Would You Rather Walk 5,000 Steps a Day or Pay More for Insurance?

That may sound like a hypothetical question, but one health insurer put this question to the test -- and a new study finds that the controversial question -- and resulting action taken -- actually worked to keep costs down and customers healthier.

It all started when the Michigan-based Blue Care Network began requiring obese patients on certain insurance plans to enroll in physical fitness programs in order or have to pay higher rates. One option was a pedometer-based program, which required participants to walk 450,000 steps every three months (an average of 5,000 steps, or 2.5 miles, a day) and to upload their activity to a tracking website. Those who didn't meet the quarterly goals would be 20 percent more for their insurance. 

University of Michigan and Stanford University researchers tracked the more than 6,000 people who chose the pedometer option, about a third of whom strongly disagreed with the "coercive" nature of the program and were extremely reluctant to participate. The researchers' findings, however, published today in the journal Translational Behavioral Medicine, tell a different story: After one year, 97 percent of participants had met their daily activity goals! 

However, there is still not nearly enough research to determine whether participation in these programs translates to meaningful changes in health and costs of health care.

What do you think about cash incentives for staying active? Smart or sleazy? Tweet us at @amandaemac and @SELFmagazine.

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Image Credit: Plamen Petkov

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How can I suppress my appetite ? Would you suggests app outré suppressant pills, and if so which ones ?

Im always hungry and wanting to munch on something. I heard about the green tea pill for weight loss, I just can't find the gamcimia ones anywhere other then online. Any suggestions on appetite suppressants ?

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What would you like to change about yourself?

I LOVE the post about what you love about yourself. :) But what would you change? I don't mean, getting rid of crows feet or trying to fit a size zero in pants. What positive traits do you admire or want to develop? What are you doing to accomplish that? I always see women with such great qualities and try to emulate what I love about them. So I'll start :)

1. I wish I had stronger willpower. I see all these beautiful women who have lost weight and look amazing, and I haven't quite figured it out yet.

I've started thinking more about eating intuitively, and eventually my goal is to be at a point where I can cook really healthfully and LOVE good foods, and not crave junk all the time.

2. I want to be more driven.

So many people have careers, or are in college, and I've kind of drifted aimlessly. I'm starting school for Cosmetology soon, and I'm hoping to someday be a makeup artist.

3. I want to be confidant. I've always felt self concious. I would like to start getting more in touch with my body, how I feel vs how my body looks. When I move out in September, I want to have an area where I can do yoga, meditate, and just really focus on my inner wellbeing.

4. I want to be someone people want to be around. I'm a bit abrasive at times, speak without thinking, and at times feel very socially awkward.

I have been trying to open up to people easier, try to focus more on having fun and being a good friend, and less on how people judge me during social situations.

5. I want to feel beautiful I compare myself to other girls, and I don't see myself positively due to being bullied for a large part of my life. I see myself as fat and ugly, and I know that I'm not seeing myself how other people do. I want to focus on the positive traits I have, and do the things that make me happy, instead of worrying that people are judging me or thinking I'm ugly. I just dyed my hair a bright pink, and I LOVE it :)

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Would You Try Aqua Spinning?

Aqua spin, hydro ride, pool biking, aqua cycling...whatever you want to call it, the low-impact workout that's hugely popular across Europe in countries like France, Italy and Germany, is finally making a splash in the States, too. And let us tell you -- it's definitely interesting!

Currently, the Euro trend is being offered at only a handful of places in the United States and the first boutique underwater cycling studio opened its doors to curious New Yorkers this past week. Three ambitious SELF staffers (myself and my editor included) tested the hydro bikes at AQUASpin, a gorgeous TriBeCa studio that boasts modern, Zen-like decor that felt more like a Russian bathhouse than a gym. "I just want to live here!" a student in our class gushed.

But the new trendy studio, with its pint-sized pool is oceans away from the high energy, lane-to-lane packed pools in many European classes, which often take place outdoors with the instructor on a bike on deck. (Need a visual? Check out the crazy YouTube vids.)

As for the workout itself? "It sort of feels like getting a lymphatic massage," when the water waves against your legs, said my editor, who noted she could understand why the exercise claims to fight cellulite. Another participant loved the abs section of the workout -- we propped up our feet on the bike handles and laid back to work the core and perform crunches. Dangerous? Maybe -- some of our heads were super close to the pool deck, but our instructor made us aware of that fact prior to the set.

