MONROE - No expensive exercise equipment or gym membership is needed for people who want to walk their way to good health.
That's the message of Robert Sweetgall, a wellness professional and motivational speaker from Missouri who will speak at the Performing Arts Center at Monroe High School Monday.
Sweetgall defined himself as "an academic nerd" who was overweight and ate too much junk food. He also lost several family members to heart disease.
Now he's someone who has walked more than 11,208 miles through all 50 states in one year; authored or co-authored 17 books on walking, wellness and active living; and helped more than 5,000 schools, businesses, hospitals and communities implement wellness programs of all types.
"I've been at this for 25 years," he said. "I've talked to more than 1 million people."
His goal is to help people get fit and to get moving.
"I don't care if it's a bike, or walking or swimming," he said. "I'm not asking anyone to run a marathon or eat cardboard."
At Monday's event, Sweetgall will talk about the benefits of Nordic Walking, which is similar to skiing in that more muscles are used and more calories are burned during each walking session. It's estimated that Nordic Walking burns up to 40 percent more calories. It also takes pressure off a walker's feet, ankles, knees and hips.
Walking, which almost anyone can do, can help relieve stress and mental fatigue. It can also help people get in shape.
"Everyone wants to lose weight, but they want to do it quickly," he said.
There are people who enjoy sitting in front of a television watching sports instead of going outside. People can do both, he said.
Getting healthy is about changing a lifestyle. It's about how people eat, how they keep active and how they cope with stress.
Everyone should get outside and move, he said. People have gotten used to getting in the car and driving to a fast-food restaurant, or driving to the grocery store or taking their kids to school. Years ago, people walked more, got outside more and just moved more.
Staying inside is a trend that keeps growing.
"Babies born today will spend 97 percent of their lives indoors," he said.
Sweetgall wants to let people know they can make the changes necessary to have a healthy life. He uses entertainment and humor to get his message across to people.
"I try to change lives one at a time," he said.
Sweetgall will talk about Nordic Walking at 6 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center in the Monroe High School. At 7 p.m., he will talk about ways to improve health, lose weight and increase energy.
The event is free, but people are asked to register by calling (877) 865-1462 or at the Monroe Clinic's Web site at monroeclinic.org. Monroe Clinic and the Swiss Colony are sponsoring the event.
That's the message of Robert Sweetgall, a wellness professional and motivational speaker from Missouri who will speak at the Performing Arts Center at Monroe High School Monday.
Sweetgall defined himself as "an academic nerd" who was overweight and ate too much junk food. He also lost several family members to heart disease.
Now he's someone who has walked more than 11,208 miles through all 50 states in one year; authored or co-authored 17 books on walking, wellness and active living; and helped more than 5,000 schools, businesses, hospitals and communities implement wellness programs of all types.
"I've been at this for 25 years," he said. "I've talked to more than 1 million people."
His goal is to help people get fit and to get moving.
"I don't care if it's a bike, or walking or swimming," he said. "I'm not asking anyone to run a marathon or eat cardboard."
At Monday's event, Sweetgall will talk about the benefits of Nordic Walking, which is similar to skiing in that more muscles are used and more calories are burned during each walking session. It's estimated that Nordic Walking burns up to 40 percent more calories. It also takes pressure off a walker's feet, ankles, knees and hips.
Walking, which almost anyone can do, can help relieve stress and mental fatigue. It can also help people get in shape.
"Everyone wants to lose weight, but they want to do it quickly," he said.
There are people who enjoy sitting in front of a television watching sports instead of going outside. People can do both, he said.
Getting healthy is about changing a lifestyle. It's about how people eat, how they keep active and how they cope with stress.
Everyone should get outside and move, he said. People have gotten used to getting in the car and driving to a fast-food restaurant, or driving to the grocery store or taking their kids to school. Years ago, people walked more, got outside more and just moved more.
Staying inside is a trend that keeps growing.
"Babies born today will spend 97 percent of their lives indoors," he said.
Sweetgall wants to let people know they can make the changes necessary to have a healthy life. He uses entertainment and humor to get his message across to people.
"I try to change lives one at a time," he said.
Sweetgall will talk about Nordic Walking at 6 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center in the Monroe High School. At 7 p.m., he will talk about ways to improve health, lose weight and increase energy.
The event is free, but people are asked to register by calling (877) 865-1462 or at the Monroe Clinic's Web site at monroeclinic.org. Monroe Clinic and the Swiss Colony are sponsoring the event.