This last year has resulted in a lot of mixed emotions. We are hopeful we are on the other end of the COVID “marathon” thanks to the vaccine rollout, but we still need to be vigilant and make good choices to keep ourselves and loved ones healthy! All of this can certainly wear a person out mentally and physically….which can result in overeating, less activity, and depression. There are a lot of things we cannot control, so we need to focus on those things we can control. Below are some tips to help you stay healthy and well inside and out!
Tips
for staying well inside and out:
•Get active! Activity produces natural endorphins that boost mood. Try getting at least 30 minutes of activity in
a day…if you can do more, the better. You do not need to go to the gym—go for
a walk outside, play in the yard, turn on the music and dance, go for a
scavenger hunt!
•Eat Right:
healthy eating will make you feel healthier inside and out. Aim to get at least
5 fruits and veggies a day, include whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats.
Avoid junk foods!
•Spice up your life: Browse the online boutiques, take a bubble bath, read a new and exciting book, download some new tunes, or watch a new show or movie to help spice up your life.
•Think
Positive! Dwelling on the negatives can sure take a person down. Instead
think about the positives in your life. Call or facetime your loved one you
haven’t talk to in a while. Think happy thoughts (like this picture—awwww J). Pray, meditate, and focus on the
blessings in your life!
We decided to hold off on having our spring STRIVE 2 Survive session this year, but we are hopeful we’ll be back in action this fall. If you’d like to work on your wellness goals and need some extra help, I’m happy to work with you individually. Contact me to set something up!
Happy early birthday to my wife, Sarah, whose birthday is on St. Patrick’s Day! We celebrated early with run club today by dressing up in our St. Patrick’s gear. It has to be for something like this, or I would never wear these kind of tights!
I had to do some research as to the meaning of “Luck of the Irish”. Most of us think it is said to represent excellent fortune, like winning the lotto, or finding the partner of your dreams (which I did!), but it is actually an old mining expression dating back to the 1800’s. An American expression, not Irish. It was felt back then that if you were Irish, and migrated here, that sheer luck was the only way they were going to succeed. It also has meaning that the Irish always seem to land on their feet no matter what happens in their life. It also means fortune, which can be good or bad. Now, it is more thought of as to be lucky. “Luck of the Irish” radiates hope, positivity, and a little bit of luck all over the world. Sarah is my “Luck of the Irish”. She is 25% Irish, and her birthday is on St Patrick’s Day. But I think that I am the lucky one!
The views lately have been breath taking. Even though it is still Winter, Spring is coming, and getting closer by the day. We are ready for some good times, good “luck”, to be coming our way!
I absolutely love this quote! Life is too short, so don’t waste a single day. Take it in for all it is worth. There will be good days and bad days, but like the Irish, we have to learn to land on our feet. We need the “Luck of the Irish”!
Happy early St Patrick’s Day birthday Sarah! I am the lucky one. You make a great day, and life, even better. Keep moving everybody! Spend times with those most important to you, and make your life better. May the “Luck of the Irish” have special meaning to you!
March is known as National Nutrition Month, which was created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In March of 1973, National Nutrition Week was created to deliver nutrition education messages to the public while supporting the profession of dietetics. The public’s growing interest in nutrition expanded the week-long celebration into a month-long observance in 1980. The campaign each year is to focus on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits throughout the month of March.
National Registered Dietitian Day is also celebrated the second Wednesday of March. Dietitians are the providers of food and nutrition services committing themselves to helping people enjoy healthy lives. Registered Dietitians:
• Are the food and nutrition experts who can translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living.
• Have degrees in nutrition, dietetics, public health or a related field from well-respected, accredited colleges and universities, completed an internship and passed an examination.
• Use their expertise to help individuals make personalized, positive lifestyle changes.
• Work throughout the community in hospitals, schools, public health clinics, nursing homes, fitness centers, food management, food industry, universities, research and private practice.
• Are advocates for advancing the nutritional status of Americans and people around the world.
Dietitians are there to assist in overall health and wellness, not just weight loss. We want to make sure you have the energy you need to fuel your body and be the best version of yourself. Be sure to utilize your local dietitian for any health or nutrition questions you have!
Telehealth appointments are available as well! Feel free to contact me if interested in working together on your nutrition and wellness!
