Total Health: Becoming Physically Fit

In 1956, Dwight D. Eisenhower formed thevPresident’s Council on Youth Fitness,after learning that 59% of American children had failed a minimum muscular fitness test. In 1967 an Oregon track coach named Bill Bowerman wrote a book called Jogging that ignited the running craze. A year later Air Force physician Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper fired a fitness shot heard ’round the world with the release of his book, Aerobics.

So why is it that 30 years later, so many Americans, both young and old, are still so overweight and out-of-shape? Why are so many people still smoking? Why are heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and other lifestyle-related diseases still claiming so many lives? Despite years of education and volumes of literature written on the benefits of physical fitness, why are we still a nation of couch potatoes? Total Health:Becoming Physically Fitis a three-part video series that encourages students to take charge of their bodies and their health. In simple and easy-to-understand language, the video and print materials demonstrate exactly what defines physical fitness and how important it is to not only achieve it, but sustain it. The series embraces a “back to the basics” formula for fitness with an emphasis on flexibility, strength, and endurance. Using common-sense principles, the series teaches students how to assess their current physical condition, how to improve their own overall physical fitness, and explains why it’s so important that they do so.

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Ebook : Healthy Eating, Active Living: An action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity

This paper outlines how the Scottish Government will use the resources identified in the recent Scottish Budget to improve the nation’s diet, encourage greater physical activity and begin to establish a base for tackling obesity through both targeted interventions and by supporting us all in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. We have identified key life stages and settings in which we will act.

Scotland has made significant progress in recent years in reducing the number of deaths from chronic disease which has resulted in an increase in life expectancy. 1 However, there is concern that the impact of rising levels of overweight and obese people will reverse that progress.

Contents
Foreword
1. Introduction
2. Trends and Habits in Scotland
3. Building on Success – Strategies, Targets and Goals
4. The Action Plan

4.1 Early Years
4.2 Schools and School Age Children
4.3 Adults and Workplaces
4.4 Older People
4.5 Communities

5. Delivery and Evaluating Success
6. Health Improvement Social Marketing Strategy
7. Developing a Longer Term Strategy to Tackle Obesity
References

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How clever in front of the computer fitness

It is a computer programmer? You face every day working with computers? Or your favorite red from time to time surfing the Web? Can you know that long-term health of your disk may be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, resulting in your wrists on the illness and cause nerve pain and edema. Sound is a lingering fear that, do not worry, I will introduce you some simple exercises, so you'll be in your bones and tendons activities desk activities, health fitness!


a practice: the activities of your wrist

the following four points, respectively, each hand to do 10 to 15 times, repeat two to three times a day.

1, forearm flexor, forearm extensor

2, clockwise, counterclockwise rotation wrist

3, at the same time five fingers stretching

4, open palms, a finger force to close

Practice II: activities of your neck

you may place the whole day sitting motionless staring at the screen, you sometimes feel sure that the neck pain. The following exercises are specifically applicable to the neck, can repeat each exercise 10-15 times, two to three times a day. Let's get started: to maintain the integrity and tight body armchair, his arms close to body, hands flat on the knee.

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Health and Fitness Supplements for Women

Many health and fitness supplements for women are making headlines today. They promise to help you lose weight, feel great, and even shed the pounds where you hate them the most. But are these supplements safe for you to use? And do they follow through on their promises? More studies are showing that health and fitness supplements for women may be a poor decision when it comes to the health of your body, causing more problems than solutions.

One of the first things to keep in mind with health and fitness supplements for women is that many of these have not been scientifically tested. While they might say they have been tested in their labs, this is not a definite indication of quality. Since supplements are not monitored by the FDA or tested before they get on the shelves, they can contain harmful ingredients that are only found to be harmful once people start reporting problems. Another consideration is that those supplements that have been tested may not have been tested on women exclusively. This means that they may contain higher levels of some ingredients that are safe for men but not for women.

Most fitness experts will tell you that health and fitness supplements for women are not advisable. Not only are they not addressing the problems or habits that have caused weight or health issues, but they may be adding to the problems at the same time. For example, when the diet pills starting being sold with Ephedra, they worked great. They gave users a lot of energy and helped them lose weight by reducing their appetite. But as users started to report heart palpitations and even some deaths, the safety of these pills was called into question. For the time, they were even taken off the market. While they're back on the market now, this does not mean that they're safe for you to take. Those items on the market may be ticking time bombs in your body – and do you really want to be the test subject?

Buying health and fitness supplements for women isn't the answer to your weight and health woes. There are no quick fixes when it comes to your health and to your weight. If you want to lose weight, you need to exercise more and eat less. These simple steps will not only allow you to healthfully lose weight, but you can also ensure that no unforeseen side effects occur along the way.

