Fitness for Healthy Living
When the Corona crisis hit, most of the globe resorted to immediate lockdown measures. As days went by, social media like tiktok, instagram and youtube seemed to either be crowded by the pandemic information or by different home workout plans. Fitness at that point, seemed like an option when the world did not have much to do inside their homes. But should Health in Fitness only be under our priority list when we have nothing better to do or should there be greater efforts in integrating it into our daily lifestyle?
It is an established fact that Fitness for healthy living has been increasingly neglected in recent years. We would much rather sit in front of a screen for seven hours than do a seventeen minutes workout, totally unaware about the dire consequences and that’s where we lose. According to WHO, sedentary lifestyle increases all causes of mortality, doubles the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and increases the risks of colon cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, lipid disorders, depression, anxiety and the list goes on. It can also result in enormous direct medical costs, individual disability, and societal burden. It does not end there, being inactive does not only increase the risk of death by 20% to 30% but it also greatly affects our cognitive ability and psychological wellbeing. In other words, it leads us on a shorter path to death and we best believe that the shorter path is full of obstacles.
So then, why exactly are we comfortable with inadequate levels of physical activity, given all the risks that accompany it? A Canadian health institution narrows it down to a few points in which one significant reason is the sheer lack of motivation. And for those of us who exercise, this isn't news. During the first two weeks, our enthusiasm is through the roof, but we see it quickly plummet and greatly fluctuate in the following weeks. Why? Because a lot of us treat fitness as a task we ought to complete rather than a form of self-care that we enjoy.
Having lost some weight myself, I now realize that motivation is not something to be relied on. It acts as a friend on a Tuesday and then turns out to be a foe on a Sunday. Motivation is affected by too many external and internal variables. Instead a reliable pusher can be our reasoning for the goals we set. If we perceive our physical and mental fitness to be a goal we want to achieve, not for anybody else’s sake but for our own benefit, we will find ourselves halfway there. Positive changes accompanying physical activity like elevated executive functions, memory functions, and processing speed are more to welcome fitness. Research suggest rates of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) related morbidity and mortality to be lower among active occupational groups. Another great reason to stick to a moderately active lifestyle.
And what makes it easier is, fitness doesn’t have to come in the form of a gym membership. In fact, aerobic activities, as simple as running or brisk walking, is greatly proven to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, necessary to prevent CHD events. Other activities that cause less stress to joints but increase flexibility and improve joint lubrication are bicycling and swimming, which have shown to delay the development or progression of arthritis.
Being physically active does not only have immense physical health benefits but it also greatly improves our emotional functionality and therefore it is very important for people of all ages to stick to a fitness regime that is best suited for their age. In conclusion, fitness comes in various forms and structures and high intensity training is not the only option. What is the one and only option though, is having an active day despite our busy work schedule post lockdown.
Written by: Aarya Sharma, @lmaoaaryawho
Aarya believes in actively involving herself rather than just talking about doing better, which is why she chose to volunteer with Health Goes Global.
She took this photo to share factual information about how to prevent coronavirus in Nepal. Misinformation, such as eating ginger as a cure, was spreading through much of Nepal at this time. She took it upon herself to share these messages about how to Flatten the Curve: follow proper safety protocols such as wearing a mask in public where social distancing is not possible, donate to organizations helping quarantine camps, and try to not add stress to your life because it can impair your immune system.