At Roane General Hospital, your good health is our top concern. We believe in reaching this goal together, working with you as not only as a patient, but as a partner in your own care.
With every season of the year come new challenges to staying well and injury-free; fortunately there are many resources that turn those challenges into opportunities for better health! By connecting with our rotating seasonal good health tips, you can learn more about taking good care of yourself any time of the year.
The End of Winter!
The end of winter is in sight and spring can almost be seen right around the corner. How are the New Year’s resolutions faring? If you have begun to wane in your determination to stick to a healthier lifestyle, hold tight, the change in season may be just the motivation you need. There are 1,440 minutes in each day and it only takes 30 to 60 minutes or less than 5% of your daily minutes to make positive changes in your health.
If your resolutions got laid to the side and you have not yet begun work on them, it is probably best to do a bit of evaluation before beginning. It is always best to check with your physician before starting a new exercise program. You can also measure a few things yourself that will allow you to track your progress as you take steps to a healthier you. Of course you can weigh and measure yourself and track these measurements. You can check your aerobic fitness by checking your pulse, or heart rate before you begin a walk. Take a brisk one mile walk then check your pulse again. Write down your starting and ending pulse rate and how long it took you to walk a mile. Push-ups help you measure muscular strength. If you are new to exercise you may want to do modified push-ups on your knees, or do classic push- ups if you are already fit. Count how many push-ups you can do before you need to stop for a rest and record this number. As you begin to modify your lifestyle, keep track of your progress in these areas.
If you’ve already begun a fitness program and you’re tired of pounding on the treadmill, grab a friend and head to the outdoor walking trail. After 30 minutes of walking and catching up, hit the Fitness Complex for some weight training before calling it quits. Strength or weight training may help to give you as much as 3 times the bone density of others who don’t lift weights. Strength training also helps to lower body fat and increase your metabolism.
As the weather warms up there are lots of opportunities to exercise that may or may not involve the gym. Spring is the perfect time for hiking, gardening, biking and many other activities. An average 155 pound person can burn 167 calories while playing 30 minutes of badminton. There are many internet sites that will tell you how many calories you can burn during your favorite outdoor activity. Your fitness program may be a way to make new friends too. Find someone to walk with, or join a softball or volleyball team. Keep an open mind and find a healthy activity that suits you and your life , then begin to challenge yourself.
For instance, a Fitness Complex member recognized needed changes in his life and has taken steps to better his self and help others in the process. Andrew Miller began working out intensely at the Fitness Complex this winter in order to prepare himself physically to walk and run across the United States this summer. Andrew’s goal is to walk or run an average of 20 miles a day as he crosses the United States this year. While he is walking and running he will also be taking donations for Wounded Warriors which is an organization that assists wounded veterans. His progress will be tracked on an online blog and by the local radio station. Andrew hopes to return to Spencer in time to broadcast the football games for the Roane Raiders.
Each person is different and each individual will be unique in what will get them moving. When you persevere to find the physical activity that you enjoy you can begin to reap all the benefits of regular exercise. Exercise can help improve your mood, combat chronic disease, manage weight, boost your energy level, promote better sleep and can bring some fun into your life.
Get moving today!
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