Are healthy lifestyles and physical activity for everyone?

Are healthy lifestyles and physical activity for everyone?

Being fit can mean both a thoughtful way of eating, adding a variety of physical activity to the daily schedule, or maintaining a balance between the needs of body and spirit. Whatever definition we associate with the term, it's hard not to agree that its popularity and importance has continued to grow over the past few years. But are healthy lifestyles and physical activity really for everyone, including those struggling with specific ailments or avoiding sport?

If a medical condition is not a contraindication to exercise, it is worth first finding out what form of activity would be best, and then finding out how to perform the recommended exercises correctly. People suffering from osteoarthritis, for example, are advised to cycle, swim, walk, and do muscle-strengthening and stretching exercises to alleviate pain and improve mobility.

How do I 'get to like' a healthy lifestyle and sport?

Can a healthy lifestyle and physical activity also be attractive to people who do not like and avoid sport daily? Yes, but assuming the source of the dislike can be identified and a viable solution found. If exercising is not accompanied by a feeling of satisfaction, but instead by nervousness, this could be a signal that the form of exercise being practised is not suitable. Rather than exacerbating the lack of satisfaction, it is worth patiently looking for an alternative, giving yourself at least a few chances. To encourage yourself, friends and family members can be involved in this search.

A reason for reluctance to exercise may also be the belief that it requires a lot of time every day and, in the rush of everyday life, finding a break to work out will not be possible. What if, instead of starting with difficult and time-consuming exercises, we focused on activities that can be done at home, several times a day, for a few minutes? By practising your chosen form of activity at home, you can also save the time needed to get to the gym and pack clothes, equipment, protein bars or other snacks.

Finally, in order to 'like' yourself with a healthy lifestyle, you can think about combining home activities with activities that have a positive impact on your wellbeing. Instead of watching an episode of a TV series while sitting on the sofa, you can watch it while riding a stationary bike or doing your favourite stretching exercises. If learning a foreign language is a priority, it is a good idea to incorporate reading a foreign language article on looking after your health into your daily study. You could also try to add variety to your menu by including a meal that includes some healthy food items, such as cereals and nuts.