As an Optician I work at the mall and my clientele is largely made up of people over 40. A lot of them come out to the mall to walk during the cold days of winter. I see a lot of much younger people going by the store and a good portion are overweight. Many are obese, but I never see them walking for exercise only strolling along, often with a phone stuck on their ear. I think this is because the older people are beginning to realize their own morality.
When you reach your forties or fifties and even more so in your sixties you see friends and relatives starting to die pretty regularly and it's hits you that you had better change your life style while you can. Although it's never to late to get some benefit from eating well and exercising, the younger you start the more benefit you are going to get.
There are no guarantees in life, we can never say with certainty that we will be alive and healthy tomorrow. But exercise and a healthy lifestyle is like saving for retirement. You put away money for many years and hope that you have saved enough to have a good life after retirement and not have to live on hotdog helper every day. The younger you are when you start saving the better off you will be. Same thing about the exercise and healthy living.
I have for the most part lived healthy with a few slips, each slip lasting from a few months to the longest lasting 7 years. After each slip it has taken time to get back to feeling strong and fit. But the times of healthy living are way more satisfying than the days of slipping into the depression that so many of us have experienced. That depression where you just blindly eat and drink and close your eyes and mind to what you are doing to your body and your future.
Maybe we just forget sometimes that it's up to each of us to do everything we can to get the most out of our one life. We forget that this life is not rehearsal but it's the show and if we blow it we are done. We have to keep our spirit strong and not let things going on around us cause us to stop believing in how important each of us are. Each of us are worth the effort and each drop of sweat spilled in exercise is cleansing our bodies of the years of neglect.
Thanks for reading.
Training Panda
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Surprise Good Times.
This morning was group walk day. I got ready and went out to the car and it was misting rain but the temperature was a pleasant 53. Drove to the park that we meet at and about half way there it started pouring rain. I was there a little early but didn't figure anyone would show since it was raining so hard. About 5 min before meeting time the rain stopped and the other walkers began to arrive. It turned out to be a perfect day and we even had a new walker join us.
When things are perfect, especially after a long winter, it seems as though you get a physical boost as well as a mental one. The pace which was faster than we normally do felt very easy. We talked and laughed and the 6 miles rolled by effortlessly. Could it be that when your having fun you don't feel the effort as much?
Last week I had a hard workout the day before the group walk and had a hard time getting through it. But that day the temperature was low 20s with some serious chill factor and there was just two of us braving the cold. That walk was a struggle. This week I also worked out hard the day before but today felt almost effortless.
I over dressed with 2 shirts and a windbreaker, it will take a few nice days to get me out of the dress for winter mode. Last week I never really warmed up but today I was nice and toasty and could have done without the Jacket.
If you don't walk with someone else right now it's worth the effort to find a walking partner. I know that everyone in our group will have better race times because of it. Even runners can enjoy a walk day every week, it's great cross training and works the muscles a little differently from the running so it helps keep you balanced.
Thanks for reading.
Walking Panda
When things are perfect, especially after a long winter, it seems as though you get a physical boost as well as a mental one. The pace which was faster than we normally do felt very easy. We talked and laughed and the 6 miles rolled by effortlessly. Could it be that when your having fun you don't feel the effort as much?
Last week I had a hard workout the day before the group walk and had a hard time getting through it. But that day the temperature was low 20s with some serious chill factor and there was just two of us braving the cold. That walk was a struggle. This week I also worked out hard the day before but today felt almost effortless.
I over dressed with 2 shirts and a windbreaker, it will take a few nice days to get me out of the dress for winter mode. Last week I never really warmed up but today I was nice and toasty and could have done without the Jacket.
If you don't walk with someone else right now it's worth the effort to find a walking partner. I know that everyone in our group will have better race times because of it. Even runners can enjoy a walk day every week, it's great cross training and works the muscles a little differently from the running so it helps keep you balanced.
Thanks for reading.
Walking Panda
Monday, February 23, 2009
High Energy Workouts.
I have started doing more back to back workouts. This morning was 4 miles of various speeds on the treadmill followed immediately by a hard hour of running in 5 foot deep water in the pool. I was tired when I finished but my legs felt great. In addition to the running laps after every down and back I would do 10 dips on the pool corner or fifty flys using the water as resistance.
