Dean's Challenge

All good things must come to an end

ddyjack — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:12:55 +0000

Good evening everyone,

Maybe it was an omen, after recording my last day’s tally, I seem to have lost my pedometer. My total 4 week count was roughly 245,000 steps - 5,000 short of my private goal, and nowhere near as many as I had hoped. I recognize some people have not logged in all of their steps yet. We will keep the website open for a few more days to allow everyone to log in their progress. I depart tomorrow for a few days off, and will schedule an awards ceremony for the first week of the spring academic quarter. I really appreciate the Student Association rustling up interest, and am delighted with all the walking we have engaged in. I am going to continue to blog for a few more days. Congrats to everyone who participated! For my part, I am now preparing for the Possibilities Triathalon scheduled for late April - will be convened right here on campus at the Drayson Center.

Stepping gingerly into the future,

Dr.D.

Two days to go…….

ddyjack — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:20:44 +0000

Hey everyone,

Two days and counting until the challenge ends, and at least one team has penetrated the 1,000,000 step milestone. Congrats! In my case I am 20,000 steps shy of 1/4 million and am committed to penetrating that threshold.

We were interviewed by the Press-enterprise this week about the challenge, please look out for the article which reportedly will be published tomorrow March 6. I have discovered that many people use pedometers as part of their daily exercise routine, which until now I was unaware of.

Walking the talk,

Dr.D.

17,000,000 steps so far - 1 week to go

ddyjack — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:10:30 +0000

Greetings everyone,

Finally made it back home for the last week of the Challenge. The entire SPH has logged some 17 million steps as of this morning. I estimate that approximates 6500 miles, assuming roughly 2 feet per step, which may be a bit of a stretch. My team is almost at the half million step mark, but hey, I can do alot of walking in the next 5 days. Maybe we can break the 750,00 step threshold……

daddy long legs signing off,

Dr.D.

Tangled up in Blue

ddyjack — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:27:36 +0000

Dudes,

My flight was cancelled last night, 1-hr on the plane, 1-hr in the terminal, + 2hrs waiting in line for a hotel voucher and a seat assignment for today. One of my friends parents has an “OTL” program. That is, “Off the List”. US Airways is now officially on my OTL. Only 2000 steps so far today, guess I can always pace the airport and make security nervous. Gotta check out of this hotel, time to move onto my next adventure.

Skipping off to U.S. Customs, which interesting enough is managed here in Canada.

Your favorite distressed passenger,

Dr.D.

Hoofing it, Canadian Style

ddyjack — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:37:15 +0000

Greetings from Alberta, Canada, where I just returned from a 4,000 step walk through snow and ice. While it’s about -4 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the raw beauty of the snow covered hillsides more than makes up for the chilly temperatures. There is a nifty little trail along Lake Elizabeth right outside my B &B, with deer tracks and requisite piles of frozen dog poop, which begs one to keep walking, but alas, my ears burned until they went numb, indicating it was time to go home.

I had a go at “curling” last night. This sport is kinda-like bowling, except you throw “rocks” instead bowling balls, and lanes are covered with ice. Everyone is equipped with brooms to groom the ice. While I am not doing it justice with my description, I do believe I am hooked.

Gotta hoof it back to the airport,

Out of the black and into the blue one step at a time,

Dr.D.

Revolution #9

ddyjack — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:55:39 +0000

Ahh yes, the Beatles’ White Album remains as relevant today as it was some 40 years ago when it was released. My team finds itself in the lowly ranking of #9 in overall steps walked, relative to other teams in the challenge. With a week and half left I am going to have to energize my group. . . No time for mere evolutionary processes, I am going to have to lead a walking revolution. BTW, I enjoyed my first “walking” meeting yesterday with Marketing Director Tricia Murdoch. We logged a 1,000 or steps while hashing through world events.

Salubriously Sauntering,

Dr.D.

Live to be 100

ddyjack — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:46:09 +0000

Hi, I just found this little ditty on-line, under the heading of how to live to be 100….

Live like a Seventh-day Adventist

Americans who define themselves as Seventh-day Adventists have an average life expectancy of 89, about a decade longer than the average American. One of the basic tenets of the religion is that it’s important to cherish the body that’s on loan from God, which means no smoking, alcohol abuse, or overindulging in sweets. Followers typically stick to a vegetarian diet based on fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts, and also get plenty of exercise. They’re also very focused on family and community.

Walk on

Dr.D.

A Day in the Sun

ddyjack — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:38:26 +0000

A research article published in the Australian Journal of Primary Health suggests that individuals who increased their daily walk from 20 to 40 minutes, experienced improvements in feelings of well being. While the study focused on type -2 diabetics, there is a broader message here. A daily exercise routine, including one centered on walking, improves your outlook on life and creates a sense of wellness. Yet another reason to take a hike. Australian Journal of Primary Health 13(1) 68 – 73.

Read about us in the news: http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_11761038?IADID=Search-www.sbsun.com-www.sbsun.com
Ramblin on,

Dr.D.

Dean’s Challenge in the News

ddyjack — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 04:33:04 +0000

Greetings everyone,

Its been an exceptionally busy week, apologies for being out of touch. My 1st pedometer bit the dust a few days ago, wouldn’t you know it, it happened on a day in which I felt I would have 10,000 steps by lunch. I must admit to suffering through a few sub-par (<10,000 steps) days in the last week. The good news is that I have been invited to do some good ole fashion preaching in Alberta, Canada this upcoming weekend. I am going to burn a few Kcals up there, and log in a few thousand steps. If President Obama can meet with the Canadian Prime Mininster, I can chase a few moose in the name of health and the environment.

Look out for an article on the Challenge which should appear in the San Bernardino Sun on Monday, the 23rd. And yes, anyone who wants to have a wellness assessment as described in my last blog entry, there is no cost to you. Dr.Dos Santos and his team look forward to seeing you down at the Drayson Center on Monday or Wednesday mornings.

Stepping into the Future,

Dr.D.

Dave’s personal Wellness Profile

ddyjack — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:52:08 +0000

This morning I took the opportunity to pay a visit to our Preventive Care program’s Wellness Clinic which is convened at the Drayson Center on Monday and Wednesday mornings. My evaluation covered a body composition analysis, body water balance, obesity diagnosis, segmental lean development assessment, among other odds-n-ends. Many of the tests were conducted through use of a really cool “InBody 520” analyzer, which uses multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. My daily basal metabolic rate was 1,955Kcal, and my body water balance, which measures the balance between extracellular water and total body water, was 0.378 (a range of .360-.390 is normal) My body mass index was 24.5 (18.5-25 is normal), and percent body fat was 15.2 (a range of 10-20 is normal). A segmental lean mass reports a person’s actual lean mass relative to your weight. Percentages at or above 100% are best. In my case, my arms were about 120%, my trunk at 107%, and legs around 105%. Not bad for an old man. My resting pulse rate was 56, we won’t discuss my blood pressure . . . I encourage everyone in the challenge to go pay the clinic a visit, for an appointment call 909.558.8690.

Taking life in stride,

Dr.D.