Even moderate physical activity brings big rewards, experts say.
July 10, 2006 (Press Release) --
If walking a mile or two seems tough to visualize, he recommends driving it first in your car -- watching the odometer to see just how far a distance it is from your home. "Then, walk to that point each day," he said. Often, a little bit of exercise feels so good it gradually turns into a little bit more, he said.
"You can get more vigorous as you go," Fletcher added. "We consider (walking) a 20-minute mile 'moderate' exercise. Walking or running that mile in 15 minutes gets into the area of 'vigorous exercise.'"
Besides helping to shed pounds and bring a healthy elasticity to your step (and arteries), exercise can help clear the mind, too.
"What the studies are showing is that exercise, at least when performed in a group setting, seems to be at least as effective as standard antidepressants in reducing symptoms in patients with major depression," researcher James Blumenthal, a professor of medical psychology at Duke University in Durham, N.C., told HealthDay.
Right now, just sitting on the sofa for long stretches is probably giving millions of Americans the blues, Fletcher pointed out. "Only about 25 percent of us exercise properly, and about 20 percent do absolutely nothing. The rest are in the middle -- sometimes they do it, sometimes they don't."
Before beginning any exercise routine, it's important to check with your doctor, particularly if you have a history of health problems. Then, once you get clearance, get moving.
The key, Fletcher said, is to start your physical-activity routine with small steps -- literally.
"Walk a little, bike," he said. "Remember, anything you do is better than nothing at all."
Source: http://www.msn.com/
"You can get more vigorous as you go," Fletcher added. "We consider (walking) a 20-minute mile 'moderate' exercise. Walking or running that mile in 15 minutes gets into the area of 'vigorous exercise.'"
Besides helping to shed pounds and bring a healthy elasticity to your step (and arteries), exercise can help clear the mind, too.
"What the studies are showing is that exercise, at least when performed in a group setting, seems to be at least as effective as standard antidepressants in reducing symptoms in patients with major depression," researcher James Blumenthal, a professor of medical psychology at Duke University in Durham, N.C., told HealthDay.
Right now, just sitting on the sofa for long stretches is probably giving millions of Americans the blues, Fletcher pointed out. "Only about 25 percent of us exercise properly, and about 20 percent do absolutely nothing. The rest are in the middle -- sometimes they do it, sometimes they don't."
Before beginning any exercise routine, it's important to check with your doctor, particularly if you have a history of health problems. Then, once you get clearance, get moving.
The key, Fletcher said, is to start your physical-activity routine with small steps -- literally.
"Walk a little, bike," he said. "Remember, anything you do is better than nothing at all."
Source: http://www.msn.com/
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