As the anti-obesity crusading mayor of New York City once said, "'Stubborn' isn't a word I would use to describe myself; 'pigheaded' is more appropriate."
Well, as Mayor Bloomberg's discovered, nothing is more stubborn a problem than obesity, and it's turning middle age into old age for millions of young people. Almost two-thirds of 22-year-olds are overweight or obese! And around half of them will develop type-2 diabetes, hypertension, or a blood clot, or have a heart attack or stroke - or even worse, die - before reaching age 55.
If that's YOU, it's time to kick off those stubborn extra pounds. The good news is: All you gotta do is bend a bit, one knee at a time, as you ramp up your physical activity and improve your nutrition. Here are a few increasingly popular, bring-out-the-kid-in-you ways to get movin' and groovin':
- Hopscotch for a charity. There are Hopping-4-a-Cure events for multiple sclerosis.
- Hop into a hula hoop. World Hoop Day is July 7, and workouts are on YouTube.
- Don't dodge dodgeball. Community dodgeball leagues are everywhere.
- Get a healthy-eating partner. Sign up for healthy cooking lessons (bet they're some in your area); and find support online at sites like www.buddyslim.com. They can make it easier to stick with your new workout routines, relaxation programs and eating habits (you know the drill; avoid the Five Food Felons, and eat fish and skinless poultry, lots of veggies and fruits and 100 percent whole grains).