A New Year for Fitness

As the New Year hangs around the corner, it's time to think about your health and fitness.

If you make an annual resolution to get fit, then I hope you've already achieved your goals. If not, then let's find a few ways to get on the right track.

I'm a workout enthusiast now, though I'm not a gym rat. Nor do I enjoy driving to fitness centers. I work out at home. That's probably the secret to my fitness success.

After reaching 50, the team sports fade away and it's time to go solo. You have to find different exercises that fit into your new lifestyle. I admit that solo exercises are not as fun as running with the guys on a basketball court. But neither is getting fat and lazy.

If the weather is cold or rainy outside, then take your action indoors. I do most of my exercise inside now: stair climbing, weight training, cycling, HIIT exercises and body weight workouts.

Besides dumbbells, the other most valuable piece of equipment I own is an indoor bicycle trainer. Over 10 years ago, I bought a Minoura bicycle trainer that hooked up to my mountain bike and transformed my balcony into a workout station.

I've put in countless miles in my apartment and raised a newborn son while keeping fit.

As the New Year approaches, it's time to put your resolutions to the test and get your fitness goals in shape.

The Gift of Life After 50

Since we all survived the Mayan apocalypse, it's time to think about the New Year. In this gift-giving season I want to share something with you that might make 2013 a year of change in mind and/or body.

I'm in constant search of information and ideas that can improve my mental wellness, keep me healthy and build a better body for all my future endeavors.

In the last year or two I've embraced weight training and better nutrition to be fit in my 50's. I watch friends and co-workers succumb to the ills of being overweight and under-exercised that makes them a target for disease and heart attacks.

At first I joined a gym. That was not fun. I did not like the atmosphere nor the drive over, so I quit and started working out at home. In reality, you don't need the niceties of a fitness center.

All you need is desire to change and a few pieces of equipment. I work out in my living room, my balcony, in the condo stairwell and in the condo weight room. That's all with no fees.

Overall I am in good shape. I cook most of my meals. I work out with weights 3 times per week and I do cardio 3 times per week. It's not always easy on your own because you can make excuses for not exercising or not knowing the correct exercise techniques.

That's where YouTube comes in. It's a great place to start changing your life with some good advice (not always) and motivation.

So I want to introduce you to Scooby. He's made an impact on my weight training and attitude towards working out. And he's a generous person. All his stuff is free.

So begin your post-50 life (or get ready for it) with these timely tips for fitness and health. Then subscribe to Scooby's YouTube channel for more excellent information on nutrition, equipment, techniques and much more.

 It's the best gift I can send to you.

Happy Rainforest Holidays

Since I live in the tropics, I have to remember snow. Luckily I grew up in South Dakota, where winters were full of sledding down steep hills and building snowmen in the front yard.

Now the rainforest marks my holiday memories with treks along small streams to finish off with a dip in a cool pool of a forest waterfall. That's as cold as it gets. No more frozen fingers and sniffles. No more thick mittens and balaclava covered heads.

Let the sun shine and let the leeches bite. The tangled rainforest has replaced the tundra and I'm not complaining. So goodbye to Santa and his reindeer and all those snow flurries, I am sticking to the land of sticky rice and satay.

Just to give you a glimpse of the rainforest experience, check out the home video (using only the handy Kodak Zi8 pocket video) below of a family adventure to a nearby jungle just about 1.5 hours outside Kuala Lumpur.

Top Loader or Panel Loader Packs?

If you travel or hike, you know it's always a dilemma to choose the right backpack for your trip. But you really need to understand what your preference is for pack loading first.

Gaining access to your gear is usually the primary thing to consider after pack fit and capacity.  Carrying big loads for backpacking the wilderness or trekking across Europe has different requirements than just using your pack for everyday urban commutes to work or campus.

The key consideration is whether you prefer a top-loading pack or a panel loading pack.

Top loaders are for cramming in all your gear into a big sack and closing it up with a cinch strap that protects all the contents. If you don't need to access your gear too often, like during camping trips, then pulling out your stuff once a day isn't a big problem. But if you need to grab a particular item, then you'll have to dig down and find it with your fingers. 

Panel loaders are more like suitcases. Just lay flat and unzip. You can reach anything at anytime. This is handy when on the move without the convenience of setting up camp to pull all your gear out. But panel loaders usually come with lots of outside pockets that make the pack a bit bulky and sometimes a bit cumbersome to carry. Plus the protection from bad weather is less with so many entry points.

