So far this summer we’ve promoted the benefits of getting back in the water/swimming and we featured a biking addition connecting you with Yay Bikes! rides. Of course these are great ways to have fun and stay active, but if biking, swimming, or running isn’t your thing… that’s totally fine. You don’t have to become a fitness junky to reap the benefits of ‘just moving.’

“Physical inactivity causes 1 in 10 deaths worldwide, according to a series of studies released in British medical journal The Lancet, putting it on par with the dangers of smoking and obesity…Specifically, Harvard researchers say, inactivity caused an increase in deaths from coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breast and colon cancers and caused more than 5.3 million deaths in 2008 worldwide.” (cnn.com)

What does our Team of Experts have to say about the issue?

I had a conversation with Dr. Marsh from OSU Medical last week and he was telling me about ‘Blue Zones’, areas where the people live measurably longer lives. Amongst other key factors Dr. Marsh said one of the secrets to longevity in these areas is that the people move more. “They aren’t necessarily focused on fitness, instead they move as a way of life.” They walk more and ride bikes more. They aren’t accustomed to sitting for long hours in an office or sitting for long hours at home. They ‘just move.’

Build your own culture of daily movement!

To lower your risk or of preventable disease we aren’t suggesting you have to move to some small village in the Mediterranean to adopt a more active culture. For many of us, it’s easier than we think. It starts with a ‘flip’ or a mindset shift ‘I am going to move more during the day.’ Then decided how you want to make it a part of your life. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Ideas from FLIP’s wellness coach, Sally Kennedy:

Sally’s list of things to do this summer: (go on a picnic, go camping, volunteer, help an older neighbor with their yardwork, attend a concert, turn the TV off and go for a walk, organize a scavenger hunt.) read more.

Sally’s 5 tips for breaking through procrastination:

Work it in. For me personally, I found the best way to get more movement in during the day is to incorporate it into my office routine (frequent trips away from the desk, finding a place to stand and work instead of sitting, stretching, shadow boxing, using small weights I keep at my desk).

Join Walk With a Doc for walks on the weekends http://www.walkwithadoc.org/

Check out SparkPeople’s list of 40 things to try when you don’t want to work out

Try a new event! Here’s an event with a little liquid motivation along the way: Tap N Run this Saturday in Columbus. Walk or run and enjoy delicious brews along the way!

Find someone to move with! I think one of the great poet’s of our time, Ludacris said it best… “when I move, you move” – just like that.