step right up

› By Angelique Anacleto

“Keep moving” might be life’s most relevant meme. And your spectacularly engineered legs literally propel you from one adventure to the next. Considering October is the most popular month for marathons, ponder these tidbits during your autumn walkabout.

Just say no to skinny jeans? At least steer clear of squatting in them for hours. A 35-yearold Australian woman’s tight jeans produced ankle and toe weakness, swelling and nerve damage, rendering her unable to walk for several days. Note to hipsters: Watch out for numbness or tingling. Talk about style under pressure!

Moving each day keeps varicose veins at bay. And with ongoing debates over standing desk benefits, Dr. Ravi Sharma of Premier Vein Center in Homosassa says standing desks can encourage employees to keep moving and prevent unsightly or painful varicose veins.

› “Prolonged sitting or standing puts stress on legs’ one-way vein valves,” Sharma says. “It would probably be better to stand because you’d remember to take some quick breaks, go for a walk or do calf raises. Those who have standing desks have told me, reminders via Fitbit or Apple watches.

› Desk sitters can also rely on fidgeting, performing squats, stretching and standing while making phone calls or reading paperwork.

Quit obsessing over Instagram thigh gaps! These body anomalies are due to genetically wider pelvic bones or an inability to accumulate fat or muscle on thighs. Achieving this “thinspirational” look through excessive weight loss could end up sacrificing desirable muscle. And surgically creating a thigh gap is near impossible.

Walking and running benefits are enormous. Either boosts blood to brain, regenerates overall bone density for postmenopausal women, reduces knee and hip osteoarthritis, minimizes saddlebags, improves mood, fosters artistic thought, increases energy, stabilizes blood sugar and burns calories.

Start by downloading active.com’s Couch to 5K Running App. Then, test your mettle by checking out runningintheusa.com, active. com or runnersworld.com for upcoming races for various ages, abilities and entertaining themes.

For flawless stems, mask unwanted blemishes, veins or tattoos with camouflaging makeup by Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs spray or lotion ($15), Kat Von D Lock It Concealer ($25) or Dermablend Leg and Body Cover ($33).