Get moving!

Last week we interviewed Exercise Physiologist Rich Weil for an upcoming feature on our site. Rich spoke to us briefly about the new emerging field of inactivity science, and explained the downside of being sedentary: muscle atrophy, loss of fitness and strength, and lower energy levels are among the negative effects.
 

Rich refers to being sedentary as an addiction, and shared tips for adding activity into your day:

1. Acknowledge if it’s been a long time since you’ve been more active. Take small steps to start. Five minutes out, five minutes back in. Don’t beat yourself up that it’s not enough. It gets you moving. You can always add more later.
2. Don’t compare yourself to people who are more fit, or even yourself when you were younger. It’s easy to do that but it sabotages your efforts. It takes some persistence and will power to break a bad habit like being sedentary, but you can do it! A lot of people do.
3. Some intentional change is important. If you’re going to the bus stop and don’t see the bus, go to the next bus stop. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Start to make these intentional changes.
   Instead of sitting at your desk for lunch, get up and go outside for your lunch.
4. If you are watching what you eat and get off track, forgive yourself. What’s done is done. Just get back on the horse.