The temperature today is somewhere around 90 degrees F, which is a relief. “They” say it might rain tonight and that would be great. (You know the “They,” those sciencey types that give suggestions about where the mighty wind will blow and how that will affect our day). You might have heard that last week it was 100 in the NE. Actually it was over 100, closer to 104, and then you add the humidity. “They” call this the “real feel” temperature.
The “real feel” refers to how the humidity affects the temperature and our understanding of it. This is how you feel when the water droplets in the air hit your skin and begin to boil. This might not be the definition that “They” would give, but that’s what it means. It means it felt like 114 F most days.
Now that we have some definitions cleared up I would like to tell you about my week traveling to and from work. I have mentioned before that I ride a motorcycle. I am thankful for it and do not want to give it up, but I would like to vent.
First of all, speaking of vents, my motorcycle does not have any air conditioning vents. Not like a car might have. Actually it does not have a dash board or any of that stuff. It’s just me looking out over the handle bars being met by boiling water droplets suspended in the 104 degree air while going 35 miles per hour.
However I do have other vents, but they are to let the air escape from the engine. The air needs to escape because the engine reaches incredibly high temperatures. It is important to point out at this point in the story that when you are riding a motorcycle you are sitting on or right behind the engine. (The same engine with the incredibly high temperatures). Not just sitting, but straddling, that is with legs wrapped around the engine near those vents dispelling incredibly hot air.
I also make the choice to wear protective gear while operating the vehicle. I have leather gloves, all the better to strap in palm sweat. I also wear a full face helmet to save me from potential disaster, but all the better to accept and trap the extremely hot air flowing at me. And many days I wear a mesh riding jacket, again to help displace possible trouble. But on these 100 degree days it only helps to direct the rivulets of sweat as they careen down my back and legs. You don’t know what hot is until you have little streams of sweat running down over your knee caps.
If you want to get an approximation of what this is like I suggest you preheat your oven to 400. Wait till the little beeper goes off so you know you have reached the full temperature. Then find a hair dryer, set to high. Hoist yourself up onto the preheated oven and turn the hair dryer around to so it hits you full in the face. Straddle the oven for about 20 minutes and you will get the general idea. Remember safety first, you could put on some oven mitts if you like.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Farm Fitness
Many people would like to know more about fitness from the Amish perspective. One thing the internet is lacking in is Amish fitness tips from an informed practitioner.
The Amish on the whole have a healthy way of life. Most of their day could be considered a fitness routine. I have chosen to narrow it down to activities you can do at home whether your home is in the city, suburbs, or charming college town. Here are three ideas from the farm that have kept the Amish svelte for years: walking, bailing, and persuading.
Walk. Nearly everywhere, nearly every time, walk. This one is quick and straight forward. When going to visit a friend, walk. When getting groceries, walk. When doing just about any activity just about any time, walk.
Next is bailing. The Amish can bail some hay. To do this in your home takes some imagination as I assume you do not have a field of hay that it waiting to be bailed and stacked. But I have thought of a viable substitution. You need a large cumbersome suitcase filled with heavy clothes (think jeans and big sweaters).
Now put the suitcase at the foot of the bed on the floor. Using good lifting technique, lift the suitcase up onto the bed. Now place the suitcase back on the floor. Lift again, this time tossing it to the center of the bed. Back to the floor. The third time, heave the suitcase to the head of the bed. Begin this activity when the sun rises and end when you can no longer stand. Repeat tomorrow. Continue bailing for a minimum of 3 weeks.
The final Amish fitness tip is the action of persuading. Picture, if you will, a mule that no longer wants to do his chores or a cow that will not go through the correct gate. Persuading livestock to follow your will is a full body workout that takes several layers of muscle involvement.
I understand that you do not have livestock in our apartment. Again, I have thought of a solution. That overstuffed chair by the TV will do just fine. You will also need a rope of some sort. You could use the colorful rope you purchased six years ago when you thought you would be a rock climber. If you don’t have that, I suggest you collect extension cords. Tie all the extension cords you have (hopefully 3 or 4) around your overstuffed reclining chair. Kick the foot rest out if you need a place to tie on. Now face the foot rest while holding the cords in your hand and back away until the chords are stretched tight. Pull/drag the chair across the room until it rests beside you. Turn the chair 180 degrees, back across the room, and begin again. You may yell at the chair if you find it helpful. To take this exercise to a new level you can drag the chair to the front door, wrestle the chair through the door and back in, and then drag back to its original spot. Like before - begin this activity at sunrise and continue until you can no longer stand. Continue for three weeks, at which time you are ready to begin a circuit of all three exercises. Remember to drink water.
The Amish on the whole have a healthy way of life. Most of their day could be considered a fitness routine. I have chosen to narrow it down to activities you can do at home whether your home is in the city, suburbs, or charming college town. Here are three ideas from the farm that have kept the Amish svelte for years: walking, bailing, and persuading.
Walk. Nearly everywhere, nearly every time, walk. This one is quick and straight forward. When going to visit a friend, walk. When getting groceries, walk. When doing just about any activity just about any time, walk.
Next is bailing. The Amish can bail some hay. To do this in your home takes some imagination as I assume you do not have a field of hay that it waiting to be bailed and stacked. But I have thought of a viable substitution. You need a large cumbersome suitcase filled with heavy clothes (think jeans and big sweaters).
