Anaheim Angels’ Kendry Morales had a night he’ll never forget against the Seattle Mariners. Morales hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give his team a 5-1 victory…and then he broke his leg when he jumped on home plate.

Morales had to be carted off the field and taken to the hospital.

Smiling as he rounded third, Morales threw down his helmet right before getting to home plate. He then took a hop and jumped up toward the plate as his celebrating teammates began to pat him on the head. And then he went down quickly, grimacing.

Morales was placed on the disabled list after the fluke injury.

Post from: EveryJoe

Morales Hits Walk-Off Grand Slam, Breaks Leg

Halloween is not one of the holidays that people regard as a diet breaking holiday, but that is because most people do not anticipate eating as much candy as they end up doing by the time the season is over. There are ways to have a completely healthy Halloween holiday, and it does not mean throwing all the candy away or denying yourself a luscious caramel apple. What it does involve is making smarter, healthier decisions about yourself and what you put into your body, even when the traditions of the holiday dictate that you stuff yourself with fattening, sugar laden candies instead.

The words “Healthy” and “Halloween” may not traditionally go together, but this does not mean that we cannot be healthy, keeping our children healthy as well even during a holiday where candy is everywhere. Here are some simple strategies to use both before and after the trick or treating festivities.

- Make sure that everyone eats a snack or a meal before going out candy hunting.

This way no one will be tempted to sneak into the candy bags before the family gets home. It can be tempting to break into your candy stash before you get home, but this is bad both for your diet and your overall health because the candy needs to be fully checked out first.

- Rather than digging into the Halloween candy constantly for a few days before running out, consider rationing it out instead.

Try to stretch your candy out until the next holiday, eating only a few pieces a day as a dessert substitute or a special treat. You may even consider combining Halloween candy with a healthy snack like fruits or vegetables to undo some of the harm from the sugar laden, fattening candies.

- Break your candy collection into smaller bags and never eat more than one small bag of candy at a time.

Even candy can be delegated out through portion control to make sure that you do not eat enough.

- Much of your candy can be frozen for later, allowing it to last much longer than most Halloween candy.

Because frozen candy bars take a lot longer to eat, you can stretch them out into longer, more time consuming snacks to prevent overeating.

By exercising good portion control and taking steps to spread your Halloween candy stash out over a longer period of time, there is no reason why you cannot turn Halloween into a healthier and happier holiday. Sticking to a diet during Halloween may not be your favorite idea in the world, but spreading your candy out over a longer period of time and exercising portion control will allow you to get better use out of your Halloween candy stash rather than gobbling it all up within a couple of days.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2009-10-30 05:35:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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“In order to be open to creativity, one must have the capacity for contructive use of solitude. One must overcome the fear of being alone.” ~Rollo May

Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on twitter or identica.

Creativity is a nebulous, murky topic that fascinates me endlessly — how does it work? What habits to creative people do that makes them so successful at creativity?

I’ve reflected on my own creative habits, but decided I’d look at the habits that others consider important to their creativity. I picked a handful of creatives, almost at random — there are so many that picking the best would be impossible, so I just picked some that I admire, who came to mind when I thought of the word “creative”.

This was going to be a list of their creative habits … but in reviewing their lists, and my own habits, I found one that stood out. And it stands out if you review the habits and quotes from great creative people in history.

It’s the Most Important Habit when it comes to creativity.

After you read the No. 1 habit, please scroll down and read the No. 2 habit — they might seem contradictory but in my experience, you can’t really hit your creative stride until you find a way to balance both habits.

The No. 1 Creativity Habit

In a word: solitude.

Creativity flourishes in solitude. With quiet, you can hear your thoughts, you can reach deep within yourself, you can focus.

Of course, there are lots of ways to find this solitude. Let’s listen to a few of the creative people I talked to or researched:

Felicia Day – wonderful actress perhaps best known for her awesome awesome work on Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Guild.

I was thrilled when she replied to my email asking about her creative habits. One of the things she said: she makes “sure to be creative first thing in the morning, before doing anything for the outside world, really sets the day up for me. It makes it feel that CREATING is my job, not answering emails.”

Ali Edwards – an author, designer, and leading authority on scrapbooking.

I was honored with a response from Ali as well. One of her top habits wasn’t exactly solitude, but is related: “Do nothing. I have a habit of welcoming time away from my creative work. For me this is serious life-recharging time where my only responsibility is to just be Mom & Wife & Me. Doing nothing has a way of synthesizing what is really important in my life and in my work and inspires me beyond measure. When I come back to work I am better equipped to weed out the non-essential stuff and focus on the things I most want to express creatively.”

