Being physically fit and staying in shape aren’t only going to provide immediate health benefits. There are plenty of perks that come with staying in shape, and many of these perks will help you in the future. Specifically, working fitness into your daily routine will help you in an emergency situation, in several different ways!
Some people believe that by being obese, their body will be able to pull from their fat stores in an emergency. However, your body isn’t the best place to store food. Save yourself from carrying all that extra weight and get some food insurance if you are concerned about having food to eat. There are many negative effects of storing food on your body, instead of keeping it on the shelf. Here are just a few of the horrible side effects of being obese, found on Wikipedia.
- Heart Disease
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Cancer
- Osteoarthritis
If those serious diseases aren’t enough motivation for you to get off the couch, then nothing will motivate you. But just trust in the fact that you won’t want to be this guy if your house floods.
Being too thin can also have a negative effect on your body during a crisis, because you can’t afford to lose any weight. Staying at a healthy weight will provide a big benefit during any sort of disaster. Here are some of the side effects that can come with being underweight.
- Hyperthyroidism
- Cancer
- Tuberculosis
But did you realize that staying in shape and exercising can help underweight individuals as well? By exercising, you will begin to build up your muscle mass, which will boost you up to a healthy weight. Healthy eating is also a factor.
The best option, whether your are overweight or underweight, is to figure out your ideal BMI, and work to achieve your target weight.
During a crisis, you may have this idea that you will just sit in your house all day, sleep a lot, and eat a little of your food storage each day in order to survive. That is a thinking error. Far more likely is the possibility that you are unable to drive for much longer (depending on how full your gas tank is when the catastrophe happens), and must begin using your bike, or your own two feet to get around. Energy will be expended in other ways as well, such as hunting for any food or supplies that you don’t have on hand, or toiling in the sun as you begin to plant a garden.
If you have a family, you don’t want to be a burden on them in an emergency. If you are unable to assist your family with foraging for food, or rebuilding your house, then it is likely that you will feel bad about yourself. Your family may even start to harbor feelings of resentment towards you. This will not help you in your attempts to keep everyone healthy and happy through a crisis.
If your current exercise regimen consists of walking from the couch to the refrigerator to grab a cold soda, then you will have a very rude awakening if you are ever forced to change your routine. Don’t wait until you are in the middle of a crisis to start working out! The benefits greatly outweigh any reservations that you may have. Taking care of your body will allow you to have health benefits now, as well as in the future. The next time you think about going to the gym, or taking a swim, remember that being fit is part of being prepared!