Is your motivation sedentary?

No one can make you partake in physical activity (PA) and if they do manage to force you in some way it won’t last long. There is no doubting the benefits of PA and I’m sure both you are fully aware of a lot of them. So why don’t you do more?

The reason I ask is because the average steps taken in a normal day only 20 years ago was 20.000. Today the amount of steps in our day is averaging out at around 3000. Add that up over a week and the difference is 119,000 steps and then taking that to monthly it equates to 476,000 steps less per month. Taking that to a yearly amount of lost steps then you are taking over 5.5 million steps less every year.

Given this bit of basic maths which is about my limit as far as math goes, it is quite evident that a lot of your energy requirements are now not required. So this would mean we should be eating the equivalent of over 5 million worth of steps less every year – right? Something tells me this isn’t happening if the share prices of Woolworths and Coles are anything to go by.

Hence the obesity epidemic and the diabetes epidemic that is strangling our communities are not going to be heading south any time soon. Not to mention the depression issue. In 1993–94, $521m was spent in health system in costs associated with depression (Mathers 1998). However, the true burden is impossible to quantify as there is family, work and relationship costs that are immeasurable.

As stated earlier you can’t be forced to move more it has to be a self motivated thing. And given the above statistics it is fairly obvious we aren’t self motivating ourselves are we? So my plea to you would be find your own major motivation to live a fuller more enjoyable existence. If you require more intrinsic happiness and fulfillment in your life PA is one of the most sure fire way nature will provide this for you.

To be blunt; without PA you aren’t going to get true happiness, wellness, wellbeing and fulfillment. I call it Lifesperity.

You need to be aware that happiness, fulfillment, wellness, wonderful relationships, continuing self growth and all of the associated benefits of living a full, inspiring and vibrant life won’t occur unless you are physically active. It isn’t possible to enjoy that type of life without having PA as a major part of your life because the brain needs this activity.

To spark the body’s natural responses which are responsible for weight reduction, feel good hormone regulation (the body’s natural and true way of recognising pleasure), energy usage by the muscles which then promotes occurrences such as improved sleep, digestion and moods to name just a few, the brain needs to be stimulated by the PA we aren’t getting enough of.

My plea to you is find your own inspiration and happiness through doing the activities you want to do in your life. It may mean making some changes to your way of living at present but given the statistics on the way we are heading I know the changes are going to be worth the effort.