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Get Moving!

Today I want to talk about MOVEMENT, and before you think that I'm talking about exercise, just hear me out!

I'm actually talking about walking around, gardening, doing the dishes, jogging to catch the train, fidgeting, and all the other sorts of movement you engage in throughout the course of your day.

And while most people aren't aware that this simple daily movement is incredibly important for your health, it really is. In fact, according to Dr. James Levine, author of Move a Little Lose a Lot, "Sitting is the new smoking!"

He goes on to say that....

"More people die from sitting than HIV and it is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death."

In other words, sitting too much can be even more dangerous than not exercising.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that sitting too much is associated with cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease and that the detrimental effects of sitting CANNOT be undone by an hour of exercise each day.

Therefore, the less you sit and the more you move throughout your day, the BETTER.

Here are creative ways to ensure you meet your daily movement quota:

• Choose parking spots that require a walk
• Take the stairs
• Use an afternoon stroll rather than a cup of coffee to beat afternoon fatigue
• Dance while you brush your teeth
• Play with your kids
• Mow the lawn, pull weeds or garden
• Clean your house
• Do 10 jumping jacks every time you use the bathroom
• Go up that flight of stairs TWICE
• Set a timer that prompts you to jump rope for 60 seconds every hour
• Take a walk around the block every time you chat on the phone
• Engage your core muscles while driving
• Do 20 sit ups before each glass of water
• Be creative. Just MOVE

I cannot even tell you how much better I feel after a movement-filled day than one where I'm stuck in the same place. The difference was so profound for me that I invested in a treadmill desk. My body feels younger and it's where I get most of my best ideas.

Here's hoping a little extra movement each day helps you shed some pounds, reduce your risk of disease and feel your best, too!