Being active is more important than losing weight

Being active is more important than losing weight

Here is why getting your body into gear is more important- Fitness edged out the scale. The fit/fat debate raged for years, until new data hit the news late in 2011. men who stay or get active & fit are almost 40 %  less likely to die than guys who slack off, even if they gain weight. Every increase in fitness level lowers the risk of fatal heart attacks & strokes by 19%. Cutting back on exercise boosts risk 4 times more than gaining a few pounds.

Unless you’re obese, worry less about your weight & more about both getting & staying fit & active. It’s not that excess weight, especially belly fat, isn’t important. But doing something active everyday discourages a build-up of belly fat, reduces stress, improves sleep, sharpens your memory & keeps your body’s systems humming.

Sitting around proved lethal. Strong evidence in 2011 showed that sitting around messes up your blood sugar, blood pressure & cholesterol & causes cancer.

Here are some tips to be active-

1)      Do mini-workouts. Spread your activity into 10 minute chunks throughout the day. Just be sure to do 30 minutes total.

2)      use the buddy system. You keep each other honest & cheer each other on. Plus, walking & talking with a pal naturally blows off stress, another big health booster.

3)      Find an enforcer. Add another layer of support- your Dr. or your partner. Give it 2 weeks, that is how ling it takes your brain to start cementing a new habit.

4)      Whether talking on the phone or cooking, keep moving around. When working in the office, do an extra lap around the office when you get your coffee break. Drag your exercise bike in front of TV.

5)      Clean the kitchen like an aerobics class. Take a 10 minute break every chance you get & walk. That break counts towards your daily exercise goal.