Did you know that exercise will give you more energy? Are you tired of being tired at the end of the day? Let exercise energize you.

You just need to motivate yourself to take that first step out the door. You may think you’ll never make it, but chances are you’ll continue and you’ll notice a difference very quickly. Tired adults who exercise three times a week for 6 weeks, show a remarkable increase in energy levels. And those doing low-intensity exercises saw the most benefit!

Maybe your having troubles thinking about exercising because you think it isn’t fun. Researchers found that when people think about exercising they tend to think about the first few minutes, which is the hard part. After a workout, those participants rated exercising positively. So find a better way to start out, put your favorite songs at the beginning of the playlist, or grab a friend.

Many people don’t like to navigate a gym on their own. Sign up with a personal trainer. This way you’ll meet someone, get introduced to others and receive your own personal training program. Or, grab a buddy; everyone has more fun working out with a friend.

Many of us sit a lot at work, in the car and at home on the couch.  That’s probably true for a lot of regular exercisers. I used to think that exercising for an hour or more a day would negate all that sitting.

Now, a growing body of evidence says that’s not true.

That’s disheartening. But it’s also a wake-up call for everyone with an office job, even avid exercisers.

We’ve all been told for decades how much exercise we should get daily or weekly, with most recommendations now saying at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week or an average of 30 minutes for five days. If it’s vigorous, it can be less.

Now, the latest research says that even people who do significant and regular exercise still increase risks of serious illness from hours of physical inactivity. In other words, you can’t just exercise for one hour and sit for eight or more without incurring some health risks.

The American College of Sports Medicine, just came out with new recommendations on the quantity and quality of exercise for adults. The bottom line is everyone needs a balanced program of cardiovascular, strength exercise, flexibility and neuromotor or functional fitness training (balance, agility, coordination).

But the ACSM further notes that “sedentary behavior for long periods of time is distinct from physical activity and has been shown to be a health risk in itself. Meeting the guidelines for physical activity does not make up for a sedentary lifestyle.”

Carol Garber is the lead author of the new guidelines. In a release from the ACSM, she says, “It is no longer enough to consider whether an individual engages in adequate amounts of weekly exercise. We also need to determine how much time a person spends in sedentary pursuits, like watching television or working on a computer.”

So, we need to figure out ways we all can work in movement during the day.

Here are a few things you can do, in addition to exercising daily:

• Walk in the office while reading reports or research.
• Stand up while on the phone.
• Do more exercises at the desk, such as pumping legs up and down.
• Move for at least 15 minutes during lunch.
• Take a quick walk after work on some days.

All personal training clients may bring a buddy in to Answer is Fitness to train with them, FREE. And, all members that refer a buddy to personal training will be entered into a raffle to win a free year membership and 5 free one hour personal training sessions.

Whether you are new to fitness, regularly exercise or are a competitive athlete, personal trainers assist you in achieving your goals. At Answer is Fitness, our personal trainers can assess your current fitness level and then design a customized personal fitness program based on your fitness level and your goals.

Motivation is the key to fitness and regular exercise. Personal Trainers coach you through your work outs, keep you motivated and focused on your goals, and teach you new training techniques.

To better reach your goals our personal trainers perform a personal fitness assessment. This is not a diagnostic tool, but rather a tool to gather purpose information related to your current level of physical fitness. This information is used to establish an exercise program specific to your needs, evaluate progress in your current exercise program, establish goals and provide motivation and identify possible health injury risks.

The results of each assessment can be used in two ways. The first, comparing the results to data collected on the general population who has taken the same test. The second is to establish your own personal baseline to use as a tool for measuring improvement in each area. This is a great method for measuring personal fitness goals.

To schedule your personal training sessions, contact Answer is Fitness in Springfield and North Attleboro.

National Women’s Health Week is an effort to raise awareness about manageable steps women can take to improve their health. The focus is on improving women's health and the importance of incorporating simple preventive and positive health behaviors into everyday life.

Women are the caregivers: for spouses, children and parents, and they often forget to focus on themselves. However, research has proven that when women take care of themselves, the health of the entire family improves.

Maintaining regular health checkups is one of 5 health habits that can improve women’s health. The others are physical activity, a healthy diet, not smoking and engaging in safe behavior.

For regular health appointments, a bone density scan is very important. Having healthy bones is important at any age, but as we age our bones get thinner. Healthy eating habits, regular cardio exercise and a strength training routine are imperative to healthy bones. Osteoporosis is a concern for women, as women are four times more likely to develop this disease than men. To limit the risks of Osteoporosis, women should definitely engage in weight-bearing exercises. Eating healthy and possibly taking calcium supplements also aids in prevention.

If you have been to the grocery store lately you have surely seen the massive amount of energy drinks available today. There are a host of energy drinks, shots, and gels flooding the marketplace, promising to give you more energy and help you through the day. But, many also say they will boost your workout, improve your health, and help you stay more alert. No wonder the energy drink business is booming.
 
What's Really in an Energy Drink?

These drinks market a fast-acting boost of energy. Red Bull and Monster talk about their high dose of caffeine with a blend of "energizing" vitamins, amino acids and herbal supplements. However, despite their marketing prowess, the main ingredient responsible for that kick is good old-fashioned sugar. Calories equal energy; so energy drinks equal calorie drinks.

They have a lot of calories too. A 16-ounce can of Red Bull has 220 calories, and a 24-ounce can of Rockstar has 420, very similar to a double cheeseburger! However, most of the calories in energy beverages come from simple sugars. Unlike regular food, there is no fiber, fat, or protein, to slow digestion. All that sugar hits the bloodstream quickly and gives you the superfast rush, a.k.a energy boost you are looking for. But it is very short lived. Just like eating too much candy or sweets, having too many energy drinks, can cause weight gain.

Need Energy?

Regular exercise increases energy and reduces fatigue. Fatigue is one of the most common complaints doctors hear about. But experts say one of the best antidotes to beating fatigue and boosting energy is to exercise more, not less. If you are looking for more energy in a day, regular exercise can increase energy levels even among people suffering from chronic medical conditions. Research shows that expending energy by engaging in regular exercise will pay off with increased energy in the long run. Exercise literally creates energy in the body.