The buzz of energy around New Year’s health resolutions has come and gone. No reason to be discouraged; we still have 11 more months to keep trying.
 
What I have learned from interviewing people over the years on goal setting is that unrealistic expectations can often deflate the
momentum of initial motivation. Successful goal achievers who do make it to a  desired endpoint get there not with magic, but with a formula of the basics—time, patience, repetition, and support. World Fitness Calculator and Superbetter, tech tools based on simple health principles can help boost your  body-mind wellness goals for the year.

Exploring better ways to move, exercise or sustain physical resilience with mobility challenges is a constant source of interest for me. I  recently discovered the Feldenkrais Method, with the help of  Stacy Barrows, PT, GCFT, CPI, a physical therapist, Pilate’s instructor, and passionate practitioner of the approach. We explored some of the benefits for persons with disabilities. The main distinction of this form of movement therapy is its engineering viewpoint on understanding the body, “How do all the parts of the body work together? It's less of a cause and effect mindset,” Barrow notes.  

At  the White  House  childhood obesity summit  held last April, First  Lady  Michele  Obama  launched  the  Let's Move campaign  to inspire healthier  environments in schools and communities and to teach kids the vital skills of  wellness - exercise and healthy eating. I recently spoke  with  Gregory  Chertock,  sports psychologist,  fitness trainer, and baseball  coach specializing  in  elementary  and  middle  school  youth,  on  how  exercise/sports  impact the  development  of  children."Exercise  training can  teach kids powerful  life  skills  that  go  beyond  excelling in  a  sport,"  says  Chertok. 

Fitness Resolutions will be on the minds of many Americans as they ring in the New Year. News media venues will be inundated with feature stories on exercise, healthy eating, and the latest tech gadgets to battle the bulge.

The advice is limitless, with tips for the semi-pro athlete to the low budget exerciser. But why is it—with the influx of health education—that some people are able to establish the exercise habit and not others? “It’s not about the number on the scale, it’s about your connection to yourself,” says Robin Ox Goodpasture, a certified personal trainer, and body image consultant. 

My interest in Paralympic sports was sparked after viewing Murderball, a gripping documentary on the  fierce athleticism of  wheelchair rugby competitors. Earlier this summer, I spoke with  Charlie Huebner, Chief of Paralympics, U.S. Olympic Center based  in Colorado, about the paralympics movement in the U.S. Still in its infancy,  the Paralympic movement has grown exponentially both in the diversity of sports
venues and in the broad ranging disabilities of its athletes.

On May 21-23, the Abilities Expo - New York Metro division - will be showcasing an impressive range of options in disability technology,  expanding the scope of accessibility for persons with disabilities. Thirty-one  years ago, the Abilities Expo began with the humble efforts of Dick and Pat  Wooten. Dick, a polio survivor and wheelchair user since his teens, wanted to  establish a forum to share the resources that enabled him live a better life.  Today, the Abilities Expo has grown exponentially, providing direct learning to  attendees on the latest in assistive devices, home furnishings, and daily living aids across disabilities. 

Race Across America is an annual transcontinental bicycle race spanning from the west to the east coast of the United States. Last June (09), the Team Type 1 cyclists completed the 3021-mile race with a notable milestone. Each member of the team skillfully negotiated the self-management demands of their Type 1 diabetes, finishing the race in record time. They are first rate athletes with a mission as stated on their web-site: "We strive to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes. With appropriate diet, exercise, treatment and technology, we believe that anyone with diabetes can achieve their dreams." Stories of athletic achievement capture the imagination. This is an  inspiring account of a remarkable journey, beyond the challenges of a medical condition.