For an example of the differences between the two packing styles, check out the comparison and contrast between the Osprey Talon 22 vs. the Osprey Talon 33. 

Test out both styles to see what fits your lifestyle and fits your trip requirements.

 

2 Swimming Tips for Terrible Swimmers

Swimming is my least favorite exercise.

But it's convenient and makes for a good overall workout that tires me out for a good night's sleep. So I've learned to drag my ass to the pool and do some laps.

I'm also a sinker not a floater. After the first lap my body feels like its slugging through quicksand as my legs tend to drop the load. Sure my technique is probably bad but I found an alternative way to swim that suits my sinking style.

But first let me talk about goggles. At first I never used goggles and that was a mistake. It's rough to swim laps without clearing your eyes from chlorine and keeping a clear view.

Choosing a suitable pair of goggles was the next hassle. From Speedo to Arena, I went through lots of different styles and brands trying to find a good fit without constant leakage.

So my first swimming tip is to buy a pair of Aqua Sphere Kaiman swim goggles and enjoy doing laps without those nose bridge breaking, hard plastic scratching, rubber band breaking other pairs that interrupt your swim routine.

Aqua Sphere makes other models too. Take a look at the Small Fit or Lady Series to find the right style and size for your face and lifestyle.

The second swimming tip deals with a new method of swimming. If you're not a great swimmer and lack any opportunity for coaching, then try out the Total Immersion Swimming technique.

I've been swimming with this new technique for a few years and it's much more comfortable and suitable to my swim style that it's transformed my efforts and efficiency.

Basically it's maintaining perpetual motion with your body and head being underwater without the hard tug of stroking outside the water. Watch the video for an explanation of the technique.

These 2 swimming tips changed my attitude about swim workouts and make it far easier for me to incorporate swimming into my exercise regime. That's a win-win situation.

Rainforest in the Backyard

During the holiday season I always feel a bit nostalgic and a bit guilty.

I grew up in the frozen tundra of South Dakota where the winters buried cars under 20 foot snow drifts and we made snow angels in the front yard. I love the serenity of the snow and clean landscape of fresh fallen flakes.

But I haven't seen snow for over 20 years. The tropical rainforest is my backyard now.

Snowbound memories are much more pleasant than dealing with the cold, nasty wind of wintertime. I don't do snow anymore. I am a total cold-weather wimp.

So when December rolls around and the snowmen appear with sightings of reindeer in the sky, I just look out over the balcony and look at the horizon. That rainforest is breathing its ancient evolution in the warm, humid temperatures that I've come to enjoy each day.

Let Santa Claus own the polar pole and ride those windy blasts into the prairie states, I'm done with that.

Whatever the weather is like where you live, enjoy each snowflake or raindrop or ray of sunlight.

Roll On With a Wheeled Backpack

Maybe you haven't wheeled a backpack since grade school, but it's time to take another look at rolling packs to take the load off your back.

We all travel on planes and trains and buses lugging our backpacks loaded to the max. With laptops and files and electronic gear to haul each day, the load on your shoulders is not light. And your back bears the weight of this load far too much.

We tend to forget that there's another option available. Wheels are not just for large luggage bags or school bags. There are a number of professional styled packs that offer carry on advantages besides the ease of rolling through airports and campus and urban walkways.

Whether for business travel or holidays, a wheeled pack stores plenty of gear to take on-board and takes the stress off your back for a double bonus of convenience and health.

Here are a few selection factors to consider when searching for a wheeled backpack:

Wheel Quality - Buy the best quality rollers. Cheaper wheels wear out too fast and cannot take the punishment of pavements and stairs.

Retractable Handle - Get a long handle to prevent heel clipping spills and bent over walks. A good telescoping handle should self-lock into one or two position.

Ergonomics - Function and comfort are critical. Make sure the wheels rotate easy with heavy loads and the handle allows you to stand up properly.

Carry On Potential - Check the measurements for compliance to most airline carry on regulations, whether in the upper compartment or under the seat.

Balance The Load - Check the weight distribution for big loads and seek a balance for rolling without hindrance and to ensure the pack stands up on its own.

For a starting point check out the Jansport Driver 8 wheeled backpack to get an idea of a popular bag that gets good reviews on Amazon.