Good News for Couch Potatoes: Stay Fit While Watching TV
Good news for those who want to control their weight without stopping watching TV. There’s a new workout for couch potatoes and those who think they’re too busy to make time to stay healthy.
Time Constraints Drive Creative Exercise Solutions
Because of time constraints, many Americans are turning to creative forms of learning. In a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive for the North American Spine Society, three out of four people said they took the stairs instead of the elevator at work. 58 percent said they parked their cars in farther away parking spots. Nearly half of those who spoke on the phone said they walked.
Couch Potatoes and the Overweight Dilemma
But at the same time, 46% of people describe themselves as couch potatoes, which is a major reason for being overweight. Many adults report that they put off exercising in favor of other activities such as watching TV, sleeping, doing household chores, and running errands.
Desire for At-Home Exercise
Nearly three in four adults say they would exercise more if they could incorporate it into their daily routine, and most adults say they would exercise more if they could do it at home. Of those who don’t sit on the couch, 80 percent want to exercise more but say they don’t have the time.
Rising Back Pain Issues in America
More than 4 million Americans now suffer from disc problems. One in four Americans over age 30 has recurrent back pain, and this year one in 14 will visit a doctor for back or neck pain, totaling 14 million visits per year. Back pain is the second most common reason people go to the doctor. More days are lost due to back and neck pain than any other ailment. Back injuries cost the United States more than $80 billion annually due to absenteeism, medical costs and other related costs. Exercise is one way to avoid back problems.
Incorporating Exercise into Daily Life
That’s why it’s important to find time to incorporate exercise into your daily life. Besides taking the stairs and parking farther away, here are some fun ways to turn everyday tasks into exercise opportunities:
Foot Alphabet
This exercise can be done sitting anywhere except while driving. Finding a place for this should not be difficult. Use only your feet and ankles to write in the air. The letters can be written in large or small letters and in any language. Do this two to three times on each ankle to strengthen your ankles and maintain or improve your range of motion.
Neck Circles While Washing Dishes
Make circles around the neck of the jar. This exercise can be easily done while doing a repetitive task like washing dishes. Standing near the sink, slowly rotate your neck clockwise, trying to stretch the top of your head outward as much as possible. After doing three to four rotations, repeat the exercise in a counterclockwise direction. Remember that these crunches should be done slowly and painlessly. These exercises not only increase neck flexibility, but also help you pass the time while washing dishes.
Overhead Laundry Toss
Throw the washed clothes over your head. Place the laundry basket in front of you and the washer or dryer behind you. Take one or two dirty clothes, carefully lift them over your head and place them in the washing machine. Start again with dry clothes and then transfer the wet clothes from the washer to the dryer.
Remote Controlled Wrist Lift
This can be done any Sunday afternoon while watching some football game. Just take the remote (pick the biggest remote in the pile of remotes) and point it towards the ceiling while watching your favorite team or movie, and then move your hand towards the TV by moving only your wrist. Hold it for 10 seconds, then lower it towards the floor, again moving only your wrists. Repeat this three to four times during each commercial. While doing this exercise, be careful not to change the channel by mistake, otherwise it may disturb the people watching TV with you.
The Couch Potato Workout: A Practical Guide
This time it’s “The Couch Potato Workout: 101 Exercises You Can Do at Home.” Here are some thoughts from Joel M. Press, M.D., president of the North American Spine Society and medical director of the Spine and Sports Institute at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. The Couch Potato Workout describes a series of practical and functional exercises that people can do as part of their daily routine to improve strength, balance and flexibility.
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