After I became a Certified Health Coach, I decided to become a Certified Personal Trainer. I figured the two complimented each other. My desire to learn about the way the body responds to food and exercise became more than a passion for me, it became a lifestyle; albeit a tad obsessive.
This space for typing a note doesn't even begin to give me adequate room to write about the importance of exercise, but I will do my best. The human body was designed to move!!! I schedule my workouts like I would a meeting on my calendar. I have 3 kids and work part time, but I make time to work out 6 days a week (sometimes 2 workouts a day.....I said obsessive). It is MY time, MY therapy and necessary for MY sanity. It doesn't take long for something to become a habit. The more you exercise, the more your body learns to burn fat rather than storing it. Exercise releases endorphins and increases the amounts of the neurotransmitters, serotonin and dopamine, thus becomes addicting. It is a good addiction. Trust me, I know.
When we are idle, the incidence of chronic conditions, including obesity, increases. Here are some of the conditions induced, at least partly, by inactivity:
-breast cancer....physically active females have reduced cases of amenorrhea, fewer irregular cycles, and they start their periods later...all associated with reduced development of breast cancer. Women with the highest levels of activity are 30% less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Bottom line: the more calories you burn over time, the lower your risk of breast cancer.
-colon cancer....those with high levels of physical activity are 50% less likely to develop colon cancer
-pancreatic cancer...people who exercise 4 hours a week have a 50% less chance to develop pancreatic cancer.
-melanoma....sedentary men and women have a 56% and 72% respectively higher rate of melanoma.
-hypertension(high blood pressure)...obviously blood pressure is significantly higher in people who are sedentary.
-osteoarthritis...exercise helps manage this, reduces pain, increases flexibility.
-insomnia...the harder you train, the better you sleep
-diabetes (type 2)....studies show that those that exercise 5 times a week were less likely to develop diabetes.
Not everyone is going to like the same kind of exercise, but let's first define exercise. I am not talking about vacuuming or gardening. I am talking about aerobic or anaerobic activity, ideally a combination of both. Aerobic activity can be simply walking (45-60 minutes, 3-5 times a week) at a brisk pace..not a casual stroll. Running is phenomenal for the heart, but of course brutal on the joints (which is why I can't do it too often). Also, zumba, barre classes (my fave), yoga, jazzercise, dance, cross training, elliptical machine, treadmill, spinning, stationary bike, aerobic classes, swimming, etc.
AND then there is anaerobic... weight training. The real benefits of weight lifting (even light weights) happen 24 hours AFTER a workout during the after burn....burning 100-200 extra calories. So if you incorporate strength training into your routine, you can burn an extra 300-600 calories per week. Weight training also helps build bone mass/density. Muscles weigh more than fat(so don't live by the number on the scale, EVER), but muscle burns calories faster.
DO NOT tell me you don't have time. Apply what you know about setting and accomplishing business goals to setting and achieving fitness goals. YOU are the boss of you and bosses don't cancel. Remember, exercise is not only about losing weight and gaining muscle. It is about creating healthy blood flow, healthy heart, healthy brain, healthy bones, and a healthy mind. There are plenty of thin UNHEALTHY people. DO it for the right reasons.
Lastly...did you know that human sweat contains a natural antibiotic that can actually protect us from skin fungi and bacteria? Yep.
So find a way to move. Create a habit. Be the boss of you. Don't cancel. You can be fit and healthy, or you can be jealous. You decide.
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