Looking Ahead

     Life keeps moving ahead.  We hope that things in our life continue along positively and that we are healthy.  We wish nothing but the best in life for our family and friends.
     There are some things we can't control in our life. Most of the things we can, even though we don't realize it or feel helpless about taking that control. Our health may be one of those things we think we can't do anything about and we kind of give up on.  Usually, it's because we don't like change and we don't know where to start.
     My wife says she needs to exercise more.  She gets on the treadmill on the weekend, but during the week she comes home from work tired and looking to make dinner, do dishes and  laundry and get on the computer to catch up with her family and friends.  Her idea to make a change, now that the weather is nicer, is to take a small walk at work everyday, on breaks, to help her feel better.
     That's all it takes.  A small positive change.  Take a walk at break or lunch.  Take a walk over to the convenient mart to get a lottery ticket after work.  If you only walk a few blocks, it's more than you have been walking.  What else can you do?  If you eat chips every day with your sandwich, maybe two or three days a week you can swap them out for crispy carrots or celery.  Instead of parking right next to the store, you can park in the last row of the lot and walk a little distance to the door.  Nothing has to be drastic or big to see change.

You will feel better, I promise....
     
   

Try It-You'll Like It!

     As they get ready in Boston to run the marathon, we remember the tragedy that destroyed so many lives last year.  When I hear all of the stories of courage and strength, it makes me more determined than ever to live every day the best way I can.
     Yesterday it was a beautiful day so I went for a run at Nay Aug Park.  They are doing some construction there, making the park nicer for people to enjoy.  It was a little cool, but very enjoyable.  I have a tendency to run on the treadmill and not go running outside.  I get aggravated by people parking on the sidewalks, people stopping and pulling up into the crosswalks so you can't get by them, people parking in all of the fire lanes and by the hydrants, etc.  I forget about how nice it is to be outside and to see people, to see trees and flowers now in bloom, to see fellow runners and walkers enjoying life.  I always say, it does not matter what you do toward becoming a little healthier, just do something.  Take a walk, buy a bike and go for a ride, go outside and rake your lawn and sweep your sidewalks. Put on some gloves and pick up some litter strolling over a block or two in your neighborhood.  Enjoy the spring weather that we are finally getting and make a promise to do a little something to get moving, even if it is only once or twice a week.

Try it--you'll like it!
Dan

Carbohydrates and You.

     I had the opportunity to go to a taping of the Dr. Oz show in NYC on Friday with my wife.  Not a great experience but I didn't mind it as much as she did.  The last segment taped was a segment on carbohydrates and how this physician/researcher claimed that they can cause dementia.  He suggested that you have no more than 11 grams of carbohydrates per day.  Yes, per day.  To put that into perspective, a half of a cup of grapes has 14.2 grams of carbohydrates.  As we head into Easter, a handful of jelly beans has around 30 grams of carbohydrates.  You can have one moderately large tangerine a day.  It has 11 grams.  Hallelujah.
     As you know, I am an "everything in moderation" kind of guy.  I believe if you exercise by doing what you can and eat less sugar and carbohydrates, you will live a healthier life.  If  you just take a walk- you are making an effort to lead a healthier life. We need a variety of things to live and be happy.  I like a variety of vegetables, beans, meat, fruit and snacks.  I like fresh fruit and vegetables and they are good for you.  A half a cup of carrots has 6 grams of carbohydrates.  Is this guy trying to tell me that I've overdone it by eating a cup of carrots every day?  How ridiculous.  You need to eat fat to keep your brain and organs functioning.  Carbohydrates give you energy to burn in your daily activities and your exercising.  You need lean protein as well..  Eggs, fish, poultry, meat are all necessary to keep the body moving, to keep the brain clear.  Everything in moderation.

