Get Around To It for Success

I think it’s finally spring time in the Rockies; and that’s not just because the Colorado Rockies had their home opener last Friday.  Yesterday was a beautiful day.  I went for a bike ride and really enjoyed being outside getting some exercise. 

As a career success coach, I advise my clients to live a healthy lifestyle.  This means eating right and exercising.  You don’t have to become a tri-athlete; every little bit of exercise helps.

Dan Robey is a friend of mine.  He is the author of The Power of Positive Habits.  I am one of his subscribers.  Yesterday, I received a great e mail from Dan on brisk walking as a positive habit.  Dan is a generous guy and he always lets me repost his posts here. 

Check out what he has to say about the power of brisk walking…

Make “Brisk Walking” A Positive Habit

“Not running, not jogging, but walking is your most efficient exercise and the only one you can safely follow all the years of your life.”

 — Executive Health Organization

Walking as a daily exercise habit can truly be a life-changing positive habit and is one of the most powerful habits for reaching your goal of a healthy trim and fit body. Over the past 20 years, there have been dozens of studies that have proven the benefits of brisk walking.

Thousands upon thousands of people have improved their health and lost weight by the diligent habit of walking. If you think that walking does not provide the same benefits as other more vigorous exercises, think again.

A study published by the New England Journal Of Medicine showed that postmenopausal women who walked regularly lowered their risk for heart disease just as much as women who did more vigorous exercise, such as playing sports or running.

This study suggests that walking is just as good for your heart as heavy exercise. I spoke with study author Dr. JoAnn E. Manson, Chief of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Womens Hospital, Professor of Medicine, at Harvard Medical School.  She said, “The study provides compelling evidence that walking and vigorous exercise provide similar heart benefits, about a 30% to 40% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease with 30 minutes per day of either activity.”

I also asked her about the benefits of making brisk walking a positive habit, and she responded, “They could surely walk away from heart disease and several other chronic diseases. We have also found that brisk walking for at least 3 hours a week can lower the risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes, and breast cancer.

No pain, no gain, is an outdated notion; exercise doesn’t need to be strenuous or uncomfortable. It can be easy and enjoyable. Even though the study consisted solely of women, it is likely that menwould experience similar benefits from the positive habit of brisk walking.
 
Here are additional benefits you will receive from your habit of brisk walking:

– Walking burns calories and helps you lose weight and burn excess body fat.

– Walking can help to improve your posture.

– Walking requires no special equipment or gyms.

– Walking can help lower blood pressure and help prevent circulatory and heart disorders.

– Brisk, aerobic walking will give you the benefits of other exercises, such as jogging and cycling, but without the risk of injuries.

– Walking at night can help promote better sleep.

Dan makes some great points about the benefits of developing a positive habit of brisk walking.  Personally, I prefer to bicycle in the summer, and walk in the winter. 

A lot of the people who I coach say that they know they should exercise, but often “can’t seem to get around to it.”  I have come up with the answer this problem.  I have printed several thousand stickers that are round and say “TUIT” in big capital letters.  Whenever someone tells me that they know they should do something but can’t seem to get around to it, I give them one of these stickers.  It is a round TUIT.  I tell them that now they can never say that they can’t get a around to it anymore, because they have a round TUIT.  I have a round TUIT sticker on my computer.  I have another one on my bike.  They are  constant reminders to me to keep up good work and exercise habits.

Would you like a round TUIT?  If so, please send me your snail mail address, and tell me how many rounf TUITs you want.  I’ll put up to five round TUITs in the mail to you – free of charge.  Use them for yourself, or give them to your friends who are procrastinators.  Just make sure that you get around to living a healthy lifestyle.  Brisk walking is a great way to start.

The common sense point here is simple.  Successful people are outstanding performers.  Outstanding performers are lifelong learners; they manage their time and life well; and they live a healthy lifestyle.  My friend Dan Robey, author of The Power of Positive Habits says that brisk walking is one of the most healthy habits you can adopt.  I agree, almost everybody can walk.  The more you walk, the healthier you’ll be.  Dan points out that “No pain, no gain, is an outdated notion; exercise doesn’t need to be strenuous or uncomfortable. It can be easy and enjoyable.  So, like the Nike ads say, Just Do It!  Or as this career success coach says, “Get around to it.”

That’s my take on developing positive habits that will keep you healthy and on top of your game.  What’s yours?  Please take a minute to leave a comment sharing your thoughts with us.  As always, thanks for reading.

Bud