For people for whom aesthetics and calorie burning aren’t major goals, exercise as it is framed in our culture may seem irrelevant. Today I’d like to talk about the less acknowledged, but probably more important, reasons for staying active.

Metabolic Health

I discuss Metabolic Health a great deal on my blog. It is a concept that is a little foreign to our reductionist society. Just as we tend to reduce food to a collection of nutrients, we reduce our bodies to a collection of organs and processes, imagining that each works in isolation. Our bodies are more complex than that. The body is actually an intricate system, all the processes of which affect and are effected by all the other processes. The function of this system is what we call metabolism. Popular culture has reduced ‘metabolism’ to ‘the number of calories the body burns’, but metabolism is far more than that. ‘Metabolism’ is actually every single chemical process of every single cell in your body. When one of those processes goes awry, it effects other processes and so begins a cascade of dysfunction.

Exercise is, in my opinion, one of the fundamental processes of metabolism. Exercise effects the body on a cellular level. Exercise helps regulate the ability of our cells to metabolize glucose and produce energy. Improved energy production has far reaching effects on all aspects of our health. This effect on the way our very cells function, our Metabolic Health, is, in my opinion, the reason exercise has been shown to be so powerful an intervention in the treatment and prevention of myriad health conditions.

Exercise has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and mitigate symptoms of Diabetes. Exercise also improves the symptoms of PCOS and even lead to increased fertility. Higher levels of activity are inversely associated with risk factors for Metabolic Syndrome.

Exercise can reduce the risk and symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Exercise can mitigate the pain and dysfunction of arthritis, both Osteo and Rheumatoid.

Exercise increases bone density.

Exercise is associated with a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease.

Exercise also has numerous, less quantifiable quality of life benefits, such as increased confidence, higher libido and improved energy levels.

Ultimately, the kind of exercise one does is far less important than simply being physically active on a regular basis. Although there is a perception that we can only derive benefits from high intensity, vigorous activity, the truth is that simply walking more will produce improvements in health and well being. If walking more leads to other fitness goals, great! If not, walking is enough! As I say to my clients, you do not need to puke, pass out or die in order to get fit. Just moving enough to physically challenge yourself most days of the week is totally adequate to gain health benefits.

Our bodies evolved to move, and when we don’t move enough our bodies don’t function optimally. This has nothing to do with aesthetics or calories or weight. Is has to do with the health of our very cells, and the ways the systems of our body work together to support whole-body health. You try to eat a wide variety of foods to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy, remember that your body needs movement to stay healthy as well. Find an activity you like, so that you will stay engaged, and then enjoy the health benefits it brings!

Amber Rogers is a formerly obese, currently badass, powerlifting-at-40, trouble-making cheerleader of the boot-strappers, the over-comers, the kool-aid rejectors, the post baby body-reclaimers, the eaters and movers, the strong and powerful, and most of all, the critical thinkers. Check out her website and find her on Twitter or Facebook.

Take along our handy list of sample questions that you can use to ask the candidates about issues that are important to women and families.  Find out where your candidates stand!   And, you don’t have to ask your question in-person. On Twitter? Check out our list of sample questions in Tweet-form below (Scroll down). You can cut and paste these directly into Twitter and Tweet them to your candidate.

Let us know what happened!  Did you ask a candidate a question or two?  Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below or on our Facebook page!

Happy Voting!  

Sample Questions to Ask Candidates:

Paycheck Fairness: It’s 2012 and despite the fact that Equal Pay Act was passed almost 50 years ago, the fact remains that women are still paid, on average, 23 percent less than men are paid for the same work. Mothers and women of color experience even further hits. Do you support passing the Paycheck Fairness Act to improve enforcement of existing civil rights laws aimed at closing the pay gap between men and women?

Healthcare:  64.8 million Americans have pre-existing conditions and are at risk of being denied insurance without the protections of the Affordable Care Act.  How would your health care plan protect these Americans?  And if you will not allow insurance companies to deny these Americans insurance, how will it be economically feasible for insurance companies to cover these higher risk groups?

Earned Sick Days: We all get sick, yet 40% of all workers in the United States, including 80% of low wage workers, are unable to take even a single earned sick day when they, or their child, are sick. That means they are at risk of losing a day’s pay – possibly even their jobs – if they take a day off of work because they are sick, or their child is sick. Studies have shown that access to earned sick days is good for the economy and helps keep people in the jobs they need. It also helps employers’ bottom lines. What will you do to build this important economic safety net for American workers?

Paid Family and Medical Leave: Having a baby is a leading cause of poverty spells for women in the United States. Study after study has shown there are huge benefits to our national economy in terms of greater workforce attachment, less reliance on public assistance, and stronger, healthier families when new moms and dads can take paid time off of work to care for new children. If elected, what will you do to make it easier for Americans to access job protected, paid family leave?

