May 2007 - Posts
Refresh Your Treadmill Workout
Is there anything more boring than the treadmill? After endless hours staring at the same wall, anyone would start to wonder if that's all there is to exercise. But it doesn't have to be that way. By shaking it up and loading your workout with variety, you can rediscover the fun of a good treadmill workout.
The first thing to remember is that any workout is and can be what you make it. The opportunity to go all out or to barely break a sweat is completely up to you. With that being said, even though the treadmill might be an uneventful and boring thought to most, you have the ability to make it fun and challenging.
Change up the pace
If you always walk at the same speed for the same amount of time, your body will get used to the routine and you might not see the long-term affects that you desire. Keep in mind that the body responds to changes in pace and sparks your metabolism accordingly. You can begin by trying a pyramid scheme. For example: walk at 3.2 mph for 1 minute then pick it up to 3.5 mph for 1 minute, then go to 3.3 mph for 2 minutes and then 3.6 mph for 2 minutes, etc. You can continue up the pyramid until you reach a point where the speed is at a level where you cannot hold it for the time period and then go back down. Before you know it, you will be walking faster and the time will have flown by.
Exercise Extra: A treadmill allows you to safely walk or run indoors, at home or at a gym, no matter what the weather is like.
Very Lemony Chicken
Serves: 4
Using skinless chicken breasts means this tangy dish is lower in saturated fat and cholesterol.
INGREDIENTS
1-1/2 lb. chicken ***, skinned and fat removed
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup fresh sliced lemon peel
3 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1 medium onion, sliced
1/4 teaspoon salt
Black pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon paprika
DIRECTIONS
1. Place chicken in 13x9x2" glass baking dish.
2. Mix lemon juice, lemon peel, oregano, and onions. Pour over chicken, cover and marinate in refrigerator several hours or overnight, turning occasionally.
3. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika.
4. Cover and bake at 325º F for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 30 minutes more or until done.
NUTRITION INFO (per 1-*** serving)
Calories: 158.6
Fat: 1.6 g
Carbohydrates: 8.4 g
Protein: 28.0 g
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Can you explain to me in simple terms the concept of "burning more calories than you consume" in order to lose weight? If I'm eating 1400 calories a day, but only burning 500 a day exercising, how can this be making progress?
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It sounds like you’re referring to a "calories in vs. calories out" type of equation. One pound of fat is made up of roughly 3,500 extra calories. To lose 1 pound of fat, you need to create a deficit of 3,500 calories.
Your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the calories burned by your body on "idle". This is the minimum amount of energy needed by the body at rest in the fasting state. This includes the body functions such as circulation, breathing, generating body heat, transmitting messages to the brain, cellular metabolism, and the production of body chemicals.
A simple way to determine your BMR is using the basic "rule of ten". Multiply your weight by the number 10 and this is your BMR. For example a person weighing 150 pounds would have a BMR of 1500 calories. (150 x 10 = 1500).
This BMR number is about 60% of your total calorie needs for the day. The digestion and absorption of nutrients makes up 10% and the other 30% comes from your physical activity. This includes anything from blinking your eyes, getting dressed, washing the car, to running a marathon. For example, a person weighing 150 pounds would need:
Basal Metabolism…………... 60%……….1500 calories
Digestion and Absorption…...10%……… 250 calories
Physical Activity…………….... 30%……… 750 calories
Energy use for the day……. 100%……….2500 calories
Therefore to lose weight, one needs to consume fewer calories than are needed each day. (Your SparkPeople diet plan has taken your BMR into account IN ADDITION to your current normal activity level -whether you checked off sedentary or very active, etc in your preferences during setup. The caloric range you need to stay in to lose weight was given to you.)
Basically, you create a deficit of calories in 2 (or 3) different ways:
Eating Less Calories than you Burn each Day.
