TV has gotten a bad rap when it comes to health. TV has been blamed for making people fat. Some studies have even shown that watching an hour of TV will knock off 22 minutes from your life expectancy. Yes, that means watching a single episode of your favorite one hour shows.
The truth is that living a sedentary life will result in weight gain and consequently the development of other life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Although most people who spend hours watching the tube also lead sedentary lives, this doesn’t have to be the case. You can be smart about watching TV and use your leisure time in front of the tube to help you lose weight.
Here’s how:
- Hit record
You can still watch your favorite TV shows and still keep fit and healthy. A simple approach is to ensure that TV fits into your schedule and not you fitting into the TV programming schedule. With TV on Demand and record features that are available from TV service providers, you can record your shows and save them to watch later. You therefore won’t have to spend countless hours catching up with your favorite shows. You will have time to fit in that exercise session.
- Plan your portions
Many people snack while watching their favorite shows. TV keeps your hands free and allows for mindless eating.
You can prevent this by first selecting the snacks you will eat before you sit down to watch your show. This will enable you to pick up healthy snacks such as vegetables, nuts and fruits beforehand.
Secondly, ensure that you have proportioned your snacks. Too much of anything is unhealthy, even when it is thought to be a healthy snack. You can pre-pack snacks in bags or use smaller bowls for serving snacks.
- Take a break
Take a break from the couch when the drama stops for commercials. Get off the couch and stretch or engage in other activities such as squats, crunches or push-ups. This will result in more exercise than you realize.
An average of 13 and a half minutes worth of commercials is televised in an hour of television. If you exercise during every commercial break in an hour of programming, you’ll have fitted in more than 10 minutes of activity to your day.
- Exercise while watching your shows
Who said you can’t watch your shows and get a good workout in at the same time? You can use your downtime in front of the tube as a time to get in a good workout. Sometimes all it takes to get through a grueling workout is the company of your favorite TV stars. Get your workout clothes on and start moving. Challenge yourself to exercise for the full length of the program.
- Motivation
Watch motivational shows to help you get back on the exercise and diet wagon. Tune into a health program to help you learn more about your health and help you make better decisions for your life. The right TV program can inspire you on along your journey to healthy living. Contact Direct TV to get more information on health programs and other motivational content.