P.A.C.E. Trek – A Former Teacher Promotes Fitness

I was on an airplane recently and an overweight man next to me was complaining about how “tight” his seat was. If you read yesterday’s blog entry, you know that American’s are pushing the limits on their waistbands!

Under safety standards written more than 60 years ago, airplane seats must be designed to accommodate a 170-pound passenger. The trouble is, Americans have grown much larger in the decades since the rules were established. According to a New York Times article, some engineers are actually starting to question whether airline seats are strong enough to protect overweight travelers.

Today, the average man weighs 194 pounds, making him 24 pounds heavier than the passengers for whom the seats were originally designed. The average woman, at 165 pounds, has nearly reached the limit too. Overall, the number of people outgrowing their seats is increasing every year.

Robert Salzar, the principal scientist at the Center for Applied Biomechanics at the University of Virginia, told the New York Times that a large passenger could “blast” through a seat belt, endangering himself, and potentially injuring others. And, obese passengers are far less likely than others to even wear safety restraints — because they find them uncomfortable.

So, what can be done? Engineers say that for starters, seats and seat belts should be tested using obese dummies. But many agree that eventually airlines will probably have to address these issues — meaning bigger seats and stronger seat belts.

Gotta Run,

Paul Staso
www.pacetrek.com

Is the United States actually sinking deeper into the earth? I can’t help but to wonder when I read some alarming statistics!

In the U.S., two-thirds of adults and one-third of children are overweight or obese. For the first time in U.S. history, there are more obese people than overweight ones. It is estimated that unless the alarming trend can be reveresed, by the year 2030 42% of the U.S. population will be obese. Obesity increases the risk for many chronic diseases including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, some types of cancer, gout, and sleep apnea. Due to the rise in obesity rates and the resulting health-damaging effects, the current generation of American children may be the first not to live as long or be as healthy as their parents. For Latino and African-American children, the predictions are especially grim — 50% of these youth are expected to develop Type 2 diabetes in their lifetime.

Obesity is not only a problem that undermines the nation’s health, but it is also an economic and national security threat. These obesity-related diseases account for an estimated $190 billion in yearly medical expenditures, 21% of all medical spending in America today, and drive up the cost of medical care for everyone, even those not directly affected by the problem. Some experts believe that the health care costs of obesity have surpassed the health spending resulting from tobacco use. Currently, 27% of U.S. young adults (ages 18-24) are ineligible to enroll in the military because of their weight. There are also indirect costs of obesity, including the value of income lost from decreased productivity, restricted activity and absenteeism — accounting for an estimated $450 billion annually.

Our health habits, the choices we make regarding food and exercise — and the communities we live in, including our transportation systems, schools, workplaces, environments and U.S. agricultural policies — all impact our health.

At the recent “Weight of the Nation Conference” conference in Washington D.C., five strategies were identified to strengthen the country’s obesity prevention efforts:

(1) Make physical activity an integral and routine part of life. This approach includes enhancing the “built environment” — for example, improving sidewalks and bike paths, and adopting physical activity requirements for all schools and licensed child care providers. Since it takes running three miles to burn off the calories consumed in a single candy bar, physical activity is just one piece of the puzzle and solution.

(2) Create food and beverage environments that ensure that healthy food and beverage options are the routine, easy choice. Healthier foods should be available at all locations and in all environments. Policies to reduce access to sugar-sweetened beverages, increase availability of drinking water, and use incentives to attract supermarkets and grocery stores to underserved neighborhoods have all been successful approaches.

(3) Transform messages about physical activity and nutrition. The average child sees as many as 7,600 ads for food products a year, and over 40% of those ads are for candy, snacks and fast food. The marketing of unhealthy products to children must be regulated, limited, and replaced with effective social marketing campaigns for physical activity and healthy foods, as well as easy-to-read nutrition labeling on the front of packages and on restaurant menus.

(4) Expand the roles of health care providers, insurers and employers in obesity prevention. Doctors and health care providers should conduct obesity screenings, and provide preventive services. Workplaces, where adults spend 25% of their time, should increase opportunities for physical fitness at the worksite and offer breastfeeding-friendly environments for new mothers as well.

