Family Surf - ACTIVATE

Father - Son combo.

San Diego's, Jason Jenkins
PHOTO LOCATION:  Fiji, 2012

San Diego's, Carson Jenkins
PHOTO LOCATION: Fiji in a year or two !!!

Father - Son combo.

HBO Documentary Films: The Weight of the Nation Trailer

Passion

Burn Calories Playing in the Snow

Winter is such an awesome time because the snow and ice allow you to do so many fun activities. Let's see how they compare. This chart shows how many calories you burn per hour. 

Activity	Calories Burned
Building a Snowman	285 calories burned per hour
Having a Snowball Fight	319 calories burned per hour
Making Snow Angels	214 calories burned per hour

Winter Sport	120-lb woman	150-lb woman
Skiing	273	340
Snowboarding	273	340
Snowshoeing	382	476
Cross-Country Skiing	436	476
Ice Skating	327	408
Ice Hockey	436	544
Winter Hiking	327	408
Shoveling Snow	273	340
Sledding	327	408

So skip the gym this weekend, instead grab your honey, best friend or grandmother and play in the snow.


Source: Unknown

12 Ways to Grow Younger in 2012

Wouldn't it be nice to feel younger as you get older? You can, and it isn't the stuff of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." From taking vitamin D to watching your blood pressure and managing stress, these 12 anti-aging strategies will help you live younger in 2012.

Want to grow younger in 2012? Pump iron a few times a week.

1. Take vitamin D. YOU Docs Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., and Michael F. Roizen, M.D., call vitamin D "the ultimate anti-ager." That's because it nourishes your memory, skin, heart, bones, and arteries, and it helps fight off cancer. Getting enough vitamin D daily (1,000 mg; 1,200 mg after age 60) can make your body think it's 9.4 years younger.

Here's the best time of day to take your vitamin D.

2. Care for your teeth and gums. A healthy smile looks lovely -- and helps keep your arteries and immune system in top shape. Flossing and brushing daily can prevent periodontal disease and tooth loss, which can make you feel 6.1 years younger.

3. Watch your numbers. Keeping your waist size, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol in the healthy zone dramatically reduces your risk of many problems, including cardiovascular disease. The combined effect can make your body think it's as much as 19.8 years younger.

4. Keep stress in check.Stress comes in many shapes, sizes, and strengths. Some stress is good, but the bad kind ages you inside and out. Reducing bad stress with meditation or other meditation techniques can help you feel 1.7 years younger.

Use these 12 steps to conquer stress.

5. Stay in touch. Reach out to family and friends through e-mails, phone calls, and, whenever you can, face-to-face visits. Staying connected can make you feel 8.5 years younger.

6. Pump some iron. Working out with weights does your muscles and... Read More

Article Link:  12 Ways to Grow Younger in 2012
By The Editors at RealAge | Healthy Living

Christmas Eve Cowles Mountain San Diego

... more on lifestyle, climate and prime time real estate!

Cell phone photos taken by Mike Ginn

Perfect weather!

Coronado Islands & Lake Murray

Trail head, Cowles Mtn in the distance

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders Loses 94 Pounds - Men's Fitness

San Diego residents looking for inspiration to lose weight don't need to look any further than their mayor, Jerry Sanders.

JERRY SANDERS
Hometown: San Diego, California
Age: 61
Height: 5'10"
Weight Before: 276 lbs.
Weight After: 182 lbs.

With all the lifestyle changes, the pounds didn't really start to come off until his trainer, whom he works with twice a week, started making him take accountability for his progress. "He thought I was working out hard, but I wasn't losing weight fast enough, so he started weighing me every Friday and that's what turned the table."

Beyond the health benefits (his blood pressure and cholesterol dropped with his pants size), he gets constant motivation from how much he loves walking (his rep tells us his music of choice during these epic walks is Pink Floyd) and the response he's gotten from everyone around him. "It's been kind of amazing. People are really focused ... Read More

By Elizabeth Yun

Aging Well Through Exercise

Dana Edmunds/Getty Images

“They suggest strongly that people don’t have to lose muscle mass and function as they grow older. The changes that we’ve assumed were due to aging and therefore were unstoppable seem actually to be caused by inactivity. And that can be changed.”

Ric Elias: 3 things I learned while my plane crashed | Video on TED.com

Ric Elias: 3 things I learned while my plane crashed | Video on TED.com

In-Your-Face Fitness: The pull to Exercise Outdoors

There are advantages to the treadmill, but running in the open air can be a powerful motivator.

Running on a treadmill when it's beautiful outside? Why? (Siri Stafford / Getty Images / October 28, 2011)

On a recent beautiful and sunny day, I strolled into my local gym to lift some weights. The gym is near Nose Hill Park, which is one of the largest municipal parks in North America. It has majestic views of the city of Calgary and the Rocky Mountains, which can be seen from endless miles of paths and trails.

