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Exercise guidelines help you 'get active your way'

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The government has raised the bar for physical activity levels — and nobody's exempt, not even children or older adults. And exercise researchers couldn't be happier.

The newest Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are the most comprehensive federal recommendations ever and the new gold standard.

Don't start exercising without preparation

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If you're 21 years old or older and live a sedentary lifestyle, don't start any exercise regimen without first getting a doctor's approval. That's Step No. 1 of Scot Long's advice for getting off the couch and in shape.

Find the right tools to get into shape

Luis Castro, a fitness specialist at Baptist Healthplex in Jackson, passes a stability ball from his hands to his feet.

Remember when getting (or staying) in shape meant jogging around the neighborhood, suffering through a dozen or so reps of push-ups and sit-ups, or some old-fashioned jump-roping Muhammad Ali style? At most, the investment was a pair of sneakers and a couple of dumbbells.

Rebounding Alternating Lunge (Thighs)

Jeannie Mullen of Jackson demonstrates rebounding alternating lunges with trainer Lisa Newman.

Purpose: The alternating lunge lets you move in a third dimension - vertically or up and down.

Rebounding Alternating Chest Press AND Toe Flexions (Chest)

Yvonne Brooks of Madison demonstrates the rebounding alternating chest press and toe flexion with trainer Lisa Newman.

By Lisa Newman
Special to GetFitMississippi.com

Columns

Don't fear the personal trainer

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You may be asking yourself, “Why work with a personal trainer in the first place?”
The sounds of encouragement from your personal trainer will help you overcome obstacles and road blocks along the way to the perfect you. A personal trainer (PT) is certified by a number of organizations.

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Forum posts

  • Here are fitness gadgets to help motivate you:

    http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2008/12/11/business/AP-TEC-Holiday-Tech-Gifts-Fitness.html

  • I was reminded this morning that it doesn't always have to be the gym, or a long bike ride. Little things that we can do throughout most days can add up to some fairly significant calorie burning too. Who would have guessed that shopping or walking the dog for a half hour burns about 100 calories?

  • One of the most inspiring stories to me from the Olympics was that of swimmer Dara Torres, a 41-year-old mother who won three silver medals for the U.S. and came within one hundredth of a second of winning a gold.

    Her performance has inspired Lance Armstrong to start training for another run at the Tour de France.

    Here's the latest on her:

  • Good news from a new study: The fat gene can be defeated with exercise.

    Here's the story on CNN:
    http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/09/08/obesity.gene.exercise.ap/index.html

    Nice to know that exercise can even help overcome our bad genes.

  • Great way to log on and record activity on an online spreadsheet......... The membership is FREE! And you can earn rewards (you have to purchase the rewards) ---- So far I have earned a bronze medal and I am on my way toward silver!

    Here is the address for the site:

    www.presidentschallenge.org

    Cool site as well!

Blog posts

  • Bonnie Newman was born in Norwich Connecticut and moved to Waterford when she was 10. She graduated from Waterford High School and attended UCONN.
    After college, she got a job at the Old Saybrook Racquetball Club. She is one of their four fitness trainers. When she is not doing

  • Bill Manker lives in San Fransisco. He works for Diets2Go in their diet food delivery department. Bill is married and has 4

  • Kaye Chandler lives in Houston Texas. She is married and has two wonderful little girls and a loving husband. They live right near the ball park and love to go to football and baseball games.

  • June loves to eat and ballooned up to 250 lbs last summer before going on a href='http://www.waverlyweightloss.com/weightlossdiet.html'>weight loss diet . She is now down to her ideal weight and can fit into her college jeans. Her family is so proud of her and she has even has plans
    to run in the New York Marathon