Getting in Shape: 10,000 Steps to Terrific HealthWritten by Thomas Ogren
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I am one of those people who love to plan things out, sometimes in excess no doubt. For many years I’ve kept a list (100 Things I’m Going to DO Before I Die) and I take my list seriously. If I put something on my list, I’m going to do it. If I tell people I’m going to do something, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got and try to do it. I like to think that bottom line, each of us is only as good as his or her word. At any rate, for this past full year now I have gotten in a minimum of 10,000 steps every single day. During that time I lost almost forty pounds and got into pretty decent shape too. My resting pulse is lower; my blood pressure (which had been high) is perfect, my pant’s waist size dropped from (I’m embarrassed to admit!) size 44 to size 34. A few months ago I knocked off one of things on my list of 100. I climbed Mt Whitney, at 14,497.7 feet in elevation, highest mountain in contiguous United States. It was a 19-hour, extremely tough hike and without all groundwork I’d done with that pedometer there’s no way I’d have ever made it. Since climbing Whitney, I’ve found that every time anything I’m doing seems at all hard, I suddenly think, “Hey, you climbed Mt. Whitney!” and then whatever it is no longer seems all that hard at all. A Dozen tips: Making your pedometer work for you: 1.Buy a simple step-counting pedometer. Don’t bother with more expensive ones that count calories and miles. Just steps. 2.Decide to get in your 10,000 steps a day, no exceptions, and commit to it. 3.Wear a belt and clip pedometer on over one of your hips and it will count steps better. 4.Put your pedometer on as soon as you get up in morning. No point in not getting “credit” for any steps you take. 5.Before you eat breakfast go out and walk around block quickly; get in some steps right off bat. 6.Keep checking your pedometer often through day; have an idea all time of how many steps you already have in and how many you still need. 7.Whenever you drive somewhere, never park close; always park far away and get in some extra steps. 8.On long drives stop often and go for short, fast walks. At rest stops walk around entire rest stop once or twice on each stop. 9.Try to take at least one long walk each day, one where you get in 3 to 4,000 steps. 10.No matter what, try and get in at least 7 to 8,000 steps each day before sun goes down. 11. Don’t go to bed at night unless you have your 10,000 steps. If it is 11pm and you’re dog-tired and you only have 6,000 steps, well, get out that door! and start walking. 12. Every time you’re standing at sink, waiting in line, looking in mirror, bounce up and down and pick up some extra “steps.” They all count. Walk around while you’re talking on phone. Never ask someone to go get something for you while you sit there. Get up and get it yourself…more steps. Use every excuse you can to pick up extra steps. Okay now, here’s a challenge from me to you. I dare you to go get a pedometer and commit to 10,000 steps a day. I dare you to get in as good a shape as I’m in right now. Yes, you’re a busy person and this takes time. But life is short and why shouldn’t we invest our time in something that will make us look better, feel better, in something that will make us stronger? Go on; go for it. I double dare you.
Tom Ogren is the author of five published books, including the revolutionary, Allergy-Free Gardening. His groundbreaking work on landscape plants and allergies has been featured on NPR, CBS Evening News, HGTV, NBC, and Fox News. Contact him through his website, www.allergyfree-gardening.com or through www.Allegra.com
| | Should I Have A Face Lift?Written by Wendy Owen
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I'm thirty five and have lots of wrinkles around my eyes and cheeks, and my neck is all mottled A face lift won't help this situation. You are better off exploring avenue of laser resurfacing or even chemical peels, they will strip old layer of skin off and reveal a smoother younger appearance. It sounds like you have a lot of sun damage, get educated on use of sunblock! Its everybody's most important cosmetic. I'm depressed and don't feel good about myself. Maybe a facelift will help me feel better? It may for a little while, but it sounds like you have a self esteem problem. Learn to love yourself way you are first. Then if you still feel a facelift would give your morale a boost, go ahead. I'm in my early fifties and notice my face is starting to sag quite badly. I can afford surgery and reckon I might just do this for myself. A good idea, you've thought it through and decided its something you want not something you need. Find a professional surgeon in your area and follow all his/her advice on how to prepare for your face lift. Don't forget to mention any medication you are taking and if you are a smoker, stop two weeks before surgery is scheduled. It will speed your recovery time. Good luck! ========================================================================= Wendy Owen www.holistic-facial-skin-care.com =========================================================================
Wendy Owen is in her mid fifties and always had a great interest in skin care.
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