Now put the suitcase at the foot of the bed on the floor. Using good lifting technique, lift the suitcase up onto the bed. Now place the suitcase back on the floor. Lift again, this time tossing it to the center of the bed. Back to the floor. The third time, heave the suitcase to the head of the bed. Begin this activity when the sun rises and end when you can no longer stand. Repeat tomorrow. Continue bailing for a minimum of 3 weeks.
The final Amish fitness tip is the action of persuading. Picture, if you will, a mule that no longer wants to do his chores or a cow that will not go through the correct gate. Persuading livestock to follow your will is a full body workout that takes several layers of muscle involvement.
I understand that you do not have livestock in our apartment. Again, I have thought of a solution. That overstuffed chair by the TV will do just fine. You will also need a rope of some sort. You could use the colorful rope you purchased six years ago when you thought you would be a rock climber. If you don’t have that, I suggest you collect extension cords. Tie all the extension cords you have (hopefully 3 or 4) around your overstuffed reclining chair. Kick the foot rest out if you need a place to tie on. Now face the foot rest while holding the cords in your hand and back away until the chords are stretched tight. Pull/drag the chair across the room until it rests beside you. Turn the chair 180 degrees, back across the room, and begin again. You may yell at the chair if you find it helpful. To take this exercise to a new level you can drag the chair to the front door, wrestle the chair through the door and back in, and then drag back to its original spot. Like before - begin this activity at sunrise and continue until you can no longer stand. Continue for three weeks, at which time you are ready to begin a circuit of all three exercises. Remember to drink water.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Solutions to your problems, 3
Following is the third of a series in which I endeavor to assist my coworkers by clarifying a problem they are having and offering a solution. You might like to find the 2 previous postings to understand the full picture.
Taking the stairs
The problem, dear coworker, is it has been so long since you have walked up the stairs you have forgotten that the climb is healthy and even fun. And during the time you have opted out on stairs you have continued to eat as if you were climbing them.
Let me pause, here at the beginning, and state that I am not calling any kettles black. I need to climb all the stairs life might put in my path and now that I write this I am obligated. But I don’t wine and complain after the one time our office had a fire drill and are forced by a higher power to take the stairs back to our desks. And I don’t look at the steps as if they were vengeful creation for knee deterioration.
While returning from the outside during our fire drill I overheard a coworker say something like, “they have to find a way for us to get back up when we can’t use the elevator.” I was stunned, dumbfounded, speechless (almost, I’ve never really been at a loss for words). “They” have found a way to get past the first floor. We as humans have been using it for centuries.
Quick history of stairs through time, off the top of my head: Jesus and his friends met in the upper room. It seems the construction workers at the pyramids used them. The Mayans put them to good use well before my people walked over the land bridge (possibly assisted by some stairs of ice).
The solution begins slowly and gains strength as you see fit. If you are of a certain age you might want to discuss this with a health care professional, but you must get your legs, knees, ankles, and feet more active. Maybe that could begin at your desk with some leg lifts. You could visualize the stairs while you move your feet up and down. However, for this plan to work you must actually climb the stairs. In our case, working on the third floor, you could use the elevator and the stairs in equal portion. This might mean that the first trip of the day you go manual and the second trip find the elevator. Or it could mean you take the elevator part of the way, and then switch to the stairs. In our building I suggest getting to the second floor before you begin to climb. The first floor stairwell is considerably longer than the second.
To recap, begin with visualizing the stairs and you climbing them. Move your feet in tandem with your knees. Then you are ready to put thought into action. As you become fit you might find that you enjoy the challenge of climbing all the stairs. Even trying them at a brisk pace or two at a time. But this suggestion is for later, and again may need doctor’s approval.
Taking the stairs
The problem, dear coworker, is it has been so long since you have walked up the stairs you have forgotten that the climb is healthy and even fun. And during the time you have opted out on stairs you have continued to eat as if you were climbing them.
Let me pause, here at the beginning, and state that I am not calling any kettles black. I need to climb all the stairs life might put in my path and now that I write this I am obligated. But I don’t wine and complain after the one time our office had a fire drill and are forced by a higher power to take the stairs back to our desks. And I don’t look at the steps as if they were vengeful creation for knee deterioration.
While returning from the outside during our fire drill I overheard a coworker say something like, “they have to find a way for us to get back up when we can’t use the elevator.” I was stunned, dumbfounded, speechless (almost, I’ve never really been at a loss for words). “They” have found a way to get past the first floor. We as humans have been using it for centuries.
Quick history of stairs through time, off the top of my head: Jesus and his friends met in the upper room. It seems the construction workers at the pyramids used them. The Mayans put them to good use well before my people walked over the land bridge (possibly assisted by some stairs of ice).
The solution begins slowly and gains strength as you see fit. If you are of a certain age you might want to discuss this with a health care professional, but you must get your legs, knees, ankles, and feet more active. Maybe that could begin at your desk with some leg lifts. You could visualize the stairs while you move your feet up and down. However, for this plan to work you must actually climb the stairs. In our case, working on the third floor, you could use the elevator and the stairs in equal portion. This might mean that the first trip of the day you go manual and the second trip find the elevator. Or it could mean you take the elevator part of the way, and then switch to the stairs. In our building I suggest getting to the second floor before you begin to climb. The first floor stairwell is considerably longer than the second.
To recap, begin with visualizing the stairs and you climbing them. Move your feet in tandem with your knees. Then you are ready to put thought into action. As you become fit you might find that you enjoy the challenge of climbing all the stairs. Even trying them at a brisk pace or two at a time. But this suggestion is for later, and again may need doctor’s approval.
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