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What is exercise?
Many people walk from
their desk to the fax
machine a few times a
day, and qualify that as
their weekly exercise
routine. Some do ten
or fifteen sit-ups a
couple of days a week
and feel that they have
done enough. Still
others, wanting to
lose weight, only
stick to a diet. They
think that simply
cutting back on calories
is sufficient enough
without exercise.
While all of these
things are good, they
are not enough to keep
the body healthy.
Exercise is about
much more than simply
losing weight or
getting into good shape.
Studies have shown that
a healthy amount of
exercise daily or
weekly can actually help
prevent heart diseases
and certain types of
cancer, such as colon
and breast cancer. It
also decreases your
chances of getting a
stroke or diabetes.
Other serious diseases
and disorders such as
bone and joint disorders
can also be prevented by
an exercise routine.
Regular exercise
also helps to prevent
premature death, giving
you a long and healthy
life.
While the benefits of
exercise that are
previously mentioned are
good, a lot of people
prefer to see noticeable
benefits as a motivation
to help them keep going
with a regular routine.
Obviously exercise
helps the body lose
weight, but there
are some other benefits
that are noticeable soon
after you start
exercising. Some of
these benefits include a
higher amount of energy
and stamina throughout
the day, leaner, toned
muscles and more mental
alertness. It will also
greatly improve your
sleep. Many people these
days complain that they
are not getting enough
sleep, or that they
cannot fall asleep at
night. Exercise
is guaranteed to bring
the sandman as soon as
your head hits that
pillow!
Depression, chemical
imbalances, and mood
swings are more
prevalent today as well.
Could it be a
coincidence that these
things are occurring as
more and more people
aren’t getting enough
exercise? Studies show
that it is not a
coincidence! Exercise
will greatly improve
your mood and your
general attitude about
yourself, causing your
self-esteem to improve
as well. Still not
convinced? Consider this
fact: Sometimes people
find that nothing gives
them quite the same
feeling as a really good
piece of decadent
chocolate. Well, get
ready for this:
Exercise actually
releases the same
endorphins in your brain
that come from eating
chocolate! If that isn’t
incentive enough to get
off of the couch and
start working out, then
I don’t know what is!
When planning your
exercise routine, be
careful not to overdo
it. Extremes are never
good in any situation,
and the same goes for
exercise. The belief
that the more you push
your body the faster
you’ll be in shape is
definitely not true.
Your body needs time to
adjust to your workout.
It is much healthier and
safer to start off slow,
and gradually build up
from there. Remember, it
doesn’t matter how much
you do; it is
consistency that is
important.
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