by Dan | Aug 19, 2013 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
My twin daughters are off to college this week, and everybody in the family is taking note, Buddy included. He can tell something is going on with all of the packing, and boxing up of things. Megan leaves tomorrow morning, tuesday, for George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Molly leaves this friday for SDSU in Brookings. Mom and dad are trying to figure out what we get to do with some more free time now. I see long bike rides, runs, walks together, and of course, keeping an eye on Nick yet as he will be a junior in high school.
Grandma Folk made the girls a going away college present…a quilt with their school colors on it. Here they are showing them off!
Megan is going to try joining the club sport of swimming at George Mason, and Molly will continue running on her own. Hopefully, we have set the tone for them going forward. They learn by watching, and seeing us work out everyday has to have some kind of dividends in their health going forward. Time will tell. We will keep going, and hopefully they follow. Some day I would like to run a marathon with my girls. I have a friend, Tom, who got to run one with his daughter. I think that would be really special. Good luck you two!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2154
by Dan | Aug 11, 2013 | Exercise, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
Spent a good portion of this weekend outside riding my bike. Last week of training before the Gran Fondo hundred mile next saturday here in town. The view around the lake this weekend was incredible. The winds were extremely calm, and the temperature was perfect. Spent some of it riding with Sarah, and a friend of ours was up this weekend camping with her family, Cory Ann, and she rode part of it with us. Cory Ann told me she is going to start her own consecutive exercise streak. So with this 2 days of bike riding with us, she now has …. 2 consecutive days! Woo hoo! Keep it going.
It is easy to get lost in the scenery as you are riding outside, or just spending time outside in general. There is no comparison to being on a treadmill, or stationary bike inside. There is always something to look at. The fields all look good, and you can see how everything is changing over the summer. I went by one field earlier where it was just covered in hay bales.
It was just peaceful to watch. Very quiet, other than the birds flying around. Lots to see in South Dakota. Get outside and take it all in!
Keep moving everybody!
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2146
Dr. Dan
by Dan | Aug 4, 2013 | Exercise, Family, Motivation, Wellness/Health
There have been so many activities going to this summer, that it has at times been hard to keep track of. But man has it been fun! Softball, swimming, running, biking…there has by no means been a shortage of things to do. What makes it even better as we have been able to do all of this as a family! Nick and Molly had softball all summer. Megan had her final season this summer swimming. 4 of the 5 of us competed in the Kampeska triathlon in July. There have been many running races, and bike race/events throughout the whole summer, and continuing on yet through the next several months. Parents out there…stay active right along with the kids. You have to stay in shape just to keep up with them! With all of these different events, the amount of people you meet and talk with has been too numerous to count. It is a great social event to be able to talk about not only your childrens health and how to maintain it, but yours as well! Here are some of the activities from this summer:
Here Megan is with a bunch of her swim friends, not only from Watetown, but from around the state while at the last day of the state swim meet at the end of July. Friends made forever!
Molly and Nick both played softball all summer, and here is Nick with his team mates as they won the 16 and under division at State softball tournament in July! Great memories.
Here I am with Nick, Sarah, and Molly (Megan was at a swim meet!) at the 2013 Kampeska triathlon! All four of us competed as individuals for the entire event…first time for Nick and Molly! It is a great way to spend time together as a family, and have some friendly competition. I was ahead of Nick the entire way, but he caught me on the run, and beat me by 3 seconds! I can’t run as fast anymore. I am just thrilled he loves it!
So summer can be very busy, but you can have a lot of fun. You have heard me before say that you need to take advantage of this weather while we have it. Get out there and enjoy it. Kids, keep moving. Parents, you set the example, and lead by example. You have heard me say this before too. Above all, have fun!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consectutive Exercise Day #: 2139
by kelsey | Jul 31, 2013 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
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No matter what time of the year it is, there’s always an excuse for not working out. In the winter, we complain about the snow, ice, and cold and in the summer we complain about the heat. There’s always going to be an excuse and the fact of the matter is, you just need to overcome those excuses and do it! Think about your goals and what steps need to be done to help you reach those goals. Break each step down and think critically about how you can overcome the barriers and be successful. It does take a little planning, motivation, and determination, but I guarantee you will feel great once you don’t let those excuses get in the way of your goals and success. Right now the temps have been a bit cooler so take advantage of it and get outside! When it gets hot again, you may consider taking your workout inside to a gym, mall (walking), or hit the pool for water aerobics or laps. Exercising early in the morning or later at night will also help as the temps are typically cooler during these times of the day. It doesn’t matter if you do 10 minutes or 40 minutes…something is better than nothing so stop letting your excuses get in the way of your success…just do it…you will feel much better afterwards! The time wasted thinking about it could be time spent doing it, so start slow and gradually work up your days and time to create a consistent workout schedule that promotes health and fitness! You CAN do it!
-Kelsey
by Dan | Jul 14, 2013 | Exercise, Family, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
Yesterday was the 29th Annual Kampeska mini triathlon…and it was one of the biggest yet for participants! We had great weather…minimal wind, but very humid, and by the time the run portion started, it got really hot. We got sprinkles on a few times, which helped out quite a bit. This was the first time for my son Nick, and daughter Molly, as well as my marathon training partner Steve. We got a chance to see one of Sarah’s college classmates, Lori, who came up from Brookings, to participate in her first thriathlon. Here we all are prior to the start.
We got to spend time doing a different adventure, and spend time with family and friends. It was a great way to spend the morning, and stay fit. One thing the triathlon does for you is you is spending time doing different types of execise so it is less likely to get bored with one specific exercise activity. We had a great time, and now we are talking about we are going to do this again next year! The summer is going fast, so continue to take advantage of the weather, and get outside and enjoy! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2118
by kelsey | Jun 25, 2013 | Goals, Motivation, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
We have all heard the saying “stop and smell the roses” but do you practice it!?! Life is busy for everyone…you have your job, family, friends, social activities, etc…all things that are important and fill up your days…but are you taking or should I say making the time to take good care of yourself? Many of us put ourselves last on the list which is very un-selfish, however that often results in our own health being neglected. It’s important to take some time for reflection and self assessment and think about what’s really important and what you need to do daily to help you be healthy, to ensure you are in the best shape to be there for your family and friends and be able to fully enjoy what you like to do.
Eating healthy and exercise are parts of a healthy lifestyle, but so is your mental health and spiritual health and it’s important to take time to foster healthy behaviors with all of these aspects of wellness. It seems like we (me and my family) are always going 100 mph and I’m sure we are not alone with this lifestyle! Sometimes you just need to “stop and smell the roses” and think about all of the great things you have in your life and refocus on your goals and ways to achieve them. Sunday night, my husband and I were out checking our cows and calves in the pasture that my family has owned for many years. As were checking the cows, we experienced a beautiful sunset and the rise of the “super moon”, which was an amazingly beautiful full and bright moon. I stopped on my 4-wheeler (for those who know me, yes I wish I was riding a horse instead ;)) and just took it all in and “stopped and smelled the roses”…the sunset, the moon, the beautiful landscape, and the cattle grazing on the land once ran by grandparents and Dad when he was younger….all awesome things to be thankful for and enjoy. It’s hard to take time to stop and smell the roses, but when you do I will guarantee you will feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to concur your next set of goals or ambitions….and those little things that have been bothering you will seem minimal now. There is a lot of beauty and great things happening around us, we just need to re-focus and recognize these things and appreciate them! Once you do, the world is yours!
I could watch the the cattle graze all day long….it’s calming and peaceful to watch nature at it’s finest.
The “super moon” rising above the rolling plains. A beautiful site.
-Kelsey
