Kevin Christel, Certified Pedorthist and owner of Foot Solutions in Indianapolis, IN found a new way to help the troops during the holiday season. One of his customers called in to reorder insoles for her husband, currently deployed in Afghanistan. When it was time to pay, Kevin simply said the cost was ‘zero’.

“Both the husband and wife are LTC’s in the US Army who are previous customers of my store. This is the least I can do for our troops, especially her husband. I wish I could afford to do this for all our troops. Giving is about the only part of Christmas that I still enjoy.”

From Tracy, the wife who ordered the orthotics: “we appreciate your kindness in sending my husband the foot inserts. When you wear a size 15 it can be difficult to find shoe inserts off the shelf.  “

PODER Magazine (previously Hispanic Enterprise) recently named Foot Solutions as one of the top 25 Franchises for Hispanics, from an article recently submitted by the National Minority Franchising Initiative (NMFI).

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As the summer approaches, we all have different concerns. For some, it’s losing weight. Others are tanning in preparation for the beach (which I never understood, but apparently lots of people do it!). People with diabetes also must prepare…to protect their feet!

We are creatures of habit. Ever since we were kids, the summer meant a time to kick off our shoes, run barefoot outside and at the beach. In my Houston podiatry practice, it’s clear that even my adult patients still like to do the same. Diabetes, however, complicates this love and deep desire to be barefoot.

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Meet Joe Taylor.  Before discovering Foot Solutions, Joe was held back from enjoying his two favorite pastimes because of foot pain: Golf and Quail hunting.  Rather than giving up, Joe searched for a solution but was devastated when he was told by his doctor that surgery was his only option…. along with a nine month recovery period.

Watch Joe’s true life story below- needless to say, Joe avoided surgery and is back in full swing.

To learn more about what Foot Solutions can do for you, visit www.footsolutions.com

For some of us, absolutely.  It’s common for people to turn to the fridge for comfort, especially when stress plays a significant role at work.   “Forget the freshmen 15- Offices (and homes for the newly unemployed) are the new breeding grounds for getting chubby” explains Helena Oliviero of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.  With stress of work and the economy,  a bowl of ice cream or a bag of chips may provide the best comfort.

In the recent article, Oliviero mentions that a recent survey released by the American Psychological Association found that 8 out of 10 Americans blame the economy as a major point of stress, and about 50% of Americans admit to overeating junk food as a coping mechanism. Yikes.

So what can you do if you just can’t say no to Fritos?  Offset it with a little exercise…. at work! Its unrealistic to drive to the gym, workout, and rush back to the office- but there are a few things you can do to burn off a few hundred calories- and more importantly, relieve  stress.  At the Foot Solutions’ World Headquarters, the staff dedicates 15 minutes per day to walking (top left).  Your heart rate goes up, stress levels comes down… and it’s great exercise.  Click here to read the full article from the AJC.

So tell us, has the economy led to stress eating for you?

Mr. Bill Ison and myself were recently invited to speak at a group meeting for the Atlanta Chapter of Mended Hearts- an organization founded by survivors of heart disease and strokes.

The evening began with a very warm welcome from Doug Steingraber, the president of Mended Hearts: Atlanta Chapter.  We were overwhelmed by the appreciation and gratitude of everyone there- an incredibly friendly, happy, and ever so inspirational group of people.  We were introduced to the group, chatted openly for a few minutes with the newest member of their group (who was recovering from quadruple bypass surgery), then Bill began to speak.  He instantly captivated the room with his charismatic personality and impressive knowledge on not only feet, but health in general.  We shared stories, laughed with each other and enjoyed the company of new friends.  A very big thank you goes out to Doug for inviting us to speak to some of the most appreciative, caring, inspirational and grateful people.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time spent with Mended Hearts, and are looking forward to a long friendship.

What can you do today to become a healthier person? Plenty!  Here at our world headquarters, we’re always looking for new and exciting ways to live a healthy lifestyle… and it’s the little things that add up to huge results!

Don’t have time for the gym after work?

Can’t get up early to exercise?

No worries!  We composed a list of simple-to-follow healthy habits that you can do at work to help you live your healthiest life in 2009!!

“I get up and walk around every few hours… it keep my energy levels up!”

“I use a big stability ball behind my desk  instead of a chair.  Not only does it improve my posture….it’s fun!”

“I wear my Chung Shi shoes and do calf exercises at my desk to keep my legs tight and toned”

“Anytime I am caught taking candy from my neighbors desk, I have to pay her $5!!  It is silly, but I don’t eat candy, and I’ve saved tons of money!”

Now that the hectic holidays are behind us, its time to refocus our efforts… on ourselves.  You don’t have to jump back into exercise every day of the week,  ease back into it and improve your overall lifestyle.  Your body will certainly thank you, and your feet will too.  Recent studies show that January is the month with the most complaints on foot pain.  why?

New Years Resolutions… pushing your body too far for the sake of sticking to your resolution.  It can be dangerous, exhausting, and harmful to push your body more than it’s used to.  Start small, and work your way up!

A recent article from USA Weekend.com listed 12 habits for a healthy 2009: Your Healthiest Year Ever! They stressed the importance of taking care of yourself, especially your feet.  Contributing editor Stephen R. Covey explains that taking care of yourself requires self-discipline.  “Once you know what is important, it’s easy to say no to the unimportant.” Among the top  habits to develop? Recognizing foot pain, and investing in your feet.  On average, one in four people in America are experiencing foot pain!

For the full article, visit www.USAWeekend.com

Isn’t it time to listen to your feet?