Now this is an oft-mentioned and heard statement, which no doubt we’ve all uttered at least once in our lives and for the majority, usually at the tail end of the calendar, moving into the new year. Sounds familiar? You bet! The reality is this; modern technology and advanced medicines means that we as humans are now living much longer lives, albeit not necessarily healthy and fulfilling lives. The internet and the dot com revolution has propelled the promotion and marketing of unhealthy treats and inactive lifestyles to heights never before seen in all history. It’s just all too easy. The flip side to all of this is that we also live in an age where beauty and public physical image of ourselves has been thrust into the limelight at an unimaginable velocity, with the advent of social media acting as the chief catalyst.
Nowadays it’s not uncommon to see more than a handful of gyms and fitness centres within close proximity in most cities and townships and this is just great…for all of us. With so many flexible and robust gym memberships and classes available to suit most income levels and lifestyles, keeping fit and living a healthy lifestyle has never been so accessible to the masses. The growing popularity of 24 hour budget gyms and online fitness coaches now means the barriers of entry are now so low that excuses are almost non-existent. The only hurdle remaining now is oneself and here at Commando Camp, we believe that it’s always good to start this journey at the end. Ask yourself the following questions and be brutally honest with your answers:
- Are you truly happy with your current health / fitness level and physique?
- If you remain as you are and do nothing, will your health, fitness and physique improve or deteriorate?
- What is your main motivation for working out and keeping fit?
- What is stopping you from taking that first step today?
Exercise reduces stress and improves our mood, but also yields positive long-term effects more conducive to long-term happiness. When we engage in some form of physical exercise, we generally seem to feel happier and less anxious and create a sense of accomplishment within our often monotonous and rigid work lifestyles.
According to the American Academy of Sleep medicine, exercise has been shown to improve the sleep patterns of insomniacs, as well as lower their anxiety. Studies on rats indicate that exercise mimics the effects of antidepressants on the brain, inducing increased happiness. It is also responsible for the creation of new brain cells in the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory and gives a major boost to the immune system. If all of these amazing benefits sound great to you, then you’ve given yourself no excuse but to go ahead and make it happen. You owe it to yourself to become better and ultimately be too fit to quit!