Get moving – Your health depends on it says ER24
World Move for Health Day in May encourages people to take responsibility for their wellbeing.
People are encouraged to participate in physical activities and eat healthy to reduce the risk of health-related issues.
While some find it easy to stay fit, others struggle.
Saul Behrmann, ER24 Joburg North Branch Manager who keeps fit by living an active lifestyle, said the key to being healthy is to have fun while doing so and not to rush the process.
Behrmann, who loves living an active lifestyle, does at least 45 to 60 minutes of cardio per day and trains at least five days a week. He has been participating in the Jeep Warrior “Elite Black Ops” obstacle races for about two years. Behrmann has completed eight races thus far.
“I love the fact that the race is outdoors in nature. It involves trail running combined with extreme obstacles. The race tests both physical and mental strength and the will to push through and complete the race,” he said. Behrmann generally finishes in the top 17 out of 100 participants in his category.
His advice to people is get someone to join in their healthy choices. “This makes the healthy lifestyle easier and enjoyable. By not doing any form of exercise, you put your general health at risk. If people live unhealthy lifestyles it could lead to severe illness and possibly result in death. Illnesses include diabetes, hypertension, congestive cardiac failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It usually starts with gaining some extra kilogrammes and then the unhealthy lifestyle compacts on previously acquired illnesses and diseases. This unhealthy lifestyle makes it a lot more difficult for the body to get better and healthy easily,” he said.
Behrmann, who has been a paramedic for the past 12 years, said he treats patients on a daily basis who could have changed their medical outcomes by adjusting their lifestyles and eating habits. “A lifestyle adjustment could potentially change deadly illnesses into controllable situations,” he said.
Diet
Behrmann said there is a misconception that sudden dieting and excluding certain things will make a person healthy. “The saying ‘slow and steady wins the race’ is definitely a suitable saying when it comes to dieting. The key is to eat healthy and gradually cut out the unhealthy foods. You should not hate that you have to eat healthy. You should enjoy eating healthy. Everything in moderation is what I always say,” he said.
So how do you kick-start your journey to a healthy lifestyle without taking on extreme exercises that you are not in the mood for or without bursting your bank account? Behrmann offers the following advice:
A cheap way to keep fit is to take the stairs instead of the lifts at work. Park a bit further when parking at a shopping mall. If safe to do so take a 30 to 45 minute walk/jog around your area. Join the park runs in your area. It is fun and done by like-minded people.
In the comfort of your own home Google “own body weight exercises”. General housework and cleaning is a simple way to pick up your heart rate.
A light walk or jog around the neighbourhood, sweeping the patio and mowing the lawn are guaranteed to raise your heart rate. Anything that exerts the body and allows you to break a sweat.
Most people become more motivated if they do things that are group focused. If you are around people who are looking for the same results then you may be more inclined to exercise. Do things that you will enjoy doing. The moment you do not enjoy it you will start finding ways not to do it.
ER24’s Emergency Contact Centre can be reached 24 hours a day on 084 124.
Issued by:
Chitra Bodasing
ER24 spokesperson
Also view:
Physical Fitness and Road Safety
Running /Jogging and Road Safety
