My body has always been out of whack. One side very strong. The right side. Big musculature. The dominant side. Left side. Very weak. Underdeveloped. I do everything with my right side and the development, and tension, runs through the right side of my body. The asymmetry in my body is very noticeable. No calf muscle in my left leg. Much more strength on my right calf. Much better coordination.
My beard grows thicker on the right. My left side uncoordinated in comparison to the right. I've made a conscious effort to restore balance. Started shaving using my left hand. Learned how to pare an apple, the one that goes in my oatmeal each morning, using the left hand. Now I can take the skin off of an apple very easily with my left hand. Slow progress.
Even learned that my eyes are asymmetrical. Funny thing though-- I see better with my left eye. The relaxed eye can see more efficiently than the tense, hardworking eye. How do you make your weak eye stronger? Looked into the Bates method of eye improvement. Started wearing a patch over my good eye to make my right eye get more active. May be working? When I go on walks I cover the left eye of my sunglasses. The right eye looks down the street. Things are blurry with that eye. But maybe the right eye will improve by being forced to work? That's my plan. The eye doctor took a picture of my eyes and said "Wow, your eyes are not symmetrical at all." The blood vessels in each eye looked very different.
I have noticed some changes. Strength comes from coordination. Learning to use the left leg for walking. Trying to reduce the dominance of the right leg and right foot. Look at the bottom of your tennis shoes. See how each shoe has been worn out differently. The dominant foot shows much greater wear on the bottom of the tennis shoe.
Steph Curry, great basketball player for the Golden State Warriors, can be seen bouncing basketballs with both hands. The simultaneous dribbling is amazing. He has super control, super balance between right and left side. How can a slender man, not near as tall as his opponents, score so many points. He has superior coordination-- and coordination = strength. Steph Curry's musculature pales in comparison to most of the other NBA players in the league. He is the most coordinated among a peer group of the most gifted athletes in the world.
Imagine how strong you will get if you develop your non-dominant side. My left side has been sitting there like a dormant resource. I'm trying to bring the left side somewhat closer to the right side in terms of strength and muscular development. It the case of vision, I'm striving to relax the right eye to get better vision, something closer to the relaxation of my left eye. It's all about better balance!
Friday, September 23, 2016
Friday, August 26, 2016
Health Wisdom from the Blue Zones
Been reading a book called "The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer." Find the book very enjoyable and got some tips for healthy living from around the world. Dan Buettner has traveled the world to speak with centenarians, especially those countries with unusually large numbers of people who have reached the age of 100 years and continue to prosper and enjoy life well into very old age.
Buttoner interviewed older men in Sardinia, a place where men seem to do especially well. He also describes wisdom gained in Okinawa, from 7th Day Adventists living in Southern California, strong believers in vegetarianism, and in Costa Rica. Interestingly, many of the healthiest people come from areas with low socio-economic status. Apparently money cannot buy you health. Actually having endured some level of poverty seems to have strengthened these people. Simplicity is often the key. The long-living men in Sardinia had separation from some of the demands placed upon women in their families. The men tended to the flocks. Women took more responsibility for the day-to-day survival of the families, handling the management of money and the well-being of the children. Less stress for the men seemed to help.
A few tips from the 7th Day Adventists--
* 2 or more serving of fruit per day (less lung cancer)
* legumes (peas & beans) 3 times a week (reduces colony cancer)
* tomatoes-- less ovarian cancer
* 5-6 glasses of water (reduces the occurrence of heart attacks)
The group studies in Costa Rica, called Nicoyans, imbued in their men a strong sense of service to their families. The centenarian men felt great loyalty to their family and drew a powerful sense of service from their devotion to children and grandchildren.
Notice that though the Sardinian men benefited from their separation from societal pressure, and were still very valued by their society, and the Nicoyan men maintained great commitment to their families-- neither group emphasized macho-style competition. Both societies had lots of integration across the family unit. People, and especially men, felt valued and important. Nice to know that the older generation was cherished in all groups I have read about in the first portion of the book-- Sardinians, Okinawans, Seventh Day Adventists, and Nicoyans. And the health of these various groups benefited from the separation from mainstream dietary influence-- the modern junk food diet was not known to any of these traditional societies.