I was out last evening taking pictures of the sun, and sunset, and was trying to figure out how to capture something different. I was looking along the shoreline, and seeing all of the ice built up, and looked at a different way. This was the result. Unique, different, memorable. The biggest thing is that it has been there a long time, but with some of the snow melting, the ice was giving me a different look. A look I never paid attention to before. I seized the moment! How many times can we try to do something, and we can’t come up with a solution, or answer, until we look at the same thing in a different way. Nothing changed, except how we looked at it. Life in a nutshell. This is where I say I don’t regret the things I’ve done. I regret the things I didn’t do when I had the chance! We all need to seize those moments. That is what makes life for each of us unique.
These two shots were from yesterday from our run club out for an early morning run, and the sun was rising. I made everybody stop so I could take a picture. “Seize the moment!” Seize the moment to seize the day! Along with this, you have to ask yourself this same thing…
Slow down. Enjoy the moment. Don’t let things rush past you so fast you miss the whole moment. Take it for what it is, and when it comes. It creates much more happy memories, and brightens your day. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, take the moment and make it perfect! And don’t worry what somebody else may think. I came across this earlier this week on a quote from Dr. Seuss. I don’t care about all of this garbage going on now with Dr. Seuss, and taking his books off the shelf, regardless of what reasons, or misinformation somebody may now have. He was educational, and had many significant, real life quotes for answers in life. He seized the moment!
Be true to yourself. If you don’t, nothing else matters. Otherwise you are no longer an individual, or an individual who thinks for themselves. Be happy, and the rest falls into place. This morning running was some great views in the sky to watch. It did not even feel like I was working while running. I was too busy taking it all in. Of course, I had to stop and take some pictures. Why? Because the moment called for it!
Take advantage of those moments when they come. Life is about “seizing the moment”! Do it! Take that extra time to take it all in, and appreciate what we are given, and when we are given it. Otherwise life just rolls on by, and we lose so much in the process.
Pay attention. Take time to look. Many, if not all of the things in our life have always been there, but we need to start looking at it in a different way. Once we do they, we get a whole new look, or perspective, on things. Be true to yourself. Seize the moment to seize the day! Keep moving everybody!
We all have things we look forward to. We all have things that help push us to do those things. Each year I go on a retreat in Minnesota called Demontreville, where I have time to relax, reflect, and rediscover what is important in life. I did not get to go last year due to Covid. One of the main principles involved in this retreat revolves around the concept of dispostion: Taking the time to think, to appreciate the little things, and to remember that these are really the big things. In order to be disposed, you have to be able to reflect. You need to be able to identify those things important to you, and then you have to have a response to them. What are your choices? “What is it I must do?” Following this comes responsibility: the ability to respond freely, and not just about being present, but doing something! We are all given a certain amount of skills and talent, and a limited amount of time to take advantage of them. I have learned about this by going to these retreats. But, I also have made some other modifications to this for me. I call them the 6 R’s. They all start with “Re”, so of course, I now call them the Reiffenberger Rules!
Reflection: You need to be able to reflect on things. Learn to take the time to think about things, without interruptions. In order to do this, you need to figure out how to relax.
Relax: You need to become disposed. Let go of things that are bothering you, It solves nothing by dwelling on them. You need to learn how to “let it go”!
Response: You need to figure out how you will respond to things in life going on. For me, I do some of my best thinking when I am out for a run, or working out in general. I am working out frustrations, and improving my health at the same time. Some things will come up during the week and I have no idea what I am going to do in regards to solving it. I go for a run, and it is amazing how ideas come into my head when I am not bothered by everything else. Try it, whether running, biking, or walking. Just move, and think!
Responsibility: First of all, I have a responsibility to my family. My response to things helps create that responsibility, which then carries over to my practice as a physician. That responsibility then leads to the next phase:
Reality: We all have a role to play in life, and each of us needs to do our part. Keep all of the other above factors in mind, and it also helps us handle reality as well. You don’t need to watch reality TV shows, just wake up each day and face all of the challenges that come your own way. And then finally…
Rediscover: Rediscover your overall purpose in life. “What is it that I must do?” You don’t need to do this on your own. Get support from family, friends, pets, whoever. They are there for support. Sarah is my main cheerleader!
So there you have it. The Reiffenberger Rules! So take the time to Reflect on things, and in order to do this we must Relax, and become disposed. We then need to create a Response in order to fulfill our Responsibility, which will then help create our Reality. This then leads us to Rediscover our overall purpose in life. Good Luck! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of New Streak: New Milestone–700!
