by Dan | Jun 9, 2013 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
The Watertown Area Running Club began again this AM. We are meeting at Jackson Park starting at 7AM on Sunday mornings. If you are free, please join in. Mileage can range anywhere from a few miles, to 6 or more miles. People can run at the pace they want, and as far as they want. It is meant to be more of a social gathering, so don’t let the thought of this scare you off. We may have other locations where we start change as the summer goes on, but for now, will leave here at Jackson Park. Please leave a message if you would like to join, or email me at dansar4@iw.net if you want to be notified of changes, or different plans as we expand on this over time. Otherwise, just show up! It is meant for getting out to exercise, and no pressure. Join us! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2083
by kelsey | Jun 5, 2013 | Exercise, Motivation, Wellness/Health
Happy National Running Day! It’s another day to raise awareness and celebrate physical activity, specifically running! I know running may not be for everyone, but I encourage you to do some form of physical activity today to celebrate! I am by no means a running fanatic or professional like Dr. Dan, but I do enjoy a good run or jog 3-5 days a week. Running is my time to meditate and clear my mind, while helping keep my heart and body fit. Since I live in the country, my runs are done on the gravel roads in the wide open spaces and there is nothing better than that! It’s peaceful and allows me time to focus on my goals and stay motivated. It’s my time and I know it’s only going to make me feel better and stay healthy.
I included a picture of my co-workers and I after the Hospital Hill Run this last Saturday. I first have to thank Dr. Dan for getting us all motivated and inspired to be more active. He is a real inspiration to us all…and if he can make time for activity, so can we! I am so proud of Lacey (standing next to Dr. Dan) who ran her first 5k! Lacey participated in STRIVE 2 Survive and decided to challenge herself by committing to running in her first 5k. The weeks prior to the Hill Run, she pushed herself to new limits with mileage and time to get herself ready. I committed to running it with her and I have to tell you, the buddy system works!! There were days I didn’t feel like going for a run (thanks to our lovely weather we’ve had), but I knew Lacey was counting on me so I had to do it. We’d check in with each other a few days a week to see how each other was doing, which not only kept us on track with our goals but kept us motivated.
Whether you’re walking or running, I encourage you to push yourself to new limits…go an extra block or two each day, push your time, add some intervals. If you aren’t motivated, find a buddy to help push you and think about the benefits of doing it…and then stay positive! If it was easy, everyone would do it…so expect bumps and challenges along the way, but those are only going to make you better and stronger! Keeping yourself active and creating new limits will help you stay healthy and fit inside and out!
In celebration of National Running Day, be sure to get up, get out, and be active! Make no more excuses…. get to it!
-Kelsey
Picture–Left to Right: Kelsey, Shelly-Dr. Larson’s nurse, Lacey-Dr. Likness’s nurse, Dr. Dan
by kelsey | May 29, 2013 | Motivation, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
I came across this icon on Pinterest one day and I thought it was very fitting to our wellness program STRIVE 2 Survive and my work with individual patients. We put a lot of focus on diet and activity, however in order to truly be successful with those key components of wellness, one must be happy and content inside. Weight loss, eating healthy, exercising, etc are not easy…they do take some effort, motivation, and determination, but once you get into the swing of living a healthy lifestyle, it becomes easier and easier and eventually it’s your new lifestyle. Many times we consider ourselves failures due to our previous unsuccessful efforts at wellness or weight loss, we compare ourselves to others and downgrade our abilities as we don’t believe in ourselves and our abilities, and then we obsess or over-think about it that it basically inhibits us from moving forward and truly being successful. Does this sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone, there are many struggling with this! No matter what your weight status is, you deserve to have a healthy body…and you are worth it! Whatever is inhibiting you from your past experiences, let go of it. Everyone has our own unique genetic makeup so quit comparing yourself others and accept your body for what it is and work it as you are able to (ie- if you are genetically predisposed to carry your weight in your butt and thighs, it’s unrealistic to think you’re going to have stick legs!). Journal your daily intake and personal insight and include at least one positive thing about yourself daily to help boost your self worth and self esteem. Surround yourself with positive, happy people and let the little things go. Reflect on these 7 rules of life and apply them to help you live a healthier life.
-Kelsey
by Dan | May 15, 2013 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
The Fargo marathon and half marathon are this saturday. The time is now…the nerves are building, the excitement, anxiety building…what will the weather be like? Did I do enough to get ready? Above all…Remember to have FUN! There will be a large group of “Watertownians” there this weekend, and a lot of us are meeting friday night to have some good food. Jill, Jackie, Steve A, Tim, Tracy, Holly, Beth, Megan, Tom and Sue, Steve H and Carletta, and Sarah and I. “Gettin’ ready for a good time!” This morning when I went out for a short run, the double rainbow was staring right at me…I had to quit go back in the house to get the camera, as it was all done in about 10 min.
Now, I don’t know if there is actually a “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow, but it was sure cool to look at. It made for a great, relaxing run. Just time to think. Maybe today this meant I was going for my goals, that I had worked hard to get ready for this day coming on saturday. The biggest joy of all of this is I run because I can! Many people cannot. Sometimes for those of us who do run, we get more worried about our times, when we should be realizing what we really are getting out of all of this. We run because we like it. It does not really matter our time. We made the effort to go for this goal, and it is coming soon. I felt really relaxed running seeing this before hand. Maybe the marathon should have been today…I think I would have been flying!
So, to all of my fellow Watertown friends going this weekend…Good Luck! Be safe! Have fun! This is what it is all about. Don’t make this another stress to have in your life. Enjoy it for what it is. Relax, and go show YOURSELF how YOU can do, because YOU are the ones who put in all the work! Good Luck!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2058
by Dan | May 12, 2013 | Exercise, Holidays, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there. It turned out to be a great day. Nice and sunny, and no wind. I took Sarah out for a walk this afternoon along the lake. Very nice scenery!
You can see the lake is very calm. The temperatures will be picking up as the week goes on. We are now in taper mode as this coming saturday we will be competing in Fargo, with Sarah doing the 1/2 marathon, and I will be doing the marathon.
Now we just need all the leaves to get back on the trees. Regardless, it was a very nice day. Hope all of you took advantage of it and got out and spent time outside. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2055
by Dan | Apr 28, 2013 | Exercise, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
Finally! We have a good weekend. Warm out, and you can all see how many people have been outside this weekend. We are either doing some yard work, out walking, riding, running…whatever! We just want to be outside. It has been too long of a Winter, and we were all anxious to get outside and enjoying things again. The snow, other than a few snow piles that had been really high, it now melted.
Even Buddy is outside in his kennel and just taking it all in. He can look around, and watch everything much easier from the outside than in the house. He has been on some walks too, and is definitely happy about it. So everybody, take advantage of this weather now, and get out, and get moving! This is exactly what this doctor ordered! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2041
