'Exercised' Explains Why It Can Be Hard To Commit To Working Out — And Why We Should

'Exercised' Explains Why It Can Be Hard To Commit To Working Out — And Why We Should Enlarge this image toggle caption Pantheon Pantheon How many steps do you walk each day? In a riveting book published Tuesday, Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do is Healthy and Rewarding, Harvard University evolutionary biologist Daniel E. Lieberman cites the step data to make a point. Sponsor Message Exercise can be understood as "discretionary, planned physical activity for the sake of physical improvement." Sponsor Message An irresistible aspect of Exercised is Lieberman's firm stance that no shame or stigma be attached to those who find it challenging to sustain an exercise program: "So if, as you read these words, you are seated in a chair or lounging in bed and feeling guilty about your indolence, take solace in knowing that your current state of physical inactivity is an ancient, fundamental strategy to allocate scarce energy sensibly." Sponsor Message To integrate exercise into our lives in sustained fun ways is a goal we should all have, Lieberman says, though he appropriately explains that certain disabilities may make this difficult or impossible.