Chase Jarvis – an award-winning photographer.

Chase also kindly responded with several of his key creativity habits — see more great ones at the bottom of this post. But here’s one that I loved: “Find Quiet. Creativity sometimes washes over me during times of intense focus and craziness of work, but more often I get whacked by the creative stick when I’ve got time in my schedule. And since my schedule is a crazy one and almost always fills up if I’m just “living”, I tend to carve out little retreats for myself. I get some good thinking and re-charge time during vacations, or on airplanes, but the retreats are more focused on thinking about creative problems that I’m wanting to solve. That’s why I intentionally carve time out. I make room for creativity. Intentionally. The best example of what I mean by a retreat is a weekend at my family’s cabin. It’s a 90 minute drive from my house on the coast. There are few distractions. Just a rocky beach and a cabin from the 60’s with wood paneling and shag carpet. I go for walks, hikes, naps. I read. I did get an internet signal put in there to stay connected if I need it. But the gist is QUIET. Let there be space for creativity to fill your brain.”

Maciej Ceg?owski – painter, programmer, excellent writer.

Maciej is one of my favorite bloggers, and responded to my email with a classically short answer that to me, embodies a beautiful way to find solitude.

What habit helps his creativity?

Maciej replied: “Running up hills!”

Leo Babauta: OK, I wasn’t going to talk about myself in this post, but I thought I should share some of my previous thoughts.

The best art is created in solitude, for good reason: it’s only when we are alone that we can reach into ourselves and find truth, beauty, soul. Some of the most famous philosophers took daily walks, and it was on these walks that they found their deepest thoughts.

My best writing, and in fact the best of anything I’ve done, was created in solitude.

Just a few of the benefits I’ve found from solitude:

• time for thought
• in being alone, we get to know ourselves
• we face our demons, and deal with them
• space to create
• space to unwind, and find peace
• time to reflect on what we’ve done, and learn from it
• isolation from the influences of other helps us to find our own voice
• quiet helps us to appreciate the smaller things that get lost in the roar

Read more: the lost art of solitude.

The Greats on Solitude

Of course, many other creative people have believed in the habit of solitude. I’ve collected a small but influential sample here. There are many more examples.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music. He is among the most enduringly popular of classical composers.

Mozart: “When I am, as it were, completely myself, entirely alone, and of good cheer–say, traveling in a carriage or walking after a good meal or during the night when I cannot sleep–it is on such occasions that my ideas flow best and most abundantly.”

Albert Einstein – theoretical physicist, philosopher and author who is widely regarded as one of the most influential and best known scientists and intellectuals of all time. He is often regarded as the father of modern physics.

Einstein: “On the other hand, although I have a regular work schedule, I take time to go for long walks on the beach so that I can listen to what is going on inside my head. If my work isn’t going well, I lie down in the middle of a workday and gaze at the ceiling while I listen and visualize what goes on in my imagination.”

Franz Kafka – one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Novelist and writer of short stories whose works came to be regarded as one of the major achievements of 20th century literature.

Kafka: “You need not leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. You need not even listen, simply wait, just learn to become quiet, and still, and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked. It has no choice; it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.”

Nikola Tesla – inventor, one of the most important contributors to the birth of commercial electricity, best known for his many revolutionary developments in the field of electromagnetism.

Tesla: “The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude. Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind. Be alone—that is the secret of invention: be alone, that is when ideas are born.”

Joseph Haydn: A life-long resident of Austria, Haydn spent much of his career as a court musician for the wealthy Hungarian aristocratic Esterházy family on their remote estate. Isolated from other composers and trends in music until the later part of his long life, he was, as he put it, “forced to become original”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – German writer and polymath. Goethe’s works span the fields of poetry, drama, literature, theology, philosophy, and science.

His magnum opus, lauded as one of the peaks of world literature, is the two-part drama Faust.

Goethe: “One can be instructed in society, one is inspired only in solitude.”

Pablo Picasso – Spanish painter best known for co-founding the Cubist movement and for the wide variety of styles embodied in his work. His revolutionary artistic accomplishments brought him universal renown and immense fortunes throughout his life, making him one of the best-known figures in twentieth century art.

Picasso: “Without great solitude no serious work is possible.”

Carl Sandburg – American writer and editor, best known for his poetry.

He won three Pulitzer Prizes, two for his poetry and another for a biography of Abraham Lincoln. H. L. Mencken called Carl Sandburg “indubitably an American in every pulse-beat.”

