Kiss Boomeritis Goodbye

On October 15, 2007, with a few unremarkable keystrokes, Kathleen Casey-Kirschling took one small step for a woman and one giant leap for a generation.

Ms. Casey-Kirschling, who is widely considered to be the nation’s first Baby Boomer, became the first Boomer to file for Social Security retirement benefits.

What does this have to do with fitness, you ask? A lot, actually. It means that the Boomers are getting older. And, that means that in order to make the next phase of their lives as healthy and fulfilling as possible, they must do things a little differently when it comes to physical activity.

Does this mean that I’m going to recommend that you pick up a copy of Richard Simmons’s - Sit Tight: A “Sittin' Down” Workout?” “Now as you sit there, lift your can of lima beans up to the sky. Good. Good for yooou!”

No. I’m not going to do that, because the Boomers are marching into older age in far better physical shape than their parents.

First, let’s get clear on what “older” is and is not.

“Older” is a fact of life. Time passes, we age, and our bodies change. However, “older” is also an arbitrary designation based on an arbitrary number. Granted, sixty years ago, “older” meant “old,” because old people looked and acted…well…old. In 2007, that word has been rendered all but meaningless. Eighty-year olds are surfing and playing tennis and bungee jumping and running (not jogging) marathons. And, they’re completing the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon in 16 hours.

Here’s what “older” is not: It’s not a valid reason to avoid getting into stellar shape. It’s not an excuse to slow down, make concessions, do less -- and go gently into that good night.

Baby Boomers comprise the largest segment of the American population at roughly 80 million strong. But a recent study indicates that while Boomers may be strong in numbers, they’re not so strong in body. Injuries among Boomers -- torn ligaments, stress fractures and knee problems – are at an all time high. “Boomeritis,” as health professionals call it, cost an estimated $22.8 billion in 2003. That’s the bad news. Here’s the good: It’s easier than you think to get into great shape, and the scientifically-verified benefits of physical activity include: a better heart, a better mind, a better body and a better life.

We often forget how good it feels to have a fit and radiant body. We learn to accept less. If that sounds like you, stop that. Start demanding more, and you will experience the joy and passion of what it feels like to be fully alive. It all starts with moving your body.

Motivation Follows Movement

This may sound like more self-help ballyhooing, but it’s true: the motivation to exercise does not spontaneously occur. In fact, the less you exercise, the less you’ll want to exercise. You simply must start moving to get motivated to move. If you are out of shape, as little as three 20-minute workouts a week can have huge, positive effects on your physical and mental health.

Sometimes the notion of getting into shape after a long layoff can be so daunting that it discourages people from even starting out. Those people operate under the false assumption that it takes a series of one-hour leg-pumpin’, heart-thumpin’ spin classes to get back into shape. Here’s the trick: First, consult your physician and make sure your body is ready for a new exercise program. Then, when you start back to exercising, don’t focus on any numbers: no “workout time,” no “calories burned,” no “repetitions,” no “heart rate zones.” Just be smart, listen to your body and have fun with it. If, on your first day out there, you complete a five-minute walk, that is a terrific start. Once you generate a little momentum, it’s a difficult force to stop.

Bear the Burden

As Boomers age, it is estimated that half of women over age 50 will suffer a bone fracture caused by weakened bones, while one in eight men will suffer the same fate. While it’s important to take care of your joints and never overdo it, avoiding weight-bearing exercise, such as brisk walking, climbing stairs, resistance training, etc., can actually increase the risk of osteoporosis. Light jogging, if your knees can handle it, is a terrific activity for Boomers. Strength training is a must as well, since you can lose up to a half-pound of muscle tissue every year after age 35. Strive to incorporate some form of strength training and weight-bearing activity into your routine at least twice a week.

Your Body is Keeping Score

“You are more likely to be killed by your couch than by a stroke or an accident,” says Jim Taylor, Ph.D, author of The Prime Sport book series.

“There are 35 diseases, collectively known as Sedentary Death Syndrome (SeDS), associated with a sedentary lifestyle,” says Dr. Taylor. “Each year, about 250,000 Americans die from them. Since only 28 percent of Americans exercise regularly, an estimated 60 percent of the population is thought to be at risk for SeDS.”

