To be perfectly honest, I hate “exercise.” Do I enjoy taking a walk or working in the garden? Of course! Do I like to dance and playing fetch with my granddog? You bet!
But say “exercise” and I’m out the door in a flash! I don’t know why; maybe some memory of being shamed in gym class. But whatever it is I have to deal with it because exercise is important.
Jodi Stolove in the May/June issue of TOPS NEWS writes, “For the sake of your health, as well as your weight, exercise should become as routine a part of your life as brushing your teeth.” She lists ways exercise can improve our health and why we need to do it.
Exercise can suppress your appetite.
Exercise triggers the release of endorphins in our brains that relieve depression. We know these conditions sometimes drive us to overeat.
Exercise builds muscles, and muscles burn calories faster than fat does.
This is a good one. Muscles take up less space than the same weight of fat. So we look trimmer if we weigh the same but we’ve replaced fat with muscle.
We keep burning calories for up to 14 hours after exercising.
And this is the tough one. The only way to lose fat is if your muscles burn it as fuel. So we have to exercise!
Exercise can reduce high blood pressure and lower blood sugar levels.
It is possible to enjoy exercise if we choose a “fitness program” that is practical and convenient for us.
Several members of TOPS attend fitness classes on Mayne Island and even now, during isolation, they continue on apps like Zoom. Like them, I’m going to work on designing a fitness program that I enjoy. How about you?
Our TOPS Chapter is a friendly, low-cost, supportive, non-judgmental group that welcomes new members. You’re welcome to join TOPS every Wednesday morning at the Community Centre, from 9:00 to 10:00. (Your first visit is free.) If you want to Take Off Pounds Sensibly with us, please call Maeva Lightheart at 778-888-9401.
Submitted by Amber Harvey