Earlier in the day Barb and I went for a walk, we walked nearly 4 miles. A wonderful fall day now with many leaves fallen the coolness reminds us winter is on the way.
Sleep restores the body, "for so he gives His beloved sleep" Psalm 127:2. Tired from the cares of the day and stress, sleep restores our body. I woke up a few minutes ago and as I write, the four hours I slept uninterrupted. I read this Psalm. It is part of the ascent Psalms the Jews would have recited on their holy trips to Jerusalem. Jesus as a boy would have meditated on this Psalm on the trail from Nazareth to Jerusalem. Walking thinking on Scripture. next time on the walking trail take a verse with you to meditate on as you walk. Walking has help me as I have deal with battles of insomnia. Well I am back to bed for a few more hours of rest. Keep walking!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
my doctor and walking
It was another beautiful fall day. It has been rather windy the past couple of days but on my walk the wind gave me a sweat free day. I know I sweated but the wind helped evaporate the sweat. I also took a brief walk on my lunch hour. In total I walked 15000 + steps today. I also used a resistance workout. On the walk Barb and I noticed animals preparing for winter. A squirrel was working on the nest, a bird in the brush busy. Winter is coming and we are planning our winter walks both indoors and out.
A friend of mine has lost 60 lbs lately and has encouraged me to again check my portions, they could be smaller. My portions are smaller than 5 years ago but I think I can improve my intake to reach weight goals. The good news today was I ate less than I used.
In my health journey besides my personal doctor, Dr. RW Shubert, Dr. Ken Cooper and his staff have been a real encouragement to me in my quest for better health. His combination of aerobics, strength training and stretching is right on for those of us getting older and want to improve the quality of life and even the longevity of life. One area I would like him write on more is his faith and its impact on his health. Health to me includes more than a workout but other interests as well. In my relationships, the arts, hobbies, and joy in life and the Lord. Check Cooper out on the web.
My son the other day encouraged me with some wise counsel. He has turned into a wise man as he moves into a new career. It is such a blessing to talk with your kids as adults and have adult conversations, I hope I have many years their equal before they become my caretaker.
Keep walking!
A friend of mine has lost 60 lbs lately and has encouraged me to again check my portions, they could be smaller. My portions are smaller than 5 years ago but I think I can improve my intake to reach weight goals. The good news today was I ate less than I used.
In my health journey besides my personal doctor, Dr. RW Shubert, Dr. Ken Cooper and his staff have been a real encouragement to me in my quest for better health. His combination of aerobics, strength training and stretching is right on for those of us getting older and want to improve the quality of life and even the longevity of life. One area I would like him write on more is his faith and its impact on his health. Health to me includes more than a workout but other interests as well. In my relationships, the arts, hobbies, and joy in life and the Lord. Check Cooper out on the web.
My son the other day encouraged me with some wise counsel. He has turned into a wise man as he moves into a new career. It is such a blessing to talk with your kids as adults and have adult conversations, I hope I have many years their equal before they become my caretaker.
Keep walking!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Health a gift? - smile at life
"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart and good news brings health to the bones." Prov. 15:30
When I am walking the halls of the school I work at I try to give a kind look to the kids I pass. Do you remember Mick Dundee in the streets of New York attempting to say to all the passer-Byers "Good day, Mate" he was a bit overwhelmed. I pass hundreds of kids everyday and it very easy to see faces without really noticing or making contact. Kids often draw attention to themselves with negative behavior. It would be very easy to look authoritative and down at the kids. I try to be different as often as I can and smile, laugh with, or turn the negative into a positive by being polite or good natured. It could be possible that I was the first adult to show a gentle, kind, smile that day. There are times when I have to intervene but if I choose a kind word, thought, smile I prefer. As long as I am getting many of my daily steps in transit why not give a cheerful look. Sometimes I am lost in thought and my natural look may not be so cheerful but if I am conscious of showing a kind face it is more fun to walk crowded halls. Keep walking!
