Jon Stanton

Although I have learned to never trust weather forecasts in Michigan - especially in spring - I am hopeful that the next couple of days will indeed be sunny, relatively "warm", and free from the persistent rain that's been falling the last several days.

What a great time to get outdoors and enjoy springtime in Michigan! We are blessed to live in a beautiful state (at least spring/summer/fall - in case you haven't noticed, I hate winter) that has so much to offer for recreation and healthy activities! That's one of the reasons I'm so disappointed that Michigan is near the top of the most obese states in the country. Why is that, when we have so much available to us?

Let's work on moving our state further down that chart, OK?

Here's what I have planned for this weekend, and maybe it will sound like fun to you too. Tonight, I'm riding bikes after work with a friend in East Lansing. I cannot put into words how wonderful it feels to be able to ride a bike and ENJOY it! When I was morbidly obese, there was not a seat big enough to make riding a bike possible, unless I stole one off the riding lawn mower and put it on top of my bike! LOL! My bike collected dust in the garage because quite simply - I was too fat to ride it! How about a bike ride with your family? Michigan has abundant trails throughout the state that are wonderful for riding bikes. In the Lansing area there is the River Trail, Hawk Island Park, the MSU campus, Sleepy Hollow State Park, and so much more!

On Saturday morning, I will be walking at an event in Grand Ledge sponsored by Community Partners in Health. It kicks off at 9am in Ledges Park and is a 1.5 mile loop through the historic parts of Grand Ledge. This is a great opportunity to start off your day with a bang! Do you know that movement in the morning kick-starts your metabolism often resulting in more calories burned during the day - even when you're NOT moving?

I'm not sure what I'll be doing for exercise yet on Sunday, but I can guarantee you I will do something! You see - daily movement, sometimes only 30 minutes worth if I'm really busy, is a key component of my successful 230 pound weight loss. It's also a key component of maintaining that weight loss. Beyond all that, though - I feel GREAT when I exercise because it releases endorphins (feel-good hormones) and helps keep me healthy and fit.

I hope you're outside this weekend enjoying the weather, enjoying  your family, and exercising to help move Michigan to the BOTTOM of that list - not the top. Have a great weekend!