NatNews

It might be a wise idea for those who are physically able to skip those short elevator rides and take the stairs, instead.

A study conducted in 2023 discovered that stair climbing on a regular basis improves aerobic capacity and can also improve cardio-metabolic risk indicators, including body composition, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and insulin sensitivity.

One common way to do so, especially for those who don’t have access to stairs or simply don’t want to walk up and down stairs potentially located in isolated closed-door stairways in buildings, is to use a stair-climbing machine (the StairMaster is a well-known brand). Dallas-area resident Maddy Pond said she works out on the StairMaster one to two times each week following her strength workouts.

“It is a great way to get your heart rate up without the impact on your body that happens during running,” she said.

As Pond noted, compared to other high-intensity cardio exercises (particularly running), stair climbing puts less stress on a person’s ankles, knees, and hips. Additionally, building strength in muscles around those lower-body joints can boost their overall health and function.

Combined with the cardio workout aspect, the muscle strengthening component is a key reason Dallas-area resident Jeremy Crum adds approximately 10 minutes at a moderate speed on the StairMaster twice each week after running on the treadmill.

“I switch from whole-foot steps to half-foot, leaving my heel off the step to target different areas that I don’t normally get to work out,” he said. “I think full-foot is the proper technique, though.”

Dallas-area resident David Recker recently decided that he would like to incorporate using a stair-climbing machine into his workout routine on a regular basis, as he said he has always found it interesting that he can run a marathon but becomes winded walking up three flights of stairs. Like Pond and Crum, Recker believes that stair climbing is an effective way to take part in low-impact movement to supplement running while also working different biomechanics.

“I don’t know much about the efficacy of the StairMaster specifically, but I have read that walking on a treadmill on an incline is more beneficial than walking flat, so I imagine a StairMaster has the same effect,” he said. “Also Ali Larter’s character in Landman said it’s an extremely effective glute workout, so it’s got to be true.”

Despite his inspiration from Angela Norris, Recker acknowledged that he doesn’t have immediate access to a stair-climbing machine at his current apartment complex’s gym, so he will be required to become a member of a gym to do so. He (jokingly) said he also has additional factors to consider, though.

“I’m also vaguely concerned about tripping, so I may need a safety net,” he said.

Another challenge for some individuals presents itself in the form of the mental battle of climbing endlessly without actually physically going anywhere, which can alter a person’s perception of time and the existence of positive thoughts. But Pond has found a solution that works for her in such a situation. 

“The worst part is that one minute feels like one hour, so I always have to watch a show to keep me focused,” she said.

For Crum, the difficulty of walking up revolving steps comes when he shows slight disrespect to the machine by starting his workout off too fast without pacing himself, much like some people do when starting off running.

“The StairMaster seems simple and easy for the first couple of minutes,” he said, “but if you start off too aggressively, it will catch up to you quickly and will wear you out more quickly, which can turn you off of it.”

But Crum said he has learned the importance of taking it easy at the beginning and trusting the process.

“I promise you will feel it later, even if you think it was too easy,” he said.

Crum likens workouts on a stair-climbing machine to those on a rowing machine, as they both allow for combination exercises or sorts. 

“You can achieve the same benefits with different machines or weights, but the StairMaster kills multiple birds with one stone,” he said. “By adding it into my routine a couple times a week after my run, it keeps those (running) muscles moving at a slower pace but also working many other muscles at the same time. It’s almost like a productive cooldown, if that’s a thing.”

While stair-climbing workouts may not be suitable to everyone, they are certainly viable options for hardcore athletes and weekend warriors alike who are seeking cross-training that will give their joints a little reprieve.

“I’m a big fan of the idea that movement is movement, and people should identify what movement works best for their bodies and their preferences,” Recker said. “If the StairMaster is as effective as people say, I think it’s a great option for low-impact movement.”

M&M’s candies were created in 1941 as rations for American soldiers in World War II and weren’t made available to the public until 1947.

Current adults may recall sitting down and enjoying various cereals and maybe even drinking up the remaining milk in the bowl after (Cinnamon Toast Crunch milk, anyone?) when they were kids and perhaps even into their college years and early 20s.

While cereal boxes still fill shelves on grocery store aisles, they may not be as common in pantries as they once were for some individuals and families.

Dallas-area resident Nikki East said she hardly eats cereal anymore (maybe a few times a year, if that), which is quite a change from previous eras in her life.

“As a kid, I ate cereal often because it was quick and cheap—I didn’t grow up with money,” she said. “In my 20s, I still ate it sometimes, probably for the same reason I did as a kid. I think that as I’ve aged, my palette has changed, and I can, thankfully, afford healthier options for breakfast.”

However, East said she does understand why some people in different circumstances consume cereal more often.

“If cereal is all that one can afford or is what someone enjoys, then of course it’s a sufficient option,” she said. “It’s still food, albeit not ‘real’ food in most cases. If there are other options that are affordable and tasty, then that’s sufficient, as well.”

