Kedging – Priceless

Posted on August 25, 2011 by barb lefko

August – began a few weeks ago, but this month’s rule is belated due to a change in the online blog platform and a delay in publishing my posts.  I apologize for the lapse especially since this month’s rule, as Chris would say, is “so Damn Important”:

SPEND LESS THAN YOU MAKE

You may be wondering what on earth this rule has to do with being Younger Next Year or with “moving York off the list”?  Well, consider this:

August in America is synonymous with vacation.  I read somewhere that we spend more time planning and dreaming about our vacations than we do our retirement.  And, sadly, we often blow a lot of money on the “perfect” trip – only to come up short on the actual experience and come home with empty pockets, at best, or months of bills at worst.  Try a kedging vacation next time if you are serious about following Harry’s Rules.  In my mind, a vacation is ideally a break from the routine – a  time to create experiences that, as Harry says in his chapter titled “The Kedging Trick” “…sit in your head for months in advance and for years afterwards.”

Costing a lot is not a necessary ingredient for that to happen.

The first week of August John and I “vacationed” by participating in The Pennsylvania Perimeter Ride Against Cancer (PPRAC) – a bi-annual event organized by a family from Eastern Pennsylvania to raise money and awareness for The American Cancer Society and A Dream Come True.  This was the 15th year for the ride, but the first for us.  The ride organizers take pride in making the event as challenging as possible – cancer entails suffering so those fighting it need to sacrifice a little too.  Chris Crowley and Henry Lodge would most certainly give PPRAC their stamp of approval as the perfect “kedging” trip and I swear to you that it cost us way less than any “vacation” we’ve ever taken but left us with memories and experiences that we’ll never forget.  In Chapter 9, Harry defines kedging – a nautical term describing how to haul a large ship out of troubled waters by pulling toward a distant anchor.  Harry says that in this journey toward being “younger next year” we all need a kedging experience once in a while to keep motivated and to save ourselves.  In non-nautical terms Harry defines kedging as “…climbing out of the ordinary, setting a desperate goal and working like crazy to get there.”  PPRAC was all that – and more.

This year’s ride covered 520 miles, over 40,000 feet of climbing, and 6 days of pedaling for 6 to 10 hours each.  88 cyclists and support persons slept together at night in space donated by school gyms, churches and YMCAs and ate meals prepared by community organizations like the American Legion or VFW.  The cost of the “vacation” was the $1,000 minimum fundraising required of each of us, and a few cycling necessities to get ready for the trip.  We spent less than $500 on a new air mattress, new cycling shorts, and new tires for our bikes.  Before the trip we cycled over 1200 miles to get ready – we worried about this being too far out of our comfort zone, too “desperate”.  When we gathered with all the other cyclists on the day we departed for the starting point of the trip we realized we were novice cyclists compared to the majority of the group and pretty much out of our element.  But, once again Harry has the insight that I needed.  He summarizes his advice on kedging by pointing out that “doing stuff that scares the hell out of you – or embarrasses you or makes you feel like a dope – does have a place.  In most cases it can’t kill you, and the learning curve can be exhilaratingly steep.  It opens your head up at an age when you’re tempted to shut it down.  Besides, scary is memorable.”  I will remember the highs and lows of this trip forever.

PPRAC week began with a church service in Palmerton, the town to which we would be returning – an hour during which I seriously doubted my own judgment for being there, as the congregation sang hymns with word substitutions about climbs to the endless skyway and prayed for us.  Why was I not taking a “real” vacation, replete with four star hotels, gourmet meals and lazy days?  When I ask stupid questions like that I usually get my answer and this was no exception.  Exiting the church after the service brought me back to reality with this sign.

I suffered a lot on this trip.  I was uncomfortable with my performance.  I longed for my own bed and bathroom.  I complained way too much.  But, I loved every memorable minute.  I learned a lot about my ability to persevere, to deal with adversity and to be (or not be) flexible.  And, it didn’t cost me a penny.  Kedging can be cheap:  you’ll spend less than you’ll make – but it is priceless!  And, it’ll make you “younger next year”.

