CAN YOU SURVIVE WITHOUT EXERCISE?
I think everyone should exercise. Now that’s just my opinion-- an opinion backed up by decades of scientific research, thousands of clinical studies and supported by every major health organization in the world—but an opinion, nonetheless.
The truth is, skipping the gym or a bike ride or a walk, won’t cause you to immediately keel over and croak. You can survive without exercise. Yes, you can survive without exercise, but at what cost?
Some folks hate exercise. They don’t think they need it. They say things like the following:
“I don’t exercise and I’m in perfect health.”
I am glad that you’re doing well. I hope you remain healthy.
Here’s the thing: if you live to a ripe old age, at some point, you’re going to run into some sort of issue. It’s quite likely that, when that happens, a doctor is going to suggest that you exercise in order to mitigate knee pain or back pain or high blood pressure or Type-2 diabetes or name almost any physical malady. The longer you delay moving on a regular basis, the more difficult it will be when your health depends upon it.
Exercise is not only a form of treatment for almost any ailment, it can also be used as a preventative measure to combat most of these things.
“I have great genetics. Grandma lived to 90. Never exercised a day in her life.”
True, Grandma didn’t go to CrossFit. But she also didn’t have Seamless.
We don’t walk, we Uber. We don’t run into the store, we buy things with our phones, we work longer hours which usually requires more time sitting in front of a computer. The norms of 21st century living make purposeful, planned movement (aka working out) a necessity for all of us.
“Life is short. I don’t wanna waste a single minute working out.”
You hate exercise while it’s happening. It sucks in the moment. People do all sorts of things that suck in the moment; go to work, attend their kids’ 5-hour marathon dance recitals, show up for jury duty. You do these things in order to avoid the consequences of not doing them. Exercise is not only a way to avoid negative consequences, it will also give you the physical energy and strength to more fully participate in things that don’t suck. Plus, exercise improves memory function, stabilizes moods and relieves mental stress. In other words, you’ll be happier more often. And isn’t that what life is all about?
Technically, you might not NEED exercise to stay alive. But if really want to LIVE, you better get moving.
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