Get Hot, Keep Moving!

If I thought for a million years, I wouldn’t think of a better way I would rather spend and evening than having dinner with Mitch and both “kids,” which is exactly what I got to do last night.  Though I was disappointed that Falafael Bistro is closed on Sundays, it really isn’t challenging for the vegans and the non-vegans to eat out, and sushi is always a great choice, so sushi it was.  It’s so rare for the 4 of us to be together, so I really appreciate that we had that time.  It was a celebratory get together, as Mitch and I are so proud of Derek and Kyle, in every way, but last night was an opportunity to say “GREAT JOB SINKING YOUR TEETH INTO YOUR CAREERS.”  While Derek has recently made his 7 month temp position, permanent, Kyle has landed the kind of job he envisioned as he went through college learning digital media.  Good luck to him as he begins his exciting new journey.  Hopefully he’ll still find time to remain MY web developer!

What a great job the Miami Dolphins did yesterday, coming up winners against Bret Farve and his Minnesota Vikings.  It was exciting the very last second and the Dolphins are 2-0, which makes for happy players and happy Dol-fans, too.  In the same way I resent being invited to be part of a group of retired people,  (no thanks, AARP) just because I am in my 50s, I also resent the way they assume Bret Farve, at 40, is any less an athlete than his younger team mates and opponents.  I realize an athlete has taken a lot of abuse over the course of his career, but what about all the experience he has gained in both body and mind.  My students are generally in MUCH better shape at 40 (and well beyond) than they are at 20.  Years of training muscle makes for some serious strength and years of neurological training creates some incredibly efficient nervous systems, something the youngin’s can only dream of.  When one of Farve’s passes fell a bit short of the reciever, the announcer was so quick to blame it on his age.  Ridiculous and insulting, I say!  He could have easily thrown the extra distance, he just didn’t!  That’s what makes it anyone’s game, on any given Sunday.  On this Sunday, the game belonged to our Miami Dolphins.  And my hats off to coach Tony Sparano who took off a huge (over 50 pounds)  amount of weight by, get this–diet and exercise!

With just 2 more official days of summer left, I am savoring each one.  I was able to swim both weekend days, and clearly see how much easier it has gotten as my body has become more conditioned to the effort.  With the water temperature still at about 82 I am hoping to get at least another month of swimming in.  Alternate days I am focusing on improving and increasing my running.  Its time to start looking at some 5ks as fall is THE 5k season!  For anyone interested, just google 5ks in your area and you should have no problem finding a bunch of them.  Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas time usually make for some really fun runs.  Locally we have the turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning, and IF I am not hosting the holiday this year, I will definitely be doing that one.  There is also the jingle bell jog in December, which is actually the first 5k I ever participated in thanks to some old gym friends that I will always be grateful to.  My greatest advice on getting started with running is to think of it like walking…one foot in front of the other.  I think with all types of exercise it is better to do a little less and say “I could have done more,” than to do too much and put yourself out of commission!  My approach to getting fit is probably the extreme opposite of someone like Jillian Michaels.  I don’t really want you puking or killing yourself in order to get in shape, but her approach does seem to work quite well for the severely obese, which is generally NOT my clientele.  Thankfully there is a lid for every pot.

Speaking of Ms. Michaels, and Bob Harper (who I know has become a vegan and I wonder how this will impact his take on what his team eats this season) tomorrow night starts season 10 of THE BIGGEST LOSER.  I can hardly wait!  If summer has to turn to fall, I am grateful for the return of the show to usher it in.  Watching the contestants lift, run, push, pull, climb, row, ride, step, box, balance, swim and so much more, I am always brought to tears by the positive changes in their bodies and their brains!  Watching them helps me push my students, clients and myself just a little more.  My goal is for all of us to achieve those positive changes.

Everywhere you look, every page you turn, experts are touting the benefits of healthy eating and exercise.  Though people will always try to sell hocus-pocus,  (have you seen the infomercial for Sensa…just sprinkle it on and the pounds melt off–yeah, right!)  we are all smart enough to know that HEALTHY weight loss/maintenance and healthy bodies aren’t magical.  Get off your butt and get moving.  Whatever your body is capable of doing, just do it–today–and most every day.