Life
July 21, 2011
Yes! I'll have fries with that “Exercise will never be a habit for me.” I claim the quote. Used it most of my life in fact. As well as quotes like, “Yes, I’ll have fries with that!” And, “biggie-sized, Please!” Sound familiar? I have lived most of my life sincerely believing I could not change the unhealthy patterns I had developed, accepting the lack of energy and despair that accompanies someone who is fifty pounds overweight. I wanted to weigh less, of course, wear different clothes, but simply didn’t think it was possible for ME. For someone else, maybe, but not me. Today, I exercise with my husband nearly everyday! (I used to get downright agitated at the thought, nearly starting a fight if he suggest-
ed taking a short walk!) Now, I look forward to our few uninterrupted minutes in the basement every afternoon exercising and sweating out the frustrations of the day with some pretty intense workouts. The kicker?! I can’t wait for our workouts! That still amazes and surprises me. I can still very distinctly remember the knot in my stomach at the mere suggestion of working out! I’d rather have a tooth pulled! Take a walk? Eeeww! I might sweat! No thanks! I share all of this to encourage you. Inspire you! The people you see jogging down the street and ordering salads in the restaurant, probably weren’t born that way. Really! (Well, some were, but
most weren’t!) There is a simple process by which we become the person we wish to be: Habits! Habits! Habits! Good, bad, or indifferent, we all have them and we all came about them the same way: repetition. No one sets out with a goal to smoke two packs of cigarettes a day, gossip about everything and person in the office, or throw their clothes all over the bedroom until they can’t see the floor. It simply happens over time. You’ve heard the theory; Do something for 21 days in a row and it will become a habit. Exercise and eating healthy are no different. Incorporate them long enough into your life and they will become habits. I think the problem for most of us is we
think we have to enjoy something in order for it to become a habit. Again, not true. Remember the cigarette? Can you say hacking cough? Gagging? Sick to your stomach? Did that stop you? Well, don’t let a little sweat and soreness stop you from exercise either. The benefits of incorporating a healthier lifestyle are endless: improved sleep habits, enhanced ability to focus and concentrate when awake, weight loss, increased ability to handle stress, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, less meds. The list is endless. Go ahead! Incorporate a new habit of walking five minutes everyday, or rid yourself of a bad one, and start ordering water with your lunch instead of a soft drink. Start today
South Kenton Recorder
and you’ll be well Julie on your way to a House healthier lifestyle South in three short Kenton weeks! One of my newest habits? Recorder Daily bible reading. guest Here’s a nugget columnist for you from my reading today: “Seek His will in all you do and He will keep your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6. Julie House is a resident of Independence, and Founder of Equipped Ministries, a Christian based health and wellness program with a focus on weight loss. She can be reached at 802-8965. Check out her website for meeting times and locations www.equipped4him. blogspot.com
When it comes to collars, one kind doesn’t fit all “Nosey, STOP!” I cried, as my basset hound slipped out of her collar and went running happily toward traffic. “Look at me, I’m one naked doggie!” she giggled, stopping just before reaching the street, then trotting back to me, with her tail wagging merrily. “Oh, Nosey,” I said, firmly fastening the collar back around her neck, “That’s not funny, you could have been hurt or worse. That’s it, you’re getting a harness so this will never happen again.” Nosey is a rambunctious puppy who weighs just over 50 pounds. She’s strong and is not yet perfectly trained in the art of leash walking. She pulls at the leash and sometimes the strain of holding the other end has literally knocked me off of my feet. Just a month ago, I was trying to make her go into the kitchen from the garage and she pulled so hard that I (wearing high heels) lost my balance crashing into and breaking the glass of the storm door. It left a gash in my arm so deep that it took seven stitches to close up. So, getting Nosey fitted with the proper harness was an urgent safety matter for us both. I turned to my friend, Jeff King, who owns Pets Plus in Taylor Mill for the “4-1-
1” on collars, harnesses and leashes. According to Jeff, there are Marsie Hall several cateNewbold gories of collars and Marsie’s they serve Menagerie d i f f e r e n t purposes beyond just something to hang ID tags on. There are walking collars, tie-out collars and training collars. The most common are made of nylon or leather. If you have a dog that gets wet a lot, a nylon collar is the best choice. Leather collars can be ruined, for example, if your pet goes swimming. One size does not fit all. Collars come in many lengths and widths and should be chosen according to your dog’s size. For example, a basset hound like Nosey needs a wider collar than a Scottish terrier because they give the owner more control. To get a perfect fit, it is best to bring the dog with you to try them on. A good fit is when you can fit two fingers between the collar and the dog’s neck. Then, check to make sure it cannot slip over the dog’s head. Jeff adds that tie-out collars should, in addition to
PHOTO BY MARSIE NEWBOLD
Jeff King, owner of Pets Plus in Taylor Mill, measures Nosey for a collar. the factors above, have metal buckles. Plastic buckles can break if a dog tugs hard enough. There are two types of training collars: choke chains and pinch collars. He doesn’t recommend choke chains. “They don’t train the dog, they only choke the dog,” he said. “Pinch collars are best for training purposes,” he said. “They shouldn’t be kept on a dog all of the time, but they work great. “I had a lady come in the store the other day who had a Springer spaniel that pulled on its leash. After I put a pinch collar on it, it stopped pulling immediately.” Harnesses, like the one I chose for Nosey, go around the chest and ribcage and are kept in place by the dog’s front legs. They can-
not be slipped over the head like a collar. Jeff is partial to what is called a “comfort wrap.” It
looks a bit like a stretchy nylon vest. Leashes come in three sizes, a 2-foot traffic lead, a 4-foot one for big dogs and a 6-foot one for small dogs. There are also double leashes for walking two dogs at a time and retractable leashes. “You can’t just walk into a pet shop and buy off the peg,” Jeff counsels, “You need to fit collars, harnesses and leashes according to your individual dog’s needs.” For more pet care tips, visit www.marsiesmenagerie.com. If you have any ideas for future stories please contact Marsie Hall Newbold at marsolete@insightbb.com.
Jeff King’s tips
• Put a collar on a new puppy as soon as you get them home. This will make them get used to wearing one from the beginning. • Choose rolled collars for long-haired dogs and flat collars for short-haired dogs. • Check the fit of your dog’s collar at least every two weeks. The fit will change as a dog grows, gains or loses weight. • Do not choose a choke chain. • Always use a tape lead. Corded leads are dangerous because they can get wrapped around your fingers and burn or cut you. • Make sure that your dog is wearing ID tags at all times.
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