I did some of that last year with combining my LSD walk with push mowing the yard for a total of 4 to 5 hours of motion. That worked really well so I'm expanding on that concept this year. Those long days last year were low intensity this year I'm going to a lot of back to back higher effort workouts. I'll be doing 2 a week, one high intensity and one low intensity like last year.
I will of course report regularly how this is going. Those that have been reading for a while know that an unexpected benefit of the push mowing, before I had used a rider, was that I cured a chronic Achilles tendon problem.
We don't all there is to know about exercise and performance, and we are all an experiment of one. As I get in better physical condition I've noticed that I seem to age less quickly than one would expect. This is true of the guys and gals my age who I compete and train with.
Thanks for reading.
High Energy Panda
I did some of that last year with combining my LSD walk with push mowing the yard for a total of 4 to 5 hours of motion. That worked really well so I'm expanding on that concept this year. Those long days last year were low intensity this year I'm going to a lot of back to back higher effort workouts. I'll be doing 2 a week, one high intensity and one low intensity like last year.
I will of course report regularly how this is going. Those that have been reading for a while know that an unexpected benefit of the push mowing, before I had used a rider, was that I cured a chronic Achilles tendon problem.
We don't all there is to know about exercise and performance, and we are all an experiment of one. As I get in better physical condition I've noticed that I seem to age less quickly than one would expect. This is true of the guys and gals my age who I compete and train with.
Thanks for reading.
High Energy Panda
Training for 3 day event.
Sue is planning one of those 3 day Breast Cancer Walks. Those are low intensity but still can take a toll on your body. When you are doing an event like that your over all fitness level is the important factor.
The best way to train is of course to get in some good walk training at a LSD, (Long Slow Distance) pace. But also adding as much activity as possible to your day. In in a mind set of making everything harder instead of easier. Do things like park as far as you reasonably can from shopping and work instead of parking as close as you can. Use steps when you can. At your breaks go to the restroom or water fountain that is as far away from where you work as you can.
Along with training your body to stay active start training it to eat several small meals instead of the normal two or three bigger ones. That way you have a supply o fuel for your body to work with all day instead of having it all at once.
Padding in your shoes is going to be important. Make sure you have good running shoes fitted to you and plenty padded. This is not the time for wearing racing shoes. For an event like this you need support and cushioning.
Of course if you have needed to shed a few pounds of extra fluff, this is a good time to do it. A case of soft drinks or beer weighs 10 lbs, so if you are carrying 20 extra lbs that's 2 cases of drinks you are carrying along with you.
In the evening when you stop, give yourself or trade up with a friend for massages. A stick (massage tool) is good and they make a travel size. I usually take a couple of Advils after a hard day when I have another the next day. I do the Goofy Challenge at Disney, that's a half on Saturday and a full marathon on Sunday.
Good luck with your event Suzie.
Thanks for reading.
Cheering Panda
The best way to train is of course to get in some good walk training at a LSD, (Long Slow Distance) pace. But also adding as much activity as possible to your day. In in a mind set of making everything harder instead of easier. Do things like park as far as you reasonably can from shopping and work instead of parking as close as you can. Use steps when you can. At your breaks go to the restroom or water fountain that is as far away from where you work as you can.
Along with training your body to stay active start training it to eat several small meals instead of the normal two or three bigger ones. That way you have a supply o fuel for your body to work with all day instead of having it all at once.
Padding in your shoes is going to be important. Make sure you have good running shoes fitted to you and plenty padded. This is not the time for wearing racing shoes. For an event like this you need support and cushioning.
Of course if you have needed to shed a few pounds of extra fluff, this is a good time to do it. A case of soft drinks or beer weighs 10 lbs, so if you are carrying 20 extra lbs that's 2 cases of drinks you are carrying along with you.
In the evening when you stop, give yourself or trade up with a friend for massages. A stick (massage tool) is good and they make a travel size. I usually take a couple of Advils after a hard day when I have another the next day. I do the Goofy Challenge at Disney, that's a half on Saturday and a full marathon on Sunday.
Good luck with your event Suzie.
Thanks for reading.
Cheering Panda
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Caring for your Racer.
People who race cars or horses have a lot in common with those of us who race using our own bodies as the racer. A race horse or a race car both require a lot of maintenance. You have to find that thin line between best performance and breakdown. We strive for the same thing with our own bodies, the best performance.
