In our last blog, we made the point that diet is 80% of weight loss effectiveness, and exercise is only 20%. We prescribe phentermine for most of our patients. It lowers your appetite and gives most patients an energy boost. So phentermine can help with both mechanisms of weight loss. Come see us if you think it might help you.
But exercise not only helps with weight loss and weight maintenance – it has tons of health benefits.
A 2012 study by the NIH showed that exercise can extend your life by about 3.5 years if you get the recommended amount (2.5 hours per week of moderate exercise). And even if you only get half the recommended exercise, you’ll live nearly two years longer. Those who got twice the recommended exercise lived 4.2 years longer than sedentary people. So the more you exercise, the more benefit for your longevity. And you don’t have to knock yourself out to get decent results.
Longer life is great, but what about quality of life? What does the research say about that? Research shows that regular exercise can prevent completely or delay the onset of 35 chronic disease conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obesity, many cancers, polycystic ovarian disease, depression and anxiety, bone fractures/falls, erectile dysfunction, and many more.
If you can prevent or delay these conditions, you will feel better and spend a lot less time as you age in the doctor’s office, hospital, pharmacy, and on those ridiculously long phone calls with your health insurance company. Plus, you’ll save many thousands of dollars that you can use for fun things for you and your family.
The research also shows that if you, say, had to have your appendix out, if you’re a healthier, fitter patient you are going to have way fewer complications afterwards and a shorter hospital stay.
This January is time to make some New Year’s Resolutions. I encourage you to make regular exercise your top resolution! Come see us at Cordova Medical Clinic if you need help getting started.