Exercise
"Try exercises that interest you, that way you look forward to it rather than dread it and you are more likely to keep it up"
| Regardless of the many forms of exercise (even work-out video games) that we have available to us, many Americans are lacking an adequate amount of exercise to even maintain average fitness levels. New technology has made everything convenient; from drive through eating, to elevators, escalators, and automatic doors. However, these conveniences have encouraged a sedentary (let us call it what it is)-a lazy lifestyle. Even when picking up fast food, many vehicles will forego a fast food chain due to a line of five or more cars, for a chain with only one person in line ahead of them. |
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| Americans are so accustomed to instant gratification that they cannot even wait for fast food! | |
The average American watches 3.5 hours of television a day. Sadly, fitness levels in children and young adults are the new medical focus. In the 1990’s participation in physical education (P.E.) in school decreased from 42 to 29 percent. Not surprisingly, one third of our children eat fast food daily and 15 percent of that group suffers from childhood obesity. Wanting those instant results, many teenagers are now suffering from bulimia, anorexia, and even electing to have gastric bypass surgery.
Although more is known today than ever before about total health and wellness, young adults (ages 35-44 years) have actually increased risks now of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. This may be due to young adult’s lack of concern; many Americans do not prioritize health until it becomes a problem, not realizing that they are doing long-term damage to their overall health and fitness.
The idea to drive home is to prioritize fitness now. Do not work out to be a certain weight, a certain size, to tone your jiggly arms, or firm your behind…rather, work out to reap the benefits of exercise long-term. Exercise boosts your basal metabolic rate (the number of calories your body burns), it regulates insulin and prevents fat storage, it strengthens your immune system to prevent illness, it decreases stress, aids your ability to rest and sleep, and it prevents cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol.
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What exercise is the best for you? Try exercises that interest you, that way you look forward to it rather than dread it and you are more likely to keep it up. Just remember, the goal of exercise is to keep your heart elevated, strengthen your heart and lungs, and overall just to feel good knowing you are giving yourself love when you take steps to strengthen your heart. |