Exercise, Health and Fitness

We all know that cigarettes are bad for us. But did you know that there's evidence showing that a sedentary lifestyle can be just as detrimental to our health as smoking? Several other studies also found that prolonged sitting increases the risk of heart disease - America's leading killer - as well as cancer, obesity, diabetes, and even premature death. We've always known that sitting for long periods of time can make us more vulnerable to serious diseases. These findings are all the more alarming because they come on the heels of other recently released studies indicating that long periods of time spent sitting in our cars and offices are significant contributing factors in the obesity epidemic sweeping the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than two-thirds of Americans are overweight, and a third of the population is considered obese.
It's all an unfortunate chain of events: sedentary lifestyle leads to obesity, which, in turn, is a well-known factor in heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer, which render us even more inactive. Statistics show that 40 to 50 million Americans have sedentary jobs, which don't allow them to get the recommended amount of at least 30 minutes of moderately intensive physical activity five days a week. Add this to research indicating that 60 percent of Americans don't exercise enough and over 25 percent are not active at all, and what you get is a recipe for disaster.
Since it is not always possible to avoid situations where prolonged sitting is necessary - for example, in a workplace, try to sneak some exercises in to offset inactivity.
Finding time to exercise, be it in the morning, evening or at lunchtime, can literally be a real lifesaver. Here are some examples of mini workouts that can help you battle a sedentary lifestyle:
Stairs - Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Better yet, run up and down. If you do it several times a day, every day, it adds up. In fact, take 2 breaks a day for 5-10 minutes where all you do is walk the stairs.
Avoid your car - Especially for short distances, resist the urge to take your car. Walk to your destination and back quickly enough to get your heart rate up.
The "Idiot Box" - So you're finally home from a long day at work, sitting in from the computer? Don't go "relax" in front of TV for another 3 hours. If you finally have a bit of free time, use it for some form of physical activity, not to sit around some more. I currently live in South Carolina and a study done not too long ago said that SC is the #1 state for hours of TV watched. Guess I have my work cut out for me.
OK. I know I was the bearer of bad news here, but the good news is that there are easy fixes. Just make up your mind to help yourself and keep moving!

Ian Hart is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with 2 kettle bell certificates and a certificate in integrated stretching techniques and is an FMS specialist (among other qualifications). He has also been featured in Men's Health Magazine, on the Men's Health website, was a featured Health Expert on New York 1 News and was a guest on the Mike and Juliet Morning Show. Ian loves training, and helping people reach their fitness goals. Not just physically but also mentally.
K. Clifford has worked in the field of finance until 2009 when K left the field to pursue a different route into the world of fitness and business management at a fitness center in South Carolina. Helping clients reach their goals and managing a great business are the main focuses in K's life.