Countdown To Fifty » Health and Exercise http://countdowntofifty.com countdown to the world's largest virtual birthday party... Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:10:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 The Fountain of Youth http://countdowntofifty.com/the-fountain-of-youth/ http://countdowntofifty.com/the-fountain-of-youth/#comments Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:17:18 +0000 Not Quite Fifty http://countdowntofifty.com/the-fountain-of-youth/ Sure, there are pills, potions, programs and classes all designed to show you the way to eternal youth.

You can drink the waters and allegedly stay young. For some the solution is plastic surgery.

I have found a stay young alternative.

A method to stay mentally alert, test my reflexes, demonstrate my foot speed, and practice my stretching.

Meet Oliver:
oliver

Oh, there’s nothing like chasing after a 14 week old puppy to keep you young and on your toes!

]]> http://countdowntofifty.com/the-fountain-of-youth/feed/ 0 Reflections Of A 48th Birthday http://countdowntofifty.com/reflections-of-a-48th-birthday/ http://countdowntofifty.com/reflections-of-a-48th-birthday/#comments Sat, 17 May 2008 20:13:00 +0000 Not Quite Fifty http://countdowntofifty.com/reflections-of-a-48th-birthday/ Unlike most birthday’s of my past, my 48th this past May 7 was downright unusual. Not bad, just unusual. As mentioned in earlier posts I have started a new gig: shorespeak. In this role I am traveling the country as a speaker/consultant/coach. Timing being what it is I got booked for a job in Baltimore prior to a conference in Washington DC. This meant that for the first time in memory (which is suspect to begin with) I was not home to celebrate.

Instead I spent the day:

  • working out – a 90 minute cardio and weight program in the hotel gym
  • a long self guided tour through our nations capital
  • dinner with my DC based nephew and his girlfriend

The good news: it was a pleasant day albeit one spent primarily alone. But hey, if I can’t be with myself after 48 years then who can I be with?

The bad, self inflicted news: WAY to much good cheer. In fact I was as hung over the following morning as anytime in recent history.

Perhaps we never learn.

As I’m now 2 weeks into the 48 year I have been reflecting on:

  • where exactly did my eye sight go and how could it go so quickly – if I do not have the cheaters at the ready I am effectively handicapped. Yes, handicapped. I cannot see shit up close without glasses and it is getting worse quickly. I have finally made an appointment for an optometrist visit.
  • working out 2-3 times per week is not enough – I have added yoga to the mix to alleviate stiffness and back pain
  • the spark that powered by frenetic career existence for 30 years has dimmed. No not gone out by any means, simply gone down a notch. Making the most money possible as quickly as possible is not the goal anymore. Enjoying what I do and having a schedule that is mine is much more attractive.
  • the inevitable decline of parents is imminent – Dad just isn’t the same as he is showing signs of wear at 76 years of age
  • marriage is a full time job and one that is damn hard as well as cyclical
  • making new friends later in life is exponentially more difficult than when you are young
  • cell phones are the greatest invention in the history of communication as well as the greatest curse
  • pets are like Valium on four legs…calming

to be continued……………

]]> http://countdowntofifty.com/reflections-of-a-48th-birthday/feed/ 7 Tendonitis And Carpal Tunnel? Your Kidding. http://countdowntofifty.com/tendonitis-and-carpal-tunnel-your-kidding/ http://countdowntofifty.com/tendonitis-and-carpal-tunnel-your-kidding/#comments Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:10:16 +0000 Not Quite Fifty http://countdowntofifty.com/tendonitis-and-carpal-tunnel-your-kidding/ Over the last 90 days I have spent hours and hours at the computer in my office getting the speaking and coaching businesses started. Three times per week I break up the sit-fest with trips to the gym to see my trainer. Coincidentally I have developed the following symptoms:

  • pain in the right shoulder when pulling down weights
  • inability to sleep on right side
  • numbness in the left hand
  • pain in the middle and forefingers of the left hand

Fearing that this all had something to do with working out too much, or too hard, I finally broke down and visited the orthopedist. As mentioned previously I hate going to the doctor (like most men) and this is compounded by the fact that I have a $3500 deductible. So the fact that I finally went illustrates the pain and frustration.

The doctor ran me through a series of mobility tests and took x-rays. From this he pronounced the following diagnosis:

right shoulder = tendinitis. Likely brought on by working out.

left hand = carpal tunnel. Undoubtedly the by-product of too much computer time.

To validate this diagnosis he wants me to go to a neurologist for an additional (EMG?) test. Yet this past week I was out of town and away from the mouse for 4 days. During that time the pain in the hand went away. This tells me that the neurologist confirmation visit may not be necessary.

Now I ask you, is this what the future holds? Body parts that begin to fail in pairs? It’s bad enough that both eyes are at the point where I recently upgraded to the next level in the oh so fashionable ‘cheater’ line of reading glasses.

What other pairs will go next? Ears? Knees? Gonads?

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