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Supported Single-Arm Dumbbell Row

Supported Single-Arm Dumbbell Row

Hold a dumbbell in your right hand, place your left hand on a bench in front of you, and assume a staggered stance, left foot forward. Hold your elbow in as you row the wight to the side of your torso. Do 10 reps, switch arms and leg positions, and repeat the movement.

Dumbbell Triceps Kickback

Dumbbell Triceps Kickback

Grab a pair of dumbbells, bend your knees and lean forward so your torso is nearly parallel to the floor. Tuck your upper arms next to your sides, bend your elbows, and hold your forearms about parallel to the floor, palms facing up. Simultaneously extend your arms straight back and rotate the weight so your palms end up facing each other. Return to the starting position. Do 15 reps.

Dumbbell Hammer Curl and Press

Dumbbell Hammer Curl and Press

Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, hold a pair of dumbbells at arm's length by your sides, palms facing each other. Without moving your upper arms, curl the weights to your shoulders, and then press them overhead until your arms are straight. Reverse the move to return to the starting position. Do 10 reps.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Walking Linked to All-Around Wellbeing

Active Living Improves Physical, Economic and Environmental Health

Studies and best practices promoted at the National Center for Bicycling and Walking 2009 Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference illustrated that communities want to be healthy and that good planning helps citizens lead a more healthy lifestyle. But it can go much further that that. Transportation planning that includes the pedestrian is good for individual, environmental, and economic health.

Feet First
Rebecca Deehr, a pedestrian advocate with Seattle's Feet First organization, believes that pedestrian advocacy is really health advocacy. As a recent college graduate, she feels that a focus on health and the economy is a more effective and twenty-first century approach to addressing the problem of climate change than is a 1970s environmentally-oriented approach.

Through the Feet First organization, she speaks to a diverse audience about healthy living. A healthier environment is a result of the choice to walk more, which she believes more people will do in order to improve their health. Walkability is also a big plus to a community that wants to attract more residents and better quality businesses. The economic future will be brighter when more people get walking.

Active Living Advocacy

To promote an active lifestyle, Rebecca feels that advocacy messages must be fun and engaging. Feet First invites people to get involved and as they do, the organization builds a grassroots network that encourages political and business leaders to make changes in the status quo. In fact, as people become more active, they demand changes in their infrastructure to make pedestrian travel safe and enjoyable.

A fun activity that she has used to engage citizens is the Feet First Chicken. Walkers are invited to help the chicken get to the other side of the road. In doing this, she illustrates safe and unsafe practices and intrastructure. The chicken links active living to the built environment. People become engaged in the process and begin to speak out about sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, pedestrian crossing countdown timers, and other such matters of infrastructure.

Walkable Communities
The benefits of walkable communities extend to public health and beyond. In Decatur, Georgia, planners are seeing reduced traffic congestion and businesses benefiting from pedestrian activity. In Shoreline, Washington, businesses enjoy a more aesthetically pleasing view that, while it attracts customers, also provides space for additional rain garden plantings and art.

Coalitions and Partnerships

The vast majority of today's community leaders (Sarah Palin aside!) believe that climate change is the great challenge of our time and that human activity ... or inactivity? ... is the root cause. Getting out of our cars to walk will cut down on emissions. Getting out of our cars to walk will also improve our health. Building infrastructure that increases non-motorized transportation will get more and more people walking and breathing fresh air. Making walking attractive by using landscaping and art improves psychological wellbeing. Towns that are more walkable and healthier are more attractive to new residents and businesses, boosting economic development.

It is easy to see the many parts that can be linked to engage a community and move many people toward well-rounded health physical and environmental health. Using our feet first, we can drive change and, in turn, change the air and society of our communities.

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Ultimate 30's Workout

Increase the amount of testosterone and growth hormone your body produces by working multiple muscle groups and keeping rest periods short. For cardio, your lactate threshold can still be increased throughout your thirties, so intervals are king to counter any loss of lung power.


Ultimate 40's Workout

Short, sharp shocks are the way to fire up your body in your middle years - which means you can forget long-winded weights workouts. Vary exercises, intensity and timings to keep your muscles guessing.



Ultimate 50's Workout

You may not be able to lift the heaviest weight, but that's okay. Instead, stretching and yoga should be part of your training, and body-weight moves can replace heavy workouts. Do three sets of 10 reps of the following exercises to protect your joints and maintain muscle mass and testosterone.