You Hate Exercising...Now What?

How many times have you heard the general statement that people need to exercise or be more physically active and had the immediate thought of "but I hate running so much?" Many people are told that they need to get active and exercise and the first thought is about having to deal with the gym or running endlessly on a treadmill. I discussed earlier about the importance of exercise as medicine and how important it is to overall health but what if you don't love exercising? You are going to be told constantly by your physical therapist and other health care providers to exercise and get physically active. I think it's important to understand that exercise and being active is much more than just intense running and lifting weights at the gym. The current physical activity guidelines for a majority of the population is simply to do moderate intensity physical activity for 150 minutes a week or vigorous intensity exercise for at least 75 minutes a week. It is also encouraged that people should be physically active more days in the week than they are not. Moderate intensity physical activity can be simple things such as going for a walk or simple hike, an enjoyable bike ride, or even just getting out and playing with kids and grandkids. Vigorous intensity activity can include brisk walking or hard hiking, playing sports, or fast swimming. When it comes to being physically active people have so many options that they just need to find something they enjoy doing and incorporate it into their daily lives. Physical activity and exercise does not have to be a scary thing. It's crucial for us to find things we like doing which will make it more likely for people to actually follow the physical activity guidelines.There are certain populations that benefit from specific kinds of exercise based on their family history and current health status. For example, if you know you have a family history of osteoporosis and you want to do all you can to minimize your risk you should focus on exercises that require you to bear weight on your bones. Again, there are more options out there than just walking or running. What about taking a dance class which will not only impress the man or woman in your life, but also decrease your risk for osteoporosis while helping you meet the physical activity guidelines! What about people with chronic pain or Fibromyalgia where exercising is literally the last thing they want to do? Even though it may seem like exercise and activity makes things worse, physical activity is crucial and extremely beneficial for this population. For these individuals you can get up to the amount of physical activity that is recommended...it's just going to take time. Start by walking or doing yoga for 5 minutes and then slowly progress that each week until you are reaping the health benefits of activity. For everyone trying to figure out how to get started get in contact with a physical therapist who can get you started and give you ideas for the best physical activities that will work for you.