Exercising in Autumn

 

 

Autumn is a transitional time of year. The leaves change colour.  The sun sets at dinner time and the sun rises well after 7AM.  

 

As beautiful as this time of year can be, it is also a stressful period for many that wish to continue their exercise regimens but jogging at 6AM in their shorts is no longer viable.

 

Another change that Autumn brings is I find a fatigue comes over me every afternoon sometime between 2PM and 5PM, something that doesn't seem to happen to me in the summer months.

 

The answer to these shifts is change a few tactical items in your exercise regimen and you will continue to enjoy exercising in the Autumn and well into the Winter months.

 

Hiking Trails

 

The changing of the leaves is beautiful and the hiking trails are even more enticing than they are in the summer. 

 

Bundle up and drive to the country to the many hiking trails or go to an inner city park that is large enough to have outdoor trails. 

 

Taking in the fresh air and a gentle but long walk is healthy & invigorating. 

 

It's also a time that even if you walk alone, you will likely see others on the trails.  A time to engage in social contact outside your work hours is also emotionally healthy.  And what is emotionally healthy ultimately leads to a strong physical body.

 

Biking through trails is also invigorating.  I've spoken endlessly about the benefits of sweating in this blog and Fall is a wonderful time to sweat through exercise. 

 

It takes longer to sweat because of cooler temperatures but this allows you to bike longer than you can if it's hot outside.  And biking longer allows you more exercise time, a healthy bonus.

 

 

Home & Cottage Activities

 

Fall is the time to prepare your home, cottage & yard for the winter.  

 

Many weekends can be spent outdoors doing these activities. 

 

Raking leaves and preparing your garden for the winter are also outdoor chores that will keep you active. 

Increased oxygen from being outdoors and physical exertion is healthy & stimulating.  Also gives your mind a rest.

 

 

Dress for the Weather

 

Summer exercise routines have you outdoors in shorts & a T shirt. 

 

However, with the changing & shifting temperatures, you may one day be outside wishing you had short sleeves while other days you will shivering in brisk winds.

 

The solution, of course, is to dress in layers. 

 

Have a light weight jacket that can double as a rain coat, a long sleeve top and a T-shirt underneath this. 

 

As you walk and heat up your body, you'll find that 1/2 way through your walk, you will likely be taking off your jacket and top and enjoying your walk in a sleeveless top. 

 

Wear hiking boots that are comfortable and allow you to continue walking in the rain. 

 

Your jacket should have a hood if it rains. 

 

I walk everyday regardless of the weather and so only the worst snow storms will stop me from venturing outdoors. 

 

So I learned early on that I had to be realistic about the weather and not let it stop me from my walk.

 

When deciding what to wear on my walk, I have one rule of thumb. 

 

If I feel cold when I start my walk, I know I'm not dressed warmly enough.  So I go back in and put on an extra sweater or bring mitts or a hat if it's really cool.

 

I want to feel good when I walk and by doing this I always look forward to my walks.  Eventually I warm up and so I start taking one layer after the other off.  By the time I reach home again, I'm often in short sleeves and feeling very warm.

 

Some days my walks are slow and I spend a lot of time looking up to the sky, watching birds, the clouds. 

 

I sometimes spend a long time in the forests exploring.  And I also enjoying finding quiet enclaves that I can sit in and talk to nature. 

 

Sometimes, I walk briskly and feel invigorated and lively when I return.  I often have a 2nd wind to do more things.

 

All of this serves my well being.  I get fresh air, lots of oxygen. 

 

I strengthen my body's ability to circulate which as I've said many times is the key to longevity.  

 

 

Drink Lemon Tea

 

Your circulation strengthens when you walk or jog and when you combine it with drinking liquids to flush out unwanted substances from your body. 

 

An ongoing detoxification of your body is essential for good health.

 

The liquids are best if purified, clean, fresh water. 

 

As Autumn is cooler, the desire to drink cool water is not strong.  Try drinking room temperature water. 

 

Hot herbal tea or steaming lemon water is even better for your body as the lemon helps the water flush out toxins.

 

 

Lemon Tea Recipe

 

1 litre purified water (non chlorinated)

Juice from 1 lemon

1 teaspoon honey

Dash cayenne pepper (optional)

 

Boil your water.  Squeeze the lemon & pour it's juice into the steaming water.  Add honey.  Stir. 

I sometimes add cayenne pepper for extra flavour & spice. 

 

Bring on your walk or drink after you return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soothing A Fever

Inflammed chest, sore throats, headaches, fatigue ... all common symptoms this seasonal colds & flues. 

We also suffer from fever all too often.