Eat anything less than what you use each day (1500 cal BMR, 250 cal digestion= 1750), consistently, and you will lose weight. So, if you eat 1200 on this day (a 550 calorie deficit), and all week long like this, you will lose 1 pound (3500 calories) in about a week.
Exercising More
Keep your caloric intake the same (1750) and create your deficit by burning extra calories. So, if you burned 500 calories through exercise alone, you will still lose 1 pound in about a week.
A Combination of Both Diet and Exercise
This is the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off.
Say you cut your calories by 300 and burn 250 calories with exercise. There is your 550 calorie deficit—with much less deprivation and work.
You could speed it up by cutting more calories and exercising more—whatever works best for you. Some people hate to diet, others hate to exercise, so maybe you’ll do more or less of either one.
Of course, the example above was just for simplicity. You can cut any number of calories from your diet (more or less than the 500 in the example) and you can burn more or less than the example illustrates. As long as you are consistent, your deficit will "add up" over time…and you’ll slim down.
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Baked Cinnamon Apples
Serves: 1
A warm, sweet baked apple dish is the perfect ending to any meal. This recipe helps keep it light.
INGREDIENTS
4 baking apples
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
4 teaspoons margarine
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
1. Remove core from apples and place upright in baking dish.
2. Place two tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon margarine and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon in the center of each apple.
3. Pour water into baking dish to 1/4 inch depth.
4. Bake at 375° F for 30-40 minutes, or until tender.
NUTRITION INFO (per 1-apple serving)
Calories: 223.5
Fat: 4.3 g
Carbohydrates: 49.2 g
Protein: 0.2 g
You can now vote for the Fit Club member who you feel looks like they lost the most weight! Go here to view the poll, follow its instructions to view the pictures.
Well my friends, we are half way through the first Fit Club on Steeple Media. We had so much fun, we are doing it again! However, Fit Club 2 is going to be way different. I have taken suggestions from various people to make this more of a competition. If you wish to join, or know someone who wants to join, please encourage them to do so! Also, have them read the rules for SFC2 below!!!
Steeplemedia Fit Club 2 (SFC2) Official
Rules
Steeple Media Fit Club 2 (SFC2) is a non-profit program
sponsored by www.steeplemedia.com in
hopes to help fourteen (14) contestants lose weight for a better life style.
This competition will take place starting August 2 with an initial weigh in.
The competition will end after 12 consecutive weeks of weight loss. Zach,
blogger for the Dish and SFC1, and scoutmom, blogger for Sports From the Other
Side and SFC1 member, will host this season. The contestants will be split into
groups of seven (7). The teams will chose names for themselves. The teams will
go through a series of eliminations (one (1) to two (2) contestants a week)
each week. The eliminated contestants will go into a separate team to select
the winner at the finale. The teams will have a chance each week to skip
elimination by winning that week’s “challenge.” The losing team will face the
other team’s and the public’s vote on who to eliminate. The grand prize is yet
to be determined. All of which is explained in more detail below.
How to enter
To become eligible for this competition, you have to email SMFitClub@yahoo.com a brief summary of
why you should be in this competition before Friday, July 20, 2007 at 11:59:59
PM EST. The first one hundred (100) applicants will be reviewed for the
competition and the top six (14) will be selected for the competition. All
other applicants will be numbered 15-50 and any contestant in the top fourteen
(14) who later chooses not to partake in the competition (or becomes
disqualified), will then be replaced with number fifteen (15) and so forth.
Eligibility
In order to enter, the applicants must be seventeen (17)
years to sixty-five (65) years of age on or before the date of entry (Friday,
July 20, 2007 at 11:59:59 PM EST). The contestant must also own a scale or have
access to one at the local gym. The contestant may purchase one for about
$20.00 USD at Wal-Mart. The contestant must also be considered overweight or
obese. Another requirement is a digital camera and a printer. Each week, the
contestants will receive an email with a special phrase from that week’s
challenge. They must print that paper
off to go with their pictures. It is essential that all the requirements are
met before the competition.
