You have no excuse not to excercise

One of the things that frustrates us medical care workers the most is that most of our patients are people who never took care of themselves their whole lives, and now they are reaping the punishments of the life choices they made -- or didn't make.

Now that we have research that not only proves a healthy diet can help you live a fuller and longer life, experts actually show us how to do it. Yet few of us listen. The wisdom is not new that exercise has benefits galore.

Working out and do aerobics as little as 15-20 minutes a day result in you not just being healthier but having more energy, more time, more strength, less stress, more ambition, better outlook on life, better able to handle annoying bosses, and (ahem for you lung patients) less winded just walking from the kitchen sink to the bedroom.

And those are only some of the benefits. Yet, when people are reminded to make better choices, they say "okay fine!", and then don't do it.

When I tell people I work out daily, the most common response I get is:

"How do you find time to workout? I want to work out too, but I simply don't have the time."

Honestly, I find this NOT to be a good excuse. Look at it this way: Which is more important...

1. Spending ten minutes making your bed in the morning or going into the basement and riding your bike for ten minutes?
2. Watching TV for an hour before you go to bed or going for an evening walk?
3. Doing the dishes after dinner or walking on the treadmill 20 minutes?
4. Doing that one last load of laundry or doing ten sit-ups or crunches?
5. Lecturing your kids about something or taking them for a bike ride (or sledding if it's winter)?
6. Scrubbing the bathroom for an hour or going for a jog with your best friend?
7. Sitting on your couch drinking a beer or going to the health club?
8. Sleeping in or doing your weight training workout?
9. Stepping outside for 10 minutes to smoke a cigarette, or taking that time to stretch?

I could go on but I think you get the point. I've written before about the importance of exercise. Whether you are 100% healthy or have asthma or COPD. Get off your butt and pace the house! Ride the bike while you are watching Jay Leno or Desperate Housewives.

Don't be a full-time patient in a hospital or nursing home because you ate too many Big Macs or Whoppers, or too many home style breakfasts, or smoked too many cigarettes.

In the past people didn't know any better, BUT YOU DO KNOW BETTER! YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE NOT TO EXERCISES!

I try not to lecture too often, but this is something I feel pretty strongly about, especially considering what I see on a daily basis.