Sandburg: “One of the greatest necessities in America is to discover creative solitude.”

Thomas Mann – German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, and 1929 Nobel Prize laureate, known for his series of highly symbolic and ironic epic novels and novellas, noted for their insight into the psychology of the artist and the intellectual.

Mann: “Solitude gives birth to the original in us, to beauty unfamiliar and perilous — to poetry.”

The No. 2 Creative Habit

While it might seem contradictory, the No. 2 habit when it comes to nurturing creativity: participation. This can come in many forms, but it requires connecting with others, being inspired by others, reading others, collaborating with others.

But how can you have both solitude and participation? They obviously have to come at different times. Finding the balance is key, of course, but it takes a conscious effort: this time is for solitude, and this time is for participation.

Why are they both important? We need inspiration from without, but we need creation from within.

A couple of the people I interviewed had habits that relate to this:

Chase Jarvis: “Devour Popular Culture. Consuming the works of others inspires me. And it’s not just museums and the “establishment”. I devour magazines, books, street art, performances, music, etc. All things that make me think critically (and whimsically) about the world. You get the picture. Inspiration can come from anywhere.”

Ali Edwards: “Participate. My creative spirit is interested in documenting the wonderful everyday details of our lives. To really get to the heart of the matter I need to be fully participating in my life, in the interactions with my kids and husband and family and friends. If I am just going through the motions or wishing away the present moment for “the next thing” I am missing the blessing of right now. My creativity requires the habit of active participation and daily attention to detail.”

Other Creative Habits

There are other habits than those top two, of course, that can nourish creativity. Some other good ones:

Felicia Day: “When I am most productive I am the most ruthless with my schedule. I will literally make a daily checklist with, “one hour gym”, “30 minutes of internet research,” and “drink 3 glasses of water” on it. For some reason being that disciplined creates a sense of control that I wouldn’t have otherwise, as a self-employed person, and I get the most out of the scheduled hours that I have for writing.”

Ali Edwards: “Take notes. I am a really good note-taker. It’s essential for me to write down my ideas when they come to mind…otherwise, poof, they disappear way too quickly as I move on to the next task (diaper changes, wiping noses, tending to the stuff of life). I use my phone, my computer, and a moleskine notebook to jot down thoughts and ideas and then I move them into Things every week or so.”

Chase Jarvis had a few more:

• Live a creative life everyday. I very much believe in doing creative stuff everyday. For one, I take photos and videos almost everyday. Doesn’t matter the camera. I use my iPhone everyday. Just taking photos keeps me in a creative headspace. Hell, I play with my food and draw and doodle.
• Moderate Expectations. Make it a habit not to judge yourself on your creative output. Sometimes your creativity is on fire. Great news. Other times, it’s not. It’s hard sometimes when you make art in a professional commercial capacity because you’re paid to be ‘ON’, but you’ll save yourself a lot of greif if you make it a habit to be cool to your psyche when your creative mojo isn’t firing on all pistons.
• Shake Your Tree. When I’m starting to feel stale, I make a habit of getting into adventures. Break molds. Drive home from work a different way. Stir up my routine. I get active and shake my tree.
• Find fun.  Doing what you love inspires you to be more creative.  Make time and space for having fun.  All work and no play makes Jane a dull girl.
• Lastly, being creative means living a creative life.  Expect yourself to have one.  Believe you are creative. Know that you are. Make that the most important habit of all.

For more on creativity, read my Little But Useful Guide to Creativity.

“Creativity is essentially a lonely art. An even lonelier struggle. To some a blessing. To others a curse. It is in reality the ability to reach inside yourself and drag forth from your very soul an idea.” ~Lou Dorfsman

—
If you liked this guide, please bookmark it on Delicious or share on Twitter. Thanks, my friends.

High blood pressure is a problem that affects millions of Americans every year. Many of us are struggling with numbers that are too high and we cannot seem to get them down. Before trying any of the advice mentioned here it is vital to speak with your doctor. You may need to have medication to lower your pressure or you may be able to do it with your diet. Either way, you need to make sure that you are doing it the right way.

So, let’s take a look at some foods that are known to help you lower your blood pressure. Please keep in mind that we’re not suggesting that you eat entire bowls of the below foods, but in moderation and with the right amount of exercise, each one has the potential to lower your blood pressure.

