In my 81 years of life, not a single doctor ever told me to exercise. OK they throw it in with bunch of other common good health habits, but never ever told me exercise is more important than any food, any vitamins, any food supplements, any prescription drugs, etc.
I was a basket of health problems in mid-50’s. High blood pressure, border line diabetic, panic attacks in closed shopping malls, fainting spells in mornings, hip joint pain, knee join pain, gall bladder attacks, chest pains after eating a good steak meal, on and on.
As soon as I became eligible for early retirement, I jumped on it with lifetime health insurance at same cost as employees. Joined a cheap private golf club in Washougal, WA named Orchard Hills golf and country club, and began playing 5 rounds of 9 holes every week. As my stamina improved, worked up to 5 rounds of 18 every week. That is roughly 30 miles of walking on a hilly golf course, pulling my golf cart. Not only I lost excess weight, my stamina and energy was better.
In 2 short years of golf, every one of my maladies disappeared! How does knee and hip joint get better by walking 30 miles every week? I dare not ask that to my doctor LOL.
That’s an awesome story and shows how basic activity like walking and doing some links on the golf course can have major impact.
A great example for us all!