skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Tell Your Boss to "Take a Walk"

play audio
Play

Wednesday, April 6, 2011   

MINNEAPOLIS - People who go to work today are being urged to tell their bosses to "take a walk" - for better health, that is.

As part of National Start Walking Day, the American Heart Association also is encouraging everyone to wear sneakers to work today and get some exercise.

Rachel Larson, a certified personal trainer and registered dietitian at HealthEast's Woodwinds Health Campus, says with so many of our waking hours spent at work it's important to take a little time during the day to stretch, walk and just move your body.

"Take a break. Push away from your computer, push away from your work station, and walk. Maybe it's just walking through the building and back to your desk again. Maybe it's walking up and down the stairs a few times. Maybe it's walking down the hall to talk to a co-worker instead of sending an e-mail."

Other tips for at-work exercise include having walking meetings or taking part of the lunch hour for a brisk walk. According to the heart association, people gain two hours of life expectancy for every hour of regular, vigorous exercise - even if they don't start until middle age.

For those who haven't been active for awhile, Larson suggests starting with 10 minutes of walking and adding 5 minutes a day until an ideal time of 30 minutes is reached. Even 20 minutes per day has benefits, she says.

"That helps with reducing the risk of heart disease, it helps with weight maintenance, it helps reduce stress, and it's just all-around great to be outside and getting some fresh air."

The heart association estimates that walking an extra 20 minutes a day will burn off 7 pounds of body fat each year.

If the weather outside is not cooperating, Larson says, community centers may have indoor tracks. Some people walk at their local shopping malls. If motivation is a problem, she suggests setting up a walking date with a friend or neighbor.

"So now, you've got some time to be social, which makes us feel good, it increases our well-being, and our happiness factor. And then you're also moving - and of course, when we're moving, we're using up some calories, we're decreasing stress, maybe laughing a little bit - and it's just such a win-win."

Larson suggests the website startwalkingnow.org for other suggestions and resources, including how to find nearby walking paths.

"You enter your ZIP code where you live, how many miles you're looking to walk, and it will shoot you all of your options for that geographic location and your ability level, what you're looking for, where to walk, and it'll map it out for you. It is the coolest thing."


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Many factors affect a customer's bill amount, including energy usage, weather, and the number of days in a billing period, according to Arizona Public Service. (Jason Yoder/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

Social Issues

play sound

A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021