Author: Patricia Parker

I read some articles in the Georgia Straight while I was on the bus last week. It’s under the title of “Healthy Living”(Volume 43 Number 2169 July 16-23/2009)…You know you’re on the right track when it’s in the “Straight”. The first page of the special supplement talks about maintaining a good posture when exercising. I have a notoriously bad posture. Now when I walk, sit , swim, I try to remember to keep in good alignment. If I catch myself slumping over and hunching my back, I realign and get on with whatever I’m doing.

The second article that caught my attention was about laughter therapy. Several years ago, in what seems like another life now, one of my colleagues started play and laughter interventions for grown ups. She spoke at a conference I attended. About half way through her seminar, she brought out toys like yo-yos, hoola hoops, bubbles, trucks and cars and dolls to dress up. We all played and laughed and felt very refreshed. My son brought home a yo-yo the other day. I have definitely lost the Zen of yo-yo, but with my son’s coaching, I can get it back.  I did attend the splendid Fireworks display on Saturday in English Bay.  My inner child and my two outer children were thrilled by both Mother Nature and South Africa.  Beautiful.

The third article I read talked about eating locally grown food. I’ve heard of the “100 mile diet” and have tried for years to eat primarily what’s in season. Living in British Columbia, I can choose from a plethora of yummy, locally grown fruit and vegetables. While I don’t think I will ever be dedicated enough to keep within the 100 mile radius 100% of the time (does anyone grow wheat in BC?), I definitely like the idea of eating the freshest available produce.

Reviewing my past blog entries, the list of things to do seems to be getting longer and longer. Upon serious reflection, what I am learning will be habit soon (I sincerley hope) and not a laudry list of “Honey Do’s”. I’d cross my fingers for luck, but that would cause misalignment!
Til next time
P

This week I’ve been more observant about what we eat. I have an endomorphic (plump) body type and I live with three ecotomorphic (slim) men, who have the metabolisms of hummingbirds. My husband is the same size as he was in high school (I say as I am wagging my fist in air and cursing the fates). My sons seem to graze constantly. They’ll eat whatever is in their path, fruit, cut up veggies, chips, cookies, muffins…the list goes on. My sons aren’t even in their teens yet.

For years I have hidden behind excuses for not eating better. I don’t want to cook two suppers at night (steamed broccoli and brown rice for Mommy, yummy deliciousness for the rest of my family… not that steamed broccoli isn’t yummy, just sayin’). I’m 49 years old (no, really) and I have hypothyroidism, which means my thyroid which is suppose to control my metabolism is sluggish…everything I eat goes directly to…while lets just say calories hang around and turn into fat.

When we participated in the physical assessment at the end of June, the evaluator was quite helpful with tips about how to incorporate healthy eating into my daily plan, without over eating and without starving on some fad diet. He said for my age and weight, I need about 1300 calories a day (yikes, a lot of lettuce, me thinks). Actually, he said NOT TO COUNT THE CALORIES FROM ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE I EXERCISE TO ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER….The advice was to eat a healthy “good carb” to give my body the energy it needs to be active in addition to the 1300 cals to maintain life and limb. Yippee, indulgence without consequence. Now you’re talking.

So what’s on my healthy eating periscope?
1. Food that’s unprocessed and organic (yes more expensive, but we are worth the best)
2. Whole grains, not processed grains. I will make my own bread when the weather gets cooler in the fall, but for now, I’ll go to a bakery.
3. Good quality protein, in smaller amounts for me. I might have to cook two suppers. I’ll let you know if that’s a sustainable activity or not.
4. Keep walking and swimming…and really, really try to get to aquasize.
5. Oh yeah, fiber. Not my favorite, but I do enjoy bran flakes with some banana on top (about once a year).

Til next time
P

My goals for last week were:
1. Walk for 30 minutes each day @ 6:00am
2. Swim 1000 metres
3. Attend Aquasize three times.

Realistic? Well, my enthusiam thought so. What DID I accommplish: I walked every day for about 40 minutes. That amounted to 4kms each morning. I wasn’t aiming for a particular distance, but was able to map it with this handy web site:  http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ . Check. I swam 1000m, in two 500m parts. Check. I forgot how hard distance swimming can be. Aquasize…not so much success. There are a thousand excuses in the naked city, but I don’t want to be a bore.

So let’s talk about what I did notice in just one week. Sailing today was MUCH easier. I didn’t feel like my rump was glued to the bench in the cockpit. I had enough leg muscle to actually move around. I was able to reef on the jib with authority. I don’t think I’m ready for the America’s Cup, but in a few weeks, I’ll give a respectable show.
Til next time
P

There are some moments that just crystalize reality in my mind. One of those moments occurred on the Burrard Inlet on Saturday afternoon. My realization: my core muscles are made of jello. It’s a wonder I can stand upright. You may be wondering,”Patti, what on earth allowed you to arrive at this depth of insight into your physcial condition?”

“Well,” I answer, “I went sailing.”

Alot of time on a sailboat is spent attaining and maintaining balance. That requires alot of micro (and macro) movement to stay sort of upright. It was somewhere between Stanley Park and Kits Beach that I added a new goal to my list of goals…Build core muscles and flexibility. Heavens, what next?

This week my plan is:
1. Walk daily @ 6:00 am for 30 minutes.
2. Attend Aquasize three times.
3. Swim 1000 metres.

Til next time
P