Child Care:  With child care costing more than college in most U.S. states, parents across the country are struggling to find and afford quality child care. Yet studies have shown how important quality early learning experiences are to brain development.  What are your plans empower parents to give children a great start?

Immigration:  Can you give us details of your plan to support fair treatment for immigrant families and to acknowledge their contributions to our economy?

Clean Air:  Right now a whopping one in 10 children in the United States have asthma, yet big polluters and their allies continue to attack clean air protections. What are the ways you’re going to improve air quality?

Toxics: Our current chemicals legislation, the Toxic Substances Control Act, has not been updated since 1976. In the 34 years since TSCA was enacted, the EPA has only been able to require testing on 200 of the over 80,000 chemicals produced and used in the US, and only 5 of these chemicals have been regulated under the law. Our broken system leaves us exposed to countless toxic chemicals every day, chemicals that put our families at risk for cancer, learning disabilities, infertility, and more. How will you help protect children and families from toxic chemicals?

School Food: Nearly 23 million school-age children are overweight or obese, making them more likely to suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, and more.  Yet, according to USDA, the availability of vending machines in middle schools has more than doubled since the 1990s. Another study found that, as recently as the 2009-2010 school year, nearly half of the nation’s elementary students could buy unhealthy snack foods at school. If elected, what will you do to ensure that children have healthy foods in schools?

Living Wage:  The federal minimum wage at $7.25 per hour and the tipped minimum wage at $2.13 per hour are stuck in the dark ages. For decades, while the cost of living goes up and up, many full-time workers, especially women aren’t earning enough money to make ends meet. People who work full-time shouldn’t live in poverty. How will you help bring American workers earn a living wage.

— Sample questions in Tweet-form —-

Below are some sample questions written just for Twitter. You can use these to Tweet questions to candidates or elected officials. Just be sure to put the right Twitter handle in the tweet before sending!

• #Paidsickdays are good for workers, good for business and good for public health.#RU4paidsickdays ?
• Having a baby is a leading cause of #poverty spells in the #US. Do you support/oppose #paidfamilyleave?
• Do you support or oppose Passing #PaycheckFairnessAct 2 close the #paygap between men and women?
• Do you support or oppose allowing #kids 2 remain on parents’ healthcare plans till 26, a provision that was included in #ACA?

P.P.P.S.: Prep for tonight’s debate by checking out the analysis on “MomsRising Radio with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner” of the last two presidential debates! First debate: Episode 23. Second debate: Episode 24.

Like what we’re doing? Donate: We’re a bootstrap, low overhead, mom run organization. Your donations make the work of MomsRising.org possible–and we deeply appreciate your support. Every little bit counts.

That’s right! We’re amped up and ready and we’re going to be watching debate tonight – together!  Join us! Download your BINGO card here and then get online to watch the debate with us! We’ll be on Twitter, Facebook and the MomsRising blog.  http://action.momsrising.org/signup/BINGO-2012-fnl/

On Twitter? Watch the debate and join our online conversation by following the hashtag #Risers. On Facebook? You can find us here.

See you tonight!

-Ruth, Sarah, Kristin, Claire, Anita, Elisa, Ashley, Monifa, Gloria, Mary and the whole MomsRising.org team

PS: Here’s the link to download your BINGO card again: http://action.momsrising.org/signup/BINGO-2012-fnl/

PPS: Check out this week’s MomsRising Radio with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner as Kristin and her guests analyze the first presidential debate. LISTEN HERE: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/momsrising-radio-kristin-rowe/id533519537?ak_proof=1

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It’s the only Vice Presidential debate of the 2012 election cycle!  Yes, that always unpredictable debate that has spawned zingers like “Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy,” and the question still lingering on everyone’s mind, “Can I call you Joe?”  Undoubtedly, we’re in for some more history making exchanges tonight!  [1],[2]

With Vice President Biden and Representative Ryan taking the stage tonight (Thursday, 11th at 9pm ET, 6pm PT), we can almost guarantee that there are going to be fireworks! I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to see what will be this debate’s most memorable line.

But this veep debate will have more than entertainment value. I also will be waiting with baited breath to see if the Vice Presidential candidates mention the issues that families face every day, issues like: Fair pay, affordable child care, and health care.

***Play along tonight!  Download your BINGO card here: 

http://action.momsrising.org/signup/BINGO-2012_Vice/

*Keep an eye out for those zingers! We’ll be on Facebook  and Twitter, and the MomsRising.org blog during and after the debate.  Hop online and join in the fun as we share cheers and jeers.  Tonight could be a future Saturday Night Live skit in the making! Follow the conversation by using the hashtag #risers.  Join us and share what you think!

