Tennessee had 2,522 confirmed new SARS-CoV2 infections, 13 Covid deaths, and hospitalizations were up to 1,426 patients. Positivity was 15.8% today.
We're looking at the real possibility of having to start canceling elective surgeries again in my area. It has not happened yet, but we expect that it could come down on us again at any time.
I heard another tragic story today, this time about a 19-year-old who died of Covid. His only risk factor: obesity.
Folks, I cannot stress this enough: Get healthy!
We've had a year and a half of opportunity. Getting into better health and size takes work, but it is worth it. And, as I've said in the past, kids are not responsible for poor eating habits and obesity. Their adults are.
Please do what it takes to rid yourself of unhealthy habits and choices. This pandemic is a wakeup call, or could be if we let it.
Do we really want to be a fat, unhealthy society? I think we don't, but we've been lulled into normalizing patterns that are truly damaging and unhealthy. It's not shaming to point this out in a general sense.
Change the system you have to choose what, when, and how much you eat. Change your relationship with eating and food.
I had a great chat today with a fellow who has lost 100lb by making different choices. It can be done.
So that's my sermon for the day. I want you all to get healthy and...
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: