by Dan | Apr 1, 2018 | Exercise, Family, Motivation, Wellness/Health
How many of us have pets? If you do, you know how important they are to you, and that they at truly part of the family. When something happens to them, it can really disrupt the entire family. We had a recent scare with our Zeus. He had been limping starting about 6 weeks ago. Really mild first, then about 3 weeks ago, was constant. We took him to the vet, and had X-rays done. He is not the most cooperative when it comes to this, but they were worried that his femur was thinning, and was worrisome first for osteosarcoma…cancer. They wanted to check again in 3 weeks, and if it truly was this, it would be progressive, as this is very aggressive. We had been preparing ourselves for the worst. After all, it was getting worse as to how much he was using this during this past 3 weeks. Our appointment was Thursday this past week, and we did not think we were going to be bringing him back home…at all. It was a roller coaster 3 weeks. Tears were shed, the kids were all very upset as well. Well, we took him in, and had him sedated so we could get a more thorough evaluation, and better X-rays, because if we were going to have to put him down, we wanted to be sure. It was not an osteosarcoma! He had a torn ligament in his knee, and was going to require surgery, which we did. We were able to bring him home yesterday. What a relief. We were all thrilled to have our “family member” back home. Once he heals up, we will be able to go walking with him again, but our running days with him are probably done. That is ok! If we could not walk with him, that would have been difficult…he loves to do this. This would have been agony for Zeus if he could not go walking. Here are some pictures, of each of us, with Zeus, and how important he is to the family…how he is a part of this family!
Here I am the night before we took him in on Thursday, thinking he would not be coming home. He knew something was up as well for how we were all acting. He was trying to comfort us as well, even if he may not have known what was all going on.
Zeus is a part of this family. We felt terrible, and were trying to figure out how we were going to accept it if we had to put him down. Thank God that did not have to happen. We love Zeus! He is vital component of this family.
He is our friend, companion, training partner, home protector…there to cheer us up any minute of any day. He is not just a dog, he is a part of this family! The sign hanging up at the Vet’s office says it all, so I had to take a picture.
Pretty much says it all! We love you Zeus. We get to have you a part of this family yet, and hopefully for a long time yet! You help us Strive to Survive. If you don’t have a pet, you are missing out on more than words can describe. We are thrilled to have him remain a part of this family! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3826
by Dan | Mar 25, 2018 | Equipment, Exercise, Family, Goals, Heart Health, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health, Winter
What are you waiting for? I tell my patients this many times when it comes to getting ready to make a change in their life, and work on diet and activity. I hear all kinds of excuses: It is too cold; it is too icy; it is too hot; it is too wet; I have this big project to get done at work; as soon as things slow down with my kids activities; I don’t have enough time; trying to exercise costs too much; and on, and on, and on! Always an excuse. I hate to tell everybody this, but there is always something that will come up in your life that will get in the way. We are all busy. But, we all have the same hours in the day as everybody else. It is time to make a commitment, and get fired up about it!
This was me after finishing the Dopey Challenge at Disney in January…a 5k on Thursday, a 10k on Friday, a half marathon on Saturday, and a marathon on Sunday. This was me after crossing the finish line of the marathon. I did it! I set a goal, worked for, and completed it! We all need to set a goal. We all need something to shoot for, whatever that may be for all of us. We are all on a different level, and at a different stage in our lives. Only we as individuals know what each of us is going through. Nobody is in our shoes. You can either do something about, and keep complaining about your situation. Exercise is also a good escape mechanism. The weather is not always going to cooperate with us either, especially in South Dakota.
I took this yesterday as we got hit with out Winter storm, during the first week of Spring! Life, and weather, does not always cooperate. But, if we wait until the weather is perfect, we will never get started. It will just serve as another excuse. It was no different when our run group met this morning for our weekly run. As far as the weather, the cold, the wind, the icy roads, nobody really wanted to be out there. If we had all been on our own, we would have probably struggled, and ended up doing something else. Yet, we were there for each, and because of that, we all got out the door. We were held accountable to each other, which can really help you get started on things when it comes to exercise.
Life is not always going to be easy…having time to daydream, and look at the ocean, and forget all of our problems. This works good as a vacation, or a break, or as a means to get our heads back on, but it is not going to be everyday. Things in everyday life get tough. Who needs to watch any of the reality TV shows now? Just wake up and face your own day. I think that is enough reality for all of us. Who needs to sit and watch about other peoples problems. Don’t we all have enough of our own? We can sit and choose to just sit there and dwell on it, or get off our butts and go do something about it. Will it be easy? Ha! Life is not easy, but getting out and exercising is a great stress reliever as well, and it can sure make your day go better, and more manageable as well.
Of course, there will be days where you wonder if it is all worth it. It is work! You are going to get tired! But, you are conditioning your body to handle anything that may come your way. You will be able to handle it better…tolerate it better…and feel better as well.
There will be days when you feel like you are “sucking air”, or just having every last bit of energy feel like it is being “sucked out of you”. Do something about it! You are in charge of you…nobody else. Be in the driver seat, and take control. You only live once, so what are you waiting for?
Sarah went to Huron this weekend to spend some time with her mom. They spent it quilting and sewing, and they both love this. But this morning, when the rest of here in Watertown were going out for a long run (we are getting ready for the Fargo Half Marathon in May!), Sarah went out by herself, and ran it by herself. Facing the cold, the wind, on her own. She had us back here, knowing we were doing the same thing, but it is tougher by yourself. How bad do you want something? What are you waiting for?’
When all is said and done, you will be happy you did it. You will feel better knowing your accomplished something that many other people would not even think of doing. Bottom line, you have to give it your all! You are the one who will benefit. You will have more energy. You will get to spend more quality time later with your friends and family. Time to reach for the top…your top! Where that is only you will know. Just don’t settle for something less than your best. Be happy with you! So come on…what are you waiting for?
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3819
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