It’s important to understand that your body is keeping score, right this moment, and every moment. Ignore your exercise, and somewhere down the road your body will demand payment…with interest.

Most of us require some form of tragedy to make a positive change. We’re comfortable with the status quo. We wait until something goes wrong until we decide fix it. The U.S. medical model works this way; it depends on the appearance of symptoms to prompt action. This is no way to live. Take action now and pursue a simple exercise program, and you can be healthy and strong all the way to the finish line. Investing in your body is arguably the best investment you’ll ever make.

Mix it Up

Who says you have to run on a treadmill to get into shape? Not me, that’s for sure. Set me loose on the trails, and I can scamper happily over hill and dale for three hours. Put me on a treadmill, and I start weeping after 11 minutes. Find your “fitness bliss,” and the calories burned will be a natural consequence of the fun, rather than the focus of the activity. That’s when it becomes easier, and more rewarding, to get into shape.

Boomers, some say you have the best years ahead of you. If you commit to staying in shape, and taking care of your body, I believe the years ahead of you can be your best ones.

Go for it.

Motivated by Forces Larger Than Myself

Hey, everyone! Well, after several months of lazily "blogging" my newspaper columns, I've decided to break out and blog in a proper way: raw, real and uncut! (Sounds like a Paris Hilton video sequel!)

Anyway, I am here at home in Fairfax putting in a big training block for the Big Kahuna Half Ironman Triathlon on September 9th. I'm looking forward to competing in this event, and based on recent benchmarks and a strong win in Sacramento in June, I ought to have a good outing at the "Big K." It's also a course that suits my strengths, indeed!

It's been a quite some time since I've had a fire in the belly when I train. I think a lot of it has to do with the new campaign I've launched with CARE, to fight global poverty, called "The I am Powerful Workout with Eric Harr." In essence, this is an opportunity for anyone to help eradicate poverty, simply by setting fitness goals for themselves. As you train and log your hours on the CARE website, I donate more money to CARE. I've committed $1 million over the next five years. I'm literally bribing America to get into shape! Hey, when pleading by health officials doesn't work to motivate people to exercise, maybe unmitigated bribery will!

This has given me a heavy dose of intrinsic motivation to work out and race, because I know I'm doing it on behalf of marginalized women and girls worldwide. I am literally swimming, biking and running for them -- and they are in my heart in every session. I spent a week in Mozambique this spring, with the very people I'm now setting out to help. This passion-driven mission is leading to some huge training breakthroughs for sure, mentally and physically. It's also been a lot easier to stay motivated day in and day out when I know that I'm doing this literally to save lives and empower women and girls in desperate circumstances. Fifteen thousand people die every single day on the continent of Africa -- of entirely preventable diseases. This is unconscionable, given our resources and our ability to help. That is why I've put my body, my heart, my soul (and my pocketbook) on the line to make a difference. I hope to lead others by example.

Please visit the CARE website and get involved: http://www.care.org/workout. You stand to get healthier as you help others in need. It's a win-win for everyone. At the very least, please pass along the link to those you know and love.

Never before in history has a generation been empowered with the very real ability to wipe out extreme poverty in our lifetime. It's possible. We must seize the opportunity!

And with that, I've got a 90-minute run to do along the beautiful trails of Mount Tamalpais -- and I will do so with those women and girls in my heart. It's a beautiful life, isn't it? It's all how you look at it.

Until next time: Stay healthy, have fun -- and let's beat global poverty together!

The Joy of Swimming: How to Master This Artform in 4 Simple Steps

The French poet Paul Valéry once remarked of swimming: “To plunge into water, to move one’s whole body, from head to toe, in its wild and graceful beauty; to twist about in its pure depths, this is for me a delight only comparable to love.”

Mais oui! Valéry paints an exquisite picture of swimming. Chances are you either totally get what he’s saying -- or you think he’s some quixotic poet prone to hyperbole.