Buttoner interviewed older men in Sardinia, a place where men seem to do especially well. He also describes wisdom gained in Okinawa, from 7th Day Adventists living in Southern California, strong believers in vegetarianism, and in Costa Rica. Interestingly, many of the healthiest people come from areas with low socio-economic status. Apparently money cannot buy you health. Actually having endured some level of poverty seems to have strengthened these people. Simplicity is often the key. The long-living men in Sardinia had separation from some of the demands placed upon women in their families. The men tended to the flocks. Women took more responsibility for the day-to-day survival of the families, handling the management of money and the well-being of the children. Less stress for the men seemed to help.
A few tips from the 7th Day Adventists--
* 2 or more serving of fruit per day (less lung cancer)
* legumes (peas & beans) 3 times a week (reduces colony cancer)
* tomatoes-- less ovarian cancer
* 5-6 glasses of water (reduces the occurrence of heart attacks)
The group studies in Costa Rica, called Nicoyans, imbued in their men a strong sense of service to their families. The centenarian men felt great loyalty to their family and drew a powerful sense of service from their devotion to children and grandchildren.
Notice that though the Sardinian men benefited from their separation from societal pressure, and were still very valued by their society, and the Nicoyan men maintained great commitment to their families-- neither group emphasized macho-style competition. Both societies had lots of integration across the family unit. People, and especially men, felt valued and important. Nice to know that the older generation was cherished in all groups I have read about in the first portion of the book-- Sardinians, Okinawans, Seventh Day Adventists, and Nicoyans. And the health of these various groups benefited from the separation from mainstream dietary influence-- the modern junk food diet was not known to any of these traditional societies.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Swimming: good day in pool
Swimming used to intimidate the hell out of me. Still does. But now I'm working on it. Good policy-- you must do the thing you're afraid of... believe it was Eleanor Roosevelt who said that.
I find that lap swimmers intimidate me the most. These human dolphins go up and down the pool, turning underwater like Michael Phelps when they get close to the wall and speeding off to do another lap. I never thought I could do laps back and forth, to and fro, again and again.
Okay, the unbelievably good lap swimmers still put me to shame. I can go back and forth, but not very quickly, even with the mini-fins. But I am going back-and-forth. Yes, actual laps! Not sure if I have a best stroke. I can do the crawl or freestyle and that's the granddaddy of all strokes. The kicking part still eludes me, but I have the arm movements and I breath on either side. Usually I'll recover with some sidestroke after exerting myself with the crawl.
My two areas of progress.
1) How to Kick with Swim Fins on Breast Stroke:
I watched a DVD on how to kick with swim fins. One guy explained that the breast-stroke kick involves using the fins like paddles. That kick resembles a frog kicking in the water. In order to get some power out of the fins, he explained that you bring your heels together behind you. That turns the fins sideways. Then you kick out, like the frog does. Wow, I did get some more power with that kicking method and felt better, and slightly faster, with my breast stroke today.
2) Increase Breathing Power and Lung Capacity:
Saw I guy who could swim 2/3 the length of the pool underwater! Spoke to him afterwards and told him how amazed I was. Asked him about it. He said he sometimes just works on holding his breath while swimming. Then it dawned on me. I could practice underwater for distance, but can also just practice going longer without taking a breath while doing freestyle swimming. I could increase my lung capacity as part of the normal lap swimming.
Realized a big part of swimming is confidence about breathing. How do you stay calm, keep breathing and wait to get your strength back. Much of it is learning to breath. Breathing is how you stay calm. Getting yourself to relax in the water is what swimming is all about.
Okay, it ain't rocket science. But it did feel like progress!
I find that lap swimmers intimidate me the most. These human dolphins go up and down the pool, turning underwater like Michael Phelps when they get close to the wall and speeding off to do another lap. I never thought I could do laps back and forth, to and fro, again and again.
Okay, the unbelievably good lap swimmers still put me to shame. I can go back and forth, but not very quickly, even with the mini-fins. But I am going back-and-forth. Yes, actual laps! Not sure if I have a best stroke. I can do the crawl or freestyle and that's the granddaddy of all strokes. The kicking part still eludes me, but I have the arm movements and I breath on either side. Usually I'll recover with some sidestroke after exerting myself with the crawl.
