Cheers! The Penultimate Post
So today I turn 60. And even with all the horrors going on right now--a lethal virus allowed to run rampant by a reckless leader, the rise of an authoritarian regime bent on destroying democracy, millions of citizens on the brink of economic ruin, and racism, sexism and xenophobia run amok--I'm still superficial enough to be a little creeped out about having a milestone birthday.I always imagined 60 as the portal through which middle-aged people traveled to arrived at official old age. Now that I'm stepping through the threshold myself, I find myself shrieking: "Noooo, not me, not yet! I'm not ready to be old!"And sure, ag...
Source: Cranky Fitness - June 8, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Bring it On
By Crabby McSlackerphoto: U.S. Air ForceSo it's Holiday Season!But wait, where's Santa Claus? No Menorah? No sugar cookies or snowmen or pine trees? And what's with the spunky aviator gals in leather jackets, that's not very Christmassy!Well, okay, traditionally the holidays are a time for festive celebrations, fun, frivolity, togetherness, and generosity. But also they're a time for year-end reflection. And my goodness, what a year 2017 has been!What a year indeed.So, setting aside any bright moments you may have enjoyed in your personal life this year (and I'm hoping there were many, many of them!)... does anyone else th...
Source: Cranky Fitness - December 21, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Anonymous Source Type: blogs
Live Longer, Stay Sharper: Now, With Substance Abuse! Er. Use. I mean Use.
image viaartstackBy Crabby McSlackerThis post is a classic example of Selective Reporting: You see some headlines you like, so you skip merrily over the exhaustive research and analysis you should be doing in order to decide whether they're even valid. So much more fun to simply embrace the results!Welcome to Cranky Fitness. Perhaps you mistook this for a scholarly health resource?Anyway, in the spirit of "sounds good to me"... How about a couple of studies saying that (1) drinking impressively large amounts of coffee every day may increase longevity and (2) drinking alcohol moderately,or even heavily, as long as it'...
Source: Cranky Fitness - October 31, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Anonymous Source Type: blogs
Processed Snacks and Desserts: What the Hell, Let's Have Some!
viaflickrBy Crabby McSlackerAre you one of those people who eats only healthy whole foods, having absolutely no desire to consume tasty and convenient items created in some huge factory somewhere, packaged up and shipped thousands of miles away to your very own neighborhood grocery store?Well, congratulations!Enjoy that little cute little plate of fresh cut veggies and hummus. Savor that teeny-tiny handful of raw nuts. Arrange those fresh apple slices into a Pinterest-ready photo broadcasting your virtue.Me? Sometimes I buy processed stuff in boxes and bags and cartons and resealable pouches.My meals are generally pr...
Source: Cranky Fitness - October 18, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Hate Strength Training?
By Crabby McSlackerStrength training, alas, is still considered a crucial ingredient in the ever-changing recipe for a fit and healthy life. Omitting this key ingredient is like trying to make meringue with no egg whites--the results may be disappointingly gloppier than you were intending.But it's not just about looking more buffed or losing weight more easily. There are plenty of importanthealth benefits from strength training that I'm too lazy to list. But trust me, strength training is good for you in ways that cardio is not! You need both.Of course I realize that many peoplelove weights and hate cardio. To me thi...
Source: Cranky Fitness - October 10, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
WTF Is Your Problem?
Do you ever feel like the different parts of yourself aren't lining up properly?In this case, I don't mean anatomically, I mean psychologically. As in: the "smart" part of you is going "I really need to do this Thing, I'll get right on that tomorrow! (ie., exercise/quit smoking/schedule a colonoscopy). And the other part of you, the part that is stupider but is actually in charge of what you end up doing is all "Ha! Like THAT's ever gonna happen!"Of course, there's always the helpful motivational slogan popularized by Nike, "Just Do It, Asshole." Hmm. I may be remembering that slightly wrong.But what if you'd really ...
Source: Cranky Fitness - October 2, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
When Life Gets Weird
viamaxpixelBy Crabby McSlackerSo it looks like it's going to be another summer of Not Blogging Much, which I guess is better than Not Blogging at All. Because, yeah, life's getting awfully weird and distracting of late. But how about I at least make time for a quick update, an epiphany, and a question for y'all?Quick Update:Many thanks again for all the support, encouraging words, prayers and healing vibes sent in my Mom's direction. And you know what? You guys must have some impressive clout with the Universe, because she's getting better! While the treatment has been rough going, it seems to be working qui...
Source: Cranky Fitness - July 24, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
High Tech Tuesday!
Photo download via xray delta oneBy Crabby McSlackerShould we be worried about the impact of so much easily accessible technology on our fragile human brains?There is much hand-wringing on the subject, and even a little research out there. Are portable machines turning our minds into mush, screwing with our relationships, infantalizing us, and disconnecting us from reality? Not to mention causing us to walk in front of buses and plunge off piers into large bodies of water?Maybe! But that's not today's post.Today I'm just doing a quick lazy show-and-tell about a couple of recent technological finds. One of them I ...
Source: Cranky Fitness - July 11, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Unsettled
photo: x-ray delta oneBy Crabby McSlacker So life has taken a few possibly ominous turns lately.And while I've been googling the heck out of various health-related issues for my own edification, I'm not really feeling up for taking that research and trying to write anything useful about it.Oh, and the whole upcoming Fourth of July holiday... not something I'm really itching to blog about. For obvious reasons, I'm not feeling all that patriotic this year. Instead, I hope it's ok if I go a little more stream-of-consciousness with this post.Maybe I'm a little depressed? Very weird for me. Anxiety is usually more my ...
Source: Cranky Fitness - July 3, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Simplest, Dumbest Cardio Workout Trick Ever
image credithereBy Crabby McSlackerSo this post features one of those weirdo counter-intuitive motivational hacks that you either: (a) already know or, (b) are going to think sounds totally insane.It's for those days when you're having a Really Shitty Workout.I already knew the trick, and have probably already written about it. But guess what? I forgot. And then I remembered again. And it's come in handy a few times recently.You know what I'm talking about, right? You can see it coming less than two minutes into your run or swim or whatever. Something is Just Not Right. You're only warming up and you're already counting th...
Source: Cranky Fitness - June 26, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Worth 1000 Words?
By Crabby McSlackerSo if a picture is worth a thousand words, and a short video is made up of hundreds of pictures, is a short video worth hundreds of thousands of words? And what if you don't make the video yourself but steal it straight off YouTube?So yeah, this video, which all of you have probably already seen by now but I hadn't, cracked me up. And it offers a little metaphorical motivational encouragement. (Note: you can turn off the sound if you're at work, you don't really need it).Are there "stairs" in life that others seem to ascend and descend with no problem, but somehowyou just can't seem to get the hang of 'e...
Source: Cranky Fitness - June 20, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
The Bilingual Brain: Benefits and Befuddlement
Photo:wikimediaBy Crabby McSlackerMy latest folly: I'm trying to learn a new language. Spanish! Which among other uses, might come in handy for a pair ofsnowbirds always on the lookout for warmer climates to flee to during winters.But I did not study Spanish in school, or in any other setting ever. I'm starting from absolute scratch. And yeah, I did spend many years in California, where Spanish is widely spoken. But my brain was completely impervious! None of it ever registered. Even the annoying ad campaign for Taco Bell didn't manage to teach me the meaning of "Yo Quiero Taco Bell." How could "Yo" mean "I" anyway? It sho...
Source: Cranky Fitness - June 13, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