(5) Make schools a national focal point of obesity prevention. Children spend up to half of their waking hours and consume between one-third and one-half of their daily calories at school, making this environment a key location for obesity prevention. Schools can play a significant role by requiring physical activity, improving nutrition standards for school meals and a la carte items, and providing a nutrition education curriculum.

Gotta Run,

Paul Staso
www.pacetrek.com

I was recently building a house out of Legos with a 3 year old. We had to create the foundation for the entire structure to stand upon. Of course, the little boy wanted to get right to putting up walls and installing windows and doors, but without the foundation nothing else can stand. That’s a tough concept to explain to an energetic, “I want it now!” 3 year old. Eventually, we got the foundation built.

Whenever I dedicate myself to something in life, I build the foundation first and foremost. I know, as my little Lego-building buddy is learning, that without a solid foundation nothing can stand the test of time. When I was young I certainly went into some things in my life without taking the time to build a solid foundation, and I learned some very difficult lessons through such times. I guess that’s why it’s said that some of the most valuable lessons come through the most trying times.

When I get an idea for running across a state or country, there is always a lot of foundation building that must occur before my running shoes ever reach the starting line. When I go into a P.A.C.E. Trek with a solid foundation I know that no matter what storm blows my way I’ll be able to endure it, having made a foundation on solid rock — so to say — rather than shifting sand.

Lately I’ve been looking back on some of the foundations I’ve placed in my life. Some have certainly been built more solid than others, and some have crumbled because of various factors — some outside of my control. Now at the age of 47, I’m only interested in building very solid foundations that will stand the test of time… at least the length of my time left on this earth. I have a heart that can be incredibly dedicated, as my P.A.C.E. Treks have shown. Once I commit, I stick! I’ve weathered countless storms in life that have truly tried to destroy some of the foundations I’ve placed. However, the foundations that were built with quality time and dedication have stood the test of time. It’s sad to say, but that’s not the case with all foundations — including some of my own.

I’m in a season of life where foundation building is of paramount importance. I’m hoping that I’m only halfway through my time on this planet, and with the time I have left I want to build foundations that are solid. Have you tried to build foundations in the past that have proved only to crumble in time? Are you in the process of building a foundation that you believe will stand the test of time? Wherever you are in life’s continual process of foundation building, make certain that you dedicate your heart to building an honest, true and solid foundation that will allow for you to build upon it all that you imagine.

Putting the pieces together for a foundation should be just like putting Lego pieces together. They should all fit precisely. If they don’t, the foundation is likely not going to be able to stand the test of time. Make sure your foundation building is accomplished only with pieces that fit. Never try to force the pieces into a foundation. Like a rotting fence that is whitewashed, in time the real condition will show and the result will be a crumbling structure.

Gotta Run,

Paul Staso
www.pacetrek.com

Whenever I do a P.A.C.E. Trek (running solo across a state or country) I don’t plan for failure. Sure, I have an emergency call out option on my SPOT satellite tracking device so that I can get emergency assistance if needed. However, aside from that option in the event of failure or emergency, I don’t plan for anything but success. Some may say that’s being too optimistic for success, but I always go into any endeavor or goal in life with a positive outlook, a determined focus, and with all my heart. Is failure an option? Sure, that’s part of life. However, I don’t plan for it. I stay intent on the goal… setting my eyes on what it is I want to achieve and directing all of my energy, ability and desire toward that objective. To me, that reflects a life that is focused on truly achieving success.

Planning for success, and more importantly putting “action” toward a plan for success, is always more difficult that planning for failure. When you plan and aim toward success, you have to dedicate yourself to that plan and make certain that you are not allowing failure — or anything short of your goal — to absorb your thoughts. Too many people entertain thoughts of failure even before they’ve begun to put into action a plan toward success. Their likelihood of success is already lessened by allowing thoughts (and plans) about failure to enter their mind.

Yes, planning and aiming for success is crucial toward actually achieving success, and in my opinion those who plan equally (or more so) for failure are being too negative and showing that they are not as committed to their goal as they should be to experience genuine success. Since I successfully ran solo across the United States in 2006, I’ve been contacted by hundreds of people with thoughts of running across a state or country. What I’ve seen is that 99% of them never even stood on the starting line of their goal. Many of them, when contacting me, were full of questions regarding the ‘negatives’ that they might experience and a surprising number asked me about plans I had in place for moments that may bring failure (such as a major storm, being struck by a vehicle, and so much more). People who start to analyze the negatives and plan for failure even before reaching the starting line have already committed part of their heart, thinking and outlook toward failure… and that always lessens the likelihood of success.

