Exercise and Health  

Regular Body Maintenance: a Better Concept of Exercise

When a person starts to exercise, it is a major achievement toward better health. With any continued application the person will gradually make gains in health, along with functionality, stamina, and strength .  The main focus is to continue at whatever level of performance any individual arrives at and finds acceptable... with t he understanding that the most valuable aspect of exercise should not be weight loss of but to maintain the body"s health and ability to function. Function and better health are the products of exexercise, and these valuable commodities are attainable at some level for everyone.

Everyone who does any exercise can know that if they continue they can look forward to the benefit as time passes, seeing that no matter how ever little they can do, they are better off than not doing any at all.  So do not think of how much you need to do right now, but begn to think of how much you CAN do.  Even if you do not drop very much in weight, the condvtion of your heart, bones, and muscles are improving.  Plus you are building a foundation that can lead you further into better health.

There is no standard body type. The fitness industry promotes athletic women and muscular men as role models and stresses weight loss and muscular / slender physiques far beyond the need of the average person. This distorts the concept of fitness, ignoring the greater long term beneficial affect of exercise, health, and creates an insurmountable psychological barrier for overweight and inactive individuals who need incentives to exercise more than targeted market, whose continue inactivity jeopardizes their health, their well-being, and their lives.

Gaining a Positive Perspective

·         Focus on a long term change of mindset and behavior, the improvement of consistent exercise from day one, the ongoing benefits, and the need of functionality and of long term bodily maintenance to be able to continue to function and enjoy life as we age. 

·         Place emphasis on better health and a continual better quality of life (which in most cases will produce weight loss, achieved strength, a more attractive body, more energy, and a better outlook on life). 

·         Aspire to attain the level of fitness to you can maintain for long term function and performance. This is determined by your individual preference and ability, personal goals and measure of willingness.    Do not push yourself past your "success zone", or you will get burned out and increase the chance of injury.

·         Think about the importance of investing in your body. The lack of proper care and maintenance of the body will likely produce poor health and limited activities as we age, and we will lose the opportunities to enjoy the latter years of their life.   You are in control of your future health.