Tag: health

LIFESTYLE

Cliffo & Gabi’s Townsville Tonne – Daddy Diary September 2020

by PakMag Contributor

Sometimes it comes to me on the toilet. Other times it comes to me just before I drift off to sleep. This time it came to me in the shower. A BRAINWAVE. But this particular brainwave was different. This one was highly personal. So, picture it. Actually, I’m naked in the shower so probably don’t. But anyway, I’m standing there under the hot water after a hectic day. The kids were already bathed and fed so I’m taking my time. I look down at my ever-growing beer belly when the realisation hits me. I need to lose a few covid-kilos ASAP. I’m the biggest I’ve ever been. And using the kids as an excuse for my size has to end. If I’m honest, my size has absolutely nothing to do with anyone other than myself. It’s 100% on me. And as I stand there, I start to think about other Townsvillians, and how surely there must be other people who feel the same way. That’s when the idea strikes like a Big Mac to the face. And it was a doozy.

What if we could we find at least 100 locals willing to do the same? All it would take is 100 of us to lose 10 kilos each over 10 weeks and as a collective Townsville would lose a tonne. AN ENTIRE TONNE.

I discussed this idea with my wife. As always Michelle couldn’t have been more supportive. Sign me up she cried. After getting the tick of approval from my radio co-host Gabi the idea hit paper for the first time. “Cliffo & Gabi’s Townsville Tonne” was born.

We launched the project at 8am on a Monday morning hoping to get 100 locals signed up in 2 weeks. We got 100 in less than 45 minutes. And from there it hasn’t stopped. At time of printing more than 500 have signed up to our battle against the bulge. And it’s not slowing down. Together we’re going to lose an entire tonne.

So here we go Townsville. My wine has been replaced with water and my burgers with burpees. And hopefully before too long I will have a body my wife, my kids and most importantly – I can be proud of. This goes for all of our Townsville Tonners. Together let’s lose a tonne!

Cliffo
Hit 103.1 Townsville

Head to Pakmag Townsville on Facebook to check out a super cute video starring Cliffo and his daughter.

Matilda answers questions about her Dad with hilarious results. You could try asking your child the same questions about their Dad and film it for Father’s Day as a special and fun surprise. Share your video with us. We’d love to see it. #PakMag share.

Questions

What does your Dad do for a job?

What makes your Dad happy?

How old do you think your Dad is?

What is he good at?

What do you think he gets up to when you’re not around?

If your dad was a superhero- which superhero (or cartoon character) would he be? Why?

What’s his favourite thing to eat?

What makes your Dad sad?

What’s your favourite thing to do with your dad?

How does he make you laugh?

What is he not very good at?

What is something he always says?

Why do you love your Dad?

How do you know he loves you?

Read more Daddy Diary stories from Cliffo HERE. 

Visit hit103.1 HERE. 

 

 

 

 

 

HEALTH

How Work Could Affect Your Health and Wellbeing

by PakMag Contributor

If you’re lucky, you love your job and can’t wait to get to work every day. But, for a number of people, working life may have its ups and downs. The benefits of being employed can make us feel connected, provide meaning and can help us with feelings of being part of “something bigger” than ourselves. However, sometimes we might feel that we’ve lost the balance, just a little bit. Living a sustainable lifestyle that promotes work-life balance may be a goal for most Australians, but external factors like work could affect our health and wellbeing in potentially negative ways.

According to the Real Concerns Index, work-related issues are some of the biggest concerns for Aussies, with more than half of us (52.5%) working overtime in fear of losing our jobs. What’s more, we worry that our work isn’t paying enough to keep up with the cost of living (74.4%) and we are concerned about the impact of work on our life and wellbeing (60.9%).

So, what are the common causes of work-related stress and what can you do about it?

There’s no denying that work can have a multitude of positive effects on our wellbeing. It gives us purpose, routine and mental stimulation. It can also improve interpersonal skills, communication techniques and boost our overall self-worth.

