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Definitions: a “diet” (noun) is an eating plan which is what I’ll be talking about. In our grossly overweight culture, the word has become synonymous with trying to lose weight (specifically to lose fat) because so many folks are “dieting” (verb). OK, that’s enough grammar. All my trainers and I… Read more »
Author: shs
Uncertainty…
…motivates us to look for answers, understanding and the safety of the known. Whether it’s about our health or our finances or our relationships, uncertainty about the future can inspire worry, stress and anxiety. With anxiety being a recurrent issue for so many, finding paths to deal with uncertainty is a beneficial trait to have. Anxiety:… Read more »
ASPIRATIONS and DESIGN
Well, here we are in 2025. I’m going to start with a familiar January statement of mine that last year flew by, is in the past, involved many changes. Now most of us are looking ahead with some thoughts of changes and/or improvements we can bring into our lives in… Read more »
You know more than I do about this…
…because I’m writing this in October and you’re reading it in December. There’s been a polarized political election; hopefully the results are clear, there’s a new executive team, maybe a new legislature, in control in Washington. And we’re all working together to govern, based on the voters’ choices (Ha!). This isn’t about… Read more »
It’s November!
Compared to how we lived, children today now live in luxury, they’re disrespectful and prefer chatting to outdoor exercise. Partly because they’ve not yet been humbled by life, many of them often ignore the law, are violent in the streets and tyrannize their teachers. If that sounds true and reason… Read more »
Friends
Living by myself as I have for about 15 years, since my youngest daughter started college, has been a new chapter, like coming home after a lot of activities. It’s been very nice. Adapting to change is close to the top of the list of pre-requisites for a healthy life,… Read more »
A (living healthy) QUIZ
Pre-Quiz background: Hippocrates was a respected Greek physician who is considered the Father of Medicine. His primary contribution was to separate medical care from the general views of the time which were that the gods were responsible for all disease. He wrote the Hippocratic Oath more than 2,400 years ago,… Read more »
If I keep an open mind…
Every morning at a motel on Warwick Boulevard (and I’m sure at countless fast food locations and cafés all over the world), some group of retirees gathers to sort out (and solve) current event issues. Their solutions usually involve simple solutions to some complex problems. (Yes, I’ve eavesdropped). The details… Read more »
Healthy living vs. …
…ENJOYING PLEASURES during our short time here. I’m asking if it’s worth it to sacrifice full enjoyment of our brief life for the pursuit of a healthy living lifestyle. It’s a question for us all to ponder as individuals. This individual is positing that’s a false dichotomy. While I’ve written about one of… Read more »
Not if, but when
Last year I wrote a Viewpoint column about realizing, in retrospect, we’d past the time for participating in certain activities. For example, with life just flowing along naturally and becoming aware that say, skiing (which perhaps we did regularly for years) due to a relatively minor knee issue that isn’t even… Read more »
What to do? What to do? To lose weight…
Probably due to a selective memory, even after living a full and admittedly self-indulgent life, when asked recently what regrets I have, I only thought of one. My Dad, who had a very curious mind, was never able to experience Google. All of recorded history and all of known information… Read more »
These precious, privileged years
Calvin & Hobbes, a syndicated comic strip from the late 1980s into early 1990s, was very popular, clever and full of current events/philosophical commentary. I have one strip laminated and still on my fridge. Calvin says he’s going to write a self-help book. His mission is to help people get… Read more »
January 2024: Four parts
Well, here we are! Y2K wasn’t a disaster (remember those dire predictions?) and now it’s 24 years later. Let’s make it a good one. This New Year’s column is Four Parts. Please don’t be in a hurry when you read this. PART ONE Posture. Improving it is the simplest and… Read more »
Accept it.Embrace it…
December is sandwiched between two of my favorite holidays —Thanksgiving, because of its family focus and its message of being thankful for all we have, and New Year, because of its focus on new and therefore the time to reflect on how much has changed, how fast last year went by… Read more »
Stretching is a misnomer
Yes, as some of my regular readers may recall, I’ve previously written about this. But please remember, Oyster Pointer consistently adds new readers — and repetition is a valid way to inform/learn. This is important stuff which can help you avoid unnecessary injury caused by not understanding how our bodies function. Stretching. What it isn’t: It… Read more »
I’d never valued this until…
For the last few years as I sit by myself while reading on my beach, a lady walks by, always by herself, earbuds in, walking purposefully, eyes straight ahead. A month or so ago I stood, gestured for her to stop and said: “I’m not asking for your phone number… Read more »
Time clocks
This is about a potential path to improving your sleep patterns which’ll result in a more rested you. If you or someone you care about is having trouble with getting enough restful sleep, open your (tired) mind and consider this. I stumbled on this a few years ago, experienced it,… Read more »
There are few things more relaxing than…
I guess most of you reading this won’t see the benefit of driving to a barn/farm every morning at sunrise to do…well, chores. I mean, as a culture we’ve progressed beyond agricultural (physical chores) to industrial (9 to 5 time clocks) to technological (working from home, cell phone computers, passwords, digital… Read more »
Living healthy
When I meet someone new and we exchange pleasantries, part of that usually includes what we do. When I say I’m a personal fitness trainer, the most frequent follow-up questions have something to do with what to eat, with diet or nutrition or weight loss or calories. This always puzzles… Read more »
The 99 percent
When I write a “To Your Health” column, I’m trying to be informative and helpful. And when I write these “Viewpoint” columns, I’m expressing mine (Viewpoints) without trying to be anything other than straightforward as I see it. I hear many comments throughout the month and welcome them whether they’re… Read more »