How to participate
The participants must lose weight. A recommended way to do
so is follow a diet plan and read all the “Healthy Tips” posts on the SFC2
blog. The contestant can also do so by eating healthy food and exercising for
at least thirty (30) minutes 5-7 days a week. The contestants are advised that
they should not strain themselves more than physically possible. Low fat food
is recommended. The contestants are advised that they are not to starve
themselves while on the diet. Three (3) meals a day and one (1) snack are also
advised. Another approach is six (6) smaller meals a day. The contestants have
also been advised not to totally cut fat out of their diets. Fat is a required
part of the diet but is only needed sparingly. The contestants will receive the
new food guide pyramid as well.
Note: Steeple Media is not responsible for any injury of any
contestant. These contestants have willingly signed up for this competition.
Structure
SFC2 has been completely revised and made more enjoyable for
the contestants and the audience. Each week several things will occur such as a
competition, voting and eliminations. All of which is explained below.
Teams
The fourteen (14) contestants will
be split into teams of seven (7). Those teams will have to choose a team name
amongst themselves. This may very well be the first competition.
Competition
Each Saturday during the twelve
week program will be a competition based on numerous things on Steeple Media or
across the web. There may also be a physical competition every now and then.
The trivial competition will be emailed to the contestants
Saturday at about 12:00 (noon) PM EST. It will consist of 5-15 questions based
on various blog posts and health websites across the web. The winner will be
selected by subtracting the time that the last teammate submits from the first
teammate.
Ex. Teammate 1 submits his answers
at 12:30 PM EST. Teammate 7 submits his answers at 1:30 PM EST. That team’s
time is 1 hour.
The team with the least amount of
time wins immunity from elimination that week. Trivial competitions are not due
until Saturday evening at 8:00 PM EST.
The physical competition will
consist of something a bit easier than trivial. Each teammate will receive a
task such as “Walk a mile in less than one (1) hour”. The teams will submit the
time that it took them to complete the task. The fastest times will determine
the winner.
In order to assure that the
teammates actually did complete the task, we ask that pictures be submitted
with the entry as well as A picture of a clock both starting and finishing. The
clock can be anything from a grandfather clock to a wrist watch. Wrist watches
are more accurate. The team with the fastest time will win immunity from
elimination that week. Physical competitions are not due until Sunday evening
at 8:00 PM EST.
The competition only half
determines who is immune that week.
Immunity
The team that wins immunity will
not be up for elimination. The only way to win immunity is via the competition
from that week.
Weigh-In
Weigh-ins (WI) take place on
Tuesday evenings. As stated in the requirements, a scale, a digital camera and
the print off are required for the WI. For the first, sixth and the twelfth WI,
each contestant must hold up that paper to certify that the picture is from
that day. The contestants are required to email three (3) pictures of them for
the first initial WI (as well as the sixth and the final WI): A front view
(with the certified paper), a side view and a scale view (also with the
certified paper) picture. For the other nine (9) WI’s the only picture
necessary is the scale view picture with the emailed certifying statement.
Note: this is a friendly
competition and is supposed to be fun for each contestant. Also, Steeple Media
is really using the honor system and hopes that no one will lie about how much
weight they are losing. In the event of a contestant found cheating, they will
then be disqualified and the succeeding contestant (number fifteen on the list)
will then take their place.
The team who loses the most amount
of weight and the highest total percentage that week will earn “half immunity.”
If that team also won “half immunity” from the competition, they will
immediately win immunity. In the event of each team winning half immunity, they
will both be up for elimination.
