Welcome to the 11th edition of Weekend Wellness! Today I’m talking health measures and how they relate to four of my favorite F-words – finance, fitness, food & fun, and sharing a delicious Banana Split Smoothie recipe perfect for summertime.

Finance – Financial Health Measures

Annually in June, the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) celebrates FinHeathMatters Day to bring attention to Americans’ financial health. This year, on Tuesday, June 27, 2017, numerous blogs, podcasts, and social media messages promoted the event spreading the word on the importance of financial health.

CFSI defines four components of financial health – spend, save, borrow, and plan – and two indicators within each to measure financial health.

1. Spend less than income
2. Pay bills on time and in full
3. Have sufficient living expenses in liquid savings
4. Have sufficient long-term savings or assets
5. Have a sustainable debt load
6. Have a prime credit score
7. Have appropriate insurance
8. Plan ahead for expenses

“These components mirror your daily financial activities. What you do today in terms of spending, saving, borrowing, and planning either builds towards or detracts from your resilience and ability to pursue opportunities. For example, will you be able to handle a car breakdown or an extra medical bill? Will you be able to save for college or go on your dream vacation?” – CFSI

Today, I would score well on these 8 factors, but that wasn’t always the case. How about you? Do you have appropriate property, life or disability insurance? Are you spending less than you earn so that you can save for your retirement? Do you plan for non-routine expenses like braces for your kids, or that new furnace you’ll need in a couple of years?

Our financial health is of vital importance. To help me explain that I’m featuring below some post from fellow bloggers who provided their take on “What Financial Health Means to Me.”

Fitness – Physical Health Measures

In my article, “Financial & Physical Wellness Checkup,” I initially mentioned this simple fitness test from Dr. Michael F. Roizen, of the Cleveland Clinic. It can quickly gauge the status of your muscles and strength for your age. I suggest taking a bit of time this weekend to see where you stand.

Fitness Tests 

Use chart below to gauge the status of your muscles and strength for your age

1. Count number of push-ups you complete in one minute.
2. Count number of sit-ups you complete in one minute.
3. Assess ability to rise from a chair without using your hands.

Food – Nutritional Health Measures

For nutritional health, I’m going to turn to Dr. Roizen again. He shares a list – The 7 Normals – that can help us understand our current level of health. Five of these tests (those bolded) are closely related to what we eat.

While most will need to be conducted by your doctor, you may be able to perform a couple at home, along with the fitness tests. For those that need testing, I suggest scheduling a preventive care exam with your doctor for measurements to see where you are. Especially if you fail #4.

The 7 Normals include measurements of:

1. Blood Pressure – Target less than or equal to 125/85
2. LDL Cholesterol – Target less than 130, or less than 100 if history of heart disease
3. Fasting Blood Sugar or Hemoglobin – Less than 5.7
4. Waist/Height Ratio – Your waist in inches should be less than half your height in inches
5. Perceived Stress Level Test
6. Cotinine Test (measures an alkaloid found in tobacco to assess level of exposure to cigarette smoke)
7. TMAO or HSCRP Tests (measure inflammation levels)

Fun – Social Health via Family Ancestry

Social health involves connecting with others to relate, communicate, and participate with them positively.

Last weekend my mom and cousin took a 13-hour road trip from Michigan to Massachusetts to meet and connect with members of our Hartwell ancestry. This 80th ancestral reunion was the first attended by anyone from my mother’s immediate family (or their offspring).

My mom and cousin meet approximately twenty-five extended relations on the grounds of the original Hartwell Tavern, in the Minute Man National Historical Park where the Revolutionary War started. They walked the Battle Road Trail, watched a musket firing event, and visited Paul Revere’s capture site. The historical significance was amazing mom said.

If you have not yet done any ancestry research, you might want to get right on that, who knows who or what you will find. And visit those national historical parks!

Featuring

Here are just a few of the 100 or so blog posts (~ 500 words) that were entered into a contest to win a free ticket and travel to FinCon (an annual financial conference) in late October of this year. CFSI partnered with FinCon and will award five lucky winners sometime in August. I think you will enjoy their stories.

Couple Money

High Income Parents

Making Your Money Matter

The Frugal Gene

Financial Panther

Life Zemplified – In case you missed it 😉

Please let us know in the comments what if you had an entry I missed or if you read any other good contest entries that we should check out.

I’d love to hear in the comments what financial, physical, nutritional, and social health means to you.

Have any questions, or if need further information or assistance on any of your health measures, please contact me.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend ~ Stay safe if you’re getting into the fireworks!

Be well,

Amy

Note: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. It is provided to educate you about nutrition, exercise, and personal finance, and as a self-help tool for your own use. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgment. For my full Disclaimer, please view here.