Getting older

It is a sad day when a person finally comes to the conclusion that they aren't as young as they used to be.  I don't feel old by any stretch of the imagination but as I have taken on the extremes of the workout Insanity Asylum, I have been feeling it in ways I wouldn't have 10 years ago.  I know this happens to the best of us but it is a little bit of a hard pill to swallow.  I am the kind of guy who when it is time to get back in shape I go all out, I push myself hard, I over do it really.  I am starting to realize I can't just jump in with both feet anymore. 
A few years ago I got myself into a bit of trouble.  I went for a bike ride after several months of near inactivity.  I rode hard and really pushed myself.  I arrived at the top of a hill and felt very sick.  I think I was on the verge of having a serious health event.  But fortunately I was smart enough to turn around and coast down the hill, and back to my house to recover.
I am fine I even had an EKG to make sure my heart was ok, but I know that I came very close to having a very serious event.  So what is the moral of the story?  Take it easy and work up to the extremes of exercise especially if you are middle aged and you have been inactive for a while. 
I have no doubt in my mind that I can work up to the level of fitness required to do Insanity Asylum, but I need to make sure I do it in a safe and smart manner.

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This is going to be expensive

My patients who don't brush and floss regularly tend to get a lecture about how expensive it will be to fix their teeth down the road.  I usually save this lecture for kids and teenagers, because I've found that adults really don't care.  Yesterday I had a young patient sit in my chair.  He is in his early twenties and is attending university.  He is married and has dental insurance but as with all dental plans it only covers about $1500.00 a year.  He is in for a cleaning and exam.  I start to list off all the cavities he has and there are a bunch.  In fact if memory serves correct he had a cavity on almost every tooth.  I rattle off filling, filling, root canal and crown etc.  In other words cha ching, cha ching, cha ching.  I really did feel bad for this kid.  I can tell they don't have a lot of money, and he is at a major cross road with his teeth.  He either forks out almost $10,000.00, yes that's ten THOUSAND dollars, to fix his teeth or he will be in dentures in the near future.  End of options.  I'm not talking big cosmetic case with veneers, I'm talking fillings and where needed root canals and crowns. 
So as I tell my patients 1 minute a day can save you thousands of dollars, I am not exaggerating at all.  If he had flossed regularly he would be nearly cavity free.  How is that you ask?  Simple, almost every cavity he has is one that started between his teeth.  Flossing prevents those cavities.  It really is that easy.  So for what it is worth, take time to floss.  Or you can just plan on writing a big fat check to your dentist.

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Tim Tebow

I don't care if you are religious or not you gotta love Tim Tebow.  How many people in today's world are willing to stand up for what they believe?  We live in a society where the leaders of our country are swayed by the slightest breeze.  So many of the politicians out there only care about one thing, what you want them to say.  They don't really care about right or wrong they only care about getting votes.  Our country is full of people who wont take responsibility for their own actions.  It is a breath of fresh air to me that Tim Tebow is willing to say this is what I believe, and I am not ashamed.  In my own personal opinion, it is great to see someone willing to praise God and pray while in the public spotlight.  Tim you have my support.  Keep it up!!
 

My new years resolutions

New years resolutions can be a very good thing.  They are like any other goal we may set in life.  The key I think is to write the resolution or goal down, look at it often, and plan a way to achieve the goal.  I am setting a few goals for myself this year. 
The goal I would like to share with you is the goal to become healthier.  Notice I said become healthier and not just to lose weight.  Skinny people aren't always healthy.  As you may know a while ago I was using the work out DVDs called Insanity.  I really liked them but, as is typical for me, I had an obligation that interfered with my routine and it fell by the wayside.  My wife, whom I love more than I can even say, purchased the new Insanity work out DVDs, entitled Asylum for me for Christmas.  I was very excited and a little scared all at the same time.  Yesterday I did the first workout in the series.  It is a test to see how many of each exercise I could do.  I will use this test once a month to track my progress.  I am happy to say that I didn't die.  I think I am going to really like this new DVD series.
In addition to exercise I am trying to eat healthier.  I downloaded an app that tracks calories and exercise.  I like it because it helps me see just how much I am eating.  It is scary how many calories are in most fast food meals.  I suggest you get an app to see how much you are really eating.
Another trick is to keep track of your weight.  Studies show that people who weigh themselves every day tend to be thinner.  So I am breaking out the scale.  It did try to run away screaming when I approached it, but I forced it out from under my bed and hopped on.  Sad is all I have to say. 
Whatever you resolution is for this year I wish you the best, and hope you are very successful!!

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