by Dan | Mar 18, 2018 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
Yesterday was St. Patrick’s day, and also Sarah’s birthday! We had a great run in the AM! We were originally supposed to go to SF to run the Irishman there…a 5 mile run, then later a 5k run, followed several hours later with a 1 mile run. We did not make it down due to the weather there…rain, becoming ice, so we did not take a chance. Quite a few of us who were going to go down decided to stay back, and we got together Saturday morning to run the 9.1 miles here. Then, we all went out to celebrate Sarah’s birthday! It wa a lot of fun. We do a lot of talking on these run club runs. You get to figure out and hear how everybody else is doing. You listen to issues…both good and bad…that someone else is having to deal with, and you support each other. I love these runs because I get to run with Sarah! I have said many times she is my “one and only”, my forever partner…with everything. Someday one of us is not going to be here. This may be reality, but not something I really want to spend a lot of time worrying about. I am going to take advantage of all of the moments we have together…now! I can’t even imagine doing something, or going somewhere, without having her come along. I would be totally lost. I love her beyond words! We are working on 28 years of marriage…I am saying “I do” now, just like I did back in 1990!
She looks just as beautiful to me now as she did on our wedding day! That is why I do all this activity…working out…trying to stay healthy. I want to spend as many days as I can with her, and my kids. I want to experience as much of life as I can. I want to be able to say that I have no regrets. So I throw out a challenge to all of you: “What are you waiting for?” “What excuse do you come up with now to not get started?” When is the right time for you?” The right time is now! There is no excuse for waiting. Time goes by so fast, that if you are not careful, you are going to miss some of the most important times in your life! Plus…you may not have as many days in which to enjoy all of those extra activities that you want to do if you don’t care of yourself. Appreciate what you have, and who you have in your life, everyday! Your spouse, your kids, the rest of your family, your friends…anybody who is a part of your life! And then continue to keep showing them how much you appreciate them!
These were the flowers I had sent for Sarah for her birthday. Never stop showing how much you love somebody. I don’t want her having any regrets either. Does this mean we don’t ever have any tough times? Any arguments? Please…we are human. Every couple goes through tough situations, but you stay together because the bond you have together is so much stronger. Our wedding announcement had this saying on the cover: “Two hearts that beat as one!” Right on! Forever!
The older we get, the more I realize how time goes fast! Really fast! So fasten your seat belts, stay healthy by working on your diet, exercising, and spending the time with those people who are important to you! Then, you can always say with confidence, “I did the best I could, and I have no regrets”. No regrets! Strive to Survive…I have been saying that for years. Hopefully, I don’t just say it, but live it! I continue to tell my patients this all of the time. “If I can do it, so can you!” No more excuses! What are you waiting for? Nobody is going to do it for you! Enjoy all of the experiences life has to offer, with the people who mean more to you than anything. I love you Sarah, and want to have many more years, and celebrations with you! I am going to keep working on it as well to help ensure that I do everything in my power to make that happen! Keep moving everybody…and don’t take anything for granted!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3812
by Dan | Mar 11, 2018 | Equipment, Exercise, Goals, Heart Health, Holidays, Motivation, weight lifting, Wellness/Health
Sarah and I had a great vacation in Jamaica recently, but being on vacation does not mean we have to take a break from working out. It is always part of our daily routine, and being on vacation was no exception. We did one excursion off of the resort, and went horseback riding one morning. We have done this before, and was a lot of fun, but also forgot what different muscles it takes in your legs to do this. We both felt this afterwards! Here we are getting to ride the horses in the ocean.
There was plenty of walking to do on the resort as well. The main areas to eat were up on a hill, so there were plenty of stairs to use to get to the different restaurants, and then again back down to the beach.
We normally would first go hit the gym they had their when we got up in the morning to start the day. They had several treadmills, bikes, steppers, and weights. We could always find something to use that morning.
Following this we would eat breakfast, and go hit the beach for the day. Relax, read, take a nap, then repeat for lunch. We had the rest of the day to take it easy, so getting our workout done first thing was no problem. There were no alarm clocks on vacation…we just got up when we felt like it. Sarah the one afternoon joined in on a yoga session on the dock over the ocean. I just watched!
The rest of the time we spent just watching the ocean, relaxing, and taking in the scenery, and peace and quiet. It was a great vacation…but we still found the time to exercise, and when it is a part of your regular routine, it was not hard to continue doing then as well. It is a great way to start each day. Then spend the rest of the day relaxing.
Enjoy your vacations…but you can still eat well, splurge a little, and still exercise. Otherwise, it is just another reason to have to use an excuse for! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3812
by Dan | Mar 4, 2018 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
It was time for a break from the cold, and just get somewhere warm, listen to an ocean, and relax!
