Eating For Health

Have you heard of “exercise snacks” ? I was taking an online workout class when the instructor casually mentioned that he squeezes in exercise snacks throughout his day. Waiting in line? He does a few squats. Talking on the phone? He lifts his knees. He’s even teaching his kids to take movement breaks. It made me wonder: What exactly are exercise snacks — and why are they so good for your health? 🥕 What Are Exercise Snacks? Researchers define exercise snacks as “intentionally structured, short-duration bouts of physical activity — like stair climbing or body‑weight exercises — deliberately incorporated into daily routines.” Think of them as tiny bursts of movement you sprinkle throughout your day. No gym. No equipment. No 60‑minute workout block required. ⏱️ How to Fit Exercise into a Busy Day Many people say they simply don’t have time to exercise. Work, commutes, kids’ activities — the day fills up fast. But exercise snacks make movement possible even in packed schedu...

So many people say they will exercise more as the new year starts.   Always good intentions, they join a gym, go a few times and by late February or early March they stop going or go to the gym rarely.   But one doesn’t have to “go to the gym” to exercise and burn off calories.   Engaging in some simple, everyday activities can put some exercise in your day and help burn off some calories.   Going to the gym is fine and I go a few times a week. But one can also “exercise” in many ways throughout the day.   The goal is to be more active, Sit Less and Move More .   Shape and Self have some ways to “Burn More Calories In A Day”.   Here are a few:    1.  Cook – who ever thought one could “work out” by cooking a meal?   But when you cut, chop and dice you are burning up some calories.    Shape estimates about 128 calories before you sit down to eat. 2.   Cleaning – add in some 25 minutes of cleaning – scrubbin...

Exercise.   Who has time to fit exercise into their day during the holiday season?   And what are the guidelines for how much exercise we should get each day?   A frequently asked question from my students is “How much exercise do I need each day?”   Well, recently, November 2018 to be precise, the federal guidelines on physical activity were updated.   So, what are the latest recommendations and who sets those guidelines anyway? Who sets the guidelines for exercise? The federal government sets guidelines for what we should eat at MyPlate.   A number of federal agencies worked together to update the physical activity guidelines including:   Centers for Disease Control, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, National Institutes of Health and the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.   The guidelines were first issued in 2008 and November, 2018 is the first time the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans h...