In simple terms, exercise isn't just about lifting heavy weights in the gym or running until you can't breathe. To me, exercise is any intentional movement of the body that makes your muscles work and burns energy. It is basically giving your body the maintenance it needs to stay alive and active, just like servicing a car so it doesn't break down.
As a final-year nursing student, I was taught about excercise amd it's type's, important ad disadvantage including excercise for various ages, I also get to see the practical side of this every single day during my clinical postings. Because of my medical background, people often ask me, is there a specific age for exercising, or can we work out at any stage of our lives? My answer is always a big NO, there is absolutely no age limit for staying active.
From a healthcare perspective, the human body is designed to move, whether you are seven or seventy. For kids, it helps build strong bones. For young adults, it keeps the heart healthy and manages stress. And for the elderly, simple exercises like light walking or stretching are what keep them independent and prevent dangerous falls. The only difference is the type and intensity of the exercise.
For example, you can't give a 60-year-old grandmother the same workout routine as a 20-year-old athlete, but both of them absolutely need to move.
To be very honest with you, do I currently exercise? Yes, but my routine right now is mostly functional. Being a final-year nursing student is incredibly hectic. Between preparing for final exams, writing my project, and standing for hours during hospital shifts, my days are exhausting, so I don't have much time to play football. So, my gym right now is the hospital ward and the campus walkways.
I make sure I take the stairs instead of the elevator and walk briskly between lecture halls.
We often make the mistake of waiting until we get a diagnosis like high blood pressure or diabetes before we start exercising.
As future healthcare professionals, we are taught that prevention is always better and cheaper than cure. So, move your body today in any small way you can!