¡New year -- New you!

Every year on January 1, people across the globe make New Year's resolutions.
Some write a list of the top things they want to change in their lives, set goals for the coming year, or even pick that same one thing they have yet  to master.
Most common among resolutions is to lose weight, eat right and get healthy.
We support that one entirely. Good health is the hallmark for a good life in so many ways.
In the last 25 years, resolutions concerning weight, exercise, better relationships and quitting smoking have been at the top of the list, according to Dr. John C. Norcross, co-author of Changing for Good.
This year, let's not make resolutions a trite statement with no real meaning behind it. Let's actually do it.

Here are some simple tips to get healthier in 2011:

• Eat right.

Make wise choices in the types of foods you eat; add lean proteins, more fruits and vegetables, and monitor portion sizes. Eat food low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate sugars. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. Write what you eat down to help you keep track of your intake; a food journal forces you to be aware of what you eat.

• Exercise more.

For exercise to help with weight loss, experts advise regular aerobic physical activity, such as walking, biking or swimming, for at least 20 to 30 minutes a day, three to five times a week. If you're a beginner, start slow, but be consistent and determined. Join a fitness center, or take classes at area health centers like the YMCA of Greater Springfield on Chestnut Street.

• Get health exams.

It's important to know the state of your physical health before you begin any exercise regimen. Check with your doctor to see if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. For woman, get annual breast and gynecological exams. For men, get prostrate exams as needed. Regular exams are preventative and proactive measures to minimize health risks.

• Get support.

Find a friend, family member, co-worker or someone else with similar "get healthy" goals to serve as an accountability partner, to offer support when you're feeling unmotivated. Programs such as Weight Watchers or working with a dietitian, nutritionist or personal trainer are also effective ways to garner support and learn new ideas and strategies to getting and staying healthy. Use the many online tools and websites available to give you a framework for getting and staying healthy, such as WebMd's diet assessment tool. Also, regularly visit the Mason Square Health Task Force website.

Now, start your new year right. Stay focused. Stay positive. And remember: Take one step at a time.
Happy New Year!

A giving spirit IS a healthy spirit

"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the creative light of altruism or the darkness of selfishness. This is the judgment. Life’s persistent and most urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ " -- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dressed as Santa, Orlando Ramos gives gifts
to the children in his old neighborhood.

Can helping others really help us? According to research by mental health experts, the answer is a profound yes. Giving back to your community, or paying it forward to help others, even in small ways is fulfilling for yourself and for the recipient. We like ourselves just a little bit more knowing we are helping someone in need. Even small deeds matter, whether shoveling a neighbor's walk or cleaning the snow off some one's car, taking out an elderly person's trash, or even saying 'hi' to a stranger can make a difference to brighten the day. This makes us feel connected as a community. This reminds us to be grateful for what we have ourselves, and for others around us. A giver's spirit is healthy, not just emotionally, but also physically. We feel better when our hearts and minds are at peace, when we know we've helped someone else.

Springfield resident Orlando Ramos looks forward to the times when he can give back to his community. In particular, every year at Christmas, Ramos buys toys out of his own pocket to give to the kids in the neighborhood where he grew up on Manilla Avenue in Springfield. Located in the Pine Point section, the neighborhood where Ramos was raised is made up 20 duplexes, largely of low-income housing, and managed by the Springfield Housing Authority, he said.

"I moved out eight years ago in 2002, but I still take good care of the people that live there, especially the kids," Ramos, a former City Council candidate, said. Ramos has dressed as Santa for the past five years, bringing presents door-to-door to the kids on Manilla Avenue. He usually spends between $200 to $300. This year, 46 children ages 12 and under will receive gifts on Christmas day. 
"I do this because I care about these children," Ramos said. "I believe in the words in the Bible, Acts 20:35 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' I feel that God has blessed me in many ways, and I like to take advantage of every opportunity to give back. It's a blessing to be able to put a smile on the children's faces on Christmas. That for me is reward in itself."


There are transformative power's in giving. Let's all commit to having a giver's spirit this holiday season and in 2011.

MOCHA selects new coordinator, launches new events to raise men's health awareness

Trevis Wray and Coach Dee Brown

The Men of Color Health Awareness (MOCHA) campaign has hired  a new coordinator in its efforts to steadily raise awareness about health issues and disparities that effect men of color in Greater Springfield.

Trevis Wray, program officer and community leadership coordinator of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, will also serve as coordinator of MOCHA.

"For me, the health disparities facing men of color are real. I'm living with this and seeing it in my community and in my life everyday," Wray said, noting that statistics on morbidity and mortality rates of men of color are markedly higher than for whites. "Even in my own family and extended outward, I can see the currents of the typical illnesses that plague our community heavily - diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, alcoholism and more."

Wray said to keep the conversation about health and health awareness on the tips of every one's tongue, the initiative will host an on-going speaker series with leaders in the area of health, wellness and the community. The first speaker in the series is Coach Dee Brown, former NBA star and coach of the Springfield Armor.

Brown will speak about the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle and exercise on Wed., Dec. 15, at the Springfield YMCA, 275 Chestnut St., Springfield, MA at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

We encourage everyone to attend MOCHA events as a means to get men of color in our community healthy and informed.

The Mason Square Health Task Force is part of a community collaborative working with MOCHA that includes Baystate Health, Black Men of Greater Springfield, the YMCA of Greater Springfield and others. The YMCA will facilitate a variety of wellness classes ranging from food and fitness to financial literacy.

The Mason Square Health Task Force applauds MOCHA and encourages all men to get and stay healthy!