The fact is when it comes to swimming, there are two camps: sinkers and swimmers. Swimmers see the sport a total mind-body-spirit release that soothes the spirit, relieves the pain and energizes the body. Sinkers fear and loathe swimming, because…well…they sink. To them, the sport is painful and boring and miserable.

Both groups are right. That’s because in exercise, as in life, we enjoy what we do well and we dislike what we do poorly. In hopes of moving you from sinker to swimmer (or swimmer to Valéry!), here are five tips and exercises to help you swim with more grace and gusto, so that you can reap the many rewards that swimming has to offer.

TIP: Get “organized.” Swimming is a technical sport much like golfing. You can be Brad Pitt fit, but if you don’t know the mechanics of the stroke, you’ll plod torturously through the water. Consider this: Water is roughly one thousand times denser than air. So, every move you make in the water has major implications on how you move through it. For example, if your hips drop, you’ll feel like you’re dragging your body through the water like an anchor. The best way to swim is to be as efficient as possible and slice through the water with torpedo-like precision.

TRY THIS: Get thee to your local pool and try this two-part drill: First, push off the wall underwater in the most wretchedly un-streamlined position you can: with your arms held straight out from your sides and your legs bent and apart. You’ll go about a foot. Next, push off the wall and hold your body in a perfectly streamlined position: Draw your hands together, one on top of the other, with your arms overhead as you look down at the bottom of the pool. Keep your legs together and your feet one on top of the other. If you do this right, you’ll glide effortlessly for ten feet or more. This exercise will help you start to understand how to “organize” your body in the water for maximum efficiency.

TIP: Work those hips. When I go to the local pool, in a blink, I know who swam as kids and who didn’t. Inexperienced swimmers think about their hands and arms and tear through the water. Experienced swimmers are all about their hips and look like professional ice skaters gliding effortlessly from one skate to the next. The natural tendency is to swim with your arms; that’s the dog paddle instinct. A powerful, efficient stroke, however, originates from your hips. Let’s return to the golf analogy: Imagine yourself swinging a golf club with complete freedom to rotate your hips. Now imagine yourself swinging a club while buried waist-deep in sand. This saps all of your power and leverage. In swimming, the magic is in your hips.

TRY THIS: Each time you extend your arm in swimming, roll your body and allow that arm to extend forward as much as possible. Then, rather than “ripping” through the water with your arm, engage your hips and hold” the water to generate more force and power. This takes some practice, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a thrilling feeling.

TIP: Break it down. There are four phases of the swim stroke. First, the “entry”: Your thumb and index finger enter the water slicing in at roughly a 45-degree angle. Your hand should enter a few inches in front of your head. Next, the “rotation”: roll into the stroke as if you are reaching for something just beyond your grasp. Allow your body to glide on its side. Now, the “catch.” With your elbow high to maintain your leverage and power, grab hold of the water and engage your hips to pull yourself through the water. Your hand should follow an “S” shape beneath your chest and past your hips to your thigh. (If you were to pull both arms together simultaneously, the resulting path would resemble Marilyn Monroe … or, um, Shakira.) After your hand finishes its pull, it’s time for the “recovery”: relax your muscles and release your hold on the water. Lift your elbow up and allow your hand to sweep freely as your hand prepares to enter the water again. Keeping your elbow higher than your hand during the recovery takes the pressure of your shoulders, which tire first in swimming.
TRY THIS: Drills are an effective way to learn each phase of the swim stroke. Swim down the pool and focus on just one phase of the stroke until you feel like you’ve got it. When you do, move on to the next phase and keep progressing until you master them all. Then, put them together. Remember: practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. Take your time with these drills.

TIP: Breeeathe. We tend to hold our breaths when we swim; it’s instinctual. “I’m in water. I’m a mammal. I will hold my breath! HELP!” This tendency is why inexperienced swimmers get winded so quickly. Nothing will incite panic and desperation in a person more than running out of air. Learning to breathe fully and efficiently will put you at ease in the water.
TRY THIS: Focus on breathing out rather than breathing in. As you complete your arm pull, exhale forcefully and blow a steady stream of bubbles, then roll your head out of the water, and allow yourself to draw in a deep breath of fresh air. Remember: when you feel the need to breathe, it isn’t so much that your body needs more oxygen, it’s that it’s trying to drive out the CO2. Focus on the exhalation, and the inhalation will happen more naturally.

