boomerhealthandfitness.com

How did I miss it? I just found out that October is National Apple Month.  Out of all the absolutely ridiculous holidays and special days, months, whatever (did you know that October 26^th, when I actually started writing this, is/was Mule Day?), why didn’t the apple growers of the good, old USA do a little advertising?  I would have celebrated National Apple Month in style if I had known.  Instead, I munched on my almost daily apple in decidedly uncelebratory fashion.  Damn!

Enjoy the rest of National Apple Month and don’t say no one told you that October 28^th is both Plush Animal Lover’s Day AND National Chocolate Day.  Now that’s a day to look forward to!

From the Duhhhhh Category, being overweight or obese can be detrimental to your hips and knees.  A news release from the American College of Rheumatology reveals some of the findings from a decade long study in Sweden.

“Being overweight, particularly if you have a higher than average body mass index, may increase your risk for developing severe osteoarthritis (OA) in your hips and knees…

In this study, which is the largest and the first that compares the effect of different measures of body mass on the risk of severe OA over time in the knees and hips of both men and women in the same population, investigators also demonstrated that the risk increase of developing severe OA is more strongly related to increased joint loading due to being overweight than to the metabolic changes associated with being overweight or obese (such as, increased CRP and metabolic syndrome).”

The development of OA can lead to knee and hip replacement surgery.  Yet another reason to stay fit and maintain a healthy body weight, but I think we already knew this one.

I’m all for multitasking, but I draw the line at working out WHILE I’m in a meeting.  Others, however, do not appear to share my disillusionment.  The Buffalo News reports on Innovations In Fitness, including a walking conference at the Nativity of Mary School.  The teachers actually participate in their staff meetings while chugging away on ellipticals and treadmills.

I especially like the Healthy Living Support Center that features a Bike Room Movie night where exercisers can watch movies and eat popcorn while pedaling a bike.  While some exercise is better than none, there’s something inherently wrong about eating popcorn while using an exercise bike.

Personally, I don’t want to be distracted during my workout which is why I primarily work out alone at home or run by myself.  The only company I want is music and sometimes not even that.  I don’t want to just go through the motions.  I want to concentrate on what I’m doing.  Multitasking while exercising is an “innovation” I just don’t find that appealing.

Courtesy of James Wilson, this is how I prefer to approach exercise.

While Nordic Walking is a great exercise for anyone, it has particular benefits for seniors because it utilizes walking poles which improve balance and posture.  Some older people have issues with balance and may be reluctant to participate in a walking program.  Nordic Walking can remove some of that trepidation while increasing cardiovascular fitness, core and upper body strength, and provide weight bearing activity that reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

I’m not familiar with the Exerstrider poles mentioned in the press release, but they seem reasonably priced compared to others.  I’m seriously considering a pair as my reward for successful completion of my 35 Day Fall Fitness Challenge.

There’s something special about a blog called Cranky Fitness.  The home page is currently decorated with pictures of cupcakes and marshmallows. If you’re so tempted by the pictures that you can’t read some of the witty posts, just repeat after me “sugar is poison”.  That’s it.  Again.  Say it again, “sugar is poison”.  Then read High Intensity Intervals for the Rest of Us or any of the other cranky posts.

And keep repeating “sugar is poison” until next week’s roundup.

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