By: Oleda Baker
For women, jogging, running and jumping for exercise is asking for health problems. Once you know why, I hope you will want to stop right now!
Some of the damage from performing these exercises over a period of time cannot be undone without surgery later in life. I beg you to please ask your doctor to discuss this with you. My doctor did many years ago, when I told him I was jumping rope for exercise.
Here’s What Happens To The Body
Perhaps teenagers can get away with it for awhile, but the pounding effects are cumulative, and, starting in mid-life the feet, knees, heels, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints and the lower
back and hips begin to develop problems that can be permanent.
Years ago, I used to jump rope, but my doctor told me that, in addition to all the other problems, the jumping up and down like that can cause a woman’s organs to drop over a period of time and can cause other long range problems, too. He explained that these organs could drop and become pressed against the bladder and, over time, can cause incontinence, which is not uncommon in women today. It also causes one to urinate too frequently because of the pressure. My doctor advised me to stop jumping rope IMMEDIATELY . . . I did. Oh boy … am I glad he told me that! You are never too young to stop!
What Does Work
Take brisk walks instead, or use a soft track treadmill (has more flexibility).
Walking is a workout with no disadvantages. Almost anyone can do it, with zero chance of injury. You can walk practically anywhere, either alone or with a friend or family member. It’s free! It requires no special equipment.
Walking can also be a great aerobic workout for training the body’s cardiovascular system. It can help reduce body fat. Walking tones and firms the hips and thighs, and develops the calf and shin muscles better than running. While running can tend to make the leg muscles look bunched up and contracted, walking tones the entire length of the muscles and helps them stay long. Walking is good for the mind as well as the body.
As with all forms of exercise, correct form will enhance the effectiveness of the walking workout. Good posture allows you to move quickly. Stand erect when walking to protect the lower back and improve your abdominal strength. Hold your head up. The foot action is a heel strike followed by rolling onto the ball of the foot and pushing off the toes.
Swing the arm from the shoulder and shorten its angle to 90 degrees to move faster. The faster pace may feel hard to hold at first. Your shins may fatigue, too. Make a goal of walking 2 to 3 miles three times a week minimum. Treadmill counts.
If you are not used to walking don’t overdo the speed for the first week…build up to it. Toward the end slow down and stroll for the last 5 minutes so that you do not stop abruptly.
Gradually increase the distance each day and walk faster until you’re walking at a steady brisk pace.
Keep up the regimen. You’ll be amazed at how good you’ll begin to feel in a short time; and at the end of six months, you may not even recognize yourself….AND…you have kept your body intact from the hazards of body injuries caused by jogging, running and jumping rope, injuries that are directly related to the impact of repetitive stress on ligaments, tendons, joints, and the lower back. Remember, the force of running puts between three and five times your body weight on your feet and ankles …walking puts much less stress on the entire body.
Until next time,
Love, Oleda
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Biography
Oleda, now 75, began her career as a high fashion model with the prestigious Wilhelmina Model Agency, in New York City. She is the author of ten books on beauty, health and anti-aging and one novel Reluctant Goddess. Oleda is founder and CEO of Oleda and Company, Inc., her 38-year-old anti-aging products company. www.oleda.com . oleda@oleda.com Her latest book, “BREAKING THE AGE BARRIER Great Looks and Health at Every Age,” is due out mid Oct 2010. Oleda is also a visionary artist. Her oil paintings have been exhibited in museums and galleries around the country, the latest one last year at the Museum of Florida Art, DeLand. www.oledaart.com.