Where we live can affect our DNA.

my kind of neighborhood

Where we live may make us old? We know that having stress makes us old. Having depression and anxiety ages us. We see these factors as we measure the ends of our DNA or telomere length, our TL. Each time ourselves reproduce our cells the TL gets shorter. It is one of the measures of aging and death.

I am primarily looked at lifestyle changes and battling cancer, diabetes in cardiovascular diseases which includes strokes. To have a balanced hea

lth perspective we have to keep growing mentally, spiritually, socially and physically basically having a heart health lifestyle. In our relationships with people and God when they are positive and good we are healthier. When we are mentally active we are directly impacting how we age. Stress related to mental illness,  work, and at home effects are health. So health is always more then diet and exercise. How we experience life emotionally is a very big factor.

I think this is the first time I am writing about where we live as a factor. 

The Netherlands study of depression and anxiety is a long-term study still going on. They wanted to look at neighborhood quality and how it affected our TL. This stated their hypothesis was “a poor neighborhood quality would be associated with shortened TL.” Their study factored in many stressors which we already know change our TL. Other studies will have to be done to verify their hypothesis. They cited a couple studies done in the United States that supported their conclusions.

Neighborhoods that experienced vandalism and where people felt unsafe walking aged in their DNA 8.7-11.9 years then people who have good neighborhoods with little vandalism and felt safe walking. Security and a place where you feel good is huge concerning the health. 

We are up to date in our battle for health and lifestyle changes. Many people if they are able move to favorable locations. But there are many people who either are unable or unaware of the impact a neighborhood on our health. Do you feel safe? Are there a lot of dangerous activity around you? How does this affect you?

When you're thinking about a healthy lifestyle you have to factor stress. Other studies that I've looked at suggest 25% of us experience depression that is severe enough to be hospitalized at the age 63. Proverbs 21:9 “Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,

than in a house shared with a contentious woman.” Stress of a mate can be draining regardless of the sex of the mate. Stress in relationships have been shown to shorten the TL in our DNA. If our neighborhood is causing stress then we must do what we can to address it. 

Noise apparently was not a factor. Be safe walking by walking the dog or with a friend. Walk in safe locations. If you don’t feel secure in your homethen do what you can to relocate. Write politicians about your concerns and the impact on your health. With health there is always something that we can work on. Keep walking

see: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/06/24/bad-neighborhoods-may-be-bad-for-your-dna/?ref=health&_r=0

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0128460

Whether it is more nobler to share or not to share that is the question?

Whether it is more nobler to share or not to share that is
the question?

The wall street journal published an article, When to Keep Fitness Goals a Secret By RACHEL BACHMAN June 15, 2015 11:03 a.m. ET.

A study done on the University of Michigan 165 obese people fool for 12 weeks more a fit bit pedometer. One group published their commitment on Facebook but not results. The second group publish their commitment on Facebook and the results. The third group made a commitment but kept it private. The study interested me because I've been at a long term posting  with my progress in the fatman blog. I think a longitude look would be a whole other study.

There have been several studies done that show just wearing a pedometer increases the number of steps a person does each day. All three groups improved the number of steps they did each day from 1407 to 957 steps a day. Publishing results showed the least effective strategy in this study. Making a private commitment seemed to be the most effective but all three groups we're pretty close to each other.

Sharing results is tough because we see in writing our struggle and that it harder to keep a commitment. I believe the overall success by all three groups was that their activities were reported to those who did the study. It is similar to the effort we make when we're going to see the doctor. I think most people for a few days attempt to be a little healthier. I know I do.

The study went for three months. If the study went for five months one of the things that would have occurred would be the length of time it takes to produce a good habit. Of the 165 people who participated in the study there would've been a better chance to produce a habit forming life of exercise. This of course would be another point of study.

When I look at Dr. Oz’ audience for the most part I see unfit people. I don't say that the discourage anybody but having an interest in improving our health and learning about it needs very practical steps to be effective. It is a lot more difficult to move from the obese life. There are too many factors that play into it. The reality is simple it is not.

My fitness goals are working through injuries and setbacks. I did reach a fitness level for over three years of being fit to walk aerobically for 3 miles 5x’s a week. I had to start over but I have kept a strength and rehab program.  Getting back to aerobic health is taking longer this time. As recently shared I need to work on the other 80% of the program with diet.

Making a commitment and wearing a pedometer can help get started. There are ups and down and give yourself a goal of 5 months to create a habit. 

To journal or report on social media is up to you. Be prepared for the up and down progress over time. 

Mental, spiritual, social health may have more to do with it. 

So there is always something to work on. Keep walking.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/when-to-keep-fitness-goals-a-secret-1434380621

No magic number in weightless - just get down

When I first started this blog it was from a recovery of a major surgery. Barb and I began a walk program and I lost weight. At this time I also started a study of the Bible and health and to work towards a biblical theology on the subject. I successfully taught a class on the subject. One of the byproducts of the surgery was a heighten insomnia. For two years I struggled sleeping between two - five hours a night. From the surgery I've begin experiencing anxiety attacks. Life happened and I sunk into a depression. I regained my weight. I took on my mental problems and sleep remained problematic. 

Within the last two years I've had a couple falls which setback my walking program. On the plus side mentally I've healed in regard to depression and anxiety, at least it is in remission if not healed. I am back using an indoor walking and biking for exercise and I'm beginning to lose weight again.

My ideal weight is so far out of sight it is truly and unrealistic goal. Below is a BMI chart and I have circled my first goal. To reach it I know that 80% of it relates to what and how much I eat. The other 20% relates to lifestyle and exercise changes to burn calories. It is true you cannot run enough to eat a big Mac. Think about that for minute. 

Once a week I'm going to have a reality check with my scale and I will be happy if every month my weight is moving down. When I reach my goal then I will circle the next number to reach for that in the picture I have a dash line. I will then have to reach that number before I pick a lower number and so it goes. The number itself isn’t my ideal weight but the next number on the scale. Moving weight down is all I can do. 

Doing so I know I will be better off. Leaving the world of obese and moving towards overweight may end out where I am. If I get closer to normal outstanding. Right now though that is not within reach. Keep walking.

These charts can vary, but right now I am out there