The importance of exercise for those of us in the in-between years cannot be understated.

Over the years and decades, there have been many, many research studies completed with a focus on identifying something that will delay the onset of Huntington’s Disease symptoms.

Something. Anything.

Scientists have studied food. They’ve studied various medicinal compounds. Different lifestyle factors have been looked into.

So far, the only factor that seems to show some promise in delaying symptom onset in HD, is exercise.

I say “seems to show” because the scientific body of knowledge is still growing, but there may be a correlation here. A lifestyle consisting of regular exercise may delay the onset of Huntington’s Disease related symptoms.

For me, “may delay onset” is good enough. Exercise is something everyone should be doing for improved overall health anyway, so if there’s some added benefit for us in-betweeners, then all the better.

What is exercise anyway?

Exercise is more than just being active. Being active is great, don’t get me wrong, but exercise gets the heart and lungs working. Here’s a good description:

Exercise is a specific form of physical activity – planned, purposeful physical activity performed with the intention of acquiring fitness or other health benefits. Working out at a health club, swimming, cycling, running, and sports, like golf and tennis, are all forms of exercise. (source)

Generally speaking, the conventional wisdom nowadays is to perform about 30 minutes of good aerobic exercise every day, such as running, swimming or going to the gym and weight training, that kind of thing.

Get that heart pumping and those lungs expanding!

Exercise is good for your psychological health

We all know that exercise is good for our physical health, but the benefits to our psychological health, or our overall sense of well-being, is key.

Being active and getting outside if you’re able, can be wonderful for your spirit. It fills your body with Vitamin D and gets that well-oxygenated blood pumping strongly into every nook and cranny.

This fact has been hammered into me at almost every physician visit I’ve have had along my journey through the in-between years, from my Neurologist to my Psychiatrist.

Not everyone loves, or finds enjoyment, with the outdoors. Find what works for you and keep that spirit happy. It will go a long way as you move through the in-between years.

Be a good role model

If there’s one thing I’ve learned since becoming a parent, it’s this:

Those kids are watching and hearing everything you do.

And I mean everything. If you drop the “f-bomb” during breakfast, they’re repeating it during kindergarten share time.

Their brains are little sponges. Everything is being soaked up and filed away as they develop into little people. They are learning how to be people and it’s by watching us that they do this.

That not only goes for “f-bombs”, but also for lifestyle decisions. They watch us to learn what a healthy way of living is. If they grow up seeing us exercise regularly, then they’ll see that as being what’s normal.

Why am I talking about role modeling? What does it have to do with the in-between years?

Our kids will look to us as an example for how someone copes with Huntington’s Disease. Not only HD but chronic disease in general, for that matter.

If they see us giving up and not doing all we can to make the best of what we’ve been given, then they’ll take that message further into their lives. For those of us who have children at risk for Huntington’s Disease themselves, we need to show them what fighting looks like.

We need to show them that we did all we could to fight that cursed disease and did not give up. We need to show them what a true Huntington’s Disease warrior is.

That includes exercise, I’m sorry to break the news to your glutes.