** I'm re-posting this from last year.  Read it.  Share it. **

Today is the Great American Smoke Out, an annual event that was started by the American Cancer Society (ACS) in 1976.

I’ll start my rant about smoking by saying that I do not and have never smoked. I was glad when state governments began passing no smoking laws for public locations, and I don’t like walking through the groups of smokers who stand outside of entry doors to buildings. With this being said, I recognize that many people started smoking before it was known how bad it was for your health, and that it is an addiction and is therefore often very difficult to quit. I’m not making light of any of that. However, for the next few minutes, I am going to get on my soapbox. Know that what I’m about to say is not meant to be a personal attack on anyone.

Why should someone stop smoking? Well, let’s look at the facts of how your body benefits after quitting (from the ACS):

● in 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure drop

● in 12 hours, carbon dioxide levels in your blood drop to normal

● within 3 months, circulation improves and lung function increases, and .....

Many of us are trying to do more and more in what seems like lesser amounts of time. We constantly multi-task – while on the phone at our desk, we check e-mail; while driving, we talk on the cell phone; we pay bills and make purchases via the internet at odd hours of the day and night; and the list could go on.

In the same spirit, I am often asked for some simple ways to start improving fitness. After all, every bit counts, right? The latest news reports have said that 30 or 45, or even 60 minutes of daily activity is suggested, but not all of them tell you that it can be performed in 10 or 15 minute segments. While the latter may not have the same total effect as when it’s performed all at once, studies have shown that this is still beneficial. Intensity is another factor – the higher the intensity, the more health benefits you will receive.

Here are some easy to do activities, most of which you’ve probably heard before but you might find helpful to be reminded of again:

1. Take the stairs – at work, in the parking garage, in the mall, everywhere.

2. If you are going to a nearby store or restaurant, walk. It will also save you in gas money.

3. Take your dog for a walk – you both will benefit!

4. Keep a pair of tennis shoes at your desk so you can go for a walk during lunch.

5. When driving to the grocery or the mall, resist the urge to choose the parking space closest to the entrance.

6. Walk through the entire mall to get to the one or two stores you want to shop in.

7. While you’re watching tv, do push ups, crunches, or lunges during the commercials.

8. Fidget. Seriously. Studies have shown that people who fidget are generally in better shape than those who sit still.

9. Work in your yard and garden.

10. Play with your kids.

11. Get a bike (and a helmet).

12.  When planning your vacation, incorporate exercise or physical activity such as hiking or sightseeing.

Exercise Your Mind

Much of what I discuss focuses on physical fitness. This is just one part of your overall well-being. Another is exercising your mind.

Many studies tout the benefits of challenging yourself mentally, primarily to improve concentration skills and reduce the number of distractions you experience.

As we age, our ability to separate our sensory perceptions decreases which results in a type of sensory overload often times causing confusion. There are simple, everyday ways to prevent or reduce this:

● Perform daily puzzles such as crosswords, crytopquips, and sudoku                  

● Change the route you drive to work and the grocery

● Use your “other” hand to brush your teeth and hair

● When dressing, put your “other” leg in the pants or shorts first

● Walk the dog in a different route (this will benefit both of you)

● Read – books, newspapers, magazines, and of course articles and postings on my site or on my page at shapefit.com

With Veterans Day tomorrow, many of us are reflecting on the freedoms that our military personnel have provided and maintain for us.

Don't worry, this is not a political rant.  Far from it.

Their dedication, perseverance, commitment, and determination have afforded us the opportunity to live in a country where we are free to differ in opinions and to speak them aloud, to have access to some of the finest medical attention, to attend some of the best universities, and to live the "American dream".

However, reading the report issued by Mission: Readiness, a nonprofit organization of nearly 90 retired military leaders titled, "Ready, Willing and Unable to Serve" made me shake my head in disbelief.  It said that over 25% of Americans are too overweight to join the military, and that number increases to 75% when inadequate education and criminal history are added in.  Sad, sad, sad.  Too overweight?  Didn't finish high school?  Have a criminal record?

Being an American is a privilege.  Representing us in the military is so much more, yet there are thousands of Americans who don't mean the minimum requirements to do so.

You can read the entire article here.  When you are finished, don't forget to say thank you to a Veteran.