A Secret to Longevity
This beautiful lady is 95 years young tomorrow! She’s my inspiration. Born and raised on a farm in North Dakota and the oldest of 7, she has always had a good balance on health and living a long life. Here is what I know she can attribute to that:
Eating whole foods - farm girl through and through, you can’t get more real than that.
Walking daily. For as long as I have known her, she has walked 2 miles a day, up until recently when her eyesight has diminished.
She always has a positive attitude and chooses to look on the bright side of every situation. She has the kindest heart and loves unconditionally. She also didn’t take bull from anyone. Just sayin’. She is a strong woman through and through.
She’s my hero!
That advice alone should be enough. Do those things consistently and you’ll live a longer life. (It’s not just my Grandma Ruth by the way, but so many studies have attributed those attributes to longevity.)
HAve you heard of Blue zones?
Check out Blue Zones - areas of the world that have been proven to live the longest, happiest and healthiest lives. These zones span all different continents and different cultures, but they share 9 commonalities that have led to a trend in longevity.
BONUS: if you have Netflix you can watch the episode of Down to Earth with Zac Effron where he visits a Blue Zone in Sardinia and meets these centenarians and uncovers their secrets.
Today, I want to DIVE DEEPER into one of these key components to living a longer and healthier life: walking. As a certified personal trainer, I have spent many years training my body hard. Most of the time for specific performance goals I’ve had for myself and other times to maintain a specific healthy aesthetic that I knew I could safely achieve. But even with all that training, the one thing my ALL or Nothing brain wouldn’t allow me to conceptualize was how effective walking is for my overall health, fat loss, and bonus: longevity.
I could go into all the types of exercise and what’s good for various seasons of life, but for now, it's important to know whether you are currently working out 5-6 days a week or are just trying to figure out how to get back into a routine, walking is something everyone should be doing daily. Just 15 -30 minutes of walking, or even moving and working around your home (it’s yard work season!) are found to be beneficial in a big way!
We try to hit a trail at least 2 times a month for longer walks. It’s one of our favorite family hobbies. Plus, it creates adventure, memories, and stories to share with others.
Benefits of Walking:
Boosts your metabolism
Gets your blood flowing - improving heart and lung health
Aids healthy digestion
Burns fat
Increases muscle strength and endurance
Gets you outside and in the sunshine (yes, even when the clouds are there you’re getting exposure to natural light which is crucial to healthy digestion)
Refreshes your mind, keeps you more focused and alert, creating more productivity
Reduces stress and boosts your mood
Keeps you from sitting too long which can have an adverse effect on your joints, muscles, and mobility.
It’s free!
Wherever you are on your fitness journey, I highly encourage incorporating walking into your daily routine.
Need a break at work? = WALK
Kids are driving you crazy? = take them on a WALK (or at least outside to play!)
Feeling down or sad? = WALK (maybe invite a friend too!)
Have a craving you know is not helpful? = WALK
Now, walk on over to snag these Cinco De Mayo Cocktail and Mocktail recipes! They are favorites in our house and I know you’ll love them too!
This week’s Tasty Twist - Clean Crafted MIMOSAS, MULES & MARGARITAs
Make your Cinco De Mayo Celebration festive without the sugar crash hangover. Click here for recipes.