Posted in Connections, Cycling, Motivation | Leave a comment

Better Late Than Never

Posted on July 28, 2011 by barb lefko

This, the final blog to discuss Harry’s Rule #3: DO SERIOUS STRENGTH TRAINING, WITH WEIGHTS, TWO DAYS A WEEK FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE is appropriately titled. Thanks to my good friend and fitness specialist extraordinare, Jean Billet, for her excellent advice and motivating words. Jean is right – it is never too late to start getting “younger next year”. If you like what Jean has to tell us, you’ll get even more enthused about “moving” if you attend one of her classes. Join her Wednesday evenings from now until the end of August, at 6:30 P.M. prompt at York Township Park in the parking lot in front of the baseball field. She asks that you bring your own water, weights (if you have them) and a towel or mat. The class is fun and Jean makes everyone feel welcome. There is no charge unless you care to Thank Jean with a donation to her favorite charity. Making York a healthier place by starting with YOU is Thanks enough. I have attended Jean’s class and wish my schedule allowed it more often. Now, read what she has to say and come on out and put it into practice.

Better Late than Never!
Since I have dabbled in instructing strength training classes, Barb asked me weeks (ok, maybe months) ago if I would contribute to her blog; I immediately said yes. But as it goes… I continually put it off; reading the book, organizing my thoughts I told her; more like just not finding time to do it.
Is that what you are doing with your strength training?
Getting started is probably the hardest part of any project. But if you are reading this blog, remember you have already started; you just need to put the thoughts into action.
I couldn’t agree with Chris and Harry more… finding someone to instruct you in proper form is key. Doing the moves correctly provides maximum benefit and minimizes the opportunity for injury.
Don’t fancy yourself the gym-type… here are some suggestions:
Check your local school district or township; some offer fitness classes and while the group setting is not one-on-one a good instructor will teach form. Classes are generally scheduled for 10 – 12 weeks; enough to keep you committed and develop the habit.
Check your TV or internet; some cable channels are dedicated to providing workouts, the internet is riddled with how-to videos. The downside – no one to correct bad form; the upside – you are gaining confidence.
Find a personal trainer that will travel to you and show you how to work out in your own home. This may be more affordable than you think; have a friend join you and split the cost. Schedule a few sessions over several weeks… get the form down, develop a workout routine. Then schedule sessions once a month or every other month in order to confirm form is still good and to learn some new exercises so you can switch things up (variety is the spice of life).
Check the local gyms… some offer “punch cards” or pay-as-you-go classes; again this gives you access to an instructor/trainer that will teach form and exercises.
Still not sure… well here are some ways to get started today:
Chris and Harry both say start with smaller weights and more reps, right? Well, pick up 2 bottles of water (or 2 cans of veggies or bags of beans) and start doing some bicep curls:
Feet are shoulder-width apart, shoulders are down and back. Hips tilted under and stomach pulled up and in. Arms by your side, palms forward, elbows are under your shoulders. Now lift the “weights” towards the shoulders and release them back to starting position; that was 1 rep and now you have started! Now do some more.
When in doubt, do QUADS was another gem from the guys, right? Squats are one of my favorites! Again feet are shoulder-width apart, hips tilted under, stomach pulled up and in. Now slowly lower your body as though you are sitting in a chair. The aim is to get the legs at a 90-degree angle, but if you cannot get there that is ok; just go as low as you can. Here is the important part… make sure your knees are BEHIND your toes and your weight is in your heels. Now press thru your heels to push your body back up (DO NOT lock your knees at the top, keep a slight bend in them).
I hope this has helped you find a way to get started with strength training. I must admit, I haven’t completely read Younger Next Year but I did read the chapters concerning Strength Training and I am hooked… I will definitely make time to read the book in its entirety. The insight that Chris brings and the knowledge that Harry has is spot on!
Now just get moving!
Remember, better late than never!
Posted in Motivation, Strength Training | Leave a comment

What’s Your Choice?

Posted on July 22, 2011 by barb lefko

So, how is the strength training coming? Maybe this will help motivate you. Just yesterday, I discovered a distressing statistic in one of my favorite wellness resources, Fit & Well. The authors of the book, Fahey, Insel and Roth, exercise physiologists, relate that “…by age 75 about 25% of men and 75% of women can’t lift more than 10 pounds.” That’s really bad news!! But, the authors also go on to remark that “…although aging contributes to decreased strength, inactivity causes most of the loss.” In other words, we have a choice! What is your choice?

