Why Fitness?
In my own life, I have experienced the life-changing benefits of staying fit, and I have lost too many of my baby boomer friends who could have enjoyed longer, more enjoyable lives had they kept their bodies in condition.
From “Center for Disease Control and Prevention” (2007):
Regular physical activity reduces people’s risk for heart attack, colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure and may reduce their risk for stroke.
It also helps to control weight; contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints; reduces falls among older adults; helps to relieve the pain of arthritis; reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression; and is associated with fewer hospitalizations, physician visits, and medications.
Physical activity can also help people avoid developing functional limitations, can improve physical function, and can provide therapeutic benefits for people with heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, arthritis, lung disease, and other chronic diseases. Moreover, physical activity need not be strenuous to be beneficial. For example, adults of all ages benefit from moderate-intensity physical activity, such as 30 minutes of brisk walking 6 days of the week.
From Barb R.:
“Chuck has made a huge difference in my physical fitness goals…primarily by pushing me just a little bit harder than I would push myself and making sure that I stay accountable to my health and fitness goals.”
