ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 10, 1996 TAG: 9612100086
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Health Notes
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY
It's a bit chilly these days, but you still see those stalwarts out running in shorts. And while the shorts might be a bit on the macho side, the intentions are good. Weather shouldn't be an excuse for not exercising, indoors or out, unless it's extraordinarily bitter.
Margo Anglin, a native of New York state and now a fitness instructor in the New River Valley, said the only thing that will keep her away from her twice-weekly run is heavy wind that sends the chill factor to extremes and steals the body's heat.
"I have been known to run in 32 below zero, though," Anglin said Monday from her office at the Radford Community Hospital Wellness Center. She gets most of her exercise from teaching at the center, but on Thursdays and Sundays she tries to get in a good run.
"I do not run in shorts, but sometimes I will wear silk underwear," she said. She also shuns Lycra for plain old sweats.
The body's circulation will generally warm a person up during exercise, but if you're going outside it is wise to dress in layers and cover your head, hands and ears. You might also consider "doing something extra for the feet," Anglin said.
Don't wear anything rubber, she warns.
And just use common sense. This is a good season to remember the old common sense, too, because not only is the weather against exercising, so is the season.
Anglin said she doesn't see her students as often during the holidays, but she begs them to exercise as often as possible even if they can only manage a walk or a 20-minute workout.
"Grab any time at all. If you take the whole month of December off and think you can come in in January and get it back, it won't happen," she said.
That's most true for people over 50. When you get to that age you need to keep some form of exercise going continually, Anglin said.
Anglin's also on a crusade to remind us of how much activity we've lost to technology. She said she read somewhere that if a secretary who has been using a typewriter starts using a word processor, she might gain as much as seven pounds in a year.
Pushing the carriage return, feeding in paper, just the little moves required to manage a typewriter burned calories.
"We're not even winding the windows up in our cars," Anglin said. "We're pushing buttons. And how often do we put our arms over our heads? We used to hang laundry."
Another tip from her: If you're thinking of giving someone a gift related to exercising, consider making it a short-term gift certificate at some center rather than home exercise equipment.
Exercising at home is almost "notoriously a failure because it takes a tremendous amount of discipline," she said. Home is not a place where you can count on not being interrupted. One dustball can distract you.
The best thing a person can do is get into the habit of exercising so that if you haven't done anything for two or three days, you'll want to, she said.
Arthritis walk, run
Saturday there's an opportunity for regular exercisers and beginners to get in some road time and help raise money for the Arthritis Foundation. The Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis will take place in more than 150 cities, including Roanoke.
A 5K run and a 1-mile walk are part of the Roanoke event, which will be held in downtown Roanoke and is sponsored by Columbia Lewis-Gale Medical Center in Salem. Each participant gets a T-shirt and jingle bells for their shoes for the $15 entry fee. People who go all out for costumes have a chance to win other prizes.
Participants are expected to raise money for the foundation by getting pledges from friends and co-workers. Pledges have to be turned in Wednesday between noon and 7 p.m. at the medical center's volunteer desk, so you still have time to hit up some of your acquaintances and register for the race-walk. Race forms are available at all Kroger stores.
Race packets can be picked up on Friday at the medical center during the same hours or at 8 a.m. Saturday.
You can reach Sandra Brown Kelly at (800) 346-1234, ext. 393, or at 981-3393, or through biznews@roanoke.infi.net
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