Integrating healthy concepts into your life is like riding a tandem bike. It takes two participants and a bicycle that works. To meet the challenge of getting in shape this month, be sure to integrate both sound nutrition (see January posting) and efficient exercise into a quality plan. Once you have tweaked or completely revamped your daily diet and selected a venue for structured exercise, start supplementing your coffee break with some gentle stretches like slow, easy toe-touches to loosen hamstrings and relieve stress on the lower back. When the lunch-break-boy finally makes it into your room, take a few minutes in the lounge to do seated leg raises and neck rotations. And if some kind soul mercifully shows up to give you a potty break, take an extra minute to carefully lunge back down the hall on your way to relieve the reliever. As your 8-hour day stretches into 12, remember, careful stretching provides relief, while too much coffee requires it.
To read Lizlines and to view seated leg raises, click on www.bdyfrm.com.
Liz Sanner Davis is the owner of Body Firm Integrated Fitness Solutions. She is the author of Lizlines, posted each weekday on her web site.
These are good points. I’m going to start stretching while waiting for the next patient to arrive and also start taking the stairs when doing post op rounds.