It’s well known that arthritis pain is reduced thanks to exercise. And the same goes for that pain in your back. It’s more often caused by sitting hunched over a computer (though sucking in the gut does help) than by doing squats and cardio. In fact, in third world countries where the majority of the population is not sedentary and doesn’t spend the majority of their time at a desk or behind a steering wheel, low back pain is almost non-existent. So get moving.

Even if it causes you some discomfort at first. Another alternative to exercise that I’ve yet to mention is weight gain. As we age, our metabolism slows down, so even if you eat the same amount you did when you were younger, you may still gain weight. It may start as a few pounds a year, but it quickly adds up. So your clothes won’t fit, your heart has to work harder, your blood pressure rises as does your chance for Type 2 Diabetes, your joints begin to hurt more because of the extra weight. Getting out of chair gets harder and harder, even fitting in behind the steering wheel is tighter and tighter. Need I say more?

So while exercising may not be your favorite way to spend your time, consider the alternative next time you want to skip a workout and settle in as a couch potato. Soon you may look like one.

MissFit, aka Eve Hartman, is a National Academy of Sports Medicine certified personal trainer who gladly makes house calls. For more information, contact her at 914-588-0591 or at TeamMissFit.com.