News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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Many avid cyclists who sculpted their fitness over years of hills, endurance, and pushing the pedals don’t see e-bikes as the next great innovation in cycling progress. Grouchy attitudes of “earning it” or “they don’t deserve to ride unless they can do it themselves” are short sighted at best and bigoted at worst. E-bikes are here to stay, as the European market is booming with commuters, travel companies, and brands innovating well beyond what is currently available in the USA. There have been fundamental milestones... Full story
The latest “happiest countries” index came out, and there is a lesson that came out of the top countries: It’s not lack of crime, the health or the wealth of these nations that makes for happiness. It’s a simple way of living — one that many in Central Oregon abide by. It’s looking out towards the mountains, feeling the call, and getting outside. Being outside is a gift many take for granted. Being in the surroundings of nature, taking time away from life and opening up to a power greater than ourselves serves a... Full story
To say we’re all carrying a little more stress around would be an understatement. Whether it’s the anxiety at the grocery store when seeing a conga line of other carts coming toward us, fear of germs on the takeout box, or watching the nightly news with its infatuation with death and disease, it’s not an easy situation to handle. As many sit under the COVID-19 cloud low levels of stress are actually controlling thoughts, actions, and reactions. The body, mind, and soul all take stress in and process it in different ways.... Full story
Now is not a time to constantly consume the news. Focus on what CAN be done, not about the perils of the world around us. Here are a few ways that this shut in offers an opportunity to establish a healthier lifestyle. • Changing eating habits: No longer is the excuse “I don’t have time to eat healthy” valid. Cooking offers a pleasurable expression of creativity, flavor, and comfort. It doesn’t have to be hard, and it doesn’t have to be gourmet. A staple in this household is a veggie stir fry with tofu, and a simple soy,... Full story
The Covid-19 virus is a public health scare that has many people flocking to their local bulk surplus stores and cancelling travel plans. It’s infecting people with fear and will be upsetting a lot of people in the next few weeks. A healthy body can fight, if not prevent, the virus from taking hold — but there’s little to no attention being paid to supporting a healthy immune system in the time of clickbait news and sensational media. Supporting a healthy immune system is one major reason why diet, exercise, and hea... Full story
Cold and flu season begins in December, but it isn’t until February and March that it reaches its pinnacle of infectious havok, often affecting millions. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) figures that between October of 2019 and January 18, 2020, between 15 and 21 million people have suffered. The death rate is around .1 percent. The flu is a virus which is different than the common cold. Yearly, the virus mutates and becomes hard for the natural antibodies in the immune system to protect against. This makes the sickness... Full story
It’s January, and surely a few reading this have made a declaration of healthful eating as an effort to reduce one’s waist size, improve health, and feel good. Commonly, these efforts are made when a tremendous amount of motivation is harnessed after a long holiday of indulgent pleasure-seeking. Things often play out like this: We scroll the Internet haphazardly searching “weight-loss diet,” then follow the gospel of quick weight-loss gurus. This strategy shelves common... Full story
Diet like a caveman, meditate like a monk, sleep like a baby, workout like an athlete. Sky’s the limit and the Internet has no shortage of tips and tricks to help someone “live their best life” in 2020. As many people have learned, a complete overhaul often proves impossible to sustain. Here are 10 simple ways you can improve your health without needing to reinvent yourself. 1. Go for a walk. Walking has a long list of benefits, from simply being gentle aerobic exercise easy on the joints, to the relaxing and almost medit... Full story
Newsflash! 2019 is over, people can finally get around to making all those changes they’ve been intending to make. Now that the dialogue transitions from complaining to actually doing something, how do you stick to your guns and make it happen? Surely, someone reading now can think back to last New Year’s and remember what it was they swore off. How’d that go? What was the apple that tumbled the cart? Why can’t people seem to get out of their own way? A goal must have some weight to it, some meaning, or higher impact than ju... Full story
Here goes the 2019 holiday season. For many folks this means family visitation, traveling — and inconsistency of exercise and healthy eating. What does this mean for the fitness you’ve been working so hard for? Will the body turn into the mashed potatoes and cinnamon rolls it’s been indulging on? Thankfully, exercise science has some answers, and the situation is not nearly as dire as one might believe. Someone who’s taken up part-time residence in the gym will likely boast some fitness to prove their dedication. When... Full story
A recent fitness and health report indicated one commonality that diet, exercise, and rest are affected by. It’s one thing everyone can work toward improving. It’s intuitive, yet the first thing many people forego. It takes little time and focus, but the return is well worth the investment. What is it? Relaxation, de-stressing, and recovery. Over 100,000 clients in a nutrition program were polled, and asked what their biggest obstacles were for the big three categories: diet, exercise, and rest. On the diet category 63 per... Full story
Thanksgiving opens the senses to the warmth and comfort of autumn’s bounty. The veggies, the bird and the accompanying spices all melt together in an experience that is indescribable to those who have not experienced it. Every family has its own flair, whether it’s a corn casserole, sweet potato with orange juice, or cornbread stuffing — but there are some standalone classics that just about everyone has grown up to enjoy. Recently, some have come to scrutinize Thanksgiving as an avatar of our current state of health an... Full story
