Get Moving and Lose the Inactive Lifestyle!
By Donna Stark
Skipping the gym. Not exercising. Becoming the best couch potato your family and friends have seen in years. You have always wanted to succeed in something, but let me tell you this: you do not want to succeed in living a sedentary lifestyle. Sitting for too many hours during the day does your body no favors, and even if you do break the world record of binge-watching TV shows, nothing good comes out of inactivity. Your body was designed to move and if it doesn't, serious health issues can arise.
How Inactivity Affects the Body
Unfortunately, our world encourages a sedentary lifestyle. More and more people are sitting at a computer for work, shopping from their bed, entertaining themselves with video games, and scrolling on their cell phone for hours on end. Serious health issues are on the rise and as a result, sitting has now been declared the new smoking. Take a look at how an inactive lifestyle affects the body.
- Weight gain
- Loss of muscle strength and function
- Bone weakness
- Compromised immune system
- Poor blood circulation
- Inflammation
- Hormonal imbalance
- Increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers
- Osteoporosis
- Increased feelings of depression and anxiety
Get Moving
The more sedentary your lifestyle is, the higher your health risks are. And no world record is worth that, so get moving! Here are some tips on how to add small amounts of movement into your days both at home and at work.
- Clean the house
- Garden or work in the yard
- Stretch, lift weights, or ride a stationary bicycle while watching TV
- Work out at home with online videos
- Do squats or lunges while waiting for the microwave
- Stand up when talking on the phone
- Get up from your desk and move around at least once an hour
- Modify your desk so you can either sit or stand
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator
- Use your breaks or lunch hour to stretch or work out
- Walk to your coworker's desk instead of calling or emailing
- Take your meetings outside and have your discussions while walking
Breaking the Sedentary Lifestyle
If exercise is new to you or if it's been a while since you have followed a fitness routine, you may want to start slowly. A good starting point would be at least 30 minutes a day, but if you can or want to do more, then go ahead! You may even find yourself enjoying this new lifestyle. And who knows? You could end up breaking records left and right. Only these records will be centered on all of your new health and fitness goals.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Woodbury, Minn.