I don’t like to say I told you so but … scientists said last night that a brisk daily walk of at least 20 minutes could add years to your life?
You don’t have to run a marathon to stay healthy – you just need to do something!
How much have you moved today?
Does the thought of pounding away in the gym or running through your town at school run time put you off from doing anything? Both of those thoughts have entered my head today!
A massive Cambridge University study (of 334,000 people) found that even a small amount of extra activity could add days to your life expectancy and that the least active had the most to gain.
But the key finding was that inactivity kills more people than obesity. The lesson being that even if you aren’t massively overweight, the way you look or fit your clothes isn’t a marker for health.
Studies have consistently found that visceral fat (the stuff that sits around your organs) is one of the key markers for diseases like heart disease or cancer and increasing your risk of type 2 diabetes. And if you think about it, a sluggish system doesn’t make you feel great.
Would you rather drink from a stagnant pond or a briskly running mountain stream? So how would you rather your blood vessels be?
This study does not say (as I’ve heard some radio reports suggest today) that if you do more than this you should stop. On the contrary the study along with government guidelines encourage more activity than this. But don’t be put off because you’re a novice exerciser.
So what if your bum looks jiggly in a pair of workout leggings? At least you’re getting off it and doing something.
This week started with the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign and has been closely followed by today’s research findings. So put on your trainers and sports bra and go get some fresh air to your cheeks!