Time to take off the gloves

Nordic walking gloves are interesting things. Some poles have gloves that are attached to the pole and require you to actually slip the your hand out of them if you needed a free hand. Newer models have gloves with a quick release so you can release from the poles more quickly and conveniently if you needed to do something like get your keys out of your pocket.

What really makes Nordic walking poles different?

The Nordic walking glove and handle make Nordic walking poles distinct and give Nordic walking its ability to multiply the benefits of regular walking. Most straps are just for looping around one's wrist, but the Nordic walking glove has an purpose. You use it to help you push off with the poles rather than just keep from losing them.

A testimonial about Nordic walking

I had never heard of bilateral perilymph fistulas (PLFs) and endolymphatic hydrops until I read this piece. That person walked a marathon at 13 minutes, 22 seconds per mile. Nordic walking gives us permission to be ambitious!

Why can’t I use hiking/trekking poles for Nordic walking?

Think in terms of the right tool for the job. Effective Nordic walking doesn’t happen without the right kind of poles.

Some points for difference to ponder:

Hiking/trekking poles	Nordic walking poles
Use for balance and load distribution	Use for propulsion as well as balance and load distribution
Contoured handle for gripping	Slim handle more for control than grip
Loop strap to secure pole	Glove to facilitate pushing
Metal tip like Nordic walking poles for soft ground but round rubber tip for balance	Metal tip like hiking/trekking poles but with angled rubber boot for pushing off
Plant poles perpendicular to ground for balance and load distribution	Plan poles at reverse angle for propulsion
More easily fatigued if trying to Nordic walk	Able to use when hiking/trekking

Amazing opportunity for a Nordic walking meetup at the Lakeshore Foundation in Jefferson County on 2/9

Many thanks to the Lakeshore Foundation for letting us meet at their indoor track to practice Nordic walking inside from the weather.

Join us on Friday at 10 AM to find out what Nordic walking is all about! No charge; poles provided. Look for the white Nordic walking sign.

• When: 10 AM; February 9
• Where:  Lakeshore Foundation, Indoor Track, 4000 Ridgeway Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209
• They won't charge nonmembers the daily use fee if you tell them you're there for Nordic walking.

Instructor: Leroy Hurt, ANWA-certified Advanced Nordic Walking instructor

Why Nordic walking?

• Full body, low impact
• Increase weight loss
• Improve cholesterol
• Improve blood pressure
• Facilitate rehabilitation
• Maintain stability and balance
• Maintain posture
• Facilitate stress relief
• Support muscle toning
• Improve cardiovascular function
• Improve lung capacity
• Support immune system
• Socialize with walking companions
• You determine the intensity of your workout

Click here for a full schedule of meetups.

Learn more about Nordic walking at my Nordic Walking Guy blog and Nordic Walking Guy Facebook page.

Can't make it to a meetup? Contact me via the blog or Facebook links above, and we'll arrange a small group orientation with you and some friends.

A new ANWA Nordic Walking Guide!

Congratulations to Keith Parrish of Kosciusko, Mississippi who completed the requirements to be certified as a Nordic Walking Guide in the American Nordic Walking Association.

Check out ANWA’s certification workshop schedule.

Nordic walking and Parkinson’s

In addition to evidence-based research about the benefits of Nordic walking for those managing their Parkinson’s condition, there is also actual experience. There is a Parkinson’s Foundation Moving Day event in Atlanta where Molly Lay, a Nordic walking instructor in Georgia  demonstrated Nordic walking techniques. it was well received, and Molly will be doing it again in 2018.

Sunday Sounds: Ease into the New Year

Tweeted by @pwrwalking, a nice pace to ease into your New Year resolution to Nordic walk.

When the Nordic Walking Guy says, "Don't eat like a teenager"

He means it.

Then again, maybe just this once.

Nordic walking meetups in 2018

Come to one of the sampler sessions to learn about Nordic walking on these dates at these locations. The sampler sessions start at 8:30 AM.

No charge. Poles provided. Dress for the weather, and bring some water.

But what if the Nordic walking bug does bite you, and you just have to have your own poles right then and there? There will be some poles available for purchase (cash, check only).

This year, we'll use the meetups to support different health/wellness observances. Look for a little something extra at these meetups.

