The Life and Times of Nate Lanier - Simplicity / Health / Happiness

I promise you that clicking on this link will make your day a little bit better.

This will be post #1 in an ongoing series while I am hospitalized.

No one likes being in the hospital.  Unfortunately, most of us will find ourselves in one at some point in our lives.  I am currently on my third stay in a hospital and as a young patient I have valuable perspective on what you can do to get the most out of your hospital stay.

1.  Ask questions.

This is obvious is principle, but more difficult to follow in practice.  As a patient you generally lay around extremely bored and extremely naive to what’s going on behind the scenes.  Doctors do a lot of busy work behind the scenes that you may not be aware of.  Be respectful of that and understand that you are not the only patient in his care.

The doctor will spend a very limited amount of time in your room so it’s important to spend your bored time writing down symptoms and questions you want to ask before he appears unannounced.  Also, don’t be intimidated.  You are the patient and you have every right to command the respect and attention of your doctor.

I promise you that if you prepare yourself ahead of times and you question the things you do not understand, you will benefit as a patient.  So go ahead, ask questions - Stupid questions, silly questions, rhetorical questions. . . It just might save your life.

I will never understand why hospital food is so remarkably unhealthy.

It’s not bad, per se, but it IS comparable to High School lunches and is littered with refined carbohydrates, simple sugars, and sodium.

A simple strategy to combat soaring health care costs is to inform patients about healthy dieting practices.  Hospitals do the exact opposite by encouraging the consumption of the very foods that might have put them in the hospital to begin with.

I will never, ever understand this and I hope to some day be healthy enough to do something about it.

“I didn’t know working at Dunkin Donuts was so difficult.”

—

“Why did you come to the ER.”

“I’m anxious.”

“Do you drink coffee?”

“Ten cups a day”

They are an incredibly lonely place.

On Thursday I wrote an article about different aspects of centenarians.  One over-reaching trend is that they never stop doing [things].  Most people think getting older is about slowing down.  Centenarians think it’s about living your life regardless of how old you are.

A story about a 75 year old man that summited Mount Everest this May inspired me to write this post.  It’s also interesting to note that a 76 year old man summited the day before him.  If you have any idea how difficult it is to climb Mount Everest this story will be THAT much more remarkable to you.

And I have pictures to prove it.

No Windows?  Get me out of here!

Going to the gym is not fun.  If you think going to the gym is fun, then you’re in the minority!

So how can we make exercise fun while eliminating that dreaded “I still have to go to the gym today” feeling?  Read on and I’ll share a few ideas!

1.  Golf!

“I hate golf, Nate.”  I know, but have you ever tried it?  You will hate it until you get a taste of what it’s like to be decent at the game.  As soon as that happens, I absolutely gauruntee you will fall in love.  So much so that it will become an unhealthy obsession - Which is fine!  Why?  Because the average golf course is 6,000 yards which is 18,000 feet which is almost FOUR MILES.  Four miles in a straight line, that is.  And the way some of us play that might turn into eight miles.  The key takeaway here is that to receive the healthy benefits of golf, you have to WALK!  You will burn over 1000 calories on a typical 18 hole course.  Seriously, where else can you burn 1000 calories?  In a kiln?

2.  Go Kayaking!

Kayaking is not only good cardiovascular exercise - It’s a great muscle building activity too.  Kayakers must row steadily with their shoulders and backs as they enjoy beautiful river or lake scenery. Kayaking burns 350-500 calories an hour depending on your intensity level.  If a kayak is too tipsy or intimidating for you, buy a Canoe!

This is so much fun

3.  Start a Garden!

Gardening is great for a number of reasons.  One, seeds are incredibly cheap and your return on investment is remarkable.  One study I’ve read claimed that twenty dollars in seeds produced $600 in produce!  And you’re worried about your Bank of America Savings Rate! 

Two, it needs to be kept up which gets you outside and moving.  Tending to your Garden can burn 400 calories or so an hour and help you expose your skin for some all important Vitamin D synthesis!

