Exercise for wellbeing, not just aesthetics!

Exercise is a great way to get your body into shape – we all know this! Usually one of the most common reasons for people embarking on an exercise regime is to loose weight or change their body shape in some way, so it’s fair to say these motivations are based primarily on aesthetics. The trouble is, approaching fitness with purely aesthetic goals in mind often results in a very inconsistent relationship with exercise.

Stop/Starting an exercise routine according to whether we have an up coming holiday or special occasion, means we are always back to square one. It would be so much easier to have a constant, manageable exercise schedule that could be temporarily increased if needed in preparation for an event and then ultimately be able to decrease or cease without too much detriment to ones figure/physique while on a typical two week vacation!

Perhaps then, our attitude to fitness needs another dimension? A little tweak to our way of thinking sooner rather than when it’s too much later, could save us a whole lot of trouble. How about prevention rather than cure?!
Many people, especially in their youth, work-out just for the body image. Then at the other end of the spectrum, many older adults find themselves ‘having’ to exercise. Often for the first time at much more senior ages when it is a lot harder, out of necessity or strong advice due to a poor health report.
Adopting the idea of working-out for your wellbeing and not just your looks from an earlier age, could help to stave off many health issues and provide yourself with a much more functional body for a whole lot longer.

As a Personal Trainer my most elderly client was 90 years old and at the time, he still regularly played table tennis. I asked him once what kept him so vital and his answer was simple “I’ve always, always stayed active!”

– This article has been published in the July edition of Life Magazines – http://www.lifemagazines.co.uk