What’s The Point of Working Out?

There’s a difference between how long you live (lifespan) and how well you live (healthspan).

The International Health, Racquet, and Sports Club Association’s (IHRSA) survey of its members revealed that the number one reason women exercised was weight control and for men it was to increase muscle tone. But, they failed to share the average age of the survey respondents.

The majority of health club members are under the age of 34 and positive health is not a major concern for the younger age brackets. It’s an improved or maintained body image that this group is seeking.

A major concern of people over the age of forty though is improving or keeping their health. And, based on research from the Centers for Disease Control, I understand why. The average lifespan US citizen is 76 years and the last 12 of those years are spent in ill health. That’s nearly 71,000 of your wakeful hours filled with disease and / or disability and most of these problems are derived from your lifestyle.

The goal of “working out” is not to increase just your lifespan. It’s to increase your healthspan.