My Birthday

     Today I turn 59.  I thought it would be a good thing to blog tonight.  I feel good and I just signed up for a run before the St. Patrick's Day Parade.  My wife bought me a running kilt and it is great.  I can't wait to wear it.
      I run a little bit every day before work.  I fit it in to my schedule, to stay flexible and to keep active. There are a lot of excuses why we can't exercise...no time, tired, etc.   You need to fit a small walk in at break or on your lunch.  Or a small walk prior to going into work.  You can do this if you really want to.  Life does get in the way at times, but your health is important.  You need to fit it in for a few times during the week to keep moving and stay active.
      I always tell you it doesn't matter what you do.  You can stretch on the floor while you are watching TV.  You can walk to the local store to buy a lottery ticket.  You can lift some vegetable cans to strengthen your arms while watching TV.  It doesn't matter what you do...just do it. Your body will thank you for it.


No matter what age...just do it...

Don't Give Up

     My wife always tells me that she knows how my story will end...someone is going to run over me with a car while I'm out for a run.  Why, you ask?  Well, I have a tendency to yell at people who stop in the crosswalks at intersections. I yell at people who almost hit me when they make a right turn on red, when I have the right of way. I yell at the people who park on the sidewalks --and they are all over the city of Scranton.  I had to tie an identification tag to my sneaker in case, to give her at least the chance of getting a call when this happens.
     I like running on different streets around the city or at Nay Aug Park.  Most days, my hip hurts and I have some pain in different joints.  It's odd but I don't feel the pain when I run.  I feel a sense of accomplishment that I keep moving and am burning some calories.  I stretch out after running, trying to keep all the joints limber and keep moving into my late 50s.  I also feel that there is a very deep connection between keeping fit and maintaining cognitive brain function as you get older.  I run on the treadmill when it's bitter cold outside or there is a lot of snow on the ground.  The treadmill is nice because I can run fast, slow, backwards and really do a variety of things to vary the workout.
     There are many days that I don't feel like running, I feel like sitting on the couch, sipping my coffee and working on my papers and research for my classes.  I don't.  You have to move to stay flexible.  You have to move to help your blood flow and even keep your brain healthy.  It doesn't matter what you do.  Take your pet out to play in the snow.  Walk over to the convenient and buy that winning lottery ticket.  Shovel a path for your neighbor when they can't.  It doesn't matter how big or small the effort is.  It is the effort and the attitude that matter.


....I will never give up. 

Snow Can Be Good

     We complain about the snow, about how much we hate winter and we want to move.  It's hard to get out, get to work and keep active.  The cold air burns our faces and it hurts to take a deep breath sometimes.
     However, if you are looking at it from a fitness angle, you can burn 400 calories an hour shoveling snow.  If I walk for an hour I only burn 225 calories.  So, by comparison, it is a much better workout.  You are also working your arms, shoulders and legs.  You have to be careful, though, that you are doing this correctly.  You can't use your back to lift, you have to lift with your legs.  You should be pushing more than you are lifting and you shouldn't be twisting at all to throw snow.
     My wife reminds me all of the time that walking on the beach through the sand. requires 2.1 to 2.7 times more energy than walking on hard surfaces and soaking up some sun helps us to acquire the  Vitamin D that we are all so craving desperately in the winter. Obviously, you now know that she would like to move so that winter never happens again.
       It doesn't matter if you are shoveling, having a snowball fight, pushing a broom to clean your steps or just pushing the snow off of your car, you are moving.  Get out there, clean your walks, help your neighbor and burn those calories!

Let's be careful out there...but let's get out there...