DT Active Life 050617 for web-REVISED

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Finding the Right Bike is just the Beginning... At Rick’s Bike Shop, our Exceptional Inventory, Service and Repairs will keep you on two wheels for years to come. Stop By Our Shop For: • The Largest Bike Inventory in the Area • The Largest Selection of Parts and Acessories • Helmets, Shoes & Cycling Clothing • Same Day Repair Service - Available by Appointment Come Test Ride a Bike Today! Mon-Fri 9 -6, Sat 9 - 5, Sun 12- 5 Minutes from the Warren County Bikeway Our Repair Service is 2nd to None! With 5 mechanics, 3 with over 25 years of experience each, you’ll find our expert repair service is The Best! 368 Ridge Rd., Queensbury (Corner of Ridge & Quaker) • 518-793-8986 • ricksbikeshop.com EST. 1995 Job # 000 - Rick’s Bike Shop 1/2 Pg H - Sales Rep/Artist 16 | DACKS & TOGA activelife Job # 000 - Tom Stock - Sales Rep/Artist
6 Essentials to Fitness In our struggle to improve and advance, we tend to over-complicate all facets of health, nutrition, fitness, and sport-specific training. The motivation is admirable, and the effort is celebrated, but are we really improving, or are we merely spinning our wheels? More importantly, what should we actually be focusing on with regard to improving our health and fitness? by Duncan Callahan As I’ve tried to answer these questions over the past few years, I’ve taken a close look at peers of mine who maintain or improve their fitness consistently. What are they doing in order to continually improve? Why does it seem like their set-backs don’t actually set them back? Is it mental? Is it genetic? What is the difference between those who remain fit and healthy, and those who gain weight, struggle with their health, and end up tired or injured? My observations have led me to the following conclusions. Those successful in maintaining 1 or improving their health and fitness are in it for the long haul. They acknowledge that their immediate goals are of secondary importance to their long term plans. Pushing through injury, causing pain, and exalting deprivation will lead to nothing but injury, burn-out, and bitterness. Instead, successful individuals build consistent daily actions which add up over time to lead them to their desired outcome. n THE TAKEAWAY: Focus on the long term and don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day. Successful individuals work with 2 their physiology, instead of warring against it. They understand what their weaknesses are, and attempt to improve in those areas. However, they do not dwell on those weaknesses. Instead, these individuals focus on incremental improvement in their weak areas, while not short-changing working on their strengths. It is a balanced approach. n THE TAKEAWAY: Work with your body and stop warring against it. The most successful athletes view 3 food as fuel, instead of using exercise as an excuse to eat more. The better the fuel, the better they feel. Eat clean and the body will respond to the demands you place upon it. So, what does it mean to eat clean? That’s a tough question, but in general I’ve observed the most successful individuals tend to focus on simply eating real food - large quantities of non-starchy vegetables, high quality fruit, healthy fats, and quality meat. n THE TAKEAWAY: Avoid processed food and embrace a low sugar diet. Whether we look at the weekend 4 warrior or the elite athlete, those who are truly successful over the long haul respect the need to take time off – daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. They view daily sleep as vital to health and important for recovery from training. Taking one day off per week is crucial for physical adaptations, and these individuals make sure to adhere to this. The most successful also make sure to have one week of lower workload per month, which is important for long-term improvement. What about yearly? I’ve observed that the most successful take up to 2 months off from structured training per year. They’re still active, but not in a regimented training plan. n THE TAKEAWAY: Respect the need to recover and rest – your body will thank you. I’ve witnessed so many people 5 make the mistake of falling behind on their fitness goals during the work week, only to try and make up for it on the weekend with a century ride, a long run, or a very hard effort in the gym. Although this may be better than nothing, it’s also a recipe for injury and frustration. The successful athletes and individuals I know make sure to set a minimum amount to do each day, and then they prioritize getting it done. These successful individuals get their training and fitness activities done when they can, but nearly all of them get it done first thing in the morning. n THE TAKEAWAY: Establish a minimum that you can get done each day and prioritize getting it done early. Perhaps the most important characteristic of individuals successful in 6 maintaining and improving fitness is their ability to limit stress and eliminate the nonessential aspects of their life. These people have the ability to finish work, turn their over-thinking brain off, and focus on what else they need to do that day. They don’t dwell on what didn’t get accomplished. They don’t dwell on their email inbox. Instead, they simply acknowledge that they have more work to do, and it can wait until they get back to work. This characteristic is indeed a powerful one. In addition, these people don’t waste time on social media, fantasy sports, or unnecessary technology. They focus. n THE TAKEAWAY: Reduce stress by acknowledging that you have limits to how much you can accomplish in a day, and don’t waste time on things that add little value to your life. Want to be successful in maintaining or improving your health and fitness? Pick one or more of the above bullet-points and implement it into your life. Focus on the things you can control and don’t worry about what others think. Shift your mind-set to the long term and your body (and your mind) will thank you. Here’s to successfully maintaining and improving our health and fitness. Thanks for reading. –DC DACKS & TOGA activelife | 17
Page 1: activelife TM FREE SPORTS • FITNE
Page 4 and 5: contents FEATURES 10 Cover Story: 5
Page 6 and 7: Our Contributors Drew Cappabianca o
Page 8 and 9: tech Off-Road, On-Road, Any Terrain
Page 10 and 11: FIVE WAYS TO It’s Spring and the
Page 12 and 13: 2 Join a Group Ride: The First Ride
Page 14 and 15: 4 Take the Scenic Route: By Eric J.
Page 18 and 19: health & wellness Surviving a Minor
Page 20 and 21: active life Profile Bill Parks Bill
Page 22 and 23: Bill working hard on a climb at a m
Page 24 and 25: oad trip 15 HOURS ON THE DEVIL’S
Page 26 and 27: set before starting again toward Hu
Page 28 and 29: Our writer finishing up a late wint
Page 30: calendar “If you really want to d

DT Active Life 050617 for web-REVISED

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?