The first thing that I found interesting about this chapter is getting motivated for physical activity. Which I think plays a big part in how we all feel right now being stuck at home. I know me personally I struggle to get motivated sometimes when it is so much easier to be lethargic all day and do nothing rather than workout out of do some sort of physical activity. A big thing for me that has been hard was that fact that I recently integrated this past week some cardio sessions into my training. I have been doing 3 low intensity cardio sessions and 1 high intensity training session to work on cardiovascular health. This chapter discusses people coming up with excuses rather than performing the exercises like, “(“I don’t have time”) to environmental (“I don’t have a safe place to be active”(p.234). Which these excuses are not going to work in this current state of being quarantined. The best thing that we can do is set small goals to work towards each week slowly increasing the intensity as we progess. Also I believe that if you get a workout partner who is also quarantined to build off and motivate each other it will be very helpful to stay on track.
The next topic I found interesting was developing core strength which I think a lot of people look past. But core strength is going to help your perform better in any physical activity you do and also help with back pain and posture. “A weak core generally results in poor posture, low back pain, and muscle injuries”(p.242). This is an body part that is not fun to train as most people don’t think it is important because you only see it when your shirt is off for guys or in the summer for girls. As mentioned in the chapter there are some ways that you can increase you core in a more enjoyable way. Such as “Yoga, tai chi, and Pilates”(p.242). These exercises have all been known to help not only the core but also “develop the mind–body connection through concentration on breathing and body position”(p.242). Which this can help mental growth and stability and also reduce things such as depression and anxiety, which can be very beneficial.
Third thing I wanted to talk about is the health benefits that come with physical activity and exercise. There are so many different health benefits that come along with any activity that I don’t understand why more people would want to do them. But something that I found interesting that I didn’t know prior was longer lifespan. “Several studies indicate significant decreases in long-term health risk and increases in years lived”(p.233). This alone should be enough to motivate people into working out. Overall I felt this chapter to be very informative and show me the benefits of cardiovascular health and all of its benefits.
