It’s
not just for exercise anymore…
Over
the months, this article has offered information about being physically fit and
the benefits of such activity for the cardiovascular and respiratory system plus
muscle tone. You must have the desire to start and maintain an exercise program.
If you try it, you might like it. If you tried it before and it fell to the way
side, pick up the activity again. Things happen, and just because you missed a
couple of workouts does not mean to throw away all you have accomplished and the
benefits you receive. More research is showing of additional benefits from
maintaining an active lifestyle.
Wake Forest University researchers have found an effective way to shrink your
waist. Diet and/or exercise are the standard methods of losing weight. Burn more
calories than you consume works like gravity. The key to this research is that
combining the two actions is explosive in how combined, they shrink abdominal
fat cells. Too many abdominal fat cells raise the risk of diabetes and heart
disease. The study asked 45 obese women to diet. Fifteen of the women went on
just the diet. Fifteen women went on the diet and walked three times a week at a
slow pace for 55 minutes, roughly 1.5 to 2 mile per hour pace. Fifteen women
went on the diet and walked three times a week at a moderate pace for 30
minutes, roughly 3 to 4 miles per hour. Twenty weeks later, the tale of the tape
showed that all 45 women lost 25 pounds, HOWEVER the two walking groups also
reduced the size of their abdominal fat cells by 19%. The diet only group had no
such change. Aerobic exercise and diet are a very effective method to improve
your quality of life and inches around your waist.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign research demonstrates the benefits of
aerobic exercise, not only in cardiovascular fitness, but also shows improvement
in the brain. Research has shown for years that aerobically active seniors stay
mentally sharp, improves problem solving skills and other mental abilities.
Researchers worked with an age group of 60 to 79 year olds who exercised at
least one hour three times a week in an aerobic fashion. Measuring the brain
volume, utilizing a MRI scan, saw an increase in the brains’ volume. This
measurement suggests that new brain cells and connections between them are
increased. The presumption is that with more brain cells and connections, the
brain is more efficient and has the ability to be “adaptive and less impaired
by age-related changes.” Research found that those subjects who merely did
stretching and toning workouts did not show a volume increase. This new research
contradicts the old belief that “an aging brain does not grow new cells.”
The key for the improvement is aerobic activity.
A new disturbing trend is on the rise, children having stomach surgeries. You
have heard or seen stories about obese adults having surgery to remove the fat
and the dangers of any surgery. Estimates have more than 177,000 American adults
had weight-loss surgery in 2006, while in 2001, roughly 47,000 surgeries.
Regardless of what TV shows and commercials sell toward adults, weight-loss
surgery is not a quick fix solution. It would be horrible if the same trend for
adults is seen with children. With Georgia ranked as the 6th most
obese State in our great country, there is a huge potential for this type of
aggressive surgery to be done in our State. Make a commitment to improve the
quality of life for everyone in the family, especially the children, by adding
aerobic activity to their daily lives. Start a program now, educate now, so that
stomach surgeries become obsolete.
Exercise is not just for the heart any more. Benefits are near endless, and
everyone can do it in some fashion. Learn more about the benefits of aerobic
exercise and make it a part of you and your family’s lives. The quality of
your life and the people you love will benefit from the decision and dedication
to being healthy.
February 9th, the Student-Athletes of VSU will be presenting a Relay
event. There are five (5) legs of the relay, and a team can be from 3 to 5
members to get the full distance completed. The distance covered will be 10K or
6.2 miles, but each leg will run approximately 1.2 miles. If there are less than
5 people on the team, members will have to run multiple legs. There will be
awards in team categories, team names and team T-Shirts. This is a family event,
keep that in mind. There is more information to come on this event in the coming
week.
March 15th, the Valdosta-Lowndes Parks and Recreation Department
present the annual Azalea Festival 5K on March 15th – make plans to
have the entire family participate in either the 5k or 1 mile events. This is a
Valdosta tradition and favorite.
There are weekly, FREE activities for the runners and cyclists in the area.
Runners can show up at Get Active Running and more on Saturday and Sunday
morning at 7AM for all-comer runs from 4 to 8 plus mile runs. For more
information on the runs, check out the web page www.getactivevaldosta.com
, call or send an email. Cyclists can meet for rides on Tuesday, Thursday,
Saturday and Sunday. For more information on the cycling rides, check out the
web page at www.azaleacitycyclists.com.
Do you have results you want to share about yourself, a loved one or friend? Do
you want to share what motivates you to being active? Send an email to me at Get
Active Running and more.
If you have questions about your walking, running or other training, drop me an
email and I will do my level best to answer your questions. Check out www.getactivevaldosta.com
to get connected. Listen to the Get Active South Georgia radio show on Tuesday
evenings from 6 to 7PM on Talk 92.1 FM to receive additional information or to
ask questions
Thank
you,
Todd
& Alice Smoot
GET
ACTIVE
Running
and more
GET
ACTIVE SOUTH GEORGIA
as
heard on
Talk
92.1 FM Tuesdays 6 to 7 PM
GET
ACTIVE SOUTH GEORGIA
as read weekly in the Sunday VDT - look for us
www.getactivevaldosta.com
3200-C
North Ashley Street
Valdosta,
GA 31602
229-219-0010
229-219-0012
(F)
In
the long run, one must have goals to succeed.
"To
give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift" Steve
Prefontaine