From Amanda's very early writing (1990s to early 2000s), shared as it was originally written.
I doubt that there would be one person in Australia today that doesn't know that exercise is important for the body, mind and soul. Unless they live in a bubble and have not listened to radio, TV or read a newspaper in the last 40 years.
But I don't think they understand just HOW important it is. Or more people would do it! It's not just your heart and lungs that benefit from exercise - it's every organ inyour body- your liver, kidney , spleen, bowels, bladder, and skin to name a few. It's fantastic for busting stress and boosting energy. It's good for your soul and recharges your spirit.
If you were given a magnificent car - a Ferrari or 800 series BMW or whatever you think is a wonderful machine - would you lock it up in the garage and never use it? If you did , you would soon notice that this wonderful machine had been ruined by the inactivity. Engines need to be run; they need oil pumping through all the moving bits.
The human body is the most impressive machine of all - it needs oil of different types pumping through the joints, muscles, cells, brain, kidneys, heart etc. And the old adage of 'use it or lose it' is true. Inactivity is the enemy of the human machinery. Sedentary lifestyles contribute to more disease than you can imagine - not just boring old heart disease, but cancer, arthritis, chronic fatigue and most diseases you can think of.
Have you ever had this experience? You arrive home after work exhausted. You have been sitting all day but you are still exhausted. All you want to do is to flop into another chair , drink heavily and watch TV. Suddenly , you remember you promised to go out and exercise with someone that night. You make 84 phone calls trying to get out of the arrangememnt. You can't. So you drag yoruself out, cursing your stupidity.
What are you like when you return? Aren't you bursting with energy, vim and vigour? You spring back home feeling ready to clean the house, write eight reports or party for three days! There's a message here folks! You leave home feeling spent and drained; you exercise and arrive home feeling wonderful.
Did you know that when you are fit - or at least active - and you smoke the bad effects of the smoking are reduced? In fact, the damage done by any bad health habit is lessened if you exercise. The incidence of cancer is lower in people who exercise regularly. Stress levels are lower and life flows more easily. They keep their perspective on life and events happening to them. Fit people have better relationships, higher self esteem; laugh more and yes - they even have more orgasms! (From a recent review of women who exercise regularly).
Have I given you enough information yet to make you rush out the door and start exercising? If not, keep reading! In the past we thought humans had to exercise heavily several times a week to be fit and that being very fit was the best possible state. Well, as the "Moderation Man' Dr John Tickell suggests , extremes of anything make us sick. Too much exercise can lead to all sorts of hormonal disturbances and physical damage and can be addictive. But too little exercise is worse.
The Cooper Aerobic Clinic is the largest and best known exercise research center in the world and they advocate for moderate to reasonable fitness, all we need to do is walk 4 kilometres in 30 minutes , 4 times a week. Yes, it is possible - I do it most mornings! And no, I haven't made a mistake. If the area you walk in is very hilly then you could walk less in 30 minutes for the same impact. If you want to be very fit they suggest walking 4 k in 20 minutes 4 times a week.
Now, that's not hard folks. You don't need expensive gear, training, gym subscriptions, a personal trainer or to wobble in front of anyone. All you need is walking shoes and a place! If you don't have a place use a treadmill. Instead of watching the news go for a four kilometer walk instead. Take your family - model a wellness beahviour for your children. The best way to instill health habits inyoru children is to have the children see you exercising or not drinking (a lot) or eating well etc.
Of course , you can do any sort of exercise you like. Maybe you prefer bike riding or swimming (it's great to meditate as you swim) , or gym work or circuit training or jogging on a trampoline, or some running or tennis or golf (but you have to walk fast) or any physical activity you can think of.
But wait , there's more! Even better news. The absolute slob; the person who hasen't used a muscle in 30 years ; who can't remember when they last exercised, is the person who benefits the most! And all they have to do is some physical activity - for 10 minutes, three times a day. That's all! According to recent research from the Pennsylvania State University (The Noll Physiological Research Center) every adult should accumulcate 30 minutes or more of moderately intensive physical activity per day. It can be in one hit or it can be accumulated in short bouts.
This means take the stairs instead of the lift; garden for a while; walk short distances instead of driving; scrub the bathroom tiles vigorously; take the washing up and down the stairs in small bundles more frequently; walk to the TV instead of using the remote control! Think of all the ways you could combine vigorous activity with your daily life.
Apparently, the health benfits for the slob who starts being active are astounding! If you are already fit and you become fitter then the health benefits are not as dramatic. I guess your body reacts like the car - once you start the car and take it for short runs the engine hums back into life and at least functions. If the car runs already and we drive it more then it doesn't make much difference. But if we take it for long runs every so often it really tunes the car up - so we need to take ourselves for 'long runs' (metaphorically) once a month. If I haven't convinved you to start doing some exercise, you're still in the bubble! Good luck.