TIP: Enjoy it. I recently got my first dose of bona fide “taxi cab wisdom” on a return trip from Denver. I was greeted at the airport by an 80 year-old cab driver named Sherman (“call me ‘Sherm!’”). He was, in his words – and I am not making this up – a “professional cab diver and part-time etymologist.” He proceeded to fill the hour-long ride with a poignant and eloquent account of the origins of the verb “to enjoy.” He said that most of us expect joy to come to us and that this is what gets us into trouble. Enjoyment has become a passive experience, something that we seek. We expect things, people, Prada, experiences and such to give us joy. However, Sherm explained that ancient definitions of the word point to joy being something you put into an experience. In other words, it’s dynamic and active. It comes not from what’s outside, but from what’s inside. When you decide in advance to enjoy something -- and this is particularly true of exercise -- things tend to align in that direction. It’s like Henry Ford said: “Whether you believe you can, or you can’t, you are right.” The joy you experience, in swimming or in life, is entirely up to you.

TRY THIS: Before your next dip in the water, commit to enjoying yourself as fully as possible. Put joy into the experience. Focus on how the water feels against your body. Be a kid again and revel in the delight of weightlessness and freedom and the “wild and graceful beauty” of swimming. Do this, and you’ll begin to understand what Valéry meant when he said swimming is “a delight only comparable to love.”

10 Great Reasons to Do a Triathlon

[The following is a modified excerpt from Eric Harr’s book: Triathlon Training in 4 Hours a Week: From Beginner to Finish Line in Just 6 Weeks.]

10 Great Reasons to Do a Triathlon

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”

--Henry David Thoreau

People are motivated to “take the plunge” and do a triathlon for reasons that are as varied as those setting out on this mission. Some are obvious: “To lose weight fast!” Others are personal: “To boost my self-confidence and feel good about myself.” Others are spiritual: “To find more meaning in my exercise,” “To live more fully.” A few are social: “To brag to everyone in the office that I did a triathlon,” and some are inspirational, “To serve as a model for others and show what is truly possible in life.”

Although the reasons people do a triathlon differ, the benefits are universal. That’s what this column is about--it outlines the 10 benefits you can reap from training for and completing a triathlon. The bottom line is that this process is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do in your life, not just physically, but mentally, spiritually and socially as well. Ask anyone who has done a triathlon, and they will tell you the same thing. But for all its power to change your life, training for this triathlon isn’t going to consume your life. I’ll help you blend the workouts seamlessly into your busy schedule and requires just one day, a total of 24 hours--four hours a week for six weeks. The payoffs, however, are timeless: You will lose loads of weight, feel better than ever, and gain self-confidence that will last a lifetime.

Lofty promises, indeed. Can doing a triathlon really deliver? Follow the advice over the next six week and, yes, without a doubt it can. It has for thousands of other triathletes, and it will for you, too.

Physical Benefits

For you to consider training for and completing a triathlon, there have to be some serious, long-lasting benefits, right? Well, here they are--10 of them. Let’s start with the most observable payoffs: what will happen to your body.

1. You Will Lose Weight

The first thing you’ll probably notice as a Triathlete-in-Training is that your clothes will become too big. That’s because training for such a three-sport event will make you as fit and healthy as you have ever been in your life. When you engage in a well-balanced program of swimming, cycling and running--known as cross-training--you will burn an enormous amount of fat from every area of your body. Better yet, the weight will come off as a natural consequence of your passion-driven quest to complete a triathlon, rather than from a guilt-induced diet, a boring exercise plan or a bizarre fitness implement.

The principles and strategies in this program are built on passion, not deprivation. As you progress on this program, you will gain momentum: You’ll lose a couple of pounds in the first week and you’ll begin to feel stronger, which means you can do a little more--and lose a little more weight. The workouts will get easier, so you’ll be able to go even farther and lose more weight. Before you know it, you’ll be sailing!