Are you making a plan toward a goal? Are you also allowing yourself to lay plans for failure? Think about what your heart and mind are focusing more on. If you are truly desiring your goal, then focus your energy, abilities and heart on that goal. Don’t allow thoughts of failure to wash over your plans toward success. If you want to achieve it, then believe it. Be a person who not only plans for success, but puts the wheels of ‘action’ into motion to actually experience that success. Talking about success is only half of the process of actually achieving success. Without action, nothing can truly be achieved.

Gotta Run,

Paul Staso
www.pacetrek.com

Have you ever awoke to a new day and wondered what it would bring? Today as the sun broke over the horizon my mind began to ask “What will today bring?” That’s a question I seem to ask myself every day during a P.A.C.E. Trek. When you’re running across a state or country all alone you can’t help but to wonder what moments will happen along the road unseen. Sometimes the most memorable things are just around the next bend in the road. Those moments can be wonderful and life changing, other times they can be painful and heartbreaking. Regardless, the experiences to be had on the road unseen can leave an everlasting impact in your life.

I’ve always been one to embrace the road unseen. It’s one of the qualities of my journey running that helps to propel me forward. Yes, one of the secrets of my ability to endure is simply the desire to live life to the fullest and to eagerly pursue the events on the road unseen. It’s when we would rather not get out of bed and face the road of unseen moments that we become captive to fear, uncertainty and complacency. I want to wake up each day with a heart willing and eager to get onto that unseen road and add to my heart’s memory book all that I can.

I’ve had days on my road unseen that have literally brought me to my knees. As much as we would like to always experience amazing moments that are full of wonderful events, people and places… that’s not always how life happens. In fact, some of the most life-altering times happen when we least expect it on the road unseen. You’ll be running along comfortably and all of a sudden there will be a storm that arises, sending your ‘comfort’ level immediately to a level of stress and strain. I remember running across Illinois during my solo run across America in 2006 and although I had run about 30 miles that day a huge storm built and the rain eventually turned to battering winds and then severe lightening. There was no shelter and I was several miles from the nearest town on a rarely traveled county road as large hail began to come down. It was farmland and I was exposed to the elements without even a tree to take shelter beneath. I went from comfortable running to being beaten by the weather. The hail hurt and I had no choice but to lay down on the side of the road and then place the stroller on top of my body to protect me. I layed there as large hail battered the stroller, hitting the frame so hard that I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to have it hit my body that hard. The road unseen had brought me to a point of concern, pain and self preservation. And, as though a flip of a switch, it stopped… and the sun eventually came back out and I finished the day as peacefully as the day started. Those moments can happen at any time on the road unseen.

Are you being pounded by hail right now on your road unseen? Are you at a point of concern, pain or self preservation? All I can say, from personal experience, is to hold on the best that you can and persevere through the storm. Will there be a rainbow on the other side? Well, that depends on your perspective of life. If you believe that relief and peace can only come by a visible sign — such as a rainbow — and not simply by a feeling of peace in your heart… then you may be too focused on what can actually be seen to dictate peace after the storm. Sometimes the greatest peace we can experience deep in our heart is not dependent upon those things we can actually see to confirm peace.

May your hail be light and your road unseen filled with more positive experiences than difficult trials.

Gotta Run,

Paul Staso
www.pacetrek.com

One year ago today I ran across the finish line of my 506-mile, 17-day solo run across the Mojave Desert (www.pacetrek.com/mojave). I’ll never forget running onto the salt flats of the Badwater Basin in Death Valley and realizing that I had just become the first person to run solo and unsupported from the Grand Canyon, across the Mojave Preserve, into the heart of Death Valley. It was an amazing experience!

Life is full of finish lines. Sometimes those lines are closer than we initially anticipate, and sometimes they’re further out than desired. Regardless, it’s important to know that once you cross a finish line you are immediately standing on the starting line of a new journey. It’s natural to take time to reflect on the course traveled and the effort made, but it’s just as important — if not more so — to fix your eyes forward on the new course to be traveled. Successful runners are those who learn to run with their eyes focused on what’s ahead rather than constantly looking back. Too often it is when we look back that we stumble on something that’s in front of us.

