Sleeves up, Heads Down - Get and Stay Active!
May 18 2011 by Paul Pearce, STARplex Fitness Centre Manager,
If current trends continue, 75% of Aussies will be overweight or obese in 20 years (Source: Obesity Policy Coalition). In other words, if you live large you will die young and leave behind a fat-looking corpse!
Stop making excuses. Step away from your desk or sofa more often and get active! The more muscles you have in your body the faster you will be able to burn body fat (at rest and during activity). When we sit and recline, the muscles in your body are basically inactive.
Begin by visiting a fitness centre and see if it offers a range of services to suit your needs and keep you interested – whether that’s wellness or fitness based. There are some great beginners programs, including dance, providing remarkable health benefits. This will take the guess work out of how and when to get active and provide support. It also gives you peace of mind knowing you are in the capable hands of a practising fitness professional. Make sure they are accredited with Recreation SA or Fitness Australia otherwise you are risking more than your health!
Alternatively you can choose to go it alone. Here are some ideas:
If you work in a multi storey building try stair climbs in your daily routine. These will increase muscle strength/endurance whilst increasing your fitness levels.
Start walking outdoors, hiking or bushwalking. The beauty of the outdoors will take your mind off exercise and reduce stress. If you spend your time at work behind a desk a short lunchtime exercise session can do wonders for your productivity. Do the “neighbourhood block” routine daily and try running or jogging with short sprints in between.
At home start skipping. Reach for a rope (they are inexpensive) and skip to music. The cardio vascular benefit of this simple exercise has been known for over a century. The improved coordination will help too.
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