Mountain View News Saturday, April 11, 2026 
1010 
Mountain View News Saturday, April 11, 2026 
1010 
Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 
professional who offers semi-private/virtual fit-
ness classes. Contact Michele at michele@kid-fit. 
com. Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness 
Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness. 


WALK IT OFF 

Most people already walk. They walk the dog. They walk through a store. 
They walk from the car to the house. Walking feels fairly easy and normal. 
That is the good news. 

The problem is this: Most people do not walk in a way that helps their fitness 
very much. They think, “At least I’m moving.” And yes, that matters. 
But if you want results, you need to turn that simple walk into somethinga little more powerful. 

The good news is you do not need a gym. You do not need equipment. 
You do not even need more time. You just need to change how you walk. 

Let’s start with the simplest idea. 

A 30-minute walk each day can make a real difference. For many people, 
walking 30 minutes burns about 120 to 180 calories, depending on bodysize and speed. That may not sound like a lot, but it adds up. 

If you do that every day, you could burn around 900 to 1,200 calories a 
week. Over time, that can lead to a weight loss of about one to two pounds 
per month, without changing anything else. Over a year, that could be 10 

to 20 pounds just from walking. And if you also make small changes in how you eat, those results can happen 
even faster. 

And here is the best part. That is something you can actually stick with. And that is why walking works so well for 
so many people. It fits into real life, not just a perfect schedule. 

But if you want even better results, you need to make that walk count. First, pick up your pace.
A stroll is nice, but it does not challenge your body. Try to walk fast enough that you feel your heart beating a little 
harder. You should still be able to talk, but not sing. That is a simple way to know you are working at the right level. 

Next, add short bursts of faster walking. Pick a point ahead, like a tree or a mailbox. Walk faster until you reach 
it. Then slow down. Then do it again. These small bursts are called intervals, and they help your body burn more 
calories and build endurance. You can do this anywhere. No special place is needed. 

Now let’s make your walk even stronger. Look around you. A park bench, a curb, a small hill—these are all tools. 
Stop and do a few squats. Step up and down on a curb. Try a few push-ups against a bench. Walk up a hill instead 
of around it. These small moves turn your walk into a full-body workout. 

You do not need to do a lot. Even one or two short stops during your walk can make a big difference. 

Another easy change is to use your arms. Many people let their arms hang still. Instead, bend your elbows and 
swing your arms as you walk. This helps you move faster and uses more muscles. It also helps your balance. 

Posture matters too. Stand tall. Look forward, not down. Keep your shoulders relaxed. Tighten your stomach just 
a little. Good posture helps you breathe better and protects your body from aches and pains. 

Now for something even more important than all of this: consistency. It is better to walk 30 minutes every day than 
to do a long, hard workout once a week. Small efforts done often will always beat big efforts done rarely. 

This is where walking really shines. It is simple. It is free. And most people can do it. 

If 30 minutes feels like too much, start with 15. If that feels like too much, start with 10. The goal is not to be perfect. 
The goal is to begin. Once you get used to it, you can slowly add more time or more intensity. 

You can also make it more fun. Walk with a friend. Listen to music. Explore a new park. Walk near water. When 
something feels enjoyable, you are much more likely to keep doing it. 

And that is what leads to results. People often think they need a hard workout to lose weight or get fit. That belief 
stops many people before they even start. Walking proves that you do not need extreme effort to make progress. 
You just need to be a little more intentional. 

So the next time you go for a walk, do not just go through the motions. Walk with purpose. Pick up the pace. Add 
a few challenges. Use what is around you. Turn your walk into a workout. 

The truth is one simple habit—done the right way—can change everything. 


UNLOCK YOUR LIFE 


FINDING YOUR SECOND OR 
THIRD ACT 

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Nell Irvin Painter 

for my podcast, Unlock Your Life with Lori Harris. At 84, she is 

vibrant, engaged, and still very much alive to her own curiosity. 

She is still writing, making art, knitting, still very connected to 

her husband, and still in good health. And yet she is also honest 

about the reality of this season of life: she is tired, slowing down, 

and watching many of her friends die. What struck me most was 

not just her vitality, but her grace. She is not denying change. She 

is meeting it with awareness, dignity, and purpose. It was such a 

fun chat! 

Dr. Painter also reminds us that reinvention is not reserved for the young. After a distinguished 
academic career, she made a bold and joyful pivot, enrolling as an undergraduate at 
Rutgers University at age 64 and later continuing her studies at the Rhode Island School of 
Design, where she earned a master’s in fine art. She did it, she says, simply because she could, 
and because she wanted to. That willingness to begin again is part of what keeps her so alive, 
so vibrant, and engaged. She is not just aging; she is participating in life as only she can. 

