Many people give up physical activity just because things are not as simple as they seem. It’s a big mistake. It is much better to maintain constant physical activity even if at a lower level.
In general, between two young people, one of whom practices sports and the other does not, the difference is not very big. On the other hand, as we get older, the difference between a person who does sports and one who doesn’t is huge.
Dr. Walter Bortz, a geriatric specialist, says that when we are young, sport is optional, but as we get older and cross the 40-year threshold, sport becomes a necessity. A young body is flexible and recovers quickly, but then it becomes more and more helpless, we get tired faster and faster, we recover harder and harder unless we work hard and slow down this process of bodily aging. It largely depends on us how we want to be, to look, and especially to feel later. It is scientifically proven that a well-maintained body throughout life is able to function well for up to 90 years, or even longer.
The book entitled “The Blue Zone”, written by Dan Buettner, talks about a large number of people from several places such as Okinawa, Costa Rica, or California, where people are over 100 years old. And one of the common denominators is daily physical activity, such as simple physical exercises, walks, trips, working in the garden. Physical activity of any kind strengthens the heart and bones, improves blood circulation, reduces obesity, and acts on depression by releasing endorphins into the body.
I have noticed around me that women whose exercise has changed their body and psyche feel much better, due to the fact that they are beginning to have more control over their lives and how they feel, which is especially important for older people, who often feel that they have little control over things.
How active should we be?
It certainly shouldn’t be an exaggeration. If for one reason or another you have not exercised for some time, when you resume physical activity, do it carefully. Often people get hurt by going from a state of inactivity to sudden demanding activity. It is preferable to create a habit of practicing at least 20 minutes of exercise, three times a week, whether it is stretching or aerobics.
Why is exercise so important to our health?
Aerobic exercise plays a vital role in overall health. In addition to helping to lose weight, aerobic exercise is the only thing that removes fat from the whole body, including that deposited deep in muscle tissue, which can not be removed by diet alone.
In fact, for the ultimate weight loss, and not the loss of fluid or muscle mass, the combination of reducing calories by eliminating unhealthy foods and aerobic exercises are the best solution.
Pilates and Yoga exercises also have many health benefits, and we talked about them in previous articles dedicated specifically to these two types of exercise.
What must be remembered, however, is that after the age of 30, our circular system no longer works as efficiently. The lungs lose their elasticity and receive less air, therefore giving less oxygen to the body. The heart muscles and blood vessels thicken and become stiffer, which means that each heartbeat pumps less blood.
Lack of exercise increases the possibility of the formation of fat deposits on the walls of blood vessels, leading to hypertension, atherosclerosis, and even heart or stroke.
So get to work. Stay strong through daily physical activity.
