Tag: exercise

Thanks to the Animals!

When you counted your blessings on Thanksgiving, did you include the creatures that settled under the table or wound themselves around your legs? Are you thankful for your own companion animals and all the service animals that make our lives safer, healthier, and more fulfilling?

Pets Are Good for You

Study after study confirms that having companion animals is good for your health. Certainly city dwellers with dogs seem more likely to enjoy the fitness benefits of daily exercise.

The National Institutes of Health has funded studies that showed people who walked their dogs “… were more physically active and less likely to be obese than those who didn’t own or walk a dog.” For individuals age 71-82, “Those who regularly walked their dogs walked faster and for longer time periods each week than others who didn’t walk regularly. Older dog walkers also had greater mobility inside their homes than others in the study.”

Heart Health

Stroking a cat or dog has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and increase a feeling of calm. The American Heart Association issued a scientific statement about pet ownership and cardiac risk this year.

They reported that, “Owning pets is associated with reducing your risk of heart disease, and there are a variety of reasons that may be at work that influence this relationship. It may be that healthier people are more likely to be pet owners or that people with dogs tend to exercise more. Pets also play a role in providing social support to their owners, which is an important factor in helping you stick with a new habit or adopting a new healthy behavior.”

Mental Health

Other researchers are looking at the benefits of pets or exposure to therapy dogs for disorders like depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder.

Caring for an animal keeps people active and can help prevent someone from becoming withdrawn. From companionship to silly antics that make you laugh, a dog or cat can be a mood booster.

Dodie is a real service dog in training.

Therapy and Service Dogs

Don’t be surprised if you find a dog at a medical appointment in your future. Dogs have an amazing sense of smell – 1,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than ours. Medical detection dogs are now used to alert doctors to human conditions from hypoglycemia in diabetics to skin, bladder, and ovarian cancer.

Some of these canines work with professionals in medical research settings, others are trained to alert their person to spikes and drops in blood sugar levels in diabetes, or to protect and try to get help for someone with a seizure disorder.

You’ll also see service dogs who act as guides and helpers for people who are blind, deaf, confined to a wheelchair, or unsteady on their feet. And there are emotional support dogs who help a person stay calm in stressful situations.

These geese wrangler dogs work in the Public Garden.

Working Dogs

Beyond animals that serve as companions, there are hundreds of working dogs that deserve our thanks. They help law enforcement officers track criminals, locate drugs, guns, contraband, and bombs. They work protecting livestock on farms and offering comfort to victims in courtrooms and in the aftermath of a crime or disaster.

Yes, these same creatures can be a source of stress when they misbehave or are ailing themselves. However, overall, scientists are showing that we should be giving thanks for our dogs, cats, and other furry and feathered critters when we count our blessings.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.)

November 26, 2017
When Out with Your Dog, Is It Just a Walk?

For those of us with dogs, our daily routine includes a number of short walks to take care of their needs. Somewhere in that schedule is a longer walk to give you and your dog some exercise and perhaps a bit of fun. On weekends or vacations, these walks may turn into adventures in new settings with great things to see, hear, and for your dog to sniff!

Two year old Sam loves his early morning walk. He practiced his sit when I met him. His person said this daily routine gets her going too!

One friend calls this “the long walk.” We call it Poppy’s exercise because she will gladly go inside on her puppy pads to avoid being outside. But she does need to move her little body and get her pulse rate up at least once a day, so we take her for a mile or two trot around the neighborhood.

A Study on Walking the Dog

A recent study titled, “(Just) a Walk with the Dog? Animal Geographies and Negotiating Walking Spaces,” argues that “… walking with dogs represents a potentially important cultural space for making sense of human–animal relations. We show how the personalities of both dog and walker can shape not only walking practices, but also the human–animal bond. We contend that the walk is a significant arena where relations of power between animal and human are consciously mediated.”

It makes you think about the interactions you see as people walk their dogs. Is the dog having fun? Are the dog and human interacting or are they on separate missions? Who is training whom?

