How Old Are You?

     That is an interesting question.  If you actually did not know your age, or age was not measured in years, how old would you be?  The answer to that question would most likely be...how old do you feel?
     What is your real age? I have met relatively young people who can't walk a mile without developing shortness of breath or who don't move without complaining of an ache or a pain.  I watch them eat huge hamburgers served between two Krispy Kreme doughnuts and realize that they think they have a lifetime to become healthier.  I noticed a lot of people who are only in their 20's... not eating any vegetables.  Or liking any vegetables.  They think that having a smoothie in the morning will give them the fruit and calcium they need for a day.  Everyone seems to be looking for the fast fix, the get healthy quick bars and the pyramid scheme products to get their daily vitamins, proteins and minerals.  While spending a small fortune doing it.
       I am not saying that smoothies, health drinks, "health products" and power bars are not always good for you.  I would caution you, however, to really read the labels for artificial ingredients, sugar, salt and preservative content.  If you make your own smoothie from natural  yogurt and fruit...that is a good thing!  If you buy a smoothie loaded with sugar and additives, that is not.
      I guess I'm saying that for less money,  you can become healthier and get more nutrition naturally.  If you eat three different vegetables a day and grab an apple or a pear and take a regular, cheap multivitamin in the morning you will feel better, feel fuller and reap the same benefits.  You need to learn to maintain the healthy eating, the healthy feeling and the energy.  When you stop taking the power shake and the meal replacement bar...what will you have left?
      Of course, I'm also going to remind you that taking a walk is great thing now that the weather is getting nicer.  Eating better and moving more are most definitely the keys to longevity in life.  Also, as my wife's Aunt who lived to be 90 would say, have a beer.  There is a lot of grain in beer.  Smart woman.

You are as young as you feel...
     

That's Alotta Colada

     I am drinking a large "Alotta Colada" to celebrate the first day of Spring.  I felt it was the least I could do after the long, cold Winter.  With all of the blogging I do about being active and doing good things for yourself, you may think it's odd that I am drinking this sugar-filled, frozen drink.  It's not that odd at all, really.  I always tell you to have fun in your life and to do everything in moderation.  If you want a drink, have it.
Tomorrow, you can walk an extra block or two or you can do an extra ten minutes on the treadmill.
     My wife blogs about being grateful.  Grateful for the time she has with me(of course she is...LOL), and for time spent with family and friends.
I am always concerned about the quality of that life, the way you spend it, how you feel when you go through your day, if you can get up and down with ease or if you can walk and enjoy your vacations or your "down-time".  If you aim at keeping flexible, at moving with a little more ease, at eating better and making better choices in your daily life, you will maintain a better quality of life.  You have to have fun though.  Life is very short and not doing things that you love, drinking things that you love, or eating things that you love will just make you unhappy.  Everything in moderation...and just keep moving.


Live your life and enjoy it...

Have Fun Keeping Fit

       I am all ready, in this photo, to run in a benefit race in downtown Scranton, prior to marching with the Ancient Order of Hibernians in the Saint Patrick's Day Parade.  The weather was rainy and cool, but I made the commitment to run and I always try to honor those commitments.  My wife bought me this special running kilt for my birthday.  I really wanted one and thought that it would add a little "flair" to the events that I sign up for. I also think it's really a great conversation piece and a lot of fun.  This was the first year I decided to march with this particular group, although a member for a little while, and it was a great experience.  As far as the kilt goes, I believe you need to step out of your comfort zone and do new things and have more fun.
      No matter what you decide to do, you should have fun. You should enjoy your walk, your run, your stretching and your exercising.  If music makes you happy, blast it if you can.  If dancing is your thing, dance around the living room while you are running the vacuum.  If you don't want to do an activity alone, get your partner involved or join a club or a gym.  Find people at work with similar interests and walk around the park after work. In the summer, my wife likes Nay Aug Park and we walk around and she will reminisce about the peacocks and "Tillie" the elephant that they had at the zoo.  She is sad about all of the rides that they used to have and aren't there anymore.  But it is nice to walk through and get some exercise.
      The point is to have fun and remain flexible.  Eat a little better now that the weather is getting nicer and get out more.


Life is too short not to wear a kilt.

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...

A Long, Cold Winter

During the long, cold winter we have a tendency to gain some weight.  We don't go outside as much, we enjoy all of the holiday food and drink and we become very sedentary.  That's just normal, we seem to do that every year.  Then, we hit the New Year and the resolutions come in and we make promises we really do intend to keep.  Keeping them is another story.  We start out well and then we start to make excuses and other promises about keeping them.  Don't worry, we all do it.
     January is long and cold.  It is nine degrees this morning, which really makes running or walking outside very difficult.  If you don't bundle up frostbite can set in.  If you do bundle up, it's difficult to be flexible and move.  So, we stay inside.  At our home, we have a treadmill, so there are no excuses here to not walk or run a little bit. At least on the weekends.  I have a new job that has a schedule of Monday through Friday, so I can do a little more in the morning during the week.  That makes me feel better about staying flexible and not falling out of a routine.
     However, if you think about it, there is a lot to do inside.  We have a lot of steps in our home. There are 18 going to the second floor.  There are about 8 to the basement.  If your knees are doing okay, you can walk up and down the steps a few times listening to your favorite tunes.  Put the decorations away in the basement one piece at a time.  Anything like that will help.  We have some bigger cans of tomatoes and things in our kitchen.  Touching your toes and then stretching while holding these cans will help you build up a little muscle in your arms.  Put Glee on and pretend you are auditioning for a Broadway show and you have to kick like a Rockette.  That will never happen with me, but to each his own.  My wife likes to laugh, so she puts belly dancing on and pretends she is exotic.  If nothing else, she keeps laughing and burning calories.  I like when she laughs.  However, the moves are so controlled and some are difficult, so it really can be a workout.
      The key is to like what you do and do it often.  It doesn't matter what it is or how long you do it.  It just matters that you do.

Spring is on the way!