Exercise-It's just that simple, put in the effort!

If anyone has noticed, there has been a growing trend of obese people.

Why is that so?

Here is a reason that i think may be the cause of it.

Fast food-they are becoming increasingly cheap, affordable and convenient. As such, due to the hectic, busy lives that people tend to have, fast food is their first option on their what-to-eat list. Besides, fast food like Macdonalds, KFC, are all so pleasant and nice on our taste buds. Having tried it once, there will be a twice and more.

With obesity, comes many different kinds of illness. High blood pressure is one of them all.

Therefore, based on my information in my brain, and from Reader's Digest January 2004, here's a few tips to help people combat obesity.

1) Cut down on eating fried food or fast food

2) Eat more vegetables (They aren't called healthy leafy greens for nothing)

3) EXERCISE.

No pain no gain for exercise right?

When i speak of the word exercise, it has dawned on me that not much people like to exercise. It may also be partially due to their hectic work schedules that they are unable to do so.

However, based on the American Journal of Hypertension, it has been found that,

as little as one hour of exercise a week will reduce high blood pressure.

This is good news isn't it?

However, i still know of some people whom do not like to exercise because they hate being sweaty or clammy.

So, here's a exercise for you which all "sweat-haters" out there can do (:

T'ai Chi

"T'ai" literally means grand/limitless

&

"Chi" means inner energy/ your very essence of life.

Today, T'ai Chi is referred as internal kung fu or meditation in motion.

T'ai Chi is not about force or strength. However, it is about flow. It works on the whole body, including your mental state while other sports and hard workouts only tone the external muscles.

It was invented by a 14th century Taoist monk, Zhang Sanfeng, whom observed a crane and a snake fighting in a pond.

Statue of Zhang Sanfeng at Wudang Mountain

He was struck by the ebb and flow of the action of the crane and a snake, both of whom seem to be yielding to each other yet giving no ground. As such, he adapted their movements into a martial art based on the Taoist principles of balance between negative and positive, give and take, push and pull.

T'ai Chi brings about many benefits to the people whom are doing it. People whom do it discovered that by doing those movements super slowly, it enabled them to feel everything that was taking place in their bodies.

Regardless of whether you are young, old or middle-aged, everyone can do it.

The movements in T'ai Chi is not fast or strenuous. Rather, the movements are slow and gliding-like. T'ai Chi may look simple to those just observing others doing it, however, is is actually not so. Below this post is a video of T'ai Chi for people to view if they would like to know more about their actions etc.

T'ai Chi's movements, if done fast, can be a application for self defence too.

There has been research done and proven for T'ai Chi's health benefits.

• Based on a research done by Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield in the UK, it has been found that T'ai Chi slows the heart rate and lower blood pressure in heart-attack victims.
• As stated by Leslie Wolfson at the University of Connecticut Health Centre, T'ai Chi also helps in balance. This may be especially needed for old people whom may be afraid to go out for the fear of falling.
• The US National Institute of Health and Harvard Women's Health Watch also acknowledged that T'ai Chi has a very powerful effect on some ailments. This includes, arthritis to heart problems, bone loss and ageing.
• Other studies have also suggest that T'ai Chi has positive effects on diabetes, lower back pain and depression.

Critical to T'ai Chi is the way that one stands and hold themselves. One's body is always strongly rooted , such that, even though one might withdraw to avoid an attacker, their footing must be firmly grounded.

Thus, for those whom are looking for an easier, less sweaty way out, T'ai Chi is one recommended exercise. Not only is it slow and steady, it has many health benefits too.

Although sometimes, for young and middle-age people whom have no joint problems or illness, i'll recommend you guys to go for jogs, runs or even brisk walks. Sometimes, sweating it out may be a good thing too. So, consider that (:

If not, stick to T'ai Chi.

For those whom are not able to lose weight even after exercising, having a healthy balanced diet etc, fret not.

For it has been shown, based on the research done by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, where the researchers followed 6391 overweight people and obese people for nine years and found that the death rate was 24 per cent lower for those whom tried to lose weight(even if unsuccessful) than in people whom did not even try at all.

So, good luck on living a healthier lifestyle people!

Tai Chi for beginners

References

Dyson, J.(2004, January). Limitless Energy. Reader's Digest January 2004, 100-105