Healthy Living: All About Me
A Comprehensive health plan is the best approach to becoming and staying healthy. Commit to the State of Georgia’s Live Healthy Georgia campaign to: Be Active, Get Checked, Be Smoke Free, Eat Healthy, and Be Positive.
Be Active
The Center for Disease Control reports that regular physical activity reduces the risk of dying of coronary heart disease, the nation's leading cause of death, and decreases the risk for stroke, colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. We know that exercise helps us slim down, but it also contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints. It also offers relief from the pains of arthritis, reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduces stress. Regular exercise can even impact your wallet, leading to fewer hospitalizations, physician visits, and medications.
There are 1440 minutes in every day…schedule 30 of them for Physical Activity
Simple Changes to Get More Physical Activity:
Did you know some simple changes to your daily routine can help you get more physical activity? Try some of our tips below:
·Conduct business meetings over a walk instead of over lunch.
·When out and about, park your car farther away from your destination.
·Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
·At the end of the day, play with children or pets. A family walk or bike ride is a great way to reconnect.
·Take fitness breaks, walking or doing desk exercises, instead of cigarette or coffee breaks.
·Exercise while watching television.
·Always keep a pair of comfortable walking or running shoes in your car and office. You'll be ready for
activity wherever you go!
For more tips, visit Amercia on The Move
Walk the Right Way
A simple 30 minute walk each day is a great way to stay in shape. The American Fitness Professionals Association offers advice on how to get more out of your walk:
Make your stride long and fluid; the American Podiatric Medical Association recommends that you land heel first, then roll forward, pushing off on the ball of your foot. Lean slightly forward from the ankles, not the waist. Keep your head level and your chin up. For a more intense workout, simply pick up the pace. Pump bent arms at chest level and quicken your steps and contract your abdominals.
Walk briskly for approximately ten minutes then increase the intensity for sixty seconds in one of the following ways: walking up a hill, walking faster, jogging, or sprinting. Intervals of running will burn the most calories. Return to your original brisk, comfortable pace, which will allow you time to recover. Then repeat.
Track Your Success
Once you’ve decided to make physical activity a part of your daily life, start tracking your success.
How much do you burn?
Go to http://www.parknicollet.com/tools/calorieburner.cfm for a calorie burner calculator.
The American Heart Association‘s Calorie Calculator can help you keep up with how many calories you are burning while you exercise.
An exercise log is a great way to monitor your progress as you begin, and maintain a physical activity regimen. Go to the American Heart Association's http://www.justmove.org/ to access an online exercise journal.
Great locations to get out and exercise in Coastal Georgia
Jekyll Island GA has over 20 Miles of bike trails just waiting for you.
The Golden Isles Track Club’s Running Guide to St. Simons Island has great information on walking and running trails. Download file
Kingsland’s Sports Complex in Camden County offers numerous ways to get active.
Woodbine Community Parks provides information on walking trails and parks in Woodbine, GA
The City of Savannah Recreation Services Department details several walking and biking opportunities in Savannah.
Get out for your community
What better way to get out and exercise than joining a community-based run or walk. For more information on community exercise events, check out the websites below or visit our calendar of events.
Golden Isles Track Club
Glynn County Heart Walk
Glynn County Government
Get Checked
Getting screened is a key indicator to your health. Presence of other risk factors may impact optional screening frequency. Always check with your healthcare provider as to the frequency needed for you.
Recommended Health Screenings for Men Download file
Recommended Health Screenings for Women Download file
Know your scores. Go to CDC's BMI Calculator
Be Smoke Free
Tobacco use is a leading preventable cause of death in the United States and in Georgia, claiming the lives of more than 11,000 Georgians each year.
Georgia Tobacco Quit Line
Aa free service for Georgia residents, Georgia Tobacco Quit Line provides counseling, a resource library, support and referral services for Georgia tobacco users ages 13 and older.
Stop Smoking --Start Dialing
1-877-270-STOP
For Spanish: 1-877-2NO-FUME
For the Hearing Impaired: 1-877-777-6534
For Additional Information on how to quit, Visit the American Cancer's Society's website at http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/ped_10_3.asp?sitearea=PED
Eat Healthy
Eating a low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can combat obesity and lower your risk for developing chronic diseases.
Aim for five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
Personalize your food pyramid and develop an eating plan that is right for you.
Reading labels is a key to knowing what exactly you are eating. Visit http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/foodlab.html to take the mystery out of the side of the cereal box.
See how much damage that burger and fries will actually do. Fast Food Calculator at http://www.parknicollet.com/tools/fastfood.cfm
Introduction to the Heart Healthy Diet to Help Lower Your Cholesterol T
Be Positive
Having the right attitude makes all the difference. Visit Live Healthy Georgia's Website for tools to keep you thinking in the right direction.
Chronic Disease Bulletins
Download our latest bulletins and share with your family, friends and neighbors. Great tips on improving your health and fighting chronic disease
August “Start the School Year Off Right”
WWW Address: http://www.gachd.org/healthy-living/all_about_me_1.php