Have you recently crossed a finish line in your own life? Is there something that you’ve committed a lot of time, energy, ability, heart and thought to that is now done? Make today the day that you look forward to the opportunities in front of you. Yes, you’re standing on a new starting line! Step forward in confidence knowing that you gave your last ‘race’ your absolute best effort and that you have learned from that course and are now determined to run a path toward greater personal fulfillment, success and happiness. This is your time to start again!

Gotta Run,

Paul Staso
www.pacetrek.com

Most of you know that I took 2012 off from doing a P.A.C.E. Trek. I hadn’t had a year off from planning, training and doing a P.A.C.E. running adventure for 6 years and decided it was time to let my body have a break. I know in my heart I made the right choice.

As I sit here planning the P.A.C.E. Trek for 2013, I can’t help but to think about the importance of making right choices. When I plan a solo run across a state or country I have to look at many factors that would impact the run (both positively and negatively) and eventually make choices with respect to the route, lodging, daily mileage, food stops, and more. Every day we make choices and many times they are made subconsciously. However, sometimes we have a choice to make about something and it requires significant focus and thought.

Are you trying to make a choice about something right now? I want to share with you some information I read recently about making choices. Perhaps the ideas and strategies here will help you reach a final decision about something that you’ve been wrestling with.

Our brains are fairly binary. They can react very quickly when presented with two options, especially when one choice is clearly better. Stand here and drown in the rising waters, or jump onto that big rock and be safe? Easy choice.

The typical suggestion for arriving at a decision is the list of pros and cons. You make two columns on a piece of paper and write down all of the positive things that will come of making a choice in one column and all the negative things in the other. In the end, the side with the most entries wins. My daughter, Jenna, recently did this when trying to decide between two universities to attend. However, this strategy doesn’t take into account the different weight that each positive or negative might have. To counter this problem some people assign point values to each item in their list. For instance, a huge income might be worth +20 points, while a tiny risk might be only -1. This helps make a more realistic assessment of your options.

But pros and cons are not always apparent or obvious, and the whole list-making process doesn’t sit well with many people — especially impulsive, “seat-of-the-pants” people who might feel unnaturally hampered by the formality of the pro and con list. There are some other strategies for making big decisions. Not all of them work for every person or for every decision, but they all have something to offer to help you clarify your thinking and avoid “decision paralysis” while the water rises around you.

One strategy is to analyze outcomes. Working through a big decision can give us a kind of tunnel vision, where we get so focused on the immediate consequences of the decision at hand that we don’t think about the eventual outcomes we expect or desire. When making a choice, it pays to take some time to consdier the outcome you expect. Consider each option and ask the following questions:

– What is the probable outcome of this choice?
– What outcomes are highly unlikely?
– What are the likely outcomes of not choosing this one?
– What would be the outcome of doing the exact opposite?

Thinking in terms of long-term outcomes — and broadening your thinking to include negative outcomes — can help you find clarity and direction while facing your big decision.

Another strategy is known as the “Five Whys”. The Five Whys are a problem solving technique whereas when something goes wrong, you as “why” five times. By asking why something failed, over and over, you eventually get to the root cause. As you ask why it’s important to keep the questions focused inward rather than outward to irrelevant external factors.

Another strategy is one that I tend to adopt when it comes to P.A.C.E. Treks — probably because it is most in tune with my character and my desire to lean on my personal experiences. It is to follow your instincts. Research shows that people who make decisions quickly, even when lacking information, tend to be more satisfied with their decisions than people who research and carefully weigh their options. Some of this difference is simply in the lower level of stress the decision created, but much of it comes from the very way our brains work. The conscious mind can only hold between 5 and 9 distinct thoughts at any given time. That means that any complex problem with more than (on average) 7 factors is going to overflow the conscious mind’s ability to function effectively — leading to poor choices.

However, our unconscious mind is much better at juggling and working through complex problems/choices. People who “go with their gut” are actually trusting the work their unconscious mind has already done rather than second-guessing it and relying on their conscious mind’s much more limited ability to deal with complex situations.

