Reflection: Weeks 9-12

It's winding down now...more things have been covered and taken place: Photo Essay, Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change, THOMAS, Junking.  This one was a little more tricky for me.  I'm sad to say the law and government are not high on my list of interests...The THOMAS project allowed us to look up the history of a topic that is of interest to us and see how the government has taken part of it.  The Photo Essay was a fun one.  I included my SMART goal in it.  I took pictures of different parks around the area for the community to visit.  It was a lot of fun.  Junking should be very interesting as well...we used random items and made lists of what we could make each into.  I think our group had at least 10 new ideas for each of the 5 items.  I'm excited to see what is to come in the remaining two weeks of the semester.

Abby likes the environment so much...she turned into a squirrel.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 4: Weekly Update

1. I will take my dogs to Hartley Nature Center for a 30-40 minute walk/run, 3 times during the week days.  It's still going very well.  It was nice having the extra days off and not having to stick to my normal schedule.  We were able to go to new places and go for a longer period of time.
2. However, the beginning of this week was a little more tricky.  The weather was terrible and difficult to get to the places because of the bad driving.  It took even longer to get to point A to point B.  I'm sure it's going to be not as fun outside as the weather gets colder and colder and colder.  The puppies can only last so long running in below zero weather and it's hard to see them when it's snowing out (they blend in pretty well).
3. My feeling were still fun and enjoyable.  Just got to continue to get up and get out there...not allow myself to get lazy and use the weather as an excuse.  
4. We learned about a few new parks to visit around Duluth this week.   Some are nicer than others...
5. Things should stay the same this upcoming week.  If we can't continue to go to the new places we found we will definitely continue going to Hartley, the park that's close by and convenient to get to.

Eye Opener: Photo Essay

ABBY & RANGER'S ADVENTURES

Abby & Ranger riding in the car.  They know it's time for their walk.  They're so excited, they cannot wait to get to the park!

We're here!  They're waiting in the car so patiently...
(Ranger is in the red collar and Abby is in the pink collar)

And they're off!  Who's going to make it down the trail first?!  

Here's our first stop- Chester Bowl. This is one of the newer spots that we've visited.

Our second stop- Bagley Nature Area.  This is one of Abby's favorites and Ranger's first time visiting.  They love running up the huge hills and steps to race to the lookout.

Here's our third favorite spot- Hawks Ridge.  When I was training for my marathons I would take Abby here.   They have the road blocked off at a certain spot, so than she's able to run off leash.  Here they are at the memorial, looking out across the city of Duluth.

Last but not least- Hartley Nature Center.  This is the one we visit almost daily.  It's close to home and have great trails!  Soon we'll be able to start our cross country ski adventures.  Abby and Ranger are waiting patiently...got to make sure they know who's in charge!

They're completely wiped out.  Back to the car...Abby is still smiling!  Ranger looks like he could tip over and sleep anytime now.

Back home- safe and warm.  They're second favorite thing...belly rubs!  Can you guess which one is which?

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 3: Weekly Update

1. I will take my dogs to Hartley Nature Center for a 30-40 minute walk/run, 3 times during the week days.  Things went much better this week.  I really stuck to the schedule and along with having the extra days off this week, we were able to stay out and play longer.
2. It still is tricky to fit it into my schedule, but now it has been easier getting up earlier to give myself more time to get out there.  My strategy, since I'm not a morning person, is to not press the snooze button.  There's no point in trying to fall back asleep once my alarm has already gone off...Might as well face the day on my first chance.
3. Once I get up and going the cold fresh air is refreshing!  I'm awake and I'm alive...Seeing the two puppies literally frolicking through the trails is so fun.  When I'm outside I catch myself continually smiling and all I do is laugh at how joyful those two are together.  It's nice to take the time to not worry about all the other stressors waiting for me.
4. Next week I want to continue going strong.  Maybe throw in an extra afternoon walk...or Abby really enjoys helping shovel snow!  She chases it and jumps like a kangaroo every time i throw the snow off to the side.  Get a little extra outdoor activity.  (I'm planning on getting one of those ergonomic shovels with all these snow storms a'comin.) 

