How To Be Fit For Success

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“ARE you fit for success?” Are you physically prepared to embrace your dream, when it comes? As someone once said, it is irrational to use your health to get wealth only to use that wealth to get back your health, many a time, it is always too late.

You may have heard experts encourage you to be active, and keep physically fit. But some people still wonder why, especially when they consider that they are not ill, are very busy in high pressure jobs, or their body systems seem to function perfectly, they cannot understand the emphasis on keeping fit.

What then are the benefits of keeping fit? Even if you know, and are presently enjoying those benefits, it might still be helpful to re-emphasise such benefits, and encourage you to continue.

I belong to a local fitness group where we meet every morning except on Sundays. Every once in a while, the coach will ask participants to share specific benefits they have gained from the exercise sessions. It’s always amazing how everyone has definite and measurable benefits to share. Some say they sleep better, feel emotionally energized, others experience better sexual life, and mental alertness. Surely physical fitness benefits people differently, but certain thread runs through almost everyone. 

   

According to the American Centre for Disease Control (CDC), keeping fit is vital in the control of your weight. Proper diet and physical activity are critical factors in weight control. Physical fitness is also helpful in reducing your risk of cardiovascular diseases including stroke and heart disease, and it can lower high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Getting at least 150 minutes a week, that is 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week can put you at a lower risk for these diseases. Being physically active also helps lower the risks of Type 2 diabetes, colon cancer and breast cancer.

As you age it becomes important to protect and strengthen your muscles, joints and bones and fight off arthritis. Regular physical fitness is helpful in this regard. Also, quoting the CDC, “regular physical activity can help keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp as you age. It can also reduce your risk of depression and may help you sleep better. Research has shown that doing aerobics or a mix of aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities 3 to 5 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes can give you these mental health benefits.

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Some scientific evidence has also shown that even lower levels of physical activity can be beneficial”. And importantly, science shows that physical activity can reduce your risk of dying early from the leading causes of death, like heart disease and some cancers. Everyone can gain the health benefits of physical activity irrespective of age, ethnicity, shape or size.

Here are some quick tips to help you lead a physically active life.

Have an accountability partner. This is someone both of you share the same passion to keep fit and stay healthy, someone who will watch out for you and be an encouragement. This singular reason propels many to register in a gym or like me, join a local fitness group.

Always remind yourself that the benefits of keeping active outweighs all the excuses, and therefore resolve to begin today, or well, tomorrow morning, depending on what works for you.

Remember to consult your doctor before starting physical fitness exercises.

Check your diet. It is no use expending all that effort to keep fit only to sacrifice it on the altar of unhealthy meals.

So join me to eat healthy, keep fit, feel better and live longer. It’s worth it.

In your success journey, what insights have you acquired or tips you would like to share? Please share with us. I would like to hear from you. Your feedback is valued.

Also kindly encourage your friends to visit this blog www.iamchukwuemeka.blogspot.com for motivational and inspirational pieces. You may never know how it can benefit them.

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