grow older better

Tag: weight loss

  • Stop Sitting So Much – and So Badly

    sitting-at-desk

    Do you want to live longer and be healthier?

    Then sit less than 3 hours a day – and when you do sit –  sit with better posture.

     

    Recent research shows that sitting for long periods of time is unhealthy and that sitting for fewer than 3 hours a day may add up to 2 years to your life.

    A wave of new research indicates that sitting all day is actively damaging your health. By forcing a body designed for movement to hold a crushingly immobile position, sitting strains muscles, slows your metabolism, increases your risk of heart disease, and even shortens your life span. "Sitting is a health hazard on the order of smoking," says Marc Hamilton, PhD, a microbiologist at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

    Wow!

    From about the 1st grade on most US schools have kids sitting hours and hours a day. And often physical education or even outdoor recess time are among the first "extras" to go when budgets are tight.

    [Or when we teach to the tests.]

    Sitting badly

    Sitting itself is a problem as our metabolism slows to a halt when we sit – and then most of us sit in bad positions posture-wise when we do sit.

    Add to this that we sit more than 3 hours a day makes this sitting-issue a double-plus whammy.

    Get out of your chair and move around! work while standing and when you sit:

    Here is a better way to sit

     

    Comments? Thoughts? Thank you

  • Got 15 Minutes? Get Started on Your Exercising!

    biking-along-the-Columbia

     

    I know – exercise is the last thing on your to-do list and the first thing that gets brushed aside when you are "too busy" or "too stressed" or "too too…"

    I admit that I get this way as well. But then I get back into exercising and I feel better, am less stressed and SURPRISE – I can get more work done and in less time!!

    We are "supposed to" exercise at least 30 minutes a day and that is difficult for some when they are just getting started thinking about exercising.

    "Find another block of 30 minutes? You gotta be kidding."

    Well no – you don't need that block of time. Sometimes 3 ten-minute segments is just as good – or – even less is good.  A new study in Asia found that:

    …those who exercised just 15 minutes a day — or 90 minutes a week — cut their risk of death by 14 percent and extended their life expectancy by three years compared with those who did no exercise. Both men and women benefited equally from the minimum activity.

    Article about 15 minutes of daily exercise

    Adding more minutes to that 15 was beneficial. But 15 was good in and of itself.

    So  – no more excuses! You can find 15 minutes! And you may find you are enjoying your day more because you are active for that time.

     

    Thoughts? Thank you for your comments.

  • Overweight women and exercise – will it make you fit?

    Short answer – NO!

    Exercise will not cut the risk of heart disease in those who are overweight unless they also slim down, according to a study of thousands of U.S. women….

    "Even high quantities of physical activity are unlikely to fully reverse the risk of coronary heart disease in overweight and obese women without concurrent weight loss," Dr. Amy Weinstein and colleagues at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center reported.

    Read about the study: can you be fit and overweight?
    [This study,     begun in 1992,  was carried out over the years and followed the women and their health issues.]

    The major finding was that exercise is important, but so is being leaner.  This is why I write and talk about weight and obesity topics a lot – especially as we head into that time of year when many people put on a few pounds more and exercise a whole lot less.

    We have an ongoing obesity epidemic in the USA as well as in other parts of the world, and here it is not only is it hurting aging women, it is killing our children who are facing diabetes and other obesity related diseases at early ages.

    PLEASE – keep your resolution to manage your weight and to be more active…you owe it to yourself and your loved ones…

    Set a good example for your kids and grandkids…

     

    P.S. Take a peek at http://bit.ly/beinghealthy for products that are good for you and good for all the "kids" in your life as well.

  • Aging and Weight Gain – is it a given?

    I've had a few discussions with friends lately about aging and weight gain. 
    I think it's a myth that you MUST gain weight as you age yet many I know believe that getting fatter is an inevitable part of aging.  Yes – our body changes but the changes need not lead to increased weight. Our metabolisms slow down so we aren't burning as many calories as we used to – but cutting back on calories helps solve that.
    And don't forget that muscle weighs more than fat so if you work out – you will lose inches but not necessarily a lot of weight.  Losing the weight may come at a slower pace than losing the inches; but being leaner [inch loss] is a good thing and a good goal to aim for. 
    Each body works differently one to another.  We have different genetics and different metabolisms – which is why I believe there can never be a "for everyone" diet.   Yet I see eating recommendations that are posted as works for everyone.  
    Take a look at the people around you – some are thin, some are more muscular, some are tall, some are short, some are men, some are women, etc.  Should they all be eating the same foods in the same proportions?  Nope!  Just as for most things – one size can't or doesn't work for all when it comes to human bodies and eating.  And it's why many yo-yo when trying any of these "diets."  The body loses water or muscle and the weight comes back because we need water and muscle!
    good foods
    I learned a while ago that I am a protein eater…my metabolism needs more protein per meal than my very active friend who needs more carbohydrates per meal.  If I ate as much in carbohydrates as she does – I'd balloon and not only gain weight but get lethargic.  If she ate as much protein as I do, she'd feel lethargic.  Is something wrong with either of us?  No – we just have very different metabolisms.  Different strokes for different folks and their metabolic profiles 
    There is a short questionnaire that assesses your metabolic profile.  If you would like more information about this or you have interest in taking the questionnaire – fill in the information box on the side and request a free 30-minute consultation.  That's about what it takes for this questionnaire [and I’m not selling you anything – just doling out information and advice.]

      

     

     

  • Exercise and FUN

    I always say if something is not fun; it’s not for me and I can only guess that others feel the same way.

    Exercise is one of those things that needs to be fun if you want or expect people to get some activity into their lives.

    Well the Swedes found a way to do this.   In the USA we suggest people take the stairs instead of the escalators to help combat obesity and to lose weight.  But I bet most still use the escalators.

    The Swedes?  Watch this video!

     

    What would you do if you had this choice?  Comment below.