Don't Fail the "Frosh 15" Test
Notorious Weight Gain Does Not Need to Plague University or College Career

TORONTO, Sept. 13 /CNW/ - As summer approaches its end, many 17 to 19-year-olds prepare to leave the nest for the first time to begin their journey into adulthood. And for many, that journey begins with college and university. This next stage involves many new steps, including learning new lessons, accepting new responsibilities, adjusting to new roommates, going to parties, taking exams and, unfortunately for some, gaining weight. With the Weight Watchers Study Guide: Tips and Advice to Pass the Frosh 15 Test, weight gain during undergrad need not be an inevitable part of life. By planning meal schedules, setting realistic expectations and anticipating situations that may trigger overeating, the notorious college or university souvenir can be completely avoided.

For some incoming students, gaining the dreaded "Frosh 15" is a mere prerequisite of college and university life. It's synonymous with going to classes, studying and hanging out with friends. No longer under Mom and Dad's safety net - or supervision - many students fall prey to new habits, new workloads and new challenges - including a smorgasbord of dining hall meals - all of which can make it easier to leave post-secondary education with not just a degree, but also a few extra pounds.

"Everything completely changes for students when they get to university and college, and if unprepared, these new situations can lead to physical and emotional scenarios that ultimately can lead to undesired weight gain," comments Marguerite Neri, General Manager, Weight Watchers Southern Ontario.

"The 'Frosh 15' does not need to be the defining point of a post-secondary education career if students take the necessary strides to determine their personal food profile and adhere to a food regimen that's best suited to their new lifestyle."

Canadian Snowbird Association urges travelling Canadians to obtain a passport and travel medical insurance
TORONTO, Sept. 12 /CNW/ - For the past five years, Canadians have been obtaining passports at an increasingly steady rate. In 2001/02, over 1.7 million passports were issued at a time when approximately 27 per cent of the Canadian population held a valid passport. In 2005/06 over three million passports were issued and 40 per cent of the Canadian population now hold a valid passport.

"We recommend that our members carry a passport and feel it's the best form of identification when crossing the border," said Gerry Brissenden, president of the Canadian Snowbird Association. "The initial date when Canadians will be required to present a passport to enter the United States by air or sea is now only 4 months away and people need to be prepared." Canadian citizens will be required to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air or sea from any port of the Western Hemisphere beginning January 8, 2007.

A second proposed rule has yet to be published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security proposing certain requirements for those travellers entering the United States through land border crossings beginning January 1, 2008.

While the Canadian Passport Office has now streamlined the speed with which it can process a passport application, the Canadian Snowbird Association recognizes that a financial burden exists to obtain a full passport for only short term, random travel to the United States.

Accordingly, the association urges the federal government to consider extending the lifespan of a Canadian passport to 10 years similar to the United States and the United Kingdom. An adult Canadian passport costs $87 and lasts five years. In the United States, a first-time passport costs $97(USD) and lasts 10 years. A passport renewal costs Americans $67(USD). There is no such discount in Canada.

The Canadian Snowbird Association also urges all travelling Canadians to obtain travel medical insurance before leaving Canada.

"Today, travelling without supplemental health insurance is akin to gambling with your life savings," said CSA president Gerry Brissenden.

"Provincial government health insurance plans do not cover full medical expenses outside Canada and 80-90% of any medical bills will usually be your responsibility."

For the 15th consecutive year, the Canadian Snowbird Association has endorsed the travel medical insurance packages of Medipac International.

The Canadian Snowbird Association is a 70,000 member, non-profit, non-partisan organization representing Canadian travellers from across the country. The CSA works in partnership with government and business to educate and advocate on behalf of all travelling Canadians, helping to ensure access to safe, healthy travel with no restrictions on freedom of movement.

Ontario directs millions at some medical wait times
Last Updated Wed, 13 Sep 2006 09:52:37 EDT

CBC News
Ontario is putting millions of dollars into a strategy to reduce wait times for certain medical procedures but the Conservative health critic says focusing on some areas means longer waits for others.

The government announced Tuesday that $50 million will be added to cover such things as knee and hip joint replacement, cataract surgeries, CT scans and MRI exams.

Another $58 million will cover additional services and programs, such as additional rehabilitation programs and improving the wait-times information system.

Conservative health critic and former health minister Elizabeth Witmer said the government's focus on five key areas has driven up wait times in other areas.

Resources are cannibalized in some areas to provide services in another, she said.

Premier Dalton McGuinty denied that accusation, saying that Health Minister George Smitherman ensured new resources were available.

"For every wait time reduction, there are new dollars available to make that happen so we're doing that in a way that does not compromise existing health care services," he said.