreme Dangers of Sitting James A. Levine, MD, PhD Mayo Clinic Being a couch potato has long been known to threaten a person’s health. But now researchers are discovering that it’s much more dangerous than previously thought. Troubling statistic: Americans spend more than half their waking hours sitting -- primarily watching TV, driving and working at a desk. Important new finding: When Australian researchers recently tracked 8,800 men and women (average age 53) for about six years, they found that for every hour of daily TV viewing, risk for death due to cardiovascular disease increased by 18%. For those who watched TV four or more hours daily, risk of dying from cardiovascular disease was 80% higher than for those who reported watching fewer than two hours daily. Most surprising: A similar Canadian study of about 17,000 adults found that even among people who are physically fit and have a normal body weight, prolonged sitting, for any reason, was associated with increased health risks, suggesting that sitting for long periods may cancel out some of the health benefits of regular exercise. THE PROBLEM WITH SITTING Our bodies are programmed to move. When we spend most of our waking hours sitting, our health suffers in various ways. Examples...
THE "NEAT" SOLUTION Fortunately, the dangers of prolonged sitting can be countered by engaging in simple, low-intensity movement throughout the day. Thirty minutes or more of cardiovascular exercise (such as brisk walking, swimming or biking) several days per week is known to help promote good overall health. However, research at the Mayo Clinic has shown that the average American’s biggest health problem is a deficit in activity when formal exercise is not being performed. Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) is the term that is used for the energy that is expended (calories burned) doing everyday activities. While in previous generations our work and recreational activities involved regularly standing up and moving the body’s muscles, today’s world of cars, desk jobs, TVs and computers has reduced our daily NEAT dramatically. The solution is to add small amounts of non-exercise-related activity into your daily routine. For example, simply standing up triples your energy expenditure compared with sitting. And since a slow (1 mile per hour) walk triggers more than half the metabolic activity of a brisk (3 mph) walk, a leisurely hour-long stroll burns more calories than an intense 30-minute power walk. Interesting: We burn just five calories an hour while sitting and 15 while standing. TO COUNTERACT SITTING AT HOME With a little forethought, it’s possible to significantly raise your activity level without stepping foot in a gym. Not surprisingly, watching TV and long hours at the computer are among the biggest traps when you’re at home. To develop your own NEAT lifestyle in your home... Stand up and walk around. Do this every time an advertisement comes on the TV. Keep a stability ball handy. Since sitting on this kind of large, inflatable ball requires you to shift slightly from side to side to keep your balance, it engages more muscles (especially those in your abdomen and back) than sitting in a regular chair does. Strong abdominal muscles help fight back pain and enhance stability and balance. Stability ball chairs are available from Gaiam (877-989-6321, www.Gaiam.com, $120)... and Isokinetics, Inc. (866-263-0674, www.IsokineticsInc.com, $65). Place exercise equipment near your TV. Good choices include a treadmill, stationary bike and/or elliptical trainer. If you watch TV, choose a half-hour show every day and begin using the equipment as the theme music comes on. Continue until the show ends. Another option: Try a "mini stepper," a small device with two footpads that lets you step in place against resistance. These machines can be tucked away when not in use. Mini steppers are widely available from such companies as Stamina Products, Inc. (800-375-7520, www.StaminaProducts.com, $40 to $170)... and NordicTrack (www.NordicTrack.com, 888-308-9616, $120). Put your computer on an elevated surface, such as a shelf or stand. This way, you can stand while typing or surfing the Web. Choose action-oriented video games. If you play video games, opt for an active game (including Wii, which allows you to mimic motions used in sports such as tennis) instead of more sedentary games. Engage in "active intimacy." Catch up with your spouse or other family members or friends by talking with them while you stroll around the neighborhood together. TO COUNTERACT SITTING AT WORK For a NEAT lifestyle at work... Stand up when you answer the phone. If possible, pace near your desk for the duration of the call. Schedule "walking meetings." This is ideal when you need to meet with just one or two people and don’t need to take a lot of notes. Cut back on phone calls and e-mails to coworkers. When you need to speak to a coworker, walk to his/her work space. Besides getting you out of your chair, this face-to-face communication style has been shown to improve relationships. Follow the 10-minute rule. Whenever you’re working at a computer, get up for 10 minutes every hour to stretch your back and legs. Use this time to perform tasks that can be done while standing, such as making phone calls. Take the stairs. Avoid the elevator when going to and from your office floor. Park your car a distance (half a mile, for example) from