Running: A Fever

http://RunningAFEVER.com Today is the one-year anniversary of the podcast. On November 17, 2017 I recorded the first episode of Running: A FEVER. It's a beautiful day. Despite recent freezing weather we have a sun-filled sky and may hit 70 degrees before that sun drops below the horizon. It is the first podcast I have recorded at Devil's Den State Park, one of my favorite hiking destinations. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com and be sure to watch the video at http://RunningAFEVER.com/YouTube. Recorded November 17, 2018. Weight (change since Jan 2018): 197 (-77) Workout time: 41 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 1.34 Miles (272.65) Steps: 7,561 Muscle Mass (change since Aug 2018): 146.77 (+4) Body Fat: 25.5% 2018 Goals: ACHIEVED (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18 2019 Goal: 15% Body Fat

http://RunningAFEVER.com It is a historic occasion as I achieve my personal best distance in recent years and meet a goal I set almost a year ago. In this completion of the two parts I discuss how things have changed in this year with regard to my personal philosophy. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/107 Recorded November 3, 2018. Weight (change since Jan 2018): 196 (-78) Workout time: 210 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 10.43 Miles (270.11) Steps: 25,529 Muscle Mass (change since Aug 2018): 144 (-0) Body Fat: 26.7% 2018 Goals: ACHIEVED (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18 2019 Goal: 15% Body Fat

http://RunningAFEVER.com It's a historic occasion as I achieve my personal best distance in recent years and meet a goal I set almost a year ago. In this first of two parts I provide some department updates and talk about goal setting, achievement, and how to define success and failure. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/106 Recorded November 3, 2018. Weight (change since Jan 2018): 196 (-78) Workout time: 210 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 10.43 Miles (270.11) Steps: 25,529 Muscle Mass (change since Aug 2018): 144 (-0) Body Fat: 26.7% 2018 Goals: ACHIEVED (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18 2019 Goal: 15% Body Fat

http://RunningAFEVER.com Diet Dept: I recently tried Walmart Pickup at the recommendation of a friend and thought it would be informative for RAF listeners to talk a little about it. Here is my take on it. Read the full article at http://RunningAFEVER.com Recorded November 29, 2018. Weight (change since Jan 2018): 194 (-80) Workout time: 0 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 8.97 Miles (275.95) Steps: 5764 Muscle Mass (change since Aug 2018): 141 (-2) Body Fat: 27.3% 2018 Goals: (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18 2019 Goal: 15% Body Fat

http://RunningAFEVER Welcome to the inhabitants of Mauritius! I am very pleased to have listeners in this island country with a population of about one million, located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. As usual I have tried to get to know a little bit about my listeners wherever they are. The favorite sport in Mauritius is football (soccer to us Americans). Kite Sailing is also popular, similar to windsurfing but using a kite instead of a sail. This is understandable as the country is an island and coastal waters are plentiful. I have a feeling that walking and running are probably popular as well. Lottery jackpots are getting higher here, and the topic came up in a recent conversation I had about what to do with all that money. We came to the conclusion that we could actually have too much money. This is a new experience for me. But when you have hundreds of millions of dollars and you have no desire to drive your own aircraft carrier around the world or build a mansion on Mars, the thing to do i

http://RunningAFEVER.com People at work notice when you start getting in better shape. It's slow progress to myself and anyone else who sees me every day, but people occasionally even mention the change to me. Have you ever seen someone who was in great shape and thought, "How can she be committed to her job if she looks like that? She must spend all her time in the gym." I admit that I have had these prejudicial thoughts. It doesn't seem to impacting me at work, at least not with management, but I was at one time concerned that people seeing me do a lot of walking around the room might think I should spend more time at my desk. This prejudice can manifest against other positive characteristics as well. Poise, good grooming, confidence, being well-dressed -- these are all things that are good qualities, but make me think sometimes that a person might be all show. All form and no substance. Just because the form appears to be too good. I know that people can't do everything perfectly, so if they look too good,

http://RunningAFEVER.com Every day, I say "It's a beautiful day." I think it is important to start every day positively by recognizing the beauty in life. I am a big Boston Red Sox fan and this year, as they proceed through the playoffs, they are taking an unconventional strategy. Usually you see the "small ball" strategy in small market teams that do not have big budgets and big players. So they have to get more bases on the hits they get and be more aggressive. In this case we have the team with the best record in baseball and one of the biggest budgets. So why are they taking this aggressive strategy? It works! No one expects it. Instead of depending on a starting pitcher to handle most of the game, he is taken out as soon as he starts to falter. Starting pitchers are used in relief. The plan is to do whatever it takes to win this one game. What does all this mean? If you want to have staying power at anything you must adapt. I used to be an avid squash player until my right shoulder, at some point in my y