My two areas of progress.
1) How to Kick with Swim Fins on Breast Stroke:
I watched a DVD on how to kick with swim fins. One guy explained that the breast-stroke kick involves using the fins like paddles. That kick resembles a frog kicking in the water. In order to get some power out of the fins, he explained that you bring your heels together behind you. That turns the fins sideways. Then you kick out, like the frog does. Wow, I did get some more power with that kicking method and felt better, and slightly faster, with my breast stroke today.
2) Increase Breathing Power and Lung Capacity:
Saw I guy who could swim 2/3 the length of the pool underwater! Spoke to him afterwards and told him how amazed I was. Asked him about it. He said he sometimes just works on holding his breath while swimming. Then it dawned on me. I could practice underwater for distance, but can also just practice going longer without taking a breath while doing freestyle swimming. I could increase my lung capacity as part of the normal lap swimming.
Realized a big part of swimming is confidence about breathing. How do you stay calm, keep breathing and wait to get your strength back. Much of it is learning to breath. Breathing is how you stay calm. Getting yourself to relax in the water is what swimming is all about.
Okay, it ain't rocket science. But it did feel like progress!
Sunday, June 12, 2016
NBA Finals (ball movement vs. star power)
I've been following the NBA playoffs more closely than usual. One thing I noted-- was when Shaq, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley were dissecting a Golden State victory with host Ernie Johnson on Inside the NBA-- Kenny Smith said "reminds me of how we used to play in high school." He commented that it was all about ball movement.
So my thought was that in high school you don't have established stars with major egos and major contracts. The pro game is so devoted to the "star system" and sometimes it looks like one-on-one basketball.
I think the star system has created problems for Lebron James. Whenever he gets into these finals-- the Cavs go to him, especially when some of their other stars are injured. So it becomes Lebron against the world-- and he usually loses in those final series. And I don't see the ball flow that Steve Kerr has created with Golden State. Golden State won a few games when Curry and Klay Thompson were slumping.
Even Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen had the advantage of Phil Jackson's triangle offense in the Nineties. I believe you need that kind of thing to win championships. ESPN and highlight clips and the star system excite the fans. But it takes more than that to win the championship...
The Spurs have that offensive flow under Gregg Popovich.
Maybe Steve Kerr learned a few tricks playing for Phil Jackson.
So my thought was that in high school you don't have established stars with major egos and major contracts. The pro game is so devoted to the "star system" and sometimes it looks like one-on-one basketball.
I think the star system has created problems for Lebron James. Whenever he gets into these finals-- the Cavs go to him, especially when some of their other stars are injured. So it becomes Lebron against the world-- and he usually loses in those final series. And I don't see the ball flow that Steve Kerr has created with Golden State. Golden State won a few games when Curry and Klay Thompson were slumping.
Even Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen had the advantage of Phil Jackson's triangle offense in the Nineties. I believe you need that kind of thing to win championships. ESPN and highlight clips and the star system excite the fans. But it takes more than that to win the championship...
The Spurs have that offensive flow under Gregg Popovich.
Maybe Steve Kerr learned a few tricks playing for Phil Jackson.
Monday, May 30, 2016
Austin and the "Healthy Living Revolution"
Hey, I helped start this Healthy Living Revolution.
I moved to Austin in the 1970s. The population back then pushed 300,000 souls. Now we are pushing a cool 1,000,000. And I do mean a cool million! Austin wreaks with coolness, hipsters everywhere you look. Went to see a film yesterday at the Alamo Drafthouse, a movie theater so hip, while you watch the film, a beer you can sip. Just don't talk or look at your cellphone during the movie! Tattoos, beards, and youthful energy flew freely. The Law of Attraction at work....
Austin had an early reputation as an open-minded outlook, deep in the heart of Texas. Texas seemed a "loose-limbed" place, as stated by songwriter Michelle Shocked. Texas offered more space and psychological freedom than my crowded Long Island, New York, my point of origin.
