Sleep, Nutrition, and Exercise – Create a Positive Cycle of Health

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I hope you are enjoying the holiday season! Often this time of year disrupts our efforts to live healthfully. To minimize the consequences to our health, we need a strategy to reset our habits when conditions allow. Here is a wholistic view that will help you do just that, after the holidays or any time of the year:

Our health is made up of interconnected parts. Sleep, nutrition, and exercise are three such components that influence each other. When we take steps to enhance one, we create the conditions to improve the others by creating a self-reinforcing cycle.

Let’s start with sleep. Are you an early bird or a night owl? Maybe you experience segmented sleep, a pattern of being awake for a couple of hours in the middle of the night. No matter your natural sleep rhythm, you need to create the conditions for restful sleep. Create a relaxing bedtime routine at least an hour before you want to be asleep. Go to bed and wake up approximately at the same time most days. Limit naps to less than about 30 minutes.

Being well rested makes a huge difference in your ability to engage in, as well as recover from exercise. Sleep is when our body does housekeeping, building muscle cells, removing metabolic waste, and bringing to fruition the positive outcomes of physical activity.

Exercise in turn helps the quality and quantity of sleep. In some studies, engaging in regular exercise was associated with better sleep improvements than taking medication!

What is the connection between sleep and nutrition? Scientists have uncovered that the food choices we make are strongly influenced by how rested we are. Poor sleep reduces the production of hormones that signal satiety, so that we feel hungrier. We also tend to choose foods higher in sugar and salt compared to when we got a good night’s sleep.

Conversely, savvy food choices help improve how well we sleep. Avoid foods high in fat and sugar in the evening, as well as alcohol, which affects sleep quality. Fried foods, heavy sauces, strong spices, and rich desserts can be hard to digest and interfere with sleep. A light evening meal will promote a restful night.

A varied, balanced diet of whole foods rich in nutrients, fiber, and healthy fats provides the fuel needed for physical activity. You also need protein to support muscle development. So, nutrition is essential for exercising, which helps you sleep better, and therefore be rested so you can make good food choices. Everything is connected!

Peace, Joy, and Good Cheer

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How an Active Lifestyle Can Reduce Stress and Lift Your Mood

You already know that physical activity is important for your physical health. But are you aware that exercise exerts a powerful positive influence on mental and emotional health? A large and growing body of evidence points to the following benefits to living an active lifestyle:

Improve Mood
Physical activity increases the chemicals associated with feelings of well-being, calm, and even euphoria, such as serotonin, endorphins, brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF), and more. In some cases, exercise has been shown to be as powerful as pharmaceutical antidepressants.

Reduce Anxiety
Both short (state) and long-term (trait) anxiety has been shown to lessen as a response to exercise.

Reduce Stress
Exercise increases cortisol, a stress hormone. Paradoxically, temporary, exercise-induced cortisol increase is associated with an adaptive response to psychological stress.

Increase Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change, so we can adapt to challenges. It has been shown to increase with exercise, resulting in better self-control, flexible thinking, memory, and stress-coping.

Improve Sleep
Everything is better after a good night’s sleep! Although the mechanisms involved are not well understood, being more physically active is associated with better quality sleep and less time falling asleep. New research even shows that being physically fit negates some of the negative health outcomes of poor sleep, which will be a relief to those who struggle with insomnia despite an active lifestyle.

Boost self-efficacy
Self-efficacy is the confidence that you can achieve goals, exert control over yourself and influence outcomes in your life. When we exercise and experience positive results, we develop a sense of our own inner power. This is the opposite of feeling hopeless, anxious, or defeated, and is associated with mental and emotional wellness.

Foster social contact
Social isolation and loneliness lead to poor health. When we exercise, we have the opportunity to connect with others, whether we engage in group classes, team sports, walk with a friend, or greet the neighbors and their pets. Even if we prefer to exercise alone, improved fitness allows us to engage in a full range of social and vocational pursuits.

Divert negative thinking
Exercise, especially if we are mindful of our movements and breath, focuses the mind on the present moment and away from mental loops and ruminations. This is a powerful mechanism to foster calm, promote sound judgement and decision-making, and cope in the face of challenges.

Text Box: Based on data from 1.2 million US adults collected by the CDC, exercisers reported: • 43.2% less mental health burden than their inactive counterparts. • All types of exercise were associated with fewer mental health burdens. • 30-60 minutes per day, 3-5 days per week, was correlated with the best outcomes. • Vigorous exercise was most correlated to mental and emotional well-being.** ** Vigorous exercise is self-determined. Intensity will vary to be appropriate for each individual. New exercisers should increase intensity gradually.

