by David B. Glover
Imagine that a new wonder drug has been created. It will help prevent illness and disease – including cancer. It will help you lose excess weight – and keep it off. It will slow the aging process, making you look and feel younger than your years. It will give you energy and increase your self-esteem. It will reduce stress, fight depression and anxiety, put you in a better mood. It will make you stronger and healthier. It will improve your posture, your flexibility, your balance and your endurance. It will even help you sleep better.1
How much would you pay for this drug?
$10 a bottle?
$100 a bottle?
$1,000 a bottle?
More?
Would you believe nothing?
The drug I’m talking about is exercise.
Exercise is this wonder drug and the simple secret to living a better and longer life.
Yet, according to Gallup, only 27% of Americans get the recommended 30 minutes or more of exercise five days per week. If you consider number that America’s obesity rate is 33% and that 75% of medical costs are due to largely preventable conditions like stress, physical inactivity and poor nutrition,2 the answer is surprisingly simple and obvious.
Sure, it takes time (time away from the TV or computer perhaps?), you may get sweaty and you might feel sore afterwards, but trust me, you will feel better once you start. You can start simply by walking. Baby steps.
What have you got to lose…? Imagine how grand life will be if you have no physical limitations as you get older. Come on, give it a try!
If you do exercise already, I commend you for already taking care of yourself. Keep it up! It shows.
—
1 From the opening chapter of Mayo Clinic: Fitness for Everybody
2 Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements by Tom Rath and Jim Harter