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OR THIS

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After I saw this statistic, I started thinking about all the things that involve lifting 10 pounds that I wouldn’t be able to do anymore if I become one of the incredible 75%. I couldn’t carry most of my grocery orders. I couldn’t pick up my one year old godchild. I wouldn’t be able to get my own luggage out of the car – or into my hotel room. I couldn’t move my furniture around every Christmas to put the tree in the window – heck, I probably wouldn’t be able to carry the tree into the house. I wouldn’t be able to lift my bike – now, that is heartbreaking! I wouldn’t be able to turn my mattress. I couldn’t pick up a case of my favorite beverage. I wouldn’t be able to lift my golf bag onto a cart, let alone walk the course with it. I wouldn’t be able to bowl with my friends. Wow, wouldn’t my life be really constrained by the sad fact that I made the wrong choice? If I choose not to strength train the ultimate irony is that I won’t be able to lift the wheelchair that I will probably end up using.
So, I reconfirm my commitment to do this strength training at least twice, preferably three times a week. I still love my aerobic workouts but Harry says it well, in the last paragraph of Chapter 11. “Aerobic exercise saves your life; strength training makes it worth living.” The choice is clear.

Posted in Motivation, Science of Aging, Strength Training | Leave a comment

The Arthritis Myth

Posted on July 13, 2011 by barb lefko

Well, I did it. I attended my first Strength Training session last Wednesday evening – just as I blogged that I would. I even persuaded two of my closest buddies to join me. Guess what – it was Fun! Remember: “If it isn’t fun, why are you doing it?” So, I got up the Gumption and I had my Group – although I was disappointed that no one reading this blog contacted me and joined me. Is there anyone reading this blog???
And, I now have my Goal. I used two pound weights at the session largely because that was all I had available, and admittedly they were maybe a bit too easy. Actually, I was following Chris’s advice in Chapter 10, A World of Pain: Strength Training. He says “…in the first few months, do less weight than you can handle and more reps – maybe twenty instead of the usual ten or twelve. Give your joints time to get in the game.” And, even with those light weights, I still hurt for two days after the session. Which is good! That’s how strength training works it’s magic. Again, Chris says it well. “You build muscle by tearing it down. It’s all part of the growth and decay business that Harry is teaching us about. You actually tear the muscles a little by lifting heavy weights (heavy for you – whatever that is). When they grow back, they’re bigger and stronger. Your bone mass increases at the same time. And you gain tendon strength.” So, my Goal is to be using five pound weights by the end of the year – and feel no worse the next day than I did last week. I’ll let you know what reaching that goal means in real-life gains. Chris promises that the real reward for doing strength training is not to look like a body builder, but to feel good doing all the things that we call living – like just walking up a hill or carrying groceries.
How many of you have made the comment at some time or another that you can’t do something because arthritis is setting in? I hear it all the time when I’m trying to recruit new runners. “I can’t run … my knees are bad from an old injury” someone will tell me. Or, “arthritis runs in my family and already I’m feeling it in my joints.” Guess what – it’s a convenient myth – that provides a convenient excuse. What most people who proclaim these things are experiencing is pain and inflammation brought on by inactivity – not arthritis. Strength training builds up muscles by tearing them down (that’s what hurts) – it builds up the tendons that support joints and it eventually cures all those aches and pains that we use as an excuse to allow the relentless tide of inactivity to wash us down the slippery slope. Chris reminds us that for most people who really do have significant arthritis, the recommended treatment is physical therapy. “Physical therapy is, in large part, nothing more than supervised weight training.” He promises that “…it (strength training) will do more than anything else to prevent most forms of arthritis if you don’t already have it. And to make it better if you do.” Isn’t that the same as being Younger Next Year?

Posted in Connections, Science of Aging, Strength Training, Wellness | Leave a comment

