| The statistics show that for almost every state in the | | | | like the Hamburg area - close to Detroit. |
| United States the population is getting over weight. This | | | | Looking online, I found very little information connecting |
| is blamed on many factors; fast food, more meals at | | | | health, exercise and more importantly, fun ways of |
| restaurants somewhat connected to working longer | | | | getting exercise. There is virtually no content |
| hours with both mothers and fathers working. This | | | | connecting bike riding, kayaking, roller blade, cross |
| leads to less time to exercise and more calorie intake. | | | | country skiing, snow shoeing, ice skating with health |
| People of all ages but especially young people are | | | | and weight loss. With the current health care crisis I |
| spending more time on computers inside, less time | | | | find this lack of content very strange. |
| outside in physical activities. Kids don't walk to school | | | | There are many more sports than I mentioned above |
| anymore, they are all bused or driven to school. Even | | | | that could be included. Many of those I listed can be |
| worse they are driven to the bus stop, even if it is at | | | | started by people who are overweight, out of shape, |
| the end of their driveway! With all these statistics on | | | | or older in age, and they are fun to do. Not like |
| the population growing heavier and less healthy one | | | | dragging yourself to the gym, they get people active |
| would think there would be more content online | | | | and many times the activities don't feel like exercise. |
| showing people how to get more exercise. | | | | Calories can be burned without it feeling like torture or |
| Much work could be done on getting people to eat | | | | a lot of work. |
| healthy, or eat less, stop the super size craze but | | | | Kayaking for instance is a sport open for many people |
| really people would be healthier no matter what they | | | | with walking disabilities. If you have lost your ability to |
| eat if they got the proper amount of exercise. I have | | | | walk but still have upper body capability you can kayak |
| to be honest, I get bored going to a gym and lifting | | | | and get exercise, enjoying yourself without having the |
| weights, running around a small track, or using | | | | disability slow you down. There are certified instructors |
| machines doing reps sharing sweat with a bunch of | | | | available to show disabled people how to get into |
| strangers. This also costs money for memberships | | | | kayaking safely. Ann Arbor Michigan along the Huron |
| and it takes effort to plan to go to the gym, and follow | | | | River has been offering these types of clinics though |
| through. The private gyms appear to be over | | | | local paddling groups. The Great Lakes Paddlers |
| crowded at the times I want to go, and low cost | | | | website is one of many resources to find the on |
| municipal facilities are few and far between. | | | | water or in pool classes. |
| I admit I could be in better shape myself, my long work | | | | With anything it does take some effort to start |
| hours and a longer drive to and from work than I | | | | something new. For kayaking it took me a little while to |
| would like eats up a lot of time I could (should) be | | | | be comfortable sitting in one place for extended |
| exercising. So how does one get people motivated to | | | | periods of time, but one once I got used to it, I don't |
| exercise more? With the high health care costs and | | | | even think about it now. A comfortable seat and the |
| the projections of the over weight population growing | | | | right kayak are important. Don't give up on one try or |
| driving up health care even further, one would thing the | | | | one kayak. Biking you have to get used to being on |
| government would be promoting ways for people to | | | | the seat, again the right fitting bike and seat are |
| get exercise. | | | | important. My rear end does need a couple of rides |
| Funding for things like rails to trails by government is | | | | every year to get used to the seat. The benefits from |
| abysmal. This is where tax dollars should be going | | | | biking at a good pace are great. You do need to push |
| rather than paying politicians raises when nobody else | | | | yourself a little on a bike to get your heart rate up. I |
| is getting them, premium health care, and golden | | | | found an hour bike ride several times a week does |
| parachutes for minimal time in office. Taxes should pay | | | | wonders on my weight and mental outlook - a side |
| for things that benefit society. There is a rail trail in | | | | benefit of exercise is it mentally makes you feel better, |
| Hamburg Michigan that got paved in the last couple of | | | | removes stress. I got though a couple of divorces by |
| years. People are using it, and it is a big benefit to the | | | | bike riding. |
| area. Problem is it ends abruptly in Pinckney Michigan | | | | Bottom line is get out there and do something. Get off |
| back to unimproved dirt and loose gravel, which not | | | | the couch, away from the sports TV and the |
| even is good for mountain bikes. Only horseback riders | | | | computer games. Your body will thank you. Just |
| appear to benefit from the loose gravel trail. This trail if | | | | maybe you will find you are not going to the doctor as |
| improved and paved all the way to Stockbridge Mi | | | | much, and calling in sick as much. If you do call in sick it |
| would make the trail a true resource for recreation | | | | will be to kayak, bike, or ski on a perfect day (just don't |
| and exercise year round. Very short sighted local and | | | | tell your boss if you're not lucky enough to be self |
| state governments on where to spend scarce tax | | | | employed). More companies should support "health |
| dollars. There is a fantastic rail to trail system in Midland | | | | days off" for exercise, it benefits them too. Just get |
| Michigan if you want to check out a long paved trail. | | | | outside today. |
| Unfortunately this is far from a large population center | | | | |