7 key mindsets to develop and sustain the habit of exercise In the new year and beyond

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As I reflect on the challenges, opportunities, tragedies, and silver linings of the year, one takeaway stands out. My belief in the power of self-care is stronger than ever.

When we have daily habits that sustain our physical and emotional health, we are in a better position to weather unexpected difficulties. One of the most beneficial habits we can develop is a regular exercise routine. Not only does it benefit our heart, lungs, and muscles, physical activity also elevates our mood and boosts our immune system.

If you would like to enjoy the positive effects of regular exercise but have struggled to establish a routine, below are my 7 key mindsets that you can put into effect immediately.

  1. Self-awareness is essential. It is only through self-awareness that a customized, sustainable, and joyful way of moving can be discovered. Try various options, such as classes, videos, personal training sessions, going for a walk, etc. What feels good? When do you have fun? When do you wilt? If it feels good, you are on the right track.
  2. Many people find it difficult to notice the messages sent by the body in response to various daily lifestyle choices. Non-verbal cues such as fatigue or energy, pain or ease of movement, upbeat or downcast mood, can be vague if one is not used to paying them any attention. Once you start paying attention, you get better and better at knowing when you are doing the right thing and when you need to try a different approach.
  3. Self-judgment is a hindrance. It is a form of self-abuse, which is at odds with the goal of thriving and living a healthy life. Negative self-talk gets in the way of making clear-headed decisions in the moment. Accept where you are and do the best you can. Be your own best friend.
  4. Create the support you need based on who you are, not who you think you should be. There are many ways to be physically active. If you need a coach, or an exercise buddy, or you are at your best at a certain time of day, don’t fight it. Create the environment and seek the help that matches you.
  5. When adopting a new exercise program, people often expect too much in the beginning and not enough in the long term. In a few days or weeks, you can begin to learn new skills, introduce new habits, build a little fitness, and lose a little weight. But it might not be very dramatic even though changes are happening in your body at the cellular level. Over the long term, however, almost anything you set your mind to is possible.
  6. Don’t set goals you don’t care about. You won’t do well, and it will undermine your sense of competency when you set goals you do care about. When you think about setting a new goal, project yourself in the future and imagine what it would be like to be working toward this goal. Picture it in detail. Is it thrilling? Even the parts that might require hard work? If not, if there is no spark, let it go.
  7. Research indicates that if we want to adopt a desirable habit, such as exercising regularly, we need to focus on reducing any obstacles rather than creating incentives. Ask yourself: “why am I not doing what I think I should be doing already? What is standing in my way?” Identify and remove those obstacles to achieve the desired behavior change.

New Ideas About Old Age

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What comes to mind when you think of aging? If you envision frailty and loss of function, that’s understandable if you have been looking around at people you know. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, only 5% of adults over 65 are fit and highly active. 65% are functioning independently but are experiencing physical decline due to low levels of physical activity. The other 30% are frail and dependent on assistance for activities of daily living. No wonder most people are expecting to weaken and suffer as they age.

Yet in recent years more seniors are engaging in vigorous physical activity for recreation and competition. As more people continue to, or begin to be, active as they age, we are learning that we underestimated the limits of human performance.  With greater participation as well as improvements in training and recovery protocols, records and averages in performance among athletes in their 40’s to their 100’s are going up steadily.

There is much more to learn about why and how some seniors are able to remain strong and vital over the passing decades. Genetics surely plays a role, but not as big as some might think. Exercise seems to be the unavoidable conclusion that scientists keep returning to. We are learning that at any age, it is possible to increase strength, flexibility, and endurance and to stave off age related decline dramatically.

It turns out that when you think of aging as leading to frailty and disability, you may be confusing aging with low fitness.

Most people aren’t going to perform at the elite level. I, for one, don’t expect to be competing in Ironman triathlons like 85-year-old Iromu Inada or 88-year-old Madonna Buder. That’s a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a marathon 26.22-mile (42.20 km) run, raced in that order. I don’t think I will be a track and field star in my 90’s, like Olga Kotelko. I run, but not like 71-year-old Gene Dykes who ran a 2:54 marathon, at the blistering pace of 6:39 minutes per mile. And I certainly hope I won’t have to knock out an intruder in my house like 82-year-old power lifter Willie Murphy.