So, what do you do if you keep second guessing yourself? There are actually five ways to stop second-guessing, or doubting, yourself when it comes to making a decision. You can also look at this list as five ways to make confident decisions!

1. Ask Yourself What Means The Most To You.

The decision that’s most in line with the things that mean the most to you will often be the best decision for you.

2. Trust Your Gut.

Trust your intuition. Look at what your intuition tells you is the “right” decision for you. Forget about all the “What ifs” and the myriad, tiny details. What is your GUT telling you? Listen to your intuition… it knows what it’s talking about.

3. It Just Doesn’t Matter.

A decision between which breakfast cereal to eat isn’t exactly a “big” decision. Sometimes it just doesn’t matter which way you go. It’s easy to get wrapped up in second guessing yourself, going round in circles and over-complicating things, when — if you get right down to it — it just doesn’t matter. Going round in circles is only going to make you dizzy, so stop it. Ask yourself this question: If your future happiness wasn’t dependent on your decision, which way would you go. Sometimes the choices we have to make simply are not make it or break it for life.

4. Have Enough Information.

Go and get the facts before you make a complex decision. By all means, weigh up the pro’s and con’s so that you can get an understanding of what’s behind a choice. But be careful — there’s a huge difference between knowing enough to make a choice, and knowing EVERYTHING to make a choice. When you feel yourself pursuing every fact or every piece of information before you make a wise decision, stop yourself. Ask: “What do I REALLY need to know to make this decision?” Then, focus your efforts on getting the best information relatively quickly, rather than pursuing all of the information you could get your hands on given a longer period of time.

5. Respect Your Doubts.

We all naturally shy away from change, and we’ve developed a whole bunch of tricks that make it easy for us to avoid making decisions and ultimately end up staying exactly where we are. That part of you is often called the “Gremlin”, and it’s the part of you that would rather avoid making decisions altogether rather than run the risk of making a bad one or screwing up. Your Gremlin is not the same thing as having doubts, which are valid concerns about a possible course of action, or reasonable concerns about what might be in store. Your doubts can help you prepare for change and get ready for what could happen. Your Gremlin is adept at feeding on your doubts and using them to get you to stay put, so knowing the difference between your Gremlin and your valid doubts helps you clarify what’s real and what’s imagined, what’s relevant and what’s irrelevant.

Yes, I had a BIG decision to make before I attempted to run across the Mojave Desert solo last spring. I tend to go with my gut, my instinct, based on my experiences in life and knowledge of myself. When my decision is going to impact the lives of others (a “ripple effect”), I tend to analyze a bit more, but still it is my gut instinct that tends to make the final call.

I hope that this information has been helpful to you, and no matter what your decision is I would suggest that you consider asking yourself a question that I tend to ask myself when I’m faced with a decision. That question is: “Which choice will bring me the most happiness, satisfaction, peace, joy and fulfillment?” Many times, your gut instinct on the heels of that question will point you right toward a particular choice — which is usually the right one. Remember, research has shown that those who go with their gut instinct tend to be most satisfied with their decisions.

If you’re wrestling with a decision to make, I hope that you can cross that decision-making finish line soon. Like any good finisher, be sure to confidently ‘lean at the tape’ and cross the finish line of your decision knowing that you did your best in getting there with the information, knowledge, thought, time and energy that you had to devote to it. Then, let your mind relax from the decision-making process and focus on contentment with the decision you’ve made.

Gotta Run,

Paul Staso
www.pacetrek.com

Last year at this time I was only 84 miles away from the finish line of my 506-mile, 17-day solo run across the Mojave Desert. After running 422 miles in 14 days I had conquered the most difficult part of that desert run. The many consecutive days of complete isolation, loneliness, agonizing strain, and uncertainty about finishing were all behind me. I had finally reached a point on that course where I knew in my heart that I was going to succeed in accomplishing a running feat nobody else had ever done. Yes, I was three days away from the finish line and I was CERTAIN that I was going to succeed.

It’s a great relief to reach the point of certainty after traveling a road of uncertainty for so long. It comes with a clear peace, and really a joy, that you have endured through the unknown and arrived at a point where your future path is indeed certain. I truly enjoyed the last three days of running across the Mojave Desert. I felt like I had finally gotten the elephant off of my back and was running freely, happily and almost effortlessly once I reached that point of certainty.

