The gym is one of my sanctuaries.
There are two types of exercise- aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic exercise uses oxygen and anaerobic does not. Both are important, and both have major benefits for the body. I planned to get into shape as a 40-something and it was hard. As a 20-something it was easy to soldier and push weights while running miles on the treadmill, and a few decades later that became a big feat. Despite the hard start, hitting the gym for strength-training and cardio was worth it.
Cardio and strength-building resistance exercise are required for health. We are meant to move, and moving does feel good. Our goal is to increase our muscle mass, lower our fat percentage and build our heart’s strength. Some of the effects of this training are an increased basal metabolic rate (BMR) that helps us burn more calories on a continuous basis, increased endurance for everyday life activities and increased strength to do more daily. Heart health was and is a major focus of my training, so cardio is important. I use the stationary exercise bike to build strength and keep the pressure off my knees and back.
I left the gym for two years and then spent a year locked down during the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, I put on unhealthy weight, lost strength and became winded easily. I lost the importance of a strong body and it showed.
Since spending almost 18-months at the gym, I have lost weight and built strength. I feel better and am objectively healthier now than I was 3-years ago. It took time to lose weight and put on muscle, and it’s been worth the pain and sacrifice. I was headed down to road to chronic illness including joint pain and it showed. I looked puffy and was low on energy while being irritable and self-conscious. In short, it makes sense to head back to the gym.
My biggest reason for getting healthy has been my kids. I want to see them grow up and graduate school, get married and do well in life. I also want to be here for my wife and not check out early due to heart disease or diabetes. According to SDS statistics, almost 700,000 Americans die of heart disease annually, 160,000 die from stroke annually and over 100,000 die of complications from Diabetes. Being unfit and chronically unhealthy leads to major health consequences.
My advice to you is to head back to the gym if it has been awhile. Avoiding chronic disease and feeling better are what you have to gain. You will thank me and more importantly those who care about you will thank you for taking care of yourself. Who will you get healthy for in 2023?
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm
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