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News and Notes
This week started a little crazy! The beginning of the week found us scrambling a bit to get the gym set up in a way that would allow us to comply with Governor Wolf's recommendations to the best of our ability. This involved getting a few loads of stone spread, laying some turf on top of that, and lastly, getting some equipment outside to create a small outdoor training area. Fast forward a few days and 10+ inches of snow led us to clean up almost all everything we previously set up but that is life living on the east coast in December. Our version of muscle beach doesn't have sand and sun, it has snow and ice! Speaking of snow, it has been a long time since I last chucked snow balls at people and wrestling around in the snow but having a daughter has reignited that fire. I never thought that rolling around in the snow would become a part of my adult life but it has. On another note, being outside, no matter what the weather, is a game changer in more ways than one. More on this later... Lastly, the heat is FINALLY scheduled to get installed this Tuesday. I have been hyping this heat up for a few weeks now so here is hoping it works as well as I have been telling everyone! What I've Been Thinking About... Weird viruses. On Tuesday night around 11:30 pm our daughter woke up with that awful barking cough that comes with croup. This is not our first experience with this so we were somewhat prepared this time around. After spending a few minutes outside we decided to call the family doctor and get in the car for a drive. As we waited for them to call us back with a plan we started to realize that Emilia's breathing was sounding a little better and we became comfortable heading home for the night. We cracked the windows in our bedroom and other than bundling up with multiple layers everyone was able to get some sleep. Croup is one tricky virus. It typically strikes at night and leads to some panic for both parent and child. As we waited for the doctor to call us back we ended up driving around or sitting in a cold car for about an hour. This seemed to greatly ease the inflammation in her airway and for that night, was a great treatment for our daughter. There were no trips to the emergency room or the use of a steroid to reduce the inflammation. All she needed was some fresh air on a cold night. Chalk up a win for the natural remedies! Lessons From The Forefathers... "Afterall, if the patriots could pounce Tory estates, might not their own freedoms be next?" When the Revolutionary War ended, the victors had a choice to make: Do we rob and pillage everything owned by British loyalists or do we show mercy and try to create a just society? There were arguments for both sides but in the end, the leaders opted for mercy and encouraged all to do the same. At a time when offence is easily taken, I think this lesson from our past is incredibly important to remember. The leaders of yesteryear knew that how they responded to their current situation could provide precedent for future interactions. At some point in all of our lives we will make a mistake and/or have an unpopular or wrong opinion. When this time comes, do you want the masses to put you on blast and try to destroy you or your reputation? Or would you prefer they show you mercy? I think we would all be wise to choose mercy. Be careful how you treat others because one day those others will have to decide on how they want to treat you! Fitness Tip of the Week Find something that will humble you! A few weeks ago I decided to implement morning walks into my routine. It offered some low level cardiovascular training and also found it to be great for my mood and mental state. Again, the power of being outside is ever present. Don't get me wrong, my morning walks have been pretty pleasant but the snow and ice may put a hamper on them for parts of the winter. So after some deliberation, I decided to partake in a brand new challenge... The rules for this challenge are quite simple: Row 2000 meters in 7 minutes or less (click here to read the article: The Conditioning Test Lifters Need to Pass). Lets just say, with my current level of conditioning, a little work needs to be done before achieving this challenge. The morning walks unfortunately don't translate well to being a powerful rower. According to the article, my current status is "You've probably done some cardio, but not enough to be good at it. Get fitter." Note taken! Quote of the Week "Humanity has but three great enemies: fever, famine, and war; of these by far the greatest, by far the most terrible, is fever" --Sir William Osler (1896) I hope you all have an awesome week! Chris Fluck
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