Standing firm in the eye of the storm: why physical fitness matters

We've all heard it over and over again - an active lifestyle is critical to our health and well-being. However, context matters and who's got time? In the corporate world hard work has the promise of great rewards. Until recently, dedication to this work ethic was embraced as normal and the right thing to do. And, no doubt, there is a sense of satisfaction in achieving our goals on time and within budget. Nevertheless, in many cases, this means extended work weeks, little physical activity (a lot of chair-time!), poor eating habits and less than optimum rest.

But you're thinking -- merely saying that an active lifestyle and fitness are important is the easy part. Acting on that and achieving balance is difficult - and I'm already stressed. How much more can I do? Unquestioningly, today's busy executives face more dynamic and complex pressures than ever before. We live in an age of rapid change - bombarded with information and uncompromising pressure to make choices in key areas of our lives - our work, health, families, technology and many more activities related to simply getting by every day. With this unending series of demands and complex conditions, we are increasingly at risk of burn-out.

Is there a magic bullet? At the peril of sounding redundant - there are at least three essential things to focus on to sustain good health, and some say to even reverse negative effects of an inactive lifestyle. These include healthy yet simple nutrition, adequate rest and, the most elusive of all - exercise and fitness. And the issue is not confined to your own corporation; fitness has become a global concern. According to the World Health Organisation's Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health:

"Healthy diets and regular, adequate physical activity are major factors in the promotion and maintenance of good health throughout the entire life course."
(http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/en/index.html)

For many of us regular exercise and fitness can prove to be one of the most difficult things to commit to and it is difficult to think of scheduling into during our busy day or after work. Furthermore, it doesn’t come naturally to most of us.

So, why do it at all? Well, if we look at our bodies as our "vehicle", as machines - sophisticated, organic machines or assets - this might help us understand our bodies need for exercise. Just like any other machine, movement is essential, lest the vehicle rusts out - and we become the tin man from the Wizard of Oz - rusty and no heart! Let's face it, the facts are in and we hear them time and time again: exercise has proven to decrease blood pressure and cholesterol, relieve stress, release feel good hormones and maintain weight levels. It can help ward of those other nasty, insidious, chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, osteoarthritis - and even diminish the impact of disorders like fibromyalgia, a 21st century "syndrome".

The good news is it"s never too late to start an exercise routine!

Remember context matters - and in today’s context, it's more important than ever to exercise, says Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, Director of Women's Health at the Heart and Vascular Institute, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York. In fact, she goes on to say that, she believes that "...exercise is the best medicine..." to manage stress of our contemporary lifestyles. That's quite a statement for a cardiologist to make. (http://www.srsheart.com/areas-of-practice/diet-exercise/)

So, what is the best approach? Why, I thought you'd never ask! It seems that the more hard-core experts suggest that 60 to 90 minutes, most if not all days of the week, is the best plan to protect your heart and build some muscle. But unless you are hard-core, many experts suggest 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise three times a week is all it takes. Regardless, they all agree that any exercise is better than no exercise. If you are serious about protecting your lifestyle and extending the quality of your life, though - they also agree that a routine of regular exercise every week is essential.

Here are a few simple tips to kick-start your fitness program and embrace a more active lifestyle

1. Don't over complicate your fitness or exercise program. Don't make it feel like "work". If you must compete, compete against yourself not the person next to you. Once you accomplish your original goals, set new ones and design new routines. Don’t let your program become boring, especially early on - or you likely will lose interest.
2. Do schedule your program or routine in your calendar just like any other important appointment. For most busy executives exercising in the morning is best, leaving the rest of the day to wrestle the mountain of work to the ground!
3. If you’re the gym type - buy a few training sessions from a physical fitness consultant. This will get you on track quickly, show you how to avoid injury, and develop an initial, rounded set of goals to work toward - and most consultants provide you with a book to track your progress.
4. If you’re not gym bound, consider a regular weekly commitment to walking, cycling, dancing, bowling, and yes, even work inside and outside of the home; and, recreational activities like golf, volleyball, baseball, and swimming will promote cardiovascular fitness and develop muscle tone.
5. Finally, don’t underestimate the power of sleep and nutrition to support not only your fitness level, but also to support your career.

So - do work hard but stand firm in the eye of that contemporary corporate storm - be good to your body, exercise and stay fit because fitness really does matter!

Oh! And one last thing -- don’t forget about the importance of love and laughter. Spend quality time with your loved ones - even the furry ones.

Tell a friend

From:

Your name
Your email address

To:

Subject	Thought you might be interested in this.
Friend email address
Friend email address
Friend email address
Friend email address
Friend email address
Friend message
Enter word verification: