Are you allergic to the word EXERCISE? You’re not alone. It feels good to lie down on the couch, watch TV and eat popcorn right? Some clients come to my clinic and say: “I don’t want to exercise!”
We don’t want to exercise due to a number of reasons. Lack of time tops the list. We all know we need to exercise but we can’t seem to find the time to do it. Cost is another reason because we think that exercising is all about enrolling in an expensive fitness program. Low self-esteem is another culprit because we get self-conscious when we start to compare our bodies with other people who look good in their workout clothes. Lack of motivation or indifference make us fail to see the benefits of exercise.
According to WHO, 60 to 85 percent of people in the world—from both developed and developing countries—lead sedentary lifestyles, making it one of the more serious yet insufficiently addressed public health problems of our time. Approximately two million deaths per year are attributed to physical inactivity, prompting WHO to issue a warning that a sedentary lifestyle could very well be among the 10 leading causes of death and disability in the world.
Physical activity refers to any body movement that requires energy expenditure or burning of calories. On the other hand, exercise is a planned and structured type of physical activity.
Don’t expect a sedentary person to start exercising two hours every day. One’s mind and body need to be properly conditioned and slowly adjusted to a more active lifestyle. Having an intense workout when you’re not used to it will be detrimental to your health. Take it one step at a time. Start with 10 minutes of physical activity everyday until you build strength and stamina so you can increase the duration and intensity of your physical activity. Brisk walking, climbing the stairs, dancing, video exercises, cleaning the house, washing the car, grocery shopping, biking are good examples.
The American Heart Association recommends a total of 150 minutes moderate physical activity (eg. walking) and 75 minutes vigorous activity (running) per week. 10 to 15 minute cycles three times a day or 30 minute cycles five times a week makes it easier for busy people to include exercise in their daily routine.
I came across a social mobilization project called “Be Fit Kahit Busy Galaw Galaw Pag May Time.” This campaign was initiated by a group of graduate Development Communication students from the University of the Philippines Open University to encourage people to stay fit despite hectic working schedule through proper and simple exercises that can be conveniently done in the workplace.
“We launched this campaign using the social networking sites with the desire that this becomes viral and shall be accessible to all those employees trying to maximize work with a time to be fit without having to miss responsibilities at work,” explained Leonard Calma, team leader of the DEV208 Master in Development Communication class.
What are you waiting for? Get Moving!
Visit https://www.facebook.com/BeFitKahitBusy for guidelines and updates.
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