tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79878949537856928362009-10-12T20:04:43.729-07:00Physical and metaphysical self improvement, one step at a timeMason Resnicknoreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-44254516470217119602008-06-17T03:26:00.001-07:002008-06-17T03:32:53.528-07:00

Yes I know...I haven't posted in over a month. I've been busy. In the last 4 weeks, the price of gas has risen 50 cents a gallon. A friend of mine, the owner of a used car buseness (and--rarities of rarities--an honest, stand-up guy) tells me big cars aren't selling, smaller ones are. People are trading in their SUVs and vans for economical small cars. He even told me he is chaning the way he

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-69638915788029420672008-05-14T09:36:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:00:21.693-08:00

This is a great little tool to help you plan walks based on how far you want to go. Called Google Map Pedometer, the tool lets select an area using Google maps, then (here's where it gets really cool) you click on points on the route and the total distance in miles or kilometers appears at the bottom. If you made a mistake, simply clear the route and start over again.Here's what it looks like (I

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-74450711440390757482008-05-13T09:31:00.001-07:002008-05-13T09:40:17.974-07:00

Between airborne allergies and a viral infection I recently picked up, I've not been feeling up to snuff the last few days. But the words of my former shihan (Martial-arts school principal) have inspired me to action. Shihan Joel, you see, is diabetic, so whatever minor sniffles I have are nothing compared to what he must go through. So one day, several months ago at the beginning of a workout,

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-26798420129090543372008-05-09T11:28:00.000-07:002008-05-09T11:38:07.098-07:00

Here's my ecclectic top 10 list of songs with walking in the title or prominently in the lyrics, in no particular order:I Walk The Line - Johnny CashWalk of Life - Dire StraitsWalk on the Wild Side - Lou ReedWalking on Sunshine - Katrina & The WavesWalking on the Sun - SmashmouthBoulevard of Broken Dreams (I walk alone) - Green DayWalk This Way - AerosmithI'm Walkin' - Fats DominoWalk Like A Man

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-27928968382336050382008-05-05T05:56:00.000-07:002008-05-05T06:02:01.036-07:00

Phil Novak, of North Braddock, PN, is my hero, and might soon be yours, too. Weighing 387 pounds 2 years ago, he was so obese that, at age 39 he thought he was going to die because of all the strain the weight was putting on his heart. To start losing weight, he started walking--an hour a day--and eating a low-carb diet. He lost 100 pounds in 7 months, just by walking an hour a day.Phil's story

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-52587517077882626142008-05-02T08:29:00.000-07:002008-05-02T08:48:47.635-07:00

I've just realized that after 15 posts, I really haven't shared who I am or what motivated me to start walking and blogging about it. Here goes.I am a 51-year-old white male living in the Northeastern United States. I have been a vegetarian most of my life, and am an observant Jew. I have worked most of my professional career as a writer and editor for a variety of photography-related

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-58912025726724759132008-05-02T08:20:00.000-07:002008-05-02T08:28:44.733-07:00

How you walk is as important as how long or far you walk. Stride right, and you will improve posture and back issues; walk the wrong way and you could introduce problems with your back or legs. And if you walk slowly, you might get some benefit, but nothing like the benefit you get from doing a power walk using good walking form.Here are some things I do to get a good workout (I base my walking

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-33067818883112551822008-05-01T04:55:00.000-07:002008-05-01T05:05:32.924-07:00

Since I started walking five weeks ago, several interesting things have happened in my life (in addition to starting this blog):1. I have more energy.2. I don't feel so "creaky" when I get up after sitting at my desk working all day.3. I am more focused on my work after I walk.4. The price of gas has gone up 75 cents a gallon.5. I've lost 7 pounds...and kept them off.In addition to the personal

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-80228051256083119552008-04-30T11:08:00.000-07:002008-04-30T11:10:24.373-07:00

This blog's just getting off the ground and I know that just as with walking, launching a blog starts with a single step. But I know the blog is starting to get visitors. So if you're reading my blog, I hope you'll leave a message and let me know you paid a visit. Feel free to share your walking stories and ideas for how I can make this a more useful and informative destination for walkers!

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-60100100619739875192008-04-29T12:06:00.000-07:002008-04-29T12:33:23.806-07:00

Looks like other bloggers are encouraging people to walk instead of taking their cars, for all the same reasons: Be green, save gas, stay in shape. Find blog posts about the gas crisis benefits of walking here, here, and here.Might we be seeing the beginning of a movement?

