Fitness first: Not just obesity, top 4 signs you need more exercise

New Delhi: Your 20s are the best years of life: It’s that time when you need to strengthen your fitness foundation, as it could lay the groundwork for future years to mitigate your risk of metabolic disorders, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, for example. name a few. And when it comes to overall health, exercising regularly is one of the most important parameters that sets the stage for physical and mental health at the same time.

Experts recommend starting exercise as soon as possible and synchronizing it with a balanced diet and other healthy habits to ensure longevity and a disease-free life. This helps prevent long-term muscle loss and also speeds up metabolism, thus preventing weight gain. However, sometimes people who exercise regularly don’t realize if they are getting enough exercise or not. Although obesity could be a marker, there are other signs that indicate the need for more exercise.

Take a look at the top 4 red flags that say “you need more exercise.”

1. You cannot perform a push-up: Pushups are an upper body exercise that measures physical strength. The number of reps one can perform is a parameter of upper body strength; it also requires core and muscular strength. However, if you can’t perform a single pushup, it’s a telltale sign that your body needs more strength training and weightlifting in the routine. To start, practice planks and dumbbell bench presses to strengthen your pushing muscles.
2. Your body fat percentage is high: Excess body fat is linked to a number of health problems ranging from obesity to metabolic disorders. Harvard Health Publishing says that carrying too much body fat also indicates a risk of high cholesterol levels, a parameter that can define the risk of heart disease. Ideally, a 15 percent lower body fat percentage is considered normal for men; and for women, the healthy range is between 20 and 24 percent.
3. You can’t run a mile without stopping: Physical fitness can also be determined by endurance, and a popular fitness test is a mile run. This is a great way to measure aerobic fitness levels. Even if you’re not a runner, covering a mile without stopping establishes a decent aerobic base for everyone. However, if you can’t do it, experts suggest trying to build cardiovascular strength by running a shorter distance at first, developing proper form and a steady pace, and then building up over time.
4. You are always low on energy: Lethargy and chronic fatigue are parameters that define how healthy you are. However, if you feel exhausted and low on energy at all times, it is an important indicator to start exercising more and combine it with a healthy diet. In a work-from-home era when people spend most of their time sitting in one place, feeling low on energy is common. Therefore, experts recommend trying to incorporate a balanced exercise regimen to feel more energized throughout the day.

Disclaimer: The tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or dietitian before beginning any fitness program or making changes to your diet.