With spring now approaching (let’s be optimistic for a moment), it’s a great time to look towards getting more active. I could go on about the benefits of being more active right here, but I’ll leave that for the consult room.
The whole thing often comes down to motivation. We just don’t feel like being more active. The reality is, there is a large aspect of health that does call for discipline – to push ourselves this way. The good news is that it does get easier the more you persevere. Let’s talk about why that is.
The law of reversibility sums up the understanding that in life, things move in both directions. For example, light makes heat, and heat makes light. There are many other examples of this. The one to focus on here is that feelings lead to particular behaviours, and particular behaviours leads to feelings. The direction of travel goes both ways. This does represent a part of what counsellors consider during cognitive behavioural therapy.
What this practically means is that if we can muster up the effort to become more active (with spring approaching, yay!), your mind and body will respond by feeling happier and healthier. And usually, when you’re feeling happier and healthier, you tend to be more active. In all of this there is hope to create positive momentum to keep you going. The thing is, even if you don’t initially feel like it, you essentially do need to bring in the discipline to push yourself towards the behaviour, to be more active, at least at the start.
I recently met a patient who we discovered had diabetes for the first time. Through the considerable interventions he made in his lifestyle, after one month, when they walked down the corridor, I almost didn’t recognise him. He had changed so much and was really loving it. He had gained that momentum.
Regular exercise is crucial, especially when it comes to the heart and diabetes. Considering the heart, it’s worthwhile knowing that if you do have any blockages which have built up in your arteries, unbeknownst to you, then regular exercise literally stimulates your heart to grow new blood vessels, helping to bypass blockages. This is called angiogenesis. Nevertheless, you should see your doctor to discuss your heart health, to know the facts.
Keep in mind also, that exercises to keep you active can be tailored, so that they’re suitable for you. This might be relevant if you have injuries or certain medical issues. Usually, where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Now returning to the consult room, I must say thank you to a patient of mine. After conducting a health assessment, we got on to how she had put on weight and should increase her exercise. She then rather promptly whipped out her index finger, poked me in the guts and said, “How about you and that spare tyre? You’ve got some work to do too!” Right back at ya! Damn, she was right, and that moment was a different interpretation of the Law of Reversibility! The good news is, she’s spurred me on to get back out there myself and my new go to words are “spartan” and “austere”.
Always happy to walk the walk, literally.