Keep this in mind: This program isn’t based on some untested herbal weight-loss product. The principles at work are basic scientific ones that your body cannot disobey. Like the apple that must fall from the tree, your body must lose weight if you’re consistently burning more calories than you’re consuming. And nothing burns more calories than training for a triathlon.

Plus, you’ll likely find that when you’re training for such an athletic event, you’ll want to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that supports your training. Overeating or indulging in lots of less-than-nutritious foods will leave you feeling dull and tired during your workouts, so you’ll quickly learn to eat what’s good for you--and that will accelerate your weight loss even more.

2. You Will Look and Feel Years Younger

When we neglect our bodies, imperceptibly over time we gradually accept lower standards of fitness, of health--and therefore of living. Worse, we don’t even realize how

bad we feel, until we wake up and get fit again. Training for a triathlon will reconnect you with your body and make you feel like you haven’t felt in years: young, energetic and powerful. And you’ll not only feel years younger but you’ll look better than ever, too. Triathletes are legendary for having some of the best physiques in the fitness world. That is because cross-training shapes the body in complementary ways: running develops long, lean muscles; cycling builds strength and tones your lower body; and swimming increases your flexibility and sculpts your upper body. Take a look at any triathlete over age 55 and you’ll see what I mean. These people have the look--and swagger--of 20- and 30-somethings.

3. You Will Have More Energy

Energy forms the basis of our existence, yet it seems that we all have less and less of it as our schedules have grown increasingly hectic. Unfortunately for some people, exercise can exacerbate this problem by draining their energy rather than replenishing it. In an effort to get results or lose weight fast, they may wind up overtraining and exhausting themselves.

Not so on this program.

The strategies I’ll set out over the next six weeks will show you how to exercise so that each workout refreshes your body and clears your mind, over time giving you more energy--so that you can perform better at work and at play. That, I guarantee.

You’re likely wondering “How can training for something as rigorous as a triathlon actually give me energy?”

This program is for real people--not for elite athletes. By following the principles over the next six week and exercising at the right pace for your fitness level, you’ll get fit without fatigue.

When I took a year off my triathlon-training program, my energy plummeted. I couldn’t believe it. It was as if someone pulled the plug on my life force. When I returned to consistent training, I felt fully alive again. You will, too.

4. You Will Get More Out of Your Workouts

Nobody likes to waste time. But that is precisely what most people do when they exercise – because they’re not doing it right! Over the ensuing weeks, I show you how to work out more efficiently by using a few simple strategies, such as monitoring your heart rate and breathing properly. Follow these and other techniques set forth in the training program, and you’ll get fast results from your workouts--without expending a huge amount of effort. It’s all about training smart, not hard.

5. You Will Injury-Proof Your Body

When you stick with one sport like running, for example, you continually stress the same parts of your body--and that can result in overuse injuries such as shinsplints, stress fractures, knee problems and tendinitis.

Training for a triathlon, however, incorporates three very different sports. This cross-training, as it is called, isn’t as hard on the body, because it distributes the stress more evenly to your bones and muscles and develops more balanced fitness. That means less pain, fewer injuries, and a stronger body. Or as Donna Carlysle, a mother of three from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, put it: “I like training for the triathlon because of the variety--it strengthens every muscle in my body, and it keeps me fresher as opposed to getting all the aches when I’m just running or biking or lifting weights all the time.”

6. You Will Improve Your Health

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, regular exercise can lower your blood pressure, prevent diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers, and reduce your risk of osteoporosis and depression--just to name a few. Follow my training program, and you’ll spend less time at doctors’ offices and more time enjoying your life!

By preventing disease and fortifying your body, regular exercise can help you live a longer, more productive life. Training for something as complete as a triathlon lays a foundation of fitness that will ensure that your later years are more pain-free and fun filled--so you’ll not only add years to your life but you’ll also add life to your years.

7. Your Mood Will Improve

Research shows that exercise improves your mood and lifts your spirits. And no wonder! When you put your body in motion, you can’t help but feel alive and invigorated. They don’t call it “runner’s high” for nothing. Plus, training for a triathlon gets you outdoors, and spending time in the beauty of nature is bound to boost your mood!

