Short bursts of vigorous exercise from several seconds to minutes can be very beneficial to fitness and health. This latest ‘word on the street’ is supported by science-based studies over the last decade and is now incorporated into updated physical activity guidelines worldwide such as the 2018 US Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Short bursts…
Exercise can be performed at very low temperatures and even well below 0°C (32°F) in well prepared and appropriately dressed healthy individuals. The risk of injury, such as hypothermia (decreased core body temperature) and frostbite (freezing injury of the extremities) is real yet preventable with appropriate clothing and avoidance of circumstances that put you at…
Our leisure, school and work time are increasingly spent watching screens while sitting such as television, computers, and socializing on small screens. Consequently, we are becoming more sedentary during our average day, and spending less time doing physically active tasks. It’s much more convenient to email our work mate down the hallway instead of getting…
Sleep is a valuable asset that many of us take for granted. When we fail to sleep for 7-9 hours nightly, we feel the immediate effects. Additionally, studies show that a chronic lack of sleep has detrimental long-term consequences to our health and can even shorten our lifespan. One way to improve the quality and…
The benefits of regular exercise are quite outrageous. Exercise has been called the ‘wonder’ drug and a ‘miracle’ cure. Research indicates that regular exercise is effective in the prevention and treatment of many common diseases including type 2 diabetes, some cancers, dementia, depression, heart disease and other common serious conditions. Regular exercise is estimated to reduce…
We lose muscle strength and power as we age. How much and why does it matter? One consequence of aging is the loss of strength and power in leg and arm muscles. When does this start to occur and at what rate of degeneration do our bodies experience this? When does it become apparent to…
Developing the habit of exercise: the secret to success is incremental goal setting Success in many endeavours is the result of consistently achieving a goal that can be met even in difficult and very busy times. This is also true in achieving a level of fitness, with exercise for health, well-being and getting stronger. Adopting…
Everyone needs to be active and exercise. Several strategies to help you keep on track are: Keeping your specific goals front and center Understanding the benefits of exercise Setting small achievable goals for those times when it’s hard to maintain the routine. 1. Know the Why Knowing why you want to exercise, and what…