“S" Is For Spice

 

There are a number of diets that people partake in. There are Vegans, Ketos and Plexitarians  to name a few. But regardless of the main part of your particular meal, nutrients and flavor can be enhanced by adding a little spice.   One major spice employed by different cultures around the world and with a number of cuisines, is cinnamon. Cinnamon could be used on vegetables, animal proteins, and in drinks. Additionally, cinnamon has historically been used as a medicine and offers many health benefits.    Cinnamon:           -Has anti-Inflammatory properties           -Is full of Antioxidants           -Can reduce blood-sugar spikes          -Improves Insulin sensitivity           -Helps protect Neurons          -Inhibit build up of proteins in the            brain that may lead to dementia          -Is thermogenic, which warms your         body and can boost metabolism   Why the sloth? Sloths eat mostly vegetables but will, if the mood hits them, eat eggs or grubs. But more importantly, sloths take their time in everything they do, and do everything with a sense of purpose. They don’t blindly eat while watching TV, the don’t text while eating and they don’t eat past being full. In those aspects, we should all try to eat a little more like a sloth.

 

Be “Mindful in Munching,” and spice-up your life

Nailed It

 

      As we get older, it gets harder and harder to stay in shape.  We get wrapped up in work and are busy. We have a tendency to not eat as well.  We also may not exercise as much as we used to.  Now everything is opening up after Covid 19, though that is still around. We want to get out to dinner, go on vacation and not stay home as much.  When we stayed home, we bought more food to cook, more snacks to enjoy and more drinks. As with most people I know, the weight started to go up. 

      I decided recently to make some changes, just trying to watching my carbs and sugar.  If you know me, you know I eat a lot of beans, whole grains, etc. and drink green tea.  My wife was recently hospitalized and she has to start cutting out salt, sugar, caffeine etc.  White bread, rice, cheese, processed meats and anything in a can are off limits for her.  We started to make changes: adding more steamed vegetables, fresh produce, multi-grains and and non-processed meats.  Cutting out sugar helps too.  

         I want to be able to hold and play with my grandchildren, and yes, even get my nails done. So for them, and for me, I run, try to stay active, and take little steps, in the right direction. 

Feeling "Grand..." 

The New Year Is Coming

 

Here we are at Christmas time.  Life goes by quickly and we are already done with Christmas and heading to the New Year.  Many people on New Year's Day set unrealistic goals for themselves and give them up in a few weeks.  If you set goals within your reach, you will attain them.  If you never did a push-up and you set a goal to do 10 push-ups this year, you will achieve that goal.  You set a goal to lose a pound a month, and not 50 pounds, you are able to make that goal happen.  

The saying is that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  Keep that in mind when you set your goals for this year.  The last couple years have been hard on everyone and as we embrace the new year we want to make sure we are physically fit to take on any challenges that come our way.  

Small steps, big changes

Back At It

 
      

It's been awhile and it's time to get back to my blog.  I had been working on my dissertation and obtaining my Doctorate and needed to stay focused, but I missed blogging. 

      I had an opportunity on 09/11 to run a 5k in Stone Harbor, NJ.  It was really special, with a moment of silence at the starting line in remembrance of all who perished in that horrible attack.  At the Fire Station, there is a memorial with an actual piece of one of the Twin Towers and a plaque with a dedication. The bagpipes played as we left to run the race.  It really was a very organized and memorable run.

        I run at my own pace and don't care what place I come in or how long it takes.  I run with two knee braces for support as you can see.  I like doing all kinds of races and I try to do them to contribute to charitable causes.  The point is, I just run because I like running.  It keeps my heart pumping and my joints moving. I don't care what I look like, how fast I run or what anyone thinks.  I just run.  

        What can you do to improve your mobility and health and that you like to do?   Walking, biking, dancing, belly dancing, country line dancing, swimming are all good activities to keep you mobile.  Just get up and get moving.  If you need a brace or anything just wear it.  Don't worry how fast you are, how good you are, how you look...don't worry about anything.  This is for you and your health. 

               

       

Do what you like and like what you do.  

Springing Past Covid

 

         Well we are a little more than halfway through May, staring at Winter in the rearview mirror.  Hopefully, we are seeing the worst of Covid-19 in that same mirror.   With about 50% of the population getting vaccinated, we are moving in a positive direction, returning to some semblance of normal.

      It's time to start getting back to doing the 5k and 10k runs I missed during the pandemic.  I am not a "virtual" run kind of guy.   I like to show up, pick my t-shirt up, pin my number on and talk with the other runners.  Socialization is an important part of life for everybody.  During the pandemic, we really lost that part of our lives.  It is time to get it back and do something good by raising money for some very worthwhile causes.  

     This past weekend I did my first race in two years and raised some money for a local playground.  It was nice to catch up with some people I haven't seen in awhile.  Moving forward, I plan on lacing up my sneakers, getting some sunshine, catching up with more friends and building some miles.

     

  Vaccinated and Moving Forward.  -Dan   

        

Covid's Not In Control

 Friday evening my wife, I and some of our friends attended a concert by Jimmy and the Parrots at the Steel Stacks venue in  Bethlehem.  It was an event at which people kept the "social distancing" rule, everyone had a mask on while walking around and took it off to eat at their table. We talked and laughed, she sang, and we were out in the fresh air.  We even saw the International Space Station as it made it's way over the Steel Stacks that were all lit up.  

       This year has been quite tough to keep your physical and mental health going strong.  It is, however, a year that getting outside and participating in outdoor activities has been more important than ever.  Walking, running, cycling are all good ideas to get moving on your own or with your family.  Heading out to farmer's markets, sunflower fields, apple orchards and pumpkin fields --just walking around will make you healthier.  Grabbing some fresh produce and sunflowers is just an added benefit.  

      It is important to keep moving no matter what your age or physical status. You can do chair exercises if you can't walk, you can walk if you can't run and there is always something you can do to make yourself stronger.  It is important to walk or move when you are 60, if you want to be able to do it at 65. 

      Socializing is also important for your mental well-being.  Do it safely, be smart and wear a mask. Your mask protects me, my mask protects you and we all live safely and get along.

Don't Just Sit There

     We look forward to vacations every year.  This year, everything seems to have changed.  We don't know when we will be out of quarantine and we don't know when things will open back up.  Outside for us now means wearing masks in public and social distancing.
      No matter what is going on outside, you still have to take care of yourself.  Getting out for a run, bike ride or walk can make you feel better, clear your head and help lower your anxiety. Reading books and magazines or watching self help videos can expand your knowledge base.
       If you don't want to go out, you can ride your exercise bike, walk up and down your stairs,  or put some music on and dance.   It doesn't matter what you do as long as you are doing something daily to take care of yourself.  Don't just sit there for all the hours in the day, your muscles need to move and blood needs to flow.  If you work from home, every so often you need to get up and walk around your house.  It is important to not be so sedentary.
   

"Keep on moving and stay well."