Exercise Tips: What are your reasons for not exercising?
By Chappel Timmons
What are your reasons for not exercising? Many adults think they do not have time or the ability to become more active. The lack of physical activity could lead to long-term disorders such as high blood pressure and high blood sugar. According to the South Carolina state profile, 41.6% of adults did at least 150 minutes a week of physical activity.
Chappel Timmons
It is also noted that 26% of South Carolina’s adults were not physically active at all within the past month (“Overweight and obesity,” 2012). In the 2015 South Carolina County Health Rankings, it is noted that 27% of our county’s adults did not exercise at all (County health rankings, 2015). The major concern is the health of our town and helping adults get active and have a better quality of life. We can achieve this goal if we work to overcome the reasons we do not exercise.
One of the reasons adults say they do not work out is because they do not have time. If you, like most adults, watch TV for an hour or more a day, then you have time to work out. During the show, you could walk in place, do jumping jacks during the ads, and use hand weights as well. Some activity is better than none.
Adults often feel too tired to work out. Studies show that being active can give you more energy. When your heart rate goes up, your body makes feel-good hormones. These hormones help to boost weight loss and give energy (Springen, 2012).
If you’re one that thinks working out is boring, then try an activity you will enjoy. Not all workouts have to be in a gym. You can get active by skating, dancing, swimming, or even gardening. It is also okay if you are not a fan of sweat. In that case, you can work out inside a gym that is air-conditioned or try yoga. Yoga doesn’t tend to make adults sweat as much.
Many adults feel shameful about their weight or abilities. Gyms can often intimidate people. Try working out with friends or with a trainer who will support you. There are also many workouts that can be done in the privacy of your own home.
If you are new to working out, remember to set goals that are small and realistic. I have learned that setting weekly or monthly goals help to reach long-term goals. Also, celebrate when you meet those goals. For example, if your goal was to work out for thirty minutes three times that week and you did it, do something nice for yourself! Pretty soon the progress will be enough to keep you motivated and staying active.
Studies show that exercising improves heart health by increasing circulation, and lowering resting heart rate (Wilson, Ellison, and Cable, 2015). As mentioned above, it also helps to make you feel happier and reduce stress. Furthermore, exercising can help your balance, flexibility, and help you to have a more restful sleep. There are many ways to work out and become active without it being too time consuming or boring. The goal is to get up and get moving!
Chappell Timmons, BSN, RN, SMSRN, is a Darlington native, and is the Clinical Nurse Manager at McLeod Medical Center in Darlington.
“I became interested in this topic because I have found a significant difference in my health since I became committed to exercising. Additionally, I realized through my experience how integral this would be to encourage in our community, which suffers from chronic cardiac conditions and sedentary lifestyles. I am the I am enrolled in the master of science in nursing program at Francis Marion University.
References
Center for Disease Control. (2012). Overweight and Obesity. Columbia, S.C.: South Carolina
Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, & University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
(2015). 2015 County health rankings: South Carolina. Retrieved from: www.countyhealthrankings.org
Springen, K. (2012, April 11). Top 6 Exercise Excuses and How to Beat Them. WebMD.
Retrieved from www.webmd.com
Wilson, M., Ellison, G., & Cable, T. (2015). Basic science behind the cardiovascular benefits of exercise. Heart Magazine, 101, 758-765. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2014-306596