By Randy Moore – In 2006, I created a Fitness Points Program based on a simple formula: I earn one point for every 20 minutes of physical activity. I’ve been counting points every week for 14 years (7,165 points thus far), and the process has been very motivating. My approach emphasizes moderation and consistency.
     In the early years, most of my points came from jogging and lifting weights. Today, at age 65 they come from a wider range of activities like walking, swimming, stretching, biking, kayaking, tossing a frisbee, calisthenics, riding a stationary bike, and even delivering my two magazines three times a year to several hundred drop off locations.
     My monthly average was in the mid to high 20’s from 2006 through 2013. That’s when my point totals started to climb: 38 in 2014, 60 in 2015, 67 in 2016, 71 in 2017, and 89 in 2018. My average in 2019 was 93 points. That represents more than one hour of physical activity daily. I’ve set a personal best with my annual point totals for seven consecutive years.
     Counting fitness points has also motivated me to eat better. One of my main meals 3-4 times a week is drinking a little less than a liter of blended organic veggies and fruit. The veggies include a handful of spinach or kale, a third of a cucumber, a half of a Roma tomato, a large celery stalk, several small carrots, and a few mushrooms. The fruit can be a pear, apple, any kind of berries, or a peach. I also add carrot juice, a splash of apple cider vinegar, olive oil, protein powder, a quarter of a lemon, and two cups of water.  
     Another go to meal twice a week is Siggi’s yogurt with pecans, walnuts, almonds, flaxseeds, wheat germ, and blueberries. I also enjoy eggs and toast once a week. Most of my dinners include wheat pasta or wild brown rice mixed with veggies, black beans and spinach. I use low sodium natural soups as a base for leftover meals. I eat salmon twice a week and almost zero red meat or chicken. My main snack foods include hummus, low sodium chips, pumpkin seeds, and chocolate chip cookies.
     Lately, I’ve been reducing my total number of calories and doing more intermittent fasting from about 7:30pm to 10:30am. My supplements include Omega-3 Fish Oil, Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, Turmeric, Glucosamine MSM, Niacin, Magnesium, Co-Q-10, Green Tea Extract, DHEA, and a Multivitamin. I also enjoy CBD from NaturalWellnessOrganics.com based in Osprey.
     Being physically active and eating better gives me more energy to be creative and engaged with projects like writing this article and publishing my two magazines South County Healthy Living and Englewood Healthy Living.