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Below you'll find our most up to date articles. In the left hand column, you can view previous Gene Smart Minutes (a one minute clip with health and wellness advice from Dr. Chilton), along with fun and interesting pieces that we think you'll enjoy.

Exercise That’ll Get Your Heart Pumping

Exercising to reduce inflammation is all about getting your heart pumping!  Do you need help getting started? You’ve come to the right place! Are you already on a solid exercise routine? Congratulations – we’d like to help you continue on that path and reach your fitness goals! 

Getting Started

The Gene Smart anti-inflammatory fitness principle is to exercise at least 5 days a week, for at least 30 minutes each day. Start by trying to achieve 50-75% of the maximum heart rate for your age.  You may need to do intervals at first to get enough quality exercise. As you get in shape, increase your working heart rate to 70-85% of maximum.

Do you currently spend 30 minutes a day or less on moderate activity? If so, start by walking. Walk as much as you can comfortably, and then work toward increasing this a little bit every day. Start to incorporate other moderate activities into your day, such as going for a walk after lunch or taking the stairs whenever you can, and keep increasing distance & pace to get your heart pumping.

Don’t overdo it. It’s tempting to be overzealous at the beginning of a plan, when you’re high energy and highly motivated, but it can actually be quite destructive. The more exercise you get in, the better you will start to feel. But if you push yourself too hard too soon, you run the risk of injury or backsliding. The key to starting a new exercise routine is to do so in a way that is sustainable and long term.

How to Stay Motivated

Here are some tips:

• Get an exercise partner. Talk to each other about your plans on how to start exercising.  Make your workouts dependent on each other; one suggestion I’ve heard is to swap shoes at the end of the workout, so that each of you has to show up the next time. Just make sure it happens!
• Tap into some of the great new exercise plans that can be downloaded to your digital player.
• Consider how to start exercising by joining a gym and taking a class. Try a yoga, tai chi, or ballroom-dancing class and see what you like—you won’t know until you try.
• Think of how to start exercising on vacations, or as part of a vacation. Plan vacation around beach football, skiing, cycling or hiking. Just because its fun doesn’t mean it’s not good for you!
• Start to work on projects in and around the house that include lifting and moderately vigorous activities. Your housemates and neighbors may thank you for your efforts.
• Walk the dog more—you know Fido won’t mind!
• Take your kid—or borrow one—and go play on the playground. Keeping up with an active 4-year-old can be a real eye-opener, and playground equipment is perfect for strength training; it's a great place to do chin ups.

Create a Motivation Board

Everyone could use an extra push sometimes, whether you’re just getting started or trying to stay on track. Creating a Motivation Board can help you reach your fitness goals. Simply write down reasons that you want to get in better shape. Would you like to be able to play in the backyard with your grandkids as long as possible? Hang up a picture of them. Health reasons? Write that down. Having a constant reminder can be very helpful in helping you reach your fitness goals.

What else motivates you? Share your ideas with our Facebook community!

Words of Wisdom

‎ "It's your unlimited power to care and to love that can make the biggest difference in the quality of your life."

-Anthony Robbins