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The Ultimate Endurance Test My Time as an ‘Ironman’
I learned many lessons from sports as a child, including teamwork, camaraderie, and losing graciously. Participating in individual sports like swimming taught me to measure my progress against myself rather than others. Many people give up these types of activities once they graduate from college, start a career, and have a family. But the upcoming Boston Marathon reminds us that we can keep pushing ourselves physically, as I did during the roughly 15 years I was a triathlete. My decision to do triathlons was born from a mid-life crisis. My kids started getting older and had entered their high school years. So, around the age of 40, I began to worry about becoming old and lazy. I wanted to keep physically fit, and as anyone who knows me can attest, I never do anything halfway. I could have just chosen to bike and swim, but naturally, I had to take the issue much further than necessary. So, it’s probably unsurprising that I ended up doing three Ironman Triathlons, which are widely regarded as one of the most difficult one-day sporting events available anywhere. An Ironman race consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a marathon run of 26.2 miles. Training is like having a part-time job, but finishing is as much a mental challenge as a physical one. Every muscle in your body constantly screams, “Why are you doing this? Just stop!” It takes a lot of fortitude to overcome that voice in your head. But completing these races taught me a lot about overcoming obstacles. Knowing that you can complete an Ironman also gives you an incredible confidence boost — if you can do that, you can do anything. Two moments, in particular, stand out from my first full Ironman in Panama City Beach. As you may know, it’s a military town, so military bars dotted the route. Toward the end, some of the guys stood outside to cheer us on, and they offered me beer and chicken wings — the last thing you want to eat when you’re finishing a marathon. Their very vocal support was a lot of fun, though.
Of course, I’ll also never forget crossing the finish line. It’s an epic moment when you’re in the last 100 yards of a race and staring down the giant time clock. Your hormones are already all over the place because of how hard you’ve pushed your body, and it’s incredibly
emotional. Realizing that I’d completed an Ironman at age 50 was the moment of a lifetime. I had to give up triathlons at age 55 when I had my heart surgery, but I still do my
best to stay active. For example, I swim 3,000 yards three times a week — not bad for a 59-year-old triple bypass patient. I also usually cycle 60–100 miles weekly between my Peloton and regular bike. I’ll probably never do another Ironman, but I hope to complete a Half Ironman after turning 60 (if my wife will let me!). You don’t have to be as ambitious as I am, but I encourage you to go out there and get your body moving. I talk to many people in my line of work, and I’ve noticed that those who stay physically active are more energetic and tend to lead longer, healthier lives. Endless research also backs up my observations (see more on Page 2). Maybe Ironman isn’t for you, but swimming, biking, or running alone may do wonders for your health.
–Craig Hersch
1 (239) 265-9779
APRIL 2023
Find More ‘You’ Time Developing a Self-Care Routine
Make time for hobbies. Most people find themselves constantly juggling countless tasks and obligations. With so much to do, making time for your least favorite activities likely won’t happen; instead, do something you enjoy. After all, self-care is about you! Yoga, reading, journaling, jogging, and meditating are just a few ways to get in some “you time.” If you like it, do it! Plan your self-care time. Without adding self-care to your schedule, your healthy behaviors may get placed on the back burner. Block off time for your favorite activities: Once it’s on your calendar, you’re more likely to work a routine into your day. Keep it simple. Complex rituals may create more stress or anxiety when you should be relaxing. Instead, keep it simple by focusing on relaxing, breathing, and recharging. Go for a walk in the park, take a nap, get a massage, stretch, or take a few moments to do absolutely nothing. Simplicity is the key.
Life isn’t easy — when juggling a career, family, children, social obligations, and housework, finding time for yourself can be
difficult. Studies show that roughly 59% of individuals only make time for self-care after they’ve become stressed out. Here are some ways to develop a healthy routine that suits your busy life.
Become intentional. When developing a self-care ritual, it’s essential to identify your reasons behind taking better care of yourself and to pinpoint your needs. With a clear vision and motive behind your efforts, developing healthy habits to nurture and incorporate into your everyday routine becomes easier. Create large and small self-care options. You don’t need to do the same self-care ritual all the time, but make it a point to do something for yourself every day. On busier days, you may only have a moment to take a few deep breaths and mentally reset, but on other days, you may have time for a relaxing bath, massage, workout, or pedicure.
M o r e !
Do you get enough exercise? If so, you’re in the minority. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that only 15.3% of men and 10.8% of women over 65 met exercise guidelines in 2020. Insufficient activity threatens your health, and April, which is Move More Month, helps remind Americans of all ages to get the exercise they need. Physical activity does more than help keep our weight in check. It also reduces the risk of heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Further, a large body of research demonstrates that exercise benefits our mental health by producing endorphins, which help fight stress, depression, and anxiety. The benefits only multiply in our retirement years. Muscle- strengthening exercise helps us maintain bone density and improve balance. As a result, those who exercise regularly are less likely to suffer a fall that can significantly hinder their quality of life. Many struggle to maintain social connections as they age, and group fitness can reduce isolation. Sufficient exercise even promotes better sleep! So, how much exercise does the average person need? The CDC recommends that adults conduct moderate-intensity aerobic 2 floridaestateplanning.com Increased Activity Benefits Your Health
activity for at least 150 minutes weekly. They further urge muscle- training exercises at least two days per week. CDC data shows that more adults meet the recommendations for aerobic activity than muscle-strengthening exercise. If those guidelines sound daunting, it’s okay to start small. Those who already perform aerobic exercise will benefit from beginning to incorporate muscle training into their routine through pushups, situps, or light weights. Inactive individuals often start with activities that make them feel comfortable, like walking, biking, or swimming. Remember that some physical activity is better than none. Poor health or limited mobility prevents many adults from moving as much as they should later in life. But many people with medical conditions or disabilities can still find ways to get their bodies moving. No matter your current health and fitness level, speak with your physician about forms of exercise that will work well with your capabilities. You might also consider consulting a physical therapist for assistance in developing a safe activity plan. Moving more is one of the best ways to protect and improve your health. Don’t miss out on its life-changing benefits!