Finally, it’s healthy.  You can’t grow unhealthy food in your garden unless you like to eat dirt!!  So since you’ve invested your time and hard work to your garden you will feel a certain sense of obligation to eat your healthy bounty.   You’ll also feel a sense of satisfaction when you bite into your first ripe tomato.  So what are you waiting for?

4.  Buy some video games!

“What, Nate?”  You heard me, buy some video games!  You’ve no doubt heard about the Nintendo Wii’s “Fit” device.  It has been found to burn almost 600 calories and hour!! And it is FUN!  You will love it, your kids will love it, your mother will love it - It’s a no brainer.

These are just some ideas to get your mind working in the right direction.  What is important with exercise and a healthy lifestyle is that it does not feel like a BURDEN to you.   You should WANT to partake in a healthy activity and you should WANT to eat well.  If you can’t find something you generally love doing that gets your heart rate up, I can guaruntee you that you are fighting a battle that you will ultimately lose.  So lace up and find an activity you love!!!  Take control, woo!!

Note: My choices were chosen specifically because they don’t FEEL like you’re working out.  For example, with Golf you can walk almost four miles and all you think about the whole time is how much you’d like to wrap your pitching wedge around your husband/wife for taking you golfing again  You feel like you are enjoying life the way it’s meant to be enjoyed.

As always, questions, comments, criticisms, and suggestions are much appreciated!

You don’t use Google for reference a single time.

Yikes.  Go her.

THIS COULD BE YOU!!!!

The best way to live to be 100 is to have grandparents and parents that lived to be a hundred.  If you didn’t, I’m sorry but you’re out of luck.  Stop reading.

I’m just kidding!!

But seriously, it’s true that genetic predisposition is a determining factor in the majority of centenarians.  We’ve all heard the story… “He smoked a cigarette to celebrate his 100th birthday”.

But I’ve eaten Kale Salads and Fish Oil for forty years, shouldn’t I live to be 100 too?

Well, no, not necessarily.  Diet is only small part in the battle for longevity.  There are a number of other factors that scientists suspect can contribute to longevity.  I will list some of those here for you to think about.  I can’t guarantee that they’ll make you live to be 100, but I wouldn’t ignore them!

1.  Be optimistic!

For crying out loud, you’re not cursed!  That horrible thing that happened to you?  Yes, it happened for a reason - to make you stronger and to make you realize that things can always get worse in the blink of an eye.  So the glass?  It’s half full!!

2.  Relax!

When we encounter stress we can deal with it two ways:  We can let it get under our skin and take control of us, OR we can take charge, rise above the challenge at hand and defeat it.  The good news?  If you occasionally lose this battle you will benefit by learning from it.

3.  Stop smoking.

Seriously, just stop.  You’re not only hurting yourself but those around you.  You will markedly decrease the likelihood of disease by taking this one simple life-changing step.  No excuses!!  Stop!

4.  Make lots of friends

One of the strongest trends across all centenarians is their ability to socialize.  They’re funny.  They swear.  They smile a lot.  They know everyone.  Why is this?  They follow the old mantra of “never stopping”.  The moment you stop, you’re dead.  So never stop, stay positive, and find beauty in your relationships.  And smile!  Yes!  Smile!!

5.  Get a good night’s sleep

Lack of sleep contributes to stress and raises cortisol levels which absolutely wrecks havoc on your body.  Imagine scratching a piece of wood with a knife for 100 years.  Now imagine doing the same thing to your body.  Not pretty.  That’s what cortisol does.

Most centenarians are early risers so hitting the sack early and missing Letterman might be one of the best things you can do for yourself.

6.  Do the obvious

Eat right, exercise, don’t smoke, get outdoors a lot, smile, don’t drink too much alcohol, go to your doctor for regular screening exams, take control of your body, and find purpose.

So there you have it.  Now find a golfing buddy, put down the cigarette, and live to be 100!!!

As always, questions, comments, suggestions, and criticisms are encouraged!

You’ve certainly heard about Omega-3’s.  But did you know that their purported benefits are backed by more scientific evidence than any other supplement on store shelves?  And did you know that just recently a study was published that says Omega-3’s can ease depression during pregnancy?

