As weeks go, this is not the best one – or so they say. This, the third Monday of January, has been awarded the gloomy title of the most miserable day of the year.
That’s due to a combination of post-Christmas blues, long cold dark nights going on a bit by now, failing at New Year’s resolutions, and the arrival of unpaid credit card bills but no pay cheque just yet…
And the best way to beat the blues is a dose of exercise to boost your fitness.
Medical experts have shown beyond doubt that people who regularly exercise have:
- up to a 50 per cent less chance of developing type 2 diabetes
- up to a 50 per cent lower risk of getting colon cancer and up to 20 per cent lower risk of getting breast cancer
- up to a 35 per cent less chance of developing coronary heart disease and having a stroke
- up to a 30 per cent lower risk of getting depressed
- a 30 per cent lower risk of dying early
These are massive figures – and you should aim to be active every day and to do at least 150 minutes of physical activity throughout every week.
Exercise boosts endorphins, the body’s natural high. Also by joining a sporting team or going to a gym you’ll avoid the feeling of isolation that can arise during the dark cold months. Not only that, you’ll make new friends – and having friends is good for us!
So come and see us at one of our two gyms, and don’t let this week get to you. Make it a week to remember instead.