Wild Woman Wednesday

I was reading a health website this morning and came upon an article by health expert Dr. Mercola (www.mercola.com). In the post he said that two recent studies concluded that if you’re over the age of 25, every hour spent in front of the TV cuts 22 minutes off your life!!! (Frankly, between the reality shows, judge whoever shows and commercials I can understand how it could suck the life right out of you)! Additionally, another analysis published by the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested two hours in front of the plug in drug could raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease by 20%.

Holy TV Guide, Batman! I knew that excessive television can turn you into a junk-food munching couch potato, but these are frightening statistics.

But there is good news, wild women, so don’t despair! He also finds that exercising only 15 minutes a day can increase your lifespan by three years. So if you must watch CSPAN, be sure to exercise while you’re watching it to increase your LIFE span.

My gym has television screens on each treadmill and many of the upright bikes and elliptical machines. Take the hint – be active while you’re watching the boob tube. Get up and do jumping jacks during a commercial, walk around (and not just around the frig for a snack, either.) Run up and down your stairs. There are many ways to counteract that couch potato syndrome.

However, I highly recommend the best of all choices – TURN THE TV OFF! Go for a walk, get outside, volunteer, clean, do chores, visit a friend… whatever it takes to get out there movin’ and groovin’, sister! Take a Zoomba class! More sweating less sitting! You want less junk in the trunk? MOVE THE TRUNK! Think what a positive role model you will be for your kids or friends. Exercise your brain and read instead of zoning out in front of the screen.

Exercise your willpower – shut the TV off for 24 hours, or I double dog dare you to put a moratorium on the TV for a weekend. Imagine the positive possibilities. Go ahead, girl, grab that remote, and click O-F-F!!!! You can do it – you are a wild woman!!!!! And remember - you will NEVER see a gravestone that says "I wish I spent more time watching TV!"

Blessings,
Linda

Source: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/exercise-a-secret-weapon-against-disease.html?page=2