And those other options are often what replace cereal, as changes in life, society, generational perspectives, and a slew of other contributing components impact people’s preferences and habits. There are certainly still individuals who still keep cereal in their lives and homes, though. Dallas-area resident Donovan Lewis, who can likely be considered a cereal connoisseur, said he eats cereal a couple of times a month now, generally on the weekend when he is able to sit down and enjoy doing so.

“I’m usually running a bit late during the week and, unfortunately, can’t eat it while driving,” he said.

Though cereal is generally considered a breakfast food, the limit does not exist on when it can be consumed during the day. Those who pinched pennies throughout college or individuals who simply don’t enjoy or aren’t quite skilled in cooking have likely poured a few bowls for another meal or snack. After all, as Lewis pointed out, it’s sufficient for more than one reason.

“It’s filling and delicious—those are two of my main requirements for a meal,” he said. “If you run out of ideas for lunch or dinner, cereal is a quick and easy option.”

When Lewis is able to take time to enjoy a bowl of what, for some individuals, may be filled with nostalgia, he said he prefers Honey-Comb. His other go-to favorites include Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, and Frosted Flakes.

“Honeycomb has that combination of sweetness and crunch that I love,” he said. “Plus, if I squint, I can talk myself into it being a somewhat healthy option. And the holes in Honeycomb feel like they capture the milk perfectly, so every bite is a great combo of milk and cereal.”

Cold cereal hasn’t left the lives and hearts of the younger little humans, either. Dallas-area resident Norah Hone, who is almost 5 years old, said she eats cereal every once in a while and, like Lewis, thinks it is a sufficient option for breakfast or any other meal or snack.

“It’s healthy because it has milk in it,” Hone said. “My favorite kind is roundball cereal [Reese’s Puffs] because it tastes like chocolate and chocolate milk.”

While cold cereal has been a longtime breakfast staple after it initially appeared in 1863, thanks to Dr. James Caleb Jackson’s introduction of Granula, it often takes a backseat to what people consider healthier and/or more convenient options (e.g., breakfast burritos and tacos, breakfast sandwiches, yogurt and parfaits, bagels, avocado toast, eggs, etc.).

After a brief surge when people were home much more and often had more time for various tasks and meals during the pandemic, cereal sales have declined over the years, including a 13-percent drop since 2021. Lewis said he thinks that one reason, among others, individuals may not eat cereal as often as in the past is simply because they don’t have time to sit down and enjoy this form of breakfast anymore.

“You can’t eat it on the go, and people rush to get to school or work and just pick quicker options,” he said. “Plus, I do believe there are concerns about some of the sugary cereals not being a healthy option.”

Hope is certainly not lost for cereal, though. In fact, there is an establishment in Dallas that embraces cereal in a way customers won’t find at typical dining spots. The Spelled Milk, located in the Bishop Arts District, opened in 2023 and offers mix-and-match cereal bowls paired with other treats, beloved well-known cereals (e.g., Frosted Flakes, Cocoa Puffs, Rice Krispies, and many more), and cereals imported from countries around the world (including Mexico, Germany, Portugal, India, Australia, and New Zealand). This popular cereal bar has more than 100 cereals, more than 10 milks, and more than 30 toppings—all of which can be topped with homemade ice cream—and provides options for those with special dietary needs (dairy-free, gluten-free, keto-friendly).

The Spelled Milk is seeking to expand with a new location in the McKinney-Allen area later this year. Hone said she hopes to be able to visit soon, and she already has an idea of what she hopes to put in her bowl.

“I would want chocolate milk cereal because I love it,” she said.

Lewis said he wasn’t aware of The Spelled Milk until a couple of weeks ago, but it might not be surprising to see him there sometime soon—especially when he finds out that all of his aforementioned favorite cereals are on the menu.

“I would love to visit since I have a love for cereal,” he said. “I just know it’ll be a fun time.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff and some dear readers support Taco Joint and David Hasselhoff

Monday, May 4: Free Cult Classic Movie Monday — Spinal Tap at Sundown at Granada
Tuesday, May 5: Movies in the Park — What a Girl Wants at Griggs Park
Wednesday, May 6: Free Rooftop Movie — Bridesmaids at Sundown at Granada
Thursday, May 7: Paul Schalda at Legacy Hall
Friday, May 8: Frisco RoughRiders vs. Northwest Arkansas Naturals at Riders Field; Voices in Blue at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church; Alec Flynn at the Dallas Comedy Club
Saturday, May 9 WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Run for the Rita 5K at Kaleidoscope Park; Romeo Santos and Prince Royce at the American Airlines Center; FC Dallas vs. Real Salt Lake at Toyota Stadium; Dave Matthews Band at Dos Equis Pavilion
Sunday, May 10: Brunch at the Museum at the Dallas Museum of Art; Mother’s Day brunches throughout the Dallas area; Rangers vs. Cubs at Globe Life Field; Candlelight — Tribute to Taylor Swift at the Joule