The Stress-free diet: exercise.

The Stress-free diet - exercise:

Rather than recommending a DVD for exercise, or suggesting that you go to a gym, this website recommends a book about neck and back pain - strange as it may seem! The title of the book is: The Back Pain Book: A Self-Help Guide for the Daily Relief of Neck and Lower Back Pain – by Mike Hage, published by Class Publishing (London) Ltd (click on the image to view at Amazon, or your local library may have a copy). The book is recommended (for both men and women) because it explains how the body's nervous system and 'structural' system (which includes bones, joints, muscles) are involved in exercise and posture - both of which affect our body shape. The knowledge that can be gained from this book can help anybody to improve their shape, level of fitness, and posture. Sports people are very knowledgable about the structure of their bodies, and they are both shapely and healthy - unlike most fashion models, who look as though they'll fall over in a strong wind!

The book describes three types of exercise:

“Release and lengthening exercises”:

“These exercises can help your system to calm down, relax, and mellow out; they are especially helpful during those times when you feel tight, tense, anxious, stiff, stressed, tired… “

Many television diet ‘experts’ force people to embark on a strenuous exercise routine, including gym work, which many people don't even want to try because it just looks too stressful. This website suggests that a lot of people would benefit from starting with Hage's ‘Release and lengthening’ and breathing exercises, and considering whether any of the advice about posture in the section about daily activities is relevant to them.

“Strengthening exercises”:

The book describes the benefits of these exercises in the context of strengthening the body to get rid of back pain, but the strengthening of the muscles referred to in each exercise will obviously improve a person’s appearance as well. The exercises are an excellent alternative to going to a gym, but the book does also give advice for those people who do want to go to a gym.

“Aerobic exercise”:

Aerobic exercise (such as walking, running, dancing) should be performed in addition to the “Strengthening exercises”, as it is essential for good general health, and it can help to achieve weight loss. The book gives advice as to how to perform aerobic exercise effectively, and without ‘overdoing it’.

As Mr. Hage commented himself, “ Attempting to read the entire book in sequence may be a bit overwhelming and may not be very efficient.”, but the author of this website believes that it’s really worth taking some time to read about posture and exercise, rather than buying a DVD and then desperately trying to keep-up with it! He later goes on to suggest that, “ In general, most people will benefit by performing a few release and lengthening movements on a daily basis, strengthening exercises 2-4 times a week, and aerobic exercise 3-4 times a week.”, and although that exercise programme is suggested in the context of getting rid of, and avoiding, back and neck pain, the exercise programme would be beneficial to anybody who wants to improve their shape and health.

The book is very easy to read, and contains numerous line-drawings of ordinary-looking people performing the exercises correctly, and incorrectly. There are also lists of exercises which are not recommended, so you’ve got to make sure you don’t absentmindedly try any of those!

In order to maintain general health, mobility, and general appearance, exercise has to be a life-long activity, but this book can help anybody to get started on an exercise programme, perform the exercises correctly, and feel completely relaxed about the whole thing!

Strictly come dancing!

The BBC's programme has renewed interest in all types of dancing, and whilst most people wouldn't want to do the strenuous training that the programme's competitors do, dance lessons and social dancing are enjoyable ways to exercise. You can find dancing schools listed in local classified 'phone directories, and of course you can search the Web for information about all the different types of dance. If you don't have a partner to take dancing, you could consider line dancing, which is performed to all kinds of music, not just Country & Western (see Linedancer magazine), or belly-dancing - local authorities sometimes offer evening classes in belly-dancing. Whatever kind of dance class you choose, you're sure to find people from all age groups.

Activities such as social dancing, casual walking, and gentle cycling, all 'count' towards increasing your level of fitness, but it is important that everybody has a 'core' regular exercise programme, which is what the Hage book can help you to achieve. The core exercise programme will also help you to get the most out of your social forms of exercise.

This website has been reviewed by a DMOZ editor, and is included in the DMOZ Directory. Because DMOZ only accepts good quality websites, Google includes DMOZ entries in its own Directory.

· Introduction - follow a balanced diet for weight-loss

· Guidelines - balanced diet

· Guidelines - fat

· Guidelines - sugar

· Guidelines - salt

· Guidelines - alcohol

· Food labels

· Breakfasts and mid-morning snack suggestions

· Lunch and mid-afternoon snack suggestions

· Evening meal and supper suggestions

· Eating out, special occasions, and holidays

· Morale, motivation and stress