Irreplaceable
By Jonathon Pereira
Many of us are fortunate enough that we can simply replace certain items in our life that are broken, run down, old, or not used too often. Simple examples of that are: clothes, groceries, kitchen supplies, car parts, electronics, or even gym equipment. It’s simple to be able to replace something that is old for something new now a days because there’s always something “newer” out there in the world. However, the one thing we can’t just simply replace or “get a new one of” is our bodies. We get one in our lifetime and we often times take that for granted, or don’t realize that our bodies need constant care and attention until; it’s unfortunately too late. Our bodies are special and should be treated as such, by making sure that we receive an adequate amount of exercise or movement, fueling it with a healthy variety of whole foods, carbs, proteins, and healthy fats to ensure an efficient energy output every day. When we don’t do these things, it can lead to serious issues and health complications that can be detrimental to our body.
Inadequate physical activity may seem like a minor issue when comparing it to other major diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. However, many of those major conditions can be minimized by the simple task of adequate physical activity and proper diet. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third (36.5%) of the U.S. adult population is obese (CDC). The major diseases mentioned above are all related to obesity, and unfortunately, many other underlying issues are associated with obesity such as: increased body fat percentage, increased insulin levels, and hypertension. So, a simple way of minimizing these potential risks is to get out and move. The recommended amount of exercise by the CDC is 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise and 2 days of strength training per week. If we break that down that is 30 min. every 5 days with 2 of those days being strength-training days.
It may seem like a tall task for those with kids, busy work schedules, caretakers etc. However, it can be a simple 10/15 min. to start. Give yourself movement goals each week to hit and build from there, and I promise your body is going to thank you down the road. A gentle reminder to everyone is to treat your bodies with love and care and to give it the proper attention it needs and deserves. That’s the only way to treat something irreplaceable.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult-obesity-facts/index.html