Rolf Devinci

Fall is upon us and Winter soon to follow so I have begun to crave teas. I have no idea why I have a predominately seasonal taste for teas? I have been aware that my blood pressure of late has increased somewhat, probably a result of a rather inactive summer and increased weight gain and the onset of aging. As noted in this blog I am in the process of addressing my current state of wellness. How does this tie in with hibiscus tea you ask? Good question. I was researching various teas to indulge my cravings while offering me some different brew options and read that hibiscus can help reduce blood pressure, specifically the top systolic number and was effective for adults with pre or mild hypertension. My interest peaked I dug further into hibiscus teas and discovered it is a traditional healing teas that offers other benefits. Probably tastes terrible as most healing tinctures or teas usually do right? Only one way to fin...

Having felt something "go" a couple weeks ago playing only my third game of ball hockey this season I have since been dealing with an miserable ache, stiffness and numbness in my upper left leg. Initially I though I was dealing with a level two hamstring pull but now suspect I suffered a piriformis muscle strain. Any extended period of time sitting brings on the symptoms and upon standing there is tightness in my hamstring and hip. Thanks to Ian who had suggested I look into piriformis stretches I now have a better understanding of my possible issue. Piriformis syndrome is "a condition in which the piriformis muscle becomes tight and/or spasms and irritates the sciatic nerve....patients often complain of deep pain within the hip and buttocks...." Bingo! I can now confirm I am a legitimate "pain in the butt" (wink) Seeking the causes of PS to further my understanding I discovered several that have a direct correlation to my condition......

Goodlife Sometimes you just have to wonder about things and whether there is a element of fate to otherwise common occurances? My son decided to join a local gym a month ago as he progressed past the equipment of my limited home gym. Needless to say it was soon thereafter that I got the call from Goodlife offering me a  free week's pass to try out their facility as a referral from Josh. The timing was impeccable. Why not? I was, at that point, aware of my fitness shortcomings and knew I needed to make changes for the coming winter. I had been a member at that location for a few years when it was Nubody`s and there was a definite attraction to a possible return. It is walking distance from my residence and on my usual bike commute route. The cost of membership was manageable, especially since I decided to limit my wine consumption. I love the Noble Grape but I was consuming too many empty calories. Just by cutting out a minimum of o...

Having attained my fitness "peak" in the summer of 2011 it has been a long downward spiral to my current state. That summer was my most successful as a competitive road cyclist racing in the provincial(BNS) road series, my weight had dropped under the 200 pound plateau for the first time in decades and my diet was relatively clean practicing a Primal /Primal/ Ancestral approach to nutrition.Halcyon days indeed! The Decline. My cycling accident in the Fall of 2011 and subsequent post concussion/ BPPV issues definitely began a chain of events that led to my fitness decline. Having lost so much fitness that winter I opted out of racing in 2012 and decided to retire from competitive cycling; both at the race and at the club level. Part of that decision was injury stress as I was tentative on the bike fearful of the next potential car/bike collision or a touched wheel. Being skittish in a paceline is not a good thing. Part of it was also a dissatisfa...