When people have a race horse they must make sure it's groomed regularly. They monitor it's diet for best nutrition and they insure it gets the proper balance of exercise and rest. Of course the horse doesn't have a choice in the whole affair and we do. That makes it both harder since we have to do our own monitoring of our diet, rest and exercise, but also it makes it more satisfying because we reap the rewards of our own commitment and effort.
When caring for our personal racer we can take a lesson from the people whose hobby is a race car or horse. A Nascar race car isn't going to do very well if it has the wrong tires, it isn't tuned properly or the preventative maintenance isn't done. Same with us, we have to make sure we are in the proper shoe for us and they are not worn out. We need to take care of our feet, keeping them lotioned regularly and the nails trimmed. We have to use our body glide on the spots that have friction and we need to do our stretching and our strength training.
Sometimes we forget how unique and special we all are and how worth the effort we are. We are role models and we are capable of very high performance if we take care of ourselves. You wouldn't abuse your race horse by feeding it junk food and putting shoes on it that hurt it's feet. We shouldn't treat our selves that way either. When we treat our bodies properly we get amazing results back from it. When we don't we get the results of that to. We get pains and a lack of energy when we abuse our bodies.
When you make a decision to lead a healthy life style you don't have to do races but it helps to think of yourself as a fine Thoroughbred that needs to be maintained properly. Think about doing the preventative maintenance to keep your body going strong and trouble free. If you do race you will get better performance from your body if you treat it properly.
Thanks for reading.
Healthy Panda
When people have a race horse they must make sure it's groomed regularly. They monitor it's diet for best nutrition and they insure it gets the proper balance of exercise and rest. Of course the horse doesn't have a choice in the whole affair and we do. That makes it both harder since we have to do our own monitoring of our diet, rest and exercise, but also it makes it more satisfying because we reap the rewards of our own commitment and effort.
When caring for our personal racer we can take a lesson from the people whose hobby is a race car or horse. A Nascar race car isn't going to do very well if it has the wrong tires, it isn't tuned properly or the preventative maintenance isn't done. Same with us, we have to make sure we are in the proper shoe for us and they are not worn out. We need to take care of our feet, keeping them lotioned regularly and the nails trimmed. We have to use our body glide on the spots that have friction and we need to do our stretching and our strength training.
Sometimes we forget how unique and special we all are and how worth the effort we are. We are role models and we are capable of very high performance if we take care of ourselves. You wouldn't abuse your race horse by feeding it junk food and putting shoes on it that hurt it's feet. We shouldn't treat our selves that way either. When we treat our bodies properly we get amazing results back from it. When we don't we get the results of that to. We get pains and a lack of energy when we abuse our bodies.
When you make a decision to lead a healthy life style you don't have to do races but it helps to think of yourself as a fine Thoroughbred that needs to be maintained properly. Think about doing the preventative maintenance to keep your body going strong and trouble free. If you do race you will get better performance from your body if you treat it properly.
Thanks for reading.
Healthy Panda
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Spot Reducing
A lot of people believe that if they have a layer of tummy fat that exercises like crunches will flatten their tummy and get rid of that belly fat. Crunches will make your abs stronger just as working any muscle group will make those muscles stronger. But crunches will not get rid of the layer of fat covering your ab muscles.
To get rid of that belly fat you have to do to things eat properly and in the right amounts and getting the big muscles moving to burn the calories. Fat is basically stored calories and you have to convince your body to let you have those calories to use.
A problem that we all share is that just as we tend to store fat in different places, with women it's usually hips, thighs and butts, men it's generally belly. Once we start reducing out fat levels the body decides where it will take it from. For a guy that could mean that your body might hold on to the belly fat and let go of the fat everywhere else before the belly. Ever wonder why that is? So does every body that has ever studied weight loss and exercise. If someone could ever figure out how to control where the fat comes off they would make a fortune in the weight loss industry.
So what do we do. Same as always eat healthy small meals several times a day. Regular exercise with the body's big muscles, the legs. It's the regular part that is the important part. If you keep your body fed but not over fed it will release the stored fat when you need it during your exercise and for a while after you finish exercising since your metabolism stays in calorie burning for a while after you stop.
