Is exercising a natural part of your day?\u00a0 Do you schedule in spin classes, gym sessions, 5k runs or a dedicated time for walking, either with or without a dog?<\/p>\n
Human beings are meant to use our bodies.\u00a0 The structure of our bodies, with a strong skeleton, muscle, tendons, an excellent oxygen carrying circulatory system served by a pumping heart, means that the component parts yearn to work together to move us round.\u00a0 The more we use our bodies for the purpose of activity and movement, the better we maintain these structures.\u00a0 We remind our limbs and our cardiovascular system what they developed to do.\u00a0 There is a lot in the adage \u2018If you don\u2019t use it, you lose it\u2019.\u00a0 People who have a more sedentary lifestyle become weaker over time and find it more difficult when faced with any exertion.<\/p>\n
It is estimated that almost 50% of UK adults do not engage with the recommended UK guidelines for activity and exercise, which are:<\/p>\n
The weekly activity target can be achieved by several short sessions of very vigorous intensity activity and\/or a mix of moderate, vigorous and very vigorous intensity activity.<\/p>\n
Research shows how beneficial exercising and being active is for humans of all ages, from childhood through to seniority.\u00a0 The NHS calls it \u2018the miracle cure we\u2019ve always had\u2019.\u00a0 Their website states that exercising alone reduces the risk of developing chronic health problems as you age, for example, heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.\u00a0 It acts to improve your mental health and guards against developing Alzheimer\u2019s disease and other forms of dementia.\u00a0 Use the link to the NHS website below for more detail.<\/p>\n
Knowing this, what stops us committing to exercise?\u00a0 Research has shown that the three top reasons are lack of motivation, funds and time.\u00a0 There is a psychological element to this; that exercise is difficult, painful, embarrassing and that we are no good at it.\u00a0 Who is good at anything when they start?\u00a0 Why do we expect to excel at any exercise from the beginning?\u00a0 Simply accepting that it will take time to build up expertise and stamina is a vital first step to address low motivation.\u00a0 The exercise can be little to start with, for example, simply standing up during each advertisement break while watching TV or parking further away at the supermarket.<\/p>\n
If you follow the links to the articles below, they explore the reasons for not committing to starting a basic exercise plan and how to address these.<\/p>\n
Exercise is a formidable health promoting tool.\u00a0 The advice is we should keep it up when we have underlying health problems and as we get older; it helps improve our health status and slows up the ageing process.\u00a0 NHS health promotion consultant, Dr Nick Cavill, writes \u2018If exercise were a pill, it would be one of the most cost-effective drugs ever invented\u2019; in addition to this, humans can engage in it without the potentially serious side-effects that medication entails.<\/p>\n
Now is the time to get moving!<\/p>\n
Exercise<\/a>; NHS Website<\/p>\n Benefits of Exercise<\/a>; NHS Website<\/p>\n \u2018Why We Should Exercise \u2013 And Why We Don\u2019t\u2019<\/a>; on Harvard Health<\/p>\n \u201910 Reasons You Don\u2019t Exercise\u2019<\/a> by Paige Waehner on verywellfit.com<\/p>\n \u2018Reasons Why People Don\u2019t Exercise\u2019<\/a> by Tyler Spraul on exercise.com<\/p>\n \u2018The Real Reason We Don\u2019t Exercise\u2019<\/a> by Sherry Pagoto on Psychology Today<\/p>\n \u201914 Reasons Fat People Don\u2019t Exercise\u2019<\/a> by Karen Corbel on her blog<\/p>\n \u2018Why I don\u2019t Exercise\u2026my inner work\u2019<\/a> by Sabrine Matoussi on YouTube<\/p>\n \u20188 rut-busting tips to improve your fitness routine during coronavirus pandemic\u2019<\/a> by Jane Symons on the Mirror website<\/p>\n \u2018Walking to work ‘significantly improves health’<\/a> on covermedia<\/p>\n \u2018It’s about ability, not age, when deciding what exercise to do\u2019<\/a> by Bradley Elliott on The Independent website<\/p>\n