News We Can Use

LOL

Good one, Jane!

HA, Jane!

I know that 10 years ago I didn't like exercising in the morning. Now I LOVE it!!

I've invited everyone active on this team to a water challenge. Not water balloons or swimming, but hydrating with at least 8 cups/glasses of water a day.

For our edification . . . here is what counts as water . . . from an SP expert blog:

". . . one of the most common questions new SparkPeople members have is "Do drinks like coffee, tea or diet soda count toward my daily water quota?"

SparkPeople recommends eight to twelve cups of water daily, but for some people, drinking that much water can be difficult. Fruit juices, milk, teas and decaf coffee also count, as do flavored (unsweetened) waters, carbonated water, and water with fruit or herbs. So, yes, you can drink beverages other than water to meet your hydration needs, but there are a few things to consider before you start sipping.

Caffeinated beverages can actually increase your need for more water and dehydrate the body (caffeine is a diuretic) so a lot of caffeinated coffee or soda will not quench your thirst.

Artificially sweetened drinks, including diet sodas, can also count toward your quota. However, we recommend no more than four servings (32 ounces) of artificially sweetened beverages daily."

All that being said . . . this expert recommends bottom line of just plain old water.

Sorry to hear of your fall, Jane. I read that article and agree that balance is important and we need to work on it as we age.

I should knock on wood. Running I've had 4 falls. Two trips on sidewalk cracks, one on uneven red brick road, and one I never did determine why I fell. Once was just a scraped knee, but one caused a concussion (they had to glue my head) and neurologist followed me for 9 months. Once I broke a tooth. I have a bumpy bottom lip scar from my very first fall. I love to run; I hate to fall. I've slowed down and I'm more careful. Staying upright is my number one goal for each run and race. It has been 2.5 years and 1500 miles of running since I had a fall. Knock on wood. Feel blessed. I've run with others who have fallen well, rolled, not been hurt. I recognize I just don't have the reflexes to protect myself in a fall. I'm just up one second and down the next. So I need to be very very careful.

In July I had a chance to go to the Straz to hear Verdi's "Requiem" performed by the Tampa Bay Symphony with some great guest artists (a soprano, an alto, a tenor and a bass, all traveling the symphony circuit and performing this piece). It was a great evening and a large crowd for such a classical evening of high-brow entertainment. As we were all flowing out afterward, going up the various little flights of three-steps, six foot landing, three-steps, landing etc. I found myself sprawled on a set of stairs. I still don't know what happened other than a man-in-a-hurry cutting in front of me. Why i fell is a mystery. A couple of passers-by helped me up and I was no worse for wear, just shaken and feeling a bit of a spectacle.*

So today when I saw the article on the SP Start page about falls, I read it. I was surprised (and worried) to find out that one fall usually precedes another in quick order. YIKES! I'm taking the information seriously and going to work on the exercises. This is a really good and timely article for many of us. Here is the link.

www.sparkpeople.com/resource
/fitness_a
rticles.asp?id=2378

Regarding the asterisk above . . .
*Do you know what happened to the man who fell into the lens grinding machine?
He made a spectacle of himself.

If you are interested in running, check out:

www.facebook.com/GallowayLak
eland

This is a run-walk-run group that supports a low-risk, low injury approach to marathon and half marathon training. The training plan starts with 3 mile distance in June. Couch to 5K training may be available at the beginning of the year. The group leader, Rebecca, is affiliated with Haka Fitness on Cleveland Heights Blvd in south Lakeland. The group often runs from that location. The group long runs are every Saturday morning.

If you have running questions or concerns, please contact me!

Edited by: SLENDERELLA61 at: 8/1/2018 (22:22)

Anyone wanting information about square dancing or round dancing (cued ballroom dancing), here's the web site for Strawberry Square in Plant City, just a few minutes out of Polk County. Exit I4 on Branch-Forbes Road. There is a pot luck get together at the beginning of the dance season, Nov 4th, at 7pm. You can learn about everything offered.

www.strawberrysquare.com/

The square and round dance group in Lakeland does not have a web site. Buttons and Bows holds its dances on the second and fourth Tuesdays at the Magnolia Building on Lake Mirror by Hollis Gardens at 7pm. You do not have to dress in square dance clothes. It's free to watch. $6 per non-member or $5 per member if you dance. refreshments served. (bring something healthy for me and you! if you want)

Thanks, Jane. You are making us proud with all your Spark energy and creativity!!

Speaking of news: we have some famous Sparkers in our midst!

Marsha (SLENDERELLA61) and Crystal (CLEE2830) were both featured recently in releases to the greater Spark Community . . .

Marsha was dubbed Spark People Motivator of the Day
Crystal had a Featured Member Blog

Woo-Hoo you two! You make us proud!

Please feel free to share links to articles here in SP or in the big old world outside of SP. We want to know what's up in everything from better ways to prepare freggies to how to work out in the heat . . . and everything in between. Share your new-found knowledge and wisdom here.