We Run Green: Do YOU?

   By Lauren Selman | Bio

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Do you want to get lean while staying green? Whether you're a runner, a competitive cyclist, a recreational yogi or a vacation skier, there might be a more sustainable way for you to exercise. Recently, I was inspired by LuluLemon’s blog posts considering not only what we wear on our bodies but also how we wear our clothing.

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Written by eldering at Health

Tagged with: cycling environment exercise olympics run sustainable yoga

Curing Loneliness

Loneliness is curable. Here are some easy steps to help get you engaged:

•  Reconnect with family and friends. Let go of any resentments or regrets you have. Reach out to people you haven't spoken with in a long time and do whatever it takes to rekindle the relationship. Spend time with them and communicate using whatever methods work.
• Surround yourself with upbeat people. Choose your friends carefully. Happiness is just as contagious as loneliness.
  

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Written by eldering at Fearless Aging

Tagged with: community exercise happiness learning loneliness relationships volunteer

Grateful Celebration

   By Shae Hadden | Bio

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In 2008, the theme of the World Health Day was on protecting health from the adverse affects of climate change. For me, the year was about protecting my health from the adverse affects of stress, chronic illness and my workaholic tendencies. Being ill has been the most complete learning experience I could have asked for—a life-changing blessing in disguise. Not only have I discovered[Read More]

Written by eldering at Health

Tagged with: chronic_illness exercise health stress workaholic

20 Minutes

Doing 20 minutes a day of mild exercise (like walking, swimming or dancing) can help counter slight memory loss and improve your fluency. Recent research in people over 50 also suggests that the benefits of this small amount of daily exercise can last from 12 to 18 months and may even help those who are at risk for Alzheimers (those who exhibit mild cognitive decline). Being active not only improves blood flow to the brain, but it also relieves stress and enhances mood.[Read More]

Written by eldering at Health

Tagged with: exercise memory

Exercise for Thinking

We've all heard that exercise is good for the body. Now current research is demonstrating that an active lifestyle contributes positively to the functioning of our brains as we grow older.

Waneen Spirduso's book Exercise and Its Mediating Effects on Cognition outlines the latest perspectives from 17 internationally recognized experts on aging, exercise, cognition and neurobiological processes. Our sleep quality, immune system, levels of anxiety and depression are all influenced by exercise and physical activity. These affect the physical and mental resources we have available for cognition.

Exercise actually promotes the growth of new brain cells in the part of the brain thought to be responsible for learning and memory. Aerobic exercise, in particular, increases bloodflow to our brains, which allows them to function more effectively.

The good news: benefits start with as little as 20 minutes of walking a day. 

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Written by eldering at News
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Tagged with: cognition exercise memory thinking

Happy New Year

It’s the last day of the year. It is the time for resolutions to stop smoking, lose weight, be a better person and generally confront all the things we didn’t do last year. I was going through some papers this week and stumbled upon a few of my old ‘lists’ of New Year’s intentions from about 20 years ago. I am a bit embarrassed to say that my list today looks very similar to my list then—more exercise, better diet, more time for reflection and creativity, write my book, and relax. It’s not that I have done nothing in these areas for the past couple of decades, but overall I never seem to be satisfied and I often ‘lose’ whatever ground I seem to gain. To be sure, there are items on the ‘old’ list that have been handled: I don’t smoke and am extremely happy with my life and myself. Nonetheless, I still make my annual ‘list’ and if the past is any indicator, I will probably have the same list next year.[Read More]

Written by eldering at Learning
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Tagged with: commitment diet exercise intention resolution

Long-Term Commitments

   By Rick Fullerton | Bio

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On Thanksgiving weekend (the Canadian version that happens in early October), my wife and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with family and friends. Our children—now adults living on their own—arranged everything so all Phyllis and I had to do was arrive at the church hall at the appointed time. For those of you with younger families, there is hope! In anticipation of this event, we pulled out photographs and other mementos of our married lives together and recalled our earlier 25-year milestone celebration.

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Written by eldering at Health

Tagged with: diet exercise fitness weight

Balance

    Finding balance in life has been a concern of mine for a long time. From the number of times it comes up in conversation, it appears to be a major concern for many others as well. My struggle for balance came to a head recently with a series of inexplicable dizzy spells. Admittedly, I’ve been running non-stop since my mother passed away suddenly two years ago—abandoning a work situation where I felt inspired but unappreciated, leaving a 20-year relationship with my husband to find out who I was and to find opportunities to grow, abandoning my self-care practices to commit myself fully to my career, taking no ‘time out’ to rest or recoup. I left behind my sense of security and let go of my connections to the past—even changing my name. The race I’ve been running and the choices I’ve made have often left me feeling ‘unbalanced’ and disoriented.[Read More]

Written by Shae Hadden at Personal Empowerment
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Tagged with: balance choice control exercise relationship security work/life

Fun

I had a lot of fun yesterday and last night. It was so much fun, I wonder why I don’t have this kind of fun all the time. I am distinguishing between happy and fun here. I am happy most of the time and enjoy what I am doing, but fun is somehow different. The day was spent playing golf with my buddies and then we all went to an Italian cooking school and spent the evening laughing and eating an incredible dinner. But what we did isn’t the source of ‘why’ it was fun.
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Written by Jim Selman at Fearless Aging
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Tagged with: diet exercise friends fun mood

Body Beautiful

By Shae Hadden
Bio

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Summer has finally arrived here in the Pacific Northwest, and with it the seasonal display of beachwear trends. No matter what the fashionistas may be sporting on the runways, the beaches are where the reality of the North American body is exposed for all to see. Most of us attempt to do what’s possible, given our lifestyles during the winter. We’re not there just for the sun and surf. We’re trying to look the best we possibly can with the bodies we have so we can attract attention, whether for purposes of relationship or just plain admiration. I had always hoped there’s more going on here at the beach than just the mating, dating and gawking games. But watching where everyone focuses their attention in the throng of volleyball-playing, swimming, strolling and picnicking crowds seems to prove me wrong. The natural attraction seems to be to the trim, fit, energized bodies being displayed in all their glory. Few look at bodies exposing belly fat, pale flesh and flab. As I grow older, perhaps I’m becoming more jaded, but it seems to me there are more and more of those spare tires and fewer lean, strong bodies. Is this trend part of our aging population’s destiny or is it a choice we’re (consciously or unconsciously) making?[Read More]

Written by eldering at Health
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Tagged with: body commitment emotion exercise feeling obesity