My Golden GymWritten by Marcia Passos Duffy
You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as byline is included in its entirety (found at end of article). A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated -- please send to editor@theheartofnewengland.com. A .jepg photo of author and her dog are available upon request. Title: "My Golden Gym" Author: Marcia Passos Duffy E-mail: editor@theheartofnewengland.com Web Address: www.TheHeartofNewEngland.com Category: Health/Fitness/Pets “My Golden Gym” By Marcia Passos Duffy Editor & publisher The Heart of New England www.theheartofnewengland.com “Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.” -- Ann Landers A year ago, almost to day, I had an epiphany while exercising at my local gym. I was on a treadmill sweating along with about 30 other people, glued to latest CNN horrors on big-screen, when I glanced outside at absolutely gorgeous spring day. That was precise moment when I decided to get a dog. Okay, it wasn’t “precise” moment…because I had been toying with idea for almost a year. But up until that moment last year on treadmill, I felt there was really no good reason to get a dog other than to complicate my already busy life and to add another mouth to feed along with our 2 children, 4 guinea pigs, 3 cats, 3 fish, and a then-leased horse for our daughter. But more I looked outside that day, more I wanted to be out there, walking, maybe even jogging, alongside a furry devoted friend. Yes, dog would have a purpose – it would be my walking dog! An exercise dog. A reason to get out of that stuffy gym and into great outdoors! After all, what was point of living in scenic Northern New England of country if I rarely got outside to enjoy it? And I never walked in woods alone – my New York mentality (where I grew up) and paranoia would not allow it -- my heart raced with every squirrel or bird that snapped a twig or rustled a leaf. My dog would be my protector – at least a deterrent -- against any would-be assassin/rapist/kidnapper lurking in woods. Suddenly, reason to get a dog made perfect sense. In his insightful book, “The New Work of Dogs” John Katz makes case for new role of dogs. Once herders, guard and hunting dogs, now our canine friends have a new work: tending to life, love and family. Dogs need a job, and they will adapt to whatever circumstances their human companions give them. What I wanted from my dog was simple: security while walking in woods and a reason to walk everyday. A survey done a few years ago in Australia showed that dog owners walked an average of 18 minutes more per week than non-dog owners. Studies abound extolling psychological benefits of dog. Plus...dogs are not afraid of dark, are excellent listeners, they’re never critical and never gossip, they follow you
| | Fitness Woman. Do you need a reason to get fit?Written by Kevin Doberstein
Feel free to use this article for your web site or e-zine as long you include author bio and make sure all links are live and working. Please don’t change anything in article. It will also be awesome if you let me know if you use article and where. I wish you best success if you use my article. This article is copyright protected by Nature Boy Bodybuilding 2004. Thanks so much! Kevin Nature Boy. Start of article. Fitness Woman. Do you need a reason to get fit? Oh what a shift! Death and disease from tobacco is being replaced with obesity related diseases. This according to recent study of trends. Heart disease has become number one killer of women. Obesity from inactivity and very poor eating habits are killing not only women but men also. More children and teenagers are becoming overweight and diabetic. In this article we will concentrate on women and obesity. First, lets look at nutrition part of growing dilemma. Fat from deep fried foods, bad cuts of meat and fats added in cooking compounded with sugar laded foods are biggest culprit of expanding waist. Start replacing that donut with an orange or apple. Eat chicken breast meat instead that fat laden bratwurst. Replace potato chips with lite popcorn for a salty snack. There are web sites that you can check out that will help you in this area. Don’t be taken in by some magic pill or potion to help you lose fat. Cleaning up your eating habits is best way. Generally less processing food went through better it is for you. Example would be, an apple alone is better for you than apiece of apple pie.
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