Edwards - Animal Moves: How to move like an animal to get you leaner, fitter, stronger and healthier for life

Theres nothing funnier than the human animal.

- WALT DISNEY

DISCLAIMER

Use caution when beginning a new fitness programme. Not all exercise programmes are suitable for everyone. This book conveys the authors opinions and ideas based on his research as well as each of his experiences with his clients. It has been written and published strictly for informational, and educational purposes only and in no way should be used as a substitute for consultation with fitness or health care professionals. The author is providing you with the information in this work so that you can have the knowledge and can choose, at your risk, to act on that knowledge.

The author is not responsible or liable for any injury sustained as a result of using the material herein. The author urges all readers to be aware of their health status and to consult medical professionals before beginning any health, diet or lifestyle programme.

Thinking of skipping past the introduction?

__________

It may be tempting to head straight to chapter 3 and start moving right away, however you will be missing out on why we should be moving, how much we should be doing and also the critical differences between movement, exercise and physical activity.

1. INTRODUCTION

The most popular day to exercise is tomorrow; the second is next Monday, right? We often feel this way because exercise can be perceived as tedious, unnecessary work and unpleasant. It can be so difficult to feel motivated when surrounded by an environment that encourages us to be sedentary. We may be aware of the health benefits, we know we would feel better afterwards, but why can it feel so awful even thinking about exercise? Let alone doing it!

Although it is my passion to promote living healthier lifestyles and movement being a crucial part of that, I understand why some people hate to exercise. Many people find the process intimidating or are concerned that they do not have the time, money or ability to commit to it. I know because I have been there too!

• Gym attendance that fizzles out after a few weeks, even though you have 11 months of payments remaining on your contract?
• A concern that everyone else at the gym knows precisely what they are doing and you feel like the odd one out?
• The idea that you have to get into shape first to begin exercising?
• Convincing yourself that your 10-minute walk daily is enough movement because you eat a healthy diet?

Well, I want to change the way you feel about exercise. It turned my life around because it made me feel better. I know it can make you feel better too. You do not need an expensive gym membership. You can do it anywhere: such as the back garden, in the living room, or at the local park. You can do it by yourself, with friends, family or colleagueseven the kids. You certainly dont need anything else to begin. So let us move on to defining exercise and movement. Then we will follow with some of the reasons and research as to why it is remarkably beneficial.

WHAT DO WE MEAN?

The terms movement, physical activity, fitness, exercise and training are often used interchangeably, but there are differences.

Movement is the act or process of moving ranging from the ever so slight, such as the involuntary blink of an eye to the most vigorous of voluntary muscle activity like sprinting.

Physical activity is any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscle that results in energy expenditure, which is beyond that of the body at rest; this could include activities such as, walking, gardening and climbing stairs.

Exercise is a subset of physical activity that usually comprises planned, structured and repetitive movement that one engages in for the pursuit of developing or maintaining physical fitness.

Training is exercise performed to satisfy a long-term performance or skill goal, which is planned and structured.

A sedentary lifestyle is a type of lifestyle with little or no physical activity; it can contribute to ill health and many preventable causes of death.