Date All meetups start   at 8:30 AM	Tuscaloosa County, Alabama	Jefferson County, Alabama	Mississippi
February 9		Lakeshore Foundation Indoor Track 4000 Ridgeway Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209 Supporting American Heart Month!
March 14			NMMC Wellness Center 1030 S Madison St, Tupelo, MS 38801 Supporting National Nutrition Month!
March 17			NMMC Wellness Center 1030 S Madison St, Tupelo, MS 38801 Supporting National Nutrition Month!
March 24	The Park at Manderson Landing 9 Jack Warner Pkwy, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Supporting National Nutrition Month!
April 7		Wald Park 1973 Merryvale Road, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 Supporting National Public Health Week, World Health Day, and Let's Move More!
April 12			NMMC Wellness Center Walking Track 1030 S Madison St, Tupelo, MS 38801
May 19	Government Plaza 2106 6th St, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Celebrating Volksfest Tuscaloosa to support Focus! Also supporting  National Women's Health Week, and National Fitness and Sports Month!
June 23		McCallum Park 3332 Rosemary Lane, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 Supporting Men's Health Month and Men's Health Week!
July 21	McAbee Activity Center 3801 Loop Road, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 Supporting Social Wellness Month!
August 18 8:30 AM		Cahaba River Walk 3529 Overton Rd, Mountain Brook, AL 35223 Supporting National Health Center Week!
September 29 8:30 AM	McAbee Center 3801 Loop Rd, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 Supporting Women's Fitness Day and World Heart Day!
October 20 8:30 AM		Homewood Patriot Park 710 Oak Grove Road, Homewood, AL 35209 Celebrating Oktoberfest! Also supporting Health Literacy Month and National Health Education Week!
November 3 8:30 AM	Annette N. Shelby Park 1614 15th Street, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Supporting American Diabetes Month!

Instructor: Leroy Hurt, ANWA-certified Advanced Nordic Walking instructor

Follow us on Facebook also!

Why Nordic walking? 

• Full body, low impact
• Increase weight loss
• Improve cholesterol
• Improve blood pressure
• Facilitate rehabilitation
• Maintain stability and balance
• Maintain posture
• Facilitate stress relief
• Support muscle toning
• Improve cardiovascular function
• Improve lung capacity
• Support immune system
• Socialize with walking companions
• You determine the intensity of your workout

Certification

Want to become a certified Nordic walking instructor? Register with the American Nordic Walking Association. NOTE: Certification training and testing requires payment when you register. You can pay ANWA online when you register.

Big weight-loss study

Let's hope it yields valuable insights. A DNA-testing company will invite participation from its 1.3 million customers in a project to find correlations between weight loss and their DNA patterns.

• 23andMe's customers get health and ancestry information from analysis of their DNA. The company thinks it can "create predictive models that provide tailored weight loss advice as part of its consumer genetic reports." This would help the company go beyond typical nutrition advice that's not specific to individual needs.
• For example, customer "receive a prediction of their body mass based on their genes, a report telling them whether they have an inborn tendency to be heavier or thinner. The problem is 23andMe can’t yet tell them what to do about it, making the results mostly irrelevant."

The goals appear noble, but here are some considerations when using DNA testing services. If you're thinking of using one of these services for, say, analyzing your health, read the terms of use and decide if you're OK with them. After all, there's no such thing as a free lunch. You may get some services for free, but most likely, the firm has found a way to make money off your data.

Nordic walking improves hormonal concentrations in senior women

A study of postmenopausal women whose body mass index (BMI) was greater than 30.5 showed the benefits of Nordic walking in improving their health indicators. The parameters studied during the 10-week study included:

• Growth hormone (GH) (related to growth and repair)
• Luteinizing hormone (LH) (related to the pituitary gland)
• C-reactive protein (produced in response to inflammation)
• Total cholesterol
• Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (bad cholesterol)
• High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (good cholesterol)
• Triglycerides (type of fat linked with fatty buildups in artery walls)

The outcomes showed improvements in all the parameters. In general, "improvement in muscle integrity and nutritional and inflammatory states, suggesting chronic, regular exercise as an effective tool in protecting against menopause-related catabolic [breaking down complex substances to release energy] processes."

This happens because Nordic walking engages more muscles. It's a full-body form of exercise, and involving more muscles increases fitness.

Happy New Year!

Take time to reflect on the year ahead. Just because you didn't make resolutions before January 1st doesn't mean you can start thinking about improvement. Improvement is an ongoing process and isn't bound to the days on a calendar.