In my area, a gallon of cheap gas is $4.11 - about the national average which means that people in other places are paying a whole lot more. Back when gas was cheap, I was proud that my tank could hold 18 gallons. Now that I have to fill up those 18 gallons every week, I wish I would've bought a smaller car or even a go kart. Like you, I'm trying to save gas anyway I can. I've been driving a lot slower, I don't accelerate towards a red light anymore and I try to pick out the shortest route possible. These changes have increased my gas mileage by 16%. Even with all that, gas prices are still affecting my budget. So like the title says, I'm giving away some free $5 gas cards. It's not a lot but every little helps. So by now you're probably asking yourself about the catch (because there always seems to be one). Twice a month, I'll be giving away either a $5 Chevron gas card or a $5 Amazon gift certificate (your choice). Here's what you have to do: visit the health poll of the week, register for a username, vote in the weekly poll and add a meaningful thought to the discussion. Every second and fourth week of the month, I'll choose the person who made the best post from the previous two topics. If you need any more details, read a complete FAQ about the free gas giveaway and I wish everyone the best of luck!

Our children have been getting fatter and fatter over the past few decades. The CDC now states that about 1 in 5 kids are overweight. This is up from 1 in 20 back in the 60's. So why is this a problem? Some kids are heavier than others, right? Yes, but when you're talking about a kid being overweight, it's well past the point of being healthily bigger than his peers. As kids get heavier, they start to increase their risk for a number of health issues. Type 2 diabetes used to be reserved only for overweight and obese adults. Now that kids are getting bigger, type 2 diabetes is no longer referred to as adult onset. In some extreme cases, children who are overweight could also develop cardiovascular disease and suffer a stroke much earlier in life than seen in the past. Since we live in a society that always blames somebody for every problem, who is to blame for this one? Is it the schools? In an attempt to save money, some schools got rid of PE classes which decreased the amount of physical activity kids participated in. Is it the companies' fault? Producers of soft drinks usually pay school districts to let them sell junk food in vending machine during school hours. And finally is it the parents' fault? Sometimes children play hours of video games and eat tons of junk without any intervention from mom and dad. There's probably enough blame for everyone and incase you want to voice your opinion, you can do so at the Childhood Obesity thread in the forums. If you don't feel like registering, you don't have to. Guests are welcome to vote and post on who's to blame.

Back before cars were invented, we walked around a lot which meant we weren't fat and didn't have to spend hundreds of dollars on gas each month. People back then didn't walk for exercise, they walked because it was one of the only modes of transportation available to them. Today, instead of powering our own way around town, we drive everywhere. Then when we get home, we walk, run or bike, not to get somewhere, but to be healthy. Today we're fatter than we ever were and spend more money on energy than we ever have. What's the solution to both of these problems? There is no easy answer but there is a small step you can take to start making a difference. With gas prices hitting new records each day, you don't really need any more incentives to cut back on driving. Unfortunately, in today's world, you can't just give up your car. Some trips are way too long to walk or bike, and a lot us live in areas with no public transportation. For short trips to the gym or to the store, (to buy a few items) walking or biking is a good alternative to driving. Walking or biking a few miles can replace the need to exercise for the most part which means that while you're doing errands, you'll also be saving time because you won't have to take a separate trip just to exercise. To see just how much money you can save, check out he Gas Saving Calculator which will estimate how much gas and money you waste on short trips.

What are your plans to deal with high gas prices? Are you going to start walking or biking those short trips to save a bit of gas? If you want to voice your opinion, head over the the health poll of the week: gas and your lifestyle. You can vote and discuss without registering. Simply enter your name and vote away.