I think we can all agree that 2020 was perhaps one of the worst years in human history.
The sheer negative impact it had on our health, economy, and mental well-being can never be overstated. We have seen significant changes in our practice with the various effects the virus has had on patients who have a wide-ranging set of medical problems.
A lot of people have experienced weight gain, higher blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels being elevated, and depression and anxiety because of various jobs and local government policies forcing people to stay inside for prolonged periods of time.
We as healthcare workers are “fortunate” in that respect because we are needed at the front lines to care for those affected by COVID-19. While we have put ourselves at risk of exposure because of the nature of our jobs, we at least get to stay somewhat active by getting outside of our homes. Nonetheless, the stress and strain of having to make sea changes in our lives has not been easy on anyone in any field or career.
With the deployment of the vaccination over the last several months and the CDC creating new guidelines on performing tasks without face coverings, more people are starting to return to normalcy, though how “normal” life will be moving forward is anybody’s guess. That being said, I am here to discuss how abstaining from regular exercise can impact your overall health and I believe this is more important than ever because of COVID-19 forcing the inactivity of billions of people. The global present and future effect on life expectancy has changed forever.
To be blunt, getting in shape is no easy task, even for those of us who have the genes to be more athletic. Have you ever wondered how long we maintain our fitness after stopping exercise?
As you may have already guessed, becoming unfit takes less time than becoming fit. But how long? Well, that depends on whether we are talking about cardiovascular exercise or strength training exercise.
The key to becoming fitter is to exceed something called habitual load. Habitual load is something that our bodies are used to doing. Exercise is a way to overcome the habitual load that we experience while engaging in activities of daily living.
There are many factors which determine how long it takes for us to get fit. These include starting fitness levels, age, how hard we work and even the environment in which we live. But in any case, exerting yourself beyond habitual load, even if it is for a short period of time, can make you more fit.
No matter what level of fitness you had prior to the pandemic, you can start back into an exercise routine to get your physical and mental health back on track. I encourage all of my patients to engage in activity that exceeds habitual load for 30 minutes a day. Health and fitness centers were shut down for a long period of time and have now started to open back for business.
However, you do not need to join a gym to become more fit. Even something as simple as taking a walk around your neighborhood, jumping rope, swimming or biking can provide a simple and effective means to take control of your health and, just as important, your mental well-being.
Now that the weather has warmed up, more people are choosing to get out and become active and healthy. The COVID-19 pandemic has done more to us than we could have imagined and now is the time to get out and reclaim our health again. I strongly encourage everyone to exercise every day!