1. Oatmeal.

Out of all the foods you could eat to get your blood pressure under control, oatmeal is probably the most powerful. People get results with oatmeal that are astounding and in some cases, blood pressure readings can drop by ten points or more after a month of eating oatmeal every day. This food is rich in soluble fiber and helps bind fat in your body before flushing it away. Numerous studies have been done on oatmeal and its effects and it is one of the easiest foods to eat to help get those numbers down. Just don’t fall into the trap of pilling on the sugar to make it more palatable.

2. & 3. Onions and Garlic.

You may not be very popular, but you will have lower blood pressure with these foods. They both work in much the same way by thinning the blood and making it easier to pump it through your body. These should be eaten in moderation, or you can even take garlic capsules to get the same results, without having to worry about the breath issue.

4. Melons.

The melon family, including cucumbers and cantaloupe, have been shown to help lower blood pressure. The good news is that these are quite tasty, easy to eat and won’t leave you with bad breath like onions and garlic can. You can easily add at least one serving of either every day.

By far, the best way to really lower your blood pressure is to get healthy. This means proper exercise, the right kind of diet and talking with your doctor to determine how to get your numbers into an acceptable range. You may be able to do it with your diet, but if not, it is important to take that medication to lower you numbers. It is far better than the side effects of having high blood pressure. Just remember, never try to lower your blood pressure on your own without the care of a doctor. You don’t want to risk your health, especially if your blood pressure is already quite high. Do it the smart way and your numbers will improve!

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-08-12 05:47:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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I keep my time saved in a box
From going fast in cars
I’ve piled it up high
From saying hello to friends with a quick goodbye
~Kathryn Williams, Flicker

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Corey Allan of Simple Marriage.

The world is seemingly moving at a faster pace. Everywhere you turn, the pace is quick. Deadlines are moved up, workload is increased, kid’s schedules are packed, to-do lists are long, housework never ends – it’s chaos.

At least it feels this way.

Has the world really sped up? Are there more things happening today than 50 years ago? No, and no.

Some things around us may involve more pressure and feel like it’s moving faster, but many times it only feels this way. Thanks to the Internet and cable we hear about everything that happens, immediately.

Our interconnectedness through technology has helped create the illusion of a faster paced world. It’s also created the illusion of less loneliness and isolation – but there’s nothing that can replace real life connections with other people. Physical contact and interaction is vital.

This loss of contact and the perceived pace of the world produces a feeling of chronic anxiousness and a decrease in the ability to find pleasure in some of the simple things.

Honestly, when was the last time you stopped and took in the smell of fresh baked bread? Or colored with crayons? Or walked barefoot in the grass? Or took a few minutes to just breathe?

No where is the impact of our pace felt more than in marriage and family. It’s extremely difficult to move hurriedly through your day and then slow down enough to enjoy your family or your spouse in the evening.

Some of the reasons marriage and family relationships go through sour patches is the squeezing they get from our schedules, disconnection, and pace. It’s easy to get caught up in other things and have the immediate outweigh the important.

To reverse this, here’s a few ideas to try:

Start small.
No change in life is easy or comfortable. Working to let go of the pace around you and creating your own speed takes time and should be attempted in small, incremental steps. Begin by giving yourself permission to slow down. This may seem like a no brainer, but many people believe they don’t have permission to slow down. You do. Whenever life seems to move too fast, take a deep breathe. Three to five slow, deep breaths will slow everything down.

Leave the office.
And I mean leave the office. Shut off all projects, messages, emails, phone calls and conversations and leave the office at the end of the day. Most everything can wait until the next day, so leave it alone until then. As an added help, create a routine to help you disengage from the office on the way home. Walk down the stairs slowly rather than taking the elevator. Drive down tree lined streets rather than the interstate. Walk or bike home from work if possible. Listen to good music while on the train or bus. Stop by the gym for a workout. No matter which way you transition from work to home, make it intentional. Breathe. Relax. Breathe. Let work go. Then walk through the door to your home and enjoy time with those you love.

Turn off all electronic gadgets.
This one is simple. Turn off the phone. The Internet. The television. Spend time talking, playing games, take a walk outside. The point is, unplug and connect with other humans.

Be 100% present.
This is tough at times. But it also is a source of increased tension in life. When I’m with my kids and have other things on my mind, my kids become a pest and source of frustration – at least that’s the way it plays out. When I’ve got work on my mind, my son’s request to play cars is an annoyance rather than an invitation into the world of imaginative play with my child. Whatever you are doing, focus on being 100% present. Multitasking is impossible anyway. Focus on doing one thing at a time and being 100% present while doing it.

