| Health and Fitness Guidelines for Adults |
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Author: Danny M. O'Dell The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released updated activity guidelines. According to these latest recommendations adults should be engaging in moderate intensity levels of activity a minimum of two and a half hours per week. This isn't much when it comes down to it since it’s only thirty minutes a day for five days or a bit over twenty minutes every day for a week. Sadly enough HHS considers general gardening as a moderate intensity activity. Another suggestion HHS made is to be vigorous for 75 minutes each week. They suggest jogging, aerobic dancing or skipping rope as options to consider. This implies health is yours in only fifteen minutes a day five days a week. How much softer can we get? This idea of doing a little bit is pablum for the lazy and is minimally helpful in restoring our physical fitness. It is hogwash and yet this nonsense continues to be put forth by various entities. With health care costs rising and the continuing epidemic of obesity rapidly overtaking the medical community’s ability to handle it dumbing down the information we need to become healthier is not in our nation’s best interests. There are no shortcuts to health and certainly it will take much more than a mere twenty minutes a day of moderate intensity activity to become fit. How much longer will it take before people stop trying to find shortcuts and reach the conclusion that before noticeable benefits occur from exercise their heart rate has to be in their target range? After the heart rate is in this target range then it has to be maintained at this rate for at least twenty to thirty minutes a day before real changes in health takes place? This is only a part of the fitness equation. Strength training has to be there as well. It doesn't matter if you can jog a mile if you can't carry the groceries up the stairs of your home to put them away. You’ve got to be strong in all areas of fitness. HHS does give good advice when they say kids between the ages of 6-17 should get in at least an hour or more each day. This included the recommendation that strength training be a part of the day’s activity. It did not include keyboarding or playing video games.
Danny M. O’Dell, M. A., CSCS*D is the co-owner of The Explosivelyfit Strength Training Gym and Explosivelyfit.com both located in Nine Mile Falls, WA. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, recognized with Distinction by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He has a Masters Degree in Human Services and is a strength and conditioning coach in a local School District along with being a member of the Washington State Coaches Association. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/health-and-fitness-guidelines-for-adults-771234.html |