Sarah and I spent the last week in Jamaica taking in all of the sun, sand, and sea! A great escape, and a great time. For all of us, vacations are necessities, not luxuries. Nothing clears your mind more than such sitting back, relaxing, listening to the ocean, and reading for fun! For Fun! Taking walks along the beach was also very relaxing…
Just closing your eyes and listening…listening to the waves crash along shore, and just losing yourself in your own thoughts. Time to relax, time to forget all of the pressures of work, and just do nothing! I hate taking a vacation, and doing a lot of things, and then feeling like I need a vacation when I get back. All I wanted to do was get out of the cold, sit and relax, and just take it easy! No plans. No agenda. We just did what we wanted. Read, relaxed, ate…repeat.
We were gone a week, but the time just flew. It is amazing how relaxing watching the ocean can be, and also, just listening to it. I guess I did not realize how tired I really was! Here are some of the views we got to see everyday.
We all need a time to get away, to forget all of the pressures we have with everyday life, and just lose ourselves, and leave all of our worries behind. No pressures. No deadlines. No life or death situations. Nothing works better for getting your battery charged up, and get ready to come back and take on the world again.
This was one of my views for part of the vacation. Peace and quiet! We all need that “escape from reality” at times. To clear our head, spend time with someone close to you, and take it easy. Vacation! This next quote pretty much sums it up!
Don’t forget to take some time for a vacation. Even though it is a time to relax, it does not mean you still can’t find ways to exercise, and continue working on being healthy. Next week I will show you what we did to keep active as well. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3805
by Dan | Feb 18, 2018 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health, Winter
Wednesday this last week was a perfect break from the cold weather. It was around 40 degrees, and was perfect for a run. We were all fired up to get out and enjoy the break in the below zero stretch.
We were all thrilled to get outside, and not have frost build-up with our face, or eyes. If felt like Spring out there! Nothing like having anywhere from a 60-80 degree shift in the temp, for the positive, to get everybody fired up to go out and exercise.
It did not last very long, but then again, we are still in February. But, we will take these days whenever we can. This AM was a good day as well, still above zero, 28 degrees! It was windy, but nothing like what we have put up with this Winter so far!
When it comes to running, you learn to take the good weather days, along with the bad. When we have these bad stretches, the more we appreciate the good days. It does not matter if we are running, biking, or walking, or just being outside. The weather improvement does more for your health, attitude, and mind than any medication could ever do! Spring will come, we just have to be patient yet. Hopefully the long stretches of the really cold stuff is getting closer to being done, but we will have to see. If the weather is too bad outside, you just need to find a different alternative to find to be active inside. Partner up with somebody, whether meeting to workout inside, or going outside. It always is easier with somebody else. That is what makes our run club so enjoyable. You are never alone. You keep motivating each other to keep going. It is also easier to show up yourself when you know somebody else is counting on you to be there to help them too. And, the weather really helps!
Life will get warmer! The good/better days are coming. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3791
by Dan | Feb 11, 2018 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
The weather has been something to be desired of lately. The extreme cold makes it very difficult to get motivated to get outside, and the treadmill gets incredibly boring after a while. If it would not be for our run club, I would not be outside on Sundays either. Last Sunday was a perfect example of this. -7 degree temp, with -30 degree wind chill! No way I would have gone out their on my own otherwise. That is what makes is so special having a training partner, or a group of dedicated friends who help push each other to get out there and get it done. More important though, we enjoy just getting together and going for a run, and talk. We get each other caught up on the latest things that have been going on for each of us. We get to vent…chat…support…and listen to each. We just have to be prepared to handle the cold weather as well. If you are smart, it can still be done, but you have to be safe too.
This was our dedicated group last week. You can see the frost built up on us, and eyelashes covered with frost. We stood still long enough to take the picture, and then got in the car and left to go warm up. Yes it was cold…but still worth getting out with our group. Those of us who finished first still cheered on the rest of us coming in after.
When we got done running, several of us were able to head to Caribou for a coffee and a time to get warm. One of our members Jason, just had surgery the week before for his hip, and we wanted to see how he was doing. He could at least join us for coffee, as did Paula. It was also another great opportunity to talk and laugh, and yet be warm. One thing is for sure, we may all be a part of this because we like to run, but this is not about running. This is about friends being there for each other, and helping each other achieve goals, many of which may be similar, but yet, many are still different. We support each other as a group, but can still all be individuals. We are all living life to the fullest. No excuses! All working together, yet individually. That is what is nice about running. If fulfills all of this. We are all working on our own health as well. Some days are easier than others, no question. But the good days far outweigh the bad.
If you are around here, join us sometime. We meet during the Winter every Sunday at 7AM, and then starting in the Spring we will start meeting out at Jackson Park, same day and time. We also start adding Wednesday evenings at 5:30 PM at Brown Clinic Northridge parking lot. You don’t know what you are missing until you come and give us a try. Our run club achieved some amazing goals last year, not only individually, but as a group as a whole. That was our biggest achievement…our group as a whole. We ran to Team FARA…Friedreich’s Ataxia…to support members of our own community. Don’t ever tell a small group, or a small community, that you can’t achieve big things! We did…and I have written about those accomplishments in the past. That is what running with friends can accomplish. Nothing can stop us! And that goes for all of you too…regardless of the weather or conditions…so keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3784
