CEBU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY

PE 103
MOVEMENT ENHANCEMENT

REFLECTION PAPER

Submitted By:
Shemaiah Hannah F. Peras
BSTM - T1
Tuesday 3:00-5:00 PM

Submitted To:
Mrs. Marcelyn C. Paras
(PE Teacher)
 Another Look at "Exercise is Medicine"

Summary

Obesity rates have skyrocketed for over the past 20 years. The condition has been
referred by the American Medical Association as a disease that requires treatment and
prevention. To combat this disease, Exercise is Medicine sponsored by the American
College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has been established. The aim of this program is to
make physical activity and exercise a standard part of a global disease prevention and
treatment medical paradigm. To combat obesity, the ACSM plans to spread awareness
regarding the medical qualities of physical activities.

Exercise is Medicine promotes using exercise as a tool to achieve health and fitness
ends. The goal of this initiative is not to become passionate about a activity but rather to
use these activities solely to lose weight and lower blood pressure. In order to achieve a
healthy life- taking a medicine, as it were- makes a rational sense.

Exercise is Medicine does help to shed light on the problem of obesity and
demonstrates the extent to which physical activities can help combat this so-called
disease. The ACSM campaign holds promise through its concerted effort, yet the
philosophical promise behind the exercise is medicine mantra is troubling. The
possibilities of sports and physical activity for experiencing meaning, delight, and
challenge extend far beyond merely taking our exercise as medicine.

According to R. Scott Kretchmar and Henry David Thoreau, it is not only something
we do but who we are. In changing one's sedentary lifestyle, one should not only focus
on the abundant research data on health benefits or reasons why we should take a
medicine as exercise but also on the impact it can have on one's quality of life. People
should approach their pursuits not only because of the product and rewards, but also
because of a deep sustained level of meaning. Physical activities should be presented as
an exciting proposition rather than as medicine to be forced to take.
 Another Look at "Exercise is Medicine"

Reflection

For us to reduce the risk of diseases, we must avoid sedentary lifestyle and start a
healthy one. We must learn how to take care of our health since no one is going to take
care of it for us.

Exercise is Medicine is a very promising program that has been established. It

demonstrates the extent to which physical activity can help combat diseases. However,
just like Kretchmar and Thoreau, we believed that exercise or doing physical activities
should not only be for the sole purpose of getting the fitness end. Exercise should not
only be for the sole purpose of treating a disease like obesity. We do believe that doing
exercise no matter how intensive it may be or not should be part not only to our daily
routines but also to us a person.

In doing a physical activity or sports, we developed a sense of purpose and sense of

meaning. Based on our experiences, playing basketball or volleyball and doing swimming,
kayaking, and even riding a bike has brought us delight and challenge. The activities that
we did has nothing in it akin to taking exercise, as it is called, as the sick take medicine
at stated hours but is itself the enterprise and adventure of the day when it happened. We
found meaning in the activity itself and not merely in the tangible results.

Doing physical activities or sports sometimes does not appeal us. Being a student,
having a lot of activities done in school and being mentally and physically drained, all we
wanted when we got home is to rest or sleep. There were also times that procrastination
wins. However, these occasions often remind us why we need to do exercise or physical
activity. We place these feelings in the context of something larger.

We persevere through temporary discomfort because we realized that doing so enables

us to achieve health goals. It is also because of the challenge and personal meaning of
the activity provides.
 To be healthy, we must do physical activities and observe a healthy diet. Aside from
that, although we are at the peak of our life being young and active, we must not forget
that doing vices may bring us diseases later in life. Our health is our own responsibility. If
we want to live a long life, we must take precautions and do the best thing that should be
done.
JOPERD (JANUARY 2014)

Submitted By:

Shemaiah Hannah F. Peras