Exercise Your Independence

Posted on July 5, 2011 by barb lefko

During the National Capitol Fireworks show on PBS last evening, the Master of Ceremonies recited a part of the Declaration of Independence, remarking how words that were written hundreds of years ago are still so relevant in our great nation. Thomas Jefferson wanted us all to have the ” the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” As I thought about that, suddenly, it came to me that those words are very current – and ironically relevant to what Younger Next Year tells us and what “Let’s Move, York…” hopes to accomplish. Obviously, my interpretation applies on a whole different plane than our forefathers were thinking, but nevertheless, this is equally necessary to maintaining our Independence. By following the seven rules of Younger Next Year we will most assuredly live longer by eliminating the 70% of lifestyle related deaths that our coroners document. We will most assuredly live the way we want to until we die, not slide down the slippery slope of increasing disability and infirmity – now, that is true liberty. And, we will most assuredly enjoy the pursuit of happiness. Losing one’s independence is never a happy time. Believe me, I’ve watched it happen too many times to people I love. So, my message for our Nation’s Birthday is to celebrate your Independence that our forefathers fought so hard for by EXERCISING YOUR INDEPENDENCE. Don’t give up what was so valiantly won. That is our right – and ultimately – our responsibility.
June was our month to deal with Rule # 3 – Do Serious Strength Training, with Weights, two days a week, for the rest of your life. Well, June is over and we hardly touched the surface of how to make this rule happen. So, because, as Chris loves to say over and over in Younger Next Year, “this is so damn important”, Rule # 3 will be continued for another month. I am happy to report that I have some experts on board to help us all get a better handle on this strength training rule – so, you’ll be reading their advice some weeks. I, as I’ve admitted, am having some trouble myself getting motivated to follow this rule. Yes, I know some basic strength training work-outs; yes, I know some of the recommended guidelines re: low weights/high reps vs. high weights/low reps. And, yes, I know the dire consequences of not doing this. But, I don’t know how to get myself motivated to actually do strength training two (or, ideally, for me) three days a week.
But WAIT. I do know the basic principles of motivation. I’m always preaching them to everyone else. A Goal, A Group and some Gumption! I’ve been at this Fitness thing long enough now – and passionate about figuring out how to get everyone “moving” toward a better life, that I absolutely know that those who are most successful (myself included) need a Goal – a Group – and just a bit of Gumption. The goal has to be personally meaningful, specific and just outside your comfort zone. The Group is Harry’s Pack – any like-minded people who share a similar interest in accomplishing what your Goal is. They hold you accountable. And, the Gumption is saying “this is the day that I’m going to start” and then doing it whether it’s convenient or not.
So, to maintain my INDEPENDENCE, I woke up this morning and made a commitment to attend the class that one of my “experts” has every Wednesday evening, tomorrow. That’s my group. I’ll set my Goal when I get there – whether it will be to lift more weights than I currently can, or be able to do a new fun activity that I cannot currently do – I’m not certain yet, but I will set it. And, my Gumption is to put this all in print here, so I make sure that I follow through. I’m going “Public” – something I’ve found to be extraordinarily effective in my own journey of “moving”. Join me, if you want – respond to this blog entry and I’ll give you the details. EXERCISE YOUR INDEPENDENCE.

Posted in Connections, Exercise, Fitness, Motivation, Strength Training | 2 Comments

Pay It Forward, York

Posted on June 24, 2011 by barb lefko

Last Sunday was a great day for a Walk – and many thanks to those who showed up at Rocky Ridge. We had some fathers and daughters, some sisters and brothers and even some four legged friends who got a free ride while their owner got started on her weight training by pushing them in a “baby” stroller. Cute!! In addition to the Big Walk, “Let’s Move, York…” got front page recognition in the York Sunday News with a human interest success story about father and son, Kerry and Zach McFatridge, who have really started “moving” and feel “younger next year”. If you didn’t catch the article, read it here. It is so motivating – and, talking to Kerry and Zach, who attended the Big Walk, is even more motivating – they are really feeling good – and want us all to follow in their footsteps. A huge THANKS to Bill Landauer and Jim McClure at the York Daily Record for believing in our passion to “move” York to a healthier place and for publishing stories like this to show that we’re making an impact.
Speaking of, IMPACT, our M.C. on Sunday, Don Gogniat (Thanks, Don for a great job) challenged everyone at the Big Walk to “Pay It Forward”. He announced the date and location of our next Big Walk – September 25 at the York Rail Trail/Brillhart Station at Day’s Mill Road and asked everyone to bring five other people – he predicted a turn-out on September 25 of 500 people to takeover the trail and really show York that we mean business. So, save the date – SEPTEMBER 25 - start inviting, begging, bribing or threatening 5 of your friends and family members to be there with you. As Don told us on Sunday, you might just save their lives by being the catalyst that get’s them moving! PAY IT FORWARD! BRING 5 BUDDIES!
And, in case we have to forcibly carry those 5 people to get them there (we don’t care how you get them there – just do it), we better get going on Rule #3 – Do serious strength training, with weights, two days a week for the rest of your life. What did you do this week to start working on this? As I confessed in last week’s blog, I need some help here, so I’m going to ask some guest bloggers to help me out with this – so stay tuned for some experts’ advice in future entries, but in the meantime, here’s some of my own advice about getting started weight training. Chris tells us in Chapter 10 of Younger Next Year that we should “hire a trainer or read a book or both”. Good advice – but I know that money is tight these days for a lot of us, so hiring a trainer isn’t top on the “Things to Buy” list. Chris’s advice is well intended though. Doing strength training the wrong way, as Chris says “is both counterproductive and dangerous. Not ‘kill you’ dangerous, but ‘hurt your joints and drive you away’ dangerous.” Recall the part of the Rule that says “for the rest of your life” – hurting like heck by doing strength training the wrong way won’t make it easy to keep doing it for a month, let alone the rest of your life. So, if you can afford a trainer, Great. Hire one. But, if you are like me, and can’t, buy a book (or borrow one from the library) that gives the fundamentals regarding both stretching and strengthing exercises. A few months ago I blogged about meeting Bill Rodgers and his book, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Running. In it there are two good chapters focusing on stretching and strength training for runners, so I am going to use them to get with the program. There are tons of other good references out there – the point is to pick one that is simple, and relevant to where you are coming from. Another way to get going with some good guidance, but much less expensive than hiring a trainer, is to check out community organizations that offer classes that incorporate stretching and strengthening. Lots of churches, townships and fitness centers offer group classes that help get you started the right way – and a bonus with these is the “pack” connections that keep you showing up! As always, the goal is to keep at it, so starting slow, doing it correctly and having fun while doing this really important “work” is the insurance policy we need to make it last – a lifetime.

