An issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, a national survey showed that only 28% of all physicians advise patients to become more physically active.
Ask anyone who is physically active, and they will tell you exercise gives them an overall positive feeling of well being. People feel better when they exercise, sleep better and have fewer aches and pains.
In a national research, sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), 1,800 adults were interviewed. Their doctors suggested they make a lifestyle change, but only 28% of the participants said their physicians had recommended that they become more active. And only 11% of the MDs had offered advice or further assistance to help their patients on an exercise program.
Those patients who received both the suggestion and follow-up support from the doctors were 80% more likely to meet the basic physical activity requirements than those who didn’t. The basic physical activity requirement is 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, five times a week. Let’s be honest.
Doctors are busy people. Many doctors themselves don’t exercise. So how can we expect them to tell us to do something they don’t do. That’s why Americans have to turn to exercise experts and personal trainers. We really don’t need our doctors to tell us to exercise, do we? You would have to be pretty blind to not know about the health related benefits of exercise.
Exercise education is all around us. We can either choose to ignore these messages or take action and get off our couches and exercise. I believe many people don’t exercise because they don’t know how or are intimidated by the large health club scenes. Seniors, overweight people and new exercisers are confused with all the equipment, don’t appreciate the loud music and noise, and are uncomfortable exercising among the younger people. That’s where small personal training studios are beneficial. A personal trainer’s job is to teach their client how to exercise.
The trainer should first have a complete understanding of the client’s goals, physical strengths and limitations, past and present injury history and proper medical history. Then after designing a program for the specific needs and goals, they teach proper form and technique, safety in the gym, how to properly adjust equipment, explain how to focus on the right muscle for a given exercise, make recommendations for cardiovascular exercise, strength or resistance training, flexibility conditioning, and help the client make positive lifestyle changes.
If you have any special medical condition, your personal trainer should contact your doctor. If only, the most sedentary person who is obese started to exercise, they would feel better in just 7 to 10 days. For a sedentary, obese person to start an exercise program, they should first check with their doctor on any precautions to exercise. Starting with a 10 minute walk per day and gradually increasing the time and intensity is the beginning of a more active lifestyle and a healthier new you.
Linda Geyer, entrepreneur, speaker and author has spent her entire career in health related businesses helping clients and audiences make health a priority. She is Founder and CEO of Vitality Management and owner of Peak Physique Fitness Training in Michigan. Linda inspires, motivates and educates on health prevention through exercise, healthy eating and positive attitude.
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