The opposite may also be true, however, especially in a challenging work environment. These issues can be compounded by our own worries and concerns. In turn, this can lead to intense work-related stresses. Here’s what Australians are most worried about according to the Real Concerns Index:

  • Lack of wage growth: Nearly three in four respondents (74.4%) believe their job isn’t paying enough to keep up with the rising cost of living. This has been leading to financial woes and stress about the future.
  • Job security: Constant worries about security and stability in the workplace is leading many Australians (60.3% of respondents) to work overtime for fear of losing their jobs.
  • Work’s impact on regular life: Three in five respondents (60.9%) said the impact of work on their life and wellbeing was a major concern. In addition, lengthy work hours and long commutes being common indicators of poor work-life balance.
  • A variety of contributing factors: Respondents cited a range of different worries that begin in the workplace and affect their stress levels. These included increasing pressures to work long hours (59.2%), a lack of support for flexible working environments and hours (47.8%), and an inability or unwillingness to support the needs of a diverse workforce (36.2%).

Five tools to combat a stressful work environment

The good news is that more and more Australians are becoming vocal about how work impacts their mental health and their overall health and wellbeing. This can not only improve their wellbeing but also the standard of their work. To truly achieve work-life balance, consistency of approach and diversity of tactics are key. Here are some tips to get started:

  1. Exercise can stave off the effects of stress

Just 30 minutes of exercise (such as a brisk walk around the park) can be a great pick-me-up. It can improve your physical health and lead to better mental wellbeing.

  1. Self-care: find the ways it can work for you

Self-care means different things for different people. Maybe a weekly yoga session is what helps you unwind best, or a spa day with friends on the weekend. Regular therapy can be a great way to stop all the stresses of your work life from bottling up. Find what works best for you and aim to make it a consistent activity.

  1. Quick and easy meditation techniques

Meditation can also mean many things to different people. Simple breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques can be done at home, during your commute or even on your lunch break at work. You might be surprised how much five minutes away from the screen can help!

  1. Practise your communication skills

One of the biggest reasons for stress and worry is that we can bottle up our feelings and frustrations. Communication can be a great release valve, but it does take some practice. Once you get better at communicating your limitations to your boss and colleagues, you will hopefully start to feel the weight of work-related worries lifting.

  1. Take some time out when you need it

Work doesn’t need to define who we are as individuals. It can give us the financial freedom to do the things we love and spend time with the people we care about most. With the modern digital environments we all live in, we can find ourselves logging on at all hours of the day and night, missing out on valuable family (or ‘me’) time. Check yourself before you hit the early stages of burnout. Practise work-life balance by simply being disciplined about when you need to really switch off.

Work-related stress, concerns about our job stability, and worries about the future are all normal parts of being a working adult. However, with a few helpful strategies you can reduce the worries of your job and strive for that all-important work-life balance. Work-life balance can be hard to achieve. Plus, over the course of our lives, things always change, including our (and our family’s) needs. But, having said that, the rewards of finding a greater balance are priceless, especially for health and wellbeing. 

 

 

 

 

chronic condition header image
CAIRNS EXPERTS

Can Calanna Pharmacy Help Me With My Chronic Condition?

by Matthew Calanna

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy

Dear Matthew, how can a pharmacy help me manage my chronic disease?

Here at Calanna, we are registered NDSS providers and can offer those with diabetes support services and specialist products. Additionally, our free MedsCheck allows us to review your medicines and provide advice to you and your GP. Our Medication Packing service also optimises your medication by ensuring you take the right medicine and the right dose, at the right time. Overall we strive to work with your health care team to support your health and manage a chronic condition. 

Make Calanna your pharmacy today so we can learn your medical history and help you manage your chronic condition.

 

Read more from Matthew here. 

 

 

 

CAIRNS EXPERTS

Why Is It So Important to Choose One Pharmacy?

by Matthew Calanna

Matthew Calanna – Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy

Dear Matthew, why is it so important to choose one pharmacy?

