Health Unlimited Family Fitness and Aquatic Center 301-829-9730 410-795-0793 103 Century Dr. Mt. Airy Directions

Ask the Fitness Pro

Dan Strayton, general manager at Health Unlimited, holds a master's degree in exercise physiology. Dan currently writes a biweekly column for the Mt. Airy Messenger and would be happy to answer any questions you may have about exercise, health and fitness.

Got a question for the Fitness Pro? Just email Dan at info@myhealthunlimited.com and then pick up a Mt. Airy Messenger for the answer or check back here.

Below is his most recent column for the Mt. Airy Messenger. If you would like to read past “Ask The Fitness Pro” columns they can be found on the Mt. Airy Messengers website by clicking HERE.

You’re Better When You Move

There’s a memorable scene in the classic film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Fox, 1969) in which Butch and Sundance (Newman and Redford) are “applying” for a job in Bolivia as security guards for a mining operation. Testing the Kid’s skill, the employer asks Sundance to shoot a coin he has tossed on the ground some distance ahead of him. He wants Sundance to simply point his pistol at the coin and shoot – Sundance misses. As the employer walks away the scene plays out as such:

Sundance Kid: “Can I move?”

Percy Garis (employer): “Why would you want to…”

Sundance Kid quickly draws his weapon and fires, hitting the coin twice, then holsters his weapon.

Sundance Kid: “I’m better when I move.”

As we enter another new year and people look for ways to lose weight and get healthier, I think that should be our theme for 2008 – “I’m better when I move”. Use this phrase as motivation to keep yourself going throughout the year. Tape it to your refrigerator, alarm clock, wall, desk, computer screen, wherever you‘ll see it on a regular basis. Make it your screen saver and write it on the first day of each month on your calendar. Keep it in mind when you find yourself struggling with the motivation to exercise – you’re better when you move.

It’s a proven fact. When you exercise, you’re stronger, healthier, and more energized. You control your diabetes better, your arthritic joints don’t hurt so much, your muscles and bones are stronger, your posture is better, your mood is better, you’re more creative, your back hurts less and your heart is healthier. You take less medication, you visit the doctor less, you reduce your chances of getting chronic diseases and you recover better from colds, injuries and surgeries. As your fitness level improves, your horizons widen. You are better able to enjoy a round of golf, a walk in the woods or a vacation to your favorite destination. You manage the stress of daily life better, you have more fun with your kids and you sleep better at night. Your clothes fit better, you feel better and your family notices. You are better when you move!

Weight loss is usually at the top of everyone’s list for why they start exercising, and it is a worthy goal, but exercise alone will not produce the kinds of weight loss goals most people are searching for. Diet plays a crucial role in weight management and no weight loss plan is complete without somehow addressing your eating habits. All of the things I mention above will occur if you “lose weight in ’08” (another good phrase to live by this year) but many of them will occur even without the weight loss. Exercise is always beneficial and produces many positive changes within us physically and mentally. Keep that in mind if you are not losing weight at the rate you had hoped. Exercise is great for you and you’re better when you move. Stick with it and you will reap the benefits for many years to come.

Good luck and keep moving!

Download the PDF version here: I'm Better When I Move