The Importance Of Exercise

In order to feel more confident in myself and therefore improve my overall life, I created an obtainable goal of losing 5 pounds by my Thanksgiving break. I started going to the gym and exercising for 20-60 minutes 3-5 times a week as well as doing a muscular strength exercise 2 times a week. I chose this new behavior in order to become healthier and be in better physical shape. In the United States, many citizens are not getting the recommended amount of physical activity per week. According to the Center for Disease Control, or CDC, about 1 in 5 (21%) adults meet the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines (2014). Race and ethnicity play a role in these statistics. More non-Hispanic white adults (23%) meet the guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening

The CDC states that doing both aerobic and muscle strengthening exercises during the week lead to living longer and having a lower risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers (Center for Disease Control, 2015). Physical activity can also help with weight control, and may improve academic achievement in students (Center for Disease Control, 2015). The American Heart Association has their own set of guidelines to promote cardiovascular health. They say, “Something is always better than nothing” (2015). Their guidelines are congruent to the Physical Activity Guidelines set. They add that in order to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, one should have an average 40 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic activity 3 or 4 times per week (American Heart Association, 2015). The American Heart Association guidelines include that physical activity improves the quality of life by boosting mental, physical, and optimal wellness

One of my main obstacles was keeping a schedule of regular exercise, meaning, it was difficult to keep a weekly schedule of times to go to the gym. I found myself making excuses during the middle of my journaling period. As I became more self-motivated, I packed clothes in my school bag in order to ensure I would exercise. I found this change to be useful in holding myself accountable for my actions. I also had a hard time going to the gym alone. I felt as if I had to have a friend to go with or I would skip it all together. I learned how to make exercise a stress release rather than a social time, which helped break that barrier quickly. For the future, I would like to try exercise classes at the gym in order to keep a tighter exercise