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Physical Activity: The Great Health Facilitator
"Opportunities are usually disguised...so most people don'trecognize them." - Ann Landers "The journey of a thousand milesbegins with a single step." - Lao-tzu Physical activity is thebest first step to health. It is the most direct way for you todiscover, or rediscover, the wonder of your body. It allows youto experience vitality and provides an immediate sense ofcontrol of your body's health and well-being. In addition tohaving its own inherent benefits, physical activity is a greatphysical and mental health facilitator, and wonderfullyregenerative. Your senses come alive and are attuned moredelicately when you engage in regular physical activity.There is good news about actually doing physical activity.Research has shown that one can obtain its major health benefitswith a minimum amount of effort and a minimum amount of time.The old myth of "no pain, no gain" and of long-distance joggingas the only way to achieve meaningful health results have beenput into perspective. The evidence is clear: you can enjoy thebenefit...
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...s of physical activity with the equivalent of walking ahalf an hour a day, four or five days a week.The Institute for Aerobics Research in Texas evaluated thefitness levels of more than 3,000 people and followed theirprogress for eight years. While the sedentary did have amortality substantially higher than the more fit, the principalbenefits of physical activity came even after very littlephysical activity. Those who simply walked an average of 30minutes a day decreased their risk of heart disease by almosthalf.The American Heart Association has stated that a sedentarylife-style is a risk factor for heart disease comparable tosmoking, cholesterol abnormalities, and high blood pressure. Italso pointed out that low-intensity physical activity, performedregularly, can lower the risk of heart disease. Any physical exercise is better than none! Housework, gardening,shuffleboard--anything that causes us to move--is beneficial.And, the benefits are not limited to heart disease alone.Physical exercise reduces stress, improves...
...eating habits andweight control, increases good (HDL) cholesterol, and decreasestriglyceride levels.When beginning an exercise program, choose an activity that youthink will be fun. Try walking, cycling or doing aerobics with afriend, a family member or as part of a class. The company mayreinforce your commitment. If exercise is new for you, beginslowly, and keep in mind that there are a host of activitiesthat you can try. And, for those of you who have been sedentarymost of your lives, the good news is that you have the most togain from even the simplest physical activities. Gradually workthem into your daily life. Start with small, comfortableactivities, for instance: (1) Walking to your destinationwhenever feasible (2) Taking the stairs rather than relyingexclusively on elevators and escalators (3) Doing more physicaltasks around the house or yard. (4) Strolling around the block,around your neighborhood, in the park, at the mall. Keep youractivity comfortable, keep it easy, and above all, keep it apart of your life.
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