Putting the puzzle together

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;” a wonderful line from Shakespeare's King Henry speech. I will close this blog with another wonderful line from that speech. If you are a Star Trek fan in Star Trek VI the Klingon general calls Capt. Kirk to

Putting the puzzle together

war again with that line.

One of the discoveries that I've made since writing the blog is how many times I have renewed my effort towards some health goal. It is humbling to report how difficult it is to put it altogether. There are many stories of people losing a lot of weight, reaching some fitness goal and making a real statement of success and how they did it. Their effort is validated and their credibility is substantial. And then there is me, whoa is me.

Was it John Lennon who said something like, “Life happens when you're planning something else.” My quest for being healthy started 8 years ago. Within the first two years I was able to lose close to 70 pounds. At that point I begin to write the blog to share what I've learned. But then a series of events occurred based on an insomnia that I have been facing which lead to an depression.

At this point, I was beginning to realize health has many layers. Living through my recovery has given me many insights. With retirement, came a couple injuries which took the walking out as I healed. Along the way it became apparent added it to equation was aging. Healing and recovery and making progress slows down a bit. Forrest Gump would tell us with great wisdom, “xxxx happens”. Which is in its own way has become a theme throughout the fat Man blog. I cannot tell you with great assurance that my route to health is no quick fix plan.

We have all had our favorinte shows like Monk which ran for eight years. The character lives on in novels and I hope will be returned with good stories for movies. For some successful shows like Monk they are able to resolve the story and have a good final season.

When does a blog end? For readers it can end anytime they choose. For the writer I think a blog can move along or when the writer is no longer interested. One of my goals with the blog is to become better writer. Another one is to encourage people when they're ready to look at their health. It can be pretty discouraging to be overweight, have a chronic health problem, and to look at health from an aging point of view.

From the start I have looked at our enemies, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. In partnership with these diseases are many other issues like dementia, depression and anxiety which can put a gray dark view on aging. There is a goal of healthy aging and lifestyle changes that help us with our enemies. It is wonderful to have a blog that touches all of us regardless of our political, religious, philosophical points of view.

This brings me back to the opening on this blog, a personal call to myself to put the things together where there is a successful outcome. I realize it is a day by day personal decision to do things that are good for you like eating less, moving more, finding simple purpose each day. With God's help I want to take in the life that happens with both its blessings and trials. One thing that I like about the blog is that I'm still here.

From King Henry's speech comes another wonderful line. “The game's afoot: Follow your spirit, and upon this charge Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!’” 

Keep walking

Traveling include a bench or picnic table to get the blood moving

http://lauralovesfitness.com
Laura from Central Park NY

Barb and I took a long bus trip to Branson Missouri and twice we stopped at rest stops. Other times we stopped the truck stops and restaurants. At each stop Barbara and I went for small walks. At the rest stops I used to picnic tables to include body exercises. I was able to use the bench for modified push-ups, dips, squats, lunges, heel raises. 

It is a good thing to think about when you're taking along trip where you're sitting to take breaks not only do use the bathroom but to walk and Include some exercise. Fitness bands can also be used easily. I use the tabletop to touch to give me balance to do my lunges. Anyone of us can form a blood clot with too much sitting. I had a friend who did that and he died. He did have health conditions but as we age sitting can become a problem. Walking and doing body exercises will make you feel better and get the blood circulating. Travel doesn't have to hinder our functional fitness. 

modified pushup

When you're traveling the interstate consider using the rest stops to boost your fitness. If you bring a picnic basket you can turn the whole experience into a holiday. Google Park bench fitness and look at a few videos for ideas. This is just old people stuff but the fitness buff can really get into it. We were getting older may have to modify some of the moves to do it safely. Step ups can be done right off a curb. All of this can be a constitutional walk and make you feel better for the next part of your drive. Keep walking

Fan man can lose more weight

All my life I have seen to sweat more than most people. In part I think it's because of the contraction my muscles do automatically due to my cerebral palsy. I am use step converters to get an idea for 10,000 steps a day. And from there to understand the calories burned. Today I looked at seven different sources on the Internet to calculate count calories and walking. In each one, they came up with the different estimates. The sources are good sources but it is obvious they are not using the same way to calculate the calories.

The one thing that they all agreed with is the heavier you are the more calories you burn walking. To lose one pound you have to lose 3600 cal. If you weigh 300 pounds you will burn three times more weight then your 100 pound friend for the same activity. The key would be to do the walk and not add anymore eating and you should lose weight rather consistently. If you trade to calories that you were burning for more food you may not gain weight but you won't be able to lose because of increased eating.

Losing a pound a week or every two weeks seems like forever when you’re heavy. Be patient, and while you are at it notice how much better you feel. Keep walking.