How does our BINGO game work?  It’s really important to know how and if the candidates are addressing issues that impact kids and families before we vote. So as the candidates debate, we will use our BINGO cards to mark down one point each time they mention supporting family-friendly policies like: Health care, affordable child care, clean air, global warming, and many more (Don’t worry, all the words are on the card).  As the words fly, we’ll fill in our cards and see who comes out as the real family-friendly candidate. Every word mentioned that’s on the BINGO card will count.

After the debates we’ll let the candidates and the media know how they scored on the BINGO cards in order to hold candidates accountable to women and families on Main Streets across the nation.

Here’s a link where you can download that BINGO card again: 

http://action.momsrising.org/signup/BINGO-2012_Vice/

**And make sure to pass along this link to a few friends by forwarding this email or sharing the link above on Facebook.  Everyone deserves a little Thursday evening entertainment!

P.S. Fired up about the elections–and concerned about making sure everyone who has the right to vote, can vote?  There’s a secret fight for democracy going on with rampant voter suppression shenanigans in many states across the country. Find out more by listening to “MomsRising Radio with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner” this week as we uncover what’s happening, where, and what can be done around the country to protect our right to vote. LISTEN HERE: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/moms-rising-radio/id533519537

P.P.S.S.  Here’s a look at the BINGO card (See below).  It’s much easier to use when you download it via this link:  http://action.momsrising.org/signup/BINGO-2012_Vice/

[1] Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy” was a remark made during the 1988 United States vice-presidential debate by Democratic vice-presidential candidate Senator Lloyd Bentsen to Republican vice-presidential candidate Senator Dan Quayle. VIDEO

[2] “Can I call you Joe?” was a remark made at the beginning of the 2008 United States vice-presidential debate by Republican vice-presidential candidate Govenor Sarah Palin to Democratic vice-presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden. ARTICLE

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“Missing from the debate: #women #fairpay #childcare #paidsickdays #kids  #moderator – #risers #momsvote #Kids2012″

We’re not alone in feeling this way: The above Tweet that we sent late last night was repeated by others so many times that it reached more than 127,821 Twitter accounts in lightning speed.

Let’s take the wheel.  Put women, family economic security, and kids in the spotlight where they belong.  Women and moms across the country are signing an open letter, to be delivered directly to both campaigns before the next debate, urging President Obama and Governor Romney to speak directly to the economic issues that impact women, moms, families and kids.

*SIGN ON! Tell both campaigns that they missed out in the debate by leaving women and families out:

http://action.momsrising.org/sign/MomsVote_Debate_2012_Response/

We’re not sinking in despair because our issues were left off the table last night. We’re #risers.  We demand that in future debates the candidates speak to real-life, daily economic issues impacting women and families, like the cost of childcare, women’s health, as well as the lack of pay equity for women, sick days, paid family leave, common-sense solutions to address issues facing immigrant families, and the lack of investments in our nation’s children.  You can sign on too by clicking the above link.

Together, we have significant power: Women and moms comprise more than 50% of the electorate–and we’re now networked online unlike any other time in history, with more than 90% of moms online and more than 36 million women actively either writing or reading blogs.

PLAY IT FORWARD: You too can use this networked power to have a significant impact by spreading the word. Use the “Share the Knowledge!” buttons below to share this with friends and family.  Cut and paste this action link into your Facebook status, and Tweet the message out: We’re networked women and moms–and we won’t sit idly on the sidelines.  We’re taking the wheel and making sure the candidates hear us!

Shoulda, coulda: The debate last night was “supposed” to cover domestic policy issues, including three segments on the economy.

After the debate, we were left scratching our heads wondering how the preset debate agenda items titled, “Economy I, Economy II, and Economy III” could have left out women, children, and families when:

• Women are projected to create more than half of the 9.72 million expected new small business jobs by 2018;
• Three-quarters of moms are in the labor force, and half of them are the primary breadwinner;
• Women make 75% of the purchasing decisions for their households.

Women are holding up our economy.

Since over 80% of women in our nation have children by the time they’re forty-four years old, kids are a big part of the equation too.  Not just because early investments in children’s health and education programs save taxpayer funds in the long run (it’s arithmetic!); not just because kids need safe, enriching places to be so their parents can work; but also because children are the economic engine of our future.

Fair pay, the price of child care, and a lack of paid leave to care for children and the elderly are among key economic issues in women and mothers’ daily lives.  Any discussion about the economy that leaves out women, mom, and families fails to hit the mark.

Moms, and the issues they face, shouldn’t be relegated to 30-second TV ads.

Moms want candidates willing to debate on the issues that we face each day.  A poll recently conducted by Anzalone Liszt Research found 57% of women voters (including 75% of Hispanic women and 80% of black women, as well as 65%of women under 50) say they are more likely to support an elected official who supports paid sick days, a critical family economic security policy.  And, a recent First Focus poll shows that voters want candidates to focus more on children. In fact, nearly two-thirds feel the 2012 presidential campaigns should increase their focus on children’s issues.

