If you are looking for an inexpensive watch for your outdoor adventures this summer, you might look at the Casio Pathfinder PAG-40 ,with digital compass, altimeter, thermometer and barometer (as well as time and date, of course.)  It is water resistant to 330 feet and has an auto backlight function. The suggested retail is $200 but you can purchase it on Amazon for $138. Here is the demo video courtesy of www.geartrail.com.

To comment on this post, click on the title, or email the author, dennis@healthjag.com

One of the most important components of your fitness plan is the  correct amount of protein in your diet. The high quality protein found in most protein supplements is whey protein, made from milk. Wheyoflife.org  has a very useful daily protein requirement calculator on their website to help you calculate your daily requirement based on your weight and fitness level. It also has great information about whey protein.

To comment on this post, click on the title, or email the author dennis@healthjag.com

Please take a break from texting, cell phone using, and nail painting this weekend and give your motorcycle riding friends and neighbors a break.  Motorcycles are everywhere this time of year.

From Chicagotribune.com:

Charges weighed in rider’s death

Case of driver painting nails prompts debate on citation

Tribune reporters Dan P. Blake, Andrew L. Wang, and Megan Twohey contributed.

Tribune reporters
May 5, 2009

Applying makeup while driving ranks up there in the danger zone with reading a book or dialing a cell phone, according to a federal report that takes aim at behavior officials allege may have played a role in a fatal collision in Lake Zurich IL.

Prosecutors are measuring the yawning gap between a traffic citation and felony reckless homicide as they decide whether criminal charges should be filed against a driver allegedly painting her nails when her car struck and killed a motorcyclist last weekend.

The wreck Saturday raises questions that have been fiercely debated in Illinois about whether a momentary distraction amounts to criminal behavior, comparable to drunken driving. In the crash that killed motorcyclist Anita Zaffke, 56, of Lake Zurich, Lora L. Hunt, 48, of Morris was ticketed by the Lake County sheriff’s police with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Prosecutors say it may be a month before they decide whether to bring additional charges.

Biking is a great alternative to running, especially if you have knee or joint issues. It’s not too late to start your biking hobby this season. Bikes.com has a great selection of road and mountain bikes at 40% to 50% off with free shipping.

This is somewhat off topic, but I just purchased a Compaq Laptop at Wal-Mart, for $298! That’s cheaper than any fully equipped netbook. This is a perfect basic computer for browsing, email and light word processing. Here are the essential specs:

Compaq cq60-419wm with 15.6 inch screen with Windows Vista Home Basic

3 MB memory, 160 gig hard drive

DVDR/RW Drive

Wal-Mart also will extend the manufacturer’s 1 year warranty for an additional 2 years (so you get a total 3 year warrranty) for $60.

So you are thinking about a camping trip, but you are smart enough to know that it might just be a lark and you don’t want to be stuck with thousands of dollars of camping gear that you may use only once or twice. That was the position I found myself in when I was planning a 2500 mile motorcycle camping trip this summer. I wanted a tent big enough for myself AND my gear so that on a rainy night I wouldn’t have to leave my gear outside. It also needed to pack small enough to fit on the back of a motorcycle. I looked at the high end outdoor equipment stores and found tents that fit my criteria that cost hundreds (and in some cases thousands) of dollars. Continue reading »

I always want to laugh when I read about the guys who wander out into the wilderness for a long hike with no preparation and little equipment and end up wandering around for days facing wild animals and starvation until the rescue squad comes in with dozens of searchers and helicopters to save their lives. And then I end of getting pissed off that our tax dollars are paying to rescue these knuckleheads. If only they would have one of these little gadgets in their pocket all would have been good.  Designed to maintain its GPS location even in the deepest canyons and thickest jungles, the eTrex Venture® HCT from Garmin is a waterproof, handheld, battery operated GPS that can navigate you home (or to the nearest Starbucks) no matter how far off course you may have wandered. The 256 color display is designed to be read in bright sunlight and will operate 14 hours on 2 AA batteries. As small as a cellphone (2.2 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches and 5.5 ounces), it will fit in your pocket if you don’t really want to be bothered with a backpack. GPS units have become very competitively priced over the last year and you can find one of these online for under $130. So the next time I am planning a wilderness expedition or geocaching adventure, I am going to pop one of these in my pocket so I won’t be a victim of my own stupidity.

Less than a week left on the sale! Backcountryoutlet.com is having a huge sale on outdoor clothing and equipment through July 28.  Use Coupon Code 4E2-1-QMDMQ