Move like your health depends on it, because it does
Maybe you have heard it before, maybe you haven’t.
Movement is medicine. I heard it emphasized recently on a podcast I was listening to.
It made me think about how lack of movement leads to illness.
Think about it. When someone is in the hospital and they have had surgery, to help promote getting your digestion kick-started post-op, what do they encourage you to do? Walk.
When someone is bedridden for a period of time, what are they more susceptible to? The lack of movement leads to pressure injuries. Movement is a part of the solution.
Research has proven time and time again how physical activity improves management of depressive symptoms.
Factors that contribute to increased back pain include lack of physical activity, a sedentary lifestyle, and being overweight. In essence, the lack of movement has contributed to painful symptomatology. The solution – get moving.
For those that suffer a heart attack or other cardiac event, they are often referred for Cardiac Rehab, where…they keep you moving.
Movement is medicine, yet, people often drift in the other direction and do nothing. The moment they have pain and feel uncomfortable, their first inclination is to stop and do nothing. In reality, they are contributing to prolonging their pain and discomfort. Please note, I am not suggesting you work through the immediate pain of an injury. However, I will suggest you get back to movement as soon as possible.
The body that remains in motion, stays in motion.
If you don’t move it, you lose it.
Too many people focus on their limitations. My encouragement for you – focus on what you CAN do, not what you feel or in fact, cannot do.
It doesn’t matter that you have had a shoulder repair surgery in the past, there are still a multitude of exercises that you CAN do.
It doesn’t matter that you have a history of herniated discs, there are still a multitude of exercises that you CAN do.
Consider this: there are people who do absolutely nothing that involves physical exertion, and they are being referred for Physical Therapy for their aches and pains. Again, movement is medicine – people are being referred for help to get back to moving. Too many people unfortunately go back to not moving…then repeat the same cycle over and over for the rest of their lives.
Here’s the thing – a person absolutely has the power to change the direction their life is heading. It involves taking a step (movement) in the direction of taking ownership of their health.
It means accepting that something needs to change and just taking that initial step, and then the next one, and then the next one. Who knows where it will lead!
Maybe that first step is walking 5-10 minutes a day. Maybe it means taking your lunch to work instead of buying fast food. Maybe it is having a fruit and/or a vegetable today. Maybe it’s buying a few dumbbells and starting to do some strength training. Maybe it’s working with a coach that can help you provide a more direct path.
No way around it, you gotta move.
The people who age faster are the ones who stopped moving. Conversely, those who keep moving live longer, more fulfilling lives.
People often have their own reasoning for not including movement in their lives. Sometimes it’s not being sure what to do. For some it might be uncertainty around form or what exercises to perform. At times, it can be “paralysis by analysis” and being overwhelmed so much with information, so much so, that they don’t know where to start, so they just don’t.
The good news – our coaching team helps our clients manage through the overwhelm and the anxiety to help make the gym experience a positive one. Whatever your challenge, we are prepared to see you through it.
I will close with one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite coaches, Bruce Young: you can have excuses or you can have results, but you can’t have both.
Make the move today to improve your health. We get one chance at this life. Why not live it in a healthier body.
Getting started is easy. Book your No Sweat Intro, our FREE consultation, today.