Austin proved to be fertile ground for progressive thinking and a relaxed lifestyle. Willie Nelson helped the hippies and rednecks get along on speaking terms. Relaxed lifestyle for me meant working 20 hours a week as a waiter. I had serious free time-- for enjoying my own thoughts and sharing vegetarian meals with friends.
Those hippie roots helped turn Austin into an "Idea City," a phrased used to describe Austin GSD&M, a homegrown advertising agency. One of Austin big ideas-- Living a Healthy Lifestyle-- means we learned how to eat well, from mustard greens to lentil beans, and to exercise. And, yes, we got too self-absorbed, extreme and overly precious about our beliefs.
Portland, Oregon is our sister city, the northwestern version of Idea City.
I am amazed at how other places took so long to catch the wave. But they do catch up. Word has gotten out. Information travels quickly these days. A few big ideas:
1) Healthy living could help solve the diabetes crisis.
2) Healthy living could remedy the obesity crisis in a hurry.
3) Healthy living is more cost-effective than doctor visits and hospital visits.
(Though doctors and hospitals are great when they are most needed.)
It ain't rocket science... but 1/2 hour or more of exercise per day and eating a plant-based diet and you've punched the ticket to a more enjoyable life.
I'm glad I live here!
I moved to Austin in the 1970s. The population back then pushed 300,000 souls. Now we are pushing a cool 1,000,000. And I do mean a cool million! Austin wreaks with coolness, hipsters everywhere you look. Went to see a film yesterday at the Alamo Drafthouse, a movie theater so hip, while you watch the film, a beer you can sip. Just don't talk or look at your cellphone during the movie! Tattoos, beards, and youthful energy flew freely. The Law of Attraction at work....
Austin had an early reputation as an open-minded outlook, deep in the heart of Texas. Texas seemed a "loose-limbed" place, as stated by songwriter Michelle Shocked. Texas offered more space and psychological freedom than my crowded Long Island, New York, my point of origin.
Austin proved to be fertile ground for progressive thinking and a relaxed lifestyle. Willie Nelson helped the hippies and rednecks get along on speaking terms. Relaxed lifestyle for me meant working 20 hours a week as a waiter. I had serious free time-- for enjoying my own thoughts and sharing vegetarian meals with friends.
Those hippie roots helped turn Austin into an "Idea City," a phrased used to describe Austin GSD&M, a homegrown advertising agency. One of Austin big ideas-- Living a Healthy Lifestyle-- means we learned how to eat well, from mustard greens to lentil beans, and to exercise. And, yes, we got too self-absorbed, extreme and overly precious about our beliefs.
Portland, Oregon is our sister city, the northwestern version of Idea City.
I am amazed at how other places took so long to catch the wave. But they do catch up. Word has gotten out. Information travels quickly these days. A few big ideas:
1) Healthy living could help solve the diabetes crisis.
2) Healthy living could remedy the obesity crisis in a hurry.
3) Healthy living is more cost-effective than doctor visits and hospital visits.
(Though doctors and hospitals are great when they are most needed.)
It ain't rocket science... but 1/2 hour or more of exercise per day and eating a plant-based diet and you've punched the ticket to a more enjoyable life.
I'm glad I live here!
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Cheryl Richardson-- More To Life Than Meets the Eye
Cheryl Richardson (best-selling author)
Notes from Interview
You Can Heal Your Life --DVD—interview portion -- #7
Unconscious in my early years
Influenced by Louise Hay
Cheryl has an attractive presence, expressive, relaxed and
nice voice
Met Louise Hay
·
liked that she teaches from her own experience
·
practical nature of book
·
w/ specific ailments, affirmations
More to Life Than Meets the Eye
·
picked up Louise at airport
·
came out like a Queen
“The way I think may be influencing my life.”
Sticky Notes
·
wrote exact computer I wanted
·
and I wanted “free travel”
·
got computer from boss
·
friend took her on free trip to Boca Raton
·
no longer sees Universe as Santa Claus
·
but master of my own destiny
Challenges w/Purple… laughs, means something else….
Challenges w/Purpose ?, w/People
Lack of Clarity
·
we think in generalities
·
know what you want
·
clarify what you want
Lack of Information
·
we say… “I must be afraid”
·
we say… “I’m sabotaging myself.”
