Want to Protect Your Brain? Start Moving!

Weekend Warriors Get Some Good News

When it comes to workout frequency, there are often two sides: people who exercise throughout the week, and people who try to squeeze it on over the weekends.

Sue says she does it all week, “Or I’d get too lazy to do it.”

Susan says you should do whatever feels best for you and, “At the moment, daily dance is bringing me great joy.”

And Tony starts every day with 50 jumping jacks.

How about you? Would you rather exercise every day or two — or make it up in just a couple of days?

Well, there’s good news for the Weekend Warriors out there. According to a new study, they may gain the same health benefits as people who spread out their exercise.

The key is to get the recommended amount, which is 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. People are also urged to get in two sessions of strength training per week.

The findings were published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation and presented at the German Cardiac Society’s Heart Days conference in Hamburg.

“The bottom line is that it’s really the total volume of physical activity, rather than the pattern, that matters,” said Dr. Shaan Khurshid, the study’s co-senior author and a cardiac electrophysiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “The important thing is that you get your recommended levels of physical activity. If one to two days a week works for you, you’re still going to get that benefit.”

The analysis came from analyzing physical activity levels and disease prevalence for 90,000 people in the United Kingdom with an average age of 62 years. Researchers tracked hundreds of diseases, including circulatory, digestive, skin, cancers, mental health disorders and more.

The participants were broken up into three categories:

Inactive: Participated in less than the recommended 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity.
Regularly Active: Participated in 150 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week.
Weekend Warriors: Participated in 150 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, with more than half of their activity occurring within 1–2 days.

People who exercised throughout the week had a lower risk of 205 conditions. Weekend Warriors had a lower risk of 264.

“The strongest associations between physical activity and lower disease risk were found among cardiometabolic conditions, including a more than 20% lower risk for high blood pressure, more than 40% lower risk for diabetes and sleep apnea, and a roughly 50% lower risk for obesity,” the American Heart Association said. “There were no significant differences in disease risk reduction between weekend warriors and weeklong exercisers when they were compared directly.”

This is a great reminder that exercise has countless health benefits. And it should discourage anyone from thinking that fitness requires intense devotion.

You don’t have to live at the gym, or even come workout every day.

Of course… we’d love it if you did!

Exercise Keeps Your Brain Strong, Too

Did you know physical exercise protects not only your body – but your brain, too?

It’s true! Here’s how:

Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, so it gets oxygen and nutrients needed for proper function – like memory, focus, and processing.
It stimulates the release of dopamine and serotonin, which are needed to regulate mood and lower stress – reducing the risk of depression and anxiety.
It helps grow and support new brain cells and neural connections. Research is showing that it can prevent cognitive decline and even lower the chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Most people are more familiar with the physical benefits of regular physical activity. It helps keep us at a healthy weight; manages blood pressure; prevents diabetes; and keeps us strong to function throughout our lifetimes, among many others.

The brain-body connection is real, multifaceted and powerful.

What else is good for brain health?

Eating right, avoiding over-processed junk food
Managing stress through meditation, breathing exercises, etc.
Interacting with family, friends, and others
Regularly stimulating your brain in new ways, especially combined with movement

Workout with us for body and brain strength – plus fun and friendship to keep your mood and social skills up, too.

It all adds up, and the role of fitness can’t be underestimated in maintaining mental health.

If you’re not already in gear, come see us today and let’s get you going!

Meme: Keep Moving

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National Hispanic HEROES & Heritage Month (Sept 15 – Oct 15)

This month, we not only celebrate Hispanic heritage but also honor the Hispanic heroes who have shaped the world we live in. Without these trailblazers, Texas wouldn’t be the state we know today.

Join us and the Exchange Club of Sugar Land in celebrating Hispanic heritage with a tribute to YOUR hero in our 2024 Field of Honor®️! Whether it’s a family member, mentor, or local legend, a flag flying proudly for three days can symbolize their impact on your life.

You can personalize your hero’s flag with their name and story for just $50.

Click here to buy your flag and honor a special hero today!

This is your chance to be part of a historical moment — just like last year when we raised $67,000 for local charities by flying 1,000 flags at the UH-Sugar Land campus. This year, let’s honor even more of the heroes that make our communities strong. 💪

Know a hero like SSGT Macario Garcia, Ellen Ochoa, or a personal hero in your life? Now’s the time to give them the recognition they deserve! 🎖

Buy a flag today at: www.escl.org