Bell Ford Covered Bridge

A collaboration of the City of Lawrence, Ft Harrison State Park, and Indianapolis Greenways is attempting to reconstruct the 1868 Bell Ford Covered Bridge over Fall Creek in Fort Harrison State Park. When successfully reconstructed this bridge will provide the link between the Fall Creek Trail, and the trails of Fort Harrison and the City of Lawrence. The bridge fell by sections into the East Fork of the White River in 1999, and 2006. This bridge at 325 feet would be the fourth longest covered bridge in Indiana. Further it is the only 3 material covered bridge known to exist in America. The supports of this bridge are cast iron, wrought iron, as well as eastern white pine. It is envisioned that this bridge will be visited by hundreds of thousands of walkers, runners, and bicyclist annually, and will be the image most remembered of the State Park.

City of Lwarence selected as Pioneering Healthy Community

Late last year the City of Lawrence was selected as one of 18 communities to be a 2009 "Pioneering Healthy Community". The selection puts Lawrence on the cutting edge of America's fight against obesity. The Cities were selected by the Center For Disease Control, and the YMCA of the USA to lead the charge. In December 10 Lawrence leaders met in Washington DC to learn about America's health situation, and proven methods to change America's bad habits. The solution is simple Mayor Ricketts has been quoted as saying" Our goal is to get our citizens more active, and give them healthier food options. The steering committee will meet monthly to create policies, and the environment to make this happen. Stay tuned.....

Television and wellness

There is probably no single thing that contributes to obesity more than television. It is static in nature lends itself to the muchies, and lets the viewer get adventure vicariously. If you want to lose weight limit your TV watching, go for a walk or bike ride instead. If you have to watch a particular show put an exercise bike, or treadmill in front of the screen. Most of all put some real advnture in your life, don't live life through others.

Television and wellness

Write It Down

If there is one key to a successful exercise, and nutrician program, it is to write it down. Set managable weekly goals and write down your weekly performance. 30 years ago I established the goal of working out one half hour a day. I calibrated what level of activity I could reasonable do in a half hour. Bike 10 miles, swim 3/4 mile, run 3 miles, kayak a specific route, lift weights etc. I then started writing down my performance. A few years later I switched my goal to an hour a day of working out, which I continue to do to this day.At the close of the year I tally my yearly activity and note it on an excel spread sheet, next to the previous years. It is a great motivation tool to see your activity in black and white. After a period of time daily activity becomes a habit, and a way of life. In the 30 years I have been keeping track the numbers are pretty amazing. In these 30 years I have biked 117,000 miles, ran 6000 miles, kayaked 2400 miles, swam 3400 miles, and used weight machines 3700 times. My weight has maintained at the same basic level, and my blood chemistry has actually improved over time. Food takes a little different approach. I periodically check what I eat for a week, and study its calorie and sodium content, and make appropriate corrections. A great web site for both logging activity and daily food is www.my-calorie-counter.com/calorie-counter.asp I usually log my daily activities in a pocket calendar, but any method works. Lastly I recommend, at least a yearly blood chemistry that includes chlolesteral, including HDL, and glucose.

What Is Green-N-Fit

Green-N-Fit means the relationship between the environment and our health. For instance to walk instead of driving is a blessing to both the environment and to you. This manifests itself in may ways. Selecting a home location that allows you to use mass transit instead of the car means more walking. Have you ever noticed that the citizens of cities with mass transit are fitter than those with car dependency. It may mean buying a home on a trail so that you can bicycle commute to work. It means turning off the television and getting outside to play and enjoy natures gifts. It means buying foods locally, as long as the market is convenient. It means planting your own garden.It means using an electric push powered lawn mower rather than an electric riding mower. In the process of getting"out" many other great things happen. You get to know your neighbors. You see things that you have never noticed before. You attitude improves, as does your self esteem. For children a powerful modivation to activity is to see their parents being active.