Time to Get Moving

Dear Couch Potato,

Unfortunately, you’re not alone in your dilemma. Over 25 percent of the adult population in this country is considered to be physically inactive. Health and wellness experts agree, movement is by far the best medicine.

According to Dr. Jordan D. Metzl, sports medicine physician, there’s a litany of health problems physical activity can help address: heart disease, certain cancers, osteoarthritis, dementia/Alzheimer’s, depression, type two diabetes, metabolic syndrome, fatty liver, hypertension, high cholesterol, autoimmune disorders, ADHD, sleep apnea, anxiety, asthma, low-back pain, erectile dysfunction, stress and more.

Metzl says a growing body of research shows that low fitness causes more premature deaths than smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure.

If all that isn’t enough to get you to the gym or out for a walk, let’s take a look at the emotional side of reluctance to exercise. Consider challenging your negativity regarding exercise. Ask yourself a coaching question like: What would it take for you to change your attitude and perceive exercise in a positive way?

Like most everything else we want to accomplish, a good first step is to set a goal then back it up with a specific plan. Your goal may be to gain strength or improve your balance. A plan can look like putting twenty minutes of weight training on your calendar for once a week, walking for ten minutes five days a week, etc.

If possible, associate with a community. Take lessons, then join a pickleball team, walk with a friend every Monday morning at eight. Affirm yourself as “An Exerciser” or “A Weight Trainer.” You’re not just doing something, you’re becoming a person who exercises.

Be patient. You didn’t get to your current state overnight and you won’t become Muscle Man in a few weeks. Exercise requires a lifetime commitment. The goal is for it to become a way of life, as automatic as brushing your teeth.

To me, it’s not about longevity. It’s about quality of life. Regular exercise is our best bet for having quality of life whatever our age. So I challenge you to lace up those tennis shoes and get going! If not for you, do it for those you love.