Why don’t you exercise more?
Researchers at Temple University in Philadelphia asked women in various weight categories what kept them from exercising. The top four barriers for all women: family demands, lack of interest, no exercise partner and lack of energy. For obese women, the strongest barrier was feeling too overweight to exercise, followed by feeling self-conscious about their looks. Other reasons included fear of injury and the presence of minor aches and pains.
The more barriers, the less exercise the women pursued.
“This is the first time we’ve been able to systematically look at what stops obese women from getting the activity they need,” says Melissa Napolitano, PhD, associate professor of kinesiology and clinical psychologist at the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University.
“These might sound like excuses to some people, but for those who have these aversions, they’re real problems,” says Napolitano.
Because beginning an exercise program can be a real challenge for some people, Napolitano suggests taking a small first step. Try out an exercise DVD at home to build confidence in being active. Or walk in the local mall or school track for 30 minutes each day. “It doesn’t matter what exercise you do, as long as you get out there and move.” In addition, says Napolitano, “Find an exercise buddy, as there is power in numbers.”
Now happily loving my life at 50+ and 40 extra pounds gained through inactivity due to joint/muscle pain, steriods, and pain meds, I am out there moving again. I have little concern for what other people think of my body as I am the only one living in and with it.
I think it is important to move regularily and with as much effort as possible in the given moment. I avoid the easy track as it is unlikely to shift my weight or build muscle/strengthen bone. There are times when the joints in my elbows ache so I can hardly straighten my arms, but I have found that does not prevent weight training on machines.
What I do remember is that I am in way less pain than before and as such, I am committed to continuing my physical activity, expecially as I now have a three year old grand-daughter to chase after. I can still run, even if only for 30 seconds at a time.
We must maintain a list of reasons to keep moving, so that we are not distracted by the feeling that would prevent our being active.
Was diagnosed with OA in left knee. Orthopedic Dr. wanted to replace knee to which I refused so he said I'd have to learn how to live with it....by giving me a Synvic
Injection every 6 months and providing the cordizone shot, inflamatory drug and pain killer drug when the Synvic wore off.
Had flare ups at each 4-5 month period, the cordizone wore off quickly, the drugs had side effects so back in for another Synvic.
Same 6 month misery......went for a 3rd Synvic and said #### you Doc, all you want to do is replace the knee so I'm going to find another way. Started to read about natural care. Learned a lot, went to a DO !
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.....He said that the MD was correct in saying that the
OA does not go away but he will not make me
live with it, he will find a way to make it
livable but that anything we try will not hurt me or have side effects like the drugs.
Well, within the next 8 months we tried various natural things and settled on 5
items that are taken every day.
1. 1-oz honey & 1-oz apple cider vinegar
mixed together purchased at grocery store.
2. Handful of golden raisons soaked in gin
for at least 7 days purchased at groc store.
Stays on counter in airtight glass jar.
3. Fresh strawberries frozen and put into a drink or yogart every day. Purchased at grocery store.
4. Tart Cherry Extract in capsule or liquid concentrate purthased at vitamin store.
5. Hyrolonic Acid in capsules (1 per day)
Purchased at vitamin store.
NOTHING with side effects, very inexpensive,
easy to take every day and although the OA is still there, have NOT had a flare up or intensive pain for over 4 years.
Yes, have an exercise routine every day....
When weather permits, swimming and when it's
too cold, cross between a rebounder and an eliptical trainer. Rebounding has been part of life since 1982.......ANYBODY can get on a rebounder and start slow, just 5 minutes a day of just going up and down. The ET can be
also used lightly to start but YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE ! ! !
Hope this may help someone find more comfort in their OA or RA condition.
Ray
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