Summer Fitness
| The Ballooning of America |
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Summer provides many of us with the opportunity to spend longer hours outdoors due to increased daylight hours and pleasant weather. These same factors may help us cut down on the calories we consume. After all, we're too busy having fun outside to eat as much as we might in winter, when our natural tendency is to hibernate at home, sipping hot chocolate and chomping cookies. But even with longer days in the sun, staying fit takes effort. As much as we may not like it, there has never been an effortless way to stay in shape. Most experts recommend a balanced diet and a regular exercise regime. It is especially important for children and teens to get into good habits now because people tend to get plumper as they age. If you look at groups of Americans studied over the last several years, you will see that statistically, we are all getting chunkier. The rise in obesity over the last decade crosses all age groups, education levels, races, and both sexes. Look at some figures reported in 1999 by the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Recent studies show that obesity rates skyrocketed in America during the last decade. Some people may find it easier to lose weight and get in shape during the summertime. What are some of the best ways to get fit?
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| Pulling the Plug |
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Imagine getting into shape without having to exercise. That is the dream some manufacturers are selling with Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) machines. These machines use electrodes to send electrical impulses to muscles. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) wanted to find out if EMS machines actually worked, especially since they can cost more than $500. One of ACE's goals is to protect consumers against ineffective fitness products. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin studied a group of college-age volunteers to see if EMS machines would help tone their triceps, quadriceps, biceps, hamstrings, and abdominal muscles. After two months of receiving electrical stimulation three times a week, no one had lost weight, decreased their percentage of body fat, increased strength, or improved their appearance in any way. Ironically, the researchers found that the time it took to attach the electrodes was the same as it would have taken the subjects to participate in an effective cardiovascular or strength training workout. It's no secret that Americans have always been seduced by claims of "quick fixes" when it comes to their weight. The failure of EMS machines to help people tone up should serve as yet another reminder (along with all the diet pills and fads) that "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." |
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| What Works |
 There are many healthy ways to get fit. The latest research recommends that people engage in 30 minutes of moderate daily exercise. Moderate physical activity—or aerobic activity—means that your heart rate should increase, but not so much that you lose your breath or become exhausted. The ideal way to get in shape is to combine strength training with aerobic activity each week. The key to success is finding activities you love. In summer, your options abound.
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