SUE MEREDITH, BOOT CAMP
OWNER:
WOMENS DAY STRESSES HEALTHY LIVING, EXERCISE
(Fort Myers, September
20,2012) - If women are from Venus and men are from Mars, it follows that
ladies need a slightly different workout routine than their male
counterparts.
This message is all the
more relevant today because the last Wednesday of September marks Women's
Health & Fitness Day, an annual event that focuses attention on the
importance of regular physical activity and health awareness for women of
all ages.
"Women have a
different musculoskeletal structure, with more body fat and less muscle
mass than men, " says Sue Meredith, owner of Fort Myers/Cape Coral
Adventure Boot Camp. "And because of these anatomical differences,
some of their health challenges are gender-specific."
Meredith says that in order
to maximize their health and keep serious diseases at bay, women should
follow these three lifestyle habits:
Quit smoking: Researchers
found that women who smoke have a 25 percent higher risk of developing
heart disease than men. "Cigarettes are not good for anyone - so kick
the habit," Meredith urges.
Eat well: Women need fewer
calories than men, but they need more iron and calcium. "Find out
which foods are rich in these substances and make them part of your healthy
low-calorie and low fat diet," Meredith suggests.
Exercise regularly:
"There is enough evidence showing that physical activity helps prevent
three leading causes of death in women: heart disease, breast cancer, and
stroke," Meredith says. "And, it also protects against
osteoporosis, which is predominantly a woman's condition because women have
lower bone density than men and they lose bone mass quicker as they
age."
How does exercise help
prevent these conditions? "It helps you lose extra pounds and maintain
healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of heart
disease, breast cancer, and stroke," Meredith points out.
For an effective,
women-friendly workout, she recommends two types of exercises.
"The best fitness
program for women should include interval training, because it really pumps
up the metabolism throughout the day and is a great cardio workout as
well," she says. "And strength training is the most effective way
to fight osteoporosis because it improves bone density, as well as muscle
strength."
Do you want to further
increase your chances of getting fit? Join a boot camp! A British study
released last year found that women who work out with others will lose an
average of 10 pounds more than those who go it alone.
"Women are more likely than men to participate in group
programs because they like social aspects of working out," Meredith
notes. "Plus, exercising with others who share the same fitness goals
motivates them to keep going."
Ladies, I ask you to make
Wednesday September 26th, 2012 the day you start a new Healthy Lifestyle by
doing your own P.H.F.C. (Personal Home Fitness Challenge) go outside and
walk for 30 minutes, play with the family dog, or take your kids to the
park. Our children need to get more fresh air and exercise today too! Some
other suggestions: How many Pushups and Jumping Jacks can you do? Get
a jump rope and count how many rotations you can do without stopping or
step up and down on a small step for 1 - 3 minutes. I would love to hear
about your results so be sure to email them to me when you have completed
your challenge and tell me how you plan to stay on track with your new
Lifestyle. I'd be happy to help you start or sustain a Healthy
Lifestyle.
*BE SURE TO CHECK WITH YOUR
DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING ANY EXERCISE PROGRAM.
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