Posted in Connections, Exercise, Fitness, Inspiration, Walking | 1 Comment

Show Your Strength – at the 2nd BIG WALK on Sunday

Posted on June 17, 2011 by barb lefko

Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 19th – the date of the 2nd BIG WALK. We are meeting at 1:00 P.M. at Rocky Ridge Park and walking “Sue’s Trail”, which is located at the end of Deninger Road. Let’s have a show of strength for all those pollsters who voted York as 4th Most Obese metropolitan area and show them that we are “on the move”! We hope everyone who attended the first walk in March will be there and be bringing someone new – maybe even your father. What better Father’s Day gift can you give Dad – than to walk in the park with him and start him on the path to being “Younger Next Year”? None, is my emphatic answer! If you did attend the 1st BIG WALK in March, you will find that the trails we have chosen for this walk are a bit more difficult. We have a mile and a half-mile option but the trail is a bit uneven and you will encounter some hills. BUT, if you’ve been following Harry’s rules, this will not be a problem. You are already stronger (and younger) and able to meet the challenge of some hillier and rougher terrain. If you’ve never walked the trails at Rocky Ridge (as I had not), you will discover (as I have) that it is beautiful up there. The overlook on Sue’s Trail affords an awesome view out to the East toward Hellam. If it is clear on Sunday, bring your binoculars and camera.
Speaking of Harry’s Rules and “showing your strength” it’s time to talk about Harry’s 3rd Rule:

Do serious strength training, with weights, two days a week for the rest of your life


On Sunday, we’ll still be working on the first two rules, reinforcing that we all need to exercise six days a week and make 4 of those days serious aerobic exercise. But then we’re going to step it up and add in two days of strength training. Up until now, I’ve been in my element. Doing serious aerobic exercise is what I thrive on – it has become as much a part of my daily schedule as eating three meals a day and sleeping every night. If I don’t do it, I’m not a happy camper. But Harry and Chris say that isn’t enough. In Chapter 10, Chris tells us that “lifting weights is one of the critical things you do to stay off the beach.” Remember the relentless tide? He tells us it’s “because of your bones and your muscles and, most importantly, your joints.” There’s a page long explanation then of what happens to our bones, muscles and joints as we age – which I hope you’ll read in it’s entirety, but suffice it to say, the balance sheet is weighted heavily in the loss column when it comes to bone and muscle mass. But, Chris goes on to say that “lifting big, heavy weights stops most of that. Lifting heavy weights every couple of days basically stops the bone loss…stops (or offsets) the muscle loss…stops the weakening of tendons, restores the goopy (joint) pads and gets rid of the pain. It keeps your muscle mass from going to muck, your skeleton from turning to dust, your joints from hurting with every lousy step.”
So, that’s the why of Rule #3. Rules #1 and #2 stop the slippery slide and add years to our life, but strength training makes sure we stay functional and adds life to our years. Sounds convincing to me – I need to take this part seriously. So, come on out on Sunday – get one of your 4 days of aerobic exercise in – but be ready to SHOW YOUR STRENGTH. And mount this poster on your refrigerator for additional motivation!
Growing-Old-Man-Poster-(4158).jpg

