HOW TO HELP YOURSELF
It does not have to mean a complete lifestyle change, but look to see if there are small changes that you can make.
A balanced lifestyle should include a moderate amount of exercise:20-30 minutes of moderate exercise, 2-3 times a week. This could be as simple as walking the dog with an increased walking pace, cycling to work or swimming 20 lengths. Remember if you have been doing no exercise at all, then even achieving 10 minutes a day is better than nothing! You can build this up as time and your fitness levels allow. Too much exercise and the body's natural defences are compromised.
If you know that you have poor abdominal muscle tone, either due to children, obesity, or complete lack of exercise, it is important that you address these too. You may want to start a Pilates class (see related article). If you join a gym, then it is good to ask a personal trainer to show you some simple exercise to help target the core muscles ( see related article), these will help to strength both your stomach and back muscles. If you are not a member of a gym, then starting with the daily stretch plan (downloadable sheet), is a good starting point!
If you are overweight, you will probably already be aware of the problems that this brings. However, make little changes to start with. If you are starting to implement some exercise into your routine, then this will help with your metabolic rate which is one of the things responsible for how many calories you burn up in a day. Also have a look at what you could start to cut back on. Don't set yourself unrealistic goals, as all that will happen is that you will fail from the outset.
If you find that you have become demotivated or depressed, you may also find that gentle exercise helps, as we release "feel good" chemicals called endorphins when we exercise. If these feelings have escalated then it would be advisable to seek professional advice from either your General Practitioner or a Complementary Health Practitioner such as a Psychotherapist or Homeopath.
If you wish to discuss any of these issues further, or wish to book an appointment with one of our therapists, then please contact the Clinic on 01273 835116 or www.sussex-osteopath.co.uk
