Make an Impact with One Hour a Day!
If we could take a pill that would improve our mood, help control our weight, make us feel more energetic, fight chronic disease, help us sleep and improve our sex lives, would we take it?! Most of us would be scrambling to be first in line! The great news, however is we all have the magic bullet at our finger tips… Exercise!!
Physical activity is essential for mental and physical well-being. Exercise mobilizes blood sugar and fats to be used as energy which helps us lose and maintain a healthy weight. Exercise increases energy levels and increases serotonin in the brain, which leads to improved mental clarity, according to researchers at the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas. Ninety percent of calories are burned in muscle hence, anytime we can build and maintain muscle, we increase our metabolism. To help build muscle mass, weight train or do resistance exercises. If we are not a regular exerciser, by the time we are 65, we may experience as much as an 80% decrease in muscle strength. It is recommended we try to exercise for one hour daily. For many, this may seem overwhelming, but by using some creativity, we can get the most out of our time:
- If you don’t have time for a full workout, try to squeeze shorter spurts of exercise in throughout the day.
- Take the stairs instead of elevators and escalators.
- Find a buddy and/ or exercise as a family.
- Revamp your rituals. Your weekly matinee with the kids or a friend, can be reborn as your weekly walk, bike ride or swim.
- Drive less; walk and bike more! When you do drive, park in the far row in the parking lot or even a few blocks away and walk.
Start your “Make an Impact with One Hour a Day” challenge today! To track your progress, go to www.95210.org/Collier.
“1” , or the recommendation to get an hour of exercise daily, is part of the “9–5–2–1–0 BFF, Let’s Go!” campaign recommended by physicians, dietitians, nurses, fitness experts and other healthcare practitioners in partnership with the Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition of Collier County. Each week, a different number will be highlighted as the Coalition reaches out to educate the community about this important public health message. For more information, go to www.95210.org/Collier.
Special thanks to the Collier County Health Department for taking the lead on promulgating the 95210 message and to Team Wellness Challenge, L3C, a partner of Whole Child Leon and Working Well located in Tallahassee, Florida, for allowing us to use their wonderful 95210 tracking system.