By choosing only one, your family is in safer hands. Why? All of your medication data will be in one place. This helps to avoid the risk of conflicting medications that could make you sicker.

We are able to learn about your medical history and make recommendations on the type of medicine you’re taking. Additionally, we can provide the correct dosage amounts. It helps us to better liaise with your GP and we can provide advice in emergency situations, such as losing an important script or what to do if you have missed a dose. Just like you’d choose one doctor, we’d love you to choose Calanna as your number one pharmacy, so our family can get to know yours.

Visit Calanna on Facebook 

 

Learn more about Calanna and read more blogs on their PakMag Experts profile. 

 

 

 

FOOD

Scrambled Eggs With Veg – Next-Level Campfire Cooking

by Anna Booysen

Camping is a favourite family tradition in North Queensland. No matter the season up here, it’s perfect weather to gather up the tent or clean the caravan, relocate all the camping gear and prepare for days of relaxation and fun in the great outdoors. Sometimes, what can make or break a camping trip is the food! We know how hard it can be to prepare and cook good meals when camping (we’ve been there), and as much as we love the old favourites, we also love variety. Eggs are versatile, basic and yet taste so good. You can boil them, fry them, and more when camping, just as you would at home. But why not turn them into a full meal instead by mixing the veggies right in to make our scrambled eggs with veg recipe? Get your ingredients ready to whip up an uncomplicated, quick, and healthy dish. Feel free to add in or take out whatever vegetables you desire! 

Ingredients:

6 – 12 eggs

1/3 cup milk

1 large tomato, sliced

4 large mushrooms, chopped

1/3 red capsicum, chopped finely

1/3 green capsicum, chopped finely

OR 1/3 brown onion, chopped finely

Oil spray or 1 Tbsp butter

Salt and pepper

Optional: serve on toasted bread

Method:

In a bowl, mix the eggs until the mixture is smoothly blended. Stir in the milk.

Heat a pan and melt the butter (or spray on the oil). Stir in the egg mixture as well as all of the chopped vegetables. Cook until eggs are no longer running.

If you prefer well-cooked or fried vegetables, you can fry or boil them before you stir them into the eggs. 

Tip: Fry brown onion and mushrooms together in butter until browned first (they take the longest to cook). Then add other ingredients.

 

Read more of our camping recipes here. 

 

 

HEALTH

Tackling Head Lice and More – All Things Health

by Kalisha Fitsch

Tackling Head Lice

Head lice are small, wingless insects that live and breed in human hair. Outbreaks are common in schools everywhere.

Direct head to head contact with someone with head lice is what spreads the lice, or even by sharing products such as combs, brushes, hats or pillowcases will spread them. A female louse lays up to eight eggs per day which rely on the warmth from the head to hatch. Lice can make the scalp itchy but sometimes come with no symptoms at all. Therefore the hair needs to be thoroughly inspected to see if any of the critters are present.

So, what are you looking for? Closely inspect the scalp, looking for oval, pinhead-sized eggs. They are firmly attached to the hair and we cannot simply brush them away. The actual themselves are small, wingless and whitish-brown in colour. Fortunately, you can get rid of them by combing conditioner onto dry, brushed hair and thoroughly combing through the hair with a fine-tooth comb. Wipe the conditioner from the comb onto a tissue and inspect for any lice or eggs. Additionally, coating the hair in olive oil and leaving it in overnight can eradicate lice. Or you could try using 15-20 drops of tea tree oil mixed in with natural shampoo. 

Interesting Facts about our Brains

  • About one hundred billion neurons make up the brain. Phew.
  • The brain will grow three times its size in the first year of a baby’s life. In total it continues to grow until about 18 years of age.
  • Roughly 75% water make up the brain. This means that dehydration can have negative effects on your brain. Drink that water!
  • It’s a myth that we use only 10 per cent of our brain. We actually use all of it. Even when we’re sleeping, we use more than 10 per cent.

 

Read more PakMag Health blogs here.