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We are programmed to be lazy
Moving toward an active lifestyle
- The first step toward an active lifestyle is to become aware of this force that is driving us to inactivity.
- We likely engage in physical activity only when it is fun or necessary. To promote physical activity, make it pleasant by restructuring your environment to favour it, especially during your daily trips.
- The architecture of new buildings should also encourage physical activity by prioritizing access to stairs, or standing desks, etc.
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30% of adults aren't active enough
According to the World Health Organisation, each year, 3.2 million deaths can be attributed to the lack of physical activity.
The battle between reason and emotions
To understand the conflict between our good intentions and our contrary impulses, we can look at the dual process model. Our behavior are divided into two categories:
- The rational mechanisms, managed by the reflective system.
- The emotional mechanisms, managed by the impulsive system.
The impulsive system can facilitate or prevent the reflective system from putting our intentions into place.
Sedentary lifestyle and evolution
The attraction toward sedentary can be viewed in light of evolution. When it was challenging to gain access to food, minimizing effort allowed for the saving of energy that was crucial for survival.
This tendency could explain the current pandemic of physical inactivity since genes allowing individuals to survive are likely to be present in the next generation.
Moving toward an active lifestyle
- The first step toward an active lifestyle is to become aware of this force that is driving us to inactivity.
- We likely engage in physical activity only when it is fun or necessary. To promote physical activity, make it pleasant by restructuring your environment to favour it, especially during your daily trips.
- The architecture of new buildings should also encourage physical activity by prioritizing access to stairs, or standing desks, etc.
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Technology as the Culprit
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The rise of the internet gave us a whole lot of technology, curbing our need to move even more.
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Ten healthy habits
- Keep a meal routine: Eat at roughly the same time each day.
- Go for healthy fats from nuts, avocado, and oily fish instead of fast food.
- Walk off the weight: Aim for 10,000 steps a day.
- Pack healthy snacks when you go out.
- Always check the labels for fat, sugar, and salt content.
- Use smaller plates, and drink a glass of water and wait five minutes before going back for seconds.
- Break up sitting time.
- Choose water and limit fruit juice to one small glass per day.
- Slow down and eat while sitting at a table.
- Always aim for five servings of vegetables a day.