Exercise

There are lots of good reasons to exercise regularly, concerning the way you look and feel. There are huge benefits to health for people who find the time to exercise regularly. You are likely to significantly reduce your risk of either heart disease or stroke. People who exercise will also have better health and less illness generally than those who don't, including maybe surprisingly less chance of some common mental health problems like stress and depression.

It needn’t mean becoming a fitness freak to get some real benefits, there are loads of ways that most of us could improve.

How much, when, what sort, why bother?

All questions people ask themselves and others about exercise. The answers are often easy; starting with the last one first, the best reason for getting some regular exercise is that you will live longer. There is no need to go spending vast amounts of money on subscriptions to gyms, but it might help your motivation, which for many people is the main problem. It's probably true to say, if some of my mates are anything to go by, that you may join in a surge of get fit enthusiasm then only go about twice for a session in the gym and pool. For one friend this worked out at £150.00 per session who was convinced it would be good value because she got a personal trainer and as many sessions as she wanted. If you can find the time to use up £300.00 worth of fitness club time, then you can find time for some other form of exercise.

What people say is the problem is finding the time, life just doesn't seem to have any spare moments built into it any more. Of course it has, but we don't recognise them very well. To find out where your time goes, analyse a day or two hour by hour. What we're looking for is less than an hour a day so we have to find something we can replace. If you watch TV for 2 hours a day, the first thing to do is study the guide and choose what you really want to see. A similar principle applies to using your computer. Television has become so much a part of our lives that we seem to have forgotten that it is mostly just entertainment, with news and documentaries thrown in as it's justification. Too many people watch it because it's there, with no thought of what is on or about to come on.

Turn the tables now - you will enjoy what you do and watch more if it's you who chooses, rather than some programme executive you've never met making decisions for Mr. and Mrs. Average. In the process you'll free up some useful time for other things. It's all a matter of who controls your life. Are you content to be Mr. Average?

BE CAUTIOUS

Although there is a form of exercise suitable for just about everyone, if you have any health problems or have not exercised for a long time you should take the advice of your G.P. or some other qualified professional before starting. In any case remember not to try to do too much too quickly, start gently and build up slowly especially if you haven't done much for a while. You should never feel more than slightly out of breath whilst exercising and normal conversation should be possible at all times.



WHY AND WHAT

Exercise will make you feel and look better. Even quite small amounts taken regularly (say 20 minutes 3 times a week) is likely to have a positive effect. The current expert recommendation for someone with no underlying health problems i.e. most of us, is 30 minutes 5 times a week, but as I said, if you are doing none now then any amount is a start toward a healthier life. This is meant to be moderate exercise such as brisk walking or anything which makes you a bit breathless. You should be able to carry on a conversation whilst you exercise for improved health, if you can't you are probably overdoing it. If you are in doubt take some advice from one who knows, your GP could be a good starting point or some other independent source such as a health worker.

Naturally a commercial gym is likely to recommend commercial gyms, the benefit of which depends on what you are trying to achieve and where you are starting from. There are optimum levels of exercise for each of us but if you don’t do any today, any you do tomorrow would be a bonus. You can exercise on your own or with others, there are loads of clubs and organisations at all sorts of prices (some are free), try the directory page for some contact details. "Walking For Health" is a good place to start, the walks are easy and well organised around this area, (West Yorkshire, England) rather than the painful marathon hikes of those backpackers you can sometimes see slogging round the dales. It's free and details are on the directory page, and there's a short feature on the newsletter page.

IDEAS

I'll say it again. You don’t need a load of special equipment or to spend money to get some effective exercise. Walking and swimming are brilliant, low accident risk and generally cheap or free (check for current special deals if you are not working or a student). Remember that you are aiming to be slightly out of breath and a bit warmer than when you started (with swimming you may not notice the latter) your heart should beat just a bit faster than usual. The test to see if you are overdoing it is that you should not be too breathless to hold a normal conversation all the time. You might try walking part of the way to work ,or using the stairs instead of the lift in high buildings or buying a bike if you work less than five miles from home. If your employers are enlightened enough to encourage you to leave the car at home, you may be able to negotiate a reward for not mucking up the environment and using up their valuable parking spaces on occasion.

The best exercise pattern for health is something you can do regularly, even if it is only 20 or 30 minutes. If you can manage that every day you will notice a difference after quite a short time. If you have the willpower to make this change in your life maybe it will help you to focus on other ways that you might improve, like some small alteration in your diet like not using salt or sugar.