by Dan | Sep 29, 2013 | Exercise, Goals, Heart Health, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
Life is busy. This never changes. The weather is starting to get cooler, and you can tell we are in the Autumn season. When everything is changing color, it is easy to get lost in amazement going outside. Take advantage of these changes. Time to commit yourself to change. Go out walking, biking, whatever. Go out and sit and watch, and take time to think! Before too long we will be stuck inside, just looking out at snow. Go out by the bike trail, pull up a chair by the lake, and just take it in. It is amazing how your mind just takes off, and you can think, relax, figure out things in your life. Soak it up. Everybody needs this time to reflect, and slow down from a fast paced life.
When you take some time to explore, you never know where that path is going to take you. When I am out running, biking, or walking, it is a great time for me to stay healthy, but it is my time to relax, think, and reflect on things for the day. I especially like it early in the morning, and it is quiet, before everybody else is out and about. I can plan for the day. Think about what lies ahead, and what I may do under certain situations. It is relaxing, yet I am working out. Once you get in the habit of this, you will know exactly what I am talking about. Get out and enjoy the changes of the season, and let your mind go!. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2195
by Dan | Sep 25, 2013 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
My early morning run this AM marked the end of 6 years of consecutive daily execise! I began this goal on September 26, 2007. My initial plan was to see if I could accomplish a year in a row. I have to say, that first year was the hardest thing I have ever done! Now, it is habit. I plan for my workouts, and have had to learn to be flexible in the plan, and remember to just go out and move. I have many people to thank, including my training partners over the years. They include my dog Buddy; Tom Beaudry; Steve Hauck; all three of my kids, Molly, Megan, and Nick. But I owe the most gratitude to my wife, Sarah.
Without all of her help… the things she has helped finish at home, with the kids, whatever it took…so it helped allow me time to go workout. There is no doubt, this relationship is a team effort…with everything we do! I can’t thank her enough, and am so lucky and grateful to have her as my wife! She is always by my side, whether running with me, or cheering me on. This goal would not have been achievable, and would not be able to continue to go forward without all of the help she has given me.
Here we are on the bus going to Disney after just finishing the marathon. We have been able to do a lot things, and see many places over the years because of our interest in exercise, and staying fit. Hopefully the adventures still continue. Who knows how far this consecutive streak will go. At this point, it is now a habit, and will just plan on it every day like I have been. Hopefully, I will have Sarah at my side for the majority of it as well! Thank you Sarah! Love ya! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2191
by kelsey | Sep 19, 2013 | Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
I apologize for my lack of posts the last week or so! It’s been a fun and crazy time for me and I am finally getting a chance to post about it! Our fall session of STRIVE 2 Survive started on the 10th and we have a really great group of people that we are excited to work with! They are all off to a great start by working on their diets, working on getting more activity, and taking those necessary strides to improve their health and wellness! The start of a new group is always exciting as we get to meet and work with more people and we all have one thing in common: the desire to learn more about improving our health and wellness!
The rest of my week was even more exciting as I celebrated my 10 year class reunion with my classmates from Watertown High School. It’s hard to believe we’re that old already, but we had a really great turn out and a blast catching up with everyone! This picture was taken by classmate Jenna Bakke Ryan, who so graciously volunteered her photography skills. I may be biased, but I think we look pretty good for 10 years post high school! 🙂
My weekend continued to be exciting as my mom’s family got together for a family reunion in her hometown of Madison. My mom is one of 10 children (two have passed away, so there’s 8 now) and since we are all getting older and families continue to expand, we don’t always see each other real often, which makes gatherings extra special, especially when my grandma will be celebrating her 87th birthday next month! Below is a picture of Grandma and most of her grandkids and great grandkids (we’re missing about 8 others!).
All of these special events serve as a reminder to celebrate life and live each day to it’s fullest. Take time to visit and catch up with old friends and family and most importantly take good care of yourself! Putting our health as a priority will help keep you healthy and strong and able to enjoy all of these great things in life! I know some may feel like eating healthy or exercising is a dreadful thing, but we have to adjust and learn how to make it more fun and enjoyable as these habits truly are the key to a long and healthy life! I hope I get to celebrate my 87th birthday someday too and I know making healthy lifestyle choices will surely help!