Be A Dog!

One command you should regularly give your pal on the other end of the leash is, “Be a Dog!” To us that means Poppy can follow her nose, sniff at the corners, or hop up on a bench and relax. She gets a turn to do what she wants on the walk.

Other times we may need some faster-paced exercise and she will have to walk along with us to allow us to get what we need from the walk.

Occasionally our nervous little pup may need to have one of us pick her up and hold her because some evil noisemaker has her scared witless. We try to do whatever it takes to keep her moving and feeling safer outside.

While other dogs romp in the off leash area on the Boston Common, this gentle giant prefers to observe from the sidelines.

Win-Win

There are aspects of your daily walks that can be win-wins for you and your dog. If you gather friends and walk in a pack, that can be a perfect outing with good conversation among the humans and socializing companionship and play among the dogs.

If you have a highly energetic dog, a long walk can help the dog settle better when you return home. You might find that increasing the length and speed of your walks can alleviate destructive behavior and lessen hyperactivity. It could result in everyone getting a better night’s sleep, as well.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Getting Us Outside: Another Way Dogs Are Good for Us

Wolfgang: Tiny Dog with a Big Name

The Polite Wet Dogs of Provincetown Harbor

May 28, 2017
When Out with Your Dog, Is It Just a Walk?

For those of us with dogs, our daily routine includes a number of short walks to take care of their needs. Somewhere in that schedule is a longer walk to give you and your dog some exercise and perhaps a bit of fun. On weekends or vacations, these walks may turn into adventures in new settings with great things to see, hear, and for your dog to sniff!

Two year old Sam loves his early morning walk. He practiced his sit when I met him. His person said this daily routine gets her going too!

One friend calls this “the long walk.” We call it Poppy’s exercise because she will gladly go inside on her puppy pads to avoid being outside. But she does need to move her little body and get her pulse rate up at least once a day, so we take her for a mile or two trot around the neighborhood.

A Study on Walking the Dog

A recent study titled, “(Just) a Walk with the Dog? Animal Geographies and Negotiating Walking Spaces,” argues that “… walking with dogs represents a potentially important cultural space for making sense of human–animal relations. We show how the personalities of both dog and walker can shape not only walking practices, but also the human–animal bond. We contend that the walk is a significant arena where relations of power between animal and human are consciously mediated.”

It makes you think about the interactions you see as people walk their dogs. Is the dog having fun? Are the dog and human interacting or are they on separate missions? Who is training whom?

Be A Dog!

One command you should regularly give your pal on the other end of the leash is, “Be a Dog!” To us that means Poppy can follow her nose, sniff at the corners, or hop up on a bench and relax. She gets a turn to do what she wants on the walk.

Other times we may need some faster-paced exercise and she will have to walk along with us to allow us to get what we need from the walk.

Occasionally our nervous little pup may need to have one of us pick her up and hold her because some evil noisemaker has her scared witless. We try to do whatever it takes to keep her moving and feeling safer outside.

While other dogs romp in the off leash area on the Boston Common, this gentle giant prefers to observe from the sidelines.

Win-Win

There are aspects of your daily walks that can be win-wins for you and your dog. If you gather friends and walk in a pack, that can be a perfect outing with good conversation among the humans and socializing companionship and play among the dogs.

If you have a highly energetic dog, a long walk can help the dog settle better when you return home. You might find that increasing the length and speed of your walks can alleviate destructive behavior and lessen hyperactivity. It could result in everyone getting a better night’s sleep, as well.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Getting Us Outside: Another Way Dogs Are Good for Us

Wolfgang: Tiny Dog with a Big Name

The Polite Wet Dogs of Provincetown Harbor

May 28, 2017
Sunday Dogs and People Ask, “Is It Just a Walk?”

For those of us with dogs, our daily routine includes a number of short walks to take care of their needs. Somewhere in that schedule is a longer walk to give you and your dog some exercise and perhaps a bit of fun. On weekends or vacations, these walks may turn into adventures in new settings with great things to see, hear, and for your dog to sniff!

