Weekly Wellness News

October 9, 2006

Feature: Get Your Heart Pumping Today

Aerobic exercise serves many purposes, including increasing blood flow to the brain and body, strengthening the heart and lungs, and building endurance for any other physical activities you may partake in. Want to get up to speed quickly? Here are two activities you can start with little investment and minimal equipment:

• Walking or Running. About all you need for either of these is a good pair of shoes. While you want to discuss running with your doctor, just about everybody can begin walking immediately. Best of all, you can find places to walk near your home, your office, and on any trip you might make.
• Swimming. It can be a challenge to find a pool, but once you do there is very little needed to jump in and get your workout. All you need in order to get started is a Speedo and a pair of goggles; this packs nicely into your luggage no matter how lightly you travel.

The biggest advantage to these activities is that they require almost no equipment. For less than the price of an evening out, you can buy everything you need to get started. Not only is the equipment inexpensive, it's small. For people like me who travel constantly, this means the gear can go with you anywhere.

With no gym fees, walking is my favorite. Either way, you have no excuse! Get started!

Resources:

• Medical Encyclopedia Info on Walking for Fitness [medicineonline.com]
• Swimmers - Getting Started Swimming [swimming.about.com]

Other news

• Carrots are feeling left out: Spinach 'may ward off blindness' [news.bbc.co.uk]
• If the lawyers don't get you...: Divorce in midlife hurts women's heart health [msnbc.msn.com]
• Post-purchase dissatisfaction? Breast implants linked to suicide, not cancer [msnbc.msn.com]

From the editor

I've finally selected and started training for a specific marathon: I'll be running in the Canberra Marathon in April 2007. That makes this week my six-month point for my official training program. The miles should start adding up quickly.

Would anyone like to join me for this one?

Healthy thoughts,
Jeff

Copyright 2006, Jeffrey Eliasen.
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