Exercise

When talking to people about their journey to lose weight, I find that there are so many factors in their life which sabotage their efforts; most of which they are quite unaware of. We must deal with each of these factors if there is ever to be long term success. I rarely begin a conversation simply talking about food. If there has been no change in a person's weight, then I'm more interested in all the other factors that might be impacting on their lack of success, beyond food. Stress is the major one, and stress seems to play a [...]

This article is shamelessly copied this from Mark Scisson at Mark's Daily Apple. His blog is a very good one and one worth following. I wanted to write about exercise and finding the motivation for each of us to get out there and do something. Mark's words ring true; read on! "There's a lot of advice about exercise floating around out there. Everyone knows they need to work out, yet most of us don't. The big problem is motivation. Let's face it, WE just don't feel like it. – We know we need to. – Once we get going, we [...]

For many people, winter is a good time to get outdoors and ski or snowshoe or skate, even walk or jog. For others, well, they hibernate. None of us should have any excuse however not to move, even if we aren't inclined to venture outside. We have become a society of 'sitters'; watching T.V. or playing on the computer while our muscles remain unused, and boredom has us snacking. There are so many thing we can do in our homes to use the muscles and not allow our strength to deteriorate, but it one has to simply 'do it'. So [...]

I know that we all live busy lives, and frankly, incorporating exercise into our daily routine can feel like an unnecessary hassle. But in truth, even a little bit of added movement can go a long way to improving our weight, physical health and even our mental health. While I know that some of you derive great enjoyment from exercise, others may struggle to find the same satisfaction. For those of you in the second group, I challenge you to set aside your preconceptions; try something new that sparks an interest. Remember, being active does not have to mean running [...]

(Excerpt from Dr. Levine's work as written by Mr. Morales) This article written by Mr. Morales is worth re-emphasizing. Dr. Levine's work was recently written up in the Scientific American ("The Killer Chairs” November 2014). We all have to move more, even if we are going to the gym 2 or 3 times per week. Americans sit more than ever before – at work, at school, even at play. Chained to your chair? Well, obesity expert Dr. James Levine calls that dangerous behavior. Like tobacco, he says, sitting is hazardous to your health. "Sitting all day long is literally killing [...]

The following is a summary of a beautiful review I saw in the ' Mayo Clinic Health Letter'. It questions whether we are aware of the extent to which sitting is detrimental to our health. "Most people sit for too long each day. Many U.S. workers sit for 15 hours a day. In the past 15 years a wave of research has shed new light on sitting as a serious health risk factor that's snuck up on modern society." "Cars, home entertainment, computers, email, office work and labour-saving devices have made for a life of sitting that's interrupted by small [...]

How many times have you heard, "You just need to eat right and exercise”? It has become the mantra for our health conscious culture. But for most of us it sounds like we're being sentenced to a life of hard labor: pumping iron and sweating away on a treadmill plus boring eating – broccoli, low-fat cottage cheese, broiled chicken – doesn't sound like much fun. Investing in your health has to become more of a journey toward well-being and less of a task if you're going to make this a lifelong commitment. Many people take their bodies for granted. They [...]

Almost everyone has become weary of our long winter. The cold snowy weather has caused many of us to hibernate and avoid going outside. Understandably, whether due to fear of slipping on the ice, or simply not enjoying being outdoors in the cold, most of us have avoided the very thing that will decrease stress, give us energy, and assist in weight loss. Going to the gym 3 or 4 times a week is fine, but we are missing out on the important extras of getting outside and walking, or cycling, gardening, rollerblading or jogging. Now however, we have no [...]

Move, Now Recently there was a well written article in the Canadian Medical Journal which I thought I would summarize. Beyond formal exercise, it emphasizes the importance for all of us to be much more conscientious about simply ‘moving more'. Are you sitting comfortably? Great. I hope that after you have read this article you'll be moving more, even if you are only fidgeting! I hope you'll also think and talk differently about physical activity. A study published by the Canadian Medical Association journal highlights the correlation between owning modern conveniences and increased rates of diabetes and overweight in low [...]