Two-year-old Sam loves his early morning walk. He practiced his sit when Penny met him. His person said this daily routine gets her going too!

One friend calls this “the long walk.” We call it "Poppy’s exercise" because she will gladly go inside on her puppy pads to avoid being outside. But she does need to move her little body and get her pulse rate up at least once a day, so we take her for a mile or two trot around the neighborhood.

A Study on Walking the Dog

A recent study titled, “(Just) a Walk with the Dog? Animal Geographies and Negotiating Walking Spaces,” argues that “… walking with dogs represents a potentially important cultural space for making sense of human–animal relations. We show how the personalities of both dog and walker can shape not only walking practices, but also the human–animal bond. We contend that the walk is a significant arena where relations of power between animal and human are consciously mediated.”

It makes you think about the interactions you see as people walk their dogs. Is the dog having fun? Are the dog and human interacting or are they on separate missions? Who is training whom?

One of Poppy's favorite snow day activities is to run in the snow with Ed. Look at that waggin' tail to see how much she enjoys this.

Be A Dog!

One command you should regularly give your pal on the other end of the leash is, “Be a Dog!” To us that means Poppy can follow her nose, sniff at the corners, or hop up on a bench and relax. She gets a turn to do what she wants on the walk.

Other times we may need some faster-paced exercise and she will have to walk along with us to allow us to get what we need from the walk.

It's a matter of give and take. Sometimes Sam gets a longer walk. Sometimes Poppy gets to play in the snow. Sometimes Sam's person wants to get home sooner. Sometimes we want to walk faster. Everyone should get a turn now and them.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Getting Us Outside: Another Way Dogs Are Good for Us

Wolfgang: Tiny Dog with a Big Name

What's on Your Spring Dog Adventure List?

February 19, 2017
Sunday Dogs and People Ask, “Is It Just a Walk?”

For those of us with dogs, our daily routine includes a number of short walks to take care of their needs. Somewhere in that schedule is a longer walk to give you and your dog some exercise and perhaps a bit of fun. On weekends or vacations, these walks may turn into adventures in new settings with great things to see, hear, and for your dog to sniff!

Two-year-old Sam loves his early morning walk. He practiced his sit when Penny met him. His person said this daily routine gets her going too!

One friend calls this “the long walk.” We call it "Poppy’s exercise" because she will gladly go inside on her puppy pads to avoid being outside. But she does need to move her little body and get her pulse rate up at least once a day, so we take her for a mile or two trot around the neighborhood.

A Study on Walking the Dog

A recent study titled, “(Just) a Walk with the Dog? Animal Geographies and Negotiating Walking Spaces,” argues that “… walking with dogs represents a potentially important cultural space for making sense of human–animal relations. We show how the personalities of both dog and walker can shape not only walking practices, but also the human–animal bond. We contend that the walk is a significant arena where relations of power between animal and human are consciously mediated.”

It makes you think about the interactions you see as people walk their dogs. Is the dog having fun? Are the dog and human interacting or are they on separate missions? Who is training whom?

One of Poppy's favorite snow day activities is to run in the snow with Ed. Look at that waggin' tail to see how much she enjoys this.

Be A Dog!

One command you should regularly give your pal on the other end of the leash is, “Be a Dog!” To us that means Poppy can follow her nose, sniff at the corners, or hop up on a bench and relax. She gets a turn to do what she wants on the walk.

Other times we may need some faster-paced exercise and she will have to walk along with us to allow us to get what we need from the walk.

It's a matter of give and take. Sometimes Sam gets a longer walk. Sometimes Poppy gets to play in the snow. Sometimes Sam's person wants to get home sooner. Sometimes we want to walk faster. Everyone should get a turn now and them.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Getting Us Outside: Another Way Dogs Are Good for Us

Wolfgang: Tiny Dog with a Big Name

What's on Your Spring Dog Adventure List?