Learning to shop for our health and the battle of the sexes

to the painful end

Billy Crystal in his book ‘Still Foolin Em’, makes an observation that I saw over and over again last week. When the wife goes shopping the most disinterested person is her husband. There're two behaviors that I saw over and over. And I must admit I do the same thing. The way Billy described one behavior “as having no XXXXX and no shoulders men waddle in a slow death march behind their wives.”… As he went on to describe this kind of behavior his audience was laughing out-of-control, why because we've all seen it and have done it ourselves. Just about every man that I know does something similar by finding a seat while their wives shop. This behavior is been captured on film a lot of times, but not so much the waddling. I plan to capture it on film.

We know that men like to hunt when they shop they are most purposeful in their shopping adventures. Their behavior is different when shopping for work related things or hobbies. Here they show great energy an interest. Women on the other hand are gatherers as they collect things for themselves or their family. Their shopping interests have a far greater range of interest than most guys.

I have a theory that the way women shop is very good for health and may be one of the reasons why women live longer. If you were to put up a pedometer on the husband and wife I am pretty sure that the wife would out walk him. Steps we take when we shop are different than aerobic walking, but steps are steps. The gals zigzag back and forth from object to object, guys drudge long in the straightest lines possible. Soon just about every guy figures the shopping to go on and on, they’re looking for the nearest seat. Subjected to this painful experience many of the fellas take a nap. The heavier the fellow is or the older the more sitting they do.

Starts young

Real understanding of this behavior seems to go the way of the dodo. In the battle of the sexes each goes their own way. The guys to an early grave and the gals gather alone. We can take the attitude of my way or the highway, but it won’t help to make shopping more pleasant for the two of you.

My observations are not anyway scientific or absolute study but I think they ring true. Shopping can be one way to get up and move. Overall I'm afraid guys do to much sitting both at home and out and about. Here are some suggestions:

• Gentlemen, we need to walk. It is a given that we do not have the same interests so before you go find that seat walk a block or two. If you ever pedometer walk 250 to 500 steps. Every half hour or 20 minutes get up and take a small walk for a few minutes or use your pedometer to mark off a number of steps. 
• Nobody expects perfection, so find out what you're Mrs. Is really interested in getting that day and help her find that special whatever. That if she has other goals she knows that you're interested but she can go off on her journey while you find the opportunity to do the first suggestion.
• Use the cell phone to stay in touch. Here's an idea but do not over do it. Ladies if you find something that your husband would be interested in give him a call where you can meet together to see it. And then you can release him as you continue to gather. 
• Meet for lunch, a snack, coffee - set time in the shopping spree to have a date.
• Include each other in your shopping styles. The way we shop it is what it is but we can find ways to include each other. Being mindful of one another two either set limits to the time or needs of one another. If we're to sedimentary shopping can be a way to get activity we need. For example we shop every day for 20 minutes we are putting I healthy activity in our life that is doable. In the store send the guy out on missions to find special items. Not everything has to be done in one-day. Each time you shop have a little fun together. Watch people as they shop and look for their funny behaviors. We can laugh together. Keep walking

Enjoy a glass of ice tea to fight diabetes.

Nicholas Bakalar reporting for the New York Times writes 2 positive choices for reducing type II diabetes. Is not writing about those who already have diabetes but those who may be trying to prevent it.

“Substituting just one serving a day of water or unsweetened tea or coffee for one serving of a sugar-sweetened soft drink or dairy beverage can significantly reduce the incidence of Type 2 diabetes, a new study has found.” 

“Drinking sweetened tea or coffee did not change the risk for diabetes, and consuming those beverages without sugar lowered the risk. After an adjustment for all the variables, fruit juice had no effect on the risk of diabetes.” 

When it comes to health ideas one study may contradict another. This particular study was large enough for an evaluation. There are health experts who would disagree with the conclusion of this study. The two recommendations cited here I think are good news and may help you make a simple adjustment that could prove beneficial.

As with all things concerning health follow your doctor's advice and your own personal awareness of the issues that you face.

Barb my wife, puts a lot of sugar in her coffee, but for most of us this study indicates sweet and coffee and tea is okay. Juices as well did not factor into raising the incidence of diabetes. Dairy beverages included milkshakes one of my many failures.

Can you find one opportunity to change a sugar drink with water, unsweetened tea or coffee? In so doing you can fight one of our three enemies diabetes. Overall it would probably help with the other two, cancer and heart disease. Keep walking

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/30/easing-diabetes-risk-one-beverage-at-a-time/?ref=health 

Take the kids in your life star gazing, memories from Pine Ridge

Pine Ridge Camp, our tent site was right close to the cabins.
You would think we were in the wilderness.
A great place for star gazing

At this picture brings back some real cool memories. We are looking at a marsh area in back of the cabins where I used to take the little kids camping for an overnight experience in a tent. After a full day of camp experience the kids would come down for supper and sit around the fire. I would have baked beans on the fire and the kitchen would prepare the fixings that went with the meal. We would have the evening chapel and sing as the sunset. The kids would stargaze and hear campfire stories.

