First, I would like thank everyone. Through discussion, I received a lot of suggestions for column topics. The overwhelming favorite was to have me find accessible bars around Missoula. After much deliberation, I decided I am too old to do the research on that particular subject. However, if someone has their own list of accessible venues, whether they be bars, restaurants or other places to go for socializing, Summit would be happy to print that list.
Instead, I will be discussing nutrition and exercise. A solid exercise and nutrition program will offer you benefits to your life and keep your body providing the best function possible.
Every hour our bodies replace over a billion cells. People with disabilities have a strong motivation to provide the best fuel possible. As you can probably guess; chips, fries, doughnuts and soda provide little and should be ingested at a minimum. We don’t need to put fuel in our system which doesn’t contribute to our overall health and cause our bodies to do additional work.
Another factor people with disabilities share is that we must regulate our energy. A proper diet is, once you understand your body’s needs, a no brainer. Exercise, though, can be done improperly and deplete your energy. If done correctly, exercise will give you additional energy. You have to determine what works for you.Most experts agree that you need to exercise three times a week for 20 minutes. These 20 minutes can be a combination of four 5-minute sessions of exercise, two 10-minute sessions or even 20 continuous minutes.
My workout consists of three elements; cardiovascular (biking or walking), stretching and strength training. The exercise I devote the least time to in my workout is strength training or lifting weights. However, because muscle metabolizes food ten times more efficiently than non-muscle, it is still important to maintain a base of strong muscle. That said, getting my blood pumping by doing cardiovascular workouts, followed by a good stretch is the most important workout I do.
Please send your own knowledge and column ideas in!
Tom Thompson can be emailed at tomskilaw@gmail.com