Well hell yes you know now! 

Another promising news story in the pipes tonight is about the benefits of Organic Milk.  It contains more omega-3’s and antioxidants than mass produced versions.  Yet more evidence that you should be eating organically and supporting local businesses.  Surprisingly, locally harvested organic milk is generally cheaper, so telling me it cost too much is bogus!

Finally, if you don’t know how to get Omega-3’s in your diet, here’s a starter for ya:

Questions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome!  And criticisms!!

I could go into a lot of detail on ways to suppress you appetite, but today I will keep it simple.  If anyone would like me to expand upon these techniques or explain in further detail why these methods are the very best at suppressing your appetite I would be happy to upon request.

1.  Eat high fiber foods (i.e. lettuce, celery, carrots, sliced peppers) combined with 8 OZ. or more of water. Why?  Because it will make you feel more full with less calories.

2.  Chew gum.

3.  Drink Green Tea. Numerous studies have shown green tea to unknowingly supress appetite in both rat and human trials.  It’s also been shown to boost your metabolism.

4.  Go for a walk. Exercise will take your mind off of food and boost your energy.

5.  Focus on your work. If you get a hunger pang, use it as an opportunity to focus on the task at hand and you will forget that you had a craving for a cookie before you know it.

6.  If all else fails, have a healthy snack available. The ideal snack for a situation like this is unsalted peanuts, almonds, or cashews.  An apple is another good one.

Remember, to be successful in leading a healthy lifestyle, you have to first be happy with yourself.   You then have to understand that there is no quick fix.  Avoid “Hoodia” extracts and various other herbal supplements because their effectiveness is unquestionably overstated.  There is no magic bullet.

Start by eating a diet full of natural whole foods and use these tips to further help you in your quest for a healthier body.

Questions, comments, or suggestions welcome and encouraged!!

Buying Condoms.

Google has put Google Earth, a formerly offline application, to the web.

Mashable has the scoop.

Charles A. Veley, a retired software executive, is the World’s Most Travelled Man.

Now that’s something I’m jealous of.  Charles A. Veley is my new hero.

Today I was reading about the Chevy Volt Concept on AutoBlogGreen, and I came away with a few questions.

The first thing I’m wondering is if the energy required to power the fuel cells was equal to that of a tank of gas. For example, the Chevy Volt takes 6.5 hours to charge on a typical 12V North American Outlet. Now, that power obviously doesn’t materialize out of thin air, so how much coal needs to be burned to charge the battery on a daily basis? Are we really getting anywhere, or just taking one problem and moving it to another non-renewable resource? These are both very important questions that I would like some insight on.

The second thing I’m wondering about is the price. As of April, Vice Chairman at GM Robert Lutz was on record as saying that the Chevy Volt is currently running about $48,000 without government incentives or tax breaks. As far as I’m concerned, that’s not solving any problems.

GM continues to say that they will not make a profit on the Volt. So what? What’s more valuable? To be the first company to bring a viable vehicular alternative to market, or to sit on your hands and beg the government to help you out?

While I applaud GM’s efforts, in some respects they seem misguided. It’s obvious that the vehicle provides little monetary incentive to the consumer, and I’m not sure it’s entirely practical. Just look at the design.

The big car manufacturers are the only ones in a real position to bring about change. We as the consumer need to help them bydemanding these vehicles, and demanding them in large numbers. We need to break our addiction with all things big. Imagine the Chevy Volt’s nuts and bolts filling a SMART Car. . . Get to it.
UPDATE: More thoughts and discussion on energy prices and innovation from James Siminoff…

This is what has happened to me for three hours today when trying to sign up for a Live Passport:

*Whistles happily back to his Google Account.

UPDATE @ 9:30. Still can’t sign up.  It’s been about 5 hours now.

From one of my favorite ER blogs, Ten Out of Ten:

Medical Jeopardy

Answer:  Massive Diarreah

Question:  What is the end result of eating nothing but beans and peaches all day

Now that’s what I call and All Natural Colon Cleanse.  Hey now!