There are 4 key Pillars for staying active for life:
1. Convenience
2. Variety
3. Movement
4. Life
In this series we will look at each pillar in depth - today we're talking about the pillar of "for life" and the importance of staying active for life.
If you've followed the rest of our series you'll understand the importance of staying active and hopefully have all the tools you need to be the healthiest and happiest version of yourself. In this article we want to talk about the importance of continuing these habits for life.
As we've spoken about earlier in the series, our bodies are created to move - it's no surprise that there are an increasing number of studies being conducted showing the link between inactivity and higher mortality rates. It doesn't matter whether you're 4, 14 or 40 - we are all designed to move. The problem is that the fitness industry is generally aimed at the 20 - 30 year olds looking for chiselled six packs and pumping biceps. The fitness industry marketing therefore ends up giving people the wrong idea about why they should be exercising.
As Jim Mcfarlane explains in his book, Do or Die: The baby-boomer man's guide to regaining health, happiness, vitality, and a longer, fuller life:
"Start with some basic facts about health and physiology. The organs, tissues and muscles all receive oxygen and blood from exercise work and this helps them remain healthy and resilient. Therefore, exercise and fitness activities are not about worshipping the body. Quite the contrary...Exercise is all about putting yourself in a position to be healthy and to function well..."
While the way you move throughout your life may change, for example you might love weight training in your 20s, climbing in your 40s and zumba in your 60s; the act of moving should remain consistent and be something you love to do forever- it's a lifestyle not a fad.
So that's it! If you've found this series useful and would like to find out more about MoveGB then check us out here.
