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No More Excuses
We need to talk. I just found out that eight out of
ten of you do not engage in regular exercise. Why is that? You know it's good for you,
don't you? You know the benefits include weight loss and diabetes control as well as heart
disease and osteoporosis prevention. Besides all of that, it makes you feel good. So why
aren't you moving more?
Are you going to do it tomorrow? How many tomorrows have come and gone and you still
aren't exercising? What if God had said, "I'll create the universe tomorrow"?
Got a tough job? Think that you get enough exercise at work? Think again. While some
occupations are strenuous, few provide the type of physical activity that amounts to a
well-rounded exercise program. Your job may involve heavy lifting, but does it stretch
those hamstrings or work your abdominals on a regular basis? Do you walk a lot on your
job? If it's five minutes here and five minutes there then it doesn't count. As a rule you
need a continuous 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise to see significant benefits.
So you don't have time? We all have 24 hours in a day. Take an honest look at the
activities that make up your week and ask yourself if each one is really important. Would
the world come to an end if the family ate leftovers three nights a week? What if you gave
up a few committees? How much TV do you watch? Is all of that overtime worth your health?
Will your spouse take care of the kids for and hour a day three days a week?
Are you intimidated? Trust me. Everybody has to start somewhere. Many of the fittest
people around were champion couch potatoes at one time.
Does the idea of physical exertion bother you? Start out with a 20-minute walk around the
block. Make it 15 minutes for that matter. Then gradually add 1 minute every other day and
walk just a little faster. You will be surprised how easy it is.
How about motivation? Include a friend. Include several friends. Many people find that
having a partner or exercising in a group helps them be consistent. If you know that
somebody is counting on you to show up at the track, then you are a lot less likely to
justify putting it off.
There. No more excuses. Now, don't you feel better? Sure life puts a few people in a
position that prevents them from exercising, but, for most of us, our reasons are just
excuses. The benefits of exercise are too great to let anything stand in your way. In the
end you are ultimately in control of whether or not you exercise.
Jay Weekley
SportsFirst Fitness & Wellness«
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Last updated: Thursday, July 19, 2001 12:18:52 AM
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