So, what does it take to arrive at a point of “certainty” when you’ve been running a course that started out with so many unknowns? It all comes down to believing in yourself, your heart’s desire, and your own ability to overcome whatever obstacles may be in your way to try and prevent you from ultimately achieving what it is you truly want. It’s a matter of confidence based on all of the experiences, both good and bad, acquired along the course already traveled. Certainty is reaching a point where you no longer envision or anticipate upcoming struggles and trials of a course you’re on, but knowing that you’ve acquired the strength and determination from the course already traveled to know without a doubt that no matter what comes you’re way you can endure to what it is you want. In short, it’s running out of a storm and knowing that no matter how harsh the next storm is you have what it takes to push through it and come out the other side to the waiting rainbow.

Have you been running a course of uncertainty? Are you reaching for the rainbow on the other side of the storm you’re in? Stop where you’re at, even if the winds are raging and you feel like the elephant on your back is about to crush you, and reflect on all that it has taken you to reach this point in time on the course you’ve chosen. Look at the amount of strength, determination, bravery, desire, and hope that you’ve invested into the course that you’re on. Reflect back to moments when you thought you just could not go on, but somehow managed to push through. Think about how wonderful it will feel when you to arrive at the other side of the storm. With each step you are showing yourself, and the world, that you have resolved to stay on the course until the finish line is firmly beneath your feet. Once you’ve reached the point of weathering enough storms to know that you can truly have what it is that you want, the rest of the journey is as beautiful, bright and peaceful as a rainbow.

Reach for your rainbow of peace on the course you’ve been enduring. Certainty is waiting just around the next bend in the road. Run for it and then cross the finish line with peace, joy and confidence knowing that you now have your heart’s desire. You’ll never regret the result of a course that you’ve run with all of your heart for all of the right reasons in your life.

May you reach your rainbow of certainty today!

Gotta Run,

Paul

I recently noticed that I’ve taken quite a few roadside pictures during P.A.C.E. Treks holding up one ‘snack’ or another. It may seem as though I’m sponsored by these companies and am promoting them. However, that’s not the case at all. I munch on a variety of things as I’m logging miles in a journey run. Peanuts, Pringles, Raisins, M&Ms, Banana Chips, and more all seem to make an appearance during my running endeavors. So, whenever you see me holding up some “power food” (or really, just a ‘snack’) along the edge of the road in my pictures, know that it’s not because I’m getting paid big bucks to do it. I’m just always looking for pictures to take. Want to see more P.A.C.E. Trek pictures? Just click here!

Keep reaching for the mileposts and milestones in life!

Gotta Run, Paul Staso

Tomorrow I will be 47 years old — or should that be “47 years young”? I can’t believe that I’ve been in the race of life for 17,155 days. At this point, the average person’s heart has beat about 1.8 billion times. I wonder how many heartbeats my heart has kicked out over the years. Of course, my P.A.C.E. Treks across states and countries would certainly be inflating my number… not to mention all of the training miles. I’m hopeful that I am only halfway through my life at this point!

One birthday I’ll never forget is my 30th birthday (which was 17 years ago). I woke up that sunny, but cool, day and thought about how “big” turning 30 seemed. I decided that the day deserved something noteworthy to mark the milestone. So, I decided to go out for a spontaneous 30-mile run. I logged the distance in 5 1/2 hours without training and had the brief thought of doing it each and every year… adding a mile on each birthday. Well, suffice it to say that my runs across states and countries through P.A.C.E. Trek took over my running career and I stopped trying to run my age in miles on my birthday. Had I kept at it, I would be out doing a 47-mile run tomorrow! I don’t even want to think about how difficult a 70-mile run would have been on my 70th birthday if I kept at the routine!

Don’t think a 70-year-old person can run 70 miles on their birthday? Just check out the story of Jim Romero! Click here to read about his amazing 70-mile run (and watch the news video too)!

Keep reaching for the mileposts and milestones in life!

Gotta Run, Paul Staso

I read a good article in the Edmonton Journal that I want to share with you.

First Step In The Right Direction

If there is a war on childhood obesity, Dayle Hayes says we’re losing it. And part of the reason is that we’re calling it a war.

