At a meeting of the American Heart Association last November, Franklin presented the findings of his study of nearly 3 million members at 320 fitness clubs. He found that people who exercised infrequently have a small but definite increase in their risk of exercise-related fatal heart attacks or strokes compared with those who work out more regularly. Only 3 of the 71 were regular exercisers, with 5 or more visits weekly. Men made up the vast majority of deaths, and Franklin speculates that their workouts were more strenuous than the women's. Although some people don't exercise because they think they have to sweat heavily, people cite lack of time as the most common barrier.
Many people do best when they plan exercise into their schedules.
Other suggestions for parents include walking around the field during your child's sporting events, hiring a babysitter to watch the kids while you exercise, and choosing activities in which children can join. Including kids also sends them the message early that exercise is good. He suggests 10-minute walks away from the computer terminal or desk to clear your head. If you hate organized classes, don't join an exercise class just because a friend or colleague did, and don't walk alone if you prefer company. You probably know whether you prefer to exercise alone or with others.