IN Fox Chapel Area Winter 2013 | Page 42

H E A L T H & W E L L N E S S / Fox Chapel Area HEALTH & FITNESS EXERCISE TO LIVE LONGER. Fox Chapel Area has many walking and biking trails to help you stay fit. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), regular exercise helps control blood pressure, body weight and cholesterol levels, and reduces the risks of hardening of the arteries, heart attack and stroke. Not to mention you will look and feel better! WARM UP AND COOL DOWN. Regardless of the types of exercises you do, warming your muscles as well as cooling down with slow rhythmic stretches is key to avoiding injury, reducing soreness, and speeding up your recovery. COMMIT TO DAILY FITNESS. Getting out there and staying active translates into better health and well-being — both physically and mentally. FOCUS ON TOTAL FITNESS. ACE recommends aerobics and muscular conditioning along with exercises to stretch your body and promote good posture. YEAR-ROUND EXERCISE. Don’t ditch your fitness routine because of inclement weather. Try new activities, such as snowshoeing, swimming at an indoor pool, or fitness classes at your local fitness or senior housing facility. JOIN A HEALTH CLUB. Be social and get fit. This one’s worth its weight in sheer motivation points. TAKE SUPPLEMENTS. Don’t mega-dose, just take a daily multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. GET AEROBIC. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends getting moderate aerobic activity 30 minutes per day, five days per week or 20 minutes of vigorous cardiovascular activity, three days per week. BREAK IT UP. Instead of 20 or 30 minutes of exercise, break up your cardio into 10-minute segments throughout the day. MAKE WORKING OUT FUN. Getting out of the house and traveling to interesting places where you can walk around is one of the best ways to get exercise without even trying, and you get to enjoy the sightseeing, too. PUT A SET OF DUMBBELLS BY YOUR TELEVISION SET — and use them! STOP SMOKING. Nuff said. PUMP IT UP. Margaret Richardson, author of Body Electric, says one pound of fat burns three calories a day while one pound of muscle burns 30-plus. GO GREEN. Eat organic, use eco-friendly products and practice green living to protect your health as well as the environment. CHALLENGE YOURSELF. To counteract age-related muscle loss, do exercises with progressively challenging resistance. “WE HAVE A NICE, NEW FACILITY THAT IS A GREAT SPOT FOR EXERCISE PROGRAMS,” SAID ANN ANDREWS, COOPER-SIEGEL COMMUNITY LIBRARY DEPARTMENT HEAD. “THE PROGRAMS ARE AFFORDABLE AND CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY.” 40 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Fox Chapel Area