The CAMROSE BOOSTER, January 25, 2022 – Page 12
Reap the benefits of staying active By Lori Larsen
Three to one odds? An experiment
“Nothing travels faster than the speed of light, with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws,” said Douglas Adams When I had teenagers living at home, I used to watch the news every evening. As I watched, I would do a running rant. I’d talk back to the announcer. I’d argue with people who were interviewed. I’d pontificate about what the government should be doing. I’d go on about how appalling a certain situation was. I didn’t even realize I was doing that until one day my son said, “Don’t watch if it upsets you so much.” He stopped me cold. I wouldn’t have said I was “upset”. Opinionated maybe, but not upset. I had no idea my ranting was affecting him. ***
Seven years ago, I stopped watching TV. Recently, I had a few minutes alone in a café booth. I was cheerful, looking forward to lunch with someone I really like, whom I hadn’t seen for a while. From where I sat, I could see one of those TVs with non-stop news reports. Mercifully, the sound was muted. However, I could still see the images and headlines. Since I rarely see TV, I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. Within five minutes, I was depressed. Lots of people can filter out whatever is on a screen. I’ve lost that ability. My immunity to TV is now zero. I was stunned by how, in just five minutes, I could go from cheerful anticipation of seeing a friend to abject depression about the state of the world. ***
You’ve probably noticed, as I have, that lots of mass media coverage is a tad dismal. The state of the world, the state of the economy, the state of the environment, the state of governments–and of course, the state of the pandemic–does not feel like good news. Fear is in the air. Anger and bitterness are loud. Yet really, almost anywhere in Canada–even now, during the pandemic–even the poorest among us are living better lives than most humans did for millennia. We are safer, with more advantages and conveniences, fewer hardships and injustices, than most of our ancestors. How come it doesn’t feel that way? There might be a clue in something I read. ***
Caroline Adams Miller, author of Creating Your Best Life, wrote, “In order to flourish, whether in a marriage, at work or in any other type of environment, you need three positive comments or interactions for every one negative. If you listen to the news, we’re so far below three to one it’s staggering.” Three positives for every negative? Three to one odds? When I first read that, it was daunting. But then I thought, we could use that information in a practical way. For example, I could pay attention to when I’m thinking dark thoughts or saying dark things. As soon as I notice I’m in “bitter” or “depressed” or “anxious” territory, I could choose to say or think three positive things. If nothing else, stopping to think of three positive things breaks the negativity trance. That, in itself, is a benefit. So–should we stop paying attention to the news? Maybe, maybe not. I know two people who refuse to pay any attention to the news. They have both stopped listening or watching or reading news. They both report that they don’t miss it, and their lives feel easier and happier. If we focus only on the negative, that drags us down and makes it hard to tackle much of anything. If we think of three positive things–and there are always at least three positive things to think of–if nothing else, that lifts our spirits enough so we have energy to tackle the tough stuff. ***
An experiment: I hereby commit to see if I can flip my focus from one negative to three positive things. Can’t hurt! Want to join me in that experiment? If so, email me at Bonnie@BonnieHutchinson.com and we can set up a way to compare notes.
The benefits of staying active often speak for themselves, but in our quest to do more and thus have less time for ourselves, we can easily be sidetracked. The benefits of physical activity are generally experienced in three different categories: physical health, emotional health and social health. Camrose Primary Care Network (PCN) exercise specialist Connie Harrison said that for most people, the benefits of activity are experienced almost instantly. “People comment on positive changes in mood and overall feeling better right away.” Harrison said that starting an activity program changes a person’s outlook almost immediately. “They think, ‘I can manage that.’ So many endorphins are released when a person becomes active that it changes everything– physically, mentally and emotionally.” Harrison said more and more research is pointing to the benefits physical activity has on a person’s mental well-being. “Mental health professionals (generally) are asking clients/patients how they are eating and how they are exercising. That never used to be part of the conversation before, but it is now. They want clients/ patients to be committed to at least be moving their body around, because they know how much difference that makes for us mentally. It is key to mental health.” According to CSEP (Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology), the short-term (a single session of physical activity) benefits include: • mood and energy • self-esteem • sleep • concentration • good cholesterol • calories used. Medium-term (four to eight weeks of regular physical activity) benefits include: • muscle strength • bone and joint strength • balance and posture • heart health • insulin sensitive. Long-term (months to years of regular activity) benefits include: • quality of life and overall well-being • independence • longer life expectancy • less stress • reduced risk of depression • reduced risk of high blood sugar, bad cholesterol, high blood pressure • reduced body weight body fat • reduced risk of joint pain and swelling, falls, bad cholesterol, heart disease, osteoporosis (bone disease), dementia
(such as Alzheimer’s), and certain cancers (such as colon and breast cancer). “Movement is medicine,” said Harrison, “Whether that means physical, mental, or emotional benefits. People sometimes forget about whenever they do an exercise for their muscles, they also work their bones and joints. It is always more than what we think we are doing.” She recalled a comment made by an attendee at a webinar she attended in the fall. “Exercise keeps our blood vessels elastic.” “Even to a cellular level, the resiliency, elasticity and the ability for that blood vessel to expand and contract and deal with increased pressure back and forth, you maintain that if you exercise.” She said the depth of benefits go far beyond what
it means a better quality of life for longer.” According to CSEP (Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology), the following are some of the benefits of an active lifestyle. Besides the obvious benefits to a person’s physical well-being, the emotional health benefits include: • improving your mood • helping you cope with stress and anxiety • feeling better about yourself • better sleep. The social benefits include: • great way to have fun • great way to spend time with family • good way to see friends more often • excellent way to meet new people • positive way to be involved in your community.
Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster Camrose Primary Care Network exercise specialist Connie Harrison demonstrates the benefits of using walking sticks to strengthen arms and core muscles and help to maintain balance.
most people can even realize and, with the aid of new technology such as CT scans and MRIs, the medical community is able to actually see the benefits exercise has on the brain. “Now we know how much of the brain lights up when we exercise.” Harrison noted that a lot of the research being conducted on the impact exercise has on the brain relates to neuroprotective and possibly neurogenerative (actually producing new connections in the brain). “Those are big words for brain health. If you have a degenerative brain disease and exercise helps to stave that off a bit,
Ta k ing i nt o c o n s i d e r a t i o n the multitude of benefits that getting active and staying active have on our overall well-being, it should be a fairly easy decision. Would you rather be spending time at the gym, on your treadmill or walking on one of the many trails in Camrose, or at your doctor’s office? This year, give yourself the best gift you can–a happier and healthier you for 2022. For more information on an activity program best suited for your lifestyle, consult your healthcare provider or contact Connie Harrison at the PCN at 780-608-4927.
