Month: October 2018

I am now 220 lbs (-20)

The first law of thermodynamics is a version of the law of conversion of energy, adapted for thermodynamic systems. The law of energy states that the total energy of an isolated system is constant; energy can be transformed from one form to another but can be neither created nor destroyed. Wikipedia.

Life fits this definition. Our life force energy cannot be destroyed but only transformed. How does this go with diet, exercise, and spiritual practice?

According to this law, we are everlasting energy. This statement commits me to both science and spiritual thinking. Our spirit can only be transformed. When my body dies there will be a transformation. Real science mixed with spiritual practice, cool.

Diet: Power plants and engines operate by turning heat energy into work. Heated gas can do work on turbines or pistons, causing them to move. Our diet needs to be the fuel to provide the heat energy. We need to match it with work.

Exercise: Our system is designed to do work. When I exercise I use the system as it was intended to do its job. Everything in it heats up. Real thermodynamics is happening as my fuel is transformed. The benefits are amazing; digestion is aided, blood flow increases everywhere to help everything. Muscles and joints are moved to proper position and order. My whole spirit and personality are improved.

This weeks’ adventures included a day trip to Oak Glen, California. It is our Inland Empire apple farming area. We enjoyed the ride into the country. It was their Apple Festival time. We sampled many types of apples and a couple of other goodies. We bought a big bag of Jonagold hybrid apples. Over the week we ate everyone. On our way home, we stopped at one of our favorite farmers’ market stores, Dalton Orchard Ranch Market. We bought lots of freshly picked veggies.

Workout Station: it’s not as foolish as you think

Next topic is this weeks’ exercise. Bay swimming is still good, we enjoyed a morning swim. The video of Seabridge Park in Huntington Harbor, unfortunately, would not post here to give you the idea of the peace at our cool season swim spot. The above photo is at my classroom workout station ( a chair and a wall). This workout is simple and can be done almost anyplace. It is my 30-minute fix. The chair should be secured by the wall. I do 3 sets of each exercise: 1) 15 lunges 2) 30 second modified planks 3) 15 deep squats 4) 15 chair push-ups 5) 15 dips. I mix or alternate lunges and planks (iPhone timer). Then alternate squats and push-ups. Then finish up with the dips off of the chair or a table. This resistance training helps me stay on a daily routine when I can’t find the time to walk, ride, or swim.

Be healthy

In the spirit, Dave

No man can save his brothers’ soul or pay his brothers’ debt. 

Paraphrase of Psalm 49.7

  The market for information on diet, exercise, and spiritual practice needs an infusion of truth and expertise. My voice has some depth because of my B.A, in Physical Education which includes Anatomy, Physiology, and Kinesiology added to my years of spiritual practice.

  An article/story came into me this week which needs to be addressed.

“Everything You Know About Obesity Is Wrong”, Sept. 19th Huffington Post, Highline. https://highline.huffingtonpost.com/articles/en/everything-you-know-about-obesity-is-wrong/.

   The author, Michael Hobbes says the medical industry is under-trained regarding nutrition and diet. The industry has failed to address our obesity epidemic. That sounds right. The story also wants us to change our thinking and actions about overweight and obese people. We need to stop bullying and shaming them into perceived better eating and lifestyle. He states that ⅔ of dieters gain back more than they lost even on the most well-known programs. He says that even our Physicians are trying to shame our fatties into dieting.

  After many examples, he gets to the real issues; 1) 60% of the calories Americans consume come from “ultra-processed foods”. 2) The minority community children see twice as many ads for soda and candy as white children. The story next goes into a series of facts blaming the trillion-dollar food system. All of which I do not dispute. I must draw conclusions now. However, the conclusions I came to are not the same as the authors.

My conclusion is to limit the processed food industry by not buying and consuming so much of their obesity making product. We should encourage healthy purchasing and healthy eating. We should all eat healthily. The authors’ conclusion is to create another group of “protected class” people, “the obese”. Just leave them alone. His conclusion is poor in regarding the health cost to the individual and the cost to the community that now share the burden of health care.

  I’m in favor of healthy eating education. Our food stamp program should offer rewards for healthy purchases (some states are starting to do this). The big business food producers should not be subsidized from farm to table. Finally, we should offer Physicians and patients bonuses for fitness. What if we had wellness rewarded in our insurance system?

Sometimes our thoughts need to change.

Be healthy

In the spirit, Dave