by Dan | May 3, 2015 | Etc.
Friday and Saturday this week was Nick’s final Howard Wood meet. The weather was very good…in fact, it was very warm for a typical Howard Wood. Usually it is raining, cold, windy, but he got to go out with nice weather. Their medley relay won their heat, but just fell out of the top 8 overall. Even so, they got to experience winning the heat. Here is Nick coming down the final stretch to the finish line. Determination…power…concentration. It take it all, and when in a relay, it takes all of that from everybody on the relay…but particularly, team work. You depend on each other, finish with each other, and win or lose with each other. It also creates memories that keep on going as well…this month will continue in the series of finals for Nick. I am proud of him…can you tell? However he finishes, I want him to have had fun, experience team work, as well as individual achievement. Running can accomplish all of this. But most of all, cherish memories that will go well beyond the moment…memories to look back on and smile, and be proud, and know that you gave it your all! We all can learn from this. We may never win, but that is not really the point. Life is an experience, and we need to experience to the maximum. Enjoy all of it! Keep moving everybody!
Below are pictures from the meet.
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise day #: 2774
by kelsey | Apr 29, 2015 | Etc.
The South Dakota Department of Health and SDSU Extension Services are mobilizing a statewide
campaign to implement and sustain Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self-Management
Program, referred to as Better Choices, Better Health® South Dakota. The program is designed
to help people gain self-confidence in their ability to manage their symptoms related to chronic
conditions and understand how their health problems affect their lives.
Basic Program Information
Better Choices, Better Health® South Dakota is an interactive workshop offered once a week for
6 weeks. Each session is 2 ½ hours long. Trained leaders, many of whom are volunteers and have
a chronic illness themselves, will facilitate the workshops, which are not disease specific. During a
workshop, you may meet individuals with arthritis, diabetes, heart disease or breathing problems,
as well as others who have been diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions.
Better Choices, Better Health® SD is appropriate for anyone looking for better ways to cope with
chronic conditions, and to learn how to better care for themselves or a loved one.
Topics Addressed During Better Choices, Better Health® SD Workshops
The emphasis of the workshops’ curriculum is not designed to help people to learn more about
chronic conditions, but rather to learn the skills and tools to better manage those conditions.
Participants will learn skills such as:
Using your mind to manage your symptoms.
Communicating with friends, family, and providers.
Dealing with anger, depression, and other difficult emotions.
Designing and maintaining a healthy eating and exercise plan.
Managing pain and fatigue.
Goal setting, problem solving, and coping.
Relaxing and stress management skills.
Appropriate use of medications.
What Better Choices, Better Health is looking for from you:
The folks organizing this effort are looking for lay leaders–ie, people who not working in a medical profession to go through training to help lead the course. The course is scripted and led by lay leaders, so they are currently looking for individuals interested to help lead the course in Watertown. This program is separate and a completely different program from our STRIVE 2 Survive, but still has the same purpose to help people learn how to improve their health and wellness. We do not feel this program is competition to our STRIVE 2 Survive since it is a completely different type of program, which is why we wanted to share the information with you. The cost for participants is $10 for the 6 week sessions. There is compensation available for the leaders. If you are at all interested in becoming a leader, please contact
Lori Oster at RN@osterconsulting.com or 605-627-3061
Megan Olesen at Megan.Olesen@sdstate.edu or 1-888-484-3800
They need to find leaders before they can implement the program in Watertown, so we are helping them get the word out.
You can also learn more at their website: goodandhealthysd.org.
-Kelsey
by Dan | Apr 27, 2015 | Etc.