http://RunningAFEVER.com This is my first podcast from a stationary bike. I demonstrate the high-intensity interval training (HIIT) that is an important part of the New Strategy I have been developing and practicing since episode 70. I also take this opportunity to make a presentation on the show. Since there has been a lot of change since episode 0, this will make a better reference point for folks new to the show. So here is my summary of Running: A FEVER, using the 5 W's: What: It's a podcast! You can get it on your favorite podcast catcher app on your phone. You can also listen and watch episodes at http://runningAFEVER.com. Video is available on YouTube, at http://runningAFEVER.com/YouTube. Who: Michael Davis, a middle-aged guy who's not a nutritionist, physical trainer, or medical professional. I have lost 80 pounds, lowered my blood pressure, decreased my pain, and improved my life in other ways. Why: I love my life and I want to make it last as long as possible. That is why I exercise and do all of th

http://RunningAFEVER Here's a look back at the best of our first 100 podcast episodes, including some funning, scary, rainy, sad, inspiring, depressing, and hopeful moments. I hope you enjoy it. I also look forward to some changes: More studio episodes. A focus on nutrition and body composition. Investigation into some other longevity topics. More about how to love your life. And hopefully, more from you! Let me know what you'd like to hear in future episodes. Email me anytime at mail@RunningAFEVER.com. Recorded in 2018. 2018 Goals: (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18 2019 Goal: 15% Body Fat

http://RunningAFEVER I got lost taking a very long walk (see stats below) today. And I'm wondering about a recent experience I had. I attended my first demolition derby! What happened surprised me. MY reaction surprised me. When the action started and the wrecks began, I laughed. Why? I think we need to laugh at things that make us uncomfortable, things that cause us stress. Laughter is the best medicine for stress. Recorded October 13, 2018. Weight (change since Jan 2018): 201 (-73) Workout time: 182 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 8.97 Miles (178.9) Steps: 20,125 Muscle Mass (change since Aug 2018): 139 (+0) Body Fat: 27.2% 2018 Goals: (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18 2019 Goal: 15% Body Fat

http://RunningAFEVER.com After a year of preparation, thinking and talking about it, biometrics day is finally here. I take a drive to the main corporate office to join the rest of my fellow employees in getting stuck, swabbed, weighed and measured to see if we can get a break on health insurance in the coming year. I go in a bit concerned about my blood pressure, which is still marginal, though I did a test under similar conditions a couple of weeks ago and the measurement was in the acceptable range. The "conditions" include the recommended preparation: fast for 12 hours with nothing but coffee or water, refrain from exercise for 48 hours. Exercise raises the blood pressure temporarily. So I have done that today. The procedure is a little more complex than I expected. I did not know I would be tested for tobacco. This involves swabbing the mouth with a sponge-tipped plastic stick until the sponge is soft, which takes a while. It is then inserted into a cap and a result is provided immediately. I pass. I rem

http://RunningAFEVER.com This is the first episode that I have recorded on a hike. This relatively new Arkansas state park not only offers a number of trails of various lengths, but has a visitor's center in which one can view various animal skins and try to match the fur with the name of the type of animal from which it came. Progress on my weight loss continues very slowly, and I continue to learn about how to diet. I have always known that I can go into a caloric deficit that is too low, and I have just learned that a good number to base that floor on is the Basal Metabolic Rate, which can be calculated based on body composition. I had an allergic reaction after eating some peanuts recently, so I have replaced those with cashews, pecans, and almonds (including almond butter). So my snacks are now usually dried apples, dried bananas, raisins, and nuts or nut butter. These are your higher-calories snacks, but they are healthy whole foods, and the fat in nuts contains plenty of good omega-3 fatty acids. Here

http://RunningAFEVER.com Diet dept. My current diet includes at least 1 serving of fruit during the day. One of my snacks at work is either dried apple or banana, pretty much every single day. At home, when I get hungry I'll grab a small handful of peanuts or raisins. I still like pickles also, they have zero calories.Diet dept. My current diet includes at least 1 serving of fruit during the day. One of my snacks at work is either dried apple or banana, pretty much every single day. At home, when I get hungry I'll grab a small handful of peanuts or raisins. I still like pickles also, they have zero calories.Amy asked me what my go-to snack was in the old days. The only thing I could think of is chocolate chip cookie dough. I always had a 1-lb tub of that around, I still have the used ones to prove it, though now I use them to freeze fruit or thaw chicken. Hydration dept. A slight change in my drinking routine is that instead of drinking my favorite diet soda all the time, I usually mix it with water and juice

http://runningafever.com It's August, hottest part of the year here. But not in Australia. There it's in the 50's (Fahrenheit). It is winter time there in the southern hemisphere. Running: A FEVER now has listeners in 26 different countries, Australia being #4 in RAF downloads. I like to know more about my listeners, so I did a little on Australia. Here are some facts: - A culturally and racially diverse country. - 23.6 million people. - The northern part is warm all year round. - The south is similar to Arkansas (RAF World Headquarters), rarely sub-zero. - Started as a British penal colony 1788, abolished by 1868. - 63% of adults are overweight or obese (70% in the U.S.). - The most popular spectator sport - Australian rules football (Baseball in the U.S.). Cricket and rugby are also very big. - MOST POPULAR sport by participation by far is walking, more so for women (30% men 15%). It is the same in the U.S., maybe this show should be called Walking: A FEVER! - Adults less into sports than children. I visite

