The Best Walk

Last Sunday we had an opportunity to walk on the world’s most famous boardwalk: The Atlantic City Boardwalk. (Thanks to Monopoly) And, for a windy day in February, it was very enjoyable. We were staying with my brother and his wife who live just 45 minutes from there. It was their suggestion to spent the day there and a good one.My history with Atlantic City goes way back. I grew up in Woodbury, NJ which is a bit over an hour from there. My parents took us there for the for the the beach, the boardwalk and to take in some amusements. The big attraction was the Steel Pier which is still standing but under some pretty serious repair. Those visiting the pier, including us, would stand in line to watch a horse with a lady on it dive into the ocean - a practice was stopped in 1978.

In my high school years our New Jersey shore location of choice was Ocean City which was about a half hour below Atlantic City which tended to attract more of the younger crowd. But on occasion, we would drive up to Atlantic City. After moving out of New Jersey we didn’t go back there until the Casinos came in. What a disappointment that was. What should have been the new Las Vegas became a seedy mixture of slums and glitter. But that was then. Today you will find a place that is enjoyable to walk around.

If casinos bother you, don’t go there - they’re everywhere. On our walk we cut through a couple of casinos, but we didn’t stop to play. On the other hand, if you like to shop, this is the place. Every specialty store you can think of is there - and more. There is an uptown area, stores on the boardwalk, on the piers, and in the corridors of the casinos. And, no matter where you go no expenses are spared. We were in one corridor with an outdoor theme and it had a very realistic sky, birds, wind, trees, etc - none if it real. As long as the gamblers keep coming, they can buy anything.
The boardwalk is in good shape. Except for a few dunes and piers, there is an ocean view on one side. The beach is wide and long and there is a temptation to walk out on the sand. We walked onto the beach and found once we were past the dunes, the wind became too much. So our walk stayed along the boardwalk with a few detours through the piers and casinos.

As far as health benefits go our walk ended up being a bit low on the aerobic side, but as far as fresh are and enjoyment it was great. We were able to carry in a few conversations and see some interesting man made and natural scenery. It was a good day.

Filed under: Uncategorized, New Jersey on February 11th, 2008 | No Comments »

From: www.cnn.com

After losing 192 pounds, Phill Novak, 41, says he feels there’s nothing he can’t do.

He wasn’t happy with his weight and neither were his doctors. In addition to taking medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol — his physician warned him that he was on track to become a diabetic.Reality hit in January 2006 at a Pittsburgh Steelers game. Novak had gone to smoke a cigarette.

“We were walking back up to our seats, and I started getting winded,” says Novak. “I didn’t feel right, I started sweating. I didn’t think I would make it back up. My heart [was] beating a million times a minute; I thought I was having a heart attack.”

Novak stood against a cold wall for 20 minutes to catch his breath. Fortunately, he wasn’t having a heart attack but he was so frightened that thoughts of his family began to race through his mind.

“A lot of things went through my head, about saying goodbye to my kids,” says Novak choking back his tears. “I told my friend, ‘This is it, I’m not going to live like this no more.’ ”

Novak, who was approaching his 40th birthday, made it through the football game. As he ate two double-cheeseburgers and a milkshake, he began to think about the limitations of obesity and how it was keeping him from living a full life.

Novak said the extra weight kept him from riding bikes with his kids. He dreaded doing anything physical like mowing the grass, shoveling snow or just moving — period. Novak says even sleeping became difficult.

“When I was big, I could only sleep one way … so I could support my belly,” says Novak. “My back always hurt … I could barely sleep and I remember always being tired.”

The next day, Novak devised his own game plan and started his weight-loss journey.

He began simply by walking — one mile a day and eating a low-carbohydrate diet

Novak continued to lose weight and as he built up his endurance he started jogging. Even though he had never belonged to a gym, he wanted to incorporate strength training. But the first time he went to the gym, he was intimidated by the loud music and weight lifters. He says he quickly “scampered” out and tried a few other places until he finally found a club where he felt comfortable.

Two years later, Novak has lost a total of 192 pounds. Today, he runs 30 to 40 miles a week, works out two to three hours a day, does yoga in the morning and squeezes in a push-up whenever he gets a chance at work.

Now maintaining his weight at 195 pounds, Novak says he’s made a lifestyle change and rarely takes a day off from exercise.

Still, he doesn’t take all of the credit for his weight loss. Novak says he couldn’t have done it without the support of his family — which he thanks for allowing him to be selfish.

“I am so proud of myself … for the first time in my life,” beams Novak. “Besides my kids, [this is] the first time I’m proud of myself.”

Novak says losing weight has boosted his confidence and made him realize that he can do anything he sets his mind to. He says people also treat him differently and no longer stare at him. In fact, he enjoys the fact that people, who haven’t seen him in a while, recognize only his Pittsburgh accent.

When he looks back at pictures of himself at nearly 400 pounds, he says it’s hard to believe he treated his body that way.

Would he ever go back to being heavy?

“No way! Ain’t going back there … won’t do it, can’t do it,” says Novak. “I’ve never been happier in my life!”

Filed under: Uncategorized, Weight Loss on February 1st, 2008 | No Comments »

Generally walking doesn’t become a high priority until a health problem arises. At that point all other events take a back seat, the walks get longer and more enjoyable, and if the health problem wasn’t too serious, the recovery is swift.

