18 Mar Exercise:YaySpring!YayExercise! Right??
Ah Spring! The time of new beginnings, more daylight, more activity, more shorts and swimsuits to fit into…and more exercise!
Yes, we exercise for many reasons. But the motivation that keeps me most consistent is the way exercise energizes me and makes me healthy. Of course, I have the taskmaster of my fibromyalgia that has cracked its whip, making me exercise–otherwise, I get stiff and sore. But I can honestly tell you, along with many others, that once I got into the habit of exercising, I love doing it. I can’t NOT do it!
Exercise: My Favorite Quotes
So wherever you are on the spectrum of loving exercise, hating it, or indifferent towards it… Here are a few of my favorite quotes that propel me to exercise…
Dr. Dave Frahm: The human body is a machine that requires use to get and remain strong. If you’re not getting stronger, you’re getting weaker. A day without exercise is a day in decline.
Plato: Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.
Earl of Derby: Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness.
The National Institute on Aging: If exercise could be packed into a pill, it would be the single most widely prescribed and beneficial medicine in the nation.
Thomas Jefferson: Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.
Exercise: If I Do It, Anyone Can
Wherever you are on your exercise spectrum, you can start small and build. Remember, when I was in a wheelchair 10 years ago, I started with a few steps a day in the house and built up to 45-60 minutes of walking for exercise daily. If I did it, when I was so depressed and hopeless, anyone can. And did you know that exercise acts as an antidepressant?
If you’re still doubting, let’s finish with this quote from Dr. Tian Dayton in the Huffington Post:
The science behind just how and why exercise can help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression has been a much studied topic over the last two decades…Regular exercise has been proven to help us:
– Reduce stress
– Ward off anxiety and feelings of depression
– Boost self-esteem
– Improve sleep
Exercise also:
– Strengthens the heart.
– Lowers blood pressure.
– Improves muscle tone and strength.
– Strengthens and builds bones.
– Reduces body fat.
– Increases energy levels.
– Helps with over all fitness.
All I can say to that, Dr. Dayton, is, “Yes, please!”