One step at a time
I've mentioned before that my attitude towards exercise hovers somewhere in the "necessary evil" category. I don't even pretend to enjoy it. But I know how important it is to my well-being, both physically and mentally, and so I trudge my way through my weekly workouts. (And I will admit, when I'm done, I do always feel better.) But if you're not sold on adopting a full-scale exercise program, there are still ways to reap some of the same benefits. In fact, according to a new study, just foregoing the escalator and elevator and opting for the stairs instead may actually cut your risk of premature death by as much as 15 percent. Researchers from the University of Geneva in Switzerland recruited 69 participants who reported getting less than two hours of exercise per week and took less than 10 flights of stairs each day. For 12 weeks, the participants were to use the stairs rather than elevators or escalators whenever they had the choice. At the end of the trial, the researchers noted that the participants had better lung capacity, and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The subjects had also lost weight and body fat and their waist measurements had gone down as well. Based on these positive changes, the researchers determined that the study group had reduced their risk of dying prematurely by 15 percent. As the lead researcher concluded "Although the amount of exercise appears small, the benefits were clear in improving physical fitness and reducing body fat and blood pressure." This study proves, once again, that exercise doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. Every little bit counts -- and helps you get that much closer to good health. Source:
"Climbing stairs can prolong life," BBC News (http://bbc.co.uk), 9/1/08 | 
