LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Fitness at the Beach: Online for Fitness |
by Rick Moore |
We havent yet reached the day when you can exercise "virtually" through your computer (Id like to be an investor in that invention!) Sorry to say, you still need to get your exercise the old fashioned way. But Ive discovered that theres a lot of help out there on the Internet that can get you started and keep you up-to-date. You can use the web to help plan your nutrition and exercise programs, and you can look up all kinds of critical information on medical issues, diseases, health insurance, and almost anything else. This weeks column lists some of the really helpful fitness and nutrition websites that Ive come across. Check them out, but dont forget that reading about physical activity is no substitute for doing it! Healthfinder: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has put together a very comprehensive website for medical and health information. The "prevention" section connects to many reliable resources for planning workout programs and nutrition. You can also find plenty on diseases and medical issues. The search system is easy to navigate. www.healthfinder.gov. Java Gym: This site promises to help you "lose weight on the web." It offers an automatic way to help you calculate your body mass index (BMI), which is the latest measurement trend. You enter your height and bone size, and it spits back an alarmingly low poundage according to government guidelines. Its guaranteed to make you feel fat. http://www.src-net.com/JavaGym/jgchart.htm. HealthCalc: Are you unsure of your current health and fitness level? Find out by clicking a few buttons. You can determine your target heart rate and how many calories you burn in daily activities. A very useful feature is the nutrition calculator, which tells you what your protein, fat, carbohydrate, and calorie intakes should be for a person of your age and activity level. http://www.healthcalc.net/hcn/tools.htm. Worldguide Health and Fitness Forum: Offers succinct and usable information about anatomy, training, proper nutrition, and sports medicine. http://www.worldguide.com/Fitness/hf.html. Shape Up America: Remember Dr. C. Everett Koop? He was one of the health "good guys" in Washington. Now hes out on his own, selling videos in drug stores and giving information away free on the net. Youll find a full complement of stuff on keeping fit and eating right, written for the public and for health professionals. Theres even a little quiz to check what you know. http://www.shapeup.org. Dr Koop.com: The good doctors other website takes a broader focus. Family health and interactive communities are available, but the best feature is an interactive health insurance center. Just enter your vital statistics and get instant rate quotes from lots of insurance companies. This is great for small business owners or the self-employed. A featured story says research indicates that laughter may boost the immune system and help the body fight off disease and infection. http://www.drkoop.com. Fitness Online: Many people into exercise know Joe Weiders magazines, Flex and Muscle and Fitness. Now Joes gone high-tech with a website for ordinary people (not the steroid bodybuilders in magazines). There are links for training, nutrition, and lifestyle, with a test to help you "fix your life." This site says 35 percent of Americans would like to change their health, 32 percent want to alter their appearance, and 22 percent would like to change their job. http://www.fitnessonline.com. U.S. Food and Drug Administration: The feds have made a real effort in recent years to make information more accessible to the public, and one of the most complete government websites is the FDAs. The most useful section concerns "dietary supplements," you know, all those herbs and scientific-sounding potions that are heavily advertised these days. The FDA regulates food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices. Get the facts (instead of the hype) in their "whats new" section. http://www.fda.gov. Alternative Medicine Homepage: We hear a lot lately about therapies that arent traditional in the United States, but its sometimes hard to figure out what works. This website from the University of Pittsburgh lists most of what you need to know, with a section on HIV and links to private and government resources, practitioners, and mailing lists. Be Well: Heres a comprehensive website with something for everyone. Athletics, nutrition, male and female health, mental health, parenting, and sexuality are its major sections. This month, theyre featuring stories on how to beat athletes foot, choosing energy and nutrition bars, cardio kickboxing, and how to prevent wrist injuries in sports. http://bewell.com. Mayo Clinic Health Oasis: As youd expect, its heavy on the medical and disease information, but this site also provides a great nutrition section. Sign up for email updates on the latest diet news, ask the Mayo dietitian a specific question, or read the archives. The search feature works particularly well. http://www.mayohealth.org. Intellihealth: Johns Hopkins University put together this website. Theres a nice sports nutrition section. You can click a graphic showing various parts of the body (no, not THAT part) to learn about common sports injuries that affect it. http://www.intelihealth.com. On Health: While it has all the basic tidbits that all the other health sites have, in-depth reports are this websites strength. This months stories include listeria infections, asthma prevention, repetitive stress injuries, and how to turn your "beer belly" into a "six-pack." If only reading about it would make it happen! http://www.onhealth.com. Finally, another great resource for help for Moms with Autoimmune Conditions is http://www.autoimmunemom.com Well, enjoy your electronic surfing! Let me know if you come across any great fitness sites by sending an email to ricksfitness@enrapt.com. And be sure to stop by my website at http://enrapt.com/ricksfitness. See you at the beach! Rick Moore is a personal trainer certified by the American Fitness Professionals & Associates. He believes in common-sense, drug-free training. Visit him at Ricks Fitness & Health, Inc., in beautiful downtown Milton. Check out his website at http://www.enrapt.com/ricksfitness, or give him a call at (302) 684-3669. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 3, April 9, 1999 |