Saturday, February 21, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Earth: A Foreign Planet
It sounds strange, but keep this in mind: yesterday, when I got home from work, I calculated that in all probability I had spent no more than five minutes outside.
If I still lived in Wisconsin, this might make more sense—but even still, I may have trumped that time frame just by cleaning off my car. I live in Scottsdale, Arizona and it was 68 degrees and sunny yesterday. It will be in the 70's today.
Looking back over past weekdays, the most amount of time I spend outside is probably something like 10 minutes. So, it's not surprising that the trek in McDowell Mountain Park made me feel like I had left the planet—I'm really not all that integrated with planet earth.
This is all new to me. Each year I'm further entrenched into the office world, sitting and staring at a computer screen. Last year, I was teaching and moving around all day--teaching in the office world. This year I'm writing, and sitting. Last year was an anomaly though, and in either case, I was indoors. Despite last year, the trend is one of moving less, being outdoors less, and playing less. I'm just trying to pay attention to all this.
Paying attention and noticing is the first step towards action and changing it.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Posture in the office
I'm not at that point where I can have correct posture all day long. Maybe someday. Right now I'm slumped on the couch with a Macbook on my legs and a water and coffee within forward bend reach.
It was bad enough that the first part of my life was spent at a desk in school. Now, it's spent at a desk at work, reaching forward for a keyboard.
Unfortunately, I can't combat it and stay productive--it'd require too much processing power to be micro-analyzing my posture AND trying to get stuff done.
But check this out. A few times during the day I'll recognize it and correct, sitting with my back straight as though some dude 20 feet above me had a string attached to the crown of my head and was pulling me up. That helps.
Then, when I get home I'll do some stretches. Last night I did push ups in the bridge position, making sure to flex my butt to protect my back. I act as though I'm wrapping my back around a giant Swiss ball, trying to strengthen those muscles in my upper back.
I also do some chest opening stretches, such as clasping my hands behind my back, rolling my shoulders and then pushing my hands up so I feel a stretch in my shoulder and chest.
I'm working on throwing a few of these pictures up on my website so they make more sense. But for now I can take comfort in the fact that even Martha Stewert didn't have pictures on her website.
The other thing that is going to inhibit posture and eventually cause low back pain is those tight hip flexors. More to come.
It was bad enough that the first part of my life was spent at a desk in school. Now, it's spent at a desk at work, reaching forward for a keyboard.
Unfortunately, I can't combat it and stay productive--it'd require too much processing power to be micro-analyzing my posture AND trying to get stuff done.
But check this out. A few times during the day I'll recognize it and correct, sitting with my back straight as though some dude 20 feet above me had a string attached to the crown of my head and was pulling me up. That helps.
Then, when I get home I'll do some stretches. Last night I did push ups in the bridge position, making sure to flex my butt to protect my back. I act as though I'm wrapping my back around a giant Swiss ball, trying to strengthen those muscles in my upper back.
I also do some chest opening stretches, such as clasping my hands behind my back, rolling my shoulders and then pushing my hands up so I feel a stretch in my shoulder and chest.
I'm working on throwing a few of these pictures up on my website so they make more sense. But for now I can take comfort in the fact that even Martha Stewert didn't have pictures on her website.
The other thing that is going to inhibit posture and eventually cause low back pain is those tight hip flexors. More to come.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Smoking Laws and Obese Passengers
These days, smokers have to huddle in small groups hidden in dark alleys to enjoy their habit of choice.
Well, not quite--but it's close.
In Arizona, where I live, you can't smoke indoors. Anywhere! Only the casinos, whose jurisdiction falls to the Indians, allow smoking.
People just aren't in favor of smoking, and there's complaints of second hand smoke and even third hand smoke. And I have to admit, compared to states where you can smoke indoors, it's nice to go home without your clothes reeking.
So, what about overweight airline passengers? For us normal-size folk, it's quite an inconvenience to have part of your seat taken by someone else's rolls of fat.
Not to mention all the associated health costs for the obese.
It's only a matter of time before legislation intervenes and passes regulations that impose some punitive measures on those who are obese.
It's already happened in Alabama.
It'll be interesting to see if financial burden is a greater motivator than heart disease, diabetes, knee and joint problems, hormone abnormalities...
The interesting thing is I've never met someone who couldn't shed weight through exercise and eating less. Is self-discipline the problem? Or is it knowledge?
Well, not quite--but it's close.
In Arizona, where I live, you can't smoke indoors. Anywhere! Only the casinos, whose jurisdiction falls to the Indians, allow smoking.
People just aren't in favor of smoking, and there's complaints of second hand smoke and even third hand smoke. And I have to admit, compared to states where you can smoke indoors, it's nice to go home without your clothes reeking.
So, what about overweight airline passengers? For us normal-size folk, it's quite an inconvenience to have part of your seat taken by someone else's rolls of fat.
Not to mention all the associated health costs for the obese.
It's only a matter of time before legislation intervenes and passes regulations that impose some punitive measures on those who are obese.
It's already happened in Alabama.
It'll be interesting to see if financial burden is a greater motivator than heart disease, diabetes, knee and joint problems, hormone abnormalities...
The interesting thing is I've never met someone who couldn't shed weight through exercise and eating less. Is self-discipline the problem? Or is it knowledge?
Monday, February 9, 2009
Mini Vacation
I've been taking a poll of Arizonans to see if they have heard of Patagonia, Arizona. I'd say maybe 1 in 5 have. That's where I went over the weekend to stay at a B&B with my fiance.
It was nice to get away, and it was remarkable how much noise we're used to hearing. The silence we felt in Patagonia was almost unnerving. We're so used to hearing something like a plane, a police siren, traffic, people talking to loudly in the apartment complex, radios...anything.
Not in Patagonia. Remarkably, my body didn't get too stiff traveling. I did a bit of stretching and some meditating and some very slow and focused push ups and quite a bit of walking. I've taken long breaks from weight lifting in the past and I find there is always another way to interact with my body.
Walking is great because you start to get in tune with some of your imbalances and you get a chance to really feel your body in motion. I had Toastmasters after work today, so I couldn't work out. I did some internal Chinese exercises this morning and a few stretches. Tomorrow I'll have a more intense workout.
It was nice to get away, and it was remarkable how much noise we're used to hearing. The silence we felt in Patagonia was almost unnerving. We're so used to hearing something like a plane, a police siren, traffic, people talking to loudly in the apartment complex, radios...anything.
Not in Patagonia. Remarkably, my body didn't get too stiff traveling. I did a bit of stretching and some meditating and some very slow and focused push ups and quite a bit of walking. I've taken long breaks from weight lifting in the past and I find there is always another way to interact with my body.
Walking is great because you start to get in tune with some of your imbalances and you get a chance to really feel your body in motion. I had Toastmasters after work today, so I couldn't work out. I did some internal Chinese exercises this morning and a few stretches. Tomorrow I'll have a more intense workout.
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