One week we had a bunch of singers from the children's bible hour with uncle Charlie. The singing was so good that week I would start the song and just listen to the kids sing. It was the best singing that I ever heard from children.

Another time there was a meteor shower rather close and you can hear the meteors going through the air.

This experience was designed for our youngest camp. There was some concern that kids wouldn’t like sleeping in tents. I told him that summer tenting for a night would be new to the campers and I would create an atmosphere of the cowboy on the trail. Kids would love it. The whole evening was rather simple, but the fire, smoke, singing, stories and devotions would create a great memory. 

Kids slept with their cabin and I'm pretty sure most of them slept as close to their counselor as they could. I told them I would keep the fire going for a while as they went to sleep. The tents were all at a safe distance, but I think they could see through the tent the soft glow of the fire with appropriate sound of crackling. Ken and I, maybe with the missionary speaker would be quietly talking around the fire that would eventually die down and we would douse it for the evening. 

When the sun was up I would have another fire going for cooking and a grill going for pancakes. I had a coffee pot brewing and breakfast would be ready when the kids got up. There was always some kid or teen that would make there way over while I was preparing things. I often would put them to work and we would talk together. Kids like that. If they were too young I let them sit back and watch. 

It was always the teen staff from the kitchen for maintenance that would help me. Different people around the camp did things to make it happen that nobody seen. I got the benefit of seeing the kids smile but there was always a lot of people behind the scenes that made it happen. Isn't that the way it always happens.

One more thing, I wish more people what find ways for kids to see the night sky. To view of the Milky Way, to point out the planets. To have kids identify for themselves Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Venus is priceless. You have the kids identify a few basic cancellations like the small and big dipper, Orien’s belt. To see you satellite or today to the space station through a pair of binoculars. Kids need to see the stars with their own eyes. To help you find locations in the sky there are plenty of apps that can help you. 

I’m glad I helped a few hundred kids enjoy a night on the stars. Keep walking.

"I see You" it actually worked work me.

I read a wonderful posting by Dr. Caceres of Timberline Knolls and at Meier Clinics titled, “I See You”. http://www.meierclinics.com/I_See_You

Well worth your read. I like the way she wrote, what “I see you” is all about:

“The infant comes to understand who they are through the mirroring of the nurturing caretaker – one who sees the child and lovingly affirms, “I see you and know who you are, worthy, lovable and beautiful to me!” That is also what God says to us when he sees us.”

She uses the example of the movie Avatar where Neytiri looks into the eyes of Jake’ avatar and sees the real person of the heart. I am reminded of Robin Williams portrayal of Peter Pan as the older adult. One of the lost boys looks into his eyes and sees Peter, “There you are!”.

In working in the hospital or at the school I often work with people who have emotional breakdowns or meltdowns. At such times I always felt that I was at my best. One of the techniques I used to use was to have pleasant moments where I used to touch bases with them not as clinical or educational role but just a simple pleasant human moment to be enjoyed together. Was there something that we could share together, a story, a funny moment, a good experience that was a affirmative. In such times I worked make eye contact with the kids with a pleasant smile and eyes. I would often set my self up where they could laugh with and sometimes at me. Little did they know while I enjoy those moments I was actually working to get ready for the hard times. 

Hard times would come, that was why I was there. I looked at it as an opportunity to work through the reality of disability or the difficult emotional connections. Coworkers may get caught up into their goals or the lesson a plan and feel the frustration with such interuptions; but I felt this was the lesson itself.

I didn't always say it, but I would look them in the eye and connect to them the same way I did when we had some good time and I would tell them we will work through this. I would go with them through hell or high water and help to through the crisis. Every time I did this trust was developed and long term progress was made.

If you have children, you'll need to discipline your children. They will have meltdowns. They may not be very good at expressing their anger. It is possible that they were are good about it in fourth grade but in seventh grade they were horrible.

Make sure along the way you are finding many examples of positive things that they are doing so that you can affirm, “I see you” and you are every bit worth my love. Make sure to make eye contact, that it is a shared event where both love is received and given. Then when some brouhaha develops and it will, don't be surprised. This is now an opportunity to work through it and to say, “I'm with you, it'll be okay.” Whatever steps you have to do you were doing for them. There will be less interuptions and positive ways to handle emotions will be adapted and kids mature.

There will come a time when they are older and they look you in the eye and say, “I see you”.

Keep walking