You’ll also grow more motivated to work out. Studies on exercise adherence show that many people quit their exercise routines because they become bored or burned out. This can happen when you do the same thing day in and day out. Incorporating three different sports into your weekly exercise plan helps you to avoid burnout. When you grow tired of swimming along that godforsaken black line in your local pool, you can go for a run, a hike or a bike ride around town or through the countryside. After all, each of these activities directly contributes to your triathlon success.

If the variety of training for a triathlon isn’t enough to keep you motivated--don’t worry. I’ll give you several other strategies for keeping your enthusiasm high throughout your training.

Not only that. This undertaking will help you redefine how you see and do exercise so that you can alter your long-term view of physical fitness. You will begin to see each triathlon training session for what it can be: a unique opportunity for personal growth, a celebration of life and a relaxing pause in your otherwise hectic and stressful life. You’ll learn to make exercise about letting go, stepping out into the world, getting sunshine on your face and having fun.

8. You Will Become the Best You That You Can Be

Are you tired of others telling you (or implying!) that you shouldn’t, you can’t or you won’t? Daily life rarely, if ever, provides us with the opportunity to be truly courageous, to show the world what we’re really made of--and to be recognized for our own greatness. Completing a triathlon will provide you, and those around you, with physical proof that you are capable of more than anyone realizes.

In this quest, pushing past what you thought was possible might be your barometer of success. For others, it might be setting a personal record. Regardless of your goals, you will glimpse your true potential by completing a triathlon.

Steve Prefontaine, one of the best competitors of all time, saw a race not so much as a competition against other people, but as a test to see how far the human heart can go.

That is what participating in a triathlon is all about.

9. You Will Motivate and Inspire Those around You

The courage and determination you show in pursuing a triathlon may inspire those around you to elevate their fitness and their lives--or at the very least, your quest will spark in others the possibility that they can do more. Bringing people to that realization is a wonderful gift. Knowing that you have set an example for someone to go after their dreams or to make a positive change in their life is a reward that simply cannot be matched. You’ll also be a hero to your kids!

10. You Will Set Other Positive Things in Motion--Things You Never Imagined

I know from personal experience that training for a triathlon event can totally transform your life. In 1994, when I decided to train for my first triathlon in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the extent of my exercise was walking to the local mango stand for lunch. It took courage to register for the race, but taking that one simple step set dozens of other unforeseen, positive steps into motion. I began eating better, I had more energy and I grew more sensitized to the joys of everyday life. I was a much more passionate and giving person because I felt so good about myself. That meant I could begin giving to others more. It may sound trite, but I began racing on behalf of animal welfare--something I likely would never have done if I hadn’t pursued the triathlon.

The moment you finish a triathlon, you will be astounded at the new realm of possibilities that open up to you. The only obstacles barring your way are your self-imposed excuses, fears and doubts.

Those are some powerful reasons! Now, empower yourself and go for it! Are you with me?

Home is Where Your Health Is

It's that time of year again. Dust the drapes, sweep under the rugs, wash the windows and flip the mattresses. (Truth be told, I’ve never flipped a mattress in my life. It's a good time to start, I suppose.)

In any event, when spring rolls around, it's time to clean house and get ready for warmer weather. In this column, I’ll give you some tips for improving the “health” your home.

In an ever more chaotic and stressful world, our homes as physical and mental sanctuaries become more important. Home is where we go to shake off the stress of life and to recharge our bodies and minds. Since we spend roughly two-thirds of our lives at home, the health of our homes largely determines the quality of our lives.

“Many people simply are not aware of how unhealthy their living environments might be,” says Debra Dadd-Redalia, author of five home health books including Home Safe Home (Putnam, 1997). “Individually, things such as toxic cleaners and reduced air circulation may have only a small impact, but collectively, they can have devastating effects on one’s long-term health,” she says.

