No Gym, No Problem

Just this week, three different patients told me they pay for a gym membership, but do not go to the gym!  Other people for various reasons loathe the thought of being in a gym.  I have great news for all of you suffering with gym-a-phobia.  No gym is required for you to achieve your health and fitness goals, lose weight, and put on lean muscle mass!  In fact, you don’t even need a weight set or expensive treadmill.  All that is required is a desire to get moving and to do it often.  South Florida has provided us the best “gym” we can imagine.  We have the most beautiful beaches in the world at our fingertips and our city provides walking trails, tennis courts, swimming pools, and even adult recreational leagues. 

Technology is changing the landscape of fitness as well.  New gaming consoles now bring physical activity together with the thrill of the tantalizing graphics of video games.  Wii and Kinect now bring snowboarding, boxing and yoga right into your living room.  You can even have a break dancing contest with the family.  You can have some friendly competition with the family while improving your balance, coordination, and even burn calories.  Another popular movement in fitness is the high intensity home exercise DVDs that promise a new body in 90 days.  We have all seen the infomercials with the before and after pictures and testimonials.  P90X and Insanity are touting great results by their users and do not force you into a two year gym membership or make you wipe the hulks sweat off the equipment.  Choose the DVD or gaming console that best fits your needs and let technology start to help you become more active rather than less. 

Working out is a vital lifestyle choice.  Exercise is proven to prevent life threatening diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes.  The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 30-60 minutes per day of continuous movement.  My philosophy is to move as much as possible.  Our bodies are designed to move and tend to function much better with consistency of activity and exercise.  Rather than looking at exercise as part of a weight loss program or a new year’s resolution it needs to be a way of life.  Creating an active lifestyle is one of the healthiest strategies to maximizing health and wellness for you and your family.   Our patients following are recommendations have more energy, better digestion, lower blood pressure, better self image and a higher quality of life.

Schedule time every weekend to do a family fun activity.  Pull out the old cleats and play football on Sunday rather than just camping out on the couch and watching TV all day.   Take a walk after dinner as a family.  Walk to pick your kids up from their practice or activity. Join a class or league such as tennis, kickball, softball or running club.  Get a workout partner who will keep you accountable.  Overall, the key to working out successfully in 2011 is making it a priority and scheduling it.  Remember your kids look up to you and by setting a good example of a healthy lifestyle, you are directly impacting their habits, health and happiness. 

We will be hosting two free seminars in January to lead our community to natural health and wellness.
Tuesday, January 11 at 6pm- Detox with the Doc
Tuesday, January 25 at 6pm-  5 Keys to Maximizing Your Life
Call 954-369-1212 to reserve your seat today!
Seminar Location: 4674 Coral Ridge Dr. Coral Springs, FL 33076 www.familyspinalcare.com