Todays blog post is a bit more serious than some of my others but is an issue that I am quite passionate about. There is no doubt that we are much more sedentary than we were a few generations ago. We sit in cars, on trains and buses to get to work. We sit at a desk in front of a computer all day, we come home and sit in front of the TV, or at the computer. The lack of movement in our day to day existence is a contributing factor to the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and even depression. Experts have labeled this modern day health disease the “sitting disease”.
According to an article in my latest Runners World magazine (my bible), even if you do 60minutes of exercise a day, but are sedentary the rest of the day, then you are at risk. Look at it this way: smoking is bad for you, even if you do lots of exercise. So is sitting too much. One of the really important facts to remember is that our bodies are designed to move. When we sit down for extended periods of time, it causes our metabolism and circulation to slow down; a disaster if you want to keep yourself in good health.
So the answer is simple; get moving!! Try and incorporate as much movement as possible into your day. Get off your bus or train a stop or two before you need to, take the stairs at work, in the shopping mall or at the station instead of the escalators. Take regular breaks from your desk during your workday, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Use your lunch break to get an extra walk in, even if you just walk to the store to buy your “healthy” lunch. Grab a friend and start a walking group at lunchtime or after work. It’s a great way to chat, catch up on news and enjoy some fresh air. My youngest daughter is in her final year of school and is finding it tough to balance fitting in exercise with her study. For the past month or so, she has been doing some great workouts at home that she has found on youtube. All you need is a mat (or towel) and the motivation to get started. The benefits of more movement are not just physical but also psychological. One of my favourite sayings is: “your only one exercise session away from a good mood”.
I know a lot of you are probably thinking, but im so busy, there just isn’t time to fit exercise/movement into my day, so let me ask you this; what price do you put on your health?
If you would like to read more about the benefits of moving, and the downside of not moving, have a read of the Runners World article I have attached below.
http://www.runnersworld.com/health/sitting-is-the-new-smoking-even-for-runners?page=single
Have a great week ahead. x