One simple tip for the holidays: get those feet moving!
Our ancestors walked because they had to. We are hunter/gatherers, after all. Most of the attendees probably walked to the first Thanksgiving. These days, with all the fad diets and extreme boot camp style workouts of today, a simple walk seems like it would hold no benefit for the average person. This couldn’t be more wrong.
Walking has an endless amount of benefits. Not only does it burn calories and tone muscle, but it provides great cardiovascular benefits as well as reducing the chance for disease.
According to an article written in AARP, “A diabetes prevention program for people who are overweight showed that walking 150 minutes a week can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by nearly 60 percent”. That’s less than 25 minutes a day, which most anyone can fit into their busy schedule.
Guess what? I have put together a few suggestions to help you get started:
Rock the Buddy System
Grab a friend for a walk in the park, take your coworker after a lunch meeting, or start a neighborhood walking group. Having someone to share the time with and keep you accountable will make it easier to stick to a routine.
Train for a Holiday 5K
A great way to get moving and improve is to find a locally-organized 5k. There are tons of walker-friendly events this time of year, many of them run by schools, churches, and private organizations. Walk the course with your whole family (you too, Aunt Noola) and make it part of the holiday schedule.
Just go to www.active.com, type in your city, and search for one close to you! (We’ve done some of the heavy lifting for our friends in Georgia and listed some of the more major events at the end of this post).
Remember: it’s not about competition – it’s about you and your health.
Take a Hike!
This will do wonders for your legs and offer some different terrain to challenge your body. It doesn’t have to be Everest for it to be a hike. Find a trail, or climb an all-ages-friendly path like those provided at Stone Mountain State Park in Georgia.
Keep Track
Wear a pedometer every day and try to get in more steps than you did previously. Log them and see how you have improved!
This is just another wonderful opportunity to get fit and healthy without having to join a gym. Take the stairs today, instead of the elevator. Park in the back of the Wal-Mart parking lot.
Get your turkey trot on this week!
Major Holiday Events in Georgia and the Southeast:
3rd Annual United Way Turkey Trot presented by SouthCoast Medical Group
Daffin Park
Thursday, November 24, 2011 @ 8:00 AM
$25 now, $30 day of the race
2011 Atlanta Half Marathon & Thanksgiving Day 5K
Turner Field, Downtown Atlanta
Thursday, November 24, 2011 @ 7:30 AM
Half Marathon $75, Thanksgiving Day 5k $30
http://www.atlantatrackclub.org/events/view/2011-atlanta-half-marathon-and-thanksgiving-day-5k
**On November 22 and 23, the Atlanta Half Marathon Health and Fitness Expo will take place. The expo is free to the public and will feature free educational running seminars as well as the latest running gear and official marathon merchandise for sale.
24th Annual Jingle Jog 5K / Jr. / Elf Run
Costco Atlanta – 6350 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Ages 10 & Over – $24
Ages 9 & Under – $18
**Bring an unwrapped toy and help support the Jingle Jog Salvation Army Toy Drive for the holidays.
Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend presented by CIGNA
January 5-8, 2012
Rates vary according to age, race, and team competitions
Weekend events include:
Walt Disney World® Marathon
Walt Disney World® Marathon Relay
Walt Disney World® Half Marathon
Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge
Disney Family Fiesta 5K featuring the Three Caballeros
Disney Kids’ Races
Pasta in the Park Party
Disney’s Health & Fitness Expo