Bornstein Family- 2006 Caribbean Cruise after a visit to the gym
Last week, I shared some of my thoughts about lifestyle choices in Choice-Being Fit. In order to write that blog, I had to acknowledge one of my personal shortcomings in a public forum. It would have been much simpler to maintain the status quo and not share my story. Despite the obvious reasons to stay mute, I opted to reach out to my followers. With your support, we can work together to become fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
For the last few years I have wavered back and forth like a pendulum on a clock. Diving full force into a new routine or diet would only last a few months before it was shelved. My motivation levels declined and my new program slowly lost its top priority. The pendulum swung back only to move once again when my motivation levels returned.
Why?
My priorities became muddled.
Shouldn’t a fit lifestyle have the same priority as brushing one’s teeth or maintaining daily hygiene?
Yes, but for the majority of Americans, “being fit” is not considered important.
Latest Report
A new report, Adult Participation in Aerobic and Muscle-Strengthening Physical Activities — United States, 2011 released from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (May 3, 2013) states that 80 percent of all Americans do not exercise enough. Can you believe that only 20 percent of the people in this country are not couch potatoes?
The parameters for exercise are not strenuous. Participants in the survey had to participate in at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity per week and participating in muscle-strengthening physical activity at least two times per week.
The self-reported data was accumulated from a cross-section of 453,721 usable surveys.
- 20.6% of adult respondents met both aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines
- Nationwide, 51.6% of U.S. adults met the aerobic activity guideline, and 29.3% met the muscle-strengthening guideline.
- More men than women met the guidelines
- Activity levels decreased with age
- College graduates were more likely to meet both criteria than their less educated counterparts.
- The data was tabulated by state. My home state of Colorado led the nation in meeting both the aerobic and muscle-strength training guidelines.
Call for Guest Bloggers
This is one time that I would prefer not to be aligned with the majority of Americans. I want to beat the odds by making a long-term commitment to being fit. I am seeking like-minded individuals who would like to share their stories. Each week, I will be opening my site to guest bloggers who would like to motivate others to accomplish their fitness goals. Consider becoming a virtual fit buddy so that you can help others. Leave a comment or send me an email with an overview of your story.
The month of May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. The goal of this designation is to raise awareness about the important role physical activity plays in maintaining health. Make your personal commitment to become motivated. We can work together to become more fit by communicating via the Internet.
Giveaway
Anyone who leaves a comment on Choices- Being Fit or this blog by May 12th will be eligible for a random drawing. One lucky person will receive a copy of May This Be the Best Year of Your Life: A Memoir.
Sandra Bornstein is the author of MAY THIS BE THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE. It is available on Amazon.
If you enjoyed reading my memoir, consider posting a review on Amazon, Goodreads, LibraryThing and/or AskDavid.com.
I love your statistics. I am also in the older educated, computer potato bracket. I can’t keep up as it is, let alone losing 150 hours a week exercising. Yes, I know it is supposed to help focus, sleep and all the good stuff, but . . .
On and off through my life, I have found one excuse after another to avoid exercising. 150 minutes equals 2 1/2 hours. Instead of watching a movie or a few TV shows, consider taking a walk. Let me know if you’re willing to try.
Great article, and not surprising in some ways, even though I live in Sunny southern California, I see a lot of people that are not finding or making the time to exercise. I definitely promote staying diet healthy, as well as lifestyle-wise. Good job!
What motivates you to remain active? Does living in California have an impact? Can you share anything that will help the 80% of unfit people consider a change in lifestyle?
I just had an idea, but I have to cogitate on it for awhile. Thanks for the encouragement.
Thanks for reconsidering. I’m hoping that you’ll find a way to add some activity into your lifestyle.
Hi Sandra;
It sound cheesy but I find it easier to make time, if you make it a part of your day. A couple of years ago I decided to bike to and from work. Rain or shine (not in snow) it takes planning. But once I started that, it put me on a path to improve myself and my health/fitness. It started my day with a success. And once you ride in you have to ride home. Finding the value in yourself is a slow and scary process but a worthwhile process.
I love your message. It’s not feasible for people who live far from work, but doable for many. Are you able to include any other activities into your busy schedule?
Yes and no, my life is very different now I am in treatment for breast cancer. But Adam is a big part of the health and life routine. I am in the best health and fitness of my life I just have cancer to.
I’m glad that Adam has provided a viable routine. Your mind, body, and medical intervention will hopefully help you beat cancer. Take care.
Great article and surprising stats.
You made me laugh out loud when you queried, “Can you believe that only 20 percent of the people in this country are not couch potatoes?” 🙂
I find that using the stuff in your environment makes exercising available anywhere. It’s easy to build a fitness state of mind that sees the opportunity in tables and chairs, spaghetti sauce jars, and refrigerator doors. Aerobics are important, but in between, or instead of just completely caving for a day, isometrics are great and only make you sweat if you wanna.
It’s always challenging to determine the accuracy of a survey. However, in this case all one needs to do is look around and see the proportion of overweight people in America. The number can be alarming depending on which geographic location you are visiting. Motivation and a state of mind are the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I agree that it is not always necessary to run to a gym and food choices are a big source of the problem. What helps keep you motivated?
I have been athletic my entire life. No matter what might interfere, I MAKE time to do something active almost every day. In my 20s, while still participating in high impact aerobic sports, I was already planning for the transition to golf and other activities that would be age appropriate in my later years. Now I strength train in the gym, just maintaining muscle tone and flexibility with tons of stretching, play golf, play ” slower” tennis, and do plenty of walking. I keep a very consistent low fat diet, and have done so for 30 years…I DO have treats, and if I gain weight, allow only a fluctuation of 5 pounds, at 48, and part of the medical community, I share as much as possible with people looking to make changes toward better health. Consistency is the key- nothing is as magic as this one word!
Thanks for sharing your philosophy on how to stay fit as you age. You offer many wonderful suggestions. Would you be interested in elaborating further by writing a guest blog for this site?