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By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom Are you one of those people who never can find the time to exercise? Are you so busy with your daily activities that a regular run or walk isn’t even on your radar? If so, the national campaign called Run At Work Day might interest you. It’s a day of raising awareness about the importance of daily physical activity in supporting good health, a “call to action” to make room for physical activity in your life. And you don’t have to be a runner to participate. The goal, for both adults and children, is to include at least a 30-minute walk some time during your day.  While we all know the benefits of exercise on cardiovascular health, a mid-day boost of physical activity has other health benefits. A 30-minute walk can be the perfect stress reliever. Walk with a friend or listen to your favorite music. Feeling some late afternoon fatigue? Instead of a coffee break, take a walk for some fresh air (and maybe some sunshine!) for an energy boost.  If you don’...

By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom We all know the benefits of regular physical activity on our long-term health. But many people do not find that the reward of sustained good health is sufficient for them to stick with any activity plan. Some new information has emerged, which shifts the focus away from the long-term benefits of exercise, to the “immediate” benefits of exercise.  So, how soon is “immediate”? That’s defined as during the activity, and within the next few hours. Here’s a perfect example for the working Mom. Instead of the advice to “make sure to accumulate 150+ minutes per week of activity,” which can be a very frustrating message, the updated idea is to take a family walk (children, partner, others) after dinner, for 20 minutes or so. The immediate benefits are digestive health, additional family time, regular activity for Mom (to relieve stress and sleep better), and setting an example for her children that being active is fun. It’s an immediate sense of well being that ca...