Yes, the pandemic does appear to mercifully be coming to an end. How you spent it will have an impact on how you emerge from it. For many of us, working never stopped, but a lot of movement did. For others, they never got a break from anything, as if their life wasn’t impacted at all. And still others ended up in a horrible financial or mental state from which it will take much time and work to emerge. Everyone, one way or another, has been impacted by the last year in a way we will have to deal with, whether we want to or not.
For me, since I can only speak for me, the last year and the sedentary nature of my jobs – writing, radio host, podcasting – has caused problems I’m only now realizing. I know I’m no unique, so I’ll tell you so you can catch it early too.
I put on some weight during the last year. Not a ton, but more than anyone would like. We didn’t go anywhere or do all that much, which added to the weight gain, and losing weight isn’t really the problem. Or at least the only problem.
My cholesterol is up as is my blood pressure. Both will likely fall back to “good” range with the weight loss, which I’ve started addressing after the diagnosis. At least, that’s what I’m hoping.
Still, I know I’m not the only one. I know how this can sneak up on you – most people don’t weigh themselves regularly, especially when they know the answer already; sitting on your butt all day, or staying inside too much, is really bad for the human body. Get up and move.
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I only discovered the underlying conditions because I was completely stressed out when my daughter spent the night in the emergency room. I felt flush after that, warm in the ears, specifically. Then I had to attend a conference in New York for work. To attend I needed a negative COVID test within 3 days of the event. I’d never had a COVID test before, but went to the clinic for the rapid results so I wouldn’t find out on my way to New York that I have to turn around.
My COVID test was negative, but the exam did turn up some high blood pressure readings. That concerned me. I went back for a more thorough physical and blood work, which added the cholesterol.
We’re all getting older, no one gets naturally healthier with age by not working at it. And after a year of essential house arrest, either by choice of by not having anywhere to go, you probably need a tune up too.
Maybe I’m projecting, I don’t know, but I highly doubt my issues are simply mine.
Get up and get moving. I’m walking 3 miles per day now before I do anything else, before even the kids wake up, after having not walked any miles per day for the last year. It feels good. The blisters didn’t last long, and pushing through them actually felt pretty good. The pain was a reminder of movement, and I wouldn’t be in the position had I not avoided it for a year.
If you’re nervous about going to the doctor for a check-up, I get it. Do it anyway. If you’re in denial of what you already know, thinking it not being “official” will somehow make it not so, it won’t.
You don’t have to run a marathon, just get off your ass. It really is the best treatment for everything. Maybe some medication will help get to your goal faster, but don’t let it be your goal. A lot of health issues can be alleviated by the simple act of movement.
This last year took away a lot of reasons to leave the house, and many of the places to go. Sitting around was almost encouraged by government, mandated even. That had a serious impact on the health and well-being of millions. If you weren’t one of the people motivated into a workout frenzy during the past year, maybe give it a shot now. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the saying goes, and shedding the pounds is even better. Now let’s move.
Derek Hunter is the host of a free daily podcast (subscribe!), host of a daily radio show on WCBM in Maryland, and author of the book, Outrage, INC., which exposes how liberals use fear and hatred to manipulate the masses. Follow him on Twitter at @DerekAHunter.