As I made my way toward the room full of heavy things I intended to pick up and put back down, I spied the double line of high-tech treadmills. Most of them were occupied.

I looked at the indoor running enthusiasts and thought, Are you people on dope?

I hate treadmills — the view doesn't change and they make me feel like a hamster on a wheel. Even when it's cold enough to get the beginnings of frostbite on a valuable part of my male anatomy (that really happened — not my best day), I still prefer to go outside.

And it turns out there is a reason, but it's psychological, not physiological.

Much has been written about the biomechanical and metabolic differences between running on treadmills and running outdoors, and the general consensus is that both types of workouts are essentially... Read More

Article Link:  In-Your-Face Fitness: The pull to exercise outdoors

By James S. Fell, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Inspiring Woman: Triathlete and Two-Time Breast Cancer Survivor

Laurah Turner is a 29 year-old, competitive runner and tri-athlete, two-time breast cancer survivor, and biological anthropologist.

Article Link:  Inspiring Woman: Triathlete and Two-Time Breast Cancer Survivor

San Diego is Perfect for Sport

San Diego celebrates sport, an active lifestyle and the great outdoors - from kitesurfing to cycling, golf to American Football.

Torrey Pines Golf Course,  San Diego

Early morning “shore side” skating, swimming, cycling, kitesurfing, running or walking are part of the San Diegan psyche. 

But the true passion in San Diego is surfing. Almost everyone has learnt or – at the very least – tried it. The wild Pacific waves that crash against the Southern Californian coast attract devotees from all over the state and beyond. “Waves before your day” is an oft-repeated phrase here – and perfectly encapsulates how residents make use of the city’s natural gifts.

But if San Diegans aren’t outdoors playing sport, you can be certain they’ll be watching it.

You are what you think - Quotes

- I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains.
Anne Frank

- Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe it can achieve.
- There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge.

5 Mind Games You Need to Stop Playing

These Common Tricks Never Motivate--Find Out Why

Motivation is like cold hard cash: You can never have too much! And when you’re trying to lose weight (for the umpteenth time for many of us) you know that you need a wealth of motivational strategies you can count on. But, with so many motivational tips and tricks to sift through, why are we so often losing our motivation rather than reaping the rewards?

One reason is that some of the most popular motivation strategies people use are mind games—games that don't really work for the long term. At first glance, they all seem helpful, but most are actually bound to fail. Instead of playing Russian roulette when you’re choosing a weight-loss strategy, read on to find out how you can beat the odds and pick a winner.

Mind Game #1:  Going for the Gold
You have your perfect weight and pants size in mind. With a big, bold goal to aspire to, you start biking to work, cooking lighter, packing your lunch, skipping that morning latte, and taking the stairs. Then, three busy, butt-busting weeks later…the scale hasn’t really budged and you’re trying on the same size  in the dressing room. Deflated, you start snacking a bit here and slacking a bit there, and your dream of a whittled waistline slowly fades from view.
 

Motivation Makeover: Going for the gold is a great way to start your weight-loss plan; setting a long-term goal can help you to keep an eye on where you’re headed. But it’s also important to remember that your goal weight is far from the only benefit of incorporating healthy eating and exercise—and it could be a long ways off. Taking note of smaller, more subtle changes (more energy, better sleep, lower cholesterol, better mood, etc.) can help you stay motivated, even if the pounds aren’t coming off as quickly as you’d hoped. Setting some shorter-term goals (1 pound, 5 pounds)—especially ones that aren't based on the scale (like getting to the gym 5 days a week) can also help you stay on track.

Mind Game #2:  Starting Out Super Strong
It’s Sunday evening and you realize that you spent the weekend indulging on brews, barbeques, and binges. A twinge of guilt has you psyched to start speeding down the road to wellness first thing Monday. So you restock your pantry with healthy eats, download a hardcore training app to your phone, and... read more

Article Link:  5 Mind Games You Need to Stop Playing, These Common Tricks Never Motivate--Find Out Why

By Megan Coatley, Behavior Expert

Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com

Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com

61-year-old Vietnam vet makes the cut as a small-college kicker

At an age when many start thinking about retirement, Alan Moore is restarting his football career.

Moore, a 61 year-old Vietnam veteran, will kick this fall for Faulkner University, a small Christian school in Montgomery, Ala., 43 years after his initial college career was cut short by Vietnam. When he takes the field against Ave Maria on Sept. 10, Moore will be the oldest player ever to take the field for a four-year university.  Continue Article

Article Link:  61-year-old Vietnam vet makes the cut as a small-college kicker

By Nick Bromberg

Your Surfing Photos -- National Geographic

Your Surfing Photos -- National Geographic

  

4th ANNUAL SUPERGIRL PRO JUNIOR SURF CONTEST RIDES THE WAVES IN OCEANSIDE, CA, AUGUST 13

Looking for something fun and spontaneous to do this weekend?

