That's Fit

Researchers from UCLA have wrapped up a study that links job activity to men's risk of developing prostate cancer. The findings spell out good things for men who stay on their feet or physically exert a lot of energy on a daily basis.

The researches used strong elements to develop these results including personnel records, job description manuals, industrial hygiene review and retired worker interviews. In a nutshell, the message was clear: if you sit behind a desk all day, you'd better get out and do some kind of physical activity to counter balance it.

Jobs were categorized into low, moderate and high levels of activity. To give you an idea of the spectrum, low exertion levels commonly referred to managers and supervisors. On the other hand, workers classified in the high exertion category were men like mechanics and engineers. Those who developed prostate cancer were more likely to be in the low-activity classification than men doing other physically demanding things. You can find the write-up here for more information.

We all know it can be difficult to sneak healthy practices into busy workdays and hectic schedules. Sometimes the chore of working out and eating right becomes so overwhelming we let these tasks fall off our priority lists. Ditching good nutrition and physical fitness is never a good idea, though, and with a renewed commitment and a little creativity, these routines can stay right where they belong – at the top of our to-do lists. Here's how:

• Stash fiber-filled snacks like almonds and dried fruits in your desk drawer. Drop the same treats in your purse, briefcase, or car for days when you're on the go.

• Carry a water bottle wherever you go. Sip on it throughout the day, especially when tempted by a trip to the soda machine.

• Keep sneakers on hand for quick power walks during lunch.

• Strategically place a few hand weights so you can grab them when the baby is sleeping, when the boss is out to lunch, when your kids are playing quietly on their own.

• Drop a jump rope in the back of your car and jump your little heart out at rest stops during that long family car ride.

• Don't forget the old stand-by exercises that require nothing but your trusty body. Think push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, and squats and do them wherever and whenever you get the chance.

For more ideas on how to work in fitness, check out this resource.

Working women: do you feel like you're expected to do it all? I'm a big believer in setting yourself up for success in life, meaning making a point to work everyday towards having the life you really want. And for some women that life does in fact mean doing it all and having it all. But along with that dream comes a slew of stress, which means that learning how to manage and relieve that stress is paramount to success in both the big long-term pictures and the small short-term every day ones.

Here are some suggestions that may help if you find yourself struggling, and as always: feel free to share with us whatever works for you!

• Manage your finances and allow yourself a few treats Many women tend to feel guilty about spending any money on themselves, but by setting aside a little every week or month to use on treating yourself to something fun and relaxing you can not only help relieve some of the stress from piling up but you'll have more energy and a better attitude to put towards work, your family, and all your daily tasks.
  

I was reading some archive material today and found an interesting article from this past April. Are you ready? Here is the jist: diets don't work. Uh-oh -- them's fighin' words, right?

UCLA researchers stated that most dieters gain the weight they lose right back In fact, many gain more than they lost and end up being heavier than before the diet even began. Sound familiar? It does to me -- I've been there.

I love it when academia studies diet studies and pulls out the real information you'll never find in the marketing materials for low-carb food items and diet plans.

I wish it were simply in my genes to be sleek, slender, and fit. It's not. I have to work for my body. If I work at eating a lot and exercising not a lot, my body responds -- with extra pounds. If I work at eating right and exercising with a vengeance, my body rewards me with a more toned and trimmed look. That's just the way it goes, for most of us anyway. Not for Oscar winner Hilary Swank, who recently credited her slim, toned body to nothing more than good genes. Damn her!

"I think I've been blessed with my father's metabolism," says the 33-year-old actress who does enjoy some benefits of working out. She really loves power Pilates, and uses the exercise primarily for stress relief. Ultimately, though, it's dad who gets the credit.

"I try and get out as much as I can," she says, "but I think in the end I really have to give it up to my genes."

Ah, to be Hilary.

You may remember her as Jennifer on the classic TV show Family Ties or as the 34-year old wife and mom struggling to lose weight on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club 4. What you should remember now is that Tina Yothers has made some pretty impressive health and fitness strides. She just had a baby on September 24, in fact, and at her five-month pregnancy mark, she weighed less than she did when she first stepped on the Fit Club scale.

Mom to an almost two-year-old daugther and two sons from her husband's previous marriage, Yothers says, "I was triple this size when I was pregnant with Lilly since I only worked out my hand and mouth."

What joy Yothers must be experiencing. A new baby boy -- Jake -- and a new body. Yothers, who says her weight loss is due to a modified NutriSystem diet and working out three days a week, arrived at a bikini-ready body last October. I think congrats are in order all around.

Is a feeling of weakness and old age setting in to those of you in your mid-40s? It shouldn't be, but those gray hairs and work stresses start piling up, along with a lack of time to boot. It all combines to make us feel old.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Working out and exercise is not just for twenty-somethings or high school athletes. I know a few people in their 40s that would give any 18 year-old a run for their money, odd as that may sound.

It's never to late to exercise, eat right and feel like you're 21 again. All that stamina, strength and energy is still there, but life's changes have suppressed it. But, don't make that a reason to give up. Sure, it's hard to find the time, but is it worth it to prioritize your health and well-being in middle age? Heck, it should be the top priority for many of us.

While it might seem like "taking one for team" and coming into work when you're sick scores you points with the boss, it's actually the worst thing you could do. Your health suffers, your work suffers, and you're putting the health of everyone you work with in jeopardy.

Especially if you have salmonella poisoning.

It sounds almost ludicrous, but that's the was affliction plaguing one Canadian workaholic who, because of his condition, was ordered by health inspectors to stay home. However, instead of resting up, getting well, and taking the necessary tests to prove he was no longer a danger to others, the 20-year-old went right back to work.

