A sedentary life is as deadly as smoking and stress
Time only moves forward, whether we move with it or stand still, watching it pass us by. And a sedentary life is as deadly as smoking and stress.
Movement is one of the most wonderful parts of life. From children who fearlessly run around playing tag in playgrounds to the elderly carefully putting one step in front of the other, movement is vital to life.
I want you to create a customized plan for movement that works for YOU. Dancing? Yoga? Hiking? Biking? When you think of movement, what do you imagine?
The most important thing being is that you move more in order to help your body oxygenate and promote cellular health.
Try not to think of “exercise” if you’re not already working out.
- How about walking each day while chatting with a friend? (That’s a good way to combat stress and social isolation too!)
- Cleaning your house for a few hours on a Saturday?
- What I want you to know is, wherever you are in the realm of exercise and working out, that movement can set you free.
- The Challenge for today is to take one action to MOVE your body and life forward.
- Finally, If you’re already working out regularly and you’re ready for it, you can also try interval training!
Interval Training
- Step 1. Warm up: Five minutes of jogging or cycling at the lowest possible percentage of your all-out effort.
- Step 2. Run or cycle for 60 seconds at about 85 to 90 percent of your all-out effort. Your leg muscles should fatigue within about one minute. (Basically, the speed you’d run or cycle at to save your life equals 100 percent of your all-out effort. From there, adjust how fast and hard you work so your output reflects the recommended percentage.)
- Step 3. Slow down to 60 percent of your all-out effort for 90 seconds. (Make sure you slow down to this very light pace.)
- Step 4. Repeat the previous two steps, five more times.
- Step 5. Finish with five minutes at 60 percent of your all-out effort to cool down.
If you don’t fit into either of these categories (i.e., if you can’t walk for 30 minutes at 3.5 mph), then you should build up your aerobic exercise program before you start incorporating interval training. And ALWAYS talk to your personal healthcare team first.
Remember, movement does more than just help heal your body, it can also give you hope, joy, combat anxiety and lessen depression.
Wishing you health and happiness,
