Sadly, I am not going to mention anything new; nevertheless, sometimes we need to hear, see and internalise the same information many times before the penny finally drops and we are called to action. I am hoping this blog is the 'Eureka Moment' and this happens for you. Yes; I am referring to the lady sitting on the comfy seat in the corner of the carriage on her daily commute to work and the guy sitting at his desk for yet another very long sedentary day! This also applies to an estimated 25,000 (black cab) drivers and over 67,000 private hire drivers in London as well as hundreds of thousands of office workers, chauffeurs and drivers worldwide.
Refresh; what are the possible consequences from sedentary lifestyle? Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, DVTs and respiratory ailments. Not to mention feeling lethargic, lacking in energy, poor mobility and back pain to reference just a few. This is not new research, in fact, an article written by Mike Adams the Health Ranger Editor of NaturalNews.com published on 28th July 2004 ‘Sedentary lifestyle causes more deaths than smoking’. I recommend everyone to read this article: http://www.naturalnews.com/001547.html
More recently in The Lancet 13th August 2014 it says: Diabetes prevalence has increased at an unprecedented rate worldwide, mostly because of ageing populations, rising obesity rates, unhealthy eating habits, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles.1 Diabetes, mostly type 2, now affects a staggering 347 million people worldwide.1 Presently, close to 10% of adults have been diagnosed with the disease, with the highest prevalence in developed nations such as the USA.1However, these figures are just the tip of the iceberg. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(14)70172-X/fulltext
Why is it, 10 years on, little to no progress has been made? Why is ‘moving more’ so low on our list of priorities that we simply ignore it? Let’s stop and think for a few moments; what is most important to us and where would we be without good health? Most would say their family (husband, wife, partner or children) are most important. You, however, are central within that mix and it is good health and wellbeing that will give you the golden ticket to longevity and not just existing. It is not rocket science just plain common sense; ‘move more’ and sit less.
In my previous blogs I have said ‘find activities you will enjoy’. You don’t have to go to the gym or sign up for exercise classes. You simply need to move more. Move more at home, move more at work, move more in everyday life.
Think of a triangle with 3 layers, the bottom layer is every day activity. This is the biggest layer and is essential for life. This simply says ‘move more every day’. We should be moving for most of the day (this is how the human body was designed) we were not designed to sit. Our predecessors were hunters and gathers and most of our ancestors worked the land or had jobs which were labour-intensive. In today’s world were have taken the ‘labour’ out of most work. We therefore need to address the balance, move, walk, stretch, reach and react physically to stimulate muscle function and circulation.
The second layer is; be active (exercise) for 2 hours and 30 minutes each week. The NHS has published guidelines on how much physical activity we should do to keep healthy: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults.aspx
The third layer is the epitome layer where specific (extra) activities are introduced to facilitate results. This can be rehabilitation, weight loss, improved performance, to be faster, to be stronger etc.
Refresh; what are the possible consequences from sedentary lifestyle? Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, DVTs and respiratory ailments. Not to mention feeling lethargic, lacking in energy, poor mobility and back pain to reference just a few. This is not new research, in fact, an article written by Mike Adams the Health Ranger Editor of NaturalNews.com published on 28th July 2004 ‘Sedentary lifestyle causes more deaths than smoking’. I recommend everyone to read this article: http://www.naturalnews.com/001547.html
More recently in The Lancet 13th August 2014 it says: Diabetes prevalence has increased at an unprecedented rate worldwide, mostly because of ageing populations, rising obesity rates, unhealthy eating habits, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles.1 Diabetes, mostly type 2, now affects a staggering 347 million people worldwide.1 Presently, close to 10% of adults have been diagnosed with the disease, with the highest prevalence in developed nations such as the USA.1However, these figures are just the tip of the iceberg. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(14)70172-X/fulltext
Why is it, 10 years on, little to no progress has been made? Why is ‘moving more’ so low on our list of priorities that we simply ignore it? Let’s stop and think for a few moments; what is most important to us and where would we be without good health? Most would say their family (husband, wife, partner or children) are most important. You, however, are central within that mix and it is good health and wellbeing that will give you the golden ticket to longevity and not just existing. It is not rocket science just plain common sense; ‘move more’ and sit less.
In my previous blogs I have said ‘find activities you will enjoy’. You don’t have to go to the gym or sign up for exercise classes. You simply need to move more. Move more at home, move more at work, move more in everyday life.
Think of a triangle with 3 layers, the bottom layer is every day activity. This is the biggest layer and is essential for life. This simply says ‘move more every day’. We should be moving for most of the day (this is how the human body was designed) we were not designed to sit. Our predecessors were hunters and gathers and most of our ancestors worked the land or had jobs which were labour-intensive. In today’s world were have taken the ‘labour’ out of most work. We therefore need to address the balance, move, walk, stretch, reach and react physically to stimulate muscle function and circulation.
The second layer is; be active (exercise) for 2 hours and 30 minutes each week. The NHS has published guidelines on how much physical activity we should do to keep healthy: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults.aspx
The third layer is the epitome layer where specific (extra) activities are introduced to facilitate results. This can be rehabilitation, weight loss, improved performance, to be faster, to be stronger etc.
If you have just read this blog and consider your lifestyle as sedentary or inactive, stand up and move more. Go fetch a glass of water, walk to the other side of the office and speak with a colleague rather than email or call, go to the shops for a newspaper. Moving more could save your life.
Now to finish; I must get up and move more!
Inspired Health and Fitness – The complete approach to health, fitness and wellbeing at work
Pauline Ward
Business Owner and Fitness Professional
Follow me on facebook: Inspired Health and Fitness
Follow me on twitter: @IHFcouk
Website: www.inspiredhealthandfitness.co.uk
Linkedin: Pauline Ward
Telephone: 07821 969405
Now to finish; I must get up and move more!
Inspired Health and Fitness – The complete approach to health, fitness and wellbeing at work
Pauline Ward
Business Owner and Fitness Professional
Follow me on facebook: Inspired Health and Fitness
Follow me on twitter: @IHFcouk
Website: www.inspiredhealthandfitness.co.uk
Linkedin: Pauline Ward
Telephone: 07821 969405
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