your office. If you take mass transit, get off the bus or subway one or two stops before your destination. Take a midday walk. Use half your lunch hour for a stroll. Use a standing desk. It allows you to stand while working. Ernest Hemingway used such a desk. They are available from such companies as Ergo Desk (800-822-3746, www.ErgoDesk.com)... and Anthro (800-325-3841, www.Anthro.com). Cost: About $240 to more than $2,000. Even better: Add a treadmill for less than $1,000 to your work space to create a "walking desk." Don’t laugh -- many people who have done this (using it for four to 12 hours daily) have found that their productivity and concentration have improved along with their health. Bottom Line/Health interviewed James A. Levine, MD, PhD, director of the Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is coauthor of Move a Little, Lose a Lot (Crown).  How to Spot a Ponzi Scheme Dan Brecher, Esq. In December 2008, Bernard Madoff, a widely respected money manager and former chairman of the Nasdaq Stock Market, was arrested for securities fraud. Operating a classic Ponzi scheme,* Madoff fleeced $50 billion from banks, charities, 401(k) plans, a US senator and many individual investors by using funds from new clients to pay off older ones. Faced with mounting losses, he confessed to perhaps the biggest scam in Wall Street history, prompting investors everywhere to wonder just who they can trust. Red flags that Madoff’s clients should have been alert to -- and that no investor should ignore... Profits that sound too good to be true. Even Warren Buffett loses money sometimes. Madoff’s fund returned about 1% to 2% every month. Such a steady performance should have raised eyebrows -- but it opened wallets instead. Fuzzy investment strategy. Madoff reportedly would say, "It’s a proprietary strategy. I can’t go into it in great detail." Investors who cannot decipher a fund’s methodology on their own should ask a fee-based adviser whether it makes sense. If the adviser can’t make sense of it, stay away. While the independent review may cost $500 or more, it can save you a fortune. Obscure accountants. The accounting firm that Madoff used was a little-known company that reportedly operated from a tiny office staffed with only three employees. Trap: A big-name accounting firm is no guarantee either. In fact, it can lull investors into a false sense of security. Feeder funds, which market investments from other companies, may retain a major accounting firm to audit their own books -- but not necessarily the books of the investment managers they "feed" into. Investors should find out who is auditing the company where the money ends up. Promise of exclusivity. Madoff’s clients were invited to join an exclusive circle. Not just anyone could invest. The marketing approach was, "It is a privilege to invest with us." It is not unusual for exclusivity to be based upon a minimum required investment of a substantial amount, but in Madoff’s case, you typically had to know someone to get in. Unwillingness to answer questions. Investors who asked too many questions were actually kicked out of Madoff’s fund. At the least, you should be given sufficient detail to allow you or your adviser to understand the investment strategy being used and how results are calculated, reported and audited. Other self-defense strategies... Allocate wisely. Don’t put all your money in just one or two investments. Anything can go bust. But also beware of too diversified a portfolio. Tracking more than 15 or 20 investments is difficult. Don’t invest solely on the say-so of a friend or colleague. The recommendation may be well-intentioned but naïve. It’s your money. Do your own due diligence. Review monthly or quarterly statements. In some cases, the statements from Madoff’s firm did not even contain the names of any securities -- which should have raised eyebrows, at least. *Ponzi schemes are named for Charles Ponzi, who swindled thousands of New Englanders in a 1920s postage stamp speculation scheme. Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Dan Brecher, Esg., a securities attorney in New York City who specializes in claims against brokerage firms. Important: Help your friends get much more out of life -- forward this E-letter to them. Better: Send it to many friends and your whole family. This is a free weekly e-mail service of BottomLineSecrets.com and Boardroom Inc. Boardroom Inc. 281 Tresser Boulevard Stamford, CT 06901-3229 ATTN: Web Team You received this e-mail because you have requested it. You are on the mailing list as healthwellness82@gmail.com. Or... a friend forwarded it to you. Disclaimer: Bottom Line Secrets publishes the opinions of expert authorities in many fields. But the use of these opinions is no substitute for legal, accounting, investment, medical and other professional services to suit your specific personal needs. Always consult a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. Bottom Line Secrets is a registered trademark of Boardroom Inc. 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Sluggish central nervous system. Sitting causes your central nervous system to slow down, leading to fatigue. Three weekly sessions of low-intensity exercise, such as walking at a leisurely pace, which stimulates the central nervous system, reduced fatigue by 65% after six weeks, according to one study.
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