Monday, April 6, 2009

Going the extra mile!


Do you think that just because you spent 30 minutes on the stairclimber this morning you’ve been given a ticket to ride the elevator? Not so if you’re serious about wearing a smaller dress size.
Recent studies have shown that some people move less after they begin an exercise regimen, probably without even realizing it. According to research done in the Netherlands, when women and men, started to work out twice a week, their everyday activity decreased by 22 percent. The reason for the slowdown, experts speculate, may be postworkout fatigue or assuming that if you exercise, you don’t need to bother with taking the stairs or parking further from the grocery store door. Wrong! Little activities such as standing instead of sitting, fidgeting, and taking extra steps throughout the day can add up to an extra 350 calories burned, according to studies done by the Mayo Clinic. Other research shows that a decrease in these everyday actions may shut down an enzyme that controls fat metabolism, making weight loss more difficult.

There are numerous ways to keep the calories burning and your metabolism charged up! Aside from consistent workouts, take the stairs instead of the escalator, add an extra 5 minutes on to your walk with the dogs, park the car way at the back of the parking lot or go for a leisurely bike ride with friends or family. Every little bit of effort counts when it comes to health and wellness even things that seem insignificant. Remember this:

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu
Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)

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