Sunday, May 31, 2015

Smaller Size Food Packaging Disappoints

A can of Bumblebee white tuna fish packed in water used to be 10 ounces, but today the can is 6 ounces. It used to be white and hard packed in the can so that it was difficult to get out with a fork. Today the tuna is mushy and falls out of the can -- not worth the money. I have stopped buying it altogether.

It used to be that ice-cream came in a half gallon container, but the container of sherbet I bought a few days ago says 1.5 quarts. As long as the quality remains high I will buy it, but if the producers reduce the size of the container again I will stop buying it. It would probably be healthier for me to stop eating frozen yogurt and sherbet anyway, but I would prefer to enjoy it.

Man using blue whale extra large heating pad on his back in bed
Whale Extra Large Back Heating Pad
At Maine Warmers, we have not reduced the size of our products. We actually doubled the size of our Back Warmer and now sell more of the extra large one at a higher price than we do of the traditional sized Back Warmer. I have noticed some other items that sell more are our over-sized ones including the Whale Back Warmer and Al-the-Gator which is an extra long neck warmer.

Maine Warmers microwave heating pads are perfect gifts for Father's Day.
Man using extra long alligator microwave neck heating pad
Al-the-Gator -- extra long microwave neck heating pad

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Dealing with Challenges Takes Practice and Yoga May Help

My yoga teacher says that the things in life that happen to us count less than the way we react to them. Yoga teaches us to find a calm place where we can breathe, and to practice breathing calmly when we are being challenged. Then, when we face a difficult situation in life, we have a coping mechanism in place to help us deal with it.

In yoga, we are taught that it is okay to push ourselves to failure in order to find out what we can achieve. At the same time, we don’t want to injure ourselves. So, there is always a tugging and pulling in opposite directions – or stretching oneself.

I think some people may have a twisted view (no pun intended) of what yoga is – especially if they have not practiced it. There are different types of yoga, of course, and I am only familiar with one or two of them. I know that when I practice it I can breathe better, and I feel better. I told the  yoga teacher that sinus doctors should recommend yoga to their patients, and she replied that all doctors should recommend it to their patients.

I do tend to get sore muscles after yoga, but that is natural. A Maine Warmers’ microwave heating pad relaxes them. Frozen it relieves sinus headaches.
Black Sheep microwave heating pad

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Support and attitude help stroke victims

As a child I was told my great aunt was unable to talk due to a stroke. Most of the time she sat and listened and had a pleasant look on her face. Once though she cried, and not understanding, I thought she was unhappy.

When my father had a stroke, I was quite a lot older and understood his situation and how frustrating it was for him to lose his speech and the use of his right hand. He regained about 65% of his speech and a few times he cried out of frustration. As much as it hurt to see him sad, I knew he wasn't unhappy.

His attitude, sense of humor, close friends and family gave him a quality of life he might not otherwise have enjoyed. He never lost his ability to use a computer and to keyboard although he had to learn to use his left hand. He would write weekly newsletters to his friends and print them to be read aloud on Friday nights. He loved to laugh and never missed an opportunity to go for a joy ride.
Toward the end of his life when he needed to be in a wheelchair, he had my mother make a sign out of cardboard that said"Will work for food." He then sat outside at the end of his driveway with the sign enjoying laughs with neighbors who stopped to see him. He died at age 90 with  his family all around and a smile on his face. (BTW: My father lost a leg in WW II.)

Even when he and my mother lived in Florida his left hand would get so cold. He used a microwave
Man using Maine Warmers microwave hand warmers to warm his cold hands
Maine Warmers' Microwave Hand Warmer Mittens
hand warmer from Maine Warmers to help warm that one hand. Maine Warmers has a variety of microwave heating pads that can be used to warm hands, whether from a stroke or just the chill of winter.

May is Stroke Awareness Month.

