Many people claim their health is of paramount importance to them yet they are unwilling to spend a little money on a health coach or a gym membership or put some effort into a proper exercise program. You may ask yourself "What am I doing right now, today, to ensure my functional fitness for the next 20, 30, 40 or more years?" If the answer is "nothing" or "very little" you are in big trouble.

With virtually every scrap of vigorous activity removed from our modern day lives, appliances to do our housework, machines to perform manual tasks, cars to transport us around, food on the supermarket shelves, we do not have to lift a finger to prosper in our world.

But we have forgotten something ? what about the human body? Hardwired for tens of thousands of years to perform large amounts of vigorous activity or "work" as it was once known. This ability allowed us to survive in the harsh, dangerous, physical world that for our ancestors was reality.

Nothing has changed for our bodies, they are still programmed to need the stimulation of chemical messengers triggered by intense physical effort to deliver instructions to every single cell in our bodies to repair and replace themselves. You see the physical movement tells the system that this body is needed to hunt and feed and look after a family.

If there is not enough movement to deliver these signals the system is programmed to go into shut down mode to make room for others that need the resources available. This is true efficiency and is what has allowed the human race to prosper. This shut down mode involves accelerated aging and a greater disease risk as the protection of good health has dwindled away.

If we continue to send the right signals to the cells they will stay strong and will repair and replace themselves for as long as the body is being told strength, endurance, stamina, leanness, vitality and health is needed.

You cannot expect to be healthy by being doctor and drug reliant ? a pill for your blood pressure, a pill for your cholesterol, and a pill for your blood sugar. Come on, this is not health care. You wouldn't need medication if you were healthy. Don't believe that your health insurance will keep you healthy either ? it only pays for disease care. Isn't that a little late to be called "health care?"

Everything in life is moving in a direction - either it is getting better or it is getting worse. How is your health now as compared to five years ago and what is it likely to be like five years from now? If it is important to you there is one thing you should be doing and that is a proper exercise program that contains strength training exercise.

This is the only type of exercise that will keep your muscles, bones, joints, heart, immune system and every cell in your body strong and healthy. Forget the low intensity cardio type exercise like walking, swimming, cycling etc. These activities are recreational and are a great addition to an active lifestyle but do not replace a proper exercise program.

Having to take some responsibility for your own health and well-being is a bit inconvenient but consider this. How inconvenient would it be to get a life threatening, life shattering medical diagnosis? How tiresome would it be to have to find time for doctors, tests, specialists, hospitals, surgeons? How much emotional stress, aggravation, frustration, fear and worry would this situation cause you?

Wouldn't it make so much more sense to simply do what your body needs to stay healthy and spend 2-3 hours per week on the right exercise program? If you agree with this make sure you get a fitness professional to set this program up to teach you correct exercise technique, intensity, duration and frequency. Your program should also be monitored and changed frequently.

Achieving and having health throughout your life is possible and easier than you think but it does involve being willing to work on it. Think of this commitment as a gift to those that love you, as they would want you to be around for a very long time.