time to live :: health and fitness

Healthy Sinuses

2010-01-26T11:34:00.000-08:00

After doing some extensive research on the web I found this article on Sinus Disease & Problems to have been the most helpful and comprehensive.

Pillow Cheesecake With Salted Butter Caramel Sauce

2010-01-26T11:11:00.001-08:00

The criteria for this cheese cake recipe were: It has to be pillowy-soft, chocolate has to be involved, just a hint of citrus flavor, and there should be some salted butter caramel going on as well. Now you know where the name comes from.

Pad Thai Noodles

2010-01-26T11:02:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite dishes is Pad Thai Noodles. The Temple of Thai website had a number of intriguing recipes for Pad Thai Noodles, as well as a host of other traditional Thai dishes. They also have a number of Thai cookbooks worth perusing for purchase. Best of all, some of those hard-to-find Thai ingredients (like tamarind paste) can be ordered as well.

Fudge Brownies

2010-01-26T10:58:00.001-08:00

This looks like a very good recipe based on the ingredients and the comments of other people who tried the recipe. There are some helpful tips as well, if you read the entire article. Try some Fudge Brownies from King Arthur.

What You Need to Run in the Cold

2009-12-01T21:29:00.000-08:00

It’s important to have a good attitude when running in the cold. Think of it as an adventure or a challenge. Try to have fun – have you ever run in a blinding blizzard? Try 40 below zero – I did and it made me a better runner and a stronger person.

What you will hopefully find is that it’s easy to run in the cold, especially if you have the right gear. Most of this gear is not expensive and you may already find in your closet. So let’s start at the top and work our way down.

Half the heat is pouring out of your head when it’s cold, so headgear is imperative. Just don’t overdo it. A simple stocking hat combined with something to cover your face is more than adequate. A balaclava will combine as both or maybe you have a windmask if you’re into skiing.

In a pinch a bandana tied around your neck and pulled up over your nose works great. As you run, your breath will freeze the bandana and it will not only stay up by itself but act as a marvelous windbreak.

For your torso, start with a long or short sleeved undershirt that is dry wicking in nature. In other words, not a cotton t-shirt. A Cool-Max type of shirt works great, or any other shirt that won’t accumulate sweat as you pour on the miles.

A thin fleece or wool top will go over this. It’s ability to wick moisture through is far more important than it’s warming capabilities. Trust me, when you top this with a nylon windbreaker jacket, staying warm won’t be a problem.

Gloves should also be minimal, windproof, and breathable. Mittens are a little warmer than gloves, all other things being equal. I have some thin glove liners and GoreTex mittens. With the options to wear the one, the other, or both one can be comfortable over a very wide temperature range.

Your legs need the least amount of warming, since they’re doing most of the work and they’re the biggest muscles. Try a pair of tights or thin running pants covered by a pair of nylon windbreaker pants. In real cold weather wear another pair of shorts over the tights but under the windbreaker.

Your feet are not likely to get cold, but a pair of wool socks are far more comfortable than cotton because of their ability to wick away moisture and still stay warm. Don’t wear socks that are too thick for your shoes or you will lose any insulation and probably screw up your stride as well.

You don’t need special shoes to run in the winter. Maybe get a pair that’s less ventilated and has good traction for snow and ice.

Now that you’re all dressed up, let’s head outside. Before we blast off, however, you may want to adjust your running to the conditions.

First of all, don’t get too hot and sweat like crazy, which is the likeliest scenario if you’re new to winter running. You should be a bit cold the first five or ten minutes. From then on you should be comfortable for the duration, even if you run for two hours at five minute pace.

If you get too warm you can make a number of adjustments. Unzip your torso underlayer first, then the jacket, if need be. Maybe put the gloves in your pockets and just wear the liners. Pull down the face mask whenever possible or pull your stocking hat up a bit.

With a little experimenting and patience with the above gear, you should find yourself able to run comfortably from 20 degrees above down to 40 degrees below zero and never mind the wind chill.

