Recent research points out that people who were physically active as children are more likely to incorporate regular exercise into their lifestyle as adults. You are probably familiar with all the benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle such as general health and fitness improvements, weight control, and reduced risk for several chronic diseases. However, when it comes to your kids’ activity needs, things tend to get a bit confusing.
Coping with Stress
A recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association showed that the majority of Americans live with moderate to high levels of stress[1]. Money, work and the economy were the most often cited sources of stress. And the modern lifestyle is not helping. Consider, for instance, our current life pace. It is hard to think of someone that is not repeatedly overwhelmed by all the tasks, chores, and appointments with which one has to deal in one day.
Fitting Exercise into Your Life
Americans are becoming more and more sedentary[1]. Working at a desk, watching television, playing videogames, and driving everywhere are just a few examples of common sedentary behaviors. What I mean is that most of us are not physically active at our jobs, during our leisure-time or any other time of the day, just because we don’t need to. We are not even walking anymore. Did you know that a sedentary person may only take between 1,000 and 3,000 steps a day[2]? This is way less than the Surgeon General’s recommendation[3]. I know that many American cities are not exactly walking-friendly. Think about where you live for a second. Are there stores within walking distance, or do you have to drive to the closest grocery shop? My point is that unless you are willing to exercise, you probably won’t run errands on foot.
The Modern Lifestyle – What Went Wrong?
The way of life changed considerably during human evolution. When our species appeared on Earth, humans were hunters and gatherers and had to work hard for their food. It was common to move from place to place, looking for provisions and shelter. Also, food preserving was precarious (canned food was not available!), and they never knew when they would be able to find fresh supplies. These tough conditions contributed to an important body adaptation: any energy consumed but not promptly used was stored, mostly as fat. This was a fundamental factor that guaranteed the survival of our species. So fat used to have a vital function to us – it was supposed to save us from famine.
America’s Weight Obsession
American society wants you to lose weight. The cultural standards of beauty and self-worth praise extremely thin bodies that are not a reality for most Americans. At the same time, the social prejudice against fat people increases every day. We’ve been taught that we have to be thin to be healthy, socially accepted and loved. But what America’s weight obsession really taught us is to hate our bodies.
I Want You to Take Over Control
How many times have you started (and given up) an exercise program? Don’t be ashamed; you are not alone. According to ACE (American Council on Exercise) data, 50% to 65% of persons beginning or returning to a standard exercise program will drop out during the first six months. Even though the statistics are not encouraging, don’t give up just yet. You are not set up for failure unless you believe so. Your mind is a powerful tool; it can work for or against you. All you need to learn is how to use it in your favor.