The Many Benefits Of Exercise And How To Promote Heathy Living In Mackay - By Martin Lambert (Running Coach and Founder of On The Run)

The benefits of exercise for any individual, workplace and community can be immense – so why are so many of us so sick?

Being physically active makes us more effective in all aspects of life, at home, at work and at play. Our bodies are designed to move and yet we spend so much of our lives sitting down. Numerous reports have shown the health hazards of being sedentary and yet so many in our community remain inactive, which eventually leads to a whole range of ailments and puts pressure on our health system.

There are regularly free activities ranging from walks to runs to boot camps on offer, so money is not the barrier for people to be more active. Generally, people know that they should move more, so it is not education that is the barrier. Perhaps it is the immediacy of things, we know that we should exercise but how often do you hear “I will start tomorrow”, or maybe next week, or maybe I’ll just watch another movie and eat some more corn chips.  

There are always reasons not to do things, although sometimes these are just excuses to avoid change. In any group of people there will be some more eager to develop and grow and we should harness their enthusiasm to support others in the group who need more encouragement.

Imagine if every active person in our community encouraged one less-active friend, workmate, neighbour to start moving more. The physical and social impact on the community would be significant.

We live in a community that has higher than average rates of diabetes, obesity, depression and anxiety. It is known that exercise can help reduce the impact of these things and some doctors in the UK are now prescribing parkrun to patients. For more info on parkrun, follow the link to their website http://www.parkrun.com.au/

So, what are you doing about it? Eating corn chips or being a good mate to someone in need?

If we know there is a problem and we do nothing about it does that make us part of the problem?

 

The following is an excerpt from a book by Dr Peter Bruckner (2018) called Fat Lot Of Good.

https://www.fatlotofgood.com.au/dr-peter-brukner

 “Imagine if there was a pill or potion that could:

  •  Reduce your chance of premature death

  • Improve your energy levels

  • Increase aerobic fitness

  • Build greater muscle strength

  • Reduce inflammation

  • Improve balance

  • Reduce your stress level

  • Improve your mood

  • Improve sex performance

  • Improve brain health and memory

  • Improve sleep quality

  • Reduce pain

  • Improve your blood lipid profile

  • Improve your immune function

  • Reduce insulin resistance

 

Whilst also helping to prevent and/or treat the following chronic diseases:-

  •  Psychiatric diseases: depression, anxiety, stress, schizophrenia

  • Neurological diseases: dementia, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis

  • Metabolic diseases: obesity, high triglycerides, metabolic syndrome, PCOS, type1 and 2 diabetes, fatty liver

  • Cardiovascular diseases: high blood pressure, heart disease, heart failure, intermittent claudication, deep-vein thrombosis (DVT)

  • Lung diseases: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cystic fibrosis

  • Musculoskeletal disorders: osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, back pain. Rheumatoid arthritis

  • Cancer

 WOW! How much would you pay for a tablet that did all that?

Well, there is one thing that can do all this: EXERCISE.

Why wouldn’t you do it then?”

 

By Martin Lambert

Running Coach and Founder of On The Run

Contact: marty@ontherunmackay.com.au

 

References:

Brukner, P. (2018). A Fat Lot Of Good. Australia: Penguin Books Australia.

Stephanie Vanden-Bergh