Red Hot Mamas In Charge of Change.
By: Red Hot Mamas
Published: April 15, 2024
From the Editor…Karen Giblin
“Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful”.
-Ann Landers
Dear Red Hot Mamas,
It’s been a long winter for us this year that has brought us some odd weather conditions, So, it’s delightful to finally welcome in the month of April. Hopefully, it brings along with it nice weather, sunshine and we can get the benefit by getting out of our homes to walk.
Personally, I’m looking forward to getting outside and taking long walks with my dog, Marco. He is a very affectionate Norwich terrier, and he loves to be outside. That probably forces me to get out and exercise more. Oftentimes you will find us walking in the woods in New Jersey.
I know many of you, who may not even own dogs, will also start walking more as the warmer months approach us. So, I hope some of these tips I’m about to give you will be of some help to you.
Ticks are more active in warmer months. If you have ever been bitten by a tick it’s a pretty scary thing, as it could transmit Lyme disease. So, you need to protect yourself by trying to steer clear of walking in wooded and grassy areas. And it’s a good idea to always wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants. Once you are home, be sure to check yourself for ticks. Ticks hide in places you would not believe. So, carefully check your scalp and other hard to see places.
If you do find a tick on you, remove it immediately with clean tweezers, pinching the tick as close to your skin as possible and pulling it straight up. If you twist the tick, it can stay embedded in your skin. Wash the area and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. And always be sure to watch for symptoms of Lyme disease: a bull’s eye shaped rash that develops around the bite, a headache or fever, muscle and joint pains and fatigue. See your doctor immediately.
It’s important to get out and walk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend people ages 18 to 64 should engage in moderate aerobic exercise (such as walking) for at least two and a half hours a week and include muscle strengthening activities (lifting weights) at least two days a week.
To get started walking, all you’ll need is a pair of sturdy walking shoes that have arch support. Wear loose and comfortable clothing and don’t forget to wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn even on cloudy days. Choose a walking route near your home. Or look for a scenic place to walk in your area, such as a trail or on the beach. For me, it’s great to recruit a friend to walk with me. It truly holds me more accountable to exercise more. There are other ways to incorporate walking into your exercise regime such as parking your car further from your office or even your shopping center and even consider walking instead of driving when you are doing your errands. And don’t forget to warm up and cool down before walking to avoid injury. Always speak to your doctor before starting a new fitness routine.
Good health to you all,
Karen Giblin
