Top Ten Reasons to Exercise
A Healthy Active Lifestyle Boosts Brain Power, Immune System, Energy
Jul 16, 2009
The many benefits of exercise and healthy living are excellent reasons to get active. Exercise along with balanced nutrition can decrease the risk of illness, disease and injuries. Here are ten reasons to get motivated to get moving.
Your Heart Desires It:
And so does the rest of your body. Exercise helps develop a healthy heart and lungs, increases bone density and strengthens muscles. Vigorous exercise increases your breathing rate, makes you sweat and gets your heart pumping faster. This improves heart function, lowers blood pressure and blood cholesterol and burns excess body fat. Being overweight and out of shape forces the heart to work harder, increasing the risk of heart disease.
Look Great, Feel Better:
Exercise helps your metabolism work much more smoothly and efficiently. This allows your body to flush out toxins and wastes quickly and effectively, giving you radiant health and clear, glowing skin. You'll see the difference after only a few weeks. Exercise also helps you maintain a healthy weight for your body type, tones and firms muscles and increases body strength and endurance.
Beat Bugs, Disease And Injuries:
Regular exercise bolsters your immune system, so you're better prepared to fight off coughs and colds. It is an essential part of preventing diseases such as diabetes and improves chronic conditions such as allergies and asthma. Exercise actually reduces the risk of common injuries such as sprained ankles and wrists because it increases bone density, builds muscle strength, and keeps your joints flexible. This improves movement, making it easier to keep up with the physical demands of daily life. Just be sure to warm up with by stretching before any strenuous exercise.
Chase Away The Blues:
Feeling down? Anxious? Aerobic exercise such as running works on a part of the brain that effects mood by releasing powerful hormones called endorphins. Even a 20 minute run or brisk walk will uplift your mood, calm your nerves and banish the blues. Exercise also relieves PMS, period pain, depression and anxiety. Release frustrations by kicking around a ball or soothe stress with relaxing yoga. Regular exercise will improve your general outlook on life and help you cope with tension and stress in a positive manner.
Energize:
The more active you are, the more energy you'll have for hours afterwards to beat fatigue. You may not feel this right away, but after a few weeks of an active lifestyle, your body will kick into overdrive, speed up your metabolism and you'll have more energy than ever. And you'll sleep better. Regular exercise, particularly running and jogging, has been shown to improve sleep patterns and decrease insomnia.
Boost Your Brain Power:
Your heart becomes more efficient at pumping blood through your body every time you exercise. This delivers more oxygen and nutrients to your brain helping you think more clearly, focus better and be more alert. Regular exercise improves creativity and memory power, and can even keep your brain sharp into old age.
Be Friendly To Your Future Self:
People who exercise regularly live longer, fuller lives. An active lifestyle lowers your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity and cancer. It is never too late or too early to start exercising; heart disease is the number one killer of women in North America. So get moving and improve your health for life: maintain muscle mass, strengthen your bones and joints, and look younger.
Get Motivated:
It takes discipline to set a goal and reach it with patience, dedication and plain hard work. Boost your self esteem as you take charge of your lifestyle choices and meet your exercise goals. With your new-found confidence, strength, and energy gain, you'll be better equipped to meet all your goals.
Socialize And Have Fun:
Beat boredom and add some variety to your day with new activities. Take a walk in your neighborhood or head to the hills for a hike with your friends and family. Take along a friend and learn a new sport such as tennis or racquetball, together. Sign up for a yoga, karate or tai chi class or join a team sport such as hockey or volleyball. Not only will you get moving, you'll enjoy the company of wonderful friends and meet new ones.
And It's Free!
Well, almost. Just head outdoors and enjoy the fresh air while you take a walk, ride a bike or rollerblade. Invest in a pair of good runners that support and protect your feet, but don't spend too much on the rest of your work-out gear. All you need is something loose, breathable and comfortable. Take the opportunity to exercise no matter where you are; take the stairs or walk instead of driving short distances. Stay home and exercise to a yoga or kick boxing DVD. Explore your neighborhood and city. You can enjoy all the physical, mental and emotional benefits of an active, healthy lifestyle with as little as 20 minutes of exercise a day.
