Most of us start the new year in an overindulged state- full and lethargic from an 8-week bender of huge meals, holiday parties, cocktails, cookies, and pies. January marks a new beginning for most of us and it’s easy to want to quickly “undo” the last 2 months of rich meals and extra calories.
exercise
I find other people’s schedules fascinating. Do they wake up extra early to prepare for the day? When do they work out? What is a typical meal like? I am often asking my patients these questions in order to guide them to better health. You can learn a great deal about people by taking a peek into their daily lives.
I am a strong believer in the power of exercise. Regular physical activity can help control your weight and prevent diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Exercise also has profound effects on mental health. It can improve your mood and lead to better sleep. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week to improve cardiovascular health. This averages out to 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Moderate exercise can be anything from brisk walking or jogging to swimming, biking or playing sports.
While I love to run, check out local yoga classes or sweat it out at the gym, you don’t have to stick to the traditional methods of exercise to see the same tremendous benefits. We just returned from a great weekend full of physical activity. After a long work week, my husband and I decided last minute that we were in need of a night out of town. He had just finished a stressful month of work and business school finals, and I was craving some time away from my normal routine. After a few phone calls, we had a plan in place- we were off to Wayne National Forest for the night.