Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

"Supercharge Your Mental Circuits to Beat Stress, Sharpen Your Thinking, Lift Your Mood, Boost Your Memory, and Much More"

by John J. Ratey, M.D., with Eric Hagerman


Interesting book. Certainly motivating for someone who is trying to exercise more.

The recommended regime at the end of the book:

walk or jog every day (low to moderate intensity; 55 to 65 percent of your maximum heart rate for low intensity, 65 to 75 percent for moderate intensity)

run (or some other comparable activity) a couple of times a week (high intensity; 75 to 90 percent of your maximum heart rate)

sprint (or comparable) every now and then (the high end of high intensity)

or, in other words,

some form of aerobic activity six days a week for forty-five minutes to an hour

four of those days toward the longer amount of time at moderate intensity

two of those days on the shorter side at high intensity

include some form of strength or resistence training on the shorter, high intensity days (not back-to-back days)

if you are new to activity, begin with walking



The book opens with a very interesting report on what schools in Napierville, Illinois, are doing for P.E. and the effect on grades.

Published in 2008.

The New Books Shelf at the Library

I always pause at the New Books shelf at our library. Frequently, I'll check one out just to look through; it seems that I never love these books enough to read word-for-word, but some are interesting to skim.

So on my last trip, I saw this book called It's My Heart. I picked it up because I thought the perspective would be interesting. I've been thinking a lot about my children's hearts -- the emotional side -- and how, as much as I love them, I tend to be mostly about "making them" behave and "making them" do what they need to do (school, homework, chores, church and so on). The "making them" doesn't work very well with pre-teens and teens. Instead of changing my strategy (which would be good for us all and probably less stressful), I up the ante, so to speak. I try to find the logical consequence to "make them" act right.

I checked out the book to read through at home. What would it tell me about kids' hearts?

Got home and opened it up and, guess what, it is about kids' hearts. Not heart as in emotions and the seat of the soul and so forth, but actual, physical hearts!

I laughingly told my two girls about this and my older one looked me straight in the eye and said, "you can't judge a book by its cover." She's right.

So I now need to think about what a book about kids' hearts (not the physical organ) would say.

I think it would be a lot about relationships and connections.

Lists and everyday life

Loved this about making lists!

http://clbeyer.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/living-with-lists/

I'm trying to grasp this concept of finding beauty in the ordinary, everyday life I live.

I think that I sometimes like the planning of life and the reading about life (or some part of life) more than I like the actual living/doing.

Fireproof, the movie

I saw Fireproof with my kids last week. Great movie. Would like to see it again with hubby.

Going to movies like this is the easiest "ministry" I do! I really like supporting those who are making movies that have Christian values.

We own Facing the Giants on DVD. I would like to rent or buy Flywheel.

1000 Gifts

Gifts...

• loss of electricity...we got to spend time with family and neighbors outside
• my understanding husband
• tears
• goodness of most people
• my church (the building and the people)
• libraries and their books
• KISS Grammar! (what a surprise--I didn't use to like grammar)
• changing seasons
• new days, ability to start fresh and try again
• forgiveness
• Ann at Holy Experience
• Ambleside Online Advisory