horsetooth trail – Anderson Podiatry Center

My favorite treat meal

A fond memory from my childhood is the smell of homemade cinnamon rolls wafting out from the kitchen. My mom would make these on Saturdays, and I sure did love to eat them. For all I knew back then, that was the breakfast of champions. Now, it’s my favorite treat meal.

So let’s fast forward. I’m now approaching my mid-sixties and I’m grateful to say I still run, ski, bike and hike. I’ve managed to keep fit and today I did a 90-minute trail run. I’m on no medication, have no significant medical problems and I’m not overweight. And I’m very grateful!

What I want to share is what works for me. It’s a compilation of books and articles I’ve read, my personal experience and those of other active fit people that continue to stay there into their senior years.

So although I am a specialist who treats the feet and conditions below the knee, I thought I would take a shot at sharing my own diet and fitness story too. My passion for this comes from treating patients suffering from nerve pain. Some have diabetes or pre-diabetes and have neuropathy. An important part of decreasing inflammation and preventing diseases like these is diet and exercise. So, I am hoping maybe this podiatrist can help you find a healthy lifestyle that works for you.

Here’s what has worked for me

I’m strict about what I eat during the five work days and give myself a little freedom to dabble in some junk food on weekends. My diet is not perfect, but it’s about 80 percent there. Exercise for me during the week is minimal, with ten to 15 minutes of weights, elliptical, yoga , push-ups or pull-ups, three of the five days.

Breakfast

I consider breakfast the most important meal, and I don’t vary it too much. My favorite is eggs, either boiled or scrambled with spinach. I may grab a few baby carrots too. If not eggs, then it’s a couple handfuls of mixed nuts. I have one large organic coffee with butter and coconut oil, also known as “bulletproof coffee.” To spice it up, I add cinnamon, since it’s a good anti-inflammatory.

Lunch

For lunch, I usually have canned smoked oysters or sardines, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids and protein. I may also have an orange, grapefruit or banana. This lunch is portable and easy for me to eat during a busy work day.

Dinner

This I’m the least strict about. Usually I have chicken, salmon or grass-fed beef and occasionally, steak. I try to avoid starches like pizza or pastas, but may backslide two or three times a month. I am human after all.

And finally, I’ve recently gotten in the habit of fasting on Mondays. I have my coffee, but nothing else except water until dinner. Notice I avoid breads with a special exception…

My favorite part of the week

Here it is. My favorite part of the week. I call it my “sticky bun run.” Saturday, I am up and on my way to Whole Foods. I get my sticky bun and bulletproof coffee. Then, I enjoy it as I drive up to the mountain trails west of Fort Collins. I will run 30 -60 minutes. With the fresh air, blood flowing, coffee and sticky bun on board, a lot of problems and weekly stress quickly goes away.

My message to you is simple. Get your veggies and fruits, reduce the carbs and sugars, and increase the healthy fats. They will satiate your appetite.

But most of all be kind to yourself, personalize it and find out on your own what works for you. Be consistent and honest with yourself. I’ve seen too many people reach too far and give up. You decide! Enjoy your food, your life, your exercise, and just keep moving.

And hey, have a sticky bun every once and awhile. Doctor’s orders (wink, wink).

Spring is almost here, and with it comes that wonderful weather we all enjoy so much. After spending the winter months cooped up inside, I can’t wait to be outdoors and soak up the Colorado sunshine. Although Thanksgiving was many months ago now, I find myself realizing that being mindful of what I’m grateful for should be a daily occurrence instead of a yearly one.

I’m always grateful for my wife, my family, and my patients, but I also want to share the gratitude of having an active body that can still do amazing things! I celebrated my 64th birthday this year (Ouch!), so being able to enjoy skiiing, hiking, biking and having the ability to do those things has become more meaningful to me.

Of all these activities, running is the one I have become the most grateful for and I’ll tell you why. It all started back in college.

Back then it was almost un-cool to run on the street (or anywhere) in Boulder. People would occasionally make comments or even laugh at me. Hard to believe now but it was true then!

I then went to medical school in San Francisco, which, in contrast, was a great place to run. It was a way to relieve stress and give me energy after sitting in class for long hours. Then early in my practice years I ran a marathon, and since then several half marathons and many 10K’s as well. I continue to run to this day.

But I have the most gratitude for what I’m still able to do right now. I don’t need to run another marathon to feel fulfilled.

Several years ago I took some time away from running because my body didn’t feel too good the next day. When I did run, it was very short distances. Then, I met the man. He came to me as a patient. (I’ll let you in on a little secret, when we really get to know our patients, we doctors sometimes get as much or more from them than they get from us). All I can remember was that he was a retired surgeon, in his 70s, and was in really good shape; he looked like Adonis. I asked what he did to stay in such good shape and he said:

“I live in the mountains west of Boulder and I run on trails. If I ran on streets and sidewalks I would run less than a mile and hurt the next day” (sounded like where I was headed). “That just doesn’t happen running on trails.”

I believe people are sometimes put in our paths for a reason. He changed my whole attitude and gave me confidence. With ankles that sprain easily, I gradually took his advice to heart. I found trail running a great way to stay in shape. It still clears my mind from the stresses of life; running a business with 25 employees, doing research, and writing a book means I’ve got a lot going on. It’s a great way to problem solve. The sweat and oxygen rev up the creativity.

So, on most weekends, you can catch me running up around Horsetooth. I’m the middle-aged guy (don’t tell anyone I’m 64) you might pass on Tower Road, Blue Sky Trail or Horsetooth Trail (those are my favorites), and Adriann, my wife, sometimes joins me.

I’m very grateful to have this active life. And it’s even more amazing that I have such an athletic wife to share those times with. The motivation all started from one of you, a patient, and I hope this blog motivates you to keep your body moving too. Consider trail running for yourself as you get older, and let us know what your favorite trails are in the comments below. See you out there!

Tag: horsetooth trail

Will Run for Buns