| Do you exercise every day? If you want to live | | | | throughout the day. |
| a long, healthy life, maybe you should. | | | | - Schedule a specific time to exercise everyday - |
| A recent study by Timothy Wessel, a physician | | | | then keep to your schedule! |
| at the University of Florida, indicates one of the | | | | - Take part in more intense activities that can |
| strongest risk factors for developing heart | | | | improve your heart health, such as: running, |
| disease is inactivity - even more so than being | | | | dancing, swimming, cycling, and climbing stairs. |
| overweight. During the four-year study of 906 | | | | - Find exercise that you enjoy. You will be more |
| women, Dr. Wessel documented those who were | | | | likely to continue and improve your daily |
| moderately active were less likely to develop | | | | performance if you look forward to a favorite |
| heart disease than sedentary women, no matter | | | | activity. |
| how much they weighed. The study concluded: | | | | - Wear proper clothing and footwear. This has |
| "These results suggest that fitness may be more | | | | two functions. Clothing and shoes that are suited |
| important than overweight or obesity for | | | | to your activity will enhance performance and |
| cardiovascular risk in women." | | | | offer the right kind of support for your body and |
| In January, the updated U.S. Dietary Guidelines | | | | feet. They will also place you in a better frame of |
| strongly urged that everyone should take part in | | | | mind for exercise. When you wear your favorite |
| "at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity | | | | running outfit and slide into your special running |
| physical activity" on most days, above whatever | | | | shoes, your mind says "it's time to get out the |
| activities they do at home or work. To loose | | | | door and put my feet in motion!" |
| weight or to avoid gaining weight as we age, 60 | | | | - Add everyday activities to increase your overall |
| minutes of daily moderate to vigorous exercise is | | | | fitness level, such as gardening, housework, |
| recommended. And those who have already lost | | | | walking to the store, take the stairs instead of |
| weight and are attempting to keep weight off | | | | the elevator, and raking leaves. |
| need 60 to 90 minutes of daily exercise. | | | | - Always drink lots of water. |
| A study of 9,611 adults by the University of | | | | - If you feel discomfort or pain after an activity, |
| Michigan Health System, found that people in their | | | | use ice therapy immediately to reduce swelling |
| 50s and 60s who participated in daily exercise | | | | and numb pain. Always have a cold pack in your |
| were 35 percent less likely to die within the next | | | | freezer, ready and waiting. Most aches and pains |
| eight years than their inactive couch potato | | | | attributed to exercise respond well to icing and will |
| counter parts. | | | | melt away within 24 hours after applying ice for |
| Convinced that it's time to add exercise to your | | | | several 20-minute sessions. Using cold therapy |
| day? | | | | reduces down time, getting you back on schedule |
| The Basics - Making Exercise a Life Priority: | | | | fast. (If the pain does not lessen within 48 hours |
| - If you're not use to exercising, check with your | | | | after using ice therapy, is intense or becomes |
| doctor before beginning any strenuous fitness | | | | worse, see your doctor.) |
| routine. | | | | Exercise every day...take care of your heart...live |
| - Start slow. If 30 minutes of exercise is too | | | | long! |
| much, start with 15 minutes and add a few | | | | Disclaimer: This information is not intended as a |
| minutes each day. | | | | substitute for professional medical treatment or |
| - If you don't have time for 60 minutes of | | | | consultation. Always consult with your physician in |
| exercise, break it up into two 30-minute sessions | | | | the event of a serious injury. |