Sitting Kills, Moving Heals by Joan Vernikos PhD
 Buy on Amazon |
| Sitting Kills, Moving Heals: How Everyday Movement Will Prevent Pain, Illness, and Early Death – and Exercise Alone Won’tBy: Joan Vernikos PhD Published by: Linden Publishing ISBN: 1610350189 Author’s Website: Format of Review Copy: Paperback Recommendable for people who enjoy: Self Help & Healthier Lifestyle How To books |
Synopsis (from Amazon):
This groundbreaking new medical work demonstrates how modern sedentary lifestyles contribute to poor health, obesity, and diabetes, and how health can be dramatically improved by continuous, low-intensity, movement that challenges the force of gravity. Citing her original NASA research on how weightlessness weakens astronauts’ muscles, bones, and overall health, the author presents a simple and effective plan for maintaining good health throughout life by developing new lifestyle habits of frequent gravity-challenging movement. Written for everyone who spends most of their lives sitting in chairs, at desks, and in cars, this practical, easy-to-follow action plan outlines simple gravity-challenging activities such as standing up frequently, stretching, walking, and dancing that are more healthful and effective than conventional diet and exercise regimens.
My Thoughts:
After seeing author John Green’s video on getting himself a treadmill desk, I really started paying attention to how much I sit every day.
He was right. I, my whole family – actually, sit a ridiculous amount of time each day! A few days after his video got me to thinking about my fitness, or lack there of – I was contacted by Quill Driver Books and offered this book to review. Coincidence? I think not! lol.
According to USA TODAY a recent study showed that prolonged sitting is linked to both breast cancer and colon cancer. Many of us have jobs or pastimes that, lets admit it… require out butts in a chair far too many hours a day. How are we supposed to deal with that? Sitting Kills, Moving Heals: How Everyday Movement Will Prevent Pain, Illness, and Early Death – and Exercise Alone Won’t by Joan Vernikos PhD is a 130 page answer.
This book was written by the former Director of NASA’s Life Sciences Division, Joan Vernikos, PhD. , who discusses the effects of gravity and being stationary have on us. It also contains tips on how to combat this problem. This is NOT an exercise book, instead it contains a few simple “activities” you can work into your everyday life.
This book is a manual for preventive health care and a guide to living a natural, health-sustaining lifestyle. – page 116
I thought this book was a quick read (read it in one afternoon) and I found it to be informative and helpful. I have been doing a few of the activities listed in the “Your Action Plan” section, and my back hasn’t hurt for 2 days. I can’t say for sure the two are related, but I can say I’m not doing anything else different…so…
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in finding some SIMPLE STEPS to living a healthier lifestyle. So many of these self help books are really pitches to get you to purchase a bigger product: a certain brand of protein shake or some overly expensive exercise machine *cough, treadmill desk, cough* Not this book. There is no “special equipment” needed and no “special foods” or pills to buy. Its just you, armed with the info, and whether or not you choose to implement that knowledge into your hefty sitting routine. =D
Edited to add: I am not dogging on John Green! I love him! Kuddos to him for being proactive with his health and taking steps to better it! I am just using the treadmill desk as an example of overly expensive equipment. At over a THOUSAND dollars, a treadmill desk is not an option for our family. So no hating on me! I <3 John and Hank!! #DFTBA