Rethinking Exercise for Lasting Health Habits

As January rolls around, many again take up the difficult challenge of motivating themselves to make healthier lifestyle choices. However, without addressing the foundations of these decisions, failure can become an unfortunate reality. Building life-long habits requires patience, realistic expectations, and community. That’s what Clinical Exercise Physiologist Allister McNabb tells his clients. McNabb works at the Wellness Institute in Winnipeg, a medical fitness facility attached to Seven Oaks Hospital. Through his work with a wide range of clients, he has seen firsthand how misconceptions about fitness can derail progress. He explained that fitness is often marketed as a “get-thin-quick” solution, leading people to believe dramatic results should happen almost immediately. When they don’t, people can become discouraged. Rather than focusing solely on appearance, McNabb encourages people to consider the broader benefits of exercise, including mental health, mobility, and daily function.