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Ever stumble across a story that seems so unlikely, but so refreshing that you just have to share it with other like minded folks?

If you’re a runner, and many readers at Lane 8 are runners, physically active, or are striving to be, then you’ll probably enjoy reading how GoDaddy’s celebrity spokeswoman, and race car driver, Danica Patrick makes running a top priority.

Can you even begin to imagine the benefits you’ll reap if you get started and never quit?

Usain Bolt, world’s fastest human, interviewed by Michael Johnson, former world record holder 200 meters and current world record holder 400 meters. What you can expect from this is a casual approach by two extraordinary humans. And even if you are not a runner, you have the opportunity to see best-in-class and look for ways to adopt their attitude and approach into your own approach:

Eat Fresh

Today’s Lane 8 post features Deborah Land, from Kansas, who writes her own blog to help others eat healthier. She inquired about Guest Blogging here and of course, I said yes!

“How to Reduce Bad Cholesterol Like a Pro”

a. Cholesterol Myths –  both Good and Bad

Most people think that cholesterol is always bad, but there are actually two types of cholesterol. LDL is considered the “bad” cholesterol, and HDL is considered the “good” cholesterol. If there is too much LDL in our bloodstream, it will form plaque on our arteries. Over time, this narrows our arteries and can eventually block blood flow completely. Dietary cholesterol actually isn’t the primary reason for high cholesterol in the blood; it is high amounts of saturated fat and trans fat. To keep cholesterol low, you should eat unsaturated fats, eat fibrous foods, and exercise more.

b. Cholesterol Numbers and What They Mean

On an average, adults will usually need to have cholesterol checks every five years. Each time you get a cholesterol check it will yield four results –  total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and Triglycerides. You will probably need more exercise and dietary change if you go above or below the healthy levels.

Total Cholesterol – less than 200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L)

LDL Cholesterol – less than 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L)

HDL Cholesterol – greater than 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L)

Triglycerides – less than 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L)

c. Protecting Your Heart with Vitamin E

You can find Vitamin E in many nuts, leafy vegetables and vegetable oils. While it cannot prevent a stroke, Vitamin E can still reduce your risk for heart disease.

d. Top 5 Super Foods to Lower Cholesterol

1. Oatmeal and Oat Bran: These contain a high amount of soluble fiber, which can lower LDL.

2. Fish: Fish is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids, which lowers LDL and raises HDL.

3. Nuts: Not only are nuts high in fiber, but they contain the healthy fats you need to keep LDL in check.

4. Plant Sterols: This is found in foods like margarine, salad dressing, orange juice, and functional cookies. 2 grams per day will lower your LDL by 10-15%.

5. Soy: This popular meat replacement can lower LDL by up to 3%.

e. Benefits You Get from Plant Sterols

Foods such as VitaTops Muffin Tops, Benecol Spread, granola bars and fat free milk are rich sources of plant sterols. You can easily help your heart when you start eating foods packed with plant sterols and avoid eating foods that contain saturated fats. A saturated fat-filled diet is not canceled out by this. Exercising often as well as eating healthy food will keep your cholesterol in check.

About the Author – Deborah H. Land writes for the Cholesterol Lowering Diets blog, her personal hobby website she uses to help people eat healthy to lower bad cholesterol levels.

Which Path Is The Right One?

Today’s Lane 8 post is brought to you by a very special contributor from York, Pennsylvania. Lorie Sheffer and I were classmates from 1st though 12th grade.  Lorie’s wit and wisdom will get you thinking about you’re health attitudes and beliefs.  Take it away Lorie:

There is a new study saying that middle-aged women have to work out more than an hour a day in order to avoid flab. Unless, of course, you are very thin to begin with. I was intrigued. As I read the article, there was a comment that almost glowed, it stood out so much. The behavioral medicine expert who was being quoted was using the word “skinny” as if it were a good thing. Webster’s dictionary defines skinny as lacking sufficient flesh: very thin: emaciated. But hey, this guy’s the expert, so who am I to argue? I then went on to read that less than an hour of exercise is good for your health, “even if it won’t make you thin.”  I’m confused. Are we doing this to be healthy or are we chasing some idea of what we should look like? Who sets this standard?

