“One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” ~ Hans Christian Anderson
This is the last week of my second session of “Heart Healthy” at the Beacon Wellness Pavilion. We will have the week of Labor Day off before we start the next six-week session. Taking on this Cardio-Rehab program was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve had an on-and-off membership at HealthTRAC for several years and would end up going there about once every two weeks. After my initial Cardio-Rehab class, I made the decision to commit to a program that would keep me coming back to HealthTRAC on a regular basis. After two six-week sessions of “Heart Healthy,” I am positive that I made the right choice. Meg, our leader, does a fantastic job of working us to our maximum limits, while making sure we don’t overdo it. She is probably the most fit lady I know, which gives the five or six of us older guys a goal to achieve more when it comes to being lean and mean. She puts up with a lot of kidding, and I have yet to see her in a bad mood. Her husband and three girls are very lucky to have her as the head of the family. Dan, Bernie, Jerry, Nate, Spike, Tom and I are all doing what we can to make Meg proud of us.
With the end of summer approaching, we must still remember that we still have plenty of heat and humidity ahead of us. For those who do most of their exercising outside, don’t forget to do so safely. Here are some things to take into consideration in order to stay healthy outside:
- Don’t eat immediately before or after your workout. This is important whether you are inside or outside. You should wait until you’re cooled off. Digesting food will delay getting your body back to its usual temperature.
- Use sunscreen to protect your skin. Wear loose, lightweight and breathable clothes that block the sun. Sweat-wicking clothing allows the skin to cool. You should avoid materials like cotton.
- Hydrate before, during and after exercise. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. Drink between a half-liter and a liter for every hour you exercise in the heat. Cold water and/or sports drinks are the best, because they replenish sodium and electrolytes.
- Try heat-friendly forms of exercise. Swimming and yoga are good alternatives to jogging.
- Choose early mornings or evenings to exercise. These times offer the advantage of cooler temps.
With Autumn comes cooler temperatures. The home air conditioner is looking forward to getting a break from the heat. The same can be said for the home wallet. There are at least three things you might want to remember before next summer. - Switch out some of your light bulbs in the house. Incandescent bulbs are almost extinct since a ban went into effect in 2023. However, you might still have them in lamps or overhead fixtures. Swap them out with LED bulbs. Roughly 90% of the energy consumed by the older bulbs is converted into heat, compared with LEDs at 10 to 20 percent.
- Check your ceiling fans. Make sure the blades are spinning in the proper direction. To create a refreshing breeze, set the blades to turn counterclockwise. A ceiling fan can bring a room’s temperature down about two degrees. For winter, set the fan’s direction to circulate warm air more effectively.
- Update your electronics. Modern LCD and OLED televisions and computer monitors tend to be more energy efficient than the older units, so they emit less heat. The thinner the screen, the better. Unplugging any unused electronics can reduce any background heat.
See you Out and About!
Norm Stutesman lives in Three Rivers. He receives mail at P.O. Box 103 in Three Rivers.
