According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 34% of adults aged 20 and older are obese, and 34% are overweight. Eight out of ten men and almost seven in ten women will be overweight or obese by 2020, according to a study published by Oxford University. 18% of teens aged 12 to 19 are obese, 20% of children aged 6 to 11 are obese, as are 10% of little children aged 2 to 5. That should be a wakeup call for all of us. Be Active!
You fall into one of three categories: 1. You already embrace physical activity as a part of your lifestyle, 2. You lead a sedentary lifestyle, or 3. You are ready to take the first step to be on your way to feeling better, enjoying better and longer physical health, and having a healthier state of mind.
Who doesn’t want that? We say we do; we know exercise is good for us, but the challenge is that our bodies don’t always want to participate in what we know. When it comes to exercise, it is as if our brains and our bodies are at war.
The key is finding something you enjoy that will get you moving and keep you active. What you like to do, you will keep doing. In fact, being more active can be as simple as spending more time on things you already do that get you moving; taking your dog for a walk, playing outside with your children, line dancing with friends, or gardening.
If asked, my advice will always be, “find people and a place you like to hang around, add some music, and before you know it your brain will be invested and your body will follow.” But that’s the easy answer, and it’s not that easy.
So what’s next? First you must agree that it’s never too late for anyone to begin an active lifestyle.
You may have no idea where to start, or even if you want to. The important thing is to take a first step. Wherever you are in your efforts to get fit or stay fit, it’s a matter of changing your thinking and changing your habits. That’s where this Blog comes in.
The BE ACTIVE Blog will feature tips and offer suggestions and the encouragement you need to get active and stay active. Think of it as your accountability partner. I will also share stories of real people taking classes at the Butler Community School.
Are you in? Stay tuned!
And by the way, I would love to hear your personal story!