Posted in Connections, Motivation, Science of Aging, Strength Training, Walking | Leave a comment

There Won’t Be an Escalator at The Big Walk

Posted on June 7, 2011 by barb lefko

This getting “Younger Next Year” is keeping me so busy that I just can’t blog as often as I’d like. Even though I’ve been incommunicado for almost two weeks, I’ve been working in the trenches, coaching and cheerleading others to believe Bill Bowerman (founding father of Nike) when he says “everybody is an athlete”. Talk about “connecting” – see the last entry in this blog! I travelled to sunny San Diego to help 3100 Team in Training participants from around the country and Canada fulfill their commitment to cross the Finish Line of the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon or Half-Marathon so blood cancer becomes an obsolete word in our vocabulary. It was a hot day out on the course on Sunday but we got the job done and 16 Central Pennsylvania runners and walkers now understand that fitness does not come easy, but that they are all further along in the journey to become “Younger Next Year” than they were 5 months ago, when they took their first steps toward that Finish Line.
While I was in San Diego, John and I had a few free hours to sightsee and we toured the famous aircraft carrier, The Midway. If you’ve never been on such a monstrous ship, let me tell you, it is HUGE – and every inch of space is put to use in order to accommodate up to 4,000 Navy and Marine sailors and aviators while they make the mission happen. There are steep steps and ladders that need to be traversed at every turn. As we approached one such area on ship, John and I overheard an older overweight, underfit couple ask “Where is the elevator or escalator?” Of course, it got my attention and I tucked that question into my memory bank to blog about.
There won’t always be an elevator or escalator -no matter how handicapped accessible we try to make our world. There will be places you can’t go – and, more importantly, things you can’t do, if you refuse to follow Harry’s Rules. That’s what Harry and Chris mean by the “slippery slope”. For every day you don’t exercise the relentless tide keeps coming in and suddenly, you head out to enjoy life and find out there is no elevator or escalator to get you where you really want to go. Things like touring an aircraft carrier, tubing or tobogganing with the kids (or grandkids), hiking through our beautiful National Parks, shopping ’til you drop, running to catch a flight or a taxi, or a bus. I could go on forever – but you get the point. No one wants to feel like they can’t keep up – no one wants to be left behind. Sadly, there are lots of truly disabled people in our world – disabled by life events and circumstances that they have no control over. Helping individuals like that to overcome physical barriers is something we are obligated to do. But making sure that we don’t self-impose disability on ourselves by refusing to take care of our bodies is also something we are obligated to do. Don’t count on there being an escalator when you need it. Come out to the “Big Walk” next Sunday on Father’s Day and let’s walk and talk about how you’re doing with Harry’s Seven Rules.

York County is 4th on the list of most obese metro areas in the nation.*
Join this grassroots movement to move York . . . off the list!
THE BIG WALK
On
Father’s Day
Sunday, June 19, 2011
(Rain or Shine!)
1:00 p.m.

Rocky Ridge County Park
Directions: From Rt. 30, take Mt. Zion Rd (Rt. 24) north for 1 mile.
Turn right onto Deninger Rd and follow into park.
We will meet in the last parking lot at the end of the park road.
You will have the option to take a short or a long walk — at your own pace. The important thing is we are out there together!
This will be a great way to welcome in summer – loving life, and feeling good! It’ll be great! Join us!
No sign-up – JUST SHOW UP – bring a few friends!
Take a walk to help move York County off the list!
This is a no-frills event, so BYOW – Bring your own water!
For more information:
Sue Schmidt, jcschmidt@comcast.net, (717) 854-6402
Barb & John Lefko, biker.boomers@verizon.net, (717) 993-2683
Deb Gogniat, debgogniat@comcast.net, (717) 846-0624
*Gallop-Healthways Well-Being Index 2009
Posted in Fitness, Science of Aging, Walking | 1 Comment

