Happy (?) Birthday to the world.

     Did you read the news?  The human population will hit 7 billion today.  We are an aging, graying group in the developed world.  The country with the oldest population is Japan, with South Korea and China not far behind.  The USA is pretty much holding its own.
     Every minute of every day births outnumber deaths by 158.  154 of those births every minute are in the developing world. 
     It is easy to see the problems this presents.  How are we to feed, house, and educate this burgeoning population without destroying our over-burdoned planet?  How best to create a world of "shiny happy people holding hands, shiny happy people laughing" (REM)? 
     I have no answers except to live as sustainably as I can in my own little life....to follow the great law of the Iroquois that states that "in every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation."  If we all do this, it will make a difference.

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean.  But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."
                                  Mother Teresa
    
    
    

Cold news, bad news, and good news.

     We had our first major snowfall and very cold temperatures yesterday so we "chose" (wimped out) to skip our running group last night, discretion being the better part of valor.  Hopefully, we will do better in the future.  We're tough, right?

     I want to bring to your attention a new Australian study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.  Previous studies have shown that after weight loss, metabolism slows and hormonal changes cause an increase in appetite.  In this small study people were asked to lose 10% of their body weight by going on a low-calorie diet.  They were then placed on a maintenance diet.  One year later their metabolism and hormonal levels had still not returned to normal, plus the subjects were starting to regain the weight despite the maintenance diets. 
     Their leptin levels fell by 2/3 immediately (when leptin falls, appetite increases and metabolism slows).  One year later their leptin levels were still 1/3 lower than at the start of the study.
     Other hormones (ghrelin was increased, peptide YY decreased) were also still changed as of 1 year later, increasing hunger.
     Conclusion:  it is very hard to lose weight and keep it off as your hormones work against you.  Hormones enjoy their status quo. Not good news for dieters.  The obvious conclusion of their study, in my mind, is to be ever vigilant after weight loss.
     This was a small study.  The weight loss was rapid and was caused by being on a very low calorie diet.  Hopefully, more studies will follow, maybe studying how long it does take for hormone levels to return to normal.
      My thoughts are to just exercise and eat healthy foods... a life-style change and not a diet.  Hopefully natural weight loss will occur and the hormones will be tricked into normalcy. Maybe someone will do a study on metabolism, hunger hormones, and this lifestyle change at some point.

     A new study shows that resveratrol may boost oral health.  Resveratrol was found to supress growth of certain bacteria known to cause periodontal disease.  Other studies in the past have shown resveratrol to increase length of life, to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects, cardiovascular benefits, anti-diabetes potential, energy endurance enhancement, and protection against Alzheimers Disease.  Great news:  all the more reason to enjoy red, purple, and black grapes.  We keep some frozen and treat them as mini-popsicle-like snacks.   (http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/).

The adventures begin......

     Four members of our family are venturing into their new future by moving from Chicago to Austin.  Their farewells are over, now the adventures begin!

"Chicago is an October sort of city even in spring."  Nelson Algren

     They are leaving the snow and cold behind for the enviable winter warmth of Austin.....the live music capital of the world, a mecca for runners, year-round golf, and new opportunities of all kinds.  I can think of some people (ahem) who may be visiting them often in the winter months, and not only to enjoy their charming company, which we do love so much.
     Seriously, it takes bravery and character to leave one's comfort zone and the safety of the known, even with the knowledge of new joys and experiences ahead.  We respect and honor you for that.   
    "The Unknown".   Doesn't the phrase get your heart to beating just a little bit faster?   There is the excitement of new places to explore, new best friends you haven't met yet, all sorts of doors to be opened and firsts to experience.  It will be wonderful.  You just have to enjoy the ride.
     "Remember what Bilbo used to say:  It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door.  You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." (J.R.R. Tolkien). 
     This is just the start of a wonderful journey into your future.  Safe travels.

    "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from safe harbor.  Catch the tradewinds in your sails. Explore.  Dream.  Discover."
                             Mark Twain

Coloradans are a healthy bunch.