·
But really People Don’t Have The Info
But we will take action w/help
Isolation is a problem
Intention—“I want to write a book”
Make it into smaller steps—
·
go to the right people for suppor
·
Don’t go to the hardware store for milk
·
(wrong people)
Spiritual Growth—relationships
·
dated a man’s potential
·
forced me to grow
·
unbalanced relationships
·
“tried to get them on board”
Got my own apt (33-34 years)
Craft Myself a Great Partner
·
Please allow this or something greater to
occur—that supports my highest and best interests.
Treasure Map
Affirmation + Action= Miracles
Personal Ad in Paper—Took Action
Michael—13 years ago
Strong Affirmation
Intentions & Affirmations—we don’t know the power
Emmett Fox—early 20th century philosopher
·
deepest desires—don’t want to say things aloud
·
say things out loud
·
Action plan—make the space to allow in what we want
Affirmation + Emotional Power
(step into that state)
Living in the –
Powerful Emotional State
And
Energetic State
·
love
·
Abundance
Install these affirmations
(program yourself)
Make a John app!
Make a (Your Name here) app!
Thursday, April 28, 2016
3 Keys to Longevity-- Diet, Exercise, Involvement
Anatomy of an Illness
by: Norman Cousins
Dr Rene Dubos:
from the Introduction to the book
Dr. Alexander Leaf, of Harvard Medical School, has recently made extensive clinical and social observations on very old people in several parts of the world. His studies have led him to suggest the longevity is correlated with a rather frugal diet but of well-balanced composition, vigorous and continued physical activity, and involvement in community affairs to the end of one's life. Complete retirement from active life life does not seem to be a good way to reach a very old age.
by: Norman Cousins
Dr Rene Dubos:
from the Introduction to the book
Dr. Alexander Leaf, of Harvard Medical School, has recently made extensive clinical and social observations on very old people in several parts of the world. His studies have led him to suggest the longevity is correlated with a rather frugal diet but of well-balanced composition, vigorous and continued physical activity, and involvement in community affairs to the end of one's life. Complete retirement from active life life does not seem to be a good way to reach a very old age.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Health v Health Care
Got this off the JH Kunstler blog-- from one of his readers:
Steve
sprawlcapital
March 1, 2016
Health, as opposed to health care, is something that a person earns for him or her self through good set, physical exertion and avoidance of toxins.
I can only speak for myself, but I want health, not health care. I know from experience that health care rarely provides health.
Steve
sprawlcapital
March 1, 2016
Health, as opposed to health care, is something that a person earns for him or her self through good set, physical exertion and avoidance of toxins.
I can only speak for myself, but I want health, not health care. I know from experience that health care rarely provides health.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Golf Course-- a duffer's journal
Thought about calling this "A Hacker's Journal"-- but somebody would have come looking for a computer hacker story. This about an inept golfer-- AKA "a duffer."
Jokes are made about golf. I played 18 holes today so I guess the joke was on me. I felt tired by the end. Not exactly triumphant. The bad news-- my score was 119. The good news-- I came in second place in our threesome!
Does golf provide physical exercise if you use a golf cart to go from hole to hole? Yes, if you hit the ball all over the place. I spent time looking through weeds and walking on the edges of a lake.
You do commune with nature. You're outdoors and not checking your cellphone constantly. Those two things are beneficial right there.
I drank beer and ate pizza with one of my golf partners-- the guy that won. He was pretty generous in not giving me too many tips on how to be a better golfer. Advice was the last thing I needed. The beer helped us relax and we celebrated a good day.
I didn't take my pedometer with me. I preferred to focus on the golfing and not on the steps. Even using the cart, I bet I got several miles of walking done.
My most remarkable achievement-- I left 4 clubs behind in the process of playing 18 holes. I would take a sand wedge and a putter if I got in a sand trap. I'd play the ball and then use my putter on the green. I left the sand wedge behind and rode the cart to the next hole. I kept making the same mistake-- left my 9 iron, 8 iron and then 7 iron on various holes on the course-- and only realized the clubs were missing after progressing a few more holes. Guess what? Nice golfers retrieved my clubs and I got them all back at the pro shop in the clubhouse! People are good!
