The other day, I was at the grocery store picking up a few things on my way home from work. Towards the end of an aisle, I approached two older men talking to each other. I happened to overhear a bit of their conversation and it really stuck with me. It went something like this…
Man 1: I saw Jimmy the other day.
Man 2: Really? He must really be getting up there.
Man 1: Yea, I know. I asked him about his secret to longevity and youth. You know what he told me? Get moving, man.
Wow. What a testimonial to physical activity. The fact that physical activity can help combat weight gain, improve your heart health, and decrease stress is well documented. But what about longevity? This conversation at the grocery store prompted me to do some research.
The American Heart Association tells us that “people who are physically active and at a healthy weight live about 7 years longer than those who are not active and are obese” (Source). Across numerous peer-reviewed studies, the data is consistent–physical activity increases life expectancy. So our friend Jimmy is correct.
With that commentary, what are you waiting for to get active and fit? All it takes is a few minutes a day to get started. And if you don’t even know where to begin, shoot me a note. Let’s talk! I love to help people get started on their fitness journeys.