My son Nick had his last Prom this weekend. He had a great time, and Sarah and I helped out at the after prom party. This is the beginning of some final events of his senior year. He will graduate on the 24th of May, and then his final state track meet the last weekend in May in Rapid City. Where has the time gone? There were enough times throughout his 18 years where you think things went slowly, and then you look back, and it’s over! Make the most of those memories and times with your family, kids, grandkids…each has there own rewards. Each will have lasting memories. That is the point of me exercising all of these years…trying to stay healthy enough to make sure I am around to be able to see all of these events…events that create lasting memories. I would not trade it for anything! This is what life is about. Take advantage of all of those moments…many of them only come once! Appreciate your family, spend time together, enjoy life! Below are a few pictures from the night. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2768
by Dan | Apr 19, 2015 | Etc.
We all have our degree of stress in our lives, and there are multiple ways of dealing with it. As long as we truly find a way to deal with it! It is easy to let things in life take over, with multiple things that have to get done, both for work, and at home. It don’t effectively figure out how to manage it effectively, it can have major ramifications to our overall health. The whole point of STRIVE to help maintain our health, so figuring out how to effectively deal with stress is a major factor. For me, exercise has been the most effective way of dealing with all of the pressures of everyday life. It is my time for me, to relax, sweat a little, and work out my frustrations from the day or week while I am out either running, biking, or walking. Which type of exercise it is really does not make much difference. My favorite is still running. My solitude…my time to reflect…my time to take in my own piece of the world, and figure out how I am going to deal with it. Running along the trails, and along Lake Kampeska can be some of the most relaxing time to think. Unfortunately, we have our fair share of wind here to contend with, but on those days when the wind is calm, the temperatures are in the 50-60’s, it is as close to perfection as I can get. Just take in all of the surroundings, enjoy what I am seeing, and let my mind go…as well as my legs! There was a day about 2 weeks ago that was as close to perfection as I have had in a while. The water at the lake was so calm it looked like glass. These are some images of the lake along the new boardwalk at City Park. Serene! This is truly why I run! Pictures really can say a 1000 words! Here were some of those images I got to take in on that run…Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2760
by Dan | Apr 12, 2015 | Etc.
Over the years, I have had numerous training partners. All of them have been a vital factor in staying motivated to exercise. But more important, all of them have been great friends that I have had life lasting relationships with. They all have been great, and someone that I could depend on, not only as a training partner, but as a friend. Each training partner brings with them their own unique qualities, and their own unique insight, not only with exercise, but with life. Just to name a few: Tom, Steve, Sarah, and Buddy, who is now gone, and is being substituted now for Zeus. My tried and true training partner has always been Sarah…through thick and thin, good times and bad times (and I thought this only qualified for marriage!) We have all been through lots of weather, obstacles, and tribulations, but we have remained forever bonded, with life long memories created. If you do not have a training partner, get somebody! Someone who can help motivate you, keep that drive in you going, who will always be there for you. Then, you just need to return the favor for them. We can all work together. Training partners can help you keep moving and staying healthy. After all is said and done, they become much more than training partners…they become lifelong friends! Keep moving everybody! Below are some pictures of my current training partners: Sarah and Zeus!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2753
by kelsey | Mar 31, 2015 | Etc.
Do you have your Easter baskets all ready for the little (or big) kids in your life? Easter baskets are usually filled with all kinds of goodies and I like to think of them being just as exciting as getting your Christmas stocking! My family has all kinds of funny stories about the big search for finding our Easter baskets and of course what we find inside is even more exciting! The candy aisles at the store are filled with all kinds of goodies, but let us not forget that there are plenty of other non-junk food options to fill your Easter baskets with. Here are some ideas for you:
- Sidewalk chalk
- Color Dotz by Crayola (color your bath water with them!)
- Books
- Coloring books
- Stuffed animals
- Sunglasses
- Shoes
- Socks
- Hair accessories for girls
- Mini cars or planes for boys
- Nail polish
- Gift certificate to the movies or iTunes
- Magazine subscription
- Jump rope
- Yo-yo
- Pencils, crayons, markers
It’s ok to enjoy a little candy, but be sure to include some of these other goodies to help make your Easter baskets a bit healthier! And more importantly, remember the real meaning of celebrating Easter!
-Kelsey
