I find the following to be bloody ridiculous – and unfortunately it’s true! If you are reading this you may be the converted – so pass it on to someone who is ignoring it. This has nothing to do with gyms, personal training or boot camp. Nobody NEEDS us to address these things and yet apparently society does!
· Population rates of obesity are increasing, whilst rates of physical activity participation are declining among adult Australians.
· 7.4 million Australians (a whopping 56 per cent!) are seriously overweight.
· 40.6 million drug prescriptions were dispensed for cardiovascular related conditions in the last 12 months.
· For a 40 year old male, the current risk of having coronary disease is 1:2 - that means the average male has a 50/50 chance of not having coronary disease.
· 41 per cent of all deaths result from cardiovascular disease.
· Almost every major force in Australian society - (e.g. the automobile, computer, entertainment, food production and consumption) urges Australians to become sedentary and fat.
· "Health researchers have highlighted the fact that physical activity can play a part as a preventative factor in five of the six national Health Priority Areas - cardiovascular disease, cancer control, mental health, diabetes mellitus and injury prevention and control" (Fitness NSW, IRHSA, 1 million by 2010).
Did you read that last sentence? 5 of the 6 national health priorities can be HELPEd by regular physical activity!!! UNFORTUNEATLY MANY DOCTORS SEEMS ALL TOO READY TO WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS RATHER THAN RECOmMEND HEALTH AND FITNESS PROVIDERS. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH A SYSTEM THAT PUSHES UNHEALTHY PEOPLE ONTO UNHEALTHY DRUGS BEFORE SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP IN AN ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THEIR UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE! it takes more than a 15 minute doctors consultation! Health and fitness means different things to different people but disease is disease and can be prevented by not just exercise, but also better nutrition and attitudes! "Healthy body, Healthy mind"! WE HELP PEOPLE CREATE BETTER LIFESTLYES AND OF COURSE THAT HAS A GREAT EFFECT ON THEIR HEALTH!
Those stats are just some of the negatives that can be avoided by having better health and fitness. We haven’t even touched on the emotional and spiritual down side of becoming one of these statistics. How does this sound to you? Early death? Living with ongoing injuries? Ongoing disease? Drug dependence? Heart attack? Physical impairment? Still need motivation?
Now think of the positives! HEALTH! ENERGY! STRENGTH! ABILITY! CONFIDENCE! WELL-BEING! POSITIVITY! It really is easy to exercise but if you find it hard - seek help!
Exercise can be found in many different ways! Almost everybody needs to find some exercise but if you are becoming statistic it is ridiculous to remain inactive or not active enough! It is LIFE and DEATH! The choice is yours!
"Health is so necessary to all of the duties, as well as the pleasures of life, that the crime of squandering it is equal to the folly" - Samuel Johnson
