What exactly is the difference between exercising and not exercising in life?

 　　Exercise is a panacea for life.

　　As the saying goes, life lies in movement.

　　Many people, as they grow older, become less aware of the importance of exercise for life. They'll take a taxi if they can, and lie around if they can stay still, rather than run. The

　　consequence of indulging in immediate comfort is that their lives will fall further and further behind others.

　　Because those who exercise and those who don't live two different lives.

　　Those who exercise are healthier

　　. The ability of exercise to strengthen the body is a phrase we've heard since childhood.

　　The biggest difference between those who consistently exercise and those who never exercise lies in their physical fitness, and this gap widens with age.

　　Some people develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a beer belly just past their thirties, becoming breathless after walking only a few steps or a few stairs; while others, nearing a hundred, can still compete on the track.

　　In July 2019, at the USA Track & Field Outdoor Masters Championships, 96-year-old Roy Englert broke the world record for the 5km (95-99 age group) with a time of 42 minutes and 30.23 seconds.

　　Besides the 5000-meter race, this "hardcore senior" also participated in the 800-meter, 1500-meter, and 3000-meter races, setting new world records for his age group in all of them.

　　When the news broke, it truly shocked many people. Most netizens reacted by saying: "Let alone running, I'm not even sure if I can live to 96."

　　Englert's achievements were not accidental; he maintained a consistent exercise routine from his youth until old age. He regularly runs at a gym half a block from his home, at least three times a week, running 3-5 kilometers each time.

　　This intensity is even higher than many young people.

　　Longevity, robust physique, and clear thinking in old age... these are the gifts of time bestowed upon him by years of consistent exercise.

　　A 2006 study in the *Canadian Medical Association Journal* mentioned that as people age, their musculoskeletal system weakens, eventually reaching a critical point where they often lose the ability to live a normal life.

　　This is a natural law that we cannot change. However, regular exercise over the years can help postpone that day as much as possible.

　　To borrow a phrase from Chow Yun-fat: "Start exercising early, and you can have the body of a 40-year-old when you're 80."

　　People who exercise look younger .

　　A few days ago, while waiting for the bus, I overheard a flyer vendor recommending his gym to a woman.

　　The woman probably said something about how exercise is useless, and the vendor replied, "How can exercise be useless? If you stick to it, this year when your friends are 30, you'll be 30; when your friends are 40, you'll be 30; when your friends are 50, you'll still look 30. When you go shopping with your daughter, people will think you're sisters."

　　Although it was a playful compliment, it's not without merit.

　　Think about it: in recent years, those celebrities in the entertainment industry who are called "ageless gods" and "frozen-age goddesses," when asked about their secrets to staying young, invariably mention four words: consistent exercise.

　　Hong Kong actor Adam Cheng exercises for 30 to 40 minutes every day, and at 72, he's still full of energy, dancing continuously for over 10 minutes on stage without even missing a beat.

　　Actor Aaron Kwok has maintained a consistent fitness routine for decades. To improve his stamina, he always makes time for half an hour of jogging, rain or shine, no matter how busy he is.

　　This long-term self-discipline has kept his weight at 63 kg, and his skin and overall appearance are comparable to what he had twenty years ago.

　　Furthermore, there are countless examples of people who have achieved reverse aging through exercise, such as Janine Chang, Alec Su, and Ivy Chen.

　　Even outside the entertainment industry, the youngest-looking friend or family member often has a habit of exercising.

　　As the saying goes, your appearance before thirty is given by your parents, but your appearance after thirty is cultivated through your own efforts.

　　Consistent exercise may not show obvious results in a day or two, but after a month or two, you'll lose weight; after a year or two, your skin will improve; and after ten or twenty years, you'll find yourself far ahead of your sedentary peers.

　　On that day, we will definitely thank our diligent and self-disciplined selves.

　　People who exercise lead a more fulfilling life .

　　There's a question on Zhihu: What has consistent exercise brought you?

　　One respondent shared their experience.

　　This respondent suffers from severe depression. Three years ago, he suffered setbacks in both his career and love life, leading to a prolonged period of negativity.

　　He lived in constant self-doubt, feeling worthless, unloved, and utterly worthless, even contemplating suicide.

　　Later, his friend, unable to bear his despondency, forced him to exercise, giving him something to do.

　　Initially reluctant, he found that after a workout, besides feeling exhausted, his mood inexplicably relaxed, as if all the negative energy bottled up inside had been released through sweat.

　　From then on, exercise became a part of his life.

　　He said that besides the pleasure and excitement of releasing stress, consistent exercise brought him a sense of self-improvement.

　　Exercise is not easy; maintaining it requires not only physical strength but also perseverance and resilience.

　　In the process of consistent exercise, he gradually transformed from laziness to diligence, abandoning more and more bad habits such as procrastination, becoming more positive overall.

　　Simultaneously, the connections he made through exercise expanded his social circle, bringing new opportunities in his life.

　　An ancient Greek proverb says: "The best doctors for mankind are air, sunshine, and exercise." It heals not only the body but also the heart.

　　Exercise may seem like just one thing, but its benefits are multifaceted.

　　In short, it allows us to better enjoy life.

　　A healthy body allows us to appreciate the richness of life, a vibrant spirit helps us seize opportunities, and a positive mindset helps us face future challenges.

　　When we overcome our inertia and make exercise a habit, one day we will reap a better version of ourselves and a life many times more fulfilling than we are now.

　　...

　　(The End)