Just a little over a month into your New Year’s Resolution, it is time to re-evaluate your fitness goals. It is at this point that many are adopting unhealthy excuses.
The number one excuse that I hear is, “I just do not have the time.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 50 percent of American adults do not engage in the required amount of physical activity for health benefits, and 25 percent are not active at all.
If you couple this with a sedentary lifestyle or occupation then disease and overall health deterioration is destined to set in at a younger age.
Cleveland Clinic outlines what healthy exercise should consist of.
“Strengthening which entails using repeated muscle contractions until the muscle becomes tired. Stretching or flexibility encompassing slow, sustained lengthening of the muscle is also important.”
And finally, cardiovascular or “aerobic activity, a steady exercise using large muscle groups,” is also vital.
With so much time spent in front of a television or computer screen, we need to get creative and integrate fitness into our screen time.
According to ConsumerHealthAnswers.com, “One way to redeem your screen is to buy some workout DVD’s and exercise at home. These workouts can be lots of fun and many have their roots in popular television shows, such as NBC’s The Biggest Loser or even ABC’s Dancing with The Stars.”
Instead of being an armchair jockey or a couch potato, you might as well reach and stretch for the remote. DVR technology has made it easy for us to keep up with our favorite shows.
Hop on the treadmill or bike while you watch your favorite shows. If you need some help there are plenty of exercise shows which can be recorded.
Nintendo’s Wii is also a good way to get moving.
According to ConsumerHealthAnswers.com, “The Wii Fitline of products are games and accessories aimed at allowing people to exercise at home and track their fitness progress online.”
One of the games that I really like for Wii as well as Nintendo DS is "Dancing With the Stars: We Dance!" You not only get in an awesome and fun workout, you’ll be a hit with your new moves at your next party.
You can also be “smart” about it and reach for your smartphone.
There are many apps and programs you can download to your phone to help you track your progress and keep you accountable. We’re never without our phones, so why not have a virtual buddy and coach always in our ear?
Another way to keep track of literally what you do day and night is by using products from Fitbit.
According to PCMag.com, “The Fitbit One is a super-smart pedometer that tracks how many steps you take in a day, the flights of stairs you climb, the distance you travel, the number of calories you burn, and even how much restful sleep you get.”
So while our convenient, immediate lifestyle has many pressures and demands, our fitness level can also evolve. The fitness industry is keeping up with technology, leaving you no excuse to ease up with your workouts!
Online References:
“How much physical activity do you need? – CDC.Gov.” The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. Web 5 Feb. 2013.
http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/index.html
“How much physical activity do you need? – CDC.Gov.” The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. Web 5 Feb. 2013.
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/summ.htm
“Well-Balanced Exercise Program – ClevelandClinic.Org.” The Cleveland Clinic. Web 5 Feb. 2013.
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/exercise/hic_well-balanced_exercise_program.aspx
“Fitness Technology – How Technological Advances Are Changing The Way We see Exercise – ConsumerHealthAnswers.com.” Consumer Health Answers. Web 5 Feb. 2013.
http://www.consumerhealthanswers.com/fitness-technology-how-technological-advances-are-changing-the-way-we-see-exercise.html
“FitBit One Review – PCMag.com.” PC Magazine. Web 5 Feb. 2013.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2411271,00.asp
Joanne Sgro-Killworth is a Television Fitness Expert, Certified Personal Trainer and Sport Nutritionist. She is Certified in Pilates, Pre-natal/Post-Partum, Yoga and Senior Fitness. She specializes in Weight Loss, Post-Rehab and Post Cancer Training.
Joanne's fitness plans and recipes are available globally on her website www.fitnessanswer.com. She resides in the Phoenix, AZ area with her husband and son, where she runs her personal training business, Fitness Answer, LLC.
Reviewed February 5, 2013
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith