I will always believe we can continually reevaluate and reinvent ourselves. We have talked about rethinking your selfie and changing your late-night eating habits. We have spoken of 'paying it forward' and maintaining youthful zest and curiosity throughout your lives.
Another aspect of our lives that could also use some reinvention is our exercise routine (or lack thereof). A life change or focus that is equally if not more important than all the others.
We are not talking about reinventing the tremendous benefits of exercise. We are talking about being able to take advantage of those benefits. Because exercise:
Controls weight,
Combats health conditions and diseases
Improves mood
Boosts energy
Promotes better sleep
It puts the spark back into your sex life AND:
Exercise can be fun and social!
I am sure many of my readers have a healthy and enjoyable exercise routine and reap all the benefits. And most of them meet or exceed the minimum guidelines for adequate exercise set by The Mayo Clinic, The American College of Sports Medicine, and many other reputable sources. *(1) *(2) Those guidelines recommend that:
All healthy adults aged 18–65 years should participate in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes on five days per week or vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise for a minimum of 20 minutes on three days per week and:
Every adult should perform activities that maintain or increase muscular strength and endurance for a minimum of two days per week.
That all seems straightforward. But thirty minutes, five times per week, for exercise! That's a LOT OF TIME. Finding 30 minutes five times per week is close to impossible for many. So it's no wonder only 22.9% of U.S. adults aged 18–64 met these guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. 22.9% is an unfortunate statistic. *(3)
So should the remaining 70% reinvent how they look at exercise? Make it accessible, beneficial, easy, and always doable. Make it not a chore that requires going to the gym, swimming, running, or cycling.
If that 70% can turn something they love to do into small exercise segments, they could quickly meet those recommended minimums. How about taking the stairs or parking at the furthest point in the parking lot? What about walking to and from getting your morning coffee or to your friends for dinner? Do you love gardening? Hiking? Let me know your passions, and we will turn them into exercise!
Many of you know I am a personal trainer, and I know that advanced exercise requires more advanced training. And as Covid has shown us, we can do much of this advanced training at home:
Do you have a jump rope? NIKE says it up there with the best workouts.
Simple stretch bands are inexpensive and very portable, with tremendous benefits.
Do you have at-home weights? Be cautious when you use home weights and get proper training. This is particularly important if using hand weights when walking.
Do you have access to a rowing machine? I always recommend the benefits of rowing as one of the most comprehensive short workouts.
But first and foremost, everyone must know how vital even a tiny amount of exercise is. Be mindful that you can turn minor daily tasks into life-changing medicine. When you walk, walk with enthusiasm and intent; when you stand, always stand tall with good posture. Learn the importance of stretching and do a little every day.
You know what they say, If you change nothing, nothing will change. So to reinvent or change anything, including ourselves and our creativity around exercise, we must change and reinvent how we look at, well, just about everything. And exercise is no exception.
As Rachel Platten says in Fight Song, if you believe you can do it, you can.
Your friend and fellow Bluerisa traveler,
Mark Block
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