Most people lead a sedentary lifestyle. Many in their youth did not understand the importance of physical exercises. However, as we become adults, we understand that physical activity is necessary for modern life. It’s never too late to change and pay attention to your health.
The key to maintaining good health is engaging in mild to moderate exercise. This is especially important for people with busy schedules. Even a small amount of exercise can have a significant impact on person`s overall well-being.
Many people enjoy indulging in lazy activities like savoring gourmet food and relaxing in front of the TV. However, you should understand that this lifestyle cannot be the norm if you want to live a long and healthy life.
The question we must ask ourselves is: Do we want to be healthy?
Fitness primarily helps the body’s ability to endure and excel in various activities, such as football, hockey, or tennis. On the other hand, good health encompasses more comprehensive aspects, including being free from diseases, maintaining mental and spiritual well-being.
While fitness and good health often go hand in hand, they are not always synonymous. For example, someone may excel at a sport like tennis but struggle with serious health issues such as alcoholism.
Understanding the difference between fitness and good health helps people realize that they don’t necessarily need to engage in intense exercise to maintain their health.
So, how can person stay in shape? Many professions need physical fitness. Athletes, soldiers, and firefighters must maintain their physical condition to perform their duties effectively. To achieve and maintain good fitness, person needs follow structured exercise programs commonly known as training. Examples include gymnastics, running, weightlifting, and swimming. The intensity of these exercises can be adjusted to target different levels of fitness. For those aiming for excellent fitness, more intensive workouts are necessary.
On the other hand, if your goal is simply to be healthy, a moderate level of exercise is sufficient. Concerns about heart disease, high cholesterol, obesity, or mental health issues often motivate us to stay physically active. You don’t need to train yourself to the same extent as someone striving for excellent fitness. Instead, add physical activities into your daily routine. Walk to nearby places instead of driving, do isometric exercises discreetly at your office desk, or do few push-ups or squats during TV commercials. But remember, if you have chronic diseases, such as atherosclerosis or hypertension, in addition to fitness, you definitely need to take medication, for example, to lower cholesterol (Atorlip) or normalize blood pressure (Betaloc).
Also, remember, maintaining good health doesn’t have to be torturous. Here are some simple tips for leading an active lifestyle: choose stairs over elevators or escalators, manually change TV channels instead of the remote control, and make a habit of getting up from your chair frequently.