You will also want to adjust your running style when the conditions are cold and slippery. First of all, shorten your stride and avoid any snapping action of the hamstrings or calves. Your workouts should be focused on long, slow distance and endurance.

Also watch for slippery stretches and slow down for them. You may need to find new running routes for the winter where you have a minimum of ice, snow, and cars.

Go easy on your muscles. Spend a bit more time (at least ten minutes) warming up before shifting your run into high gear.

And now for the best part – you’re done. Now take a long hot shower or sit in the hot tub for an hour. Be sure and do lots of stretching after you run. Hot pads are not just for old guys, they are quite useful for warming up the big muscles hours after you have finished your run.

Stay flexible, stay warm, stay injury-free.

Climber's Elbow

2009-10-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

Climber's or Golfer's elbow is difficult to diagnose and treat. Much of the information I received from my doctor and various web searches was an inconsistent or incorrect jumble of not-so-helpful information. Few, if any, mentioned tendonosis versus the more commonly misdiagnosed tendonitis, let alone what to do about it. This article by Eric J. Hörst is clear and concise in diagnosing and treating climber's elbow.

More Than Human

2009-10-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

One of the more talked about episodes on Discovery Channel's "More Than Human" was about climber Tori Allen. View the YouTube video and find out the secret to this young girl's phenomenal climbing prowess.

How to Fry Tofu Like a Master

2009-09-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

Cooking with tofu can be a trying experience. All those years of cooking meats won't prepare you for your first grease-splattering adventure when one of your family members decides to go vegetarian.

Never fear! One of the cooks at Recipe Zaar was willing to share some tips on the fine art of cooking tofu.

We're Out of Cheese Gromit!

2009-09-25T10:18:00.000-07:00

Need some ideas for your next party or get-together? Want to try some different cheeses, but don't know where to start? AllRecipes.com has some great tips for matching wines and cheeses.

Swiss Army Knife

2009-03-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

I have always had a fascination for Swiss Army Knives, or anything Victorinox. Here is a Rescue Tool that caught my eye. It has tools for breaking a windshield, sawing a windshield, or cutting a seat belt. I am considering getting one for each car.

There's also a nifty Flashlight Card or how about a cool MP3 Player Knife? What will they think of next?

Quote of the Day

2009-03-05T07:59:00.001-08:00

rok iz gud.

:: Climer

Technology Gone Bad

2009-03-05T07:57:00.002-08:00

Snowshoeing is a perfect example of technology gone bad. Just imagine if those companies had applied all that energy and money into products that were fun to use.

:: Malcolm

Pretty Extreme

2009-03-05T07:57:00.001-08:00

Snowshoeing is more extreme than rockclimbing. I mean, it would take something pretty extreme to get me to go slog around in the snow like that.

:: Karl Baba

Uplifting Sports Stories, for a Change

2009-03-05T06:41:00.000-08:00

I came across these sports stories yesterday. One is about sportsmanship, the other about role models. These should be required reading for any athlete.

Quote of the Day

2009-03-04T10:39:00.000-08:00

There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.

:: Sir Rannulph Finnes

Classic Post

2009-03-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

> I am working on a research paper. My topic is: How Do Glaciers Move? Can you please tell me what you know about the movement of glaciers ?

Glaciers feel best when they have one movement per day. Some glaciers do just fine with fewer movements, but when they don't have movements for a long time the result can be quite bad. Glaciers which move much more frequently tend to have loose and soft terminal moraines (also called rock piles).

Glacial movement is almost always associated with the release of water. But sometimes glaciers release water without experiencing a movement. — Mike Garrison's answer.

Climber on a Bad Day

2009-02-20T10:48:00.001-08:00

I don't have any friends, and my nuts are too small.

The Stall

2009-02-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

You might want to make sure you're in a stall when you read this hilarious climbing post, so you don't have to worry about laughing so hard you pee your pants.

Quote of the Day

2009-02-19T07:08:00.000-08:00

There are only 3 real sports: bull-fighting, car racing and mountain climbing. All the others are mere games.

