We're lazy. It's official. We're not only eating too much, but we don't do exercise any more. Apparently six out of ten Britons would not be motivated to do more exercise even if their lives depended on it. Blimey, just how did it get to the point that we'd rather die than go for a jog?
The obvious reason for our decline in exercising is that we don't need to. We've got cars to get around, and washing machines and dishwashers to do our manual labour. Sweating just isn't necessary. But for women, the problem is even worse. Research suggests that girls are much less physically active than boys from a very early age. And from then on, it's down hill (up hill is too much work, obviously).
Despite the fact that exercising is the route to getting the buff body we're so often told we have to have, we don't do much of it. We've all read the 'handy tip' of getting off the bus a stop early or taking the stairs rather than the lift to up our exercise quota, but does anyone actually do it?
Speaking for myself, the answer is no. The reason? Vanity. Or more specifically: sweating. When I worked in a nearby town, I could have cycled to work, at three miles, it was easily doable. But no, without fail, I took the car. Why? Cycling would have ruined my hair, messed up my makeup, and left me sweaty and smelly. Which, in effect, means I was putting my appearance above my health.
Exercise isn't pretty. You go red in the face, you sweat and you make unappealing faces. Our society is so focused on looking good that girls are actually embarrassed to exercise. In general, exercising just isn't something girls do. Boys play football, girls gossip, paint their nails and look at the boys. And that sticks. Women do not meet up for kick arounds, even gym-going together is rare. We meet up for coffee, drinks or other sitting down activities.
So what's the answer? I don't have it, but the news from the British Heart Foundation that one person dying is every 15 minutes as a result of physical inactivity makes me think we should find one quick.
Charlotte Howells edits Nollie and Kiss and Makeup. Being obsessed with extreme sports sure helps increase your exercise quota, but cosmetics? Not so much.
