Exercise may reduce chronic pain

Here is some interesting anecdotal evidence of how many are using exercise/movement to treat pain, including chronic pain that many had struggled with for years. This certainly seems like something to be at least investigated further if not just tried.

www.chicagotribune.com/health/sc-health-0721-pain-20100721,0,6621419,print.story

F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010

It’s hard to believe with all of the media attention over the last couple years, but it appears the obesity issue in the US is getting worse instead of better. Obesity rates increased in 28 states year to year and decreased only in the District of Columbia. Most of us know intellectually that we need to monitor what we take in and increase our level of movement and exercise and yet reports like this one keep on coming. When and what will be the tipping point?

healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2010/

Phys Ed: A Workout for Your Bloodstream

This article is a bit technical for me but I stuck with it and understand the basic premise, that body movement, exercise, is very important and beneficial to our overall health. The article is very interesting as are many of the comments which follow it.

well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/16/phys-ed-a-workout-for-your-bloodstream/

Diet and Exercise to the Extremes

This article from the New York times is about Scott Jurek, the ultimate ultra-marathoner in the US today. As the title suggests, he not only exercises at extreme levels but his diet would be considered somewhat extreme by many also.

While not suggesting going to these extremes, perhaps emulating Scott at even a minor level would help many of us increase not only our performance level while exercising or competing but would also have a positive effect on our level of health and wellness.

Since this article was written last week, Scott set the record for an American in the French race referred to, running 165.70 miles in 24 hours.

www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/sports/13runner.html?pagewanted=1&ref=health

To Beat the Heat, Drink a Slushie First

Earlier in the week we discussed protecting ourselves from the sun, especially this time of year. As this article from the NY Times tells us, we also need to pay attention to the effect heat is having on our bodies when we are walking, running, biking or performing any personal or group workout outside. When I first saw this headline, I didn’t take it too seriously, but having read the article I think there is something to the idea of drinking a slushie before exercising in the heat and there are a few other good ideas too and some good information about how our bodies function in the heat. Cooling the body down before exercise is something I never considered but I am going to try, especially before going on long weekend runs as we get into the hot, humid summer days here in the Midwest. Let’s be safe out there.

www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/health/nutrition/27best.html?ref=health&src=me&pagewanted=print

Weighing the Evidence on Exercise

From the NY Times, an interesting article that discusses the effect of exercise on weight loss. There are quite a few opinions expressed and studies cited here but the bottom line that I come away with is that there are no shortcuts and that a combination of exercise and modifications to our diet are necessary to lose weight. For more information, click on the link in the right column to our health and wellness web site, http://www.tkfamilyplan.com/, and go to Nutrition on the main menu and get more information from our Registered Dietician, Shannon Hayes-Buescher.

www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/magazine/18exercise-t.html?pagewanted=1&ref=general&src=me

Lace up those sneakers: Study suggests going out for a walk lowers stroke risk for women

Another excellent reason to walk or engage in any exercise program and a good reminder today, national Start Walking Day.

If you need a log to track the progress of your walking program, click on the link to our health and wellness site, tkfamilyplan.com, in the right column, go to fitness in the main menu and scroll down to “walking program”.

Also, click on the link in the same column to see our online store if you need a pedometer (under “fitness assessment products).

www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-ap-us-med-stroke-walking,0,6735778,print.story

No Matter What, We Pay for Others’ Bad Habits

This article from the NY Times written by a cardiologist addresses a topic that is becoming more widely discussed and is very controversial and complex. I think the doctor does a good job of trying to offer a balanced explanation for people’s behavior regarding their health. As health care costs and health insurance costs continue to rise and become a bigger factor in the economic health of the U.S. this issue is going to be even more relevant.

www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/health/30risk.html?ref=health

To Double the Odds of Seeing 85: Get a Move On

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, here is more evidence of the need to become more active and exercise on a regular basis. Some basic guidelines are laid out here in this article from the Wall Street Journal.Here is a quote that says it all and sums up our philosophy here at TK Health and Wellness and that is that we simply cannot afford not to get healthy.

“It’s one more piece of data that says we all need to be moving in America,” says Emelia Benjamin, professor of medicine and epidemiology at Boston University School of Medicine, who wasn’t involved with the study. “It’s pretty clear that Americans want to take a pill, but we’re all going to be bankrupt unless people start taking on these lifestyle changes.”

Visit our site at www.tkfamilyplan.com to get started with a basic exercise plan you can perform in your home and some minor nutrition changes you can make that will have a big impact on your life.

online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703954904575109673558885594.html#mod=todays_us_personal_journal

Boosting Metabolism with Muscle

From www.myyogaonline.com (click on family health and wellness in

the right hand column and then to the link to My Yoga Online in the right

hand column there), excellent information on the benefits of converting

body fat to muscle and how to do it with yoga.

www.myyogaonline.com/blog/2009/12/boosting-metabolism-with-muscle/

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