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-42316488574163281212008-04-29T11:12:00.000-07:002008-04-29T11:21:39.696-07:00

WIth the price of gas rocketing out of control, everything, from the cost of a plane ticket to the price of food, is going up--fast--in the coming months. What can we do to protect ourselves?One financial newspaper today suggested buying large quantities of non-perishable foods and stocking them, since the price of food will rise 4-5% per MONTH. Buy invest in food at today's prices and you'll get

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-43167143092592520862008-04-28T15:32:00.000-07:002008-04-28T15:35:47.423-07:00

In my neighborhood, the price of gas jumped 25 cents a gallon over the last week or so. Our government can control prices better by putting controls on oil futures trading and by hold the oil companies accountable for the record profits they're suddenly making while the world suffers.What can you do? Both for your health and as a form of protest...get out of your car and walk!

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-35050405239257216832008-04-25T09:25:00.000-07:002008-04-25T09:37:39.169-07:00

What do you think of while you walk?My thought process is divided into distinct areas:Brainstorming - Thinking about work, coming up with creative ideas and trying to solve problems. I often can think more clearly while walking than when sitting in front of my computer. I spend quite a bit of walk time brainstorming.Logistics and mechanics - Which route am I taking? Am I walking the right way or

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-26041446804255031072008-04-23T15:11:00.000-07:002008-04-23T15:17:08.272-07:00

From AARP's article "Forget Counting Sheep. Walk Your Way to Better Sleep":"Take a short stroll before and after dinner. This helps soothe your nerves while burning calories. The use of energy combined with the stress release relaxes your body and mind, helping you sleep better and longer..."...and..."...Walking has a long-term impact on your sleep as well as giving short-term relief. On restless

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-32126393747257117132008-04-23T04:44:00.000-07:002008-04-23T04:52:50.143-07:00

OK, walking to replace driving completely is not realistic. But there are times when walking can replace driving. And as the price of gas continues to skyrocket, every car trip has become something that is carefully considered.The thing to balance is time spent walking versus the health benefit and (admittedly minor) monetary savings. But even if one walking excursion a day to the local grocery

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-66520421866467238172008-04-22T10:16:00.000-07:002008-04-22T10:22:31.830-07:00

I don't get the concept of tanning salons.You pay money to lie there, doing nothing, while intense, potentially toxic lights are shined on your prone body.What fun.I don't mind a nice, healthy tan. In fact, a nice healthy tan indicates an outdoor lifestyle, which means fresh air and greater resistance to (or acceptance of?) the elements. But just lying there indoors so you can be fried by

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-5799772608659914752008-04-18T12:31:00.000-07:002008-04-18T12:33:26.627-07:00

I always bring a small camera with me when I walk, because my day job involves photography and hey, you never know. A nice compact camera such as a Canon ELPH model is ideal. Don't stop everyehwere or you'll miss out on the benefits of uninterrupted exercize. But do keep alert for photo opportunities.Maybe next week I'll post some of my "photowalking" shots.

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-43851684092215220722008-04-18T02:48:00.000-07:002008-04-18T02:54:12.018-07:00

How long does it take you to get to the gym? I informally surveyed some friends and most need to drive approximately 15 minutes. Then they go to the locker room, change, do a 1-hour workout, leave, and either come home or go directly to work. So the 1-hour workout in the gym is really around 1:30 on average when you factor in drive time and other stuff. Plus, you're using gas (currently in my

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-46385901432631960202008-04-17T19:56:00.000-07:002008-04-17T20:01:34.859-07:00

According to About.com, walkers have less incidence of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Walkers live longer, and have mental health and spiritual benefits.Walking is possibly the simplest exercise you can do, but the benefits are profound.Details will follow.Meanwhile, check out About.com's page filled with links to articles about the benefits of walking.

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987894953785692836.post-52818739888728850342008-04-17T09:46:00.000-07:002008-04-17T13:36:11.667-07:00

A friend of mine is a therapist and works with people in wheelchairs, visually impaired, deaf, etc, commonly referred to in politically incorrect terms as "disabled". She recently shared with me a comment one of her clients made:"We are all temporarily enabled."Think about it. Eventually, we will lose our abilities. If you have legs, walk. If you have arms, lift. You don't know when you will no

Mason Resnicknoreply@blogger.com0