As a woman who is looking her fifty first birthday straight in the eye, I actually have a better body image now than I did when I was in my early twenties. Back in the day, I smoked up to three packs a day, drank large amounts of highly sweetened iced tea and cola, and ate one meal a day, usually fast food drive thru or pizza. I drank more than I should have on weekends, smoked pot occasionally, and was very unskilled at managing my stress.  But hey, I looked damned good in a string bikini. Now, twenty-eight years later, I am much healthier. I don’t smoke, I eat healthy foods, and I am active. I don’t go to the gym, nor do I set up a work out or exercise schedule. I figure if walking on a treadmill counts, then surely mowing the lawn must count, too. The former makes me feel like a giant hamster, while the latter gives me a feeling of accomplishment. While I admire people who hit the gym, it’s not something that even remotely interests me. At all. Yes, the army corps of engineers may as well have constructed my swimsuit. I’m not twenty, nor do I care to be.

One of the very rare moments I felt bad about my body happened to coincide with my annual checkup with my Ob/Gyn of twenty-five years.  I told him that I felt fat. He said that yes, I had put on some weight over the years. Then he asked me the magic question: “Why are you concerned?” He pointed out that my blood pressure and heart rate were excellent, all of my blood work looked great, my mammograms had been clear over the years, and as far as he could tell I seemed to be in above average health. My God, I should be so very thankful for the body I have!  I’m not suggesting that thin women aren’t healthy. By the same token, heavier women aren’t necessarily UNhealthy, either.  Personally, I like my curves.  I have NO desire to starve myself into looking like one of the Real Housewives. This is where my body wants to be, and I accept that. What are middle aged women to think when a male “expert” comments that we can be healthy, but not “skinny”, like that is something we should be ashamed of? Isn’t health what we are after? Or is it really the expectation that, at middle age, we are supposed to look the same as our daughters?

When will we be able to open a magazine and see women who actually look like us? How am I supposed to tell what a dress will look like on me when the model wearing it is roughly the same size as one of the girls in my grandson’s fourth grade class?  I once read an article that said Picabo Street was too fat. This was while she was winning gold medals in skiing. Clearly she was IN shape, she just wasn’t the shape society decided was THE shape. When even Olympics athletes are seen, at the peak of their athletic careers, as “too heavy”, then I don’t think the problem is mine. I think maybe society needs to reassess its standard of “healthy”. Till then, I will go visit my slightly overweight aunt, who at eighty-eight years old is still mowing her own lawn.

Encourage Everyone To Be Active

Skip Gaskill, our returning Guest Blogger, offers insight and encouragement. Skip’s challenging you to do the same. Take it away Skip:

Have you ever seen an obese person out jogging or walking in an unquestionable attempt to get control of their health?

If you did what did you do?  Did you say anything?  Did you smirk or make a fat joke?

Or did you go out of your way to encourage them to keep up the fight?

Next time you see someone like this (hopefully while you are out exercising as well) tell them the following:

Congratulations!  You’re doing great!  Keep up the good fight and never quit!

You might buy them another quarter mile or uplift their spirit enough to help them finish what they started.

Who knows…you might even feel better about yourself.

Lane 8's First Guest Blogger

Today’s Lane 8 post is from a West Chester University graduate, United States Marine, Husband, Father, and a man who understands what common sense means. Skip Gaskill also understands what self-discipline means. And it is an honor to introduce you to him now.  Skip, take it away:

“What characteristic is it that many of us lack on our journey to achieve excellence?

The self-discipline to stick to our chosen paths.

Why?  Because it is often too hard, too difficult, too painful, or down right inconvenient.  Do you compromise your integrity for convenience sake?  Do you rationalize your decision when you know you’re wrong to do so?

Self-discipline means doing the right thing when no one else is looking.  My kids think I’m “Goofy” (pun intended) for driving the extra half mile instead of making an illegal u-turn.  I choose to set the example for my children.

Lack of self-discipline can be conquered if you really want to improve yourself.  Start small, take baby steps if necessary.  You will have great joy and should be proud of yourselves when you actually accomplish one of your goals because you had the self-discipline to see it through.

Whether it is running a marathon, quitting smoking, eating better, or being a better person, self-discipline is a key ingredient in the recipe for excellence!”