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What is the single best thing we can do for our health?

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Check out this link: 23 and 1/2 hours.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=
aUaInS6HIGo

The medicine is exercise. Not tri-athalons, necessarily: just walking will do it.

If you spend 23.5 hours a day being inactive . . . . Dr. Michael Evans says that spending half an hour a day moving will make a huge difference in a huge range of disease-prevention.
Obesity and no exercise is a very bad combo; even if we're overweight, just a bit of exercise can make a big difference.

And that's so even if it's 10 minutes three times a day . . .

Is more exercise better? Is higher intensity exercise better? Sure . . .

But that 30 minutes a day is the significant factor, with the biggest return on investment.

"Sitting disease": yeah. Worth thinking about. (And sitting disease includes screen time . .. TV and, yup, computers).

Should doctors be prescribing exercise instead of medications?

www.thestar.com/living/a
rticle/1167983

Maybe so.
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  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ONEKIDSMOM 5/2/2012 7:47PM

    Actually, doctors *do* prescribe exercise... and wish we'd take that prescription seriously. I feel immensely better when I am active... mentally, physically, emotionally.

But we have to make it a priority or it will not happen!

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CANNIE50 5/2/2012 3:00PM

    YES! More exercise is definitely one of the better cures for what ails us. I swear by exercise. I do not exercise to lose weight, I exercise to get stronger. It does help keep weight gain somewhat at bay, but mostly I exercise for better health, mental and physical and spiritual. It is also one of my main forms of socializing. It is the cheapest form of therapy, and very effective. It is also the best natural anti-depressant I have ever discovered and the only side effects are sweat, a little soreness, and an occasional blister. emoticon emoticon emoticon emoticon

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ID_VANDAL 5/2/2012 1:24PM

    I volunteer at a hospital and sit close the elevators and stairs. There are a couple of doctors that are frequently in the area and often help people with directions to various departments that are usually on the second floor.

Everytime they give directions to a different floor they always say "take the stairs to the ..." even though the people are in front of the elevators - seems to work (at least most of the time).

The best part is these doctors follow their own advice!

You are so right with this blog however - some exercise is better than none and more exercise is better than some and on we go. Thanks for that.

Vandal

emoticon

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LISALGB 4/30/2012 10:18PM

    Yes, I certainly agree that doctors should prescribe exercise. I think there are too many pills available today. Whereas, if doctors would prescribe exercise along with a healthy diet and plenty fo water, there may not be a need for so much medication.
Personally, I try to stay away from meds as much as possible.

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CMRAND54 4/30/2012 9:32PM

    So true! Exercise is the key.

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NANCY- 4/30/2012 9:06AM

    Should doctors be prescribing exercise instead of medications?
You betchca!
More focus does need to be placed on fitness and it should be included as part of a medical team.
I had enjoyed Dr. Evans before... and needed a repeat viewing....perhaps a semiannual viewing.

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SLENDERELLA61 4/30/2012 6:50AM

    I love the idea of doctors prescribing exercise. Great idea! Wish I could get hubby's doc to do it. Thanks, Ellen, for another great blog!! -Marsha

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TRYINGHARD1948 4/30/2012 5:41AM

    It is such an easy thing to do. Just have to commit.

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_LINDA 4/30/2012 2:20AM

    I had read a health news article that even if you did 30 minutes cardio a day if you spent the rest sitting you were still at risk. I had seen this cartoon drawing Dr. before. Its a really neat way to get the message out. I am living proof that moving more makes you feel better..
Keep on moving!

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NOLAZYBUTT110 4/29/2012 11:58PM

    I get up from the computer every 15 minutes for they say switching from sitting to standing helps in so many things get better. and napping helps you live longer. questionable. lol But being moveable is the trick! Your mind and body! susana

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DDOORN 4/29/2012 10:33PM

    Oh absolutely!

Not only doctors, but therapists too! My first line of defense with clients who are stressed out is to run down a list of self-care basics:

1) air: how's your breathing? short, rapid, shallow? take time to slow & deepen those breathes.
2) water: are you properly hydrated?
3) food: quality in=quality out
4) physical activity: more is better; activity you love, better yet; avoid none!
5) sleep hygiene: enough restful sleep?

I like to keep things simple. All of these factors will enable a person to be much more resilient to stress. Take care of that and if you need more work we can move on from there. Thing is, most folks tending to these things do just fine and need nothing else after all! :-)

Don

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DBCLARINET 4/29/2012 9:05PM

    Yes, doctors should prescribe exercise. Diet alone can't do it. My mom is trying to lose weight and prevent her pre-diabetes from turning into full diabetes, and she can't figure out how she can eat so little and relatively healthy and not get any better. I told her she needs to exercise, but she always had an excuse about time. Maybe if her doctor prescribed exercise instead of threatening to put her on drugs...

I swear by exercise. It makes me feel good physically and mentally; I think it's a shame how much people have forgotten how good it is to move.

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TRAVELGRRL 4/29/2012 6:19PM

    Doctors don't recommend exercise because people don't want to hear it. When you pay $50-$100 to see the doctor, you want "your money's worth", which of course is a prescription!!!

Sick, sick, sick -- and it's keeping us sick!

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ROOSTER72 4/29/2012 6:10PM

    Yes - I read often in SP about people who could not walk around the block when they started SP. And how quickly they progress when they commit to doing something every day (if they don't have complications).
Doctors should subscribe exercise! Well said.

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LAFEMMEDELALUNE 4/29/2012 5:17PM

    I preach exercise to everyone, but no one wants to hear it. *sigh*
I try to make it sound fun, but people seem so averse to movement.
I will keep trying though!

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PHEBESS 4/29/2012 4:43PM

    Yup - movement is good!!!!!!!

(My cat has really been enjoying my 86 yr old father's lap - partly because he doesn't move too much!!!)

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GONEWLIFE 4/29/2012 4:38PM

    Good thoughts !

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