Take a walk.
Make it a priority to walk with your spouse and your kids each day. There’s tremendous benefit to being out in nature, even if it’s nature in the city. Want a sure-fire way to improve your marriage? Walk and talk with your spouse at least 30 minutes a day.

Eat outside.
There’s something great about being in nature. There’s something even greater about sharing a meal with others outside. Head to the park for a picnic, eat on the patio at home or restaurants.

Prepare for your day.
Spend a moment at the end of your day preparing for the next day. Pick out clothes, make lunches, talk with your spouse. Then in the morning, before you jump into your day, take some time a simply sit quietly. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Breathe slowly, meditate, pray. What a great way to start each day.

Corey is the editor of Simple Marriage a site filled with laid back information that will make your relationships better. You can subscribe via rss or email.

Founding member and bassist for Slipknot, Paul Gray was found dead in his Iowa hotel room. The popular metal band member was just 38 years old and his wife Brenna is expecting a baby.

Gray, who is also known as #2 and The Pig, seemed happy according to friends and family. However, suicide has not been ruled out. Slipknot had a platinum-selling, self-titled debut album back in 1999, and two follow-up albums (2002/2005) that also went platinum.

They have been nominated for seven Grammy Awards, and took home the trophy in 2006 for best metal performance.
Image: UPI

Post from: EveryJoe

Slipknot Bassist Paul Gray Dead at 38

If you are just getting into exercising or you are an old pro, injuries can happen at any time. It doesn’t take much to injure our joints or muscles and exercising improperly only contributes to the problem. Before you go out to do your next workout, remember these tips to ensure that you won’t be running the risk of an injury.

1. Find the right balance.

Repetitive exercises will wear down your joints, especially if you are doing several sets in a row. It is important to change up your routines to avoid putting too much stress on the same joints for a long period of time. For example, if you like to run for thirty minutes, go for ten, stretch for ten, and then complete your run for the next ten minutes. If you’re at the gym, switch machines for a few minutes before going back to your favorite one. This can really help you avoid injury.

2. Make sure you are using proper form.

One of the best ways to injure yourself while exercising is to do the exercises wrong. Make sure that you know what the proper form looks like and frequently check yourself to make sure you are doing it the right way. For example, your knees should always be aligned with your feet, your torso should be straight and your neck should not be bent forward. Finding the right form will actually improve the effectiveness of your workout. If you’re not sure if you are doing an exercise correctly, you may want to ask a trainer to give you a few tips, or take one lesson with them to see what you need to change.

Also be sure to wear proper clothing!

3. Take a break.

It sounds simple, but it is important to schedule brief breaks during your workout, especially if you are really going at. Allow a few minutes in between exercises to get your strength back and allow your muscles to relax. However, don’t wait too long, or you’ll need to stretch again to warm your muscles back up. Just a breather here and there can make a big difference in preventing injuries.

4. Follow the 10% rule.

Once you start working out and seeing results, it is very tempting to keep amping up your workouts. However, you need to give your body time to adjust to all of this new activity. Don’t go from 30 minute workouts one day to 45 minute workouts the next. Instead, use the 10% rule and add 3 minutes a day until you get up to your desired length. This helps your body get accustomed to the new level of activity and your muscles will thank you.

While many of us have been trained to “feel the burn” and accept pain, sports injuries are no laughing matter. Listen to your body – if it feels wrong or you are in pain, you need to stop immediately. There is a difference between working your muscles and overworking them and it is vital to be able to tell the difference.

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Originally posted 2008-07-01 05:55:52. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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‘And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.’ ~Kahlil Gibran

Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on twitter or identica.

When I first heard about barefoot running, several years ago, I was skeptical — don’t we need cushion to protect us from injuries, and why would I want to run barefoot, anyway?

But several months ago, I read a few influential articles (stemming from the popularity of Christopher McDougall’s book, Born to Run) and decided to give barefoot running a try. Why not?

Today, I’m happy to say I’m a barefoot runner, and I love it.

I’ve given away my Asics, and now I run exclusively with my Vibram Fivefinger KSOs or completely barefoot. I’m running as fast or faster than ever, lighter than ever, injury-free, and I feel connected to the ground I run on. My feet have become stronger, and I feel better. Running was always fun, but now it feels like play!

The Whys of Barefoot Running

For decades now, runners (including me) have been sold on the need for good running shoes — if you want to prevent injuries, invest in good shoes. Proper cushioning, and sometimes rigid motion control or stability features, were needed, and if you had injuries, you probably had the wrong shoes.

