Is your commute helping you lose weight?
Do you use public transportation to get around your city or town? If you do, a new study suggests that the extra bit of walking to and from your rail or bus stop will help you lose weight.
John M. MacDonald, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who studied the effects of a new light-rail line in Charlotte, N.C says that using the subway or bus increased the physical activity, and therefore the body-mass index, of people who started using it.The New York Times reported that those Charlotte residents surveyed who began to walk to the light rail instead of driving to work walked on average 1.2 miles total on their commutes to and from work. The average weight reduction found was 1.18 B.M.I. point.
If you commute by public transportation, you can increase your daily physical activity by getting off a stop earlier. Everyone else can incorporate more exercise into their daily routine by using the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator, walking or biking short distances instead of using the car, or parking far away from the entrance of a store where you are shopping.
What are other ways to incorporate more movement into your life?
Comments
I have to say, that as someone who uses public transportation and, increasingly, a bicycle to get around, while I haven't lost any weight, I have maintained my current weight and find that I have more endurance than my car-dependent friends.
It's interesting to observe friends and family from the suburbs when they visit NYC. As part of the NYC experience, we walk everywhere, so I encourage the able-bodied ones to walk. Amazing how they are worn out after just a leisurely, 10-minute walk. And I'm talking about 30something adults who are not overweight.
If you're someone who does take public transportation, walk, or ride to/from work and/or school, the tip about getting off as stop earlier is useful, as your body will adjust to the level of physical activity after a while.
I live in Manhattan. I take the BX12 bus and transfer to the the 2 train to get to work. Now, I can either take the 1 train one stop to get to the bus, or walk. When I first got my job, I thought I would save time by taking the 1 train to the bus. One day, I decided to walk to see how long that would take, and since then, I've been walking to my bus stop every day! It only takes 10-15 minutes. When I had to wait for the 1 train going uptown in the morning, I found myself waiting 10 minutes some days, anyway.
I'm curious if the study actually measured the BMI of each individual or simply figured that x-calories were being burned which - based on the flawed calories-in-calories-out model - then means that weight was lost.
I did not use any transport to get somewhere around few blocks. Easy jogging and some green tea is way to lose weight!
There are some tips you can use to cut down on your weight and maintain a healthy body, good luck!
1. Portion Control… “Eat to live….don’t live to eat.” Unfortunately, this has become a problem due to the advent of “super size” meals and increasingly huge portions at restaurants. Our concept of normal serving sizes is a distant memory. It is important to be mindful of how much food you consume at one sitting. Eat slowly and pay attention to your hunger level stopping when you feel comfortably full.
2. Inactivity… This should get you moving! A recent research study published by the American Cancer Society discovered that sitting 6 hours or more per day caused an increase risk of death by 40% in women and 20% in men. This 14 year study correlated an even higher percentage in people who didn’t exercise and sat for several hours throughout the day. A good tip to reduce this risk is to walk or stand for 5-10 minutes for every hour you are sitting.
3. Increase Fiber in Your Diet… Diets that are high in fiber will make you feel fuller for longer, thus causing you to eat less. This occurs because fiber is harder to digest which adds bulk in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, individuals who consume more fiber typically eat about 10% fewer calories. Foods that are high in fiber include whole grains, nuts, vegetables, citrus fruits, apples and beans.
5. Sugary Drinks. Most people try to reduce their calorie intake by focusing on food, but an easier way to cut calories is to eliminate calorie packed drinks. Calories in drinks are not hidden, but many people don’t realize just how many calories beverages can contribute to their daily intake. For example, a 12 ounce glass of apple juice contains almost 200 calories. As you can see, calories from drinks can really add up causing unwanted pounds.
Great tips. I try and live by these tips. These are tried and true lifestyle habits that will bring the weight down or help you maintain it.