Our Bodies are Designed to Stay Active. However, Our Modern Lifestyle is Sedentary

It is no big secret, Americans are not getting the activity they need. This is a trend we see around the globe. Many of us wake up in the morning, hop in our car, go to work, sit eight hours at a desk and then hop in our car and drive back home. I watched a program once that spoke about how our cities were build for cars, not people. I also have a friend that travels by foot, bike or public bus and I constantly hear about his frustration of lack of sidewalks or even almost being hit by cars while trying to navigate through his day. All he is trying to do is get from point A to point B but constantly faces adversity because he is on foot and not in a car. I think this highlights a huge problem in the United States, our cities are not really designed for pedestrians. We need ways of encouraging people to commute in ways other than by automobile. This is not only for our health but also for the health of our planet.

So, the real question is since many of us don’t walk or bike during our daily routine activities, such as on our way to work or the store, then how can we incorporate activity into our recreational activities. On a personal note, I do jog in the mornings regularly, I will tell you exactly how I find my motivation. I have a dog, just one dog, so I am solely responsible for insuring that my dog get sufficient exercise. It’s funny, my motivation could be any one of a thousand reasons and in some ways, yes, staying fit and healthy is definitely part of motivation but at least for me- I found something external that motivates me. If I have children maybe my motivation would be them. I might include a sunset walk a few nights a week. Walking and talking is a great relationship builder. Walking with someone takes away distractions and lets you focus on the person. If I had children, maybe my motivation would be keeping them healthy or being able to live long enough to see their children live long lives. You are obviously feeling motivated already to make changes. I encourage you, over the next 24 hours to write a list of what motivates you to incorporate fitness in your life. Write it down, make a list, hang it on your wall or refrigerator. You can write it in the notes section of your phone and pull it up every time you need that extra push. The willpower and determination are both inside you, you just have to figure out how to harness it.