It is Friday and if you are following the American Heart Associations guidelines it is one of the three days to walk. Actually, they suggest 150 minutes of vigorous physical activity a week. It was selected because it was thought that number was attainable for most people with heart disease. Three, 50 minute vigorous walks.
If you look at an innovation curve, the small percentage of innovators are running long distance, the early adopters are doing more, and the early majority probably hit close to the 150 minutes. That leaves the late majority and the laggards. These people represent more than half the population. They are never going to walk or walk consistently. The early majority are skeptical and will sometimes comply and go through spurts of exercise. They would really like to be an early adaptor, but are drawn by the lure of the late majority that have all the excuses why you should not.
I have been running and walking in my current neighborhood for 16 years. I see the same 5-6 people walking in the mornings over the past few years. Then there are the sporadic walkers that come and go but the steady people remain few. There are roughly 17 adults on my street. Two are daily walkers, runners, 2 are sporadic and the rest rarely see the light of day upright. The activity has not changed over the years but health of the least active has deteriorated. They will rely on the medications and procedures that will help to keep them comfortable. Perhaps that is enough for them.
I cannot help but to try and swing some of the majority group to adopting a more healthy lifestyle. Everyone deserves to be healthy but attaining it will ultimately rest in their decisions. I believe some people feel they are a lost cause. It is too late. Believe me that is not the case. Start today with a small step. Perhaps stand a little longer. Get out side and enjoy some fresh air. And if you go for a walk today, remember you deserve to be healthy.
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