Here are some easy to use, natural remedies to calm a fever.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

#1 Hot Compress

Soak a small towel in steaming, hot apple cider vinegar. 

Wait a moment until you can safely put it on your body. 

Place on your forehead or stomach or around your feet.  Your body should cool soon. 

#2  Hot Bath

Run a hot, steaming bath and pour 1/2 to 1 cup of apple cider vinegar in it. 

Soak for 10-20 minutes. 

The vinegar stimulates the body's circulation and calms the nervous system.  Fevers should be reduced after this bath.

GARLIC

#1  Foot Paste

Blend 1/2 teaspoon of crushed garlic.  Blend with a teaspoon of olive oil. 

Lightly rub over the bottoms of your feet and wrap your feet with a warmed towel. 

If you can leave it overnight, do so, otherwise, leave on for 2 hours. 

Garlic will stimulate your body to heal itself and re establish balanced temperatures.

Regrets of the Dying

 

This blog is about living the good life and living it with a sense of simplicity. 

 

Simplicity is also about honesty and getting to the heart of what matters most in life. 

 

A palliative nurse recently wrote a book called 'The Top Five Regrets of the Dying'. 

 

I've watched it being reviewed again and again by many on the internet.  It's obviously hit a cord.

 

I thank this nurse and the elders who shared their wisdom. 

 

I have read these 5 regrets over many times and have given these observations a great deal of thought. 

 

I've especially wondered how I could embed them into my own way of life before I reach the end of life.  I don't want regrets.

 

These are the 5 main regrets that the elderly shared with the author of this book.  An excerpt for each is also provided.

 

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

“This was the most common regret of all.

When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled.

Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made or not made. 

Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.”

2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard. 

“This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship.

Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners.

All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.”

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings. 

“Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others.

As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming.

Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.”

 
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. 

“Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down.

Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years.

There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved.

Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.”
 
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

”This is a surprisingly common one.

Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice.

They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits.

The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives.

Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to themselves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.”

These are the 5 main regrets from the book. 
I have noticed a surprising absence of some things such as family relations. 

Are the elderly happy with how they've related to their families?  Their siblings?  Their children?  Their spouses?  No regrets, really?

Also no mention of their relationship & contribution to society.  I wonder why?  Do they believe they've left the world in a better place than how they came into it? 

The elderly women, as they were from a different generation, were not bread winners as the women are today. 

What regrets will the baby boomer women have as they approach their final years? 

Will they feel they worked too much & sacrificed more than they received back?  The oldest baby boomers turn 67 this year. 

I think we can learn from this book and rewrite our own legacy before it's too late.

Your Pantry & The Autumn Detox

As September approaches, I begin stocking my pantry with foods, spices & herbs that I will be using to detox during the Fall. 

These are my favourite items and those I've mentioned again & again in the recipes & formulas I've been giving you to detox & for cold & flu remedies.

STAPLES

Fresh lemons
Ginger
Garlic
Turmeric
Cayenne pepper
Honey
Apples
Apple cider vinegar
Onions
Horseradish

Olive oil

Sea salt


**  Ginger, garlic, horseradish & turmeric can be fresh, grated/crushed in a jar or in powder form.

EXTRAS

Castor oil
Kale
Spinach
Celery
Beets
Hot peppers

Variety of high quality essential oils such as eucalyptus, lemon, cinnamon, clove, rosemary, sage, juniper berry, black pepper, ginger, lavender, peppermint, fennel, cedarwood & pine.

Colds & Detoxing

When you get a cold, as uncomfortable as it may seem at the time, your body is actually detoxing. 

And when your body can detox, it is showing you that it has the strength to rid itself of unwanted substances and return itself to good health. 

So getting a cold means your body is healthy & strong enough to rid itself of the 'bad' and bring in the 'good'.

So if you're suffering through a runny nose, congested chest & sore throat, remember my words. 

They're true.

Welcome Autumnal Equinox

The Fall brings cooler temperatures & brisk winds. 

The leaves change colour.  The sun shines less brightly. 

And you can feel that winter is on it's way. 

Everything feels like it's starting to slow a bit too.

Brrr ......

Turmeric, Immunity Boost

Turmeric, the 'wonder' spice, an Ayurvedic medicine & food, can be made into a tea that offers relief from cold & flu symptoms, is an effective anti depressant and is also highly effective as a booster to your immune system.

Turmeric root can be grated & used in food.  It can also be ground & used as a tea. 

It can also be taken a supplement.  

A reasonable amount per day for adults is 2 capsules every morning.  Child under 10 years of age, 1/2 that amount. 

Take during the fall months leading up to winter as well as throughout the winter.