Staying active DOES work
Mar. 29th, 2005 03:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sarahmichiganYou'll notice that while I believe that your weight, in and of itself, is not a good indicator of health, I do believe that your activity level has a lot to do with health.
I'm a convert. I used to be a couch potato, and I hated vigorous exercise. But I finally did it long enough that I am at the point that I feel bad if I don't get daily exercise.
The problem for a lot of people is that the word "exercise" is a turn-off, and exercise can become unhealthy and compulsive just as easily as dieting can, for some people.
That's why I prefer to think of it in terms of "moving your body" or "being active."
Lots of research points to the fact that increasing your activity levels, REGARDLESS OF WEIGHT LOSS, improves your heart health, blood pressure, and ability to handle sugar. It is also linked with lower rates of depression and anxiety.
In fact, my long-term difficulties with anxiety are almost completely under control when I make sure to exercise at least 90 minutes to 2 hours a week. A recent study showed that people who got at least 3 hours of vigorous cardio exercise every week improved their depression as much as people on anti-depressants. They found that people who only got about 80 minutes of cardio a week didn't experience any difference, though.
Many people feel discouraged about getting regular exercise for a variety of reason. Here are my encouragements to help you overcome any excuses you may make for not getting regular exercise:
1. I can't afford a gym.
Phooey! Walk outdoors or in the mall. Buy a used stationary bicycle and ride while you watch your favorite TV shows. Take a yoga class or a martial arts class. Buy inexpensive hand weights and train at home.
2. I don't have enough time.
The good news is that studies have found that breaking your workouts into smaller 10-minute sections produces almost as good a result as longer 30-40 minute sessions. And sprinkling in 10-minute blocks of exercise throughout your day may keep your overall metbolism higher than doing it in one, larger block.
3. My neighborhood isn't good for exercise. It's too hilly/too dangerous/etc.
Get a walking buddy. Drive to a nearby park with walking trails. Walk the stairs in your apartment building. Find a place near where you work or go to school that's pedestrian friendly and walk on your coffee break or lunch break.
If you're really serious about committing to improving your health, make exercise a priority. I promise you that you'll be glad you did. On the other hand, don't beat yourself up if you miss a day or don't feel motivated and skip a whole week. Guilt is not productive. Just start up again where you left off. Find something fun you like to do: dance, take water aerobics, take tennis lessons, learn a martial art.
Whatever you do, keep moving your body, because it's really unnatural for you to sit in a chair in front of a computer screen for hours every day. Our bodies were meant to move.
I'm a convert. I used to be a couch potato, and I hated vigorous exercise. But I finally did it long enough that I am at the point that I feel bad if I don't get daily exercise.
The problem for a lot of people is that the word "exercise" is a turn-off, and exercise can become unhealthy and compulsive just as easily as dieting can, for some people.
That's why I prefer to think of it in terms of "moving your body" or "being active."
Lots of research points to the fact that increasing your activity levels, REGARDLESS OF WEIGHT LOSS, improves your heart health, blood pressure, and ability to handle sugar. It is also linked with lower rates of depression and anxiety.
In fact, my long-term difficulties with anxiety are almost completely under control when I make sure to exercise at least 90 minutes to 2 hours a week. A recent study showed that people who got at least 3 hours of vigorous cardio exercise every week improved their depression as much as people on anti-depressants. They found that people who only got about 80 minutes of cardio a week didn't experience any difference, though.
Many people feel discouraged about getting regular exercise for a variety of reason. Here are my encouragements to help you overcome any excuses you may make for not getting regular exercise:
1. I can't afford a gym.
Phooey! Walk outdoors or in the mall. Buy a used stationary bicycle and ride while you watch your favorite TV shows. Take a yoga class or a martial arts class. Buy inexpensive hand weights and train at home.
2. I don't have enough time.
The good news is that studies have found that breaking your workouts into smaller 10-minute sections produces almost as good a result as longer 30-40 minute sessions. And sprinkling in 10-minute blocks of exercise throughout your day may keep your overall metbolism higher than doing it in one, larger block.
3. My neighborhood isn't good for exercise. It's too hilly/too dangerous/etc.
Get a walking buddy. Drive to a nearby park with walking trails. Walk the stairs in your apartment building. Find a place near where you work or go to school that's pedestrian friendly and walk on your coffee break or lunch break.
If you're really serious about committing to improving your health, make exercise a priority. I promise you that you'll be glad you did. On the other hand, don't beat yourself up if you miss a day or don't feel motivated and skip a whole week. Guilt is not productive. Just start up again where you left off. Find something fun you like to do: dance, take water aerobics, take tennis lessons, learn a martial art.
Whatever you do, keep moving your body, because it's really unnatural for you to sit in a chair in front of a computer screen for hours every day. Our bodies were meant to move.