Weigh-In schedule
Initial WI: Tuesday, July 30, 2007
Tuesday,
August 7, 2007
Tuesday,
August 14, 2007
Tuesday,
August 21, 2007
Tuesday,
August 28, 2007
Tuesday,
September 4, 2007
Middle WI: Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Tuesday,
September 18, 2007
Tuesday,
September 25, 2007
Tuesday,
October 2, 2007
Tuesday,
October 9, 2007
Tuesday,
October 16, 2007
Final WI: Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Elimination
The team who does not win immunity
will be up for elimination. The member of the losing team who lost the highest
amount of weight will also be immune that week. That contestant will have to
choose two (2) teammates who they feel are making the team slack. The opposing
team and the public will vote on who they feel should be eliminated.
The contestants who become
eliminated will then go into a third team. Once that team has twelve (12) of
the fourteen (14) contestants, they will vote for the winner of Steeple Media
Fit Club 2. The third team must continue to lose weight. The more weight they
lose the more votes they have. For every pound lost in the eliminated team,
they gain a vote. The general public will also vote for the winner as well.
Blogging
The hosts of the program will be posting about Weigh-ins and
competitions. The contestants however can react only after the initial posts
are up.
The weekly post is recommended to include a sample diet meal
and a short journal on what type of exercise the contestant is doing and how it
is affected them. The last post should include how the SFC changed you
physically and mentally about weight loss.
Conclusion
This contest is not only built to show how to lose weight,
but to show other readers how easy it is (or how hard it is) to lose weight.
The winner will receive a grand prize which is: TBA. Depending on how well this goes over at www.steeplemedia.com, we may have
another fit club next year. Finally, Steeplemedia would like to keep in touch
with the contestants of the first SFC so further posts will be allowed on the
blog.
Yosemite Chicken Stew and Dumplings
Serves: 6
Skinless chicken is the basis of this delicious stew; cornmeal dumplings are made with low-fat milk.
INGREDIENTS
Stew
1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken meat, cut into 1" cubes
1/2 cup onion, coarsely chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled and thinly sliced
1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon salt
Black pepper to taste
1 pinch ground cloves
1 bay leaf
3 cups water
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 package frozen peas
Dumplings
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup sifted whole wheat flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup low-fat (1%) milk
1 tablespoon olive oil
DIRECTIONS
Stew
1. Place chicken, onion, carrot, celery, salt, pepper, cloves, bay leaf, and water in a large saucepan. Heat to boiling; cover and reduce heat to simmer. Cook about 1/2 hour or until chicken is tender.
2. Remove chicken and vegetables from broth. Strain broth.
3. Skim fat from broth; measure and, if necessary, add water to make 3 cups liquid.
4. Mix cornstarch with 1 cup cooled broth by shaking vigorously in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. 5. Pour into saucepan with remaining broth; cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil and is thickened.
6. Add basil, peas, and reserved vegetables to sauce; stir to combine.
7. Add chicken and heat slowly to boiling while preparing cornmeal dumplings.
Dumplings
1. Sift together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl.
2. Mix together milk and oil. Add milk mixture all at once to dry ingredients; stir just enough to moisten flour and evenly distribute liquid. Dough will be soft.
3. Drop full tablespoons of dough on top of braised meat or stew. Cover tightly; heat to boiling. Reduce heat (do not lift cover) to simmering and steam about 20 minutes.
NUTRITION INFO (per 1.25-cups stew & 2-dumpling serving)
Calories: 299.9
Fat: 4.5 g
Carbohydrates: 41.3 g
Protein: 23.6 g
While preparing for tomorrow's semi-final round, I have been listening (excessively, I fear) to my POTC soundtracks. Now, I haven't picked up the new one yet, but I did make a great rediscovery on my POTC: Dead Man's Chest soundtrack.
Track 12 - He's A Pirate - Tiesto Remix is just over 7:00 minutes long. And it is a wonderfully, energetic, upbeat, driving version of the song. And in 7 minutes, you can certainly get your heart rate up to your goal rate. What a great start to a workout.
