I am prompted to write more inspiration about mental fitness because it is sorely needed these days. Covid19 has caused a large surge in depression and anxiety, and in the US at least we have an opioid crisis that has been called an epidemic. It is important to start by recommending that anyone with mental … Continue reading Mental Fitness- Happy By Default →

I went for about an hour's ramble standing up to pedal on my upright, in some areas still in town but near the borders. Then I switched to my recumbent and did an out-and-back on Coyote creek trail for about 90 minutes. Very nice scenery in both rides. This pleasant path runs around a local … Continue reading Local Urban and Rural Ride →

https://penntoday.upenn.edu/features/on-mental-states-mindfulness-and-self-transcendent-experiences As I mentioned in a previous post, I have had some experiences while exercising and meditating that could be described as "transcendental". I have spontaneously felt like the boundaries between my little separate self and the world dissolve, and I was one with all there is. This is also accompanied by feelings of love … Continue reading Amateur Philosopher’s Corner- Introduction →

Friday I went with a different hiking group, San Jose Midweek, back to another section of Santa Teresa park where the wildflowers are really beautiful. We worked our way over the hills from the Santa Teresa side to the Almaden Valley side, descending the rocky but scenic Stiles Ranch trail, then returned on a different … Continue reading Another Wildflower Hike →

From my last blood test results a couple of months ago, my cholesterol, and especially my LDL (“bad” cholesterol) had crept up, so my cardiologist agreed to give me a chance to clean up my diet and retest again in a few months. My disappointing numbers reflected some overindulgence over the holidays that also led … Continue reading The “Freedom From Compulsion” Diet →

(https://www.heart.org/en/news/2022/02/28/retiree-doesnt-let-heart-issues-slow-him-down) This month the story in the American Heart Association's Journal "Stories from the Heart" was particularly inspiring for me. Chris Mathews has overcome multiple life-threatening challenges related to his heart health, including double bypass surgery, 11 stents implanted over the years, a pacemaker later replaced by an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, and aortic stenosis cured … Continue reading Inspiration- Keeping Going Despite Multiple Heart Issues →

I rode my recumbent to Santa Teresa Park at the Bernal/Joice farm entrance, where we did a brisk four-mile loop with 850 feet elevation gain. The hills are still green and there were a lot of beautiful wildflowers. It was two hours and forty minutes total biking plus hiking for me, a good outing. Looking … Continue reading Santa Teresa Hike →

Alex Hutchinson wrote an interesting article about overtraining and undereating in the Globe and Mail. The main point is that when athletes are overdoing it in their training, their appetites can lag behind their calorie needs, so they are unintentionally overeating. This could be made worse for someone who is trying to exercise to lose … Continue reading Overtraining vs. Undereating →

I did about a two-hour ramble Southwest of Morgan Hill to the recreation path in Gilroy and back. Very relaxing on a nice day. Heading Up Sycamore Road Descending the Other Side Offroad path in Gilroy

I rode my recumbent to Rancho San Vincente to meet my hiking group and we went for the classic loop "Lisa's Lookout via Lisa Killough Trail". It was a gorgeous spring day with lots of green grass and wildflowers blooming. The total workout, riding plus hiking, was a little over 4 hours at an easy … Continue reading Beautiful Rancho San Vincente Hike →