Members get a daily Covid-19 topic focused on Covid in Tennessee.
Supporters are part of a self-improvement sub-group where value is dispensed daily on personal growth in all aspects of life, informed by many sources. New members welcome!
It is being reported that the Pfizer 3rd dose booster will be approved on September 20, based on the extensive information collected in Israel. Moderna is not expect to be able to submit adequate information to the FDA in time for approval at the same time, but expect it to follow. Also, it is being predicted that the J&J vaccine will have a booster at some point.
At this point, the third dose is the same formulation as the first doses. While tweaking the vaccine to have more effect on variants is possible, it appears that it will not be necessary at this point. The vaccine remains effective against delta, but many people who got their initial vaccinations 6-9 months ago are having waning response, and so it looks like vaccine escape when it may simply be the declining antibody titers.
I cannot say this loudly enough or often enough: obesity makes Covid into a deadly disease for far too many. The news does not make this clear enough.
If you need proof, go to any random horror story and find a recent picture of the deceased. The news reports do not seem to ever discuss the risk factors, but the picture will very often tell the story. I know it's not "nice" to say this. Being "nice" about modifiable risk factors hasn't saved any lives in the Covid era.
I know some of you have embarked on a weight loss journey because of Covid, and I want to extend my respect to you for taking this on. It is one of the most impactful things you will ever do for your health if you're doing it in a sustainable way, and you'll model this for those who watch you (your kids, for example).
Speaking of journey, as I write this, I think about the journey we've all been on since last March. I can't even think of going back to read posts from then. We've been through some ups and downs, and our knowledge has grown over these many months. Probably more than anything, our insights into human nature have evolved, if we've been watching. Some that we've learned has been encouraging, but so much has been discouraging.
As I tell the folks in my self-improvement group: Focus on keeping your house in order. If enough of us do this, the rest will sort itself out.
Today's post on the self-improvement side is free here on the Locals platform. If you like what you read there, consider becoming a supporter for a daily dose of content on having a healthy body, a healthy mind, healthy relationships, and healthy finances.
Stay healthy!
I'm on a weekend night call schedule this weekend, which always leaves me feeling under-rested and generally icky.
But I wanted to remind you that outdoor exercise without screens is really good for your mental health.
Go outdoors, preferably into the woods.
Get in tune with those surroundings, the sights, the sounds, the smells, even the movement of air and the varying temperatures as you walk.
We were made to be outdoors.
We were definitely not made to work in cubicles.
One Degree!
What you want from your body will dictate what you need to set as goals, and the goals will determine what you'll end up having to change to attain them.
I've spoken many times about systems being better than goals, and my position has not changed.
But goals are easier to discuss and to understand, so for this week, we'll be very specific about goals.
Do you want more muscle mass?
Do you want to be stronger?
Do you want to run faster?
Do you want to gain weight?
Do you want to lose weight?
Do you want to improve general fitness?
Do you want longevity?
Do you want strong bones?
Do you want to earn a Black Belt?
Understanding the benefits and costs of each particular goal may help you decide what you want.
For example, if you want to compete in body-building competitions, you'll not be doing the same thing as if you were focused on longevity. Same with strength competitions.
But general fitness and longevity go fairly well together.
Running is great but will increase the likelihood of needing knee or hip ...
I'll make this one short and to the point.
Spring time change is hard on all of us. Having to get up an hour early doesn't make going to bed an hour earlier much easier.
Yes, it's nice to have more productive time in the evening.
But it's at the cost of forcing us out of be an hour earlier, as we all know.
Our challenge is to adjust our circadian rhythm to match the world's expectations around us.
My main strategy is supplementing with a dose of melatonin about a half hour before I need to be asleep. It helps most people fall asleep more readily.
If you need a nap during your day, take it between mid-morning and early afternoon. Limit it to 20 minutes.
Taking a longer or later nap may make it even harder to get off to sleep in time.
All of the other normal advice applies even moreso:
- Take a 20-minute walk after supper.
- No screen time for the last hour before bed.
- Listen to calm music after supper.
- Don't eat for 2 hours before bed.
- Don't have conflict-laden conversations ...
