exercise
Sitting less and moving more are universal healthy lifestyle goals for everyone – even if you’re already losing weight on one of the newer obesity medications. Prolonged sitting is a top risk factor for developing diabetes, weight gain, obesity, increased blood fats, cardiovascular disease, some forms of cancer, depression, and even premature death. Did you…
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One of my yearly medical student classes I teach at Northwestern University is helping our future physicians learn behavior change strategies to improve their own health. Examples of targeted health behaviors may include not exercising regularly, not eating enough fruits and vegetables, eating too many sweets or fast food, not getting enough hours of sleep…
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Having health-related goals is one thing. Being able to follow through with them is another. To help my patients put health goals into action, I encourage them to think about the steps they can take up front to set themselves up for success. Here are 3 STEPS YOU CAN STAR TAKING TODAY to improve your…
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For the past 35 years, my wife and Six Factors to Fit co-author Nancy and I, have had a Fun Club. Basically, we formed a social group of 6 couples – that expanded to 13 – who get together on a few Saturday nights per year for fun-filled group activities. Though our group took a…
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The more you enjoy being a physically active person, the more likely you’ll stay a physically active person. One way to do so is to make time for social exercise. We know that improving social connections can improve both your physical and mental health. And according to the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Report,…
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In counseling my patients to improve their health and better manage weight, I always ask about each person’s physical activity habits. More specifically, I ask, “On a typical day, what’s the most physically active thing you do?” I encourage my patients to think about developing a ‘movement portfolio’ of varying activities that get their bodies…
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If you’re someone who hates to exercise, know it will improve your health but can’t seem to get yourself to do it, read on. For the past 40 + years I’ve been counseling patients on the detrimental effects of being inactive. What is now known is that too much sitting, also called sedentariness, is an…
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My patients who are trying to lose weight always ask me what’s the best exercise for them. My answer is consistent; the best exercise is the one you enjoy doing and can fit most easily into your lifestyle. But the truth is that a sound exercise or physical activity program is not just one thing.…
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As we welcome the good news that many gyms are re-opening, we’re also wondering, “Is it safe to go back?” And yet a robust physical activity and exercise program are critical for maintaining healthy lifestyle habits. Though exercise has so many physical and emotional health benefits that include lowering stress and improving your mood, going…
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