But recent studies have proven what traditional peoples have known all along — that running barefoot strengthens your feet and is a more natural way to run. Running in cushioned, motion-controlled shoes is like having your neck in a cast for a month — when you take the cast off, your neck muscles will be weak. You also pound your feet much harder with running shoes, causing problems not only with feet but knees and other joints. We’re making our feet weak, and pounding them hard — it’s no wonder we have all kinds of injuries.

When you first start running barefoot, your feet will be weak, so take it very slowly at first. It takes weeks and months to build up the strength necessary for faster or longer running, but after awhile, your feet get stronger than ever before.

There are numerous studies still being done on this, so don’t draw any long-term conclusions yet. My thinking is to give it a try, and see how it works.

Even more important that the strength of your feet is your connection to the earth. Simply put, shoes shelter us from the surfaces we run on, but that’s not always a good thing. Read The Barefoot Philosophy for more.

However, a big caveat: if you think barefoot running will make you faster, you’re probably going to be disappointed. It’s not about running faster — although it is possible. From what I can tell, I’m running faster than ever, though I’m also lighter than I’ve been since I was around 18 or 19. Running barefoot is about connecting with the ground, about feeling, about freedom and lightness, about fun. It’s not about speed.

Read Barefoot Ted on this for more — he knows way more about the topic than I do, and is an amazing resource.

Equipment

It might seem weird to talk about “barefoot running equipment”, but it’s not a bad idea to use “barefoot shoes”. A contradiction? Of course — what would life be without contradictions and ironies?

I mentioned my Vibram Fivefinger KSOs … Vibrams are the most popular of minimalist shoes that simulate barefoot running. The KSOs, from my research, are probably the best Fivefinger model for running. While they might seem a little expensive, running shoes can often cost this much, and if you shop around, you can probably find a pair for under $100.

Why use Fivefingers? They remove the cushioning and motion control of running shoes, allowing your feet to strengthen and feel the ground more, but still give your feet the protection you’ll probably want as you head out on roads of asphalt and glass, and trails strewn with pebbles and roots. It’s actually a good idea to start with barefoot shoes, as they make a great transition into barefoot running.

It’s worth noting that many traditional societies that run without cushioned shoes (such as the native Tarahumara tribes of Mexico, featured so prominently in Born to Run) often do use some kind of sandals or other protection against getting cut on the soles of your feet.

Do you need barefoot shoes like Fivefingers? No. You can go outside right now and get started, with no shoes. It would be smart to start on surfaces you know are safe from glass, metal, and rocks, though, as you don’t want your barefoot experience to be a painful one.

Fivefingers allow you to learn the mechanics and form of barefoot running, build your strength, and transition into barefoot running, without the pain.

How to Get Started

In a word: slowly.

Many people make the mistake of doing too much, too quickly, and that’s a big mistake. It can lead to pain, injury, and discouragement. Remember, your feet, ankles and calves are weak from running or walking with shoes all the time. You will find a lot of soreness if you go too far or too fast. You need to build it up slowly, gently.

Here’s what I recommend:

1. Try running barefoot or with barefoot shoes on a hard surface, just for a few minutes, slowly. Maybe at the end of a regular run, if you’re running regularly. If you’re not a regular runner, just do a short run for a few minutes, because your body won’t be used to running for any longer amount anyway. Running on a hard surface is good for your first few times, because you will naturally run with better form — with shoes, you’re used to pounding on your heels and overextending your legs, but when you’re barefoot, you have no cushion, and running by extending and pounding your feet on your heels is going to hurt on a hard surface. Run lightly, landing quietly and softly on your forefeet or midfeet. See more about form below.

2. Slowly lengthen the time you run barefoot (or with barefoot shoes). Just a minute or two longer, a few times a week. Go slowly — don’t try to sprint or run hard. Continue to run lightly, working on not pounding. Try different surfaces — asphalt, concrete, grass, dirt. Let your body slowly adapt to this new running style, and your muscles slowly get stronger.

3. Eventually, you can do shorter runs completely with barefoot shoes. Shorter runs might mean 15-30 minutes if you’re an experienced runner, or perhaps 10 minutes for a less experienced runner. For longer or harder runs, you might still wear shoes for now, because you’re not ready for long or hard runs barefoot. Let this phase take several weeks.

4. Eventually you can stop using your running shoes. Especially if you have barefoot shoes and are used to running in them for longer runs. Your feet and legs should be stronger at this point. It might take a couple months to get to this point. I let my Asics sit in the closet for a month before I got rid of them.

