Decisions

May 20, 2012

You just put in a good 8 hour day in front of your computer screen, and the last thing you want to do is exercise. Let’s see – exercise, and improve your fitness level, or – sit down with a glass of wine and watch your favorite evening television show. What would you do?

Seventy percent of adults know they should exercise, but choose the wine and the television program instead. Did you know this simple daily decision will likely end up being detrimental to long term your health? According to the USCDC (United States Center for Disease Control), 54.1% of adults don’t do the minimum level of exercise or physical activity recommended for wellness. The slogan “use it or lose it” has never been more true.

The simple, innocent choice of not exercising has been shown, in studies, to promote 10 serious health conditions that neither you or I ever want to develop. The bottom line, physical inactivity has a lot of unhealthy implications even at our bodies cellular level. At the cellular level, inactivity decreases 
the ability to transfer oxygen from your blood stream to your cells, and also decreases the number of power activating mitochondria. The news gets worse ladies and gentlemen, following are 10 devastating conditions caused by inactivity:

1. CANCER – Studies have shown that fitness enthusiastic men and women who are physically active have a 30 to 40 percent lower risk of colon cancer compared to individuals who are inactive.

2. DIABETES – Studies show lack of regular physical exercise increases insulin sensitivity. Diabetes is considered the “sedentary disease” which is striking people at an alarming rate. If it is not controlled, it can destroy the body’s organs.

3. HEART – Lack of consistent physical activity, over time, decreases the function of the heart muscle, affects the blood vessels, including the large aortic artery to the veins and small capillaries. According to many studies, scientists have good reason to believe that regular exercise protects the heart. The heart is a muscle – use it or lose it!

4. STROKE – Regular exercisers are 25% less likely to have a stroke than their sedentary counterparts. Being fit lowers blood pressure, raises HDL cholesterol, and reduces the risk of blood clots.

5. BRAIN – People who are physically active, according to solid evidence, are at lower risk for cognitive decline and dementia.

6. MUSCLES – If you don’t exercise on a regular basis, you are at risk of losing some 6 percent of your muscles mass every decade of life from the age of 30 on. This also translates into a 10 – 15 percent loss of strength per decade. Once again, if you don’t use the muscle, you will lose the muscle quickly.

7. OSTEOPOROSIS – Fragile bones cause more than 1.5 million fractures each year in the U.S. Bone is like muscle, if you stress it, it responds. If you don’t, you gradually lose its strength, and increase your chances of breaking your bones. Regular weekly strength training can help prevent osteoporosis, and decrease your chances of breaking a bone.

8. MENTAL HEALTH – People who don’t exercise on a regular basis are more prone to develop depression. According to a recent study, people who were more active were nearly 20 percent less likely to be diagnosed with depression over the next five years than less active people. Fitness conscious individuals also generally display an improved self esteem, or self image.

9. WEIGHT – If you are inactive, year in and year out, you will eventually gain weight and lose fitness which increases the chance of heart attacks, diabetes, and joint problems brought on by the additional weight.

10. IMMUNE SYSTEM – Moderate amounts of exercise reduces the 
risk of upper respiratory infection. Regular exercise boosts immune function.

Now, I would like to ask you the same question I asked you above. What 
would you do? Wine and television, or physical exercise?

Now for the good news! In as little as 20 minutes of exercise or 
fitness work each day, you can significantly decrease your chances of developing any of these horrible conditions listed above. This is the best “medicine” any doctor can possibly prescribe!

I hope I have encouraged you to become more physically 
active today, and beyond. Your quality of life depends upon 
it. Consider these the most important words you will hear 
today!

Remember, you have a choice. Make the fitness choice.

In good health,

Bob

“He who has health, has hope; he who has hope, has everything.” – Thomas Carlyle