The health and fitness supplements for women that line the shelves of stores might be appealing right now, but if you were to have some of the awful side effects happen to you, you might not feel the same way. Why not follow the common sense advice that has worked for so many others? Sure, it might take a longer time to lose the weight you want to lose, but isn't that worth it when it comes to saving your health?

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Exercise to survive

Physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence and mortality, says breast cancer surgeon Carolyn M. Kaelin, MD, MPH.

Stretching can improve range of motion, flexibility and posture; strength training can fight osteoporosis and sarcopenia (i.e., muscle deterioration) that result from chemotherapy and aerobic therapy helps limit the weight gain that often occurs during chemotherapy.

"Both chemotherapy and surgery have profound impacts on the body," says Kaelin. Since treatments and their effects vary, each patient should receive a customized program for health and fitness.

For instance, "after breast reconstruction following a mastectomy, certain motions may be challenging or impossible to perform, so stretching and strength training need to be personalized to reflect how the body has changed," explains Kaelin.

For those who have not previously exercised or are fatigued by treatment, Kaelin prescribes a three-part program, including walking with a pedometer to count daily accumulated steps, stretching to regain shoulder range-of-motion and comfortable upright posture and light strength training to avoid muscle deterioration.

Breast cancer survivors who exercise together are often more successful in maintaining their program long term, she notes.

"The exercise objective is to improve your overall health--reducing breast cancer recurrence, maintaining a healthy weight, keeping the heart fit--so you are stronger from the day of your diagnosis forward," explains Kaelin.

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Keep moving to slow aging

People who are physically active seem to be biologically younger than their sedentary peers, according to a report in the Jan. 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. The researchers studied 2,400 twins with different lifestyles and activity levels. From blood samples, researchers were able to examine the length of the participants' telomeres--pieces of DNA in white blood cells that shorten over time and are thought to be a marker of biological age. Findings showed that women and men who were less physically active had shorter telomeres than those who were more active. The authors suggest that oxidative stress--cell damage caused by exposure to oxygen--and inflammation are likely mechanisms by which sedentary lifestyles shorten telomeres. They also note that physical activity may reduce psychological stress, thereby limiting its effect on telomeres and the aging process.

"The study makes sense to me," says Lisa D. Ravdin, PhD, director of the Cornell Neuropsychology Service at Weill Cornell Medical College. "And we know there's so much literature documenting the benefits of exercise even if you don't investigate at the cellular level. The evidence is hard to resist."

Live longer--and better

Individuals who exercise regularly have better cognitive function and lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, and osteoporosis. They also are less likely to smoke and more likely to maintain a desirable weight, says Dr. Ravdin. "All these benefits are associated not only with a longer life, but also a healthier life," she says.

The importance of staying active can't be overstated, she continues. "Think about chronic pain, arthritis, anxiety, depression, hospitalizations. All tend to increase with age, and exercise is associated with lower risk." Women are especially vulnerable to falling, which is "the biggest risk that comes with aging, because it can mean loss of independence or death, even in healthy adults trying to do everything right. Regular exercise goes a long way toward lowering the risk. If you're in better shape, you're less vulnerable," Dr. Ravdin stresses.

Active lifestyle is key

There are many things you can do besides going to the gym to maintain an active lifestyle. "Walk everywhere--keep on the move. Make walking your main form of transportation," Dr. Ravdin says. "Get off the bus a few stops early. Park the car as far away as possible. Use the stairs. Stretch while watching TV. You don't have to work up a big sweat to get a big benefit."

If you want to look and feel younger, "You also need to have a young attitude, and being physically fit can help you feel fit mentally and emotionally," she says. "If you've been active all your life, so much the better. But you can start at any age and still benefit. It's like quitting smoking--no matter when you do it, it's still a good thing."

So get moving now, and forget about excuses. "Many people complain they don't have time to exercise. But we know that being physically active can lead to a longer life. So, find the time if you want more time," Dr. Ravdin says.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Make regular physical activity part of your day by choosing activities that enhance endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance.

* Endurance: Walk briskly, do water aerobics, play tennis, do housework or gardening, dance, play with your children or grandchildren, climb stairs, swim.

* Strength: Lift weights, carry groceries, do household or gardening tasks that make you lift or dig, push a lawn mower.

* Flexibility: Stretch or do yoga or Pilates.

