Showing posts with label benefits of walking for exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label benefits of walking for exercise. Show all posts

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Walking: Your First Step to a Long Life

How much time do you spend sitting, and how much time do you spend standing, walking or doing housework?  Most of us try to get some exercise every day, but it may not be nearly enough if we want to live a long, healthy life.

Sitting is Associated with a Shorter Lifespan

According to the Archives of Internal Medicine at jamanetwork.com, in a three year study of over 222,000 individuals over the age of 45, the more time they spent sitting, the more likely they were to die.  Realage.com broke the research down even more and explained that the people who sat for eleven hours or more per day were 40% more likely to die ... even if they exercised after they spent eleven hours sitting!

This is a significant concern for people who spend long hours sitting at a desk at work and then come home and sit in front of the television set.  It is also a problem for retirees who prefer activities that involve a lot of sitting ... playing bridge in the morning, watching television in the afternoon, going to a play or movie in the evening.  Too much sitting could lead to a premature death.

How Much Should You Move?

Realage.com generally recommends that people exercise at least 150 minutes a week, or 21 minutes a day.  However, that may not be enough for optimal health if you spend the remainder of your day sitting.  They suggest that, at the very least, you should get out of your chair as often as possible and spend more time standing, walking or engaging in other physical activities.  Even doing household chores will reduce the amount of time you spend sitting and make you healthier.

Recently, I saw a television report that said it actually makes a difference in people's heath if they get up during every commercial and putter around the house while they are watching TV.  If such a simple act can lead to a longer life, it is well worth the small amount of effort ... especially if you combine that with a 20 minute walk or period of activity once or twice a day.

Some people have found it helpful to walk around the house whenever they are talking on the phone.

Be Aware of How Much You Sit

For writers or other people who spend a lot of time on the computer, it is also important to become more aware than ever about the need to get away from the desk chair and walk for a while on a treadmill or take a stroll around your neighborhood.  You can also do chair exercises, spread a mat on the floor and do yoga, or go for a swim.  It is time for us all to realize that every step we take is a step towards a longer life!

If you are interested in other health tips, ideas on how to live longer, suggestions on where to retire, financial planning or family relationships, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page for links to hundreds of additional articles.

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