Keep Your Body Moving
Thursday, January 26, 2012
By Marge Keenan,
Gloucester City Coordinator
On Aging
Now that the holidays are over and we have gained a “few” pounds, let’s get serious to lose them. First item is exercise. If you are able to walk, try walking outside for approximately 20 minutes-weather permitting.
Increase your time as you progress. There is a very nice walkway in Gloucester City down at Proprietor’s Park on the waterfront, but bundle up, it can be breezy.
An alternate, if you have a car, is the Deptford Mall, as it is enclosed and you can escape the cold or rainy weather.
If you are not ambulatory or wheelchair-bound in your home, take a soup can in each hand and lift from adown position to your shoulders and then above your head.
Reverse and repeat three times and increase as you progress. This is particularly good exercise for anyone, especially those who watch TV for many hours.
When a commercial comes on, reach for the cans and lift a few times.
Important, check with your doctor before starting any exercise program to make sure the exercise would be of help to you.
Exercise helps build strong muscles and bones and maintains healthy joints, give you more energy and staying power, not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally; it help keeps you moving.
The ability to move about is critical for living independently and remaining able to do what you want, when you want.
Exercise keeps your reflexes alert and your muscles ready to respond so you might avoid, and recover quickly from accidents, falls, injuries, and illness.
It can help prevent or treat many diseases such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and osteoporosis.
It not only burns calories, it also tunes up your metabolism to better use nutrients.
Studies show that, in the long run, exercise may be even more effective than diet in weigh loss. In addition, exercise, helps you look better, regardless of much you weigh.
Keep your body moving.
