Tag: exercise

Health lessons from the Women’s World Cup

I watched the final game of the Women’s World Cup between Japan and the United States.  Tuning in a few minutes late I was stunned to see I  missed the first 2 goals! Believe me, I paid attention the rest of the game and was not disappointed. I admired the skill, talent and energy of both teams and with other Americans cheered the United States team’s victory  clinching the world champion title 5-2.

Besides enjoying the action I was more impressed by  the class and grace demonstrated by both teams as winners and as losers. That is the greatest lesson we can teach children and I hope parents used that as a “teachable moment”.

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I observed the superb fitness level of these and the other participants in the World Cup. Running up and down a field , kicking a ball and outmaneuvering opponents for 90 minutes is exhausting, but they made it look almost easy.  We can’t all be world class athletes  but we can be physically active in some way.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend 

  • moderate-intensive physical activity for 150 minutes or more per week

  • vigorous-intensity activity for at least 75 minutes per week

  • engaging in muscle strengthening activity at least twice per week.

 

Medical studies show that exercise can prevent or improve many chronic health conditions and lack of exercise contributes to many diseases.

  • Physical activity may reduce the risk of cancers of the breast, colon, uterus, prostate and pancreas.

  • Regular exercise may help prevent diabetes and heart disease.

  • Exercise can relieve joint and back pain due to arthritis.

  • Depression is treated with physical activity successfully

 

With proper guidance, anyone can perform some exercise or other physical activity regularly. I stay active with walking, bicycling, ballroom dancing, gardening and have recently tried yoga

 

ballroom dancing
dancing in a competition with my pro instructor

I have more energy and stamina when I am active regularly, and get sluggish if I don’t.

What do you do to stay active, fit and moving? please share and encourage someone else.

More information here

Physical Activity Basics from the CDC

6 steps to losing weight and gaining hope

As her sadness lessened, her motivation to take better care of herself returned. Here is what she did and recommends to journey into fitness and weight loss.

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In  other posts I  defined obesity  and explained how it can harm our health.

What is obesity and why does it matter? 
Waist size matters
BMI Chart created by Vertex42.com. Used with permission.
BMI Chart created by Vertex42.com. Used with permission.

Obesity revisited

Some people who are overweight just want to lose the excess weight and are not that concerned about the health risk if they don’t. No wonder the weight loss business is a multi-million (billion?) industry. When patients  ask me for weight loss help, I tell  them if I knew a 100% successful method for losing weight, I would be wealthy, and probably not  working anymore. I have patients who successfully lose weight, with and without my help, and unfortunately just as many who don’t. Most of the ones who lose weight do it simply-

  • They change what, how much, and how they cooked and ate.
  • They start,increase, and continue being physically active.
a walking trail in a park
How one woman lost weight and regained her life

In the May 2015 issue of American Family Physician, a  doctor shared the story of a woman whose life events made her feel sad and overwhelmed; she turned to food for comfort.  Combined with a sedentary lifestyle, she gained weight. After a health scare, she took her doctor’s advice to see a nutritionist and begin exercising- 10 minutes daily.

For her emotional turmoil she turned to a counsellor, her rabbi and friends.

“I saw a counselor every week who let me cry and express my emotions.”

As her sadness lessened, her motivation to take better care of herself returned. Here is what she did and recommends to journey into fitness and weight loss.

  1. Remove junk food from the house; replace with healthier choices.
  2. Keep chopped up fruit and vegetables available in the refrigerator.
  3. Bake, broil, poach, or steam meats and vegetables.
  4. Eat from small plates.
  5. Try different activities- walking, dancing, exercise videos,
  6. Find a role model to inspire you.
yogurt-387454_640

“Do a good deed, no matter how small, every day. Nothing will taste as good as it feels to watch another person appreciate your mitzvah” ( mitzvah- a good deed) 

A.G.
Close-ups: Losing Weight and Motivating Others

sharing the HEART of living healthy

Dr. Aletha