Fortunately, no customers have reported becoming ill as result of the young man's irresponsible behavior, but both he and the bakery he works at were fined by medical officials. The man was out C$1,000 ($970), the bakery was fined c$1,500 and the owner and additional C$1,000.

So take this as a warning. Next time you're sick, take the day off. After all, who doesn't enjoy a day vegging out in front of old movies eating chicken noodle soup?

I'm not a gym girl. There's something about paying to join a health club that leaves me feeling obligated to huff and puff all the time. There's also the driving to and from the facility that always becomes a burden. For me, it's just too much pressure. I prefer to do my own thing. I like to walk and run on my treadmill at home, lift a few weights, stretch some resistance bands, hold a plank position for as long as I can stand it, master a handful of push-ups -- and spend lots of time outdoors.

There are seven steep hills in my neighborhood that cover a distance of 2.5 miles. I regularly tackle these inclines. Mostly I walk; sometimes I make a feeble attempt at running uphill. I've also mapped out another 2.5-mile trek through a nearby neighborhood. This is my running route. Sometimes I combine these two excursions into one. Lately, I've been doing a little bike riding with my 6-year-old -- he's new to the world of cycling and has quickly outpaced me -- and on occasion, I'll bike with my mom. I like the outdoors. It seems others do too.

Fresh air is linked to working out more. According to a blurb in the September 2007 issue of Good Housekeeping, people who walk, hike, or bike on trails at least once per week are twice as likely to get 30 minutes of exercise almost every day as those who don't head outdoors. This doesn't surprise me. Fresh air is refreshing, invigorating, and the scenery is so much better than indoors. It's motivating to witness the wonder of nature while exercising. So in the spirit of the great outdoors, I say: Skip the gym. Head outside. And take a stroll around this site for more tips from the folks at Good Housekeeping.

Have a female in your household who works from home? She may be better off working outside the home, according to a new Gallup poll. So, close that laptop lid and send her, well, somewhere else.

According to the latest poll, 58 percent of women surveyed chose to work outside the home if the choice was given, with 37 percent electing to work from home if possible.

Interestingly, the last time a substantial amount o women surveyed indicating a "work at home" preference was 1974. times were quite different then.

Oh, when it came to men, 68 percent said they would prefer to work outside the home.

Although fruit is healthy it may not always be the best thing for you when it comes to snacking and your lunch at work. Eating a meal or snack of mostly carbs will give you a hefty boost of energy right away, but it will also fade quickly and leave you feeling fatigued and drained. Eating protein and a little fat at meals along with a few carbs will slow down the digestion and even out the energy boost for a more productive and better feeling afternoon. Good choices include veggies and fish (or chicken) for lunch, and maybe an apple with cheese for a snack.

It used to be that the courtesy clerks at my local grocery store were all high school students. Now it's a mixture of students and seniors. The seniors seem happy to be there (certainly more happy than the sometimes surly students) but I sometimes wonder why they're there -- if it's because they like people, then I'm happy for them. But if it's because they don't have enough money to support themselves in retirement, I feel a little sad for them and hope they are at least enjoying their work.

Lately, lots of seniors are joining the workforce, both out of necessity and out of personal satisfaction. While I have broad dreams of spending my retirement sailing the world on a yacht, if that doesn't pan out, I can see myself working part time, whether I need to or not. Working is a great way to meet people, to keep occupied and truth be told, I like working -- it keeps me sane. The Huffington Post has a great piece on seniors in the workforce, including stories of people in their 90s who are still earning wages.

What do you think? Do you plan on working after 70?

Sitting at a desk all day is a pain in the butt -- literally. In summer particularly, I wish I was working a job where I had to move around. Unfortunately, there aren't too many jobs like that for a writer, so I will continue to be glued to my computer and relish the coffee breaks.

Here are some great tips from our friends at DIY Life on how to stay active even when you're working a desk job. Yes, it means getting up and actually moving around, but that's a good thing. Trust me. Check out their post for some great resources on getting moving at work, including desk yoga.

Here are a couple of my own suggestions -- when you're feeling the 3pm energy lag, instead of re-filling your coffee cup for the umteenth time that day, take a walk around the block. I swear it will wake you up. If you don't have time to do that, hold your hands above your head for a full minute. You'll look full but it will get the blood pumping.

This is one of those gadgets that made me laugh out loud when I first saw it, and then with a name like "Geek-a-cycle" the giggles only got worse until my stomach hurt. I get that us time-pressed and stressed out Americans of today's world have a hard time finding time to exercise, but this doesn't look all that healthy to me. Is it ergonomical? Plus she's wearing dress clothes and dress shoes so she must not be planning on working up much of a sweat. And I'm sorry, but doesn't this much simpler gadget do pretty much the same thing without being nearly as embarrassing?

But hey, if it works for you then go for it. Exercise is exercise, and I'm the last one to knock anybody for trying. And on the bright side, laughter is great medicine so you'll be doing your coworkers a healthy favor, too.

Here's something that I suspect a lot of people do: They put aside a certain amount to time, say an hour or so, for the gym. But of that time, they don't take in to account the time they spend changing, chatting to other members, showering, resting and so on. The amount of time that they actually spend working out is actually pretty short and ineffective. Maybe it's a subconscious thing, but regardless, it's taking precious time away from your all-important workout.

WebMD has created a list of what are the most common time-wasters at the gym. If you've noticed that your time at the gym is easy and fun, check out the list and consider the things that you might be doing to avoid the hard work.

Reading, chatting and resting are big things for me ... what about you?