Take a few minutes to think about your health care costs. How much did you spend at the doctor and pharmacy last year? How many sick days did you have to take off work? These are the obvious costs, but don’t forget the sneaky costs. For example, did you miss out on hiking with your children or grandchildren because your knee or back hurt too much? Or maybe you had to hire someone to rake your yard or clean the leaves off your roof because you can’t do it any more.
Health care is about more than just money. It is about the impact poor health can have on your quality of life everyday and that is priceless.
There are some things we all know we should do, like eat more vegetables and fewer desserts. We should have health insurance and long term care insurance to protect ourselves from disaster. And we should get more exercise. But did you know good choices can also reduce the cost of your health care?
Improving your health can make a big financial difference. Regular exercise has been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes (along with many other problems). It also reduces the cost of your life and health insurance. And when you add in the improved mobility and overall health provided by exercise, you will find that you save money on doctor visits, sick days and missed opportunities.
You don’t have to be a marathon runner or bench press your body weight. You just have to move more, to start. The two biggest challenges people have when starting a workout program are 1) the knowledge to do things in a safe and effective manner 2) actually following through with the program on a consistent basis. It has been proven time and time again that those who work with a qualified fitness professional are much more likely to reach their goals and stick with their program than those attempting to do it on their own.
So, in order to receive all the financial and “priceless” benefits discussed above, investing in a qualified fitness professional may be one of the best investments you could ever make for yourself. Great fitness professionals will work with you to develop a safe exercise plan, ensure you follow through with that plan, motivate you along the way, which will all lead to a longer and more enjoyable life. And they cost less than poor health in more ways than one!