Now, my CD happens to be from Best Buy, so the Tiesto Remix is followed by two Best Buy Exclusive Bonus tracks - the Pete n' Red's Jolly Roger Radio Edit and He's A Pirate - Chris Joss Ship Ahoy Tribal Mix. Together that adds up to 20 minutes of pulse-pounding, body-moving sound.
Of course, there isn't much on either of the CDs that wouldn't serve you well for a workout, with its edgy beat and strong bass, it's built on the one-two-three-four that seems to find its way into just about every successful workout.
So, grab your boom box and clear the decks!! And don't forget, every one of those jewel cases also features the intense stare of the man himself!!
Arrrrrr!!
I know, the weigh in is a bit late this week. In fact, this isnt the weigh in. I am on a mini-weekend-vacation so I haven't yet gotten around to posting the weigh in. Tomorrow or Tuesday I will post the "before" and "midway" pictures of the Fit Clubbers here. They we turn it to you. You have to chose who you thinks looks like they lost the most amount of weight just by appearance. There will not be any weight posting this week.
Okay, I know this may seem like a weird post for someone participating in the Fit Club, but stay with me on this. I started this out by getting on the scale every day, sometimes several times per day. I was completely obsessed with the "
numbers". Then came the day when I was running late (yeah, okay, never heard the alarm go off) and I had to just get ready and head out the door for work. It was also the morning that my pants fit. Not just fit better, but FIT. Wow, I was so excited. I couldn't wait to get home at lunch time and get on the scale and see how much I had miraculously lost overnight. I didn't eat or drink anything all morning. Came home, got on the scale, BAM! It said I had actually GAINED a pound. What?!?! I picked it up, shook it, got on again. Same thing. Moved it around the bathroom to find a "better spot" to weigh myself. Nope, still up a pound. Stupid scale. What the heck? I was terribly disappointed. I just couldn't believe it. How could that be? How could I have gained weight but my clothes fit like they hadn't in...forever?
I spent a lot of time thinking about it and that's when I realized something. What I was trying to do was more than just lose weight, it was also to get fit. And that's exactly what I was doing. I was exercising, eating healthier and smarter, and getting myself fit. I no longer had to lie down on the bed to zip up my jeans when they came out of the dryer. I was pulling my belt in another notch. I had more energy.
I was getting fit! So now, halfway through this thing, I get on the scale once a week for my weigh-in. I own it, it does not own me. I gauge my progress towards "fitness" with how I feel and how my clothes fit. And, I've actually reached the point where I can wear clothes I had shoved in the back of my drawer for "maybe someday" (like the Scout shorts!). In fact, I'm going out today to get myself a new pair of jeans (which is really cool since I won them as a weekly prize in the Slim-Fast contest!).
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When you think about “fitness classes,” what images come to mind? Do you picture skinny people (leg warmers included) jumping around and kicking their legs to loud music? Although that might have been the case 10 or 20 years ago, the latest trends in classes focus on the mind-body experience, and helping people of all ability levels.
If you considered taking fitness classes at your gym, you probably picked up the schedule, only to find a list of unfamiliar and confusing classes. Spinning? BOSU? What does it all mean and how do you decide which class is right for you? Here’s a guide to some of the most popular classes and how you might benefit from them.
Spinning/Group Cycling
Spinning is an intense cardio workout on a specially designed stationary bike. A certified instructor leads the class, indicating when to adjust your speed and resistance level (making it easier or harder to pedal). Spinning classes are typically set to music and use visualization techniques to enhance the experience.
What are the benefits? This class allows you go at your own pace, and set your own resistance level. There are no complicated moves to learn, so regardless of how fit, flexible, or coordinated you are, you can get a great workout. Cycling is also a low-impact exercise, which is much easier on your joints than other activities such as step aerobics or running.
