"We are playing the odds."

Yesterday, 17 people were murdered at a high school in Parkland, FL. The assailant was young man known to be "trouble".  He legally purchased an AR-15 assault rifle a year ago.  He walked into a gun shop and paid cash for a weapon.

The AR-15 was used in the Newtown, San Bernardino, Orlando, Las Vegas, Sutherland Springs and now the Parkland murders.  It is a small but high velocity weapon meant to shatter the insides of the victims.

On his show last night, Don Lemons of CNN said, "We are just playing the odds. We are playing the odds that we won't be the next person murdered or next grieving parents or the next community targeted."

We live in a time where "living our lives" is potentially "taking our lives in our hands".  Everyday activities - going to school or work or a concert or a mall or a night club - require a second thought.

I'm pissed.

Fuck thoughts and prayers.  Fuck the NRA.  Fuck the lawmakers who have willfully ignored passing legislation and allowed this to happen over and over and over again.  Shame on us citizens for repeatedly letting "it" fade into the background.  

Restrictive gun laws have been scientifically proven to work.  (Scientific American)  Currently the licensing authority has the burden of proof to deny gun acquisition.  

With restrictive gun laws Individuals who want to purchase a firearm must demonstrate to the licensing authority that they have valid reasons to get a gun - like using it at a shooting range or hunting - and that they demonstrate "good character".  

People proven to not have "good character" as in the case of Parkland's Nikolas Cruz - his mother called authorities about him, he was expelled from school, he liked to show off guns, and more - would have red flagged him from legally acquiring a gun. 

Restrictive gun laws should have been implemented after Sandy Hook in 2014.  Adam Lanza, known to be mentally ill, walked into a grade school and killed babies with an AR-15.  A weapon designed for first kill.  A weapon designed for maximum damage.  Imagine the damage done to those small bodies.

I think if the public were able to see photos of the victims, to see the damage done by bullets ricocheting inside their bodies, there would be a public outcry loud enough to make a change.  Out of respect to the victims and their families that is obviously never going to happen.  I encourage you to read articles about what bullets do to bodies.  Visualize it.  Think of it happening to your loved one or to you.

Then vote appropriately when you get the chance.  

Be Aware My Friends.

My Life Coaching for Dummies book suggests we, who are looking for "self discover-ment", do an exercise in which we ask where we see ourselves in 5 years; 10 years; and 20 years.

Then I did the math and holy shit!  In 20 years I'll be 73! I usually look back on my life, not forward so this is an interesting exercise.

But let's take this one step at a time:

In five years I'll have one grown child who is married.  I'll have planned a really fucking awesome grooms dinner.  Worn a terrific mother of the groom dress.  And, most importantly, I'll have "gone with the flow" for all actual wedding plans thus enjoying myself immensely and not pissing anyone off!   It's possible I could even be a Grandma ... awwww!

The girls should have graduated from (or soon will!) college.  Everyone will be living and working on their own in really cool places that I can visit.

In addition to visiting my grown children, I plan to vacation for weeks at a time.  Phoenix and Vero Beach are top on my list of places to plunk myself every year as soon as The Short One graduates from high school.  In fact, I've found some really cool places to rent on VRBO already!  (Always prepared!)  

My mother will be 90 in 5 years.  I expect her to continue to be spry and healthy for many years after that.  Though in the next five years I will be visiting NoDak more often and possibly arranging travel for her to her favorite place in Florida.

Basically I imagine I'll be pretty much doing what I already do - but in different, warmer places connecting with old friends and making new ones.

I'll continue my health and fitness quest!  I'll take a bike adventure thru a vineyard, a hike thru a canyon and spend a week at a spa!  Huh!  The next five years are going to be FUN!

Look to the future My Friends!

Since I profess that this is a health and fitness blog:  Let's Talk!

Regarding Fitness:  I've given myself some terrific workouts.  That statement is a different way to think about workouts. It's an evolution.  I like it.  I didn't work with a trainer, I chose the exercises myself and pushed myself further than the wimpy voice in my head wanted to go.  I also took some great classes.   I pushed myself.   I monitored my progress, my energy, my heart rate, and silenced that bitch-ass voice in my head who wanted to quit, or do two sets instead of three, who didn't want to add weight or minutes or intensity.  She's a wimp.  And she hasn't been invited to my workouts!

Regarding Health:  I've taken multiple bodily fluid / blood tests with the goal of having more energy, feeling "better", losing weight, and having optimum health 'numbers'.  The results of the tests are that I am deficient in a lot of nutrients.    

Let Me Tell Ya,  the results of these tests are very, very micro-vitamin specific.  Its a whole new language.  These obscure elements and amino acids may be important for bodily function and overall health but are not part of my every day language.  It's way out of my Alphabet of Vitamins - B, C, D, E, Calcium and Magnesium - comfort zone.   I've gotten so lost in the information I've had to google long words like "a-Ketophenylacetic Acid" (I don't remember what it is but my 'marker' is 'good').   Adding to my confusion, Dr. Revitalize is a fast talker who breezes thru the lab reports with annoying glee.

One marker that is 'up' is Cortisol.  That's bad.  Cortisol is a stress hormone that can cause weight gain, depression, anxiety, diabetes, suppressed immunity, and hypertension to name a few.  

Here's my dilemma:  One of the ways Cortisol levels elevate is by exercising.  So how do you lose weight and become more fit without increasing cortisol levels?  Seems like a cruel joke!  

In reading about treating thyroid issues thru diet (Paleo) I found information about exercising appropriately for thyroid health.  Soooo...Think of your thyroid as your metabolism.  Your metabolism is affected by cortisol.  Therefore, my conclusion is to keep exercise intensity low(er) like you would when exercising for thyroid health, thus keeping cortisol levels low.

Do I really know if this works???  Or that it's a true statement?  Nope.  Not a clue.  Not a scientist.  But I will tell you this:  I don't think the doctors know either.  So what the heck!  Give it a try!

Here's my suggestion:  Exercise between 55% - 75% of your maximum heart rate.  (220 minus your age multiplied by 55% and 75%)  In my 53 year old case, my heart rate should stay between 92 and 125 beats per minute.  Which is actually kind of a relief!  That's a fairly easy, sustainable cardio workout.   Everything can be monitored to stay within the 55% - 75%.  (But occasionally increasing your intensity is fun and good for your heart!)

Here's the most important thing:   Two terrific ways to reduce Cortisol levels are to Laugh & Dance! 
Best therapy ever!

Get crackin' on reducing those cortisol levels My Friends!