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Introduction:

• Focus Area 22: Physical Activity
• Objective 22.2: Increase the proportion of adults who engage in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day 5 or more days per week or vigorous physical activity for at least 20 minutes per day 3 or more days per week. 
• Goal: Improve health, fitness, and quality of life through daily physical activity.
• Who is affected by the issue?
• Currently, a large number of American are not getting the required daily exercise they need and obesity is on the rise.  I feel that not abiding by this rule/guideline will affect our children and generations to come.  As adults, we must learn to lead by example.  By not setting a balanced, healthy lifestyle for ourselves our children will easily follow into our footsteps.  They are susceptible to losing control of their own adult lives and become unhealthy with other diseases and health problems.
• What are the consequences of the issue?
• Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for developing forms of heart and cardiovascular diseases.  These can also contribute to further risks of obesity, high blood pressure, cholesterol problems, and diabetes.  These are all forms or long term health problems.
• What is the economic impact of the issue?
• Physical inactivity causes a tremendous burden of disease and death.  Researchers commissioned by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports coined the phrase 'Sedentary Death Syndrome.'o And no wonder. In 2000, the Journal of Applied Physiology reported that approximately "250,000 deaths per year in the United States are premature due to physical inactivity."
• What is the social impact of the issue?
• Researchers pointed to evidence in adults that an increase in physical activity can help reduce and address symptoms of depression and anxiety.  "It seems that there is a psychological and physiological connection that help explain the beneficial effects of exercise on mental health," Kantomaa.
• What are the barriers?
• Studies investigating factors that may explain the high prevalence of leisure-time physical inactivity in the general population have indicated perceived barriers play a powerful role in keeping people from being or becoming physically active.  Analysis identified lack of motivation followed by lack of time as the only statistically significant (p<.01) predictors of membership in the physically inactive or active groups. That is, physically inactive subjects reported inadequate motivation and time as the reasons for undermining their ability to make regular physical activity a priority. Findings suggest that interventions for promoting increased leisure-time physical activity among the population group studied focus on creating strategies designed to help overcome the perceived intrapersonal constraints of lack of motivation and time.
• What are the resources?
• Being physical active is a healthy habit with many benefits.  Regular physical activity can improve health and lower risks for diseases.  Talk with a doctor or exercise specialist about starting an exercise program.  Have them help assess where you're starting out and where you should begin.  Set a goal that is realistic and achievable for your own personal situation and experience.
• What is the history of the issue?
• Prior to 1940 clubs focused on social and business networking.  Most memberships were for men and were not fitness focused.  In the mid 1940s, first appearing on the west coast, body building and weights began to appear at $60 per year.  1950's clubs became more prevalent; introduction of health club chains appeared in some larger cities.  Young Mens Christian Association (YMCA) was a popular one, who was more family-oriented.  1960s there was a rapid growth of health club chains.  They introduced the racquet club, which was still mainly run by men, and focused on weight training.  1970s there was emerging research geared towards fitness.  There was the introduction of multipurpose fitness clubs- new resistance training, aerobics, treadmills...People were now exercising for health!  The modern era (1980-2000), fitness was now recognized as an industry and served over 12 million people.  Personal training and group fitness came about.  The industry moved to a corporate model from a mom/pop model of doing business.
• Allies & opponents:
• Fitness clubs and health advocates will always work to promote physical activity in everyones' lives.  Injured people, low-income households may be opposed to physical activity since it is not readily available to them- It may be hard to incorporate into their daily lives due to cost.
• Recommendation:
• To allow people of all ages into certain fitness clubs.  Clubs that are open for those who can provide there own health care, but cannot provide their own membership at other popular organizations.

Share & Voice: ECO Shop

Here you go ladies!  American Eagle Outfitters, one of my personal favorite clothing stores, has their own line of ECO-friendly clothes.  ECO-shirt started out as an ideas to do something different.  They took the most popular style of clothes and made them better by using certified organic and recycled materials.  By using these organic fibers, they help to support organic farmers, which uses non-petroleum based fertilizers and natural methods of pest and weed control.  These new methods are much more healthy for our planet and for us, who wear the clothes.  They use  water based inks that breathe better than the normal silk screen inks.  "ECO-Shirt...We believe the small choices that we make each day are the best ones that really matter, for each other and for this planet that we all share."

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 2: Weekly Update

So I had to change up my SMART goal a little bit...

1. I will take my dogs to Hartley Nature Center for a 30-40 minute walk/run, 3 times during the week days.  It's been going good...tricky to work into my hectic school schedule.
2. During the week there always seems to be too much going on & I become overwhelmed.  I wanted to take time for myself & to exercise my two puppies, especially because they're not as active as they need to be during the week (they're german short hairs- made to run and hunt).  My strategies have been to get up earlier and when I need a break from my overload of projects, to just get some fresh air and walk down to Hartley just down the block.
3. It's a challenge to just make myself get up and outside.  That's why I chose this goal, because like my previous goal...once i'm out there & finish the walk...I feel like I have achieved something.  I'm more relaxed and can get my head focused again.
4. I learned about patience and not to wait to do something.  I learned that I can yell very, very loud as well (darn dogs kept running away from me)!
5. My plans for next week are to keep on going.  The three days during the week has been a good number, not too much & not too little.  The puppies love the snow & I still enjoy the outdoors w/o it being below zero.