Why are we not active? - Karen Hourtovenko

Fitness is a dedication - a contribution to your own health. It is a choice, and with our busy lives, we seldom take the time. Your personal health is the best investment that you can make.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the extra: the extra time and effort that we will commit to ourselves will ensure a longer, healthier, more fulfilling life.

Most people do believe that regular exercise and good nutrition is beneficial to health and well-being. Polls show however, only one in five are actually exercising regularly. There are many believed reasons including: no time, too expensive, too tired, too difficult, and not having proper clothes/foot gear. For the most part, many feel that they are the exception to the rule and they are in fact healthy.

What is important here is to understand the long-term benefits and investment in one's health is the reason to exercise daily. It is really no different than maintaining our homes and vehicles; we want to have a solid roof over our heads and reliable transportation.

These benefits include: lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and high blood pressure; reduction of stress, therefore decreased risk of developing depression and anxiety; weight control; decreased cholesterol production; increased self-confidence; enhanced self- image and sense of well-being - positive feelings - self esteem; improved outlook on life; healthier eating habits, and lower risk of death from cancer and chronic diseases.

Low physical activity sadly shortens life span. With a close association between chronological age and physical activity, why wouldn't you want to be active?

Can you even do this? Yes you can. Plan and schedule your workouts. Be flexible within your schedule and pencil it into your day. It is much harder to ignore an appointment then just saying I need to go for a walk today.

Be creative. Listen to music, audio books or just meditate with nature. Vary your workouts, walk one day, bike another, go for a swim or a hike. The buddy system will help you to be accountable to another. Be safe, do not wear earphones in both ears or walk late at night. Visualization supports achievement of all goals. To see yourself walking, then running 5 km will ensure better success. If you believe you can, you will. Positive self-talk is hard for many; however research supports success with a positive mindset. Say to yourself: "I am in control of my life and health" or "I treat every day as a new challenge to improve myself in some way".

It is well known in the sports industry that success is not only from actual but visual practice. For those of you who are golf fans - think of the success of Tiger Woods. The weather is great - summer is here early, so take advantage of it and get moving. Remember we all have to walk before we run.

Karen Hourtovenko RN(EC), is a health and wellness consultant from Sudbury who writes columns about healthy living for Northern Life.