A Few Words on Exercise

This week I would like to talk about exercise. For the most part the word exercise appears to be a foreign word lately. I started exercising when I was 13, and I haven't stopped since. At the gym each day I see a myriad of individuals trying to stay fit, but in reality this is only a small minority of the population at large. Our society has now become so obtuse in their habits that getting an extra fifteen minutes of sleep trumps an exercise regimen.

I hear excuses in my office all day long, from "I have kids", to "my job doesn't allow me the time", and on and on. I have yet to hear a reason that is not merely an excuse to not have to exercise. Quite simply, these excuses are in reality a way of stating that exercise is just not a priority.

The simple truth is that by not getting needed exercise, in effect, you are pretty much agreeing to a shorter life expectancy, which by the way, is predicted to be shorter for the first time in history with the upcoming generation associated with diabetes, hypertension and all of the syndromes associated with lethargy and poor eating habits. Humans were not put on this earth to sit and watch television and eat yodels.

Genetically and historically, we essentially were out chasing food, or being chased as food. Because of technology, it is now quite easy to not have to move much during the day, and even easier to eat pre-made stuff full of preservatives and chemicals with no real nutritional value whatsoever. If you have already lost your health because of poor eating habits and lack of exercise, you should probably discuss any upcoming exercise plans with your doctor first. However, if you still have your health, doing anything is better than doing nothing. And the more fit you are, the higher the intensity should be your exercise.

As an example of light exercise, when going to the market, rather than driving around stalking that close parking space, take a far one and walk. If you are able, jogging in place for several minutes is great exercise. Doing so in say 8 intervals of 20s of jogging with 10s of rest is extraordinary. Just three days per week of this would actually change your health as well as your body. If you do the math, that is 4 minutes, three days per week. Can you still honestly say that you do not have the time? Not if you are truly honest. For those interested in maximizing their fitness regimens, I have already published several articles on that topic which are readily available, (search word: HIIT), on the fitness page and in the articles section of my website.

Dr. Scopelliti is a Fellow of the American College of Functional Neurology and also a Fellow