FIT and HAPPY: Find the Activity That Can Get You Sweating
Merriam-Webster defines lifestyle as “the typical way of life of an individual, group, or culture.” In basic understanding, it is how a person spends a majority of his or her waking hour. To sum up a person’s lifestyle, some questions are often asked: Is a person active or sedentary? Is a person outgoing or reserved? Does he prefer cyberspace and binge-watching over the outdoors? Does he observe a meal plan? Does he invest, or does he splurge? What does he do after work? What is his work? As long as it is not illegal, lifestyle is a choice that anyone can make. As people might say, “your life your rules.” This does not mean people can simply get a free pass to do as they please, for there will always be consequences to choices made. These consequences are not always felt. Most, if not all of them, are in the long game; thus, the reason why people often put off fixing them until it becomes too late.
One common pitfall of lifestyle choice is that of health and fitness. The culmination of the choices a person made in his earlier years makes the person’s overall wellness. A survey commissioned by global manufacturer Ergotron states that 86% of full-time employees need to be seated for hours a day to do their job in the USA alone. On top of that, people usually spend 1–2 hours seated during commute; another 1–2 hours watching TV; and another 1–2 hours watching TV, reading, or using a computer at home. This process repeats five days a week, from Monday to Friday. Sometimes, weekends are almost no different. People would prefer to stay at home and relax all day to make up for the long tiring week. Concertedly, this routine results in a sedentary lifestyle which can have haunting effects if left unchanged. In the same light, a paper submitted to the Sher i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in India mentions that “habits that detract people from activity and push them towards a sedentary routine can cause a number of health issues that can lead to chronic non-communicable diseases that can have near life-threatening consequences.”
People who continuously engage in a sedentary lifestyle are prone to being overweight, and later, obese. All the excess carbohydrates they consume that do not get utilized remain stored in the body and turn to fats. In small amounts, fats can be beneficial as they can promote the brain and nervous system’s normal functions. But anything can be harmful in excess, especially fats, cholesterol, salt, and others, resulting in lifestyle diseases. These diseases can include diabetes, lung diseases, stroke, hypertension, and even several cancers — to name a few.
Apart from physical health, there is also the issue of self-esteem. A paper submitted at the Adnan Menderes University in Turkey adds that “exercises contribute to improvement of self-esteem. It is clearly seen in the present study that strength, speed and cardiovascular endurance of physical performance parameters affected self-esteem level positively.” Physical activity is beneficial not just for physical health but for mental health equally. While a healthy diet, healthy mind, and adequate sleep cannot be devalued to stay fit, an active lifestyle can be the most exciting part. An active lifestyle is not as difficult and dreary as some might think. It is also not limited to hitting the gym, as some online memes might suggest. The choices are plenty, particularly in an age of inventiveness where new physical activities are being introduced. The key is to find what suits your interest and lifestyle best.
A good place to start would be cardiovascular exercises, better known as ‘cardio.’ This is a simple yet intense exercise that aims to expend stamina and push cardiovascular endurance to the edge. The most common would be running or jogging. All it takes is a good pair of running shoes, and you are good to go. Some might even put on some music that can be incorporated for more ‘no frills’ running. Another option would be swimming. Though it may take a few days or maybe weeks to learn the technique, the pay-off would be great. Just get a swimsuit, a pair of goggles — and you are ready to paddle away. A drawback of cardio exercises is that it requires a long and wide space; sometimes, even a pool or a treadmill is not always available.
Another thing to consider is to get a gym membership. There are sets of equipment that one can use at the gym, wherein each piece of equipment can serve several uses. Strength is the forte of gyms or fitness centers since the equipment sets offer resistance training to enhance overall vitality. Gyms are mainly designed to sculpt and tone body shape, which is also the most common sign of physical activity involvement. One big drawback is those engaging in resistance training are the ones most prone to injury, mainly for beginners who might not be versed in proper form or may easily fall into the trap of ego lifting.
A new form of physical activity is called class exercises. This is an umbrella term for various activities that stand in between the intensity of cardio and strength building or resistance training done in a short period. These are usually done in groups, in scheduled classes, and with the supervision of a coach. Class exercises can include CrossFit, complex exercises, Tabata, spinning, obstacle courses, High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), etc. However, they use little to no equipment and rely more on the coach’s instruction. It also focuses little on sculpting body shape.
Sports has been a prevalent way to get in shape. And when the word comes to mind, it brings a variety of activities and areas of interest. In the Philippines, some of the most popular sports activities include basketball, volleyball, boxing, mixed martial arts, badminton, and tennis. The challenge of outdoing opponents and even outperforming past records can hype someone to perform at best. Plus, the sense of camaraderie in the team and community among supporters intensify sport spirit. The downside, though, is that sports need a team to play. Even players of solo sports belong to respective teams, though the group may not shine as bright as the players. Another area of concern is that sports have a high probability for injury, not to mention the contact type of sports like basketball and boxing. But on the bigger picture, sports produce a kind of belongingness and bonding.
The comforts of one’s home can be a place for a workout since we live in an era of internet connectivity. Routines can be consulted via YouTube or fitness programs on TV. There are also available applications that can guide fitness enthusiasts on what to do. In fact, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, fitness coaching has also shifted online via Zoom. Free Zumba classes are even offered on Facebook. However, working out at home can become monotonous in the long run, even with a coach’s voice coming from a pair of speakers.
Every physical activity has its share of pros and cons, but do not let the cons be a reason not to get up from the couch. As mentioned above, all it takes is to know what suits you best, depending on your schedule and interest.
