WALK THIS WAY!

An article in yesterday's Dallas Morning News stated that the U.S. obesity rate is much higher than Canada's. How we eat and move factors into how healthy and fit we are.

If one is over-weight, the prospect of beginning an exercise program can be daunting. One of the best forms of exercise is one of the simplest: walking!

"Epidemiologic studies have provided strong evidence that sedentary (activities) such

as prolonged TV watching is an important risk factor for obesity and type 2 diabetes,

whereas increasing physical activity including brisk walking is associated with weight

maintenance and a lower risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes."

Diet and Physical Activity in the Prevention of Obesity

by Frank B. Hu

GET AND STAY ACTIVE. Adding a 30-minute brisk walk four days a week can almost double your rate of weight loss. You can still get benefits from exercise, even if you break it into several short sessions, such as 10 minutes, three times a day. (This is from Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, Special Report: Weight Control) In addition, exercise is one of the most effective ways to preserve and protect your joints.

"Walking is one of your best bets for a starter aerobic exercise."

Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, Special Report: Joint Health

EXERCISE BOOSTS BRAIN POWER, according to The Research Report, New Medical Findings, in The Wall Street Journal, 2-22-11:

"A growing body of evidence has pointed to aerobic exercise as a low-cost hedge against

neurocognitive decline."

This means that a walking program can effect the size of the hippocampus by 2% in a year, so walking improves memory!

Walking is one of the seven primal movement patterns; it is an exercise anyone can do without thinking. This allows the walker to access the mind...creating, problem solving, planning, and thinking while walking.

Walking calms the nervous system, strengthens bone density as you work against gravity (weight bearing exercise), and consumes more METs than lower-intensity activities such as Yoga.

Walking requires no fancy equipment...everyone knows how to walk...the exercise is an close as your front door...outdoor exposure to sunlight creates crucial Vitamin D supplementation...and has social benefits, if done with others.

Legacy Performance Center has a "Walk this Way!" program Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM and Friday mornings at 10:30 AM, beginning April 6th. Join us and get healthy.

WELLNESS STARTS HERE!