Short periods of exercises can still improve heart health

Estevan Humane Society 2008 Dog Jog. Even in the rain and wind everyone had a great time. It was a wonderful chance to get out of the house, meet some great people, entertain your pet & help a great cause :)

Vivid_Crystal has contributed a photo to this story.

Me and my family were just taking a walk at this one place where I live and I was taking pictures of them and there is this bridge that we run over so I told them to wait and I ran to the other side and waited for them to run over and when they were coming towards me I took a picture of them.

belkums10 has contributed a photo to this story.

This was a group of young men who were jogging near my workplace, and thank goodness for my car to keep up with them!

You, Me & Nikon has contributed a photo to this story.

This picture was taken after getting out of work.I found 1hr to fit in jogging and snap a few pictures...all before going out on a Saturday night.

sneaktip89 has contributed a photo to this story.

I wish to share with you these pictures and a story of my friend Eugene Li and his remarkable story of change…. And I have his permission to do so. I have known him for about little more than a year after I have come to Toronto, and I am proud of him and his family’s “victory” against his “alcoholism”.

With a fine position on a good career and an intelligent mind that he is blessed with, he also takes care of his family well. So how could he be an alcoholic? He drank to handle “pressure”, that was what he thought then in 1991 after having been a regular drinker for many years.

Weighing 200 pounds, an overweight and out of shape person, depended on pain killers and prescription and non-prescription drugs, often mixing them with alcohol. One day in his home, he came across a poem titled “Hell with an alcoholic” written by his younger daughter, who absentmindedly left it on the desk. Eugene was outraged when he read it because he could not acknowledge that he was an alcoholic and that he was not only hurting himself but also his family with his habits.

One Saturday morning he poured two bottles of liquor down the kitchen sink and said, “It is time to stop”. His family thought this was a regular routine because he did this several times in the past but came back drinking. But this time he sat with his daughter and told her how it pained him to know how she sees and felt about him and he wants to change that. He started jogging and exercising, with his family’s daily prayers and effort in supporting his new lifestyle his life has changed for the better ever since.

Today at 64, having left drinking for 16 years Eugene weighs 155 pounds. He regularly trains and keeps fit. With a wonderful home gym and dozens of medals, he completed 16 marathons, 14 CN tower climbs and 26 achievement on 10 kilometers runs. He is a loving husband, a proud father of four fine children and two wonderful grandchildren. He is looking forward to his retirement whenever he wishes from a successful career and continues his passion for running.

Peter Lu.

Ming chai has contributed a photo to this story.

I had been doing an all nighter at some ones house, helping them with a photography project, and as I passed the park on my way home I stopped to get some shots.

This shot was more by chance, a case of being in the right place at the right time, although the sunrise was beautiful.

Taken with Canon EOS 1Ds Mk2 - 1/2500sec f5.6 70mm

Robert Dowell has contributed a photo to this story.

Always remember when exercising that you get better results by applying safety first and moderation second. When you exercise make sure you have a balanced meal with plenty of protein, carbohydrates and your daily fruits and vegetables and proper meats into your diet plan.
Having a good diet and exercising on a regular basis are but a couple of great ways to stay in shape.
Some others may include the following:

1. Incorporate a good stretch routine
2. Eat many small meals a day
3. Do not eat right before you go to bed
4. Have good night sleep to relax the muscles
5. Keep up-to-date physicals and check-ups annually

Many of these ideas are valuable to any age and should be considered throughout your life.
May your health and happiness be contageous whereever you go.

marlafaith66 has contributed a photo to this story.

One a early morning at Cotesloe Beach, Perth.

Cathastrophy has contributed a photo to this story.

These images were shot in Santa Barbara California on Sunday, June 01, 2008 during the running of the Santa Barbara State Street Mile. All of the photos from this event can be seen at www.santabarbarapix.com.

Marc Liberts has contributed a photo to this story.

Japanese athletes run in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo.

Paul in Japan has contributed a photo to this story.

But how many 30 second sprints in each session?

And how long would a middle-aged man like me need to warm up and stretch to avoid injuries during the sprints?

That said, I think a few sprints is a good idea.

('my photo' isn't mine, it's from Top Run. Which is neither interval training, nor 'moderate' in any normal sense of the word.)

The South African Military hosted a road race in Pretoria in the early hours of a autumn morning. This athlete was part of the leading group 4km before the crossing the finish line.

jaroszelement has contributed a photo to this story.

Live, run, breath, enjoy life!!!!! just 2 words: HAKUNA MATATA

Aiboilic has contributed a photo to this story.

My dog and I getting some exercise on the beach at Lake Erie.

mopnglo222 has contributed a photo to this story.

My 73-year-old mother-in-law and my 5-year-old step-son enjoy some afternoon exercise.

tstandr has contributed a photo to this story.