This and That Chat

Good morning! Typically, I start planning for this weekly blog on Tuesday and have an idea what I want to chat about. This week, I either did not focus or could not come up with a topic. So, I am going to chat about miscellaneous things. Coffee Lovers Coffee has over 136 bioactive compounds, many of which are antioxidants. Studies continue to find many health benefits in coffee. Suggestion: Find a good organic coffee, eliminate the cream and sugar, and reap the benefits! Jeffing Jeff Galloway is a popular running coach, who has made fame for his run/walking training philosophy. His books and training plans have helped many succeed in distances ranging from 5K to Ultra’s. Recently I have seen the terminology for this style referred to as “Jeffing”. It may have been a term Galloway has been using all along, but I have not noticed it until the past year or so. Great for his marketing.

​Building a Lasting Workout Habit

Thursday night before our group took off to run, I asked everyone, how many of them are running more than this one group run? Unanimously, they all responded with this group run being their only run. I expounded on the importance of running multiple times a week to improve their running both physically and mentally. Running once a week will make running difficult and prevent improvement. While I can write a long blog on the importance of training to run healthy and with less discomfort, this morning I want to chat about building a lasting workout habit. Many years ago, when I started in fitness as a running coach, I read a book intitled, The Power of Habit. I wanted to understand how the power of habit making worked and increased the chances of successful training. Creating a workout habit is one of the most rewarding endeavors you can undertake for your physical and mental well-being.

Understanding Cortisol and Why You Should

Good morning! This week I read an article about cortisol, and it explains in great detail, how this hormone works, its importance and what affects our levels. To be honest, I have never really known much about cortisol, and it was not till somewhat recently, I gave it any thought. My doctor first piqued my interest, as she discussed the stress I went through (during my late wife’s cancer), and how that stress most likely elevated my cortisol levels, thus leading to weight gain. I kind of ran with that idea and even used it as an excuse for a significant amount of weight gain. Probably some truth, but I dare say, only partly. While the stress I experienced from a very difficult time in my life may have been a factor in my increased weight gain, other factors, such as caloric intake, too many sweets, and spotty exercise, all played a significant role no doubt. Not perfectly, but over the past year, I have improved my discipline in all the aforementioned areas.