5. Gradually try running completely barefoot, on softer or smoother surfaces. A park with a smooth concrete surface, or grass or beaches, are good places to start running without the barefoot shoes. Your soles are probably soft and sensitive if you’ve been using shoes most of your life, so it takes some adjustment to all of a sudden feel varied and rough surfaces under your feet. Starting out on rougher asphalt or surfaces with lots of pebbles (or worse, glass or pieces of metal) is a bad idea. I know — I tried it the first few times and it hurt! Eventually you can do short to medium runs with bare feet.

Remember, at each stage, go slowly and take your time. There’s no need to rush it, and even if you’re feeling ambitious or you think you’re better than the rest of us, hold back. It’ll make the whole experience much, much more enjoyable.

The Barefoot Running Form

Some notes on form:

• Land on your forefeet or midfeet (balls of your feet) instead of your heels. Too much on your forefeet can make your calves sore. If you feel yourself landing on your heels, shorten your stride.
• Strides should be short — don’t extend your legs as far as you do with shoes. It should feel almost like you’re running in place.
• Keep upright and balanced. Keep your feet under your hips and shoulders.
• Stay light. You should feel like you’re light on your feet, not pounding at all. Barefoot runners tend to be a little more springy in their step.
• Run quietly. If you are making a lot of noise with your steps (as shoe-wearing runners do), you’re pounding too hard. Try to run softly, quietly, like an animal.

FAQs

Some Frequently Asked Questions — if you have other questions, please ask them via Twitter and I’ll add answers to this section.

Q: I’ve heard (or experienced) that Vibram Fivefingers start to smell bad after a few weeks. How do you keep them smelling fresh?

A: Interestingly, my Fivefingers didn’t smell at all for almost two months, so I wondered where this notion came from (and I don’t have odorless feet). But then they started to smell, so I just followed the Vibram recommendation: throw them in the washer with a little laundry soap, and let them air dry (not in the dryer). Works like a charm. I do this every two weeks or so. They dry quickly.

Q: Have you experienced any pain or injuries yet?

A: No, but keep in mind I’ve only done it for a few months now. The jury is still out. Sometimes I’m a little sore after a longer run, but then I realize that I was pounding too much, and the next time out I am a little more conscious of my form and everything is fine.

Q: My calves get really sore! What’s up?

A: This is probably normal. You’re running with a different form, and anytime you do a new physical activity you’ll probably get some soreness. Just be sure to start slowly, and just do a few minutes first, and increase slowly. You’ll minimize the soreness this way. I still sometimes get pretty sore after doing barefoot sprint intervals, but I’m probably pounding too fast when I sprint.

Q: Do you have problems with glass or rocks?

A: Sometimes. I tend to watch the ground a little more than I used to, which is a good thing — it forces you to be more conscious of where you’re running. I try to avoid places that are too rocky, and I go around glass. I haven’t had too much trouble, even when completely barefoot, but it is something to be aware of.

Q: Will this make me faster?

A: Not necessarily. I’ve been running faster after a few months, but I’m not sure it’s the barefoot training. I haven’t been any slower. But running faster isn’t the point, and there’s no guarantee it’ll happen.

Q: I’m the kind of runner who runs through pain. Is that OK with barefoot running?

A: It’s not smart. The best way, again, is to do it slowly, and without pain. If you feel pain, stop or slow down. You don’t want to injure yourself — that’s counterproductive.

Q: What’s the best model of Vibram Fivefingers to buy?

A: I’ve only tried the KSOs, but from the research I’ve done it seems to be the best model for runners. The Velcro strap helps keep stuff out (KSO), so it’s good for trails, running or grass or dirt, or even sand. So far, I’m very happy with the KSOs, but I can’t definitively say they’re the best.

Q: Is it really minimalist to replace your running shoes with Vibrams that cost $125 or more?

A: I’m not sure if it’s minimalist — the minimalist thing to do would probably be to start completely barefoot, with smooth or soft surfaces and only going a little at a time until you build up the strength and tougher soles to go longer. And that’s a completely valid way to go. I started with the Vibrams because I felt a little safer transitioning from shoes to barefoot — the Vibrams give you a little protection, and it takes some getting used to when you first transition to barefoot. I recommend this method, but it’s not the only way. Btw, you can probably find Fivefingers for less than $100 if you look around, and it’s also worth noting that most quality running shoes are in the same price range.

Q: Are there people who shouldn’t run barefoot?

