- improves cardiovascular health
- lowers blood pressure
- improves metabolism
- lowers cholesterol and triglycerides
- reduces diabetes risk
- reduces risk of certain cancers
- helps you maintain a healthy weight
The surprising thing is that many people might be placing too much clout in their regular exercise regimen because one hour each day might NOT be enough to counteract the effects of too much sitting during the rest of the day. With remote controls designed for televisions, stereos, window blinds and even air conditioners as well as the option to purchase treadmills for your dog (www.jogadog.com), we have become a nation of sitters!
And since you're wondering, a treadmill for your medium size dog costs $1500 and, according to the website, provides the following benefits to your dog...
Reduce risk of serious injury Provide versatility in exercise Develop muscle strength & stamina Control your dog's exercise regimen Provide exercise in adverse weather Prevent obesity & associated problems Improve health, well-being & longevityNow, if you are allowing your dog to exercise indoors, where are YOU getting your exercise??
Back to humans... Many of us have jobs where we sit at a desk, spend a large amount of commuting time in the car, watch hours of television or spend time on the computer or in front of the TV in the evening. That is a lot of sitting and not a whole lot of moving! When you sit for a long period of time, many of the major muscles in your legs and back for example, aren't moving, slowing down your metabolism.
New research from the University of South Carolina studied adult men and their risk of dying from heart disease. The study found "that men who reported more than 23 hours a week of sedentary activity had a 64 percent greater risk of dying from heart disease than those who reported less than 11 hours a week of sedentary activity." So, not only do we need to commit to at least an hour of physical activity o most days of the week, we also need to get up and move around throughout the day. Try stretching at your desk, take a walk break instead of a coffee break, or grab a co-worker for a walking-working meeting (MBWA -- meeting by walking around is the term you might hear).
In fact, the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans, recommend individuals participate in 30, 60 or 90 minutes of regular physical activity daily, but the guidelines ALSO suggest we "limit sedentary activities". Great idea whenever possible...
Need some ideas for stretching at your desk or tips on how to power up your productivity? Let's talk! Shoot me an email and I'll send you (or someone you care about) a copy of our Stretching at Your Desk handout.
Now, get away from the screen and start moving... :)
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