:: Ernest Hemingway

Break Time's Over, Back to Work

2009-02-06T06:50:00.000-08:00

If you watch a game, it's fun. If you play at it, it's recreation. If you work at it, it's golf.

:: Bob Hope

Exercises for Sore Climbing Fingers

2009-01-26T10:43:00.000-08:00

Climbing three to five days a week was causing me real pain and soreness in my fingers. Here are five exercises I found at the Mayo Clinic website that provided great relief. Yeah, I know, the exercises are for sufferers of arthtitis, but just give 'em a try and see if they don't help.

Watching Your Cholesterol

2008-02-26T20:03:00.000-08:00

My recent health screening showed rather high cholesterol levels. Some subsequent research on the web turned up a number of sites which could explain what LDL's and HDL's were, but none of them listed what their nutritional sources were.

I finally found this article in my bookmarks, which presents a solid and concise review on cholesterol without getting too scientific or technical. The website is from the Harvard School of Public Health.

In the past I have found The Nutrition Source to be rather unbiased and very useful in plowing through some of the many confusing nutritional guidelines and recommendations. There is very little hype and certain myths are also debunked. I always suspected that eggs were not the deadly food the press made it out to be. And margarine, far from being healthy, is godawful stuff.

Are you watching your cholesterol?

Variety is the Spice of Life

2008-02-22T15:21:00.000-08:00

We all know that familiar feeling that a change is required. Maybe you're stuck in a rut, or tired of the 'same old, same old'.

Scientist are trying to verify this principal in the realm of romance, of all places. It would seem that couples who try new settings or venues for dates are likelier to keep the romance alive. Apparently the same feelings that gave you sweaty palms and a runaway heart-rate just from holding hands with your first flame can be evoked decades later with your longtime spouse.

Read the NY Times article

The Scoop on Shoes - Pt. 1

2007-11-27T18:25:00.000-08:00

Get yourself more than one pair of shoes to train in. Don't let the cost scare you. This can be accomplished with no extra expense if you rotate your purchases. Buy your second pair of shoes when your first ones are at their half-life.

Having two pairs of shoes allows you to address different training needs. Purchase a heavier pair with more cushioning for longer distance runs. Buy a lighter shoe for those shorter, faster runs.

If your training doesn't vary that much, get two pairs of the same shoes. With two pairs of shoes, it's easier to tell when the older pair is worn out and needs to be replaced.

You can decrease the likelihood of injury if you have more than one pair of shoes. It's hard to find a shoe that meets all your needs - like cushioning, stability, pronation. Maybe one of your shoes causes a certain kind of stress. Wearing that shoe every other day cuts the stress in half. You also have a chance to recover from that stress on the off-day.

Maybe you feel you'd like to try a new line of shoes. It's nice to break in a new pair of shoes slowly, especially a brand you've never worn. With two shoes you can slowly bring the new pair of shoes into the rotation by wearing them for shorter runs and only wearing them every three or four days initially.

Variety is the spice of life. Altering your training can make your runs more interesting. Getting that second pair of shoes might just add a little extra kick to your exercise regimen, with little or no extra cost.

The price isn't always right

2007-11-23T14:02:00.000-08:00

Bill Bowerman began creating running shoes from a waffle iron back in the 70's. His concept blossomed into a new company called Nike, which prospered in the wake of the new running craze.

The running shoe has evolved steadily and considerably since then. Most cheap running shoes now-a-days are vastly superior to the best running shoes from back then. Features likes support, stability, and cushioning have been well-refined and are found in every shoe.

I have noticed for the last ten years now, that within a line of shoes, there is often little (or no) difference between the cheap shoes and the expensive ones. There is also scientific evidence that bears this conclusion out.

In a recent study, runners were asked to try shoes of varying costs that had the outside features covered up. After trying them out on a tread mill they were asked to guess the price of the shoes. The runners did very poorly at predicting the price of the shoe based on comfort and performance. This would lead one to believe that within a line of shoes you don't get more features for the money. They just look cooler.