BOSU Balance Training
The BOSU looks like a Swiss ball cut in half. It is an inflated rubber dome on a flat, round platform. BOSU actually stands for “BOth Sides Up,” meaning that the “ball” itself can be placed on the ground with either the flat or rounded side up. A BOSU class can include aerobic and strength training routines, flexibility exercises, and balance training. Familiar exercises like leg raises, crunches, and push-ups are performed on the BOSU—a surface that is constantly changing, forcing you to maintain your center of gravity. This makes the exercises more difficult.
What are the benefits? BOSU training helps establish and reinforce balance, stability, and core strength, and can be used for a wide variety of exercises. It is safer than a Swiss ball in that you are less likely to roll off, but it also makes workouts more challenging. It can add variety to your workout, mixing things up your traditional routine.
Circuit Training
This class takes the participant through a series of exercise stations (which could also include strength training), with relatively brief rest intervals between each station. The purpose is to keep the heart rate elevated near the aerobic level without dropping off.
What are the benefits? Circuit training is a complete workout—both cardio and strength training—which saves time. Since the program is fast-paced and offers variety, it can be more interesting than a typical class that focuses on only one aspect (cardio or strength). Exercisers of all fitness levels can enjoy this class, because you can work at your own pace and resistance level.
Functional Fitness
Although it’s important to have a strong heart and muscles, many people are more concerned with being able to complete activities of daily living (transporting groceries to and from the car or lifting a heavy bag off of the top shelf, for example). Functional fitness focuses on core training (abs, hips, lower back), balance exercises, and strength work. It involves a lot of stretching, twisting, and bending motions to mimic everyday activities.
What are the benefits? This class has very practical applications in daily life. For example, suppose you’ve been doing squats at the gym and feel like you’re getting stronger. Then one day you squat down to pick up a heavy garbage can and throw your back out for the next week. What happened? Although your squatting muscles might be strong, the other muscles used to pick up the can might not be. Functional fitness teaches isolated muscles to work together. It can also help someone remain independent and injury-free.
Mind-Body Classes
Classes like yoga, Pilates and tai chi are now the norm instead of the exception. The great thing about these classes is that participants vary widely in age, fitness level, and body type. These classes improve flexibility and strength, while also helping to relieve stress and promote relaxation.
Don’t be afraid to try something different! There are a wide variety of classes out there to cater to your needs. You could end up finding an enjoyable activity that helps you reach your goals at the same time!
Some babies are sensitive to certain foods. Therefore, when introducing a new food to your baby, offer one new food at a time. Wait 3-5 days before offering the next new food. During this time, watch for the following reactions: rash, wheezing, diarrhea, or projectile vomiting. If you notice a reaction, inform your health care provider, and do not feed your baby that food until she is one year old. Most babies outgrow these reactions once their digestive and immune systems mature.
Before the age of 1, it is best to avoid foods that often cause food sensitivities, especially if there are food allergies in your family. These foods include:
- Strawberries
- Fish and shellfish
- Peanut butter and nut butters
- Peanuts, tree nuts, and seeds
- Tomatoes
- Egg whites
- Chocolate
- Citrus fruits and juices (orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, kiwi, pineapple)
- Wheat (before 6 months)
- Honey (the bacteria in honey can make a baby very sick)
Although any child can develop a food allergy, the risk is higher in allergic families, particularly those with food-allergic parents and siblings. In an attempt to prevent food allergy in high-risk infants, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months, and for nursing mothers to avoid allergens, such as peanuts and tree nuts. Delay the introduction of all dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt) for one year, eggs for two years, and peanuts, tree nuts and fish for three years. Ask your child's doctor for more information, or contact the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network at www.foodallergy.org or 1-800-929-4040.
Welcome to Sweating 101. Question #1: During one hour of vigorous exercise, how
much does the average person sweat?
Answer: One quart! As you can see, exercise saps a lot of water from our
bodies.
Start paying attention to your fluid intake 2-3 hours before you are going to
exercise. Drink 2-3 cups of water during that time, and then drink another cup
immediately before you start exercising.
