6 Ways to Sit Less Every Day

Work can often be the worst place for sedentary routines. Unless your job requires a lot of indoor or outdoor activity you may then forget how much you sit each day. Here are some simple easy ways to keep moving during work even if you spend most of your day in a cubicle or small space. See the tips here: Health.com

What you do every day matters

Do you buy stuff you don't need? Do you talk about exercise and a good diet but rarely do either one? We're all guilty. Here is a terrific little article that helps us see that what we do every day is really more real and actually who we are than what we do every once in a while. See it here: What%20You%20Do%20Every%20Day%20Matters.

6 Ways to Sit Less Every Day

Autumn and winter are times when the weather makes us want to stay in the chair at work or remain on the couch at home. It's easy to add unnecessary pounds that way and to miss out on regular exercise. Here are some nifty tips to help keep us moving this time of year. See them here: Health.com

Boost Your Mood

Sometimes we all need a little lift in our moods. The stresses of life today can be a bit overwhelming at times even if you are in a healthy marriage or relationship, eat right, exercise, and like your job. Here are some simple tips to help boost our mood when we do get bogged down and begin to feel our spirit sag. See them here: Health.com

Go get a massage!

Stress continues to be a huge factor in many illnesses today: hypertension, migraine headaches, stomach ulcers, and even cancer. New studies now show that a good massage can effectively reduce stress hormones in all of us. See the article here: Go Get a Massage!: glamour.com

3 Steps to a Longer Life

Here are some easy, interesting tips on extending life for all of us. See them here: Sharing Rocks!

8 Tips for Boosting Your Energy RIGHT NOW.

Who doesn't need more energy in these busy times? We all do. Increased energy helps us get more done, builds self-esteem, creates confidence, makes us feel better. Here are some simple but excellent tips on how to do it: 8 Tips for Boosting Your Energy RIGHT NOW.

Fitness Cardio Workout - Fitness at Home

This is a heck of a cardio workout all in the privacy of your home. No gym. No fees to pay. No gazing onlookers. Just you and your willingness to do some physical movement. See the workout here: Fitness at Home - Health.com

Boost Your Mood Naturally

All of us from time to time get a little down, worn out, frazzled. Life is often carried on at a hectic pace. Financial woes, family conflicts, work irritations, health issues, all contribute to days when we feel drained of energy and good feelings. Here are some easy tips to help boost our moods and enjoy each day a little more. See them here: Health.com

Using a Big Fork May Help You Eat Less

Harsh diets, endless workouts, starving routines, are all ways to lose weight but are they always good for us? Here are some useful tips on learning to stay away from huge helpings and the urge to just keep eating even when we are full. See the article here: Using a Big Fork May Help You Eat Less

Swimming: The Calorie Burner!

Get into your swimsuit and hit the pool. Swimming is a huge calorie burner and a great way to stay fit. See how many calories you can burn in an hour of swimming here: Health.com

Addicted to Standing Up

Get Moving!

Sure, exercise is important, but how do you get moving and enjoy it?

Obesity: Sitting Isn't Pretty

Obese people sit an average of two and a half hours more a day than slim people. Daily activities are the key to weight control.

By Jennifer Drapkin, published on March 15, 2005 - last reviewed on June 21, 2011

Throw away the remote. Fire the maid. And never drive to work again. A study from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, proves that the real difference between people who are obese and those who are not is how often they stand up. Literally.

Researchers find that in an average day, obese people sit for 2.5 hours more than their lean peers. They burn 350 less calories per day. All else being equal, that translates to approximately 10 extra pounds per year.

"If you've ever gone to the gym and looked at the treadmill, 350 calories is no joke," says James A. Levine, the endocrinologist, who led the study. "It's enough to account for who becomes obese and who does not."

In an age of NetFlicks, FreshDirect and Domino's, when you can order everything online and never leave a chair, the solution to the nation's obesity crisis might be as simple as walking out the door. "Obesity may be more closely tied to activity levels than we ever imagined before," said Dr. Levine. And he's not talking marathons or even gym workouts. "The calories you burn in everyday activities can make a tremendous difference in your life," he insists. In case you missed it the first time, let me repeat: everyday activities.

Six years ago, Dr. Levine discovered something he calls NEAT, for non-exercise activity thermogenesis. It describes the energy we expend in physical movement other than planned exercise. The new study measured the NEAT levels of 20 self-proclaimed couch potatoes, half of whom were obese.

Their mundane movements were tracked for 10 days. In case you're wondering how: All wore custom-made, data-collecting underwear. Each morning, the participants were measured at the clinic, where they received fresh underwear and all of their meals. The researchers found that the 10 lean participants all walked, paced, cleaned, cooked and stood more than the 10 obese subjects.

"One by one, these movements added up," says Dr. Levine. "But it's about more than wiggling your toes. It's about getting up out of your seat."

Taking the study further, the researchers sought to determine whether low NEAT levels were a cause of obesity or byproduct. Once again, the participants donned the special underwear.

For two months, the thin subjects were overfed, each gaining about nine pounds, and the obese subjects were underfed, each losing about 17 pounds. Even though the subjects gained and lost weight, their daily movements did not change. Our NEAT level seems to be hardwired into us.

But Dr. Levine is optimistic that, with a little conscious learning, people can change their daily activity levels, although NEAT may be genetic or established early in life. He serves himself up as Exhibit A. He contends his movement habits changed as a result of doing the study.

"Now, I'm addicted to standing up," he says. "People can change their lifestyles completely. I encourage everyone to just stand up and see how good it makes you feel."

In the interests of journalistic accuracy I feel bound to report that he then forced the reporter to stand up for the remainder of the interview.

"If people would just put a treadmill in front of their televisions and walk one mile per hour, it could completely change their health. The take-home message is get up, get up, get up."

©Psychology Today

Beat the Top Summer Health Hazards

Although we are well into summer activities, here are some practical tips to help you make this summer a fun and healthy one. See the information here: Health.com

5 Tips for Staying Active With Kids and Family

If you have children at home or help take care of grandchildren, here are some great ideas to help keep all of you active, together! See the article here: Health.com

Is Sitting Killing You?

Here is a terrific article about some simple exercises to do while at work.  Sitting for long periods of time carries various health risks including the risk of heart attack.  Even if you workout, exercise, and watch your diet, lengthy periods of just sitting at your desk at work can be hazardous.

See the article here in Men's Health Magazine:
http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/work_stretches/index.php