Eat to live and be happier and healthier.
Dan

Growth in Scranton

Yesterday was a first for Scranton, the first 1/2 marathon was run here. It is nice to be part of a city that encourages health and wellness. Unfortunately there are still cars parked all over the sidewalks, keeping the car dealerships and car owners happy, but making people walk in the street as a consequence. The cars on the sidewalks are breaking the law and endangering the life and liberty of pedestrians (especially those going to and from school). To have a running city we need to be able to run through town. That means having clear sidewalks and a safe environment. It is important to be able to get around town for our wellness and to ensure quality of life as we age. I suggest anyone that sees a car parked on the sidewalk call the police, city council and the mayor. Call everyone and anyone that you can think of. The police are getting paid from OUR tax dollars to ensure our safety and well being. And they are NOT living u[ to that agreement.

Exercise your legs and your rights.

Start To Be Great

       I always say it doesn't matter what shape you are currently in, you can start doing something now. It doesn't matter what you choose to do. You can go out to get your mail and walk down the block and back.  You can sit on the floor and watch TV and do some leg lifts or stomach crunches.  You can buy a stationary bike and peddle for a few minutes while watching the travel channel, pretending you are on vacation.  You know what matters here?  What matters is that you have started to do something, which means that you have started to care about your own well-being.  
      Little changes in your diet can make a big difference.  Eating more protein, more dietary fiber, less processed foods can make a big impact on how you feel and the fuel you are able to burn throughout the day.  I always say, "everything in moderation".  You don't have to give up things that you love, you just have to eat a smaller portion of them.
     No  matter what changes you make, they are positive changes.  Little changes can lead to bigger ones and you can achieve better health.  You just have to start today.


Just start...Dan

Anything Is Better Than Nothing

       I was watching The Today Show this morning, when they aired a story about a 20 second workout.  While normally, I would have turned the channel,  I watched the segment.  The author of the piece, theorized that a 20 second, high intensity workout, done at least three times a week is beneficial to your body and can help you to lose weight.  On the program, they ran up the stairs full blast at 20 seconds, they rode an exercise bike for 20 seconds at a high rate of speed, they ran at full blast on a treadmill for 20 seconds. This workout increases cardiac output and they actually broke a sweat doing it.
     I was skeptical, but then I thought, why not?  If this is all you can do during the week, you should do it.  While I personally believe it's great if you could walk or run around the park, walk around your neighborhood, walk, run or bike for about 20 minutes a day, a few times a week --anything, any little bit, any contribution to your fitness would be helpful.       My wife cringes when I say that "I cried the blues 'cause I had no shoes, til I met a man who had no feet".  One of my favorite sayings.  You were given a body, no matter how perfect or imperfect, to take care of and to use.  I have seen people with serious disabilities, pushing their limits to the extreme, to keep in shape and to remind us to take care of ourselves.  You can do something, anything, and it will help.

Do what you can....

Get Ready For Spring!

      My wife and I decided to do a 5k walk/run for the Colitis and Crohns Foundation last year in Ocean City New Jersey.  The year before that found us in New York City for me to do the stair climb to the "Top of the Rock".  I look for 5k races and things so that I can contribute to good causes and get a t-shirt and have some fun running.  My wife accompanies me to the ones that are by the beach or somewhere interesting.  She doesn't necessarily do the races, or take part in the events, but did walk in the Colitis and Crohns Foundation event.   She likes to cheer me on though.
     Lately,  the winter has me exercising on the treadmill and the bike we have in our spare room.  Tomorrow, the first day of Spring, will hopefully bring some changes in the weather that will make me want to head outside to run around the city.  Running around the city aggravates me though, the city does not enforce any parking laws, so cars are parked all over the sidewalks on Moosic Street, Green Ridge Street, Wyoming Avenue, all the main venues.  This is truly a source of anger and aggravation for me, as I feel that it is a slap in the face to all walkers, runners, handicapped people, students, etc.  I am going to work on this with the city this year, a goal for me.
      Welcome the first day of Spring by exercising.  If you do it inside on the treadmill or just doing some sit-ups while watching TV, do something.  Stretch on your floor, touch your toes, walk around your block.  The first steps are the hardest, but the most important.