To Exercise or Not to Exercise

By Donna M. Jenkins, MHA, BHCM, RMA, CPT (SizeWize Fitness Coach)

It’s Monday morning and you awake with well thought out plans to spend some time exercising today, whether in the gym or at or around your home. However, you get a text or the phone rings or you simply wake up not feeling well and your good intentions to exercise seem like just another burden on an already busy day. This is the battle that most of us face and the question then becomes “To Exercise or Not to Exercise”?

I want to engage in some “Real Talk” with you for just a moment and give you some serious food for thought just in case this already sounds like the challenges that you may face on a regular day. What I want to bring to your attention is that this question is not as simple as it seems and the most obvious choice that we often make is an unfortunate one. We simply knock off the list the one thing that we seemingly don’t have time for, not realizing that it is the one thing that we need to make time for and that is Exercise.

Physical activity has so many clear benefits that it “Just Makes Sense”! Here are the main reasons why the question that I have posed needs to be settled in your mind. According to an article in the CDC, physical activity is one of the most important things that you can do for your health because it helps:

• Control your weight
• Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease
• Reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome
• Reduce your risk of some cancers
• Strengthen your bones and muscles
• Improve your mental health and mood
• Improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls, if you’re an older adult
• Increase your chances of living longer

Now when put like that, the answer becomes so much clearer. It is no longer a matter of I can’t afford to spend the time and energy exercising but more like I can’t afford NOT to spend the time and energy exercising. The simple fact is that most of us don’t look at the benefits I’ve mentioned and just feel like the state of their health is their “Lot in Life.” This is so far from the truth! I’m here to tell you that by simply incorporating a minimum of 30 mins of exercise to your daily routine, you can change your life forever and improve the overall quality of it.

Make a decision today to get moving! Be sure to consult your physician before starting any new exercise program but take the necessary steps to put a plan in motion and stick with it to begin your journey to a healthier you. It doesn’t matter if you decided on it at the beginning of the year or simply been putting it off for years.

DO IT NOW BECAUSE YOU DESERVE A BETTER YOU!