http://runningafever.com Thanks and welcome to new YouTube YouTube subscriber Ron! You can also subscribe here: http://runningafever.com/youtube Today we are walking in a new location, which, like Lake Fayetteville, is a paved trail surrounding a lake, known as Lake Atalanta, located in Rogers, Arkansas, about a half-hour drive from the usual location in Fayetteville. It is just as beautiful and I can see the lake from the trail over the entire perimeter. I think it is four miles, which makes it easier to extend the workout by walking a second lap. Muscle masss. Comparing my BIA (bioelectrical impedence analysis) from February, with the current reading from my scale, it looks like I have gained a net three pounds. I have lost 28 pounds since the initial reading, so I know I have lost muscle in this process, but have probably started gaining since I am starting to do serious resistance training. I had hoped to do better with gains, but I think this is far more difficult to do when I am always in a caloric defi

http://runningafever.com Loving my life is a full, whole life thing. I can't just decide one day not to love my life. So how do I love my life when events make it seems unlovable. I think some of it is just down to habit and mantra. I used to think affirmations were bunk. Saying something doesn't make it true. But I don't think that anymore. If I say something enough times I start to believe it, whether it is a negative or positive thing. Habits are hard to break. We are built for habit. If you make something a habit it becomes an integrated part of your life, and then it becomes harder not to do it. Think about the big picture. When I think of my whole life, one day of some stressful things at work is not that big of a deal. It also helps to keep a list of the things I am grateful for, the things that are the manifestations of my love of life. Love is a choice, so make that choice. All I did was choose to love my life. A new workout plan. I've gone from walking daily to walking thrice weekly, to now taking a

http://RunningAFEVER.com A listener let me in on a new service offered by the NutriSystem company. They call it DNA Body Blueprint. Genetics impact how our bodies process the foods we eat. Some people are genetically disposed to have a higher metabolism, so it is easier for them to burn fat and lose weight, physically at least. Others are naturally slow at burning calories and for them it takes more activity to burn the same calories. We are all individuals, which is why there is no one solution for weight management. If all of these genetically different people use the same nutrisystem product, some will have more or less success simply because of their genes. Hence the new product. Here's how it works: (1) You pay $99.99, for which you are sent a kit to take a DNA sample; (2) You send a cheek swab back; (3) NutriSystem analyzes your DNA and provides a report to help you tailor your NutriSystem plan to your specific genetic signature. One thing that genetics probably cannot take into account is our own prefe

Last episode I interviewed Anasasia Strokova. I particularly wanted to know her opinion on dealing with the plethora of good and bad information available to those of us who want to live a healthy life. She has her opinions and her advice is the same as mine, really. Just do your best to be educated. Here are some of the keys to longer life based on Dan Buettner's book The Blue Zones Solution: 1. Spirituality. 2. Faith. 3. Family. 4. Having a network of people around you who support you. 5. Movement (exercise). 6. Having a passion, a reason to live longer. 7. Stop eating when your stomach is 80% full. Many of these things I have validated from my own experience. But I will definitely look deeper into this book. The theme seems to be that these people who live to be 100 or older are living balanced lives. Stress relief is very important and supported by the seven concepts listed above. Weight (change since Jan 2018): 204 (-70) Workout time: 85 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 4.21 Miles (162.1) S

In this first video interview I chat with Anastasia Strokova of Health Matters Coaching. We talked about what makes for a long life, and the book The Blue Zone Solution. In addition to being a health coach, Anastasia is a nutritionist, which differs from a dietician, which is a degreed medical professional. Nutritionists, who are trained providers of nutritional counseling and advice. Anastasia recommends a plant-based diet supported by her training, and personal experience. But she is adamant that each individual should do the research and become educated before changing his or her diet. There are plenty of ways to get protein from plant-based foods. Also, against popular belief, she recommends against a diet that is low in carbohydrates. I agree that these popular low-carb diets can be too extreme. The body needs carbohydrates. As people who exercise, we're interested in hydration. Anastasia has a great trick for helping the body absorb water by adding citrus, cucumber or watermelon juice to your water. I g

http://runningafever.com Back in episode 45 I talked about trying on some jeans. At that point I had slimmed down to a about a size 38 from 44. I later bought a two pair of size 36 jeans which I hoped would last me a few months. One of them has worn out since I have worn it 4-5 days a week for six months. So I just bought a new pair and the size that fits me now is 34. That is 10 inches lost or 5 pants sizes. I am also at a new low for weight, at 200.1 today. And unlike when I had lost 74 pounds, at the end of the biggest loser contest, I am not starved, nor dehydraded. I believe I have lost those last twelve pounds the right way. This feels like completely new territory, because I think the last time I weighed 200 pounds or less, I wasn't really concerned about my weight. Super-listener Amy is on the walk with me today and we discover the true length of the Lake Fayetteville Trail is 5.25 miles, although there is a 5.28 mile marker near Veteran's Memorial Park. I welcome all of my new listeners in Venezuela.