Exercise is a Necessity

Our bodies are made so beautifully and complete.  What have we done to our bodies with soda, fat-laden food, and a sedentary lifestyle?  So often I hear people offer me a litany of reasons (read: excuses) why they can’t or shouldn’t exercise.  How about this?  “I’m too old.”  Studies have clearly shown that men and women in their eighties and even nineties can build lean muscle mass by exercise.  A stronger body means a better quality of life.  It means being able to walk with better balance and to hold our bodies upright with good posture.  But, the funny thing is I hear people in their 40’s and 50’s telling me they are “too old” for boot camp.  Really?  Try telling that to my 64-year old who can jump down and do over 100 push ups (regular, not modified) if she needs to.  Too old?  Tell that to Mike; one of my boot campers in his sixties who regularly “schools” men two decades younger during our interval sprints.  

Here’s another one:  “I don’t have time.”  Now, this one might hold a little water with me….we all have busy lives.  And, with proper time management and DESIRE, you can find time to do what you want to do.  Isn’t that true?  If you really want to do something, you make time in your day to do it.  The sad fact is that only 5 – 8% of our population exercise 3 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes.  The bottom line is you must make time in your day for exercise.  Our bodies crave movement and thrive when we are active. Everything works better when you are active; from your sex drive to losing weight to your mental health.  We know the benefits…we’ve heard them a million times. Why don’t we exercise?  In my opinion, we perceive exercise as something torturous, painful, unpleasant…shall I go on?  The key is that we find activities that we enjoy.  I do this during my boot camp workouts.  I call the exercises funny names like:  “The Royal Ninja”, “The Cherry Bomb”, “Apolo Ohnos”…..I use a ton of variety in my workouts.  I specially design my boot camp workouts to make sure they are fun, fast and fat-incinerating.  

Exercise is a necessity.  Take time each day to be active.  Your body will thank you…..and maybe your spouse will thank you, too (wink).