I've been living in
New York City for over nine years now and around year six I started to get the country-itch bad. That is, the feeling that I had to escape what had seemed to become an oppressive and stressful city life. I ached for more activity outdoors and more fresh air and all the healthy attributes that go with a non-city lifestyle. But recently I have started to wonder more about whether or not life "outside" WOULD actually be healthier. Would it? Mark Hyman-one of our wellness coaches and, personally, one of my more favorite coaches of all in terms of his really smart health content, talks a lot about the French Diet Myth and how, in reality, a French woman's health and thin body is less about the food she eats (although partially) and more about her lifestyle over all (the riding of the bike...the walking to market.)
In
New York , I don't own a car. I walk everywhere. I walk to the subway and to my office. I walk to meet friends out. I take walks just to get air. There have been weekends in the city where my boyfriend and I have literally walked the city for 5, 6 even 7 hours. I also run a lot in
Central Park and go to the gym regularly. So I wonder: Would I REALLY be this active if I moved out of the city? If I owned a car and drove everywhere I needed to go? Sure, I would probably have more concentrated athletic activities (skiing, hiking, biking) but would those equal up to the level of exertion I spend in the city now?
1. when i click to download information it was at 20 minutes and seconds and still wasn't downloading! i have brighthouse roadrunner, get with the program, my life is a whirlwind 2 jobs no time get with it!!! WILL NOT EVER TRY TO GET INFO FROM THIS SITE AGAIN!!! TOO SLOW!!! NO SPACE FOR SLOW IN OUR TIMES!!
corinne at 6:18PM on Jan 25th 2007