| No one can argue the value of exercise. Most | | | | starting out may try to incorporate a brisk |
| parents will be the first to send the kids to the | | | | evening walk into his or her life at first. This may |
| yard to wear off some steam. It's unfortunate | | | | develop into a walk/jog or progress to a run. |
| that these same parents, so willing to get up at 6 | | | | Maybe it will be a family bike ride or skating outing |
| am to get the child to hockey practice, are often | | | | a few times weekly. If you are to be more |
| unwilling to apply the same principles of health to | | | | serious about actual increases in cardiovascular |
| their own lives. There are a million excuses for | | | | and muscular fitness, the intensity must be |
| the lack of activity in the adult life. Unfortunately, | | | | increased from the initial 'get off the couch' phase, |
| excuses are like garbage: everyone has some and | | | | but let's not put the cart before the horse. If |
| it all stinks! Excuses and procrastination are the | | | | you're not convinced that you will feel better |
| death of active living. Adults need to be deliberate | | | | from investing in yourself, start with a small |
| and proactive when the calendar comes out. | | | | investment of time and energy. Make sure your |
| When scheduling all the family commitments, no | | | | energy output is sufficient to get your heart |
| time will magically appear for fitness for the | | | | pumping and a little sweat going. Start off fairly |
| organizer. It must be planned. | | | | slowly to avoid too much muscle soreness and |
| I've gone over the need for exercise many | | | | gradually increase intensity. Be honest with |
| times, but I feel the benefits cannot be | | | | yourself and ask if you think you feel any of the |
| overemphasized. Following is a list of a few of the | | | | benefits; chances are, you probably will. The key |
| many health benefits you can reap from a regular | | | | is also to find something that you enjoy doing. |
| fitness program: | | | | Running, swimming, weight training or the myriad |
| - Improved sleeping patterns | | | | of other fitness activities are not a one size fits |
| - Improved blood profile | | | | all. You need to find what you enjoy and think |
| - Increase in bone density | | | | you can stick with. |
| - Increased life expectancy | | | | Of course there are those few that literally hate |
| - Improved cardiovascular health | | | | all forms of exercise they've tried. They simply |
| - Decrease in life-threatening conditions, such as | | | | don't like to sweat. Considering the dire health |
| diabetes, insulin resistance and heart disease | | | | consequences of not being active, these people |
| - Increased muscle strength | | | | need to force themselves to pick the lesser of |
| - Decreased blood pressure | | | | the evils and find something they can stomach |
| - Improved psychological health | | | | and just 'do it!' Avoiding exercise is like telling a |
| - Increase in mobility and flexibility | | | | child who hates to read or eat vegetables that |
| - Better self image | | | | they don't have to do it. They cannot become a |
| - Increase in libido | | | | healthy adult without the chance to nourish their |
| - Lower body fat levels (including heart | | | | mind and body. Our bodies were meant to move. |
| threatening abdominal fat) | | | | What we don't use we lose. This can be in the |
| Often the whole prospect of 'fitness' is daunting | | | | form of loss of muscle mass at a rate of 12% of |
| for many. It doesn't have to be a complicated, | | | | muscle strength and 6% of muscle mass with |
| expensive or time-consuming affair. Many people | | | | each passing decade after the age of 50. |
| feel they need to join expensive health clubs or | | | | Remarkably, the body can actually regain up to |
| invest in costly fitness equipment for the home. | | | | one third of muscle strength and mass after |
| While these are options, the beginner doesn't need | | | | participating in an exercise program for only a |
| to spend more money than what a good pair of | | | | couple of months. |
| shoes cost. Active living is actually just a choice to | | | | So this is my challenge to you: Are you practicing |
| bring more activity into your life. I'm probably the | | | | what you are preaching to the children in your |
| extreme case of a fitness zealot, but not | | | | life? Are you getting the exercise you need to be |
| everyone has to be as religious about fitness | | | | healthy? Are you at a loss of where to begin or |
| pursuits. It depends on a person's goals as to how | | | | what to do? If so, as a personal trainer, it's my |
| frenzied their workout pace will be. Someone | | | | job to get people moving in the right direction. |