The Dangers of Internet Information
Take What You Read With a Grain of Salt
We live in the information age — but not everything we read online is useful. In this blog post, attorney Craig Hersch shares his thoughts on the limits of doing your own research. Read the full article at FloridaEstatePlanning.com/information-on-the-internet. I imagine it’s perpetually frustrating for physicians when patients demand specific medications after an advertisement influences them. Don’t you love the disclaimers? Over happy scenes of grandparents skipping along the beach with grandchildren, a serious narrative voice quickly says something like, “This medication may cause frequent vomiting, urination, and even death! Stop taking the medication if you notice vision loss or blood trickles out of your ears ….” Typically, patients who ask for the medications they saw on TV lack context. They don’t have a medical degree, and what little they know about whatever ails them is something they may have learned on the internet or by watching TV. That’s enough knowledge (even if false) to make them a danger to themselves. I sometimes encounter this in my law practice. Suppose a client is interested in forming a charitable remainder trust, so he researches it online. That’s fine — learn all you can. But the information he’s pulled up may be dated, taken out of context, or so broad in scope as to be useless to the particulars of his situation.
Information is easily available to everyone right now, and you can successfully Google just about any topic. But the information you find is usually not specific to your situation and could be false. It is mere
information; it is not knowledge. Knowledge is accumulated over years of study and practice in any given field.
A true professional has the wisdom to know when, how, and why to apply the knowledge. Wisdom is something that’s gained over the years, certainly. I have also found, however, that those individuals I consider to be wise have an inherent quality that seems to be factory-installed. They’ve always had the capacity for wisdom and only needed life experience to shape it into something valuable. You don’t find that by watching TV advertisements or searching on Google for a few hours. Go ahead and do your research on your topic as well as on the professional that you hire. Assuming you are comfortable with that professional, ask questions and really listen
to the answers. If the answers appear reasonable, relax and trust his or her judgment. If not, find a professional that you can trust.
Tasty Spinach Artichoke Dip
INGREDIENTS
TAKE A BREAK!
• • • •
8 oz spinach leaves
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1/4 tsp black pepper
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided Sliced bread, crackers, or tortilla chips for serving
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup chopped marinated artichoke hearts
•
• •
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp salt
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Coat a small baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In a medium pan, steam or sauté spinach until wilted. When spinach cools, ring out excess water, then chop coarsely. 3. In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, spinach, artichoke hearts, garlic, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese, and 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese. 4. Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. 5. Bake for 20 minutes or until the dip is bubbly. Turn the oven to broil and cook for an
additional 2–3 minutes so the cheese will begin to brown. 6. Immediately serve with bread, crackers, or tortilla chips.
ANSWER ON TOP OF PAGE 4
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9100 College Pointe Court Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 265-9779
INSIDE this issue
SUDOKU ANSWER
When Craig Pushed Himself to the Limit PAGE 1 Putting Together a Self-Care Routine PAGE 2 Why We Should Move More PAGE 2 Is Online Research Useful? PAGE 3 Take a Break! PAGE 3 Tasty Spinach Artichoke Dip PAGE 3 Top 3 Extended Stay Destinations PAGE 4
The best compliments we receive are your referrals. When you refer us to your loved ones, we do all we can to exceed expectations.
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Top 3 Vacation Destinations for a Longer Stay
Visit the national parks. There is no better way to connect with nature than to tour the national parks. Several epic national park road trips could allow you to pack in a dozen or more of these natural gems in just a couple of weeks! Many national parks also accommodate RVs for comfort and convenience. Drive the California coast. A trip up and down the California coast never disappoints. With so many great places to stop and breathtaking views to absorb, you’ll need at least two weeks to experience them properly. You’ll want to explore the Redwood National Forest, the Lost Coast, Pebble Beach, Monterey Bay, Half Moon Bay, Big Sur, Venice Beach, and many more! Hop aboard a cruise. A cruise is one of the best ways to see many destinations in one trip. You could visit several countries in just two weeks, stopping in different ports to explore! On a cruise, you could see the Caribbean one day and wake up somewhere completely different the next day with a new adventure ahead!
The pandemic slowed us down. Over the past few years, we collectively took fewer vacations, boarded fewer cruise ships, and avoided airports. However, many studies and reports show that now, more than ever, Americans are taking longer vacations! Why might this be, and what are some of the greatest destinations for an extended stay? According to Amex Travel’s 2022 Global Travel Trend Report, 55% of vacationers are interested in taking longer trips because they can work remotely. The trend of swapping homes is also on the rise. HomeExchange’s website reports that home exchanges of two weeks or more increased by 13% in January-May last year. According to Travel Pulse, 26% of people opt to take a trip that exceeds 10 days. If you are interested in taking a more extended vacation, whether it’s because your job went remote, you lost out on travel time in 2020- 2022, or you saved on gas money while working from home, here are some great destinations that support a longer stay.
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