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Fitness

by Dan Chisholm - November 12-18, 2009

Don’t Let Exercise Pass You By

Why exercise? Researchers have sought to answer this question for years. In 1996, the Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity was released, detailing the research behind the benefits associated with exercise. This report goes beyond the anecdotal “it-just-feels-good” reason for exercising. What follows are the conclusions of years of research on the health benefits of physical activity.

Who benefits from physical activity?

While not all types of exercise are appropriate for everyone, everyone can benefit from some type of exercise. After all, exercise is not limited to running or aerobics. One can try water workouts or seated-chair classes. From the gay softball or volleyball leagues, go running down the Lakeshore walking path. Even dancing at Spin is exercise as long as one “drops it like it is hot.” The primary factor in choosing an activity should be enjoyment. Special populations should see a doctor first.

What is the bottom line dose/response issue?

How much one exercises is an individual decision, but numerous research studies indicate that hours of intense exercise are not necessary to reap the benefits detailed above. In fact, health specialists now recommend that most adults accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity on most days of the week.

Moderate activity is any activity that elevates the heart rate and gets the blood pumping without leaving an exerciser out of breath or exhausted. So, rather than blocking off a large portion of time, 10 minutes of walking at lunch and another 20 minutes after dinner, for example, is all it takes for wellness purposes. For those who are so inclined, exercising at slightly higher intensities for longer periods of time can bring about even greater fitness benefits.

Less important than the intensity or duration of each exercise session is making the commitment to perform some type of physical activity every day, whether a person is to focus on aerobic, strength or flexibility training.

Fitness does not occur overnight, and there may be some aspect less enjoyable (some people just cannot get over the sweating part of it), but the sense of feeling better, of feeling healthier, will overpower any negative attitudes toward exercise that a person may still be harboring.

Summer is coming, Hollywood Beach!

Individuals who exercise regularly are less likely to develop:

• Heart disease

• Diabetes

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Certain forms of cancer

• Osteoporosis

Individuals who exercise regularly are more likely to:

• Maintain and controlling body weight

• Minimize arthritic pain by maximizing muscle around affected joints.

• Maintain lean muscle

• Increase self-esteem and self-confidence

• Continue to perform activities of daily living while aging

• Experience overall feelings of well-being and good health.

For more information, contact Dan Chisholm, BS, LMT, at www.FITNESSandMASSAGEchicago.com.