A: Sure. This article from Running Times says that diabetics and others who can’t feel their feet well shouldn’t do it — without the feedback of feeling in your feet, you’ll probably pound too hard. Others who probably shouldn’t run barefoot include those with bones that didn’t heal properly from a break, and those with rheumatoid arthritis or otherwise abnormal feet. I’d add that anyone with ongoing feet or leg injuries should wait until the injuries are completely healed, and those who aren’t likely to take it slow (overly competitive runners) might not be good candidates for barefoot running.

Again, if you have other questions, please ask them via Twitter and I’ll add answers to this section.

Further Resources

This article is just to get you started. Here’s more reading:

• Barefoot running: How humans ran comfortably and safely before the invention of shoes
• Running Barefoot: Training Tips
• The Shocking Truth About Running Shoes – ScienceNOW
• How To Run Barefoot
• Barefoot Ted’s Adventures
• The Running Barefoot
• Nate’s Barefoot Blog
• YouTube – Is it the shoes? It’s gotta be the shoes.
• Minimalist Runner : Running Like Never Before
• First Barefoot Running Tip from Steven Sashen of InvisibleShoe
• Barefoot Running is Bad For You! | InvisibleShoe.com
• Running Times Magazine: Much Ado About Minimalism
• One (Barefoot) Step at a Time | Runner’s World
• Wikipedia: Barefoot Running
• Vibram Fivefingers
• Barefoot Runner

‘… live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.’ ~Henry David Thoreau

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If you liked this guide, please bookmark it on Delicious or share on Twitter. Thanks, my friends.

Like many other herbs and oils, peppermint has a number of benefits on your body and mind. These cure-alls were provided by Avalon Organics, who make a number of healthy peppermint products.

Skin Care: Menthol is found in Peppermint Oil which has a cooling effect to the skin. It also nourishes dull skin, but improves the quality of oily.

Respiratory Problems: Menthol, in peppermint oil, helps clear the respiratory tract. It can give temporary relief to congestion, sinusitis, and colds and coughs.

Headache: One of nature’s best home remedies for migraines, Peppermint oil can be placed on the forehead and is known to remove headache.

Stress: When massaged into the body, the scent is said to provide relief from stress, depression, and mental exaustion due to its refreshing nature.

Pain Relief: Peppermint Oil contains calcium antagonium that aids in removing pain and the cooling nature helps reduce fever.

Image: sxc.hu

Post from: EveryJoe

The Power or Peppermint Oil

The occasional sinful snack isn’t really going to ruin your weight loss endeavor, but the less that you eat of these particular foods, the better off you will tend to be. Why should you be opting for a food choice that is loaded with bad calories and fat, when you can choose something just as delicious that is loaded with nutrients and healthful calories? In order to make it far easier for you to eliminate these foods in favor of healthier options, we have supplied some alternatives that can save you as many as several hundred calories while boosting your intake of healthy nutrients at the same time.

Doughnuts pair well with coffee and serve as a quick breakfast food, but they are also typically quite high when it comes to calories and fat. Depending on where you are getting your doughnut from, you could be eating 300 calories and a lot of unnecessary fat. There are plenty of better breakfast choices that pack much more nutritional content than a doughnut could ever offer you. Instead of grabbing a doughnut, try a whole grain waffle paired with yogurt or a piece of fruit. This breakfast option is going to pack in more vitamins, more minerals and more fiber rather than simply a bunch of empty calories. These foods are going to keep you fuller for much longer because they are offering the right carbohydrates, fiber and protein so you will not end up feeling starving by the time mid-morning rolls around.

Fried chicken takes healthy chicken and cooks it in fat-rich oil that ups the fat grams and the calorie count significantly for no real reason. Instead, cut out as many as 17 grams of fat and 200 calories simply by choosing a grilled chicken variety in place of fried chicken, especially when it comes to fast-food varieties of friend chicken. When you grill, broil or bake your chicken and when you remove the skin, you can greatly minimize the number of fat grams and calories that you consume.

Candy bars seem like a great snack because they are small and readily available, but most candy bars happens to be high in not only calories but also sugar while maintaining very low levels of nutrients. For example, a single Snickers bar, Twix bar or Baby Ruth bar clocks in at nearly 300 calories with 14 grams of fat, some of which are unhealthy trans fats. Instead, try something salty such as a handful of nuts, or a 100-calorie pack of your favorite snack like fat free pudding. You may also try a piece of fresh fruit which will be sweet and palatable with the helpful addition of calorie control at the same time. You don’t need excess calories simply to curb you appetite a bit, but what you do need is something with protein and fiber in order to give you the energy and the appetite suppressing power that you need.

Photo credits: pochacco20

Originally posted 2009-09-03 03:49:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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