Now working all the muscles in your body is still important. Even though the legs being the largest muscles burn the most calories, having a good strong balanced body will help you keep your body efficient and healthy. It's muscle that burns calories so the more overall muscle you have the more efficient a calorie burner your body is.
Thanks for reading.
Health Panda
To get rid of that belly fat you have to do to things eat properly and in the right amounts and getting the big muscles moving to burn the calories. Fat is basically stored calories and you have to convince your body to let you have those calories to use.
A problem that we all share is that just as we tend to store fat in different places, with women it's usually hips, thighs and butts, men it's generally belly. Once we start reducing out fat levels the body decides where it will take it from. For a guy that could mean that your body might hold on to the belly fat and let go of the fat everywhere else before the belly. Ever wonder why that is? So does every body that has ever studied weight loss and exercise. If someone could ever figure out how to control where the fat comes off they would make a fortune in the weight loss industry.
So what do we do. Same as always eat healthy small meals several times a day. Regular exercise with the body's big muscles, the legs. It's the regular part that is the important part. If you keep your body fed but not over fed it will release the stored fat when you need it during your exercise and for a while after you finish exercising since your metabolism stays in calorie burning for a while after you stop.
Now working all the muscles in your body is still important. Even though the legs being the largest muscles burn the most calories, having a good strong balanced body will help you keep your body efficient and healthy. It's muscle that burns calories so the more overall muscle you have the more efficient a calorie burner your body is.
Thanks for reading.
Health Panda
Monday, February 16, 2009
Economy EEEEEEEEKs
We are going through a difficult time right now. We see our 401K money slipping away, we see nothing but bad news every time we turn on the news and most of us are stressing over having jobs by the end of the year. Well unfortunately we can't do anything about the situation the country and a lot of the world is in. What we can control, as we have discussed before, is our own thoughts and bodies.
Right now more than ever it's important to keep up our eating properly and exercising regularly. Setting aside the health benefits right now let's look at the other benefits. Having more energy gives us an edge over our co workers, which could make us less likely to get laid off. If the worse happened and we became unemployed we would have an edge is applying for a new job. A possible new boss is looking for an energetic, dynamic employee not someone who could barely make it up the steps and through the door.
Our health care costs are a lot lower if we are not on a half dozen different pills and getting treatments every week. I just renewed my gym membership and realized the dues for my princess and I are the same as the copay for one office visit each at our doctor. I'm a deal for the insurance company since I never have anything wrong with me besides an annual case of Panda Flu.
We can save a lot of money to since we don't have to pay to be entertained when the budget gets tight. A walk or run with our spouse or a good friend is way more fun than 20 bucks each for a movie, drink and popcorn. Some of my best memories are of especially good runs and walks with Erica or friends.
All of us know that exercise is one of the best stress relievers. There are people spending a mint for therapy when a long brisk walk with a caring friend would do them more good and be a more lasting remedy.
The choice is ours to make, stress and feel helpless or get out and move that wonderful body, a little sweat is one of natures best medicines.
Thanks for reading.
Training Panda
Right now more than ever it's important to keep up our eating properly and exercising regularly. Setting aside the health benefits right now let's look at the other benefits. Having more energy gives us an edge over our co workers, which could make us less likely to get laid off. If the worse happened and we became unemployed we would have an edge is applying for a new job. A possible new boss is looking for an energetic, dynamic employee not someone who could barely make it up the steps and through the door.
Our health care costs are a lot lower if we are not on a half dozen different pills and getting treatments every week. I just renewed my gym membership and realized the dues for my princess and I are the same as the copay for one office visit each at our doctor. I'm a deal for the insurance company since I never have anything wrong with me besides an annual case of Panda Flu.
We can save a lot of money to since we don't have to pay to be entertained when the budget gets tight. A walk or run with our spouse or a good friend is way more fun than 20 bucks each for a movie, drink and popcorn. Some of my best memories are of especially good runs and walks with Erica or friends.
All of us know that exercise is one of the best stress relievers. There are people spending a mint for therapy when a long brisk walk with a caring friend would do them more good and be a more lasting remedy.
The choice is ours to make, stress and feel helpless or get out and move that wonderful body, a little sweat is one of natures best medicines.
Thanks for reading.
Training Panda
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