Positive Health Behaviours In Australia

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An individual’s state of wellness is dependent on the type of health behaviours in which they engage in. These health behaviours can be either beneficial or detrimental to an individual’s health depending on numerous unique factors. In contemporary society, serious health problems are increasing due to the execution of negative health behaviours in which are unfavourable to an individual’s health. Thus, the execution of positive health behaviours such as regular physical activity can be immensely beneficial to an individual’s optimal health and, ultimately, their wellness. In particular, regular cycling is a positive health behaviour that can help reduce the risk of serious physical health problems such as obesity and cardiovascular disease and also mental health problems such as depression. Additionally, an individual’s knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards regular physical activity as well as environmental and socioeconomic factors are all elements in which also influence an individual’s ability and willingness to engage in regular cycling. Optimal well-being and quality of life are influenced by each person’s unique characteristics and is thus very subjective. The keys to optimal health and wellness are dependent on an individual’s ability and willingness to focus on distinctive strengths and accommodate weaknesses. Health and wellness are multidimensional. The dimensions of health and wellness include emotional-mental, intellectual, social, spiritual, and physical (Shannon, 2015). Physical activity is a component of health in which I have participated in since a young age. I would consider physical activity to be a personal strength as it is a behaviour I’m very passionate about. When I first began engaging in physical activity, I was oblivious to the health benefits that it imposed on me as an individual; it was purely recreational. Despite still perceiving physical activity as recreational, I am now attentive to the positive aspects that it imposes such as the health benefits. In present-day, cycling is a specific health behaviour in which I engage in on a daily basis and also participate competitively in at a national level. As a result, the training that is executed is very objective. The intensity of each ride fluctuates from day to day although generally no less than an hour ride each day. This, of course, is with the exception of occasional rest days where the body is given the opportunity to recover after a heavy workload. Each cycling workout has a specific aim, whether it be targeting strength or endurance, to collectively enhance my individual fitness over a prolonged duration. The fitness in which has been accumulated from engaging in objective cycling on a daily basis has been found to be very beneficial to my health. In particular, cycling has been found to be very beneficial to both my physical and mental health. This is as cycling imposes numerous health benefits that contribute to my overall health. Cycling, in general, is an exercise which is low impact but simultaneously uses all of the major muscle groups. I have found that by regularly participating in cycling over a prolonged duration has improved my stamina, strength and aerobic fitness. This is because when I cycling I tend to breathe deeper, perspire and experience increased body temperature. Thus, cycling is predominately an aerobic exercise as it collectively utilises the heart, blood vessels and lungs ("Cycling - health benefits", 2013). Additionally, studies have demonstrated that there is a clear positive relationship between cycling and cardiorespiratory fitness (Oja et al., 2011). Regular cycling imposes many health benefits such as increased cardiovascular fitness, increased muscle strength and flexibility, decreased stress levels and …show more content…
As I live in a developed area, there is convenient access to safe bike paths which encourages me to cycle. This is because having designated bike paths creates a sense of safety for me. Education is an additional factor which I believe has encouraged me to regularly engage in physical activity as it has me informed of health behaviours of particular lifestyle behaviours ("4835.0.55.001 - Physical Activity in Australia: A Snapshot, 2007-08", 2016).
My positive attitude towards healthy lifestyle behaviours is another factor that I have observed to influence my willingness to engage in regular cycling. Being aware of the risks associated with an inactive lifestyle has motivated me to make positive choices that contribute to my overall health beneficially. This is moderately a function of the level of knowledge, attitudes and beliefs which I have in relation to health risks ("Determinants: keys to prevention",

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