However, if human potential allows some people to excel and to keep getting stronger late in life, like Robert Marchand who took up velodrome competitive cycling in his 100’s, it suggests that the rest of us can achieve more than we thought. Science seems to agree. Barring catastrophic illnesses and accidents, we should expect to be able to carry groceries, plant flowers, walk through a museum, or stroll on the beach, well into our advanced years. In addition, being fit provides benefits beyond being able to stand up from a chair without help or to get on the ground with the grandkids. Physical activity impacts quality of life on many levels because it has been shown to improve immunity, mood, digestion, and cognition.

One’s perception of his or her ability to change or to perform specific behaviors is called self-efficacy. It is a necessary component of success no matter what your goals are. If we want to be among those who age with vitality, let’s discard old notions of aging in favor of a new one where we can influence our life through our actions and continue to participate fully in the activities of our choosing.  If you think you are “just getting old” and accept decline as a given, why take action? You need to have a sense of what is possible in order to take the time and effort to be active. The astonishing performance of elite athletes is an inspiration and encouragement for the rest of us to discover our own potential.

In the next post, I will get into some specifics about how to stay strong and fit over the years. Being savvy about how to train and how to recover is key. Aston Kinetics® has much to offer in this quest by providing powerful tools to improve biomechanics and movement efficiency, release restrictions in our tissues, recover from injuries, and help with recovery at the cellular level.

Use The Force… Ground Reaction Force!

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Ground Reaction Force (GRF) is the force opposite gravity. Learn how to use it and it will revolutionize how you move. You will have the opportunity to rediscover how strong, vital, and youthful you can be.

This skill is one of the gems that my mentor, master teacher Judith Aston, shared with seniors in the community who attended her classes in Austin, Texas, this spring. The community classes were in the context of an advanced training she offered Aston Kinetics® practitioners on the topic of Aston® Senior Fitness.

With footage I shot during the community classes, I have assembled an 8-minute mini class for you to experience some key concepts taught by Judith. Please practice the moves and discover how to use The Force… Ground Reaction Force!

5 habits to improve your nutrition that do not involve making tough choices about what to eat

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1. Fast overnight for at least 12 hours
  • This allows digestion to complete, which takes about 8 hours. Then your digestion can have a rest while your body has energy for other repair and maintenance processes.
  • Studies show a correlation between eating in a smaller window of time during the day and weight loss, without the need for conscious calorie restrictions.
  • It is possible to extend the time to more than 12 hours, depending on the size of your evening meal. Wait until you are hungry to eat in the morning rather than eating out of habit.
  • Don’t try to be a hero and wait too long to eat after you start being hungry. Some current books and blogs encourage really long fasts but it can backfire for some people because it becomes too much of a struggle.
2. Eat at predictable times
  • Even if your schedule changes from day to day, make sure there are predictable patterns to meal times. Your body, and even each individual organ, operates according to circadian rhythms. Constant shifts go against the optimal functioning of your physiology.
  • When we don’t know when and what we will eat, we tend to overeat as “insurance” against starving before the next meal.
  • Plan when and what you will eat before getting hungry. Making rational healthy nutrition decisions while hungry is nearly impossible for most people.
3. Hydrate between meals
  • Drinking a lot of fluid with meals dilutes digestive juices. Instead, drink most of your water between meals for improved digestion.
  • Drink water first thing upon waking in the morning. This is when you are the most in need of fluids after drinking little or no water overnight. This will start your digestion and encourage healthy elimination.
  • Being well hydrated in the morning will also help with #1, “Fasting for 12 hours,” because you will be less likely to feel hungry.
  • Drinking enough water between meals can make you feel full and limit the urge to snack. Sometimes we think we are hungry when we are in fact thirsty.
4. Eat meals rather than snacks.
  • While popular advice and food marketing is full of snacking suggestions, snacking is best kept to a minimum. Eating a well-balanced and nutritious meal that keeps you full for several hours is healthier for digestion. Eating too frequently can stress the digestive system.
  • Once we start eating, it can be hard to stop. A very small snack may be enough to fill you up so you are not famished before the next meal, but you are likely to eat much more than you need unless you are very vigilant about keeping track of how much you are eating. Extra calories can quickly add up.
  • See item #3, “Eating at predictable times”: when your meal schedule is regular, you know how much to eat at each meal so that snacking is not necessary. If you do need a snack, you also know through repeated experience how much is appropriate to make it to the next meal.
  • You should be hungry (not starved) when it is time for a meal. Excessive snacking obscures hunger cues. Being physically hungry (which is not the same as emotionally feeling like eating) tells you that your digestion is ready for food. Plus, you will enjoy your meal more. Not getting physically hungry before meals can be a predictor of weight gain.
5. Go to bed earlier
  • Going to bed earlier is one of the most reliable ways of getting more and better sleep. Lack of sleep causes stress. When we are stressed, we are likely to overeat and make poor food choices.
  • Studies show that sleep deprivation is associated with increased hunger, metabolic disorders, and weight gain due to hormonal changes. By going to bed earlier and sleeping better, you reduce your risk of experiencing these problems.
  • Going to bed early and getting a good night’s sleep also makes #1, “Fast overnight for 12 hours,” really easy, because you will be sleeping for much of that fast.
By adopting these 5 healthy habits, you will improve your digestion and nutrition. No dieting and deprivation needed!

