Inactivity is a sin against yourself

Inactivity is a sin against yourself.

I said it, and I mean it.

We are designed for locomotion and physical work, and we benefit greatly from both.

You don’t need to quit your office job and take up a sledgehammer and break rocks, but you should recognize the need to create activity for yourself.

If you live in America, where I am sure 99% of my readers reside, you are likely aware that our cities and towns are not designed to be walkable. If you live in a metropolitan area, your odds increase, but what if you don’t?

You need to create activity.

Lifting weights isn’t enough.

It’s not.

Numerous studies have shown that individuals with better aerobic conditioning tend to have greater longevity.

1. Intrinsic aerobic capacity sets a divide for aging and longevity: Koch & Kemi-Rat models link exercise capacity with mortality

2. Massive study uncovers how much exercise is needed to live longer

3. Being in shape is better for longevity than being thin, new study shows

4. Heart disease: Cardio fitness reduces death risk, promotes longevity

5. You get the picture, do you really need more?

Muscle helps, but adding muscle with aerobic capacity is the fountain of youth that Juan Ponce de León was searching for.

Maybe he needed to walk more instead of searching for that magic pill.

If you are an able-bodied human being, the only reason to avoid conditioning yourself is if you are being lazy.

It’s easy to make excuses.

“I am tired.”

“Lifting was hard today.”

“I don’t have time.”

Tough shit. Excuses pile up, and before you know it, you have neglected it for months.

You will start to feel the effects of inactivity, and this will continue to happen. You convince yourself that lifting weights is enough because “my heart rate goes up; therefore, that is cardio.”

Keep telling yourself that.

Or you could start by walking and build your aerobic endurance up, breath by breath, heartbeat by heartbeat. You will begin to see yourself recovering faster from your workouts, sleeping better, having a lower resting heart rate, losing extra weight you don’t need, and feeling more energetic.

We are humans, our species isn’t meant to waste away.

We are meant to move, explore, play, be strong, be active, and enjoy this gift of life we have.

Make the smart choice.