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HEALTH AND FITNESS continued A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS con't. FROM p.34 work. For your work, if you take the time to listen to God, then He will direct you. You should find something that you really enjoy and make a career out of it. This doesn’t necessarily have to include money, prestige, or necessarily even going to college. The key in life is to be of service to others.” So proud of and thankful for his children, Rowland shares, “Clark is a lawyer; he and his wife have seven children. Alex is in the furniture business; he and his wife and daughter Faith live on a large farm north of High Falls. Jackie is a Physician’s Assistant living in Wilmington; she and her family love the beach. Robert, named after Robert E. Lee, is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Special Forces with two daughters who compete in gymnastics. Danielle is a dentist in Hendersonville, NC, where she and her husband love the mountains with 221 waterfalls and 400 miles of hiking trails. I have ten grandchildren.” As we walk, Rowland pulls weeds along the way. He laughs, “People ask me what my favorite weed killer is, and I tell them my ‘Cobalt,’ which is the brand of knife I use. If you pull a little at a time, then you slowly eliminate them.” Rowland begins to section off some pasture to move the cows over. As I take my leave, enormous black and white cows follow his lead. Weighing 400 pounds at six months and a 1,000 pounds at 18 months, the cows graze. With this purposeful field rotation, the manure gets evenly spread, and the cows eat an entire section before moving on to greener pastures. Everything is purposeful, planned, and preparing for the next season of growth on the Farm. One of a kind, an unforgettable Master Gardener, Dr. Rowland is truly a man for all seasons—living proof that dreams really do come true. �� Merry Christmas and a Healthy Holiday Can You Have Both? by Mark C. Ford, CPT Absolutely! We all know that the last few weeks of the year offer a chance to reward ourselves for a year of hard work and sacrifices. Unfortunately, we tend to do this by overindulging in practically everything. Eating, drinking, spending, you name it we are going to enjoy this season no matter what. We’ll just worry about the consequences next year and start off January 1st with a few New Year’s resolutions. There’s only one problem with that philosophy—it doesn’t work. The additional weight gain and credit card bills tend to still be around long after the New Year’s resolutions are gone. Have you ever noticed the increase in advertising for health clubs, weight loss programs etc. in early January? There’s a reason for this. In January, people tend to feel like they need these services and are more likely to purchase memberships and such to try to undo the consequences of last month’s choices. Wouldn’t it make more sense to plan ahead so that the consequences of 6 weeks of merriment don’t last all year? As I have recommended in past articles, dropping a couple of pounds per week beginning Oct. 1st puts you in a position where at least you may be able to finish the holiday season approximately where you began weight-wise. Also starting a small Christmas fund early can help you avoid those ridiculouslyhigh interest rates on credit card balances. So how do I prepare and accomplish this goal of a few pound deficit by Thanksgiving? There is really only one way, and it’s not rocket science. The correct amount of activity combined with a balanced nutritionally-effective diet, simple as that. Millions are spent every year on expensive gimmicky weight loss programs (we’ve all seen the before and after pictures) when all that is really needed is the desire and some self-discipline. How many times have you heard someone say, “It sure is easier to put it on rather than take it off”? Actually it’s not easier. A calorie is the same whether you’re consuming or expending it. It just happens to be more fun consuming as opposed to working it off. Notice I said WORKING it off. As a Personal Trainer, one of my biggest challenges is trying to make my clients’ programs fun so that they More Info: www.mooregrassfedbeef.com HEALTH AND FITNESS con't. next column stay engaged and continue. I finally came to the realization that it’s not necessarily supposed to be fun. It’s called a workout because it involves work. The fun comes from feeling better and being able to do things you may not be able to were you not at an improved state of fitness. I tend to see most of my clients in their homes and am often surprised to see the amount of exercise equipment and even small gyms people have in their homes. Only problem is they are using it way too seldom if even at all. Equipment really doesn’t do you much good sitting there collecting dust. Most people just need some guidance and motivation to get back on track. It’s very satisfying to watch people progress and do things they never thought they would be doing again. Typically once a healthy lifestyle is maintained for a period of time, it becomes a routine. Many times people are amazed at how much better they feel and how easy it is to continue in a healthy direction once bad habits are replaced with more beneficial ones. Of all the silly slogans you see on t-shirts, I finally saw one the other day I really enjoyed. It said, “You don’t quit playing because you grow old, you grow old because you quit playing.” How true. Here’s wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Healthy Holiday, and sincerely hoping you have both. �� Mark Ford is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) Certified Personal Trainer who specializes in working with individuals age 50 and above in the comfort of their homes. He can be reached at 910-975-2572 or mford42@nc.rr.com. No. 128 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. p.35


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