While we can't see ourselves regularly attending aqua spinning, it is a fun way to break up your routine every once in a while, great for people with injuries or a joint pain and frankly, crazy fun! Not gonna lie--we were all sweating by the end!

Until the craze goes national, catch the wave at one of these studios in the U.S.:

Tell us: Would you try aqua spinning? Tweet us at @SaraAngle22 and @SELFMagazine!

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Image Credit: Courtesy of AQUAStudio NY

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Would this count as a cheat meal?

Hi all,

I was out shopping in town today and foolishly didn't think to bring any lunch! As part of my healthy eating plan I aim to eat about 90% fresh, home-made or self prepared stuff. Anyway, I tried to go somewhere healthy and ordered a Pret a Manger houmous wrap (449 kcal, about 40% fat) - oh, and an apple. Would this count as a cheat meal to you? I am wondering because I usually have 2 times a week that I do not eat well, and tomorrow am going out to a bar with friends and may have a drink or two.

Please let me know what you think!

Cheers

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Feeling lost! Would love feedback!

Hello everyone - I've been a member on this site for years, but put on about 10 pounds in the last year, and now feel lost about how to do this. I feel suddenly mystified, like I have no idea how to get the magic formula of calories in/calories out, what kinds of workouts I should be doing, etc.

I am 25 years old, 5'6" and 155 pounds. I work a mostly sedentary desk job, but try to workout about 5 days a week. At home I have an elliptical machine and free weights, and I also like to run.

Can someone give me a sense for about how many calories I should be eating, and how much of my workout should be cardio vs. weights.

Would greatly appreciate any help! Please ask questions if I didn't provide enough info.

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Mini-Organ Would Mimic Pancreas to Treat Type 1 Diabetes

By Serena Gordon

HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, March 5 (HealthDay News) -- A new bioengineered, miniature organ dubbed the BioHub might one day offer people with type 1 diabetes freedom from their disease.

In its final stages, the BioHub would mimic a pancreas and act as a home for transplanted islet cells, providing them with oxygen until they could establish their own blood supply. Islet cells contain beta cells, which are the cells that produce the hormone insulin. Insulin helps the body metabolize the carbohydrates found in foods so they can be used as fuel for the body's cells.

The BioHub also would provide suppression of the immune system that would be confined to the area around the islet cells, or it's possible each islet cell might be encapsulated to protect it against the autoimmune attack that causes type 1 diabetes.

The first step, however, is to load islet cells into the BioHub and transplant it into an area of the abdomen known as the omentum. These trials are expected to begin within the next year or year and a half, said Dr. Luca Inverardi, deputy director of translational research at the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami, where the BioHub is being developed.

Dr. Camillo Ricordi, the director of the institute, said the project is very exciting. "We're assembling all the pieces of the puzzle to replace the pancreas," he said.

"Initially, we have to go in stages, and clinically test the components of the BioHub," he said. "The first step is to test the scaffold assembly that will work like a regular islet cell transplant."

The Diabetes Research Institute already successfully treats type 1 diabetes with islet cell transplants into the liver.

In type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the beta cells contained within islet cells. This means someone with type 1 diabetes can no longer produce the insulin they need to get sugar (glucose) to the body's cells, so they must replace the lost insulin. This can be done only through multiple daily injections or with an insulin pump via a tiny tube inserted under the skin and changed every few days.

Although islet cell transplantation has been very successful in treating type 1 diabetes, the underlying autoimmune condition is still there. Because transplanted cells come from cadaver donors, people who have islet cell transplants must take immune-suppressing drugs to prevent rejection of the new cells. This puts people at risk of developing complications from the medication, and, over time, the immune system destroys the new islet cells.

Because of these issues, islet cell transplantation is generally reserved for people whose diabetes is very difficult to control or who no longer have an awareness of potentially dangerous low blood-sugar levels.

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Move in ways you would never expect

It is worded as follows:

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I know that it's going to be their shoe that is supposed to be flexible, but I love this ad because it is correct about the exercise. When I've been exercising regularly and do my cardio after stretching, I find that I am able to go in a way that I couldn't. I am much more flexible than I was before I started to exercise.

I am also stronger. I can lift my bowling ball more grocery bags and don't feel like such a tax more.

I can go the distance. I can walk further before I tucker. If we here a hill, can I do this without stopping for a rest.

When I exercise regularly, I find myself moving in ways that I never expected and it's a delicious surprise!

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