* Balance: Stand on one foot, stand up from a chair and sit down again without using your hands, take a tai chi class.
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Create—and follow—a practical fitness plan for 2008: a realistic physical activity plan makes it easier to get fit and stay fit

Recently updated physical activity recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association raise the bar for adults of all ages. Everyone is urged to do:

* Moderately intense aerobic exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a week; or

* Vigorously intense aerobic exercise 20 minutes a day, three days a week; and

* Eight to 10 strength-training exercises (upper and lower body), 10-15 repetitions of each exercise, two or more times per week.


If you are over age 65, or you are age 50 to 64 and have a chronic condition such as arthritis or heart disease, you should also do balance exercises if you're at risk for falling.

For the first time, it's recommended that you create and adhere to a physical activity plan.

"It sounds like a lot to do, but once you have your plan together, it's just a matter of following it--and the new year is a perfect time to start," says Tracy Maltz, a physical therapist in New York-Presbyterian Hospital/ Weill Cornell Medical Center's Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Get started

You can create a plan that incorporates the recommended exercises on your own, or work with a physical therapist or other health professional who understands your current health and fitness status, including any limitations, Maltz advises. Make sure your plan includes the recommended recommended components, as well as a warm-up, some flexibility exercises, and a cooldown. It's also advisable to get a checkup if you haven't exercised regularly in a long time or you're embarking on a program for the first time.


Stay motivated

Making a plan is only half the battle, however. The key is to stay motivated and actually do the activities you plan the appropriate number of times every week. One way to do this is to set smaller, attainable goals, says Maltz. Many people start out expecting enormous benefits, such as losing 30 pounds in a month. When these benefits don't materialize, they feel disappointed and stop trying. Instead, try to focus on functional outcomes, like being able to walk to the store instead of driving, or carrying small bags of groceries to your car instead of wheeling them in a cart.

Exercising with a friend or partner also helps. "Knowing that someone else is depending on you will keep you committed and make the activity you're doing interesting and social," says Maltz. For similar reasons, many people find they are more likely to be active if they enroll in an exercise class at a local YMCA or community center. Check out the facility first to see if you like the atmosphere and if some of the classes offered appeal to you.

Keep a log of your activities so you can chart your progress, and try to choose a goal to work toward. For example, preparing to run or walk a mile in the spring will keep you exercising throughout the winter--and not just on a treadmill. "Dress appropriately for the weather and keep exercising outdoors," Maltz advises. "It's good for your mind as well as your body."

WHAT YOU CAN DO

* Get a medical checkup to see if you need any modifications in your exercise plan.

* Know your options. Pick activities you enjoy, whether at the gym, outdoors, or at home.

* Determine your participation style. Do you prefer taking a class or going solo? Are you a morning or night person?

* Start slowly. If 30 minutes at a time is too much, do 10-minute bouts of activity three times a day.

* Know your challenges. List the obstacles that keep you from being active and find a solution to overcome them.

SAMPLE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PLAN

MONDAY Vigorous aerobics Balance exercises Stretch
20 min 10 min 10 min

TUESDAY Strength training Balance exercises Stretch
8-10 exercises 10 min 10 min
10-15 repetitions

WEDNESDAY Vigorous aerobics Balance exercises Stretch
20 min 10 min 10 min

THURSDAY Strength training Balance exercises Stretch
8-10 exercises 10 min 10 min
10-15 repetitions

FRIDAY Vigorous aerobics Balance exercises Stretch
20 min 10 min 10 min

SATURDAY Walk Balance exercises Stretch
30 min 10 min 10 min

SUNDAY Walk Balance exercises Stretch
30 min 10 min 10 min

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3 pilates exercises

1. Lateral breathing

Lateral breathing allows you to keep your abdominals scooped in continuously while breathing fully through each exercise. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. Support your neck with a pillow or rolled towel. Place one hand on each side of your ribs. Inhale, feeling your ribs extend outward laterally into your hands like an accordion. Then exhale, bringing your belly button toward your spine ("scoop"); allow your ribs to soften, closing the accordion. Repeat five to 10 times.

2. Modified hundred Position

Lie on your back, supporting your neck with a pillow or rolled towel. Lift both legs up, with your knees bent, keeping both legs together. Use a support if needed. Keep your shoulders down, away from your ears; keep your arms straight at your sides (hip height). Scoop your abdominals in and begin pumping the arms up and down continuously and vigorously. Inhale for five counts, then exhale for five counts, which equals one set. Increase the challenge by removing the leg support. Work up to 10 full sets.


3 Double Leg Stretch


Lie on your back. Hug your knees to your chest, keeping both legs together and tailbone grounded. Inhale, feeling your ribs expand as you scoop your abdominals in, and extend your arms and legs straight up to the ceiling. Exhale, circling your arms down and to your sides, then return to the start position. to decrease the difficulty, keep your knees bent during the entire exercise. Repeat five to 10 times.

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