But if there isn’t a health problem most of us will allow our walks to be shortened, postponed, or even canceled for an apparent emergency. Looking back at the various reasons why walks were interrupted, there really weren’t that many emergencies. They events may have seemed critical at the time, but working longer or running a lunch time errand should not have gone to the top of the list.

I’ve learned that the only way to ensure that there’s time for walking is to use some time management techniques. Try this:

1. Write down all the things you need to do in a day – at home and at work. Make sure you include your walk.
2. From that list figure out what shouldn’t be there. Is there anything that you don’t have to do?
3. Read through the list again. What can you get someone else to do? Can you hire somebody to do it. Can in be outsourced or delegated. Could the job be done better by someone else? If so can you convince somebody (like your boss) to give the project to someone else? (This is a good time to use selective ignorance.)
4. From the remaining items decide which tasks have to be done right away. Write down a plan to accomplish those ite.
5. Don’t allow any interruptions. Go three or so hours without check email. Let messages go to voicemail. Put a set of headphones on so you won’t be able to hear the familiar “Go a minute?”
6. Get out of meetings. Decline if possible. If your at a meeting, suddenly reach for you cell phone. Then apologize saying “Sorry. Something has come up.”
7. Structure your schedule so that you have two major completions a day. If possible, make one a high profile completion.
8. Use your telephone more and email less. Direct contact is usually faster than a string of emails.
9. If possible, avoid anything that you’re not interested in.
10. Keep yourself organized.

If you do all of the above, there will be plenty of time for walking. Here’s the best part:

If you stay n the walking routine, this becomes real easy. Walking provides the necessary mental reset and change of pace.

Filed under: Uncategorized on October 15th, 2007 | No Comments »

After wondering what well known walk on a regular basis, I found this list at (Google Answers. As I read through it, I have to admit that I didn’t recognize every name. Fortunately, the author provides some help in parenthesis.

JANE FONDA (ACTRESS, FITNESS EXPERT)
http://www.jane-fonda.net/walkout.htm
“Walking and hiking are two of Jane’s favourite forms of aerobic
exercise. Fitness walking is an easy, convenient way to burn fat while
improving muscle tone and building cardiovascular strength.”

KIM ALEXIS (SUPERMODEL)
http://www.integritymusic.com/worship/worart/0801.html
“The next time you say to yourself, “I don’t have time to exercise,”
think again. Chances are you could fit in a 15-minute brisk walk twice
a day. If you can’t get out to do something fun, try making your work
day a play day by adding short bouts of walking activity whenever you
can.”

DENISE AUSTIN (FITNESS EXPERT)
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/denise_austin_trimwalk/
“ESPN’S “Getting Fit” Host Denise Austin covers the benefits of
walking in this program, defining the walker’s proper form and basic
walking principles, with a strengthening and stretching segment to
wind down after your walk.”

DAVID WARNER (ACTOR)
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Cinema/1941/quotes.html
“I have exercised very hard, including four-mile walks every day”

SENATOR ROBERT BUNDA (HAWAII)
http://www.islandscene.com/health/2001/010103/rightcall/page2.asp
“Bunda also takes daily walks in Wahiawa. “I’m up to over an hour of
walking every day,” he says proudly. “I wouldn’t miss it!”

JOHN GLENN (FORMER SENATOR AND FAMOUS ASTRONAUT)
http://www.niapublications.org/exercisebook/foreword.htm
“In my case, I had to make accommodations to my advancing years by
modifying my exercise regime. In the past, I was an ardent jogger, but
as I got older my doctor said that the impact of running was putting
too much stress on my knees and other joints. He suggested that I take
up speed walking instead. Along with that, I do some weight lifting
and stretching.”

CONGRESSWOMAN DONNA M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSEN (VIRGIN ISLANDS)
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_9_56/ai_76285230
“But what I do during my workday is make sure I go out of my way to
put in extra walking and not scrimping by riding on the capitol’s
train between buildings.”

JULIE ANDREWS (ACTRESS, SINGER)
http://www.julieandrews.co.uk/news_arc11_main.htm
“At this point in her life, Andrews takes nothing for granted,
including her health. She exercises five days a week, though she
freely admits, “I’m not a fanatic. I do as little as possible in order
to stay in shape.” In addition to walking and swimming, she has her
own 40-minute formula: a combination of stretches, yoga and
ballet-barre maneouvers.”

NATALIE RAITANO (ACTRESS MODEL)
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0675/is_3_19/ai_75085418
“Walking to me is one of the best cardio exercises anybody can do for
their body. That and the hula hoop”

ART GARFUNKEL (SINGER)
http://www.artgarfunkel.com/articles/record.htm
“Walking is very primal,” Garfunkel says. “It’s extremely basic. You
begin to see how it works the body. The body likes to relax. It’s
wonderful for breathing and it tones up the physical self. I stay at
hotels at night and do 15 to 20 miles a day. I sing along with my
Walkman - walking allows me to sing very loudly - and write in my
journal.” Walking and writing are more than hobbies for Garfunkel.”

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Filed under: Uncategorized on October 12th, 2007 | No Comments »