suffering from the negative effects of stress as your body no longer has exercise to support its circadian rhythms (the body’s internal clock).
Imagine what months or years with-
out exercise will do to the body. As the body ages, bones lose density and without weight-bearing exercises to strengthen them, they risk osteoporosis. Muscles that aren’t used will atrophy and the body’s overall strength and tone will diminish. Without exercise to release endorphins from the brain into the rest of the body helping to naturally elevate mood, mental health will suffer in the long term as well. A cycle of negative effects is in full effect until you choose to change it.
The Choice It comes down to a choice: Choose
to exercise or choose your excuse not to. Through my own research and data collec- tion, I’ve compiled a list of the most com- mon excuses used to not exercise (in order of popularity) as well as some statements to consider to overcome that excuse.
Perhaps you can identify with one or more of the excuses. Perhaps you’re surprised to hear them called “excuses?” Regardless, I encourage you to take on a
challenge: Challenge yourself, challenge the excuses, or both. Let's look at time. The truth is, the majority of us (myself included) do not feel that we have the time to spare. Our time is our most precious commodity. Those who do exercise regularly usually make the time to do it because they’re aware of the stakes and what’s at risk if they don’t (your time is at risk, just in case it’s still not abundantly clear). If you have ever heard anyone say, “it’s a lifestyle,” when referring to exercise or eating healthy, that’s just another way of saying, “I regularly make time for it.”
If you’re feeling a little alarmed after reading this, then good, that’s a motiva- tor. It’s never too late. That’s the beauty of exercise; the benefits are felt by the body immediately. Do you remember that V02 max is how much oxygen we can take in during exercise, and that it’s also an indica- tor of our fitness age? Well, our V02 max can be improved at any age by exercising. In theory, we can lower our fitness age as we get older.
As mentioned previously, the study
conducted by the University of Minne- sota concluded that the participants who were fitter in their twenties experienced health benefits later in life. Their study
also indicated that there’s always room for improvement. Those studied who weren’t fit in their twenties but who improved their fitness level in the decades that followed scored higher on cognitive tests than those whose fitness levels remained the same or worsened. Meaning, it’s never too late to start exercising.
There are two familiar sayings, “know- ing is half the battle” and “knowledge is power.” Consider yourself armed. Your health is in your hands. Whether you’ve never exercised a day in your life or it’s been 6 months since the last time, you can start today and immediately begin to improve your health.
Jessica Elsner is a certified personal trainer and co-owner of Foss Fitness ME, a bou- tique personal training studio located in South Portland. Foss Fitness ME specializes in improving the quality of life of Maine residents through unique movement-based therapy programs and nutrition education. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, re- gain strength, or just feel like yourself again, our expert training and guidance will get you there. Please call us at 207-767-0890 to learn more about what we do and to set up a free consultation. Visit us on the web at
fossfitnessme.com. Foss Fitness ME is located at 936 Broadway in South Portland, ME 04106. See ad on page 7 & 32.
26 Essential Living Maine ~ January/February 2017
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