Irony on Monday

Posted on May 26, 2011 by barb lefko

The message at Monday’s motivational get-together came through loud and clear – but York didn’t show up to hear it. We heard testimonials from Wendy Smith and Tom O’Shea, who shared some very personal, “moving” and definitely motivating stories that personify what it means to become “Younger Next Year”. If you never open the book just look up Tom or Wendy, spend some time with them, hear their stories, and you will understand what Harry and Chris are trying to say. THANK YOU Wendy and Tom – as Chris Crowley exhorts over and over in Younger Next Year, you “Just Said Yes”, you “connected” and you fed our limbic needs for a few moments.
The irony is that the message that came through loud and clear wasn’t heard by those who needed to hear it – those who didn’t show up. Most everyone who needed to hear it wasn’t there. Wendy and Tom both told powerful stories about their journeys toward a lifestyle of fitness and the common theme for both was the need to “connect” with others along the way. Both shared the belief that going out, day after day, year after year, is only going to happen if you know someone is waiting for you to show up. Both shared stories of “connections” and “caring” that I cannot adequately put into words but, that drove home the message of “Let’s Move, York…”. Folks, we cannot do this alone. WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER.
In Chapter 19, Chris Crowley gives his common-sense interpretation of Harry’s scientific explanation of the need for limbic resonance. He tells us to “JUST SAY YES. There’s a terrible temptation to say “no” as we get older (or get wrapped up in our own busy lives). It’s a hassle to do this or that. We don’t really need to. Except of course, that we do. We need to do almost anything that gets us involved with other people. Because, as you now know, connections save lives. So, until you fill your life up again – and maybe after that as well – default to “yes” when anyone suggests doing something or asks for help.”
“Let’s Move, York…” needs your help. York needs your help. We need you to show up – to just say yes – to connect – to care. Wendy and Tom get it. We all can.
Now, call someone and ask them to meet you, or ask your co-worker to join you for your daily dose of exercise. Or “comment” on this blog site to share your thoughts and ideas on how Lets Move, York can succeed. Because that’s how “Let’s Move, York…” is supposed to work.

Posted in Connections, Inspiration, Motivation | 1 Comment

Let’s Get Together, York

Posted on May 18, 2011 by barb lefko

We’ve been working on Harry’s Rule #2 – DO SERIOUS AEROBIC EXERCISE 4 DAYS A WEEK FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. How is it going? Are you succeeding – or faltering? Deb, Sue, John and I want to know? And we can’t wait until the NEXT BIG WALK – SUNDAY, JUNE 19th at ROCKY RIDGE COUNTY PARK. So, we reserved a room at the United Way of York for Monday evening (May 23rd) at 7:00 P.M. and urge you to come and join us. The United Way is at 800 East King Street, York, PA 17405 – at the intersection of King and Sherman Sts, just one block south of East Market St. (phone: 771-3800).
Two York residents, who are willing to share the story of their own journeys toward becoming “Younger Next Year”, will be there to help motivate us all. Then, we want your ideas about how to get and keep York County motivated like these two are to “move”. Come prepared to tell us WHAT YOU WANT. “Let’s Move, York” is all about people helping people and our ultimate success depends on you being involved in planning the direction of the movement and spreading the word.
This blog is only one tool that we hope might be helpful in conveying Harry’s simple, but sometimes challenging-to-follow, seven rules that will make us all “younger next year”. It is meant to serve as a guide to the book that will hopefully convince everyone in York to get up and get moving. It is a medium to connect us all but it doesn’t fill the bill of connecting like Harry and Chris tell us we need to connect. Harry and Chris are mutually adamant that the most important rule of all is that we exercise our limbic, primitive brain – the one that demands biologically that we are part of a pack. Harry and Chris believe this so much that two of the seven rules deal with it – CARE, CONNECT AND COMMIT (rules # 6 and 7). In Chapter 18, Harry says, “we evolved as social pack animals, like wolves and dolphins. It’s not a choice; our survival depends on being part of a group.” And Chris puts his usual no-nonsense twist on Harry’s scientific explanation in the next chapter, telling us “we have to ‘exercise’ our social, pack-animal gifts as vigorously as we exercise our bodies, if we’re going to lick that pesky tide. That means adding friends, doing more stuff, getting out there and being involved.” So, please come out to the United Way on Monday evening and exercise your PACK instincts and help figure out how to motivate everyone in York to “get moving”. Oh – and BRING A BUDDY!

Posted in Connections, Motivation, Wellness | 2 Comments