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Because high levels of physical activity is in our genetic makeup. Our genes haven't changed much since our Paleolithic ancestors, but our activity levels certainly have! One hypothesis related to the prevalence of obesity in our country is that our genetic make-up, based upon evolutionary biology, is at war with our current lifestyle. And modern times have brought more disease. One part of our lifestyle is, " the amount of daily activity" we participate in on a daily basis aside from our exercise programs. I remember several years ago when I had a discussion with a client who was about to take the elevator as he was leaving the gym. I asked him why he didn't choose to walk down the stairs instead, and his basic answer was that he spent plenty of time on the Stairmaster. I didn't get to ask him, how much time he spent sitting at a computer (I myself shop online quite a bit, including grocery shopping!), e-mailing co-workers located in the same office, taking taxis', pushing buttons on the universal remote, and well, we get my point! While our formal exercise programs are essential because they enhance our fitness levels and health, daily activities give us the chance to put our exercise programs to functional use. When we increase our daily activity level, we also burn lots of calories, including more from our fat stores too. Our body uses our stored fat as the main source of fuel during prolonged activity. During formal exercise, we burn calories mostly from our stored carbohydrates, and of course some fat. However, prolonged daily activities such as walking more every day, adds up to more body fat burned. I even once found myself happy at the prospect of vacuuming as I reminded myself " I'm burning calories"! Increasing our daily activities also increases our circulation, which is heart and blood vessel healthy (especially after a large meal when all we may want to do is rest). This is why heart patients are up and about as soon as possible after surgery. So, even if weight management isn't an important issue this season, getting more physical activity is. It's important for our bones, our brain, for enhancing our immune system to fight disease, and in my opinion, being able to eat a bit more this season due to more activity, doesn't hurt either. Lastly, we may burn a few hundred calories while exercising, but we can burn a few hundred more just by moving more. Burn just an extra 100 calories over the course of a day, and it can add up to 10LBs in one year as long as we don't add any extra food. Imagine burning even a little more? Anyone remember the study that pointed to a high correlation of fidgeting to a high degree of calorie burning? Okay, the point is, decreasing our food intake is only half the equation of a long term weight management effort. In fact, in a time when Americans are eating more non- fat foods and dieting more than ever before, we are heavier than ever before. But, then again, half a century ago and longer, we didn't have remote controls, computers and all the other modern technological advances that keep us in our chairs. Want to track how many calories you can burn during different activities this season and beyond? Check out this site http://www.caloriecontrol.org/exercalc.html (I think I better get up from my chair now). Here's to a happy, healthy holiday season, with a bit more food and more daily activity! June M.Lay M.S. www.junefit.com Check out my "Pomegranate Sangria" recipe posted on my recipe page (It is the holiday season!). Also posted now under my exercise page: Feeding our Muscles Food to fuel our work outs. Junefit ranks top at Google for "fitness tips" search out of millions of results! Junefit is included in Google's top ranked women's health resources http://directory.google.com/Top/Health/Women's_Health/Resources/ June is Lifestyle Columnist at www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/index.shtml (C) Junefit.com All rights reerved. www.HealthNewsDigest.com Top of Page 
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