by Dan | Feb 5, 2017 | Equipment, Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, weight lifting, Wellness/Health, Winter
We all have things we would like to accomplish. We all have ways that we think will help to get there. But, one of our main obstacles is our own mind. We start doubting ourselves, we think we can’t do it…we are afraid. Each of us needs to find our inner courage to be able to accomplish those things we want in our lives. It always helps to have the support of family and friends to help get there as well.
Get past our fears, and start looking at the positives that can come out of it. We will have more strength, energy, and overall live a more happy life because we are getting past our fears, and living our dreams. We have to think of all of the obstacles that we may encounter, and what we may need to do to get past that, or come up with an alternative instead.
When we live in South Dakota, weather is always a factor. If we did not get out to exercise because of the cold, we would miss 6 months of the year! Now, whether we are outside in extreme conditions or not, we need to come up with alternatives that would work that we could still exercise, and keep moving. Anything inside…a stationary bike, a treadmill, a soft mat or carpet to do body weight exercise, and even lifting weights in general.
I found out for myself that I had to work at it continuously when it came to working out with weights. I was out of my element. After I got going on it, I found it to be very enjoyable, and it also helped work on other areas that running, walking, or biking did not utilize. You definitely get sore in areas you did not know you even had doing this. But, that is always what keeps things more interesting…you get to experience and do different things that you normally would not have done.
But again, in order to accomplish this, you have to get past your fears, find your inner courage, and get creative. Do different things. You never know, you may come across something with exercise that you really enjoy, and that would work into your schedule, and…have fun with! Finding that courage though is the challenge.
Get past your own mind as the obstacle. If you can dream it, you can do it. There are always problems that come up, but there are always solutions! You just have to keep working on the solutions until you find the right one! Once you do this, your life opens up, and allows you to experience a whole different world. It allows you to become better!
If we did not have dreams, life would be pretty boring. All of us want to have a better life, a more fulfilled life, but we may not always want to put in the effort or work to accomplish it. More often though, we are afraid to try, afraid of what somebody else may think or say, so we quit. Don’t ever let anybody else dictate what should or should not be with your own life! You are in the drivers seat…you are the one this is about. Dream, and dream big! Then, have the courage to keep going, and working, and adjusting, and adapting, and then…enjoying you! Find the courage that will make you…a better you! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3418
by Dan | Aug 24, 2014 | Equipment, Exercise, Goals, Heart Health, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
Today was the 30th Annual Lake Kampeska Hy-Vee mini triathon. It was originally scheduled for the second saturday in July, but we were stormed out for that day, and it was postponed to today. Weather started out great, but as the morning went on the wind picked up. We were done with the majority of it before it got too strong. Here is our bikes in the transition station…Sarah and I.
It is a broader view of the transition station, and the finish line. It started to get warm by the time we were getting done, but the weather overall was still very nice. And it was not raining! It was a good turnout again. We all start with a 1/4 mile swim, followed by a 14 mile bike ride around the lake, and then finish with a 5K run.
One of our memeber of the Watertown Area Run club, Jill, set out her things at the transtion station. Talk about organization! You want to have everything set and easily accessible so you can change shoes, and gear for each of the phases. The time for the finish is from the start to the finish line. There is no break in time for the transition stations. You want to move as fast as you can in between because the clock is still moving. Most of us can be proficient in 1 or 2 of the events, and have a weak event for the 3rd phase. My weak phase is the swim. Thank heaven for the Reiffenberger stroke in the swim…stand up and run like he…!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2522
by Dan | Jun 22, 2014 | Equipment, Exercise, Family, Goals, Heart Health, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
It is officially Summer time! Get outside and enjoy the weather when it is nice. Here Zeus is taking Sarah for a walk. He is ready to go, holding the leash in his mouth. He starts out of the gates strong, but then starts to fade before too long.
He is still leading the pack, but we get about a 1/4 mile down the trail, and he has to rest, and looks at us thinking “you can carry me anytime now!” We just take a rest, then go off again. His stamina is increasing, just like all of us when we start out. We have to start slow, keep going, and then gradually keep increasing the time. Walking, running, biking…whatever! Just get out and move!
