Why is it so hard to stick to healthy habits?
WHO has time to exercise for a full hour a day? Wouldn’t it be nice to have the opportunity to pound the pavements or hit the gym for such a luxurious amount of time every single day?
However, in reality very few of us can afford this allocation, however vital it may seem.
According to a new report office workers should be taking at least an hour of exercise daily to offset the ill-effects of sitting down at a desk for at least eight hours.
This sounds wonderful but it’s not really an option for most of us, as once work finishes life gets even busier in the evenings.
That said, it is also all about motivation and even if we can’t fit in a whole hour, we should be trying to move ourselves about for as much time as we can afford.
The past couple of weeks have shown us the incredible skill and determination of the Olympic athletes who show just what commitment to fitness can achieve.
While the ordinary office worker is a far cry from Rio-standard, watching the athletes would give anyone a burst of inspiration to get a bit more exercise.
It is also wonderful to see how they inspire the next generation.
Similar to the Katie Taylor effect on women’s boxing, just days after the diving and rowing events in particular, this year, clubs have already seen an influx of prospective young members hoping to be the next champions.
The benefits of physical activity are long-proven in terms of health benefits, for both body and mind, maintaining a healthy weight and warding off dangerous conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, not to mention the positive impact it can make on our mental health.
And, for those of us whose daily work is on the stressful side, there is no better way to relieve stress.
However as more and more of us retain a sedentary lifestyle the overall health of our nation is at risk.
So how is it that we know what to do and when to do it but struggle so much in actually doing it? Obesity rates, particularly in children are still a massive stumbling block and the range of unhealthy foods marketed as child-friendly is a disaster.
Like anything, it is just a habit. Getting moving is as much a habit as sitting on the couch munching biscuits and once a habit is formed it is easier to maintain.