Research supports what Dr. Painter’s life so beautifully illustrates: retirement and later life 
can either deepen purpose or drain it, depending on how we meet the transition. One NIH 
study found that retirement can increase a sense of purpose, especially for people leavingdissatisfying work, while other research shows that a strong social connection is a major predictor 
of happiness and healthy aging. Studies of later life also warn that boredom and loneliness 
often go hand in hand, which is why staying engaged, through art, learning, service, or 
community, matters so much. 

What inspires me most is that she is still creating. She is also working on a new book, expected 
in 2027, on one of her favorite subjects, Sojourner Truth. That alone says something 
powerful: even in later life, she remains in conversation with history, meaning, and legacy. 
She has not retreated from life. She has deepened her relationship with it. 

That is something many of us are called to do, whether we are approaching retirement, navigating 
loss, or simply sensing that one chapter of life is ending, and another is beginning. We 
often talk about reinvention as if it means starting over from scratch. But in truth, a second 
or third act is rarely about becoming someone entirely new. More often, it is about discovering 
what still matters, what still inspires us, and what still wants to be expressed through us. 

So many people fear transition because it asks us to leave the familiar. But transition is also 
where wisdom lives. It is where we are invited to release what no longer fits and make room 
for what does. Sometimes that means a new vocation. Sometimes it means a new relationship 
with time. Sometimes it means more art, more walking, more reflection, more service, 
or simply more permission to be ourselves. 

What I love about Dr. Painter’s life is that she embodies the possibility of continued unfolding. 
Not perfectly. Not without loss. Not without fatigue. But with intention. And that maybe the real invitation for all of us: to keep growing, keep listening, and keep saying yes to the 
next chapter before we feel fully ready. 

Listen to the full interview in Episode #124 of Unlock Your Life with Lori Harris on my website, 
loriaharris.com. If you want help getting started on your own next chapter, email me, 
and I’ll share my audio assessment tool to help you gain direction and clarity. 

ALL THINGS by Jeff Brown 


SHOULD WE EAT LESS ANIMALS? 

Each year in the United States, an enormous 
number of animals are killed for food. Estimates 
suggest that around 8 to 9 billion chickens 
are slaughtered, along with 200 to 250 million 
turkeys, 120 to 130 million pigs, and 30 to 36 
million cattle. When smaller categories such as 
ducks, sheep, and goats are included, the total 
number of land animals reaches roughly 9 to 
10 billion each year. However, these figures are 
overshadowed by the number of aquatic animals 
consumed. Fish alone are estimated in the range 
of 7 to 15 billion, while shellfish such as shrimp 
and crabs add tens of billions more. Altogether, 
the United States likely kills between 20 and 40 
billion animals every year for food. 


These numbers are difficult to fully comprehend, but they highlight the intensity of human 
demand for animal products. Behind each number is a living creature, and the scale raises 
important ethical, environmental, and health questions. Industrial farming systems are 
designed for efficiency and mass production, often at the expense of animal welfare. Many 
animals are raised in confined spaces, subjected to stressful conditions, and processed in 
ways that prioritize speed over humane treatment. 

Beyond ethics, there are environmental concerns. Raising animals for food requires vast 
amounts of land, water, and feed. Livestock farming contributes significantly to greenhouse 
gas emissions, deforestation, and water pollution. Producing plant-based foods generally 
uses fewer resources and has a smaller environmental footprint, making it a more 
sustainable option for a growing global population. 

Health is another factor to consider. Diets high in processed and red meats have been 
linked to various health issues, including heart disease and certain cancers. In contrast, 
well-planned vegetarian diets are associated with lower risks of these conditions and can 
provide all the necessary nutrients when balanced properly. 

An important concern people often have about vegetarian diets is whether they provide 
enough protein. In reality, there are many plant-based protein sources that can meet daily 
nutritional needs. Foods such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, tofu, nuts, seeds, and whole 
grains like quinoa are rich in protein. Dairy products and eggs, for those who include them, 
also offer high-quality protein. By eating a varied diet that includes these foods, vegetarians 
can easily obtain sufficient protein without relying on meat. In fact, many plant-based 
protein sources also provide additional benefits such as fiber, vitamins, and healthy fats. 

For these reasons, many people argue that shifting toward vegetarianism is a responsible 
and compassionate choice. Reducing or eliminating meat consumption can help decrease 
the demand for large-scale animal slaughter, lessen environmental damage, and improve 
personal health. While not everyone may choose to become fully vegetarian, even small 
changes, such as eating fewer animal products, can make a meaningful difference. In a 
world where billions of animals are killed each year, reconsidering our food choices is not 
just a personal decision but a global one. Does moving toward a more plant-based diet offer 
a path toward a more ethical, sustainable, and healthy future? It’s a big question? Old 
habits die hard as the saying goes. We probably know how the animals would vote. 

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