Published: Saturday, January 28, 2012
Guest commentary / Exercise
Protect your health, transit riders
Community Transit is changing some bus routes on Feb. 20. It could be that your stop will move closer to your home and you will lose walking that has been part of your daily commute. If that happens to you, you should be aware of the health consequences. Here's why:
Walking is good for you. The average person burns about 80 calories every mile they walk. People lose about a pound for each 3,500 calories burned. That adds up to about one pound for every 40 miles. In a week of walking a mile each way to and from the bus stop, you burn off about a quarter pound of fat. That's about 10 pounds a year and 100 pounds in 10 years.
I recently shared these facts with a group of overweight people, and several said things like, "That explains it! I stopped walking to work 15 years ago, and now look at me!" That's the deal: No one chooses to become overweight, but changes in your life may start adding on the pounds. The changes may seem innocent, like moving to a neighborhood without sidewalks and without convenient walking destinations. It may be buying a car, or switching to working at home. Or it may be having the bus stop moved closer to your house.
However it happens, if you lose your walking, you lose that exercise that had been keeping the pounds and much ill health away.
If you have the misfortune that Community Transit has created a new stop closer to your home, you'll need to do something to avoid gaining weight in 2012. What can you do? One solution is to get on and off the bus at another stop. That's what I do most days now.
If you add walking to your commute, you need to dress appropriately: Walking shoes or sneakers, rain protection, fleeces and other outdoor gear will keep you comfortable.
Alternatively, you can take a walk after dinner -- what our grandparents called a "constitutional." Your doctor can confirm the recommendations of the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, the Federal Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. They all agree: You need a half hour of moderate to vigorous exercise on most days. Walking is moderate exercise. If you include a hill that is steep enough to get you huffing and puffing, that's vigorous.
You could go to a gym. Some people love gyms and get there regularly (not me, but maybe you). Other people go for jogging, tennis or square dancing. There are many ways to be active and avoid weight gain.
If you're like me, though, you won't do that other stuff. I have lucked out with the new routes: A stop that is currently 100 yards from my home is being replaced with one that is a mile away. That's why I am honestly grateful to Community Transit: Next year, I am guaranteed two miles of walking every day.
So I'm set, but what about you? If the new routes move your bus stop closer to your house, take steps to protect your health!
Nick Maxwell of Mill Creek rides the 115 and the 413 on Community Transit every weekday.
Walking is good for you. The average person burns about 80 calories every mile they walk. People lose about a pound for each 3,500 calories burned. That adds up to about one pound for every 40 miles. In a week of walking a mile each way to and from the bus stop, you burn off about a quarter pound of fat. That's about 10 pounds a year and 100 pounds in 10 years.
I recently shared these facts with a group of overweight people, and several said things like, "That explains it! I stopped walking to work 15 years ago, and now look at me!" That's the deal: No one chooses to become overweight, but changes in your life may start adding on the pounds. The changes may seem innocent, like moving to a neighborhood without sidewalks and without convenient walking destinations. It may be buying a car, or switching to working at home. Or it may be having the bus stop moved closer to your house.
However it happens, if you lose your walking, you lose that exercise that had been keeping the pounds and much ill health away.
If you have the misfortune that Community Transit has created a new stop closer to your home, you'll need to do something to avoid gaining weight in 2012. What can you do? One solution is to get on and off the bus at another stop. That's what I do most days now.
If you add walking to your commute, you need to dress appropriately: Walking shoes or sneakers, rain protection, fleeces and other outdoor gear will keep you comfortable.
Alternatively, you can take a walk after dinner -- what our grandparents called a "constitutional." Your doctor can confirm the recommendations of the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, the Federal Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. They all agree: You need a half hour of moderate to vigorous exercise on most days. Walking is moderate exercise. If you include a hill that is steep enough to get you huffing and puffing, that's vigorous.
You could go to a gym. Some people love gyms and get there regularly (not me, but maybe you). Other people go for jogging, tennis or square dancing. There are many ways to be active and avoid weight gain.
If you're like me, though, you won't do that other stuff. I have lucked out with the new routes: A stop that is currently 100 yards from my home is being replaced with one that is a mile away. That's why I am honestly grateful to Community Transit: Next year, I am guaranteed two miles of walking every day.
So I'm set, but what about you? If the new routes move your bus stop closer to your house, take steps to protect your health!
Nick Maxwell of Mill Creek rides the 115 and the 413 on Community Transit every weekday.
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