Tag Archives: exercise

Train your brain

As we get older, our brains tend to age as well. Some quicker or slower depending on chemistry, genetics, and other external factors. No matter where you are in life, it is imperative to keep your mind active, strong, and firing on all cylinders for as long as possible. The need to train ones brain is imperative in this day and age.

Just as our bodies require care and exercise over the course of our lives, so do our brains, especially as we age. Lifting weights strengthens our muscles, while strengthening our mental “muscles” improves our memory, attention, brain speed, people skills, intelligence, and navigation.

The ideal concept to keep in mind is variety. Just as muscles plateau when a workout gets easier, our brains can it a plateau as well. When a plateau happens, there is no further growth, and in order to continue getting stronger, one must vary the weight or lift differently to achieve better results. The same applies to our minds. This variety can come from learning new languages, reading different books, doing more challenging puzzles(crosswords, sudoku, scrabble, etc.), learning a new skill (martial arts, learning an instrument, crafting, etc.), daily meditation, etc. These different methods will help keep your brain active and thriving.

Additionally, there are things that can dampen our mental fitness that we need to be mindful of. Stress, excessive consumption of social media, poor sleep, etc. These are all things that can harm our mental state. It is imperative that we manage our stress levels and sleep schedules as these can have drastic effects on the body over time. Excess junk media can also be empty calories for the brain and should only be consumed in moderation.

In summary, our mental health is important, and it shouldn’t be neglected. Keeping your brain active will keep you sharp as a tack and on your toes. For a way to get you started, I’ll share with you a puzzle book that I recently purchased that I’m having a great time with. Our brains are eager for a challenge and for more knowledge, hence our sense of curiosity. Feed your brain and train it well. It’s not a visible muscle, but it is your most important one. Until next time, dear reader, Excelsior!

Do you even brain lift?

The F in fitness means fun

As someone who likes to exercise and also likes to travel, there are times where A) I might not have time to work out or B) I lack the proper equipment to do so. I’m moments like these it is good to come up with creative ways to get a good quality workout session in. One method I utilized during the pandemic, and sometimes just for fun, is the utilization of playground equipment. To add more difficulty for these workouts, you can also use a weighted training vest to add more variety to your training.

To start things off, I begin with a light jog to the playground to get the blood flowing as I live nearby to a park in my neighborhood. After warming up, I then assess the equipment for ideas to get things going.

Not my playground but think of the possibilities

For my particular exercise I recently used I did the following: chin ups 3 sets of 10 repetitions using the hanging bar, 3 sets of 10 repetitions of dips using the bars for the steps leading to the play structure (or the bars making the bridge works too), I utilized the stepping platform (or rock climbing wall of the angle is good enough ) for a challenging plank for 3 sets of 45 seconds, and to finish up I used a picnic table for box jumps for 3 sets of 10 repititions. (Alternatively any high platform on the play structure will work fine so long as you have clearance to do it without bumping into anything).

Fitness is an important investment, and despite circumstances, it pays to be creative to get those reps in. Given that it is now summertime, this can be a fun edition to a workout program. Challenge your mind and body with this exercise I did or make your own up. Remember, the F in fitness stands for fun. Excelsior!

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