Our nation’s future economy depends on our current investments.  Any discussion of our economy must include discussion of how our nation prioritizes women, moms, children and families.

*SIGN ON! Tell both campaigns that they missed out in the debate by leaving women and families out: 

http://action.momsrising.org/sign/MomsVote_Debate_2012_Response/

And, don’t forget to use your power as a networked woman, and mom, to share this blogpost and post the action link on Facebook in order to urge your friends to sign on too.

Together, we’re a powerful force!

P.S. Many state election voter registration deadlines are right around the corner – some in 2 days! – so take a moment right now to make sure you and at least 4 of your friends are registered to vote! Click–> action.momsrising.org/signup/2012-Register/

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Personal appeals and more than 160,000 signatures for climate change to be included in Oct. 3 Presidential debate, delivered to The NewsHour offices.

This summer, the United States experienced record-high temperatures and devastating droughts and floods – extreme weather conditions that experts ascribe to climate change. And how scary were the unprecedented wildfires in Colorado that displaced thousands of families? Yet, President Obama and Governor Romney have barely talked about it.

Parents would never allow their children to play Russian roulette, so we really don’t like our government taking chances with our children’s future by sitting out the issue of climate change. According to a recent Yale University poll, 72 percent of Americans believe that it must be a national priority, which means the vast majority of Americans want action on it now. We need to know what our presidential candidates intend to do about global warming, and the best opportunity to find out is the upcoming presidential debate.

That’s why MomsRising joined a coalition of environment and public health organizations in calling on Jim Lehrer, when he moderates the first presidential debate on October 3, to question Romney and Obama about this critical issue. The coalition gathered more than 160,000 signatures calling for climate change to be on the debate agenda, and close to 500 MomsRising members across the country sent in personal appeals telling Lehrer about how it affects their families and why our presidential candidates need to be talking about it now. The signatures and the appeals were delivered to Lehrer’s office at The NewsHour late last week.

Just a few of the amazing MomsRising voices who personally asked Lehrer to include climate change in the Presidential debate:

Clara in California:

“As a father, Mr. Lehrer, you know it’s important for parents to have an idea of how government’s policies could affect their children’s future. So, after a summer filled with fires, droughts and tornadoes in NYC, I request that you PLEASE ask the candidates their views on climate change and how they will ad¬dress the problem. THANKS!”

Sister Celeste in Kansas:

“The Midwest is under a devastating drought. There is hardly any corn to harvest and food prices are quickly rising. The ethanol issue and the wind farm industry are all experiencing severe deficits, because no one knows if there is going to be any funding for these alternative fuel resources. We need to hear from Rom¬ney and Obama as to what they are going to do about climate change.”

Howard in Montana:

“I keep thinking there must be some individuals in the world of policy making that have children and grandchildren that they care about — is oil in the Arctic a Siren call so powerful that they cannot heed the danger — even for their own blood legacy?”

Bonita in Nebraska:

“We farm in the area of Nebraska hardest hit by the drought. Climate change is devastating to our fields, crops, and pastures. We need to know what our candidates will do to make this issue the top issue of our time before it is too late for our world.”

Genevieve in New Mexico:

“My family lives in New Mexico, a state that has recently been plagued by forest fires due to drought and record-high temperatures caused by climate change. My grandparents lost their home to one of these fires, something devastating for any family to go through. I want to know how each presidential candidates plans to prevent further damage to our climate and environment.”

Janice in Pennsylvania:

“Dear Mr. Lehrer, I have 2 young boys who suffer from asthma. There is nothing quite more frightening than holding your 5 year old in the middle of the night when they are coughing and wheezing so much that they can’t seem to catch a breath. I want to know what Romney and Obama plan to do about climate change and air quality. Will you please ask them during the debate?”

Kate in Virginia:

“Please Mr. Lehrer, I have watched your show for many years. Please please please do a good job. Please ask questions about the climate crisis, about women’s rights, about medicare. I have daughters, I have an elderly mom.”

Play Presidential Bingo and help track if the debate will cover climate change and other issues important to families

Jim Lehrer is not only a celebrated journalist, but a father of three and a grandfather of six. We need to get him to think about his grandchildren’s future when he moderates the October 3 presidential debate and ask about climate change and other issues critical to American families. Will he?

You can help keep track of how Lehrer, Obama and Romney do by playing Presidential Bingo as you watch the debate tomorrow night. MomsRising has done a bingo card for the past few elections as a way to hold candidates accountable and to keep track of how many times they talk about our issues – including clean air and climate change.

*Get the BINGO card here: http://www.momsrising.org/page/moms/bingocards

~~Fired up? Join MomsRising now!