Active Television Viewing

In a video entitled 23 and 1/2 hours, Dr. Mike Evans (no relation!) briefly mentions his surprise to learn that the average American views 6 hours of television on a daily basis. 6 hours, that is 1/4 of a day. Add it up, that is 1 and 3/4 days each week that the average person in this country spends in a relatively motionless state. The intelligent answer to changing this is to put down the remote and get your booty moving, but let's get real, that is probably not going to happen. Are you really ready to completely say good-bye to The Real Housewives or the gang from CSI You-Fill-in-the-City? Is there a way to watch television that won't turn your body completely to goo?

There is some hope for the couch potato. Let's call it Active Television Viewing or ATV for short. ATV can take on many forms and provide you with a way to enjoy your favorite shows while not wasting your entire day or adding to the number on your scale. Here are 3 approaches to try:

The Two-for-One Special

Without a doubt, the two-for-one special is your top method for ATV. A favorite among busy parents and people who work 40+ hours a week, this approach combines working out with tv viewing. Keep a basket by the television with exercise bands or stash your dumb bells nearby and you can strengthen and view at the same time. For you cardio enthusiasts, why not DVR your favorite shows and watch them while running on the treadmill-great for forwarding through the commercials.

The Never-Sit-Down Approach

The never-sit-down approach is probably your second best bet. It involves leaving the television on while completing different activities. Basically, the tv is just keeping you company as you go about your daily household activities. This approach allows you to clean the house, pay the bills, chop up lots of veggies for the fixings for your weekly meals and so on. You can burn calories and keep up with the Kardashians.

The Commercial Break Approach

For those days when you want to watch television but have too much to do, like during the holiday season, try this, it's effective for freeing up time and getting you off the couch. This one takes a bit of discipline. To do this, and do it well, you must commit to activity during each commercial break. It can involve running to the laundry room to toss in a batch, heading to your basement to find the hammer you need for a repair, making a pit stop to your bedroom to make the bed or a variety of other simple tasks that get your bum off the chair. Similar to the two-for-one approach, albeit not nearly as effective in its ability to burn calories or sculpt muscles, this approach won't leave you saying, "Why did I just waste two hours watching that mindless Lifetime movie?!!!"

Add to this approach by getting things done while you're watching too. You can clip coupons while you glance up at the screen, wrap up a few holiday gifts or secure a loose button on your favorite winter jacket. The list is endless.

All joking aside, limiting your viewing is your best bet. It may be easier said than done, but staying mindful of and tracking the hours you spend viewing is similar to keeping a log of what you eat. It helps you see where you can make positive changes.

If you can spare about 9 minutes Dr. Evans YouTube video just might enlighten you. I'd love to hear your reaction.