When I am walking the halls of the school I work at I try to give a kind look to the kids I pass. Do you remember Mick Dundee in the streets of New York attempting to say to all the passer-Byers "Good day, Mate" he was a bit overwhelmed. I pass hundreds of kids everyday and it very easy to see faces without really noticing or making contact. Kids often draw attention to themselves with negative behavior. It would be very easy to look authoritative and down at the kids. I try to be different as often as I can and smile, laugh with, or turn the negative into a positive by being polite or good natured. It could be possible that I was the first adult to show a gentle, kind, smile that day. There are times when I have to intervene but if I choose a kind word, thought, smile I prefer. As long as I am getting many of my daily steps in transit why not give a cheerful look. Sometimes I am lost in thought and my natural look may not be so cheerful but if I am conscious of showing a kind face it is more fun to walk crowded halls. Keep walking!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
stay positve
In October walking is at its best. Cooler temperatures, seasonal colors, bright fall days all make fall the favorite time of year for many walkers. Since I have been back walking recovered from injuries I am getting back into aerobic shape. I can feel pace picking up and my gate longer. The days I Frisbee golf my throws have improved and I can handle the uneven terrain better.
I work at a large school and steps are easy to accumulate through out the day.
Last night I went through a series of strengthening exercises and I have been stretching and increasing my flexibility a little at a time. This kind of exersise can add steps to our day. All this leads to less pain.
Barb worked with a great guy who just passed away from an asthma attack at the age of 61. His work for the handicap was exceptional. He was telling her of an article he read where happy people and grumpy people die at about the same age. The next day he died. Sudden death can hit any one of us.
There have been lots of studies that report a positive attitude improves our health both in quality of life and length of life. Articles can always be found that seem to contradict one another. Living a healthy life style makes a difference but people who live healthy can have problems and even experience sudden death. In baseball one can hit 250 and another can hit 300. Both players can win a game but all things considered we would take the 300 hitter over the 250 hitter. Health is like this, a person can smoke and live to 85 but we know it is better for us not to smoke. I know my quality of life improves as I walk, use resistance exercise and stretch. I am more likely to add a year or two to my life doing these things since my early fifties but regardless of my outcome my journey is better.
What I do today is what counts and it is what I have control of. Seize the day, Keep walking!
I work at a large school and steps are easy to accumulate through out the day.
Last night I went through a series of strengthening exercises and I have been stretching and increasing my flexibility a little at a time. This kind of exersise can add steps to our day. All this leads to less pain.
Barb worked with a great guy who just passed away from an asthma attack at the age of 61. His work for the handicap was exceptional. He was telling her of an article he read where happy people and grumpy people die at about the same age. The next day he died. Sudden death can hit any one of us.
There have been lots of studies that report a positive attitude improves our health both in quality of life and length of life. Articles can always be found that seem to contradict one another. Living a healthy life style makes a difference but people who live healthy can have problems and even experience sudden death. In baseball one can hit 250 and another can hit 300. Both players can win a game but all things considered we would take the 300 hitter over the 250 hitter. Health is like this, a person can smoke and live to 85 but we know it is better for us not to smoke. I know my quality of life improves as I walk, use resistance exercise and stretch. I am more likely to add a year or two to my life doing these things since my early fifties but regardless of my outcome my journey is better.
What I do today is what counts and it is what I have control of. Seize the day, Keep walking!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Frisbe golf
One of my easy ways to pick up steps is a round of Frisbee golf. One of my many rehabs to my body is working on my shoulder and neck pain from to many falls. It was encouraging with improved strength and flexibility to see better throws with the Frisbee. While I enjoy the walk it is also nice to improve with a game. Give disc golf a try and keep walking.
