We all know “exercise” (as in, regular activity) is “supposed” to be good for us, right? Yes, it is — more on that below — and it’s also something that people often have to be cajoled into doing, with varying degrees of success. Here’s some more “why” for you, and then concrete suggestions on making it happen in your life.

Why Bother Exercising?

Hopefully you’re in the percentage of the population who already enjoys moving well and often. If so, feel free to forward this article to someone else who may need it more than yourself 😉

But if not…

Let’s start with the obvious, more physical benefits. There are so many that it doesn’t even make sense to list them all. One meta-analysis sums it up a few of the biggies as follows: “people who performed resistance training had significantly (p < 0.05) lower rates of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and diabetes than people who did not perform resistance training (with average risk reductions of 12-17%). Importantly, the point estimates of every study suggested that resistance training was associated with lower risk for all outcomes of interest, demonstrating that this is a very reliable relationship.”

Conversely, the financial cost of inactivity drains our coffers. A World Health Organization report “reinforces the urgency to position physical activity as a shared, whole-of-government priority, and to strengthen coordination and partnerships to promote physical activity.” So…go, Participaction! (Yes, it’s still around.)

As this article so eloquently states, exercise helps us build our hedge for the future: “Here’s what many people don’t understand about maintaining complex movements as you age: they’re not just about physical capability in the moment. They’re insurance for your future. […] The person who can overhead squat with a PVC pipe at 90 years old is living a completely different quality of life than the person who eliminated overhead squatting at 45.” (And that’s a concept I’m completely on board with!)

And finally, the mental benefits of exercise are huge. A meta-analysis on depression symptoms has found that exercise “an effectiveness comparable to first-line treatments such as psychotherapy and medication.”

Why Is It So Darn Hard to Do?

Short version, we evolved to have it harder than we do now, so we’ve learned over millenia to conserve our energy. This is why we seek out calories (yes!) and tend to shun overworking (boo!). For more on that, Daniel Leiberman’s book Exercised is a fascinating read, with practical and encouraging suggestions throughout. This review has kindly provided a great TLDR.

Now What?

The same meta-analysis on depression clearly states that “supervision by an exercise professional can maximize [antidepressive] effects,” and follows that with the recommendation that “most importantly, patients should be involved in the choice of exercise to increase adherence.” Short version: get some input, and pick something that sounds hopefully fun — or at least, not as bad as it could be.

And what’s good for the mind works for the body. I agree that reaching out provides a good support network, as well as instilling routine. The “professional” element is especially important if you’re new or you’re returning to exercise after an injury or long layoff.

Please be in touch if I can be that professional to provide support for you!