November 27th, 2011 by HarvardHealth in Health Tips, Research
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Good vibrations may work for dancing on the beach or for romance, but they don’t seem to do much to strengthen bones.
Results of a clinical trial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that older women who stood on a vibrating platform for 20 minutes a day experienced just as much bone loss over the course of the year-long trial as women who didn’t use the platform.
The results are a disappointment for older women and men looking to strengthen their bones without exercising, not to mention to the companies that have sprung up to sell whole-body vibration platforms as an easy way to halt osteoporosis, the age-related loss of bone.
The idea behind whole-body vibration makes sense. Like walking, running, and other weight-bearing physical activities, whole-body vibration Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Harvard Health Blog*
November 23rd, 2010 by Glenn Laffel, M.D., Ph.D. in Better Health Network, News, Research
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Like their counterparts in other first-world countries, French people know about the health benefits of exercise. And French culture has emphasized, even worshipped, good looks (which these days translates to “fit and trim.”)
So it’s surprising that the French avoid fitness centers as vigorously as factory-produced croissants. But they do.
According to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, just 5.4 percent of French people were members of a fitness club in 2008. That’s substantially less than their counterparts in Italy (9.5 percent), the UK (11.9 percent), and Spain (16.6 percent).
“It appears that more people are sitting in cafes smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee than working out … the French don’t see fitness as a lifestyle,” American-born fitness consultant Fred Hoffman told MSNBC. Hoffman has lived in Paris for two decades. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Pizaazz*
January 9th, 2010 by Happy Hospitalist in Better Health Network, True Stories
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Another year is done and my running log for 2009 is complete. For two years now I’ve kept track of my jogging/running/walking that I perform in my leisure time. In 2008 I completed just over 600 miles of leisure time exercise. The great thing about running is that it’s free. Minus the cost of shoes and socks and a few pairs of shorts, anyone can do it. You don’t need a GPS watch to get the job done. You don’t need a gym. All you need are your two front feet and a little inspiration and motivation.
The Biggest Loser lost over 55% of his weight, or 239 pounds and how did he do it? He kept moving. There is no secret to weight loss and fitness. Watch how much you eat. Make smart choices about how you choose to live your life and make it happen. If you have no expectations, you’ll meet them every time. This show is proof positive that even the super obese can lose remarkable amounts of weight with diet and exercise.
Running has become a part of my life. Without exercise, I often feel like my day is not complete. Seeking exercise is a state of mind that happens once you experience the benefits of feeling fit. Here is my running log for 2009: Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at The Happy Hospitalist Blog*
