The Ideal You

Health has been the world’s focus over the past several weeks.

Staying healthy. Avoiding contamination. Stacking the odds in your favor.

This is exciting for me, since I’ve been beating the drum of health and fitness for years – way before we even knew what COVID19 was.

That’s right—I’ll never get tired of telling you how important exercise is to your health and maybe now more WILL LISTEN.

Did you know that many of your health problems will improve or even disappear as the result of a consistent exercise program?

Did you know your controllable risk factors include physical inactivity and obesity?

I’ve seen exercise change lives.

I’ve even seen exercise save lives.

1. Feel Great: The first thing that people tell me after starting an exercise program is how much better they feel. People don’t realize how bad they feel. They get used to feeling bad. Then when they start exercising they feel so much better.

Your energy levels boost and you feel great.

2. Pain Be Gone: Next people notice a reduction in aches and pains. Chronic muscle and joint pain that they’ve lived with for years begins to fade. For some, joint replacement surgery is postponed. For others, arthritis pain is reduced.

Your muscles and joints feel better than ever.

3. Goodbye Coronary Heart Disease: While you can’t feel this healing benefit of exercise, it is the one that saves lives. Exercise removes two of the major risk factors that lead to heart disease: 1) physical inactivity and 2) obesity. Exercise also increases your good cholesterol (HDL) and lowers your blood pressure.

Your risk of heart attack or stroke is reduced.

4. Goodbye Type 2 Diabetes: People with type 2 diabetes gain substantial benefits from exercise. Exercise improves the body’s use of insulin, and the related weight loss improves insulin sensitivity. Of course, anyone with type 2 diabetes needs to get guidelines from their doctor before starting an exercise program.

Your blood sugar levels are better controlled.

5. Goodbye Sleep Apnea: People with sleep apnea are often caught in a destructive cycle. Their weight promotes occurrences of apnea then inadequate sleep promotes weight gain. Exercise reduces weight and helps to ease the symptoms of sleep apnea.

You sleep better.

With all of these benefits it’s hard to see why anyone would avoid exercise. What’s your excuse?

I know you’re tired…exercise gives you energy.

I know you’re in pain…exercise alleviates your muscle and joint pain.

I know you’d rather stay in bed…exercise makes your sleep more restful.

I know you’re pressed for time…exercise improves your efficiency and extends your life.