Get out the Door!

Its amazing how weather can just stop people from exercising altogether: either its too hot, too cold, rainy, or all the above. Believe me, living in Buffalo, NY all year round can create a daily excuse not to get outside. Yet, for all the misinformation, Buffalo really is mild compared to many cities in the U.S.: not anywhere near as hot as Tampa Bay, no way near as cold as St. Paul, not as snowy as Denver, and not near as rainy as Seattle. But Buffalonians tend to use the weather as an excuse not to get out for a walk, bike, swim, etc.
Is the national media at fault for not enjoying the great outdoors no matter what the weather? Have we become soft? As an avid reader of Runner's World magazine it amazes me to read about marathoners and other runner from the aforementioned cites training or running races in the worst of each cities' weather patterns. Love her or hate her, Sarah Palin runs many days a week for an hour at a time even during Alaska's Winter. She says, she just wears many layers and 2-3 pairs of socks to overcome the cold. There also was a feature of a young man and woman who train in Florida year around. Now these people run which is not easy when the temparature is 80 degrees at 10am with 90% humidity!
The fact of the matter is you need to stop using the weather as an excuse since if you were only going to exercise when its perfect then you may not get outside more than a dozen times each year! Get outside, NOW!

back to work (and health!)

by the way...those runners at Lake George did get me going--went for a run along the lake, what a great start to our last day away with family!

Just slipped in a lunchtime jog through Knox Park where the Moving Memorial is being shown. For any of the veterans or active military who are reading this, I appreciate your service to our country. I find it amazing that so many have put their country before themselves and I find it sad (despicable really) any who look down upon the men and women who decided to serve, after all its completely voluntary. Thank you for all you do.

The great outdoors heals you

Writing from Lake George before heading home...
Saw the sun rise this morning over the lake and the town still asleep without the thousands that will be filling the sidewalks and stores. Some stores so cheesy they have signs that celebrate their cheesiness! I woke early going to fill up the car for the ride home and get a newspaper to get ready to re-enter the busy world I live in.
I drive around town looking for a simple grocery store, gas station--there are not many in resort towns. I see the sun sparkling off the lake, I see the garbage and street cleaners and then I start seeing them. People running on this cool morning, numerous now filling the sidewalks and roads. Some have a race bib pinned to their shirts and shorts. These people look as if they have been awake for hours, many smiling as they run with friends in small packs.
Makes me smile as runners seem to get so much more out of life, use more of the day then most.
It reminds me of how I have shared with people certain things I have seen in my own runs and try to explain that only runners get to see things that people in a car never do.
I came upon the house I live in now (likely die in hopefully in many years from now!). The house was a private sale so there was no information concerning it known to realtors or in any newspaper. I ran a different route that morning when I saw the "for sale" sign on the lawn. We ended up negotiating down the sales price and based on other homes on our street seem to have made a great deal!
These runners are up while the rest of the town slowly awakes. These runners getting ready to push their bodies in a small, simple 5k race. This morning I wasn't going to run, but now I'm anxious. Start wondering if its too late to sign up and run this race which will likely include streets that pass beautiful parts of Lake George and perhaps see things in this beautiful region that I, in a car, won't see from my car. These runners, up early on a sleepy Sunday morning seem to make so much more out a day and see and experience so much more.

health misinformation is killing you!

Had a patient the other day show me the 15, yes 15 nutritional supplements they were taking each day which did not include the prescribed medications they were on! Imagine taking 25 pills everyday, that's alot of swallowing! They were on something for blood sugar, cancer prevention, joints, complexion, vision--guess what, none of the supplments they were on had any, i mean no research backing their claims! They didn't take fish oils or calcium supplements that at least has credible research backing up there effectiveness of reducing cholesterol and osteoporosis.

And yet even though they did not have any physical limitations, they weren't even walking regularly. I sat looking at this person thinking of the amount of money they were spending (why not just smoke?!) and was just shocked that they weren't trying to be physically active. Activity may be the most important things anyone could do for their health, bar none. Walking, jogging, biking, swimming, lifting light weights has been shown as quoted from extensive research to be superior to all the healthy behaviors you could do for yourself especially if you have diabetes.

Healthful eating, medicine if you need it, and blood glucose self-monitoring are important basics of diabetes management, but only physical activity provides a host of benefits for your quality of life, blood glucose control, and overall health. In addition to lower blood glucose readings and decreased body fat, regular exercisers report increased selfesteem, reduced stress, and enhanced clarity of thought.
-Patti Geil, M.S., R.D., C.D.E., and Laura Hieronymus, M.S.Ed., A.P.R.N., B.C.A.
D.M., C.D.E.

I've had patients that have self-reported reductions in their glucose levels of 100 points after completing a 45 minute walk, no oral medication or nutritional supplement can do this. So if you find yourself thinking of ordering the latest "breakthrough" heard on the radio, seen on t.v., or in some magazine, REMEMBER, the best treatment may be lacing up your sneakers and getting outside.

Diabetes-give me some rest!!

For people with diabetes, the day-in, day-out "To Do List" can be overwhelming causing even the most self-motivated, health conscience people to become depressed and/or non-adherent over time.
Rest, a few days or even a week where your a little less perfect is okay as long as you know your glucose control is not out-of-control. This small vacation may lead to better long-term health. Be careful though still have to take your insulin and oral medications and test, but perhaps less often on these "vakay" days.
For those with Type 2 diabetes my philosophy of looking over a week's worth of meals and snacks give you the big picture of he healthy eating changes required to live a healthy life. Often I pose the question, "is it cheating if 19 of your 21 meals each week or spot on healthy? can 12 of your 14 snacks each week be really healthy?" if they are and your participating in regular physical activity then you should meet your health goals in most cases.
So take a bit of rest a few times for long-term health and don't forget the big picture: its what you eat and how much you move 80%+ of the time, trying to be too perfect isn't always good.