In my studies in the Life of Christ I have focused on viewing his life as an eyewitness walking with him. One thing I have noticed was the great distances people walked to be helped by him or in some cases go against him as some of the religious leaders traveled from Jerusalem to Galilee. There is no doubt about it, people of the Bible were walkers. They may not have thought of it as a two mile aerobic walk or 10,000 steps but they did these things and more. I was reading an article from AARP on walking and if you walk 10,000 steps any way you can in your day it is like a 30 minute workout.
Aches and pains may come as we age but don't give up.
In my studies in the Life of Christ I have focused on viewing his life as an eyewitness walking with him. One thing I have noticed was the great distances people walked to be helped by him or in some cases go against him as some of the religious leaders traveled from Jerusalem to Galilee. There is no doubt about it, people of the Bible were walkers. They may not have thought of it as a two mile aerobic walk or 10,000 steps but they did these things and more. I was reading an article from AARP on walking and if you walk 10,000 steps any way you can in your day it is like a 30 minute workout.
Aches and pains may come as we age but don't give up.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
This is the day
When I was a kid we called a day like today Indian summer, today we call it global warming but what ever we call today's wonderful fall day it was a day to get outside. A visit with neighbors, mowing the grass and yard work is a natural way to get moving. Before I know it I have walked 7000 steps. A few other shores inside and out and I reached 10,000 steps. One of the benefits of walking is the ability to do yard work. Good for the heart and health.
It was nice to kick back with friends and enjoy the day. Today was a day in paradise right here in Joliet. I love to travel and as I get older I love tropical weather but it is nice to have day right in the backyard with no travel expense.
I am reminded of a Psalm we used to sing, (I still do) "This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it" Psalm 118:24. Today it was easy to think on the blessing of the day. In Illinois the weather will change and the Lord made those days too.
It helps me to look at yard work as an opportunity to move the ole bones to better health. Keep walking!
decline slowed down by walking
Had a check up two days ago and my blood work was excellent. I have had continued improvements for over four years now. Walking and diet has seemed to change my ways from developing diabetes. Walking continues to improve my circulation. Swelling in the feet is gone and all my health numbers have moved into a healthy range. There is plenty to improve on with weight goals to be met and conditioning, strength and flexibility improved with better range of motion. Why not improve? At 58 I have several years to build and improve muscle health. Dr. Cooper has shown older seniors than me can improve flexibility, strength and conditioning.
With CP I continue to fall from time to time. This problem is like a dark cloud over my life. Resistance training and diet to build strong bone has to continue if I am to hold off the negative results of falls. There is little sympathy when these falls are severe enough to miss work. Physical therapy keeps me going, falls don't happen on the trails but at home or work.
On the up side my improved eyesight has renewed my skills and work to help kids. It is so great to see I still am rejoicing.
The ups and downs of health gives me a better understanding of Hemingway's ' plight at the end of his life. Aches and pains that are chronic with decline of life is hard on the one who was active. We need to encourage each other and pray for grace as we battle in our lives. Teddy Roosevelt I understand declined very rapidly in his fifties. Having my few problems helps me understand there are "dog days" that Churchill went through in advancing years.
Us men need each other as we age. We most certainly need the Lord. Chronic pain, disappointment, loss can fuel many resentments. In the end they can only weigh us down and deepen a depression where we lose hope. Walking, plenty of water, resistance exercises for all our aching muscles and joints help us fight back and stay in life. I see the delight of the kids I am helping learning to succeed in school, I see others I help able to do a better job. I would miss this if I didn't go to therapy when it hurt to do so. I would miss this if I didn't take my walks. I would miss this if I didn't take in healthy food. I would miss this if I did not meet the Lord in the night watch. Damn the bad attitudes that I have and do the work the best I can for the Lord, myself and those who may benefit and see the many surprises along the way. I think CS Lewis captured this in writting of the book, Surprised by joy. Lewis was just a few years older than I am when he passed in his 60's. Smoking I am sure didn't help him. I am convince we all age different. Walking keeps up at our top as long as we are able. Keep walking
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