     As we knew would happen, winter weather is coming later this week.  We took advantage of yesterday's beautiful day to hike in a nearby county park, Deer Creek Canyon.  Everyone must have had the same thought as it was crowded with people and dogs.  We savored the warmth, the scent of sunshine on pine needles, crunching through the leaf-covered trails, and even did a little tree-hugging.
      We did the 7.4 mile loop; a moderately strenuous, sometimes rocky climb, and we were tired afterwards.  What surprised us were all of the mountain bikers and especially all of the trail runners.  I would guess that hikers and runners were out in about equal numbers.  We met a couple of people we knew as they were running back down the same route we had chosen to hike.  Coloradans are such a healthy bunch, maybe even a bit nuts.  I'm jealous.
      Note to self:  Add to Bucket List for the future, running Deer Creek Canyon Park.

"When you have worn out your shoes, the strength of the shoe leather has passed into the fiber of your body.  I measure your health by the number of shoes and hats and clothes you have worn out." 
                        Ralph Waldo Emerson

Vegan Athletes.

     Dean has ridden his bike to and from work the past 2 Fridays....the first times since he was diagnosed with cancer August, 2010.  It is a 12 mile trek each way, and the way home is mostly uphill.  On yesterday's ride home he set his all-time personal-best record of 57 minutes!  This after 3 surgeries, radiation and chemo in the past 15 months plus developing congestive heart failure due to the chemo.  He even beat all his times in the years prior to diagnosis.  I think the vegan diet deserves much of the credit, along with Dean's working out hard to regain his strength.  Eating the way people were meant to eat will never steer you wrong.  He is the #1 vegan athlete on my list.

     Here are a few other vegan athletes you may have heard of:

Surya Bonaly--Olympic figure skating champion.

Ruth Heidrich--6 time Ironwoman, USA Track and Field Masters Champion.

Desmond Howard--Professional football player, Heisman trophy winner.

Art Still--Buffalo Bills & KC Chiefs MVP defensive end, KS Chiefs Hall of Fame.

Martina Navratilova--Champion tennis player.

Bill Pearl--4 time Mr. Universe.

Stan Price--World weight-lifting record holder, bench press.

Paavo Nurmi--Long distance runner, winner of 9 Olympic medals and 20 world records.

Keith Holmes--Boxer, WBC Middleweight Title.

Mike Tyson--Boxer, heavy-weight champion.

Carl Lewis--Track and Field, 10 olympic medals, 10 world champion medals.

Dave Scott--6 time winner of Ironman triathlon.

Scott Jurek--Ultramarathon.  Course record holder Badwater and Western States.

Brendan Brazier--Professional Ironman Triathlete.

Robert Cheeke--Professional bodybuilder.

John Salley--NBA professional.

Salim Stoudamire--NBA professional.

Bob Harper--Personal trainer, Biggest Loser TV show.

Michael Arnstein--Ultrarunner.  Came in 4th at the 2011 Leadville 100 ultra.  He is a fruitarian.
          (see http://www.thefruitarian.com/).


     Dean is in good company.

Chasing the wind.

     I am borrowing the topic of this blog from one I read by Dr. Sherry Pagoto of  the FU Diet.  The information hit home for me and is worth sharing. 
     "Perfection is not a goal.  Perfection lies only in our imagination, it is not real.  It cannot exist.  It is by definition unachievable.  As you get closer, it only alludes you.  It's like chasing the wind......Life isn't perfect, it's messy."
     I think we all set unachievable, imaginary goals in our lives, and then get discouraged and frustrated when they continue to elude us.  Realistically, I will never be skinny, we will never be financially rich, I will never be the fastest runner in my age group. 
     The key is to set real, achievable goals.  I can aim to be healthier, financially comfortable,  a competent "jogger", and be happy becoming my best me.
     Dreaming is wonderful, but remember to distinguish the possible from the fantasy of perfection.  Enjoy the journey.
    
"Everybody is a genius.  But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid."   Albert Einstein.

"Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."    Lewis Caroll.

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile." William Cullen Bryant

"How beautifully leaves grow old.  How full of light and color are their last days."  John Burroughs

     We really do try to keep more active, so yesterday we hiked at Roxborough State Park.  We hiked the 6.4 mile Carpenter Peak trail to view the glorious autumn colors.  Even though the elevation gain was only about 1100 feet, it was a more tiring hike than we anticipated.  Solution:  do more hiking.  But the colors, the weather, were glorious.  Now, to remember days such as this to get me through the long, cold winter. 

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."  John Muir

"The mountains are calling and I must go."   John Muir

(Dean lives by this motto.)