Morning vs. evening workout: Lore of better fat burning, performance, or energy levels create an endless debate over the best time to get that workout in. Who or what to believe gets confusing. There are benefits and arguments for both; read on and the secret will be revealed… It’s 4:55 a.m. and there are members lined up outside the door at the gym, hoping the doors open a few minutes early. These people proselytize better energy, more focus, and a less-stressed day. They are the ones many envy; they are free from t... Full story
Electric-assisted bicycles are new to the American market after being popularized in Europe in the last five to 10 years. When someone hears electric-assisted bicycle it may conjure up a lot of misconceptions. Many “biomechanic” cyclists disdain the idea of someone “cheating” with an electric motor. Perhaps the John Muirs of the world dislike nature and tranquility being disturbed by buzzing electric motors. However, from a health and fitness perspective, an e-bike may be appropriate as a tool. The biggest myth of e-bikes... Full story
Which is more effective for weight loss — cardio or weight-training? It’s an age-old question for exercisers and is under constant scrutiny. Weight-training will help with fat loss because the muscles are more metabolically active. But does cardiovascular training produce better results because of the constant elevated heart rate? As per usual, there are some ambiguities that ought to be discussed. Cardiovascular training requires the body to begin to use stored energy within the muscles, in the form of glycogen c... Full story
A new year. A new you. A new this. A new that. People are thinking big, they're done with the trials and tribulations of yesteryear. Their motivation for a change is strong. What happens next? No sugar, daily exercise, 10,000 steps, no alcohol, cut the carbs, meditate, journal, stretch.... All of a sudden your wellness protocol becomes a full-time job. Unfortunately, since most of us cannot hire a personal wellness staff, we burn out within a month. The lucky ones last until March. Setting proper goals is critical to... Full story
Winter is here. Short days, and dark mornings mean less sunlight. Cold temps mean getting outdoors is a chore, requiring layers, coverage, trying to stay warm. Roads are littered with ice, cinders, and compromised shoulders. Rivers and lakes are not an option. Much of our beautiful hikes and treks are stifled in snow. In the winter it is not uncommon to feel down, to ruminate on the cold and dark, and to feel sad that most of our enjoyable activities need to wait until next year. One in 15 people suffer from the "winter blues... Full story
Recently, there has been a lot of attention grabbing headlines and news reports depicting sitting as a disease of our society, arguing that sitting poses the same life expectancy detriment as smoking. While such hype serves its purpose as an attention-grabber, it ought to be considered fake news. There is no argument that being sedentary is detrimental to our bodies. Increased body fat, insulin sensitivity, high blood pressure, all can be conditions associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease... Full story
Eating well requires some assembly, but it need not be tedious or frustrating. A savvy kitchen helps create easy and delicious healthy meals, thanks to time-saving tools and techniques. Everyone has read the advice to limit processed foods and pre-packed because of the sugar, salt and caloric content. Why not make some of the things one would typically buy off the shelf in the kitchen? Enter the food processor, one of the leading tools in any kitchen where people are serious about eating well and enjoying it, too. Want some... Full story
There is a simple way to ensure you stick to an exercise program: Enjoy it. It is well known within the community of social psychologists and behavioral scientists that a person will continue to exercise as long as they are enjoying the process and determine that they're benefitting from their efforts. There are two inputs to consider: Is the exerciser getting fulfillment from lacing up the shoes, grabbing a weight, or buckling their bike helmet for an exercise session? If so then they're likely to continue to exercise. The s... Full story
Weight loss can be tricky, ambiguous, and subject to peculiar and deceptive ideology. From the unhealthy cleanse, to the meat-only diet, there are books, articles and zealots out there making it all very confusing. What if just a few simple principles were the key to a gradual, consistent maintenance of healthy weight? Obesity has reached endemic proportions in the United States - plus all the varying conditions that come along with it: Diabetes, heart disease, orthopedic issues, etc. What is the driver? The most basic... Full story
High-intensity exercise conjures the image of aggressive, athletic body types running sprints and jumping on boxes. It evokes the burning sensation of heavy-duty exercise efforts that leave you panting and reeling. High-intensity exercise does include hard effort, but the intensity is all relative to your current status. High intensity exercise offers heart and blood vessel health and astounding results in little time compared to more traditionalistic exercises. It can be done at all ability levels. High intensity interval... Full story
Physical activity has been proven to boost a person's mental capacity. It's been shown to reduce anxiety and mitigate the effects of Alzheimer's risk, bipolarism, and a host of other neurological functions. It is recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as effective as drugs such a Zoloft. Another unsurprising but overlooked benefit: direct correlation to IQ and test scores in children. In a time when schools are strapped for funding and more and more cuts are made, it seems logical to cut out the "extraneous"... Full story
Have you ever embarked on a diet or exercise plan, and noticed that pure intentions, willpower, and stick-with-it energy falls to the power of instant gratification? This is so common not because everyone is weak or lazy, but because of the systems processor in our head. Yes, the brain is to blame for the late-night ice cream. It is discouraging, but understanding why you're having a hard time sticking to your program is a good way to armor yourself against the fallacies in our decision-making. Imagine yourself in five years... Full story
The mercury is rising, and temperatures are pushing into the 90-plus-degree range. Summer is in swing and a little heat ought not slow our active population down. Heat exhaustion, dehydration, and the discomfort of physical activity in the heat can, so read on and avoid being waylaid this season. The body is an efficient cooler; humans have "breathable" skin with little hair, and a respiratory system not many other mammals have. It appears that humans are designed to be active in hot temps and avoid cold temps. Once the body... Full story
