Modern society is geared for sitting. We sit at our desks while working, at tables while eating or meeting, and in our cars during long commutes. These days, we burn 1,000 fewer calories a day than those in the generations before us. All this sedentary behavior is linked to weight gain, increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
This fall, MCPS Well Aware is encouraging you to find minutes for movement during Minutes in Motion, a 10-week physical activity challenge. Starting Monday, Sept. 23, find small pockets of time for activity and log them into the Well Aware Fitness Log. Then, build on these minutes and reach a goal of 30 minutes of accumulated activity per day.
Research shows that moving and stretching more often, and in short bouts of time, can stop the negative effects of uninterrupted sitting. Even a two-minute walk, or stretch at your desk can help ward off dementia, diabetes, anxiety, deep vein thrombosis, weight gain and back pain.
Encourage your coworkers to join you in several short bursts of activity each day of the challenge. You may want to form a team to work together to compete in the challenge. Or, participate as an individual. Either way, you could win exciting prizes, including fruit platters and grants to promote wellness at your school or office.
Learn more about the Minutes in Motion challenge, including incentives, rules and more by visiting the Well Aware website. Or, search for Minutes in Motion from any MCPS webpage.