After our run this AM with the running club, I took off on my bike around the lake..15 miles. Great day for a ride.
There is a variety of activities to do, just take advantage of this time of year, and get out. Take your spouse, kids, significant other, friend, pets, other relatives…whoever! Motivate each other to keep going. Enjoy the weather while we can. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2459
by Dan | Dec 6, 2013 | Equipment, Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health, Winter
The cold has been terrible right now to try and go outside and run. I can put up with a lot of extremes with the temperature, but when it gets this cold, with windchills -25 degrees or worse, then it becomes more an issue of safety as well. That does not mean you cannot find alternatives way to exercise.
This morning was the perfect time to ultilize my membership at Anytime Fitness. Warm environment, with plenty of equipment to use, and other people working out at the same time. This works great during the cold, but not everybody has this ability. There are different types of exercise equipment you can purchase that is very inexpensive, or that you can even create/make on your own. We teach this also in our Strive 2 Survive program. I have equipment of my own that I utilize as well.
I have built this up over the years, and it is equipment that either I, or someone in my family utilizes frequently. Even though we have this, sometimes you just need to do something different in order to keep the interest and the motivation there. When the weather is not like it is now, I will be outside. I love looking around at everything when working out. It takes your mind off what you doing, and it goes by so much faster. You can also go indoors at the mall and go walk around. You have a long enough route to be making laps. Just leave your money at home so you are not tempted to spend every time you do this! Whatever it takes, there is always a right time for fitness: Anytime! It is up to you as to how and where you want to do the exercise at. Good luck! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2264
by Dan | Aug 8, 2013 | Equipment, Exercise, Goals, Wellness/Health
This afternoon was a perfect day to go for a bike ride! Nice temps, not too windy. Very quiet. Sarah and I are getting ready to participate in the Gran Fondo tour de Prairie. I will be doing the Gran Fondo, 104 mile bike ride, and Sarah the Gran Medio, 68 mile ride. We will be riding as medical personnel on the course. This is a lot different from a marathon. I feel OK that my legs will be fine, and cardiovascular wise, will be fine. The main issue will be my butt! I did a 50 mile ride this afternoon, and it took me 3 hours and 4 minutes. Half way! That is a lot of sit time. I just made some adjustments to my bike, and the best one was…
…a new bike seat! Boy, has that made a huge difference already. Keep in mind for anybody who still wants to register for this. You can get on the web site of the Watertown Bike Club. There is an icon in the top right corner. There is the 104 mile ride, the 68 mile ride, which Sarah is doing, and a 30 mile ride. Registration deadline is Aug 12, and the event is saturday, August 17, start and finish at the high school. It is a great way to exercise and see the sites of South Dakota.
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2143
by Dan | Apr 14, 2013 | Equipment, Exercise, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
With the weather we are having, it is easy to have all the excuses come out as to why you can’t exercise. “I am sick of snow!; I am too tired!; It is too cold; It is too windy; The sun is not out; I have too many other things to get done.” And on and on it goes. Believe me, I think I have used all of these at one time, plus about 1,000 others. If we waited for the perfect moment, we would never get out the door. Now, I am the first to admit, I am really tired of this weather too. It makes it very hard to get motivated to get outside. So, if the weather is not cooperating, then keep it inside yet.
Get on the treadmill, or the bike, and put on the TV or the radio, or use your ipod. Whatever it takes to help keep your mind off of the activity. I just got some DVD’s to use that have me running or walking out in the woods, or in California along the ocean. You literally get to follow along with someone else walking or running. They have a music background, so you can just lose yourself in the scenery, and it is the next best thing to being outside. The more you can keep your mind interested in something, the easier it gets. Which brings up some topics to discuss. What do you think about when you are out walking, running, or biking? What do you think of during that 20 or 30 minutes of time? Or if you are doing a marathon, like Steve and I, what do you think about during a 3-3 1/2 hour run? I will fill you in on what I think about, but would like to hear what you keeps you going as well. Stay tuned for future posts on this. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2027