So here's a golf joke from the Internet:
Jokes are made about golf. I played 18 holes today so I guess the joke was on me. I felt tired by the end. Not exactly triumphant. The bad news-- my score was 119. The good news-- I came in second place in our threesome!
Does golf provide physical exercise if you use a golf cart to go from hole to hole? Yes, if you hit the ball all over the place. I spent time looking through weeds and walking on the edges of a lake.
You do commune with nature. You're outdoors and not checking your cellphone constantly. Those two things are beneficial right there.
I drank beer and ate pizza with one of my golf partners-- the guy that won. He was pretty generous in not giving me too many tips on how to be a better golfer. Advice was the last thing I needed. The beer helped us relax and we celebrated a good day.
I didn't take my pedometer with me. I preferred to focus on the golfing and not on the steps. Even using the cart, I bet I got several miles of walking done.
My most remarkable achievement-- I left 4 clubs behind in the process of playing 18 holes. I would take a sand wedge and a putter if I got in a sand trap. I'd play the ball and then use my putter on the green. I left the sand wedge behind and rode the cart to the next hole. I kept making the same mistake-- left my 9 iron, 8 iron and then 7 iron on various holes on the course-- and only realized the clubs were missing after progressing a few more holes. Guess what? Nice golfers retrieved my clubs and I got them all back at the pro shop in the clubhouse! People are good!
So here's a golf joke from the Internet:
A golfer walks off the 18th green, hands his putter to his caddie and says, "Kid, you've got to be the worst caddie in the world."
The caddie replies, "Sir, that would be too much of a coincidence."
Monday, January 18, 2016
Walk Like a Hippie
Started this blog two years ago-- with the stated goal of walking 10,000 steps (5 miles) per day.
I began with an Omron pedometer. At a certain point I switched to the Fitbit. The Fitbit gives an electronic, digital and more high tech feel to your workout. I never wanted to wear a Fitbit to sleep. I have enough problems sleeping without a Fitbit watching over my tossing and turning!
The Fitbit fell off my wrist one day. The Fitbit was gone. I liked being liberated. I went back to the Omron pedometer. You can keep it in your pocket. It counts your steps. It lets you know how many minutes you have made at a fast pace, called aerobic steps. The pedometer is a mechanical device. It has no GPS to a satellite. It counts your steps based on the movement in your hips.
I like to put the Omron pedometer in my pocket when I go out to exercise. My main exercise is walking. I've learned that if you walk about 4-5 miles per day-- you will feel healthy. That's good news. A good portion of that walking should be aerobic walking. I walk about 116 steps per minute when I am in exercise mode.
I feel even better if I go up and down hills.
The best investment you can make towards retirement-- is to exercise every day. If you walk for health you increase the chances you will make it to retirement age still feeling good.
Maybe I like the pedometer because it measures hip movement-- and I used to be a hippie.
So eat like a hippie, mainly vegetables and beans and whole grains. And walk like a hippie-- using your hips. You will feel the benefits.
I began with an Omron pedometer. At a certain point I switched to the Fitbit. The Fitbit gives an electronic, digital and more high tech feel to your workout. I never wanted to wear a Fitbit to sleep. I have enough problems sleeping without a Fitbit watching over my tossing and turning!
The Fitbit fell off my wrist one day. The Fitbit was gone. I liked being liberated. I went back to the Omron pedometer. You can keep it in your pocket. It counts your steps. It lets you know how many minutes you have made at a fast pace, called aerobic steps. The pedometer is a mechanical device. It has no GPS to a satellite. It counts your steps based on the movement in your hips.
I like to put the Omron pedometer in my pocket when I go out to exercise. My main exercise is walking. I've learned that if you walk about 4-5 miles per day-- you will feel healthy. That's good news. A good portion of that walking should be aerobic walking. I walk about 116 steps per minute when I am in exercise mode.
I feel even better if I go up and down hills.
The best investment you can make towards retirement-- is to exercise every day. If you walk for health you increase the chances you will make it to retirement age still feeling good.
Maybe I like the pedometer because it measures hip movement-- and I used to be a hippie.
So eat like a hippie, mainly vegetables and beans and whole grains. And walk like a hippie-- using your hips. You will feel the benefits.
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