How to defend your fitness during lockdown
Why maintaining even some fitness routine is important (First published on: Maverick Life/Daily Maverick: 28 April 2020) The benefits of exercise are well-known: it builds immunity as well as improves our general sense of well-being by reducing anxiety. And even during lockdown, it’s worth trying to keep working out. But what effect could a drop in our fitness regime have on the overall goals we had achieved? Research suggests that exercise is not only associated with overall physical health but also improves mental health. In the USA a Lancet survey conducted between 2011 and 2015 among 2.1 million individuals over 18 years, found that those who did moderate exercise three to five time per week were 43.2% less likely to suffer from anxiety and depression compared to those who did not exercise. Professor Ross Tucker a Cape Town-based sport scientist, recently spoke about the benefits of detraining or diminished training during lockdown in an online prese...