Find Fun Ways To Move More

June 2, 2014 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

If you’re able to walk, find excuses to do so.

Don’t worry about how far nor how long; just find a way to move your body a little further.

If you can’t walk, stand up for a few minutes each hour. If you can’t stand, move your arms and hold in your stomach.

Not only does getting out of your chair help you stay (or get) fit, but it burns a few calories, it reduces bone loss, and it holds back a myriad of diseases.

And remember it’s virtually impossible to feel sad or angry when walking briskly.

(Try it the next time you’re upset. You’ll see that’s correct.)

Time to Take a Stand for Good Health

October 9, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

I hope you’re sitting down when you read this; it’s quite alarming.

Hmmm, actually, I hope you’re not.

Most of us have sedentary lifestyles.

In many cases, rocks move more than us. I say this neither to induce shame nor guilt, but because – well, that’s just the way it is. Unless you’re an athlete or you have a job that’s got you on your feet all day long, a 2008 report showed that the average American spends about 7.7 hours per day plopped on an ever-expanding tushie. An Australian study says, “The average adult spends 50 to 70 percent of their time sitting;” a majority of his or her life.

It’s not difficult to get there. Consider an office job, relaxing in front of the TV, sitting at the dinner table, reading a book, driving to work, watching DVDs, going to the movies, playing video games; the list goes on. I mean, if we used our feet half as much as we used our behinds, we’d have shapely legs and firm butts; which sure as heck wouldn’t be a bad thing.

With the exception of walking my dog, conducting meetings, or going to Zumba, I spend most of my day in front of a computer screen. For goodness sakes, I’m doing it right now writing this piece. You might not be a computer jockey like me but I bet your life is similar.

What’s alarming is that recent research is showing that type of lifestyle can be as unhealthy as smoking.

Want to know the details? (Actually, you don’t; but I’m going to tell you anyway.) [Read more…]

Want to Feel Better? Take a Walk

January 4, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

I don’t know if this is really a surprise; however, according to a piece on Health24:

People who live in ‘walkable’ communities are more involved in their communities, more trusting and have a higher quality of life. This is according to a new study. (A walkable community means people have an easy stroll to destinations such as parks and playgrounds, club meetings, and services such as a post office, coffee shops and restaurants.)

(This was based on a study from the University of New Hampshire.)

They found that walkable communities scored higher on every measure of “social capital.” They also found out that people who

lived there were more likely to report being in good health and were happy more often than those elsewhere. (The study appears online in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life.)

What happens if I don’t live in a “Walkable Community?”

That’s a great question. Well, you can make it one – at least for a short period. Find ten minutes to take a walk. Do it briskly. (It’s impossible to feel bad when walking briskly – really!) Breathe deep. Enjoy the moment.

You might also enjoy reading a piece I wrote when I had trouble taking a walk while in Texas. It’s humorous – but mostly true.

No One Does That Here: A Humorous Look at Trying to Take a Walk

January 4, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

“Howdy bud. Welcome to the Comerite Inn. Where ya from?”

“Northern California,” I say, dropping my bags on the lobby floor.

“California, huh? I’ve never been there. Anyway, consider this your home for a few days.”

“Thanks. I’m just glad to be on solid ground.”

While I fill out the registration form, he references the hotel’s amenities, “Breakfast is served from six to nine. Ice is next to the elevator. And every room comes with free wi-fi.”

“Before I go to my room, could you point me to a restaurant within walking distance? I’d like to get something light before it gets too late.”

“Save your feet; the hotel shuttle can take you; no charge.”

“No thanks, after sitting all day, I could use the walk.”

Confused, but caring and concerned, he replies, “Really? Walk? It’s at least a quarter mile to the closest restaurant.”

[Read more…]