February 19, 2017
Your Dog’s Winter Weight and the “Thrifty Gene”

Poppy, our Westie, puts on a little weight every winter. Ed, who weighs her regularly and keeps a log, has noticed this seasonal increase for the past three years.

Besides snow walking, Poppy loves “snow hopping” (her favorite sport). Both give her a good workout and help control winter weight for all of us!

This winter, because she’s had more exercise than in past years, we’re scratching our heads to figure it out. We weigh her food and monitor her treats so we’d know if she were eating more. She’s not. Is there something in a dog’s nature that hangs on to calories in winter? Does her metabolism slow down?

The Thrifty Gene

After some research, we learned the answer to those questions is,”Yes!” Ken Tudor, DVM, on the Pet MD website wrote, “Shorter days signal to the dog brain that winter is coming. This sets off hormonal changes to slow metabolism and conserve calorie expenditure.” He says, “These changes also promote the deposition of fat. This phenomenon is a result of a genetic adaptation called the ‘thrifty gene.’ The thrifty gene prepares the dog for the harsh winter and allows for normal performance in harsh conditions.”

We have to offset the thrifty gene with more attention to the “food in/exercise out” balance. Just as it is with humans, dogs have to eat less or exercise more to keep from gaining weight.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

January 8, 2017
Your Dog’s Winter Weight and the “Thrifty Gene”

Poppy, our Westie, puts on a little weight every winter. Ed, who weighs her regularly and keeps a log, has noticed this seasonal increase for the past three years.

Besides snow walking, Poppy loves “snow hopping” (her favorite sport). Both give her a good workout and help control winter weight for all of us!

This winter, because she’s had more exercise than in past years, we’re scratching our heads to figure it out. We weigh her food and monitor her treats so we’d know if she were eating more. She’s not. Is there something in a dog’s nature that hangs on to calories in winter? Does her metabolism slow down?

The Thrifty Gene

After some research, we learned the answer to those questions is,”Yes!” Ken Tudor, DVM, on the Pet MD website wrote, “Shorter days signal to the dog brain that winter is coming. This sets off hormonal changes to slow metabolism and conserve calorie expenditure.” He says, “These changes also promote the deposition of fat. This phenomenon is a result of a genetic adaptation called the ‘thrifty gene.’ The thrifty gene prepares the dog for the harsh winter and allows for normal performance in harsh conditions.”

We have to offset the thrifty gene with more attention to the “food in/exercise out” balance. Just as it is with humans, dogs have to eat less or exercise more to keep from gaining weight.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

January 8, 2017
WBUR’s Magic Pill Podcast Has Me Out Walking Every Morning …

Since September 1st, I have been up and out for a walk every morning and have achieved my Fitbit goals every day. (When Ed pops in here to edit this post, he can confirm my record!) (Confirmed! And, although Poppy & I like to sleep in, we're beginning to feel pressured to join her.)

Thanks to WBUR and their inspiring podcast, The Magic PilI, I have reconnected with and have been motivated to increase my fitness by one of my favorite doctors, Eddie Phillips, MD.

When he was my sports medicine doc at MGH, I remember Doctor Phillips showing me the exact stretch he is demonstrating in the photo above. Sadly, for me, Dr. Phillips has moved on. He has founded and directs the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, www.instituteoflifestylemedicine.org.

As a former patient, I can say that what you hear on the WBUR Podcast is the same advice and attitude he had with me as a private patient.

He doesn't tell you what to do, he'll tell you what you can do. He will have you thinking about small, achievable, specific goals and milestones, not big scary, "I'll never really do that …" objectives.

His partner in this program is Carey Goldberg, editor of WBUR's CommonHealth blog. She is a well-respected journalist and adds warm, personal interviews and background research to each episode.

I waited to write about this until I was sure I was well on my way to being a continuing success story as a person following Doctor Phillips' philosophy that exercise is a Magic Pill that most of us can use to live a healthier life.

