LIFE POTATO? NEVER SAY “PHOOEY” TO FITNESS
“Exercise. Ugh, who needs it?”
Uh, let’s see…hmm…like everyone. And yes, you, eyes glued to your tablet watching an obscene number of reruns of “Empire”, that includes you. So this isn’t the point in this post where you want to exit the page. This is where you face the need to stay fit. Always. Chronic sitting is the new smoking. Not moving is a bad move. Period. Studies suggest that the sedentary lifestyle so common in our culture is more deadly than smoking (any brand). They also believe that 6-10% of the world’s non-communicable diseases (such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain kinds of cancer) are caused by physical inactivity. On the positive side, according to the Centers for Disease Control, exercise can reduce your risk of:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Arthritis
- Type 2 diabetes
- Obesity
- Depression
- Breast and colon cancer
- Osteoporosis
Paying more attention now? So get up, get out there and get going.
There is so much you can do to do so much for your health. Mind, body, inside and out. Any way you look at it, it’s a win-win. The biggest losers are the ones who never try.
GET THE SKINNY ON IT
When it comes to all the information here we’re hopefully opening your eyes to, it’s fact. And it effects everyone at every age. According to the Centers for Disease Control, only 60% of Americans get the recommended amount of physical fitness each day. Only 35 – 44% of adults 75 years or older are physically active, and 28-34% of adults ages 65-74 are physically active. Which takes a lot of them beyond chunky to obese. About one-third of U.S. adults (33.8%) are obese (and no matter how much 370-pound women are trending and being lauded in the media right now— “you go girl-just be yourself!”) obesity is bad and unhealthy in every way.
No kidding.
Which brings us to kids, which is intensely bad news no matter how you look at it.
More facts:
Only one in three children are physically active every day. More than 80% of adolescents do not do enough aerobic physical activity to meet the guidelines for youth (who in the heck is guiding, or rather not guiding them when it comes to their overall health?) Approximately 17% (or 12.5 millions) of children and adolescents (aged 2-19 years) are obese. Oh boy… children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults. And this is the killer (or could be at some point)- obesity, even in kids, can contribute to liver disease, diabetes, hormonal imbalance, asthma, depression, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure…we could keep going here. Not to the mention the humiliation of the “non fatties” (hate these despicable “fat related monikers) out there taunting and trashing “Hey Lardo…sure you can get through the door?” That’ll cause a spiraling tumble to self-esteem.
In the effort to be fit, eating less and better is a big part of the equation. But rather than filling our fridges with veggies and fruit, we’ve become a nation of super-sizing everything that goes into our voracious mouths. We lunch at “Tubway” on 6-foot-long subs (turkey, of course, counting as hunks of healthiness) slurping down vatfuls of soda. But nutrition and eating balanced meals aren’t the Holy Grail. We’ve become a nation of the device-addicted, spending 8+ hours a day on them.
Mama Media!
BEING FIT NEVER GETS OLD
Millennials think that people over 50 are ready for the elephant graveyard, a place where according to legend, older elephants instinctively direct themselves to when they reach a certain age. Boomer hell. Well, hell, have they got it wrong. And while these self-absorbed (we didn’t make up that description…it’s everywhere) Millennials don’t want to think of it, the years go by just as quickly for them. Entertainment Tonight loves to highlight celeb birthdays just before signing off. Celebs getting very close to the age the under-forties can’t believe is coming at them.
Which gets us to “seniors”. First of all, we desperately need to find a word to replace it. It’s the name that’s ancient, not the people clumped in its claws. You’ll be amazed at how far and fast seniors are flying.
In 1985, the National Senior Olympic Games were established, covered by the New York Times, ESPN and Good Morning America. A growing number of seniors are competing at major athletic events like marathons, and some are outperforming athletes half their age. And speaking of age…
WORLDS OLDEST FEMALE BODYBUIDLER-74
NASCAR DRIVER -69
LONG DISTANCE CYCLIST- 62
LONG DISTANCE RUNNER -89
OLYMPIC BASKETBALL PLAYER
ALL STAR TENNIS PLAYER-84
YOGA INSTRUCTOR-93
It’s like the Energizer Bunny meets the Timex Watch.
As you age, regular exercise is more important than ever to your overall health. In fact, a recent Swedish study found that exercise was the number one contributor to longevity, adding extra years to your life—even if you don’t start exercising until your senior (there’s that irritating word again) years. But it’s not just about adding years to your life, it’s about adding life to your years. Being fit can increase metabolism and build muscle mass. It can improve immune function, lower blood lower pressure, maintain bone density and have a positive effect on digestive functioning. It can lower risk of Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. It improves strength and flexibility and balance. Falls are the pits and hips don’t heal well with complications that can be life-threatening. Studies show that approximately 20% of elderly people who fracture a hip die within 1 year. “Hit the ground running” shouldn’t ever just become “hit the ground”.
BLOOD, SWEAT AND BALANCED HORMONES
HORMONE IMBALANCES ARE LITERALLY BECOMING EPIDEMIC WITH CERTAIN ILLNESSES AND ISSUES ALMOST COMMONPLACE. THESE HORMONE IMBALANCES CAN DISRUPT YOUR LIFE AND ATTACK YOUR STATE OF OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. AT DENVER HORMONE HEALTH, DR. STEPHEN A. GOLDSTEIN, M.D, F.A.C.S. HAS YEARS OF INTENSE TRAINING HELPING PEOPLE WORK OUT ANY HORMONE IMBALANCES THAT ARE TAKING THEM OUT OF THE GAME. WITH SIMPLE TESTS, HE CAN TELL WHAT’S DRAGGING YOU DOWN AND CREATE AN INDIVIDUALIZE PROGRAM THAT WILL MAKE YOU A PLAYER AGAIN.