Without this extra water, your muscles will become dehydrated. Muscle movement
depends on how hydrated you are, so if they are dry, they will not work as
well. As a result, your workout will not be as productive as you would like.
Once you start exercising, keep drinking water frequently. A good rule of thumb
is to drink one cup every 15-20 minutes. Keep a water bottle with you. Take
breaks to head to the water cooler. Do what it takes you keep yourself
hydrated.
Even when you are done exercising, you need to keep replenishing your fluid
levels. It's recommended you drink another 2-3 cups within two hours after you
have finished. Then drink water regularly afterwards.
Do your body a favor and replenish that quart of fluids your body is losing
while you work out. Your muscles will thank you later.
Exercise Extra: Staying properly hydrated helps make your workouts more
productive.
26.2 miles is the official length of the Marathon. The race is grueling, demanding that the participant be mentally and physically prepared, demanding a strain upon the will, a going beyound the mind's ability to comprehend what is and is not possible. We are conditioned to think that 1 mile is a long way, a tough run, a great workout. For many 1 mile is forever long. For some 1 block is a stumbling block.
Try running 26.2 miles a day, for 50 days straight, no breaks , each day in one of the 50 states. That is exactly what
Dean Karnazes is planning to attempt beginning on September 17th.
I ran my first, and currently only, Marathon back in 1998. My wife, a friend, and I trained for 18 weeks. We followed the plan line by line, we ran long runs on the weekend, we ate powerbars, and packets of Gu by the fistfulls. We dranks gallons of water, powerade, and gatorade all in preparation of one race on one day that lay before us.
I started out fresh, feeling good. The weeks of training were well worth it. Around mile 20 I had to do a combination of run walking to finish. My time? 4 hours 45 minutes. My body was sore, my mind was numb. For 2 months I didn't care if I would ever run again.
You can't truly respect or appreciate an accomplishment unless you have some basic knowledge coupled with experience of the subject. You can enjoy watching NASCAR or reading about the Tour de France but until you have sat behind the wheel of a race car, felt the virbration of your bones or have pedaled your way up a grueling mountain you will only admire from a distance. Your baseline of respect will not be properly set and when you hear news of great feats being accomplished they will go unoticed.
Where are the heroes of our day? Where are the new frontiers? The new discoveries? I am tired of hearing about war, terrorism, stocks, how about some human accomplishment? How about success? How about news of a challenge that could be impossible?
A new challenge has been posed. 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states. Will he do it? I am not advocating anyone try this but I wonder what would happen if we decided to implement a good habit in our daily routine for 50 days? Would we feel better, see changes?
Why not take time out today and think about a goal, something you would like to achieve. Maybe it is getting off the couch for 50 days straight or walking each evening for 50 days. Maybe you have an old pair of running shoes in the closet or a bike in the basement that needs the tires pumped up? Take this opportunity, this time to do something good for yourself for a change and you just might be surprised by the change.
You can read more about Dean's attempt here at
The North Face Endurance 50.
On the site there is a calendar with Dean's schedule. You can sign up to run with Dean during one of the daily runs, recive a t-shirt, a signed book by Dean, as well as other goodies.
Now go outside and play! Your body and mind will thank you for it.
I remember one time when me and my buddy were issued a challenge. You see, there were these two rich brothers who would place a wager on just about anything at anytime. They had the money and to them everything was a game. At the time it was illegal to bring Coors across the state line. The wager? Deliver a truck load of beer across the Mississippi in a specified amount of time without getting caught. Now we had a long way to go and a short time to get there so I deciced to buy a trans-am. My buddy would drive the truck while I ran decoy. Oh wait...that is a movie I once saw.
This week has been hectic so the writting has been light. Here is what you can expect from Created to Move next week.
Monday: Top 10 Motivational Movies of All Time
Wednesday: World Wide Web Wednesday....50 Marathons in 50 Days Across 50 States
Friday: Fun Post Friday......TBD
Have a great weekend!
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