HEALTH AND FITNESS continued
HOW TO CLEAR A GREEN POOL continued
Aging Gracefully and
Maintaining Your Independence
Through Exercise, Diet, and a Healthy Lifestyle
(While Still Enjoying the Simple Pleasures)
by Mark C. Ford CPT
In my practice as an in-home Personal
Trainer, I am often confronted with the dilemma
of helping my clients achieve their goals of
fitness and well being, while also making the
process as enjoyable and interesting as possible.
The notion that it takes a vast amount of
physical activity to produce acceptable results
is false. Studies have proven that as little as
30 minutes a day can improve a previouslysedentary
individual’s fitness level immediately.
E v e r y o n e
knows that as we
age, our bodies
change. The good
news is we can
slow the aging
process and feel
years younger
with a few simple
lifestyle decisions.
The first one
is getting and
staying active. This
doesn’t mean you need to turn into a triathlete
or train for the New York marathon, but rather
make a commitment to try to have some form of
physical activity on a regular basis.
I recommend that my clients attempt to do
something each day, even a nice walk or working
in the garden on days that they are not actually
exercising. I refer to this as an “Active Rest Day.”
Also, your muscles and joints need a day or two
to recover after sustained activity.
Secondly, the proper diet to support the
active lifestyle is necessary. No, you don’t have
to live on nuts and berries to maintain a healthy
weight; just staying away from foods with a high
fat and sugar content can make a big difference
in your caloric intake. Losing weight is actually
HEALTH AND FITNESS con't. next column
Leah King
CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER
CERTIFIED CONDITIONING SPECIALIST
Live Strong fitness
(910) 691.2639
CALL FOR APPOINTMENT
quite simple. Expend more calories per day
than you consume, and your weight will begin
to diminish. Do just the opposite, and the result
will not be very desirable. Studies have shown
that most people gain weight over the holidays.
I normally recommend trying to lose a pound or
two per week starting early October. That should
give you a deficit of 6-8 pounds by Thanksgiving.
Nobody wants to count calories over the
holidays, so you can then enjoy the family meals
and deserts with a clear conscious knowing you
have a little room to spare.
Lastly you have to make regular activity and
exercise a routine. So much so that you feel
something is missing if you don’t get up and get
moving some each day. It’s much easier than
you think.
Mark Ford is a local ACE (American
Council on Exercise) Certified Personal
Trainer who specializes in training Senior
Citizens in the comfort of their own homes.
He can be contacted at (910)975-2572 or
mford42@nc.rr.com
Southern Tropics Pool & Spa
910-692-5200 • For more info. p. 31.
How to Clear a Green Pool
by Jessica Tessman
Southern Tropics Pool & Spa
Swimming pools need three things to
remain crystal clear: sanitation, circulation,
and filtration. If your pool is turning green, the
absence of one or more of these three will likely
be the culprit.
Lack of sanitizer is the most common
reason pools start to grow algae. Rain can dilute
chlorine levels, organics from bathers and the
environment can consume chlorine, and the
sun can leech chlorine out of the pool. As with
most things, the best offense is a good defense.
Make sure that you are keeping chlorine tabs in
your skimmers or chlorinator and shock once
a week. A standard dose of shock is 1 pound
per 10,000 gallons. For salt water chlorination
systems, make sure your salt levels are within
your chlorinator’s prescribed range, and boost
or super-chlorinate weekly. Do not chemically
shock a saline pool. If your water starts to look
less clear, add extra chlorine or increase the
output percentage on your salt system. Make
sure to also check your water’s pH. A high pH
decreases the effectiveness of chlorine.
Stagnant water is a breeding ground for
many types of bacteria. Mold and algae flourish
in these conditions. Lack of circulation also
inhibits chlorine output. Pools should run a
minimum of eight to ten hours in the summer,
during the hottest part of the day. Larger pools
may need twelve or more hours of circulation.
If your pool is not looking as clear as it should,
increase your hours of circulation. Circulation
24 hours a day is ideal.
If your water has plenty of chlorine and is
circulating 24 hours a day, but is still not clear,
the problem may lie in your filtration. Sand filters
are the most common form of filtration in Moore
County. Sand should be changed every three to
five years as a rule of thumb, but may have to
be changed more often depending on how well
the pool has been maintained. Cartridge filter
elements should be replaced once a year. DE
filters should be backwashed and recharged
once a month. The grid assembly should be
r e m o v e d
a n d
thoroughly
c l e a n e d
once a year.
Inspect the
grids for
tears and
holes, and
r e p l a c e
them if they
have holes
larger than
1/2 inch in
d i a m e t e r.
Your filter system needs to be backwashed or
cleaned when the pressure gauge reads 8 10 psi
above its “clean” reading.
If your pool is already green, it should be
easy to clear as long as it has not been green for
an extended length of time. Add an algaecide
and super-chlorinate or double shock the pool.
Use 2 pounds of shock per 10,000 gallons. For
example, if your pool is 20,000 gallons, you will
add 4 pounds of shock. Add extra chlorine tabs
or increase the output on your chlorinator or
salt system. Check the pH and add an acid to
decrease, if needed. Circulate the pool 24 hours
a day until it clears. The water will turn cloudy
before it clears completely.
As with anything, make sure you use good
quality chemicals. Poor quality chemicals add
unwanted elements and frequently make the
problem worse. Some may cause water to foam
or turn lime green. Your best course of action is
to contact a pool professional to have the water
tested and receive personalized, expert advice
for how best to treat your pool.
HOW TO CLEAR A GREEN POOL con't. next column
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