Here is a link to the Podcast Pilot. It's a great introduction and I hope it will lead you to take one episode daily (your daily dose of get-up-and-go) for the next twenty-one days and see if you, like me, find yourself still on the move two months from now.

I hope WBUR will add more episodes of this inspiring program. Anytime I feel that I'm about to slip off my training routine, I'll go back and listen to the 21 existing episodes again. But I would love to have this team offer some sort of Magic Pill continuing education and inspiration.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Courtesy of WBUR, Magic Pill

October 21, 2016
WBUR’s Magic Pill Podcast Has Me Out Walking Every Morning …

Since September 1st, I have been up and out for a walk every morning and have achieved my Fitbit goals every day. (When Ed pops in here to edit this post, he can confirm my record!) (Confirmed! And, although Poppy & I like to sleep in, we're beginning to feel pressured to join her.)

Thanks to WBUR and their inspiring podcast, The Magic PilI, I have reconnected with and have been motivated to increase my fitness by one of my favorite doctors, Eddie Phillips, MD.

When he was my sports medicine doc at MGH, I remember Doctor Phillips showing me the exact stretch he is demonstrating in the photo above. Sadly, for me, Dr. Phillips has moved on. He has founded and directs the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, www.instituteoflifestylemedicine.org.

As a former patient, I can say that what you hear on the WBUR Podcast is the same advice and attitude he had with me as a private patient.

He doesn't tell you what to do, he'll tell you what you can do. He will have you thinking about small, achievable, specific goals and milestones, not big scary, "I'll never really do that …" objectives.

His partner in this program is Carey Goldberg, editor of WBUR's CommonHealth blog. She is a well-respected journalist and adds warm, personal interviews and background research to each episode.

I waited to write about this until I was sure I was well on my way to being a continuing success story as a person following Doctor Phillips' philosophy that exercise is a Magic Pill that most of us can use to live a healthier life.

Here is a link to the Podcast Pilot. It's a great introduction and I hope it will lead you to take one episode daily (your daily dose of get-up-and-go) for the next twenty-one days and see if you, like me, find yourself still on the move two months from now.

I hope WBUR will add more episodes of this inspiring program. Anytime I feel that I'm about to slip off my training routine, I'll go back and listen to the 21 existing episodes again. But I would love to have this team offer some sort of Magic Pill continuing education and inspiration.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Courtesy of WBUR, Magic Pill

October 21, 2016
Wollaston Beach and Quincy Shore Drive: Then and Now

Wollaston Beach and Quincy Shore Reservation are a perfect destination when you want to grab a Zipcar and spend an hour or two at the shore. We like to go on weekdays when the crowds are moderate and we can relax and enjoy the views back to Boston and out to sea.

Just like in days of old, we pull into one of the angled spaces that line the beachside. (This postcard is from the Boston Public Library Collection.)

The state undertook the creation of this park in 1899 and opened it to the public on May 30, 1908. It was part of the historic Metropolitan Parks System designed to preserve open and natural spaces for Boston area residents.

A Quick Beach Escape

We sit on the seawall and "people watch." (We are not allowed on the beach in summer because we take our dog with us.) We join the constant stream of locals walking the wide 2.3 mile seaside walkway.

And, we have lunch at one of the seasonal beach restaurants across from the beach. The photo above is from Tony's Clam Shop. If the wait for a table on the patio is long, we'll order our meal to go and take it back to the seawall or if we're lucky, dine on a shaded bench.

Here's another postcard view of the Squantum and Wollaston Yacht clubs.

While it is very busy in summer, you'll find people drawn to this place all year long in good weather and on downright nasty days when surf pounds the seawall.

It's just 8.5 miles from downtown Boston. Without a traffic jam, you can be there in 20 minutes. And, if you are willing to walk a bit, it is only a mile from the Wollaston station on the MBTA Red line.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a birthday or wedding gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino with postcards from the Boston Public Library and a private collection.

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July 8, 2013