grow older better

Tag: Aging

  • 65 Million MORE Obese People?

    It's Not Always Baby Fat!

     

    According to some recent surveys, there will be 65 million more obese U.S. citizens by 2030 and 11 million more in the U.K.

    I've written books, articles, and blog posts on the obesity epidemic and this is scary! The epidemic is not slowing down!

    It means more obesity-related illnesses, more obese children, and more [and more costly] health care – which we all pay for!

    And as a Developmental Psychologist, to me it means future generations of children who will not have the best start on development that they can.

    It's called an epidemic for good reason. Obesity is apparently "contagious."

    • If you are obese, your family is more likely to be obese; especially your children
    • If you hang out with obese people, you are morel likely to become obese
    • If your non-obese friends hang out with you; they are more likely to become obese

    Please – think not only about yourself and your own health but

    • think of your family
    • think of your friends
    • think of the future

    Don't be in this statistic – grow older better – be healthy!

    Thoughts? Comments? Thank you.

  • Nature’s Sky Show

    I woke up very early the other day and this was nature's gift for doing so! 

    The sky show was awesome: A spectacular sunrise complete with a plane taking off from PDX. [see video]

    Nature is amazing and so filled with gorgeous colors.

     

    The morning sky in Portland is like no other place I've lived! 

    Love it!

    [Well except when it's cloudy and rainy and yukky – but then I dont get up and take pictures;(]

     

    Comments? Thank you.

  • Got 15 Minutes? Get Started on Your Exercising!

    biking-along-the-Columbia

     

    I know – exercise is the last thing on your to-do list and the first thing that gets brushed aside when you are "too busy" or "too stressed" or "too too…"

    I admit that I get this way as well. But then I get back into exercising and I feel better, am less stressed and SURPRISE – I can get more work done and in less time!!

    We are "supposed to" exercise at least 30 minutes a day and that is difficult for some when they are just getting started thinking about exercising.

    "Find another block of 30 minutes? You gotta be kidding."

    Well no – you don't need that block of time. Sometimes 3 ten-minute segments is just as good – or – even less is good.  A new study in Asia found that:

    …those who exercised just 15 minutes a day — or 90 minutes a week — cut their risk of death by 14 percent and extended their life expectancy by three years compared with those who did no exercise. Both men and women benefited equally from the minimum activity.

    Article about 15 minutes of daily exercise

    Adding more minutes to that 15 was beneficial. But 15 was good in and of itself.

    So  – no more excuses! You can find 15 minutes! And you may find you are enjoying your day more because you are active for that time.

     

    Thoughts? Thank you for your comments.

  • When Kids Move Back Home

    my son and I in Chicago

    For many reasons, largely economic, grown kids are moving back home.

    I’ve not experienced this for myself – but soon I will.

    My son and daughter-in-law have decided to leave Chicago and move to Portland. While this has never been his “home” they will be staying with me for a while.

    I moved to Portland well after my son had left home – and the home he left was not any of the ones he grew up in. So our story is already a bit different than kids returning to their original nests. But – although the nest is different, I am still his mommy and he is still my kid…and it is that relationship that will go through interesting variations.

    He has visited me as an adult, even staying for a few months one summer. But even that was different as that's when he met the woman who is now my daughter-in-law and he spent a lot of time at her place.  And i have been to Chicago and stayed with them.

    But now we will be spending more time together than we have done in 14 years! We will share meals, cooking, household chores and fun times.

    I’ve written about issues that arise at holidays when one goes to a parental house for say thanksgiving and one is again treated as a “child.” But over the years my son and I have racked up hours of phone conversations, or in person conversations, and we have been able to pretty well negotiate that shift from parent-child to two equally stubborn, talkative political minds.

    And now there will be another person in the mix, my son’s wife, adding to the intrigue. She’s stayed with me when she’s come to visit her friends and family but we have never had all of us together for a stretch of time.

    It’s great having a child who knows you write about his life….as he said when referring to You Can Totally Screw Up As A Mom And Still Raise Great Kids “it’s my life but you are part of it too”

    It won’t all happen til Fall and I’ll keep you posted about how we manage.

  • Shoes for Your Walking

    5fingers and nasturtiums

    Vibram fivefingers with nasturtiums►

     

    I love my fivefingers!

    A shoe that I don't kick off the minute I am inside.

    I almost never  rave about shoes but I love them so much I even wrote a review for REI [where I bought them.]

    Shoe shopping and I have a love/hate relationship. I know we need shoes but the process of my getting them is no fun so I do it as infrequently as is possible.

    My feet are not structured like the manufacturers think all women's feet should be made and I've learned to buy men's shoes –  but that tends to work only for sandals and running shoes. When I need to get "dressed up" I am stuck with uncomfortable shoes.

    Anyway – these are comfy and not too many people think they are odd. But remember  I  live in Portland where one motto is: Keep Portland Weird.

    If you don't go barefoot a lot of the time, these may take some getting used to. But if you do yoga and have learned to separate your toes [like you did as a kid] then these will not feel odd.

    They are much the same a walking barefoot and you feel the gravel and rocks underfoot – but they don't puncture the shoe or your foot. I wear them walking and running and found when running, I needed to adjust what I was doing ever so slightly. 

    Vibram keeps coming out with new styles and so for next winter I shall get a pair that are a bit more water resistance and also some finger socks!

    **********

    And for those who like shoes without flowers, here is another picture:)

    fivefingers

    Go ahead and try a pair, it's like being a kid all over again!!

    Age in style!

    Comments?  Questions?