Essential Oil Support for Cold and Flu Season

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This is the time of year for colds and flus in the northern hemisphere. To fight back with a potent home remedy, turn to essential oils. Essential oils can help boost your immune system, kill airborne bacteria and viruses, and open up your sinuses.  They also smell great. A simple way to get the benefits of essential oils is by using a diffuser. Many affordable models are available. Follow the manufacturer’s instruction for the recommended amount of water and essential oil, plug in, and enjoy the therapeutic scented mist.

Here are two diffuser blend recipes I use all the time:

“No-one Gets Sick in This House”

•5 drops Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Globulus)

•5 drops Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia)

•6 drops Orange (Citrus Sinensis)

“Everyone Gets a Good Night’s Sleep”

•6 drops Lavender (Lavandula Augustifolia)

•8 drops Frankincense (Boswellia Carterii)

•4 drops Orange (Citrus Sinensis)

Both recipes are decongestant, boost immunity, and kill bacteria, viruses and mold. The second recipe is also very calming.

I buy my essential oils at Aromatics International.

Recipes courtesy of Andrea Butje of Aromahead Institute.

30 Years of Health & Fitness – Part 4

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Welcome to part 4 of the Helpful Concepts Series: Avoiding Injuries

This series is an opportunity for me to share some nuggets of information you can use, based on observations over my 30 years in the health and fitness field. I select ideas that I feel are often left out when these topics are discussed. They are organized by theme. You can read the first episode, on Healthy Habits. Part 2 is about Embracing Movement and Exercise. Part 3 was about the Best-Kept Secret of Life-Long Active People. Today’s post includes 13 Helpful Concepts on Avoiding Injuries.

A common reason for dropping out of exercise is getting injured. Discussing specific injuries can get technical and highly individual. Fortunately there are some behaviors that apply to most people and that can reduce your risk of injury.

  1. Increasing exercise intensity too quickly is one of the main reasons injuries happen. A general rule of thumb is to increase intensity no more than 10% per week, and not every single week.
    1. If you have a deadline for your training, such as a race, give yourself more time than you think you need. In my opinion, most race programs for beginners are too aggressive in their schedule. I see injuries happen about 3 months into the training.
    2. You can’t make up for lost time. If you have been away from your fitness program, you can get started again but you can’t “hurry” it. Building fitness will take the time it takes. Trying extra hard increases your risk of injury.
    3. If you attend a group fitness or “boot camp” class, be your own boss regarding the proper intensity for you in spite of cues to work as hard as you possibly can.
    4. Before you are ready for the sport or group class of your choice, you may need to build a foundation of strength and flexibility in ways that are specific to your body’s needs.
  2. Get a support team. Develop a relationship with a massage therapist, trainer, osteopath, chiropractor, or acupuncturist. They can help you with information as well as training and recovery techniques so you can recover from an injury or avoid one altogether.
  3. Develop good form and proper alignment in your activities. This is critical for promoting movement efficiency and reducing stress points that are prone to injury.
  4. Warm up. Start your exercise routine with gentle movements that mimic what you will do in the main part of your workout. Once you begin your main activity, do it at a lower intensity before ramping up power and speed. Stretching is not usually indicated as part of a warm up.
  5. Stretch and loosen. Neutralize the tension patterns of the exercise by stretching and loosening after the activity.
  6. Don’t stretch too hard. Stretching should feel pleasant and relaxing. You should be able to breathe smoothly while performing any stretch. Stretching too hard can cause an injury. I don’t recommend allowing an instructor to push you into a stretch, especially in a group setting such as a Yoga class. This is a common cause of injury by overstretching.
  7. If you notice discomfort developing in response to your exercise, don’t push through the pain. In the next workout, go back to the previous amount of exercise that caused no discomfort and build back up from there. If any amount still causes discomfort, avoid that particular movement for a few days and try again at a lower intensity. Consult your support team, preferably while the problem is still minor.
  8. Varied movement reduces the risk of injury by varying the stress on one particular body part or system. Include multiple types of activities in your routine. This is known as cross training.
  9. Support your body’s recovery by eating healthy food, hydrating properly, and getting enough sleep.
  10. Get regular massage to enhance recovery. This is a wonderful performance and wellness enhancing practice, even if you are not injured.
  11. Allow adequate time for recovery. When you engage in activities that are harder than you are used to, your body needs time to recover and adapt. One or two hard workouts per week interspersed with activities that are within your usual intensity level might be a good basic formula, but there is no hard and fast rule. Pay attention to how you feel. Taking a day off each week is a good idea. Sometimes you need a recovery week when you do only moderate intensity activities. If you notice a drop off in performance when you would expect to be getting stronger, take it easy and see if you get renewed energy after a few days. This need for recovery applies to when you are pushing yourself to a new level. You do not need time off from activities of daily living and gentle movement.
  12. If you do get injured, don’t give up on being active. Think about what movements are still available to you while you heal. For example, if a sore knee makes your usual walk or run difficult, see if you can lift weights for your upper body, do floor exercises, or swim instead.
  13. Avoid inactivity. While there is a risk of injury associated with exercise, there is even more risk associated with being inactive. I often see chronic pain resulting from insufficient activity level. The body needs a certain amount of myofascial tone (muscle + connective tissue such as tendons and ligaments) to maintain joint space, support posture, and allow strain-free daily movements. Being active is associated with improved functioning in every area of physical and even mental function. 