Increases the risk of stroke:
  • Being overweight
  • Lack of physical exercise
  • Tobacco use
  • Drug use
  • Heavy use of alcohol 
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Sleep apnea
  • Cardiovascular disease

Unavoidable risk factors:

  • Heredity
  • Age -- 55 and older
  • Race -- African Americans are higher risk
  • Gender -- Males are more likely to have a stroke


Symptoms -- Call 911 if you are or see someone experiencing any of these:
  • Trouble speaking or understanding
  • Weakness, numbness, or loss of use of an arm or leg, or portion of the face
  • Loss of balance or dizziness
  • Blurred vision or double vision in one or both eyes
  • Sudden, severe headache
For more information on strokes visit the Mayo Clinic Website.



Friday, May 15, 2015

Reducing knee pain by making changes in diet

"Every pound of body weight yields five pounds of force on the knee, so even 10 extra pounds can put a considerable load on those joints." WebMD 

Added force on a knee causes the protective covering of the knee to break down more rapidly according to the Arthritis Foundation, in an article, How Fat Affects Arthritis. It seems like common sense. 

Beyond this, some fats may produce a chemical reaction that increase inflammation and contribute to joint degeneration. Omega 6 fatty acids, saturated fats (from animal and whole dairy), trans-fats, gluten, casein, some artificial sweeteners, are considered inflammatory. Read more about these foods in the article, 8 Food Ingredients that can Cause Inflammation

Making the changes in diet for less pain and more fun may be worth every ounce of effort. Pain zaps our energy levels and is very distracting -- from work, play, relationships, and generally our whole lives. 

Changing one's diet takes concentration and effort -- plus planning and lots of chopping. Many grocery stores now carry pre-chopped veggies and cut up fruits. Salad bars are also in many grocery stores, so instead of buying a pizza on your way home from work, stop at the salad bar and pick up a hearty green salad. Add some black beans, smoked salmon, or buy some fish that is easy to cook.

A change in diet can have a stunning affect on how you feel and may reduce knee pain. When you are in pain or if you are feeling anxious, instead of running to the fridge for comfort, go for a walk, read a book, write to a friend, or find something else you like to do.  Put a Maine Warmer in the microwave for a minute and a half, then relax with a non-caffeine beverage. Heat relaxes tense muscles, stimulates circulation, and increases flexibility -- helping you feel better.

Woman relaxing with microwave Back Warmer, Maine Warmers' Knee Pack strapped onto a man's knee, & a man relaxing sore neck muscles with a Neck Warmer
Maine Warmers Microwave Back Warmer, Knee Ice Pack, & Traditional Neck Warmer



Wednesday, May 13, 2015

What to buy a father who has everything for Fathers' Day?

At the end of a busy day, most dads want to sit down and relax. A microwave heating pad can help.

Some men don't think they need a heating pad to relax and may consider it to be unnecessary or even effeminate to use one. I often hear men at trade shows tell me, "Oh yes, my wife uses one of these." Other times I have heard women say, "My husband uses the Sheep I purchased from you for his sore back muscles." Men don't think they need a heating pad, but once they try one they like it.

I think most men have sore backs from lifting heavy objects. If men are active, chances are they have a few tight muscles. If they aren't active, they may have poor circulation and feel chilled. Either way, a microwave heating pad, whether it is a traditional Back Warmer, or a Gray Whale Back Warmer, or some other comforting creature, will help relieve muscle stiffness or provide comforting warmth.

Some men need to be shown -- not told. So, heat one of these up and when your dad sits down in a chair ask him if you could put this between his back and the chair. If his neck is what bothers him most, then make it a Neck Warmer.

Maine Warmers microwave heating pads are portable, so dad can sit with it in front of the TV, computer, in a car, or take it on a walk. It doesn't have perfumes and it is washable.
Men using Maine Warmers microwave heating pads from traditional neck and back warmers to Comforting Creatures, including a whale back warmer, Black Bear, and Dachshund Neck Warmer
Maine Warmers Microwave Heating Pads for Dads