By Dr. Jeff Leiter
Photos by Kyle Mulder, Taylor Bradshaw

Whether it's social media, magazines, online articles or friendly conversation, the topic of sports, fitness and health usually appears in one form or another. Yes, most of us know we should be active and stay fit to promote our physical and mental well-being, but that doesn't mean we do it. In the end, a missed workout here, or extra hours on the couch. binge-watching or gaming don't really matter, do they? Well, to answer this question, let's take an evidence-based approach and read what the medical literature is telling us.

Did you know that exercise can be used as a medical treatment across six categories of the medical curriculum? In fact, exercise has been proven as an effective treatment for 27 chronic diseases and conditions.1 These conditions include, but are not limited to, the following: osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, anxiety, stress and schizophrenia. In addition, if you follow an exercise plan designed for you, the risk of injury is minimal. However, you should be aware that you may feel more productive, have more energy, be in a better mood and may even shed a few extra pounds by staying active.

Personal Trainer Health

 Exercise does sound a bit like a magic pill, so what's the problem? Well, the problem is you must do it, it takes time, energy, sometimes supervision, and financial resources. So, instead of finding excuses, find solutions. You can spend your time being healthy, or you can spend a lot more time, and probably more money, being sick. attention and motivation. It increases brain-derived neurotrophic growth factor (BDNF) and the more intense the exercise, the more BDNF produced.2 BDNF regulates the growth of neurons, protects neurons and supports the connection between neurons (nerve cells in the brain). In other words, BDNF supports learning and memory at any age and gives the brain the ability to rewire itself in the face of injury or disease. Need proof? Fit children score twice as well on academic tests, regardless of socioeconomic status.

In summary, there is a wealth of evidence to support exercise for physical, mental and emotional well-being. There are also several reasons and excuses as to why we don't take
the magic pill on a regular basis. Here are a few tips to overcome those obstacles.

  1. Build healthy habits to support your exercise program. Over time and as your habit becomes stronger, the resistance you feel to exercise will dissipate. Exercise will just become a routine part of your day.
  2. Do activities that you enjoy! This will make it easier to build a strong habit and you will have fun in the process.
  3. Need some extra motivation? Join a group exercise activity to reap the benefits of the social setting and to keep you attending on a regular basis.

As seen in Game On Magazine https://gameonhockey.ca/