WNEM TV5 News - 2015 Healthy Lifestyles

Sure, fitting into your high school prom dress would be nice. But that’s not the only reason to exercise.

ɋ RISK OF TYPE- 2 DIABETES People with elevated blood sugar (prediabetes) can reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 58 percent with daily physical activity and modest weight loss, according to the American Diabetes Association.

ɋ IMMUNITY A study in the British Medical Journal of Sports Medicine found that people who worked out five or more times a week recovered more quickly from colds than people who weren’t active.

ɋ SLEEP QUALITY Compared with women who avoid workouts, those who exercise tend to fall asleep faster— and snooze more deeply once they do.

ɋ ENERGY On average, sedentary people reported 20

percent less daytime fatigue when they started exercising regularly, according to a study from the University of Georgia in Athens.

ɋ RISK OF DEPRESSION Researchers in Norway found that physically active people were half as likely as their sedentary counterparts to develop symptoms of depression.

ɋ RISK OF BREAS T CANCER A study in the Journal of the American Cancer Society found that women of all ages who exercised regularly and maintained a healthy weight were less likely to develop breast cancer than those who seldom exercised.

Beyond a sleek physique

Meditation for
The Harried

The word meditation often conjures up images of saffron-robed monks in faraway mountain retreats—but the age-old practice is actually much more accessible than that. Even in its simplest forms, it can drop your blood pressure and heart and respiration rates significantly. It doesn’t have to take long—just 10 to 20 minutes a day, says Dr. Herbert Benson, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and author of

The Relaxation Response.

You can breathe stress away in a matter of minutes. Here’s a simple routine to get you started:

P Find a chair or a bench where you can sit comfortably and quietly.

P Keep your legs uncrossed, feet flat on the floor, hands laid loosely in your lap.

P Close your eyes.

P Take a few deep breaths to begin.

P Breathe into your abdomen slowly and gently. Your tummy should expand as you breathe in.

P Concentrate on your breath and remove your focus from the chatter of your mind.

P Don’t try to stop thinking, just don’t attach your attention to it. Each time you get swept up in your thoughts, move your attention back to breathing and the relaxed feeling of your abdomen expanding and contracting.