What is keeping us from being healthy and fit?
It is easy to come up with many reasons or excuses for not exercising – I’m too tired. I’m too out of shape. I don’t have time. Let’s face it! After a long day at work, having to prepare dinner, spend quality time with the kids/significant other, bath/bedtime routines, cleaning up...exercising might be the last thing on your mind and retreating to the couch to catch up on the latest Netflix show sounds way more appealing!
That might explain why leading a sedentary lifestyle has become a major public health issue linked to severe conditions such as: obesity, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and the list goes on and on.
Exercise not only will help you lose weight and keep it off, it will lower the risk of cancer and stroke, it will give you better cardiovascular health, stronger muscles, and it will slow bone density loss associated with age. But the benefits of physical activity go far beyond just physical fitness. Research shows that working out regularly can boost other aspects of your health, including cognitive function and emotional well-being.
Another great reason to exercise, and one that is a constant source of motivation for parents, is our kids. Children see Mom and/or Dad as their educators, and role models throughout their lives. If parents are sedentary, chances are, their kids will be too. However, parents who eat healthily and exercise on a regular basis are teaching their children to do the same.
And by exercise I don’t necessarily mean signing up for a gym or race (although those can be fun!), daily life activities like cleaning the house, doing yard work, playing sports with your kids, going for 15-20 minute power walk every day can make us feel energized.
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
Here are some ideas to get you moving:
Check your health. Get a physical examination and wait for your doctor’s greenlight before starting an exercise routine.This is particularly important for those who are not used to strenuous physical activities, or for people aged 45 and over.
Schedule it and be prepared. Find a 15 minute slot in your day when you are more likely to exercise. Early in the morning, during lunch break, after the kids have gone to bed. Have a bag ready with your shoes, water bottle and workout clothes.
Choose an aerobic activity that you enjoy: power walking, biking, swimming, dancing or yoga. If you enjoy it, it will be easier to make it a habit.
Exercise with a friend. One that can motivate you to keep your commitment to exercise even when you are tired.
Use free online resources. Lots of resources on youtube just waiting for you. Aim for 15 minute workouts and slowly increase the time as you get more comfortable with the new routine.
Make it a family affair. If your kids are young, pop them in a stroller and take a few laps around the neighborhood. Power walks around the field when they are in soccer practice...team up with another parent so you have an exercise buddy.
Exercise offers incredible benefits that can improve every aspect of our health. I really hope these strategies help you on your journey to a healthier, happier version of yourselves.
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2996155/#R7
2 https://insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00134372-201106000-00007