Students are back in school, and that means the household routines are probably falling into place. But how about your health routine?
According to registered nurse and fitness influencer Nicci Robinson, it’s more than just aesthetics. She says something that pushes her more than one million social media followers to understand is the effect of healthy living on the brain.
“I work at a memory care facility,” Robinson said. “I see this all the time. When you’re sitting, that decreases the circulation in your body. So, what we know is when it comes to blood circulation, the blood cells carry oxygen to all organs of the body, including the brain. Getting that blood circulation when you’re standing or moving side to side will increase that circulation.”
As far as weight gain and loss, the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that about 74% of Americans over the age of 20 are categorized as either overweight or obese.
That’s where Robinson said it’s time for lifestyle changes and not crash dieting or quick fixes.
“When I started my transformation more than 10 years ago, I remember the first thing I did was take out anything that was not water to drink. It was crazy. I lost about five pounds just getting rid of the sugary drinks,” Robinson said.
She also talked about the massive spotlight on weight loss drugs (GLP-1s).
“I believe that they [weight loss medications] can be used as a tool. Something to help you lose weight, but that can’t be the only thing you are doing, or it’s not going to work, especially long-term. Even if you are on weight loss medication, you still have to exercise and eat healthily, or it’s just not going to stick. It’s not a quick fix and can’t be depended on as a standalone,” Robinson said.
She also said it’s up to each person to stop the excuses and understand that just a little movement a day can help. She teaches the same through her fitness app, Resilient.
“I encourage anyone I am working with to do an audit of their day. A lot of people think that they just don’t have time to work out. But it’s incredible how much time people spend scrolling on their phones. If you just take 10 to 15 minutes in your day and dedicate that to a walk or something that gets your heart rate going, that’s better than nothing at all,” Robinson said.
She said it’s all about a balanced lifestyle as much as you can. As always, talk to your doctor before starting anything new.