AGE IS NOT THE ENEMY. INACTIVITY IS.
Inactivity is our enemy. It is as bad for our health as smoking or obesity. It has a stronger effect on how we age than any other factor because we spend so much more time sitting. As we get older we tend to become less active, especially if we have had a fall. But the very best way to improve how your older years go is to participate in some kind of physical activity. So the recommendation is to stay active and often that means exercising.
Exercise is an elixir. There is a huge amount of evidence that exercise improves all aspects of well being while reducing the risk of developing chronic disease and significantly lowering fall risk. Yet few make that choice because there is a great deal of resistance toward exercise. The benefits are so overwhelming that it is hard to understand why.
To illustrate the phenomena, one class I taught several years ago was in progress with everyone participating very enthusiastically. An older woman came to the door with her walker. She asked if she could join. I mentioned that of course she could and that this was an exercise class. As soon as she heard the word "exercise" she totally shut down her interest and practically ran off. She seemed to be more in need of the class than anyone else in it. Yet she was literally repelled by the idea.
This kind of observation inspired me to write a series of articles breaking down the reasons for this paradox. Inactivity affects us profoundly in a number of ways. It is obvious that it impacts our body. Inactivity also causes us to feel differently. Basically, the more inactive you are, the less you want to do. That not wanting to do things translates into us making decisions against our own self interest. For example: "I don't want to go to the class today" when that is actually the most important thing for you to do.
These and other considerations are described in more detail in the 4 articles below. Each article is extraordinary, the reasoning unique and revealing. I highly recommend everyone read all 4.
Exercise is an elixir. There is a huge amount of evidence that exercise improves all aspects of well being while reducing the risk of developing chronic disease and significantly lowering fall risk. Yet few make that choice because there is a great deal of resistance toward exercise. The benefits are so overwhelming that it is hard to understand why.
To illustrate the phenomena, one class I taught several years ago was in progress with everyone participating very enthusiastically. An older woman came to the door with her walker. She asked if she could join. I mentioned that of course she could and that this was an exercise class. As soon as she heard the word "exercise" she totally shut down her interest and practically ran off. She seemed to be more in need of the class than anyone else in it. Yet she was literally repelled by the idea.
This kind of observation inspired me to write a series of articles breaking down the reasons for this paradox. Inactivity affects us profoundly in a number of ways. It is obvious that it impacts our body. Inactivity also causes us to feel differently. Basically, the more inactive you are, the less you want to do. That not wanting to do things translates into us making decisions against our own self interest. For example: "I don't want to go to the class today" when that is actually the most important thing for you to do.
These and other considerations are described in more detail in the 4 articles below. Each article is extraordinary, the reasoning unique and revealing. I highly recommend everyone read all 4.
Click on the green links below:
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Effects of Inactivity: What extended sitting does to us.
Do not believe everything you think: The mind plays tricks. Now I know why we don't: Inactivity and delayed reactions. Why have we failed? Why do so many still not exercise. |
There are some great hints that help you get started successfully:
Secrets to Successful Fitness: How to get started.
Secrets to Successful Fitness: How to get started.
The more inactive we are the less we want to do.
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If you are stiff when you stand, it's not because you are old,
it's because you sat too long.
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Ignore the reasons not to exercise and do it anyway.
According to a 2008 Kaiser Permanente study, 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day produces the following benefits:
(1) Reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's by 33%.
(2) Reduces recurrent breast cancer by 50%.
(3) Colon cancer by 60%.
(4) Heart disease by 40%.
(5) High blood pressure by 50%.
(6) Diabetes by 50%.
(7) Is as good for depression as taking Prozac.
Each exercise class you add to your schedule reduces the risk of depression by 50%.
Updated October 13, 2020