Pack a lunch and visit Oceanside's, SuperGirl Pro Junior Surf Contest to root on the best of the best female under-20 years old surfers!! Between heats, treat yourself to a light walk or jog along the shoreline, eh!?

WORLD'S TOP PROS GATHER FOR THE ONLY 6-STAR ASP PRO JUNIOR CONTEST IN NORTH AMERICA

LOS ANGELES (July 25, 2011) - The 4th Annual Supergirl Pro Junior surf contest will hit the waves in Oceanside, CA on August 13 with one of the biggest contests in Pro Junior history.  Sixteen of the best 20-year-old-and-under female surfers in the world will be competing for the coveted Supergirl cape in the only 6-Star Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Pro Junior contest in North America.

The Supergirl Pro Junior surf contest will begin at 11:15am on August 13 at the Oceanside Pier and will feature a series of head-to-head heats with the finals scheduled for 2:15pm.  Admission to the event is free.

Read More:  4th ANNUAL SUPERGIRL PRO JUNIOR

Diana Nyad forced to abandon Cuba-Florida swim

Diana Nyad earned a medal in our book. A 61 year old woman attemtping to swim from Cuba to Florida!? You can hang a STAR on that one!

Photos: Diana Nyad swimming from Cuba to Florida



Diana Nyad

(Photo: Reuters)
U.S. swimmer Diana Nyad swims on her way to Florida as she departs from Havana August 7, 2011. The swimmer was forced to cut the swim short early Tuesday.



Diana Nyad

(Adalberto Roque / AFP/Getty Images)

Boats accompany swimmer Diana Nyad as she leaves from the Ernest Hemingway Nautical Club on Sunday.

Diana Nyad

(Bob East III / Sun Sentinel)

Diana Nyad in 1979 after a Bahamas-to-Florida swim.

Artile Link:  Diana Nyad forced to abandon Cuba-Florida swim

Top Advice to Quit Smoking - 20 Reader Tips to Stop Smoking for Good

"Are you among the 70 percent of smokers who wish you could quit? Then you probably know firsthand that quitting smoking is not easy, and usually requires multiple attempts before you successfully stop. But quitting smoking for good is possible: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, about 48 million adults are former smokers; there are more former smokers in the nation than current smokers.And many of them are Everyday Health Facebook fans, who recently shared the strategies that helped them kick butt. Here are some of our favorite motivational tips and inspirational stories."

Keep an Inspiring List

"I smoked two packs a day from age 15 to 35 and quit cold turkey 15 years ago. I wrote down all the reasons for quitting and looked at them several times a day. I kept a running total of how much money I was saving. I kept lots of hard candies. I scrubbed my house and car so they smelled good. And I walked when I really needed a smoke. The first three weeks were miserable. The next year was challenging. The second year I realized how much better I felt and freer I was." — Sharon Blavier Hargrove

Start a Healthy Hobby

"I gave up smoking and picked up running. The fitter I got, the less I wanted to ruin that feeling by smoking." — Janice Gadd

Find a Go-To Healthy Snack

"The hand-to-mouth habit is hard to break; hence why people typically gain weight, so I recommend almonds to snack on." — Tara Smith Caron "I used lollipops at first but then I switched to baby carrot sticks because I didn’t want to put on weight. I never even noticed that my pants were getting tighter until I couldn't get into them. I have gained a lot of weight since the day I quit, but I would take that because dieting is a lot easier and less drastic than dying." — Celeste Lamasa 

 

Consider Your Cancer Risk

"[I stopped] cold turkey! My best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer and it [spread] to her bones. When the cancer went to her brain, I quit — for myself, and my son! Watching her slowly die was one of the worst things I ever had to do. But I had to be there for her. If that wasn't enough to make you want to quit, I don't know what would! It’s been five years, and I crave a cig once in a while. I breathe in and out think of something different and then it’s gone!" — Pam Goodwin McGee
"I quit cold turkey five years ago. My grandmother passed away from cancer and emphysema; watching her suffer and smother was all I needed." — Dana Brantley McMullan

Quit for Your Kids

"I gave up [smoking] 25 years ago when my 4-year-old was imitating me with a cigarette while she was playing with her dolls! I was a pack-a-day smoker, and am happy I quit. Our mind is a powerful thing ... make up your mind and stick to it!" — Simona Vasquez
"I quit July 1982 after my 5-year-old son came into kitchen pretending to "smoke like mommy does.” Immediately threw out the rest of the pack, and have never looked back. It can be done. Where there is a will, there is a way!" — Eileen Kaye Carter

  

Artilce Link: Top Advice to Quit Smoking - 20 Reader Tips to Stop Smoking for Good

Compiled by Lauren Gelman