Here are six simple steps to boost the “health” of your home:

STEP ONE: INCREASE AIR QUALITY AND CIRCULATION

I drive my wife crazy for many, many reasons. Here’s one: I am constantly flinging open all the windows in our home to bring in fresh air. It's a literal wind-tunnel at our house. Ok, perhaps I go a little overboard, but the quality of air inside your home is of paramount importance. Your body depends on a rich, clean supply of oxygen to function properly. But, in an effort to conserve energy, many homes are equipped with airtight windows, heavily insulated walls -- even gaskets that seal up doors and windows. While these advances are effective at keeping in heat and keeping out cold, they also trap contaminated, stale air inside your home. And that’s not healthy to breathe.

Open your windows to increase cross-ventilation. Also consider installing a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your home, which removes particles in the air by forcing it through screens with microscopic pores. These devices work well and aren't too expensive. An item like this is especially important if you live in a big city where fresh air harder to come by. But do some research first; some experts believe HEPA filters don't do everything manufacturers say that they do. Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org) is a great place to research air filters for your home.

STEP TWO: STORE STRONG CHEMICALS AND CLEANING SUPPLIES OUTSIDE

We are all subjected to varying levels of air pollution each day. It’s unavoidable. But did you know that air pollution in your home can be up to five times worse than air pollution outside? This is due to two things: the products that we use to clean our homes and the fact that the fumes those products release cannot easily escape. This is known as “off-gassing.” Our bodies are not equipped to neutralize the chemicals used in many household items, and that may suppress our immune systems, leading to higher incidences of illness and fatigue.

Shelley Cartwright a home-health expert for Dreamlife.com, identifies three common household products that have a deleterious effect on the health of our homes and makes suggestions for nontoxic replacements:

- Bleach and other chemical cleansers. Many cleansers contain nasty ingredients (despite their upbeat names and cute mascots). Try to substitute natural cleansers whenever possible. Or at the very least, go through your home and place all cleaning supplies in a box. Then exile that box to the garage or away from your primary living spaces.

- Cooking hardware. Gas stoves and appliances release fumes into the air. If you insist on using gas -- as many people do -- make sure that rooms containing gas appliances are well ventilated.

- Candles. I’m a bit of a candle guy: I love candlelit dinners with my wife, stuff like that. (Yea, Harr is a honeydripper!) But, many candles release soot and other pollutants into the air. Those made with metal wicks are especially toxic, since they release lead into the air as well. Paraffin itself (a petroleum-based ingredient used to make candles) is known to be a pollutant. If you're concerned about air quality, try natural paraffin-free candles instead.

STEP THREE: GIVE EXTRA ATTENTION TO YOUR SLEEPING ENVIRONMENT

You spend roughly one-third of your life in bed. During sleep, your body goes to work -- repairing and restoring your body like an Indy-500 car mechanic. That is why it’s particularly important to create a healthy and soothing bedroom. Simple changes such as new pillows, an air filter, a small water fountain or lots of plants can transform your bedroom into an oasis of relaxation and recovery.

STEP FOUR: GO GREEN

Health expert and best-selling author Dr. Andrew Weil says: “Houseplants, especially spider plants and Boston Ferns, can help reduce formaldehyde and other airborne pollutants in your home.” Remember, plants use carbon dioxide (CO2) as fuel and release oxygen -- which is the opposite of human metabolism (we breathe oxygen and release CO2). That’s why plants make perfect additions to your home. Pick up a couple Boston ferns and spider plants and spread them liberally throughout the house. You will breathe noticeably fresher air in a matter of days.

STEP FIVE: GET AN IONIZER

Do you ever notice how the air outside feels especially clean and fresh after a storm? One reason is that the air is filled with negative ions. Unfortunately, by sealing off our homes to the environment, the ion content inside can become unhealthful. A good deal of scientific research has shown that both the type and the quantity of ions in our air can have significant effects on our health. An ionizer will help to re-establish a healthy balance of ions in your home. There are countless models out there. Again, I advise you to hit Consumer Reports.

STEP SIX: LEAVE YOUR SHOES, AND YOUR WORRIES, AT THE DOOR

I learned this ritual while competing in a triathlon in Japan. Removing your shoes before entering the home may seem like a relatively small detail, but its benefits go deep. The Japanese place high importance on this, which is seen a show of reverence for their living spaces -- a way of keeping the chaos of the world outside of the peace of the home.

Next week: spring cleaning for your body!