What’s the Easiest Way to Lose Weight and Be Healthier?

“Take My 2014 Challenge”……..

Take 2014 Steps in 2014. Walk an extra 2014 steps every day and watch the pounds melt off.  2,014 extra steps each day is a mile.  It’s a 15 minute walk.  You could also break it up into smaller increments and just get up off your chair and walk around the house at regular intervals.
I have patients who are too busy to go to the gym so we’ve found ways to help them increase their steps.

• Wear a pedometer, you’re more likely to remember to get your steps in with these neat little reminders
• Park further away from stores when shopping and return the cart
• Going to the mall – resist the impulse to shop immediately, until after you’ve made a full circuit of all the stores
• If you work from home, schedule intermittent breaks with a walk around the house or the block, and
• Take the dog for a walk.

For Travelers

• Don’t stand around the airport boarding area – walk around the gates even if it’s only 5-10 minutes
• After you check in and unpack at your hotel and turn on your computer – take a 5 minute walk back down to the fitness center and check it out, and
• If you’re taking a taxi – get out a few blocks before your destination.

A recent study found that Americans walk about half as much as Australians and their obesity rate is also half of what ours is.  On average, the folks in the study walked around 5,000 steps, the Australians over 9,000.  Guess what?  5,000 steps per day is considered sedentary, in other words — inactive.

Quadruple and multiply by 5 the number!

Want to be really healthy? Don’t stop at 2014 steps, quadruple and then multiply the number of steps you walk by 5 and aim for at least 10,000 steps each day. That’s the key to better health. Start off with a few and add 500 each day until you reach your goal. Experts are saying that exercise is the best way to stay healthy.

Why Zebras don’t die of heart attacks

My friend, Dr. Jane Lombard, who is a cardiologist explained why it is that Zebras don’t die of heart attacks. She heard this explanation during her training. It’s because they are always running!  They run from lions, cheetahs and other predators. Zebras are active and that’s why they don’t have heart disease. So take a cue from our striped friends and get out there!