Life-Shortening Experience

I would like to talk about investment today. And I assure you that this can be the investment of a lifetime, because it IS in fact, an investment for YOUR lifetime.

(Mostly) Everyone knows that exercise is ALWAYS (and always will be) beneficial to anyone’s state of health. But not many know that the seemingly harmless act of just slumping down on your couch at home watching the television can actually CUT back the number of years of your life.

It’s certainly more alarming if you look at it at a different light doesn’t it?

In a recent study (from the researchers of National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan and China Medical University Hospital), it has shown that a sedentary lifestyle can be more HARMFUL and DAMAGING than what was believed to be. How damaging you may ask?

Well, just one SINGLE hour of watching television can cut back your life expectancy by 22 minutes!

Of course the television set alone won’t be the one responsible for shortening life. It’s actually the act of watching television that’s the real killer. When you lead a such a sedentary lifestyle, chances are you will reach for unhealthy foods to accompany it.

I mean, who doesn’t like buttered-up popcorn or potato chips or cheesy crackers and a chance to wash it all down with sweet carbonated sodas while watching a great movie or TV show. And a separate study has shown that people tend to overeat while eating in front of the television. And that is another formula for weight gain right there.

All of these things will (eventually) result in weight gain and yet that is just the BEGINNING of your troubles. Diabetes has always been closely linked to obesity and even though modern medical advances has helped people to manage and live with diabetes…..did you know that a yearly diabetes treatment alone can equate to 7 gastric bypass procedures?

Not to mention enduring all the pain and hassle of administering medication on yourself. Take for example, taking insulin shots around 13 times a day. It’s not a pretty experience.

The Good News

But there is always good news.

The good news is that there is something that you can do about it. Researchers of the same study has come to the conclusion that exercise not only helps you to avoid the pit falls of weight loss, it can further INCREASE your life expectancy by the YEARS.

Getting 450 minutes worth of exercise in a single month and you’re well on your way to leading a healthier and much happier life. It’s a better alternative in anyone’s book.

450 minutes a month sounds like a lot?

Well, let me break it down for you.

All you have to do is to just get in 15 minutes of exercise daily. Yup, that’s just FIFTEEN minutes. And you don’t really have to set aside 15 minutes every day if you find yourself still too busy to do that. You can spread out your exercise regiment throughout the day. Like a minute up a flight of stairs. Or park further from your office or destination and have that 2 minute walk. A minute here and there and the next thing you know, you might have more worked out for more than 15 minutes already daily!

Of course the best exercise is the one where you can get your heart rate up (to make it count). But remember, exercise within your limits. Keep at it and you will eventually get stronger and thus raising your threshold limit. Not only will you feel great in the long run, you will LOOK great.

Exercise MORE and eat LESS (Not the other way around!)

If everyone could just spend 15 minutes a day exercising and watch their diet (in terms of WHAT they eat and HOW much), the number of people having weight-related diseases can be significantly reduced. Remember, weight-related diseases can strike anyone regardless of age and gender.

No one is safe.

So don’t be a statistic! Invest in 15 minutes worth of exercise or more if you can. Your body will reward you for it!