1 Corinthians Chapter 6, verses 19-20 states that our body is our temple. Therefore, it should be everyone’s obligation to preserve it. On the other hand, fitness is defined by Merriam Webster as the quality or state of being fit. Accordingly, taking care of your body and mind is in itself a noble act. However, I am sorry to say, more people are ignoring the importance of physical fitness. Consequently, more people are agonizing from different diseases. Emergency Rooms and Urgent Care centers are busier than ever.
Our society has become so fast paced, on the go, fast food this, drive through that, physical fitness is ignored and has taken a back seat. People still believe that money can buy you happiness, but if you are not healthy, how will you enjoy your retirement years let alone just getting by day to day.
It’d be outstanding if when planning for their future people would remember the number one priority – their health. However, our society as a whole have become complacent when thinking of physical fitness. Because fast-paced lifestyles are now the norm, staying healthy by the way of undergoing a regular physical fitness program just don’t seem as important as it should be. People are developing more illnesses related to not being physically fit and don’t even realize why.
Former Surgeon General Dr David Satcher proclaimed obesity is of epidemic proportions. The fact is, high school kids aren’t following the activities as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and the President’s Council on Physical Fitness. This equals about a third of the kids in the United States. As they get older and become adults, they are too busy working to make a living. They are so busy working; they have no time to enjoy life and all the rewards that come with it. They always seem to have an attitude, one of which is: don’t worry; I’ll have time to get some exercise later. What happens? They neglect physical fitness all together! Moreover, with this neglect comes lowered resistance to normal every day illnesses. Being healthy carries with it many benefits, not just looking good.
You can avoid four of the top seven leading causes of death in 2012 (heart disease, chronic lower respiratory disease, stroke and diabetes) but only if you will give the attention physical fitness deserves, more if you pledge to yourself to practice lifetime of physical fitness. It doesn’t matter when you start as long as you do. The National Center for Biotechnology Information mentions in an article “Anti-aging therapy through fitness enhancement” that physical exercise is very effective in achieving total health. The benefits of physical fitness are numerous. When we refer to a lifetime fitness routine, we are not just talking about physical exercise. A comprehensive fitness program includes maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet. This will however, take a considerable amount of effort and determination. The good news is, there are many free applications (smart phone or computer based) that will help you control and track exercise and nutrition. If your body is healthy, your mind will follow, the quicker you get started, the better you will feel. You will have more time to smell the roses and not be pushing up daisies!