The-Slight-Edge

192 The Slight Edge
That is an increase of 350 calories from 20 years ago. If you eat that extra 350
calories just two times a month, that would put on two extra pounds a year, or 40
pounds in the next two decades. And what if you are eating that extra 350 calories
two times a month—where is that getting you? If you were to intake those 350
extra calories twice a week, that is 1,500 extra calories a month, which may not
seem like much. But the compound effect of those extra calories over a year or
years equates to many extra pounds. If that is not the Slight Edge working against
you, I don’t know what is.
Our portions are growing and growing, and we have rapidly become, pardon
the pun, a “Biggie Size” nation. Meanwhile our daily activity is decreasing as we
become more and more of a sedentary society. In fact, a very small percentage of
the U.S. population have physically active occupations. And to make it worse,
most are content to sit in front of the TV. Studies show the typical American
spends 30 hours a week in front of the TV, yet only 27% of American get the
recommended amount of weekly exercise. It seems we have some hours we can
take from TV watching to re-invest in our health.
If we could dedicate 30 minutes a day to physical activity, we would see vast
health benefits that no TV program can provide for us.
With just 30 minutes of physical activity a day you can:
disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers)
Research by Gallup Management concludes that “People who exercise at
least two days a week are happier and have significantly less stress. In addition,
these benefits increase with more frequent exercise. We found that each additional
day of working out increased energy levels.”
Wow! Can you see what big benefits are in store for you when you combine
daily actions with a little discipline? Just start somewhere. It can be as easy as
running a lap around your block. But if you don’t start somewhere you will never
attain your health goals.
Take the example of Jereme, 21, who discovered how small actions that
compound over time make a difference. She has a passion for the sport of
gymnastics. But the older she got, the more competitive the sport got.