There is now no serious dispute among medical professionals as to the relationship between a sedentary lifestyle and increased risk of cardiovascular problems.
In fact, lack of exercise in a typical Western lifestyle is believed by some authorities to be a much greater overall health risk than obesity alone.
Of course, one must also accept that we have built a modern technological society where for some people, regular exercise is extremely difficult. If you’re stuck behind a desk for eight or nine hours a day or in the cab of a truck driving for similar lengths of time, getting regular exercise will be a challenge.
Even so, doing nothing more than continuing to ‘do nothing’ is likely to become a potentially serious health risk for you in the future. Therefore, here are some important tips on how you can change your lifestyle and keep yourself a little more fit.
- Critically and honestly review how much exercise you get during an average day. Wear a pedometer if necessary. If you find that your life is largely sedentary, the most important thing is to make a positive decision to do something about it.
- Start thinking about walking at every opportunity instead of taking easier options. This is a ‘quick win’ and can make a real difference to your fitness and health. So walk to the stores instead of using the car. Take the stairs in your office instead of taking the elevator. Do the same in shopping malls, etc. Everything will help.
- Try to go for a brisk walk for about 20 minutes at least twice a day. For example, instead of watching TV or surfing the Internet at lunch, go outside to stretch your legs.
- Buy yourself a bike and try to ride for 30 minutes every day. You can pick them up second hand usually for a trim.
- Plan some more extensive activities over the weekend. What you do may depend on your own interests, as long as you do something. For example, someone who weighs around 100 kilos and swims at a moderate pace for about an hour will burn 650 calories. Walking, biking, swimming – almost any sporting activity will be much better for you than just sitting at home doing paperwork, etc.
- Join a gym or exercise class you like, eg Pilates, yoga, hiking. Doing something you enjoy means you’ll keep doing it for a long period of time!
All of these things are likely to be a huge benefit to your health, especially when combined with professionally designed weight loss programs.
Remember, though, that if your weight is about right, that in itself isn’t a sign that you’re necessarily fit and healthy or an excuse for not doing anything in the way of exercise.
It is perfectly possible to have an acceptable weight but continue to lead an overly sedentary lifestyle, which will make it increasingly difficult to maintain your ideal weight. This is because you need exercise to maintain muscle mass and your metabolic rate.
One last thing to consider before starting any type of formal exercise regimen is what you know about your overall health. If you have any serious health problems or are significantly overweight, it may be prudent to consult a doctor before beginning any demanding exercise program.
Whatever you choose, it should be something you enjoy and be able to fit into your lifestyle or budget for an extended period of time or for a lifetime.
