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Having lost 42 pounds in three months, Jen
Bradbury feels newly energized and empowered. Losing weight
makes Jen feel better, and feeling better makes her want to look
better. But what inspired Jen to start working out at the Lee
Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness in January?
“I have three grandchildren and I want to be around for them,
because they mean the world to me,” says Jen, a surgical
technician at Lee Memorial Hospital. “I want to be able to sit
on the floor and play with them. I want to be able to run around
the backyard. I want to be able to do whatever and them not be
embarrassed of me.”
When asked, how do you encourage someone to live healthy and
start walking, Jen answers simply, “Invite them to go walking
with you.”
And last month, that’s exactly what the American Heart
Association did when the organization invited community members
to join their National Start! Walking Day. Local walking paths
have been designated at Cambier Park in downtown Naples, City
Pier in downtown Fort Myers, Lakes Park in Fort Myers and Joe
Stonis Park in Cape Coral. The event unveiled these safe walking
paths for local community members and officially kicked off the
campaign.
The START! campaign encourages corporations and residents to
promote physical fitness in their homes and work places.
Everyone is encouraged to participate and “get moving” in order
to lower your risk of heart disease, which is the No.1 killer of
Americans.
Walking is an easy way for people to get active because it’s
free, everyone in the family can participate, and it has the
lowest drop-out rate of any exercise. So even if you walk around
your neighborhood in the evenings for just 30 minutes, three
times a week, you are actually increasing your long-term health
benefits.
You can sign-up for START! on the American Heart Association’s
Web site at
www.mystartonline.org.
In a few short minutes, you’ll be signed up online and be able
to track your steps taken each day on the Web site.
As someone who has worked in the healthcare environment for over
30 years, I have personally seen the benefits of exercise
positively affect the health of our patients. I urge all
residents of Southwest Florida to fight the “couch potato”
disease (I often refer to it as “cobweb’s disease”) that is
affecting so many of us these days…and let’s START! a healthier
tomorrow.
All it takes is a step in the right direction! Get off the couch
and shake the cobwebs loose!
To receive more information on the START! walking campaign,
or to sign your company up for the 2009 Heart Walk, please
e-mail
Leslie.Amick@heart.org.
Peace,
Jim Nathan, LMHS President
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