I can help you customize these concepts. Aston Kinetics excels at assisting individuals in the following areas:

  • Finding optimal alignment
  • Creating muscle balance through a customized strength and flexibility program
  • Releasing holding patterns in the fascia through advanced massage techniques
  • Discovering hidden causes of strain on particular joints, tendons or muscles
  • Speeding up the recovery process after an injury with appropriate exercises and massage

30 Years of Health and Fitness – Part 3

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This series is an opportunity for me to share some nuggets of information you can use, based on observations over my 30 years in the health and fitness field. I select ideas that I feel are often left out when these topics are discussed. They are organized by theme. You can read the first episode, on “Healthy Habits,” here. Part 2 is about “Embracing Movement and Exercise,” and is available here.

Today’s post is about the best-kept secret of life-long active people. It is that they have figured out how to enjoy their exercise and fitness. They make it fun so they want to keep doing it. I believe this is possible for everyone because the human body (and brain) thrive on movement. Here are my top 10 helpful concepts to help you reconnect with that primal aspect of yourself that loves to be active for a lifetime.

1. The secret of people who make movement a regular part of their life is that they discover what activities they enjoy. They make it fun! If you struggle with a fitness routine that you have to force yourself to get through, the routine is probably not right for you and you are not going to do it for long. So keep making modifications (see suggestions below) until you finally think, “Wow, that was enjoyable and the time went by quickly!” Only then do you have a fighting chance of adopting an active lifestyle that is sustainable.

2. Here are examples of questions you may want to ask yourself to discover what activities you will love and continue over time:

  • What kind of movement sounds fun to me?
  • Do I enjoy being alone or in a social environment?
  • Do I enjoy being outside or inside?
  • Do I enjoy artistic movement such as dance, or more straightforward activities such as jogging or cycling?
  • Do I enjoy refining a skill set over time or do I prefer something different everyday?
  • Do I enjoy being told what to do or do I prefer playing and discovering things for myself?
  • Do I prefer a more competitive or a more nurturing environment?

3. If you have not been very active up to this point, the process of discovering what works for you may take some time. You may have to experiment and try a number of different activities or routines. Don’t give up!

4. When trying out a new activity, I recommend doing it at least three times before deciding whether it is right for you. There is often discomfort in doing something new and it takes some repetition to get past that initial feeling.

5. Find the right intensity for you. The same activity may be enjoyable when the pace is right and unpleasant when it is too hard, or boring when it is too easy.

6. If you want to participate in exercise classes or work with a trainer, you may want to try various instructors or coaches because the experience can be completely different from one to the next even within the same discipline.

7. If someone has a very low level of fitness, it may be more difficult to find joy in movement at first. Start with extremely gentle activity performed frequently but in small amounts. Trust that the body will respond in time and your options will increase.

