Do You Need An Easy Way to Exercise?

Is there an easy way to exercise?

I know from personal experience that the more pounds we put on, the harder it is to talk ourselves into doing anything that requires much physical exertion. We don't just avoid political rallies.

We also avoid camping and hiking, playing sports with our kids, long walks with the dog, and even spectator sports if it means climbing up too many steps to the bleachers. I have an overweight friend who can't visit me because my apartment is up one flight of stairs.

A recent news story said that being obese can take up to 7 years off our lives. People who are still young and fit will believe that the end of our life will come sooner if we're overweight. But the truth is that being overweight really robs us of the middle years, when we should be healthy and active, doing the things we love to do - instead of staying home and watching other people doing those things on TV.

It all happens gradually, doesn't it? The knees start to hurt, we get out of breath climbing the stairs, we slow down. There's no specific moment when we stop altogether, but for many of us, movement hurts.

And that's a huge problem if you're trying to lose weight. You know how important it is to increase the amount of exercise you get, as well as change your diet. But how do you start when almost any activity is too much?

I was thinking about that as I rode home on Saturday. I remembered reading about an exercise program that you could practice while sitting down, called Get Fit While You Sit. by Jeff Ball, an ACE certified personal trainer and fitness instructor.

When I had first heard about the book I thought it was a pretty silly idea. Last Saturday I finally realized that this could be what a lot of people need in order to get back into the exercise game.

When I got home I bought a copy and downloaded it to see if it was something I could recommend to you. In spite of the goofy cover, I was pleasantly surprised by the program the book describes.

As a matter of fact, I realized that this was a perfect book for me, too - I do a lot of walking, but I also sit a lot at a computer. All those hours at a desk take their toll on my back, and the lack of movement makes the day seem to stretch out forever.

Yesterday I started using the exercises during breaks at work, and I found out there's a lot of muscle groups that I haven't used much lately.

Several of the exercises have to be done at home because you do them on the floor, not a chair. However, the chair exercises are easy (but after doing one full set of just 12 each, I was feeling it). It is a legitimate exercise program, and a great way to ease back into fitness.

Talk it over with your doctor, and if you think you could use some exercise, but just aren't up to anything really strenuous yet, check out Get Fit While You Sit by Jeff Ball.

If you prefer "real" books instead of digital books, there is one called Get Fit While You Sit: Easy Workouts from Your Chair, by Charlene Torkelson.

Jonni Good is the author of most of the original articles on this site. Jonni always looks for the easy way to solve common health problems, by working with human nature. Her books have helped hundreds of people lose weight, get fit, and regain their health - with less struggle. Please take a moment to visit her other sites:

Do You Gain Weight... Even when you eat less than your thinner friends? Learn why it happens, and how to use nutritious, satisfying food to break the metabolic pattern that causes some people to gain weight too easily.

Sugar Cravings and Addiction – Describes a simple program to help people break their addiction to sugar and fat. This book has been popular ever since it came out in 2003, and has helped hundreds of people lose their cravings for sugar and other simple carbs. Once the cravings are under control, it's easier to stick with your diet and regain your health.

Weight Lifting for Absolute Beginners – A guide to lifting weights for strong muscles and bones.

The Easy-Does-It Diet – A guide to creating your own delicious and healthy frozen diet meals. Eat healthy, low-fat meals without paying extra for store-bought frozen diet food.

Disclaimer: This site and the articles contained here are for information purposes only. The authors have made every effort to make sure the information is accurate, but no health decisions should ever be made based on this or any other website. Please contact your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.

Do You Need An Easy Way to Exercise?

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