Another chance to help: yesterday me and about 7000 others took part in the Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure." We ran in Scranton, but this series boasts being the largest 5k run/walk series in the world. They raised a lot of money for cancer research which is a very good thing. Of the 7000 or so that participated, some ran fast (at about 17 minutes) others ran slower, and some walked. There was also a "survivors" category for the race and many people wore little signs that showed who they were dedicating their run/walk to. It was a nice chance to take part in something that matters. I highly recommend doing a run or walk like this. A few people each donating a few dollars adds up to a significant amount of money. It also gives you a chance to be with healthy, like-minded people.

Outrunning cancer, with a little help from our friends

Busy Lives

Its NOT a cat's life: many of us would like to have the life of a cat: having nothing to do but lie around all day; eating when you want and all around running the house while ignoring all responsbility. But we can't do that. We have bills to pay, things to do and we are social beings. Through all of our responsibilities and duties however, we still want to do things that make us feel good and are good for us. We like to run or walk or see different things in different places. This all requires some level of fitness. It all comes down to balance. Balance is not just being able to stand on one foot, or walk without falling over (though that IS important). Balance is being able to take part in a physical activity,  a mental activity, a social activity and a spititual activity without completely ignoring the other aspects of our lives. So do your best to stay physically active and MORE. Do what you can, when you can, and perhaps even with who you can, but do something, sometime. 

Still Going

I should have been blogging, but at least I have been running and biking and working out. I have been pretty busy this summer. Working, working out, and getting away a little. I also got married this summer. A few weeks ago, Joann and I went to the beach to do a 5K to help fight colon cancer. I have another 5K next week for breast cancer. You don't have to be a great athlete or really even a good one to make a difference. You can contribute by taking part, by walking or running or volunteering at these events. When you do that you feel good about yourself and you surround yourself with active, fit, caring people. And that is a good thing. So I suggest that you run a little, walk a little, stretch a little, and do whatever you can do to make your life better, and to help make others' lives better.

Help yourself by helping others  

CrossFit:  I'm watching some CrossFit competition on ESPN. I am not officially a Cross Fitologist (that must be a word, I used it properly in a sentence), but I do like the concept. They propose to train any combination of several exercises. The idea is to be prepared for anything at anytime. I do try to mix it up a bit, doing calisthenics, or running, biking and/or walking with my weight vest. I do not do what they do and I am NOT as structured as they are, but I do admit that some of them are in phenomenal shape. I am not giving excuses, but I do not really want to be in phenomenal shape. I want to be in good enough shape to enjoy life. That means having a fairly strong cardiovascular system. Being strong enough to pull myself out a window if the house is on fire, and being fit enough to walk to see something while on vacation and fit enough to tie my sneakers. Some consider Crossfit to be a cult. Cult is short for culture, a sameness among like-minded people. Some consider classical music or going to the opera as a sign of culture. It all seems like semantics to me. Do what you want, whether that is  listening to Ravel or doing burpees and hopefully you'll be fit enough to enjoy that activity for years to come.

Fit for living, fit for life. 

Crunches: It is really nice running weather for me. If I ran faster or farther, I might want it to be a little cooler, but it suits me fine. I went for a little run around town today. I can only run in town on Sundays without getting aggravated by the cars parked on the sidewalks. They are still parked on the sidewalks on Sundays, but there are few people around to complain to, and that keeps my blood pressure down a bit. So anyway, I did my run of about 5 miles then as always; stretched, did a few push-ups and a few crunches. We were dog-sitting today and it almost looks like the dog was trying to do them with me. She opted out of the run. It is important to move and get some type of exercise to maintain a degree of flexibility and fitness. When all that is taken care, I also think it is important to be able to a few push ups and crunches. Crunches will help strengthen your core and your back, which will decrease back pain. A strong core will also help with balance and overall fitness.

 

Don't be "rotten to the core..."

CALORIES: I know that this may be hard to believe for some of you, apparently I was wrong, about calories anyway. It has been traditional thinking that a calorie is a calorie, and that to lose weight you only had to burn more calories than you took in, or eat less than you used. I have been doing a little reading lately that contradicts that, somewhat. There is a little more to it. You not only have to burn more calories that you take in, you have to burn more calories that you metabolize. It almost seems like the same thing, but it is not. Certain types of calories, or calories from certain foods metabolize differently and break down in different areas of the body (i.e. liver, pancreas, etc.). How they break down effects insulin output which in turn effect how a calorie is utilized. There is a lot of information on this subject and I have not even begun to scratch the surface, but it seems obvious to me that at least at face value, a calorie does not always equal a calorie. Fuel is not just fuel, it is more like comparing a gallon of diesel fuel with a gallon of jet fuel; the same but not the same. To really enjoy life and have a high quality of life I do still say though: " anything in moderation."

 

Eat to live, don't live to eat.

 

 

BACKWARDS: There has been some literature published lately, based on studies over the past few years that seems to show walking backwards greatly enhances muscle development and coordination. Some studies show that each minute (or step) going backwards is the same as 10 going forward. I'm not sure about all of that but I do try to go backwards from time to time. Another study that I read a while back indicated that one of the causes of knee trouble was unequal development of your hamstrings from your quads. I do walk much slower going backwards which I feel I need to do since I am walking on a treadmill. I really do not want to get launched out the window which is behind the treadmill. One note about NOT using a treadmill. If you walk outside, walk carefully. When you walk backwards and trip, you have a very real chance of bashing your head open on the sidewalk. If you do fall, tuck your chin against your chest. Mix it up a little and have have fun. You are walking for your future.

Back to the future.