Hayes, a Montana-based nutrition educator who works closely with schools, says she’s seen tactics ranging from aggressive advertising campaigns to students having their BMIs (body mass indexes) measured at schools as the United States and Canada try to deal with this ongoing issue.

But the problem with tactics like these, says the dietitian, is that you can’t shame someone into losing weight.

“It’s this idea that we’ll just tell people that they’re bad, bad, bad, and we’ll show them how fat, fat, fat they are and then they’ll change,” Hayes says.

“That hasn’t worked. It’s just made people feel worse.”

She says research has shown those negative feelings don’t help young people lose weight and certainly don’t help them develop healthy eating habits, which is what she sees as the real goal.

In her experience, the best way to accomplish that is to provide children with positive role models who have healthy lifestyles.

But she says that’s another part of the problem – many adults have their own issues with food and body image.

“I think we have a diet mentality where dieting and exercise are the cure for weight problems, so we’ve just translated what we think is appropriate for adults to children,” Hayes says.

“Good people have done things that they thought would help and it’s just now that we’re beginning to see some unintended and negative consequences. But I think it’s a perfectly appropriate time for public health entities and for health-care professionals to just step back and say, ‘OK, maybe we ought to take a different approach.’ “

Read the full article by clicking here.

Keep reaching for the mileposts and milestones in life!

Gotta Run, Paul Staso

Today my son, Kyler, is 14 years old.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLER!

Before I ran across America in 2006, Kyler gave me a very special ‘hat’. It’s one that I’ve taken on every P.A.C.E. run that I’ve done! It has gone with me on my solo runs across America, Germany, Alaska, Montana, and the Mojave Desert. If you’ve followed my adventures online, you probably know which ‘hat’ I’m referring to! Yes… the UMBRELLA HAT!

When Kyler was barely 8 years old (2006) he gave me that hat to use for my coast-to-coast U.S.A. run so that I could be protected from rain. It was a thoughtful gesture and I’ve actually gotten a picture of me in that hat during each P.A.C.E. journey. Of course, there was no rain in the Mojave Desert… so for that run it was more of a sun shield!

I’ve enjoyed taking the umbrella hat on my running adventures. No, I don’t actually run for miles with it on my head. If I were to be seen running along the edge of highways pushing a yellow jogging stroller and wearing a multi-colored umbrella hat I just might be picked up by the police and have my mental stability tested! Ha!

It has been 6 years since Kyler gave me the umbrella hat and I still have it. I’ll take it on any future P.A.C.E. Treks that I do. Thanks for thinking about my protection, Kyler! Today — and every day — I’m thinking about you and love you very much. Happy 14th birthday!

Keep reaching for the mileposts and milestones in life!

Gotta Run, Paul Staso

I’ve been doing some running lately in the Northwest U.S. (Oregon and Washington) and it was just one week ago that snow was falling outside my window! Spring has been slow in coming this year and the running I’ve done lately has not been “Springlike”. Did you know that yesterday was officially the first day of Spring (or the “Vernal Equinox”)? “Vernal” and “equinox” are Latin terms meaning “spring” and “equal night” respectively. The idea is that on the first day of spring there are exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. I’ve actually experienced the Vernal Equinox on one of my P.A.C.E. Treks — the run across Germany in 2010.

Keep reaching for the mileposts and milestones in life!

Gotta Run, Paul Staso

Those of you who have followed my P.A.C.E. Trek journeys know that I typically end my blog writings, audio files, and video posts by saying “Gotta Run!”  As a result, that little sign off has become something I’m strongly associated with. I started using it early on in P.A.C.E. because I usually had to run — literally. Most of the time you’ll hear me say that as my parting words. Today I want to share with you some “Gotta Run!” pictures.

Keep reaching for the mileposts and milestones in life!

Gotta Run, Paul Staso

Okay, I’ll admit it. Sometimes while I’m on a P.A.C.E. Trek I have spontaneous moments of sillyness. Yep… that’s right. “PACE Paul” just has to have moments when he stops running and just takes a second to be silly. It can help to relax the mind and just be a temporary distraction from the seemingly endless miles in front of me. Here’s some pictures of such moments:

Keep reaching for the mileposts and milestones in life!

Gotta Run, Paul Staso