8. Active vacations promote an active lifestyle at home. If you have a goal that you find really motivating, you will be more likely to do some of the less fun add-ons that may be needed to prepare for it. For example, if you look forward to a cycling vacation in an exotic destination, you will be more likely to go to spin class or lift weights than if you didn’t have that goal. Or if you are planning a hiking trip, you will be more motivated to take the stairs instead of the elevator at work every day.

9. What you are excited about may change over time. Do something new when you notice boredom setting in.

10. I notice that advanced exercisers often make it look easy. For example, a group of extremely fast runners may zoom down the trail looking smooth, chatting together, and generally at ease. Conversely, an obvious newbie will often look red in the face, scowl, and seem uncomfortable. If you are a newbie, why not adopt the ease from day one and be patient with the fitness part, which takes time? That usually means adjusting three things:

  • Your mental attitude: Be more relaxed, self-accepting, and casual. That’s how the fast runners look. Start today.
  • Your exercise intensity: Adjust to a pace that allows you to be at ease in your body. That’s what the fast runners do. They just have been at it longer than you.
  • Your expectation: Know that fitness happens over time, not because you are whipping yourself, but because you keep showing up. I see those same fast runners on the trail day after day, year after year. Do that too, and results will happen!

Stay tuned for the next installment. I will discuss how to sustain this fun activity you have discovered by avoiding injuries and developing strategies to stay on the wagon.

30 Years of Health and Fitness – Part 2

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I would like to share with you some nuggets of information you can use, based on observations over my 30 years in the health and fitness field. I selected ideas that I feel are often left out when these topics are discussed. They are loosely organized by theme. The first episode, on “healthy habits,” is available here. Today’s post is about “embracing movement and exercise.”
Embracing Movement and Exercise
Movement is essential to optimal health. The main challenge for many people, especially Americans, is that it is possible in our culture to be completely sedentary. Therefore you have to go out of your way to create opportunities for movement. Here are a few ideas to overcome some of the common barriers to enjoying an active lifestyle:
Understand the importance of being active
  • The human body wants to move. Yours, too. Everyday.
  • Movement isn’t only about muscles and heart health. When we move we support all processes: digestion, immunity, detoxification, and even cognition and psychological health.
  • Movement for health includes what most people think of as exercise, such as jogging or cycling. But it also means everyday movements such as housekeeping, playing with kids, gardening, etc.
High intensity exercise is not required 
  • Low to moderate intensity activities have a powerful and measurable impact on health and longevity. However, they do not result in a sculpted athletic body, which many people equate with results.
  • Many people know that they need to move more, but because they think it requires intense huffing and puffing to do any good, they don’t do anything and they miss out on an essential component of wellness.
  • Give yourself permission to not be an athlete if that’s not your thing.
  • Advanced exercisers need to push past their comfort zone to achieve new performance gains. New exercisers need to discover their comfort zone.
Use the power of habit, not willpower
  • When it comes to healthy behavior such as exercise, relying on willpower has been shown to be a poor strategy. Instead, use the power of habits. Set up a routine that is a good fit for your needs and decide ahead of time what movement or exercise you will do, when, and where. Repeat.
  • If you want to do anything on a regular basis, make it convenient. Choose a gym near your house or work, for example, rather than one that has great amenities but is out of your way.
  • Activity intensity can be increased or decreased depending on what is appropriate at any given time of life, without abandoning the focus on healthy movement.
  • When you avoid an active task in order to save time, such as using a leaf blower instead of a broom, or driving instead of walking, consider that you are outsourcing movement, not just saving time.
Don’t be too ambitious in the beginning but ramp up over time
  • When someone who has been previously inactive tells me they have joined a gym and have gone everyday for two weeks already, I don’t rain on their parade but I know they will soon give up because it is too much. Their previous lifestyle will reassert itself. Instead, if someone says they are going to a class twice a week and walking with their new dog another time or two, I think they have a good chance of keeping it up. They have accountability, variety, and the time demand is not overwhelming.
  • Movement habits need to be established first. Fitness can then be built on that foundation. Many people make the mistake of alternating between inactivity that is unhealthy, and excessively intense exercise that is unpleasant and injurious. They swing between neglect and abuse of their body. Instead, move gently as a default lifestyle, and build up fitness gradually if desired.
Embrace your active lifestyle starting today! Keep an eye out for the next installment of the Helpful Concepts series, where I will address how to sustain this health giving habit for a lifetime.