For the purpose of this write up,
an able body means one which is physically capable of exercising, an injury
free body.
Those who exercise regularly
experience injuries at some point or the other. Minor injuries could be in the
form of a muscle pull, muscle tear, ligament damage etc. and major injuries
could be like a dislocation of the bone or fractures etc. Any injury, minor or
major renders one incapable of exercising with the same force that one
otherwise would. It may also make one
incapable of undertaking an exercise routine one likes under normal
circumstances. Unfortunately, injuries are unavoidable and are a part and
parcel of one’s regime. My personal experience is that when I get injured, I
feel I am missing an important routine in my life and really look forward to
recovering as quickly as possible. Although not avoidable, injuries can best be
minimized but not eliminated. Whether one exercises or not, one’s body may not
be 100% able at all times.
Due to the modern lifestyle that
we live in, the capacity of our body to withstand wear and tear is going down
and you are prone to health issues at a young age. For example, if you are
sitting on a computer for long periods, you stand the chance of cervical
problems. Diabetes, hypertension are perils of the modern age. A sedentary
lifestyle causes many issues from dietary habits have also changed radically
and the capacity of our body to endure physical strains has reduced considerably.
Its common to see people with health issues at a young age witnessed earlier at
an older age, due to our modern lifestyle.
One needs to understand that the
capacity of the human body to remain fit, participate fully in a physical
activity is getting lesser. This bracket is getting smaller and smaller . We
are not living in a world where we are able to believe that our body would be
100% fit at all times, particularly for exercising. Also, its possible that an
injury might make one incapable of a particular exercise and if one is not able
to do what one likes, that could be frustrating. I know many friends who are not able, for
example to do weight training at a young age due to back issues, some are not
able to run due to knee problems. All this makes them unfit for many exercises even
though they might be interested. Some of them are also cannot to do hard and
regular workouts due to less endurance levels.
Bearing this in mind, it makes
sense to make the best use of time on hand and while the body is capable,
leverage it to extend its life a bit more. While you may be obese or skinny or
not exercising at all, if your body is ‘fit’, that is the best thing to happen
to you right now. What this means is that you can choose the type of workout
you want and do it at your own pace and will. This is by all means a luxury
which you may want to enjoy while you can. While many of us have time issues,
priority issues, one forgets the fact that you may not have the same body forever.
You may find time at a later point in time but your body may not be able to
support your aspirations.
Forget new year resolutions, they
are passe’, the mantra is carpe diem.