-Kelsey
by Dan | Sep 18, 2013 | Exercise, Motivation, Wellness/Health
Cross Country season is well under way, and last weekend the Watertown CC teams were in SF for the Augustand invitational. There were quite a few big schools from around the state there. If was great weather, overcast, light winds, and temp in the 60’s. Here is the girls team prior to getting ready for the start of their race. Getting loose and acting goofy! There is never a shortage of members on the girls team that don’t smile for the camera when they see one.
Now the boys turn. Here they are doing some high kicks, and wind sprints, getting ready for their race. The one thing about Cross County…each person not only competes as an individual, but also as a team. They work together, compete together, and support each other. Runners are unique individuals. You get to show how tough you are in the races, yet still have fun. Besides, it is a great way to still stay in shape once the high school and college days are over as well. There are always races going on, whether for competition, or just for fun. Take advantage of them, and the support you get from the crowds watching, as well as other participants in the race. You can walk or run. Just remember: Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2184
by Dan | Sep 2, 2013 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
This past saturday we went to Brookings to see our daughter for college, and we all entered a fun run while we were there…A Color Run! We had never done one before, and it was quite the experience. Here is Molly and Sarah’s view afterwards!
We did a lot of laughing, but Molly was not so sure when some boys were walking by. Here they are at the start…
We were each given a packet of color corn starch, and could start throwing on people even before the start of the race. It was a 5k race, or 500o meters, and it was not timed, but just for fun. Every 1000 meters, there would be a group of people to throw another color on you. We had blue, yellow, pink, and orange, and the mixture of them created green as well.
It was fun to try, and say we have done one. It was kind of a mess driving back home. It took several showers to get it all out. Especially tough getting the color out of your ears and nose! There were at least several hundred people there, all laughing and out to get some activity. These color runs are charity runs, and proceeds from this were going to benefit those with Myasthenia Gravis. Overall, it is a good way to get people to get out and move. There are no times reported, just go out and run/walk, and getting covered in colors! Try one sometime! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2168
by kelsey | Aug 29, 2013 | Diet, Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
One of my favorite parts of my job is that I get to help people. I have always been a people person and grew up in a household where I learned the joy you can receive from helping others at a young age (thanks Mom and Dad!). Weight loss and improved nutrition is a tough thing. I have personally struggled with it at times and know from personal experience and helping others…it’s never easy. Changing your lifestyle is truly challenging and it’s even more challenging with all of the temptations we have in our society to encourage us to over-indulge! Throughout our 12 week wellness program, we tell our participants that we never expect all of our recommendations to happen overnight that instead we encourage you to work on a few things at one time and gradually those baby steps will add up to big steps and big successes. Honestly, I would rather see a slow and steady weight loss that takes longer than the participant would probably like, than a quick weight loss that is eventually gained back.
My day was made yesterday when I got an email from Denise Hoff. Denise was in our winter STRIVE 2 Survive program last year and has made some pretty incredible improvements in her health. Denise gave me permission to share her success with you all as in her own words “maybe it will motivate someone else who thinks they are too big or too old to start.” 🙂
Denise has now lost about 17lbs and dropped 12.5″ total (waist, hips, bust, thighs, arms)…4 of the 12.5″ are off her waist! She was never a runner, but thanks to our team’s inspiration, she ran her first 5k with her daughter last weekend (see the picture!). She said they had a great mother/daughter time and as she ran, she was proud to say she was able to keep a stride and actually pass others! 🙂 Denise started to run one block at a time. Her initial goal was a half of a mile, then one mile, then 1 1/2 miles, etc. She broke it down so it didn’t seem so overwhelming and set a goal of running a 5k with the encouragement and support of us and her family…she accomplished it successfully and is now looking forward to doing more 5ks! In addition to the improvement in her weight and waist circumference, her lab values have also improved as she dropped her total cholesterol about 50points, which is now well into the normal range and has kept her blood sugar and blood pressure in normal ranges also. As you can see from the timeline, these changes didn’t happen overnight, but she slowly worked at it and has achieved great success in the last 6-8 months and looks forward to continuing to work on her health and wellness goals. In Denise’s words “Thanks for being so supportive and encouraging. I hope the next time you see me, you will have to take a double look as I am hoping to look smaller and more fit.”
As we approach the start of our fall session of STRIVE 2 Survive, I hope Denise’s testimony shows you the benefits you can receive from our wellness program and our team’s education, support, and encouragement. If you see Denise on the street, be sure to congratulate her on her success! We are very proud of her!
Fall STRIVE starts September 10th…contact us today to get enrolled!!
-Kelsey
