Friday, December 30, 2011

It's that time of year.  Lots of people will make an "iron-clad" pact with themselves that 2012 will be the year that they get.......thin........fit..........rich.  They will be a better spouse, better parent, better kid, better whatever.  "I will lose that 25 lbs this year".  "I will stop drinking this year".   "I will exercise 2 hours EVERY DAY this year".  Most of these last at least through New Year's Day before life intervenes, and old habits pick up where they left off.

     Don't make promises that you know you can't keep.  That's not to say that you shouldn't change your behavior for the better.  OF COURSE you should!  Don't make it a "New Year's Resolution".  Just make the change, and don't wait until the artificial deadline of midnight, 12/31/11 to do it.  Look at yourself, assess what needs to be done..........and get it done.  Drastic, precipitous life-style changes DON'T WORK.  They just set you up for failure, after which you'll feel worse than before.  Find a reasonable, sustainable adjustment and go about doing it.

     The health clubs LOVE New Year's resolutions.  Their membership will spike for the next month or so, then gradually drop back to normal, as the "resolution makers" realize that they can't go to the gym 2hrs everyday.  Once they find this out, most will not cut back to a reasonable amount / schedule.  They will get demoralized and quit.

     So, either now, or in the near future, take a hard look at what needs to be fixed............then fix it.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

The holiday season is fast upon us.  As I go around, in stores, in parking lots, on the street, there's something that really strikes me.  There are SO MANY people who are doing things in what appears to me to be a desperate attempt to feel good.  I don't know if it's a product of all of the financial woes of the past few years, or just a symptom of something in our society that is more basic.  I see people who are driving "tricked out" vehicles, upon which they have obviously spent countless hours and thousands of dollars.  Many people are sporting multiple tattoos, Women have sculptured nails and expensive hairdos, the list goes on.  So many of these people are, along with their other outward signs, also carrying 40 to 100 pounds of fat along with them.

It feels good to drive a nice car.  It feels good to really make a statement to the rest of society.  It feels good to do something for yourself that makes you look good.  Let's face it................it feels good to eat.   This time of year, comfort food is a big deal.  There are candies and cake and salty, fattening snacks EVERYWHERE!  Shopping at certain "big box" stores, you can barely get down the aisles where food samples are being provided.  The people gather around these sample stations like they were literally starving.  This view toward food consumption is a terrible trap.  I've fallen into it, make no mistake.  The breaded jalapeno poppers or the frozen cream puffs taste good, without a doubt.  I like them as well as the next guy.  This stuff is what gets you, though.  There's something you can do that will make more of a statement than that tattoo or bumper sticker.  It will make you feel better than that plate (or second or third plate) full of ........let's face it.......crap, at the office party.  It will make you feel better than getting sculptured nails or a $200 haircut that you can't really afford.  Get yourself back into SHAPE!  Put together a food budget, set aside 1/2 hour a day, get clearance from your health care provider, and start some type of exercise program.  Walk, run, swim, bike, join a health club if that's what it takes for you.  Get a group together for support and do this stuff together for the peer pressure if that's what you need.  It's not hard, and it doesn't have to cost a lot of money.  Your body was made to work on reasonable amounts of nourishment gained from mostly fruit, vegetables, and meat.  You need to give it what it was evolved to consume and you need to move it around so those muscles, joints, bones and organs will work the way they are supposed to work.  IT........WILL........RESPOND!

Monday, December 12, 2011

As I was running this morning, it kind of struck me that a lot of health issues have to do with blood flow.  Many type 2 diabetics have problems with blood flow to their lower extremities, and often a main contributing factor to type 2 diabetes is weight.  High blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, heart disease, etc. are all related to blood flow.  If you keep moving, keep getting your heart rate up daily (as long as your physician has cleared you), you will keep that blood pumping, as well as burning off the calories, keeping your weight within normal limits, keeping your muscles strong, your lungs functioning.  Daily exercise is a powerful medicine.  Your body needs that blood flow to keep your systems working at optimum levels.  Don't settle for functioning at minimal levels.  Get your body to do what it was designed to do.  MOVE IT!

Saturday, December 10, 2011

The 100 Up Technique for Barefoot Running:

'via Blog this'

This gets around a lot, but it's important. If you run, LEARN THIS! Hopefully you'll get to barefoot or minimalist footwear, but no matter what..........LEARN IT!!