Exercise?
But I’m happy the way I am. I feel pretty good already. I have
good genes. I don’t know where to start. I don’t have time. I don’t like to
sweat. OK, I admit, I’m lazy (the real reason most of us don't
exercise).
There are many reasons why we don’t exercise, but why should we?
The evidence is overwhelming. Of all the choices we can make to stay
healthy, the decision to exercise regularly may be the most important. An estimated
250,000 deaths each year occur due to lack of regular physical activity.
A Finnish study of about 8,000 sets of twins found that those who
walked or jogged for just 30 minutes six or more times a month had a 43 percent lower risk
of death than sedentary people.
Consider these reasons to exercise:
Exercise reduces the risk of obesity.
55 percent of American adults need to lose weight. The American Heart Association placed
obesity in the same coronary risk-factor class as smoking, high cholesterol, and high
blood pressure. Obese individuals are also at higher risk for cancers of the uterus,
kidney, colon, breast, and gallbladder.
Exercise, more so than diet, is the key to
health and longevity. This, according to a survey that followed nearly 22,000 men over an
average eight-year period. The study, recently published in the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition, found that men who were fit but obese had a lower death rate than
those who were unfit but lean. Mortality rates also showed little difference between fit,
obese men and fit, lean men. Instead of asking obese patients to diet, the
study suggests, it would be better to encourage them to improve fitness by going for three
10-minute walks a day.
Fitness, not weight, is what is really important in health. And that's good news because
most people have more control over exercise than they do over their weight, which has a
strong genetic component.
Exercise and diet are of equal importance, but if there's only one thing a patient can do,
it's
better they opt for exercise, because good exercise habits are usually maintained. Diets
are
not.
Exercise can prevent heart disease and stroke. The heart becomes stronger,
blood pressure drops, HDL (good) cholesterol increases, LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides decrease. The risk
for heart attack may drop 20% in regular exercisers.
Exercise boosts our immune system, which
means fewer infections.
- Exercise combats osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercises (walking,
resistance training, etc.) builds bone density, while couch sitting causes bone breakdown.
- Exercise helps prevent back pain. The increased flexibility, balance,
and tone promote a good defense against back injuries and provide for faster healing.
- Exercise releases and relieves stress. Regular physical activity allows
us to manage our life stressors more effectively.
- Exercise improves our self-esteem. With improving fitness begin to look
and feel better.
- Exercise helps us manage our blood pressure.The three most important,
non-drug, methods of lowering blood pressure include sodium restriction, weight control
and regular aerobic exercise.
- Exercise improves our mood. By releasing natural endorphins our bodies
benefit by having more energy and less susceptibility to depression.
- Exercise may also help ward off Alzheimer's disease. In one study,
comprising a group of 370 people, those who did not have Alzheimer's had engaged in
significantly more exercise during their lifetimes than people with the disease.
- Exercise helps us sleep better. As sleep quality improves with
fitness we feel more rested with less sleep. This "buys" us some of the time
needed for exercise. Pretty good bargain, eh?
- Exercise improves our digestion.
- Exercise helps us manage our blood sugars. Exercise helps to prevent
the occurrence of type 2 diabetes and, in those who are already diabetic, some are able to
decrease or stop medicines altogether with regular exercise.
- Exercise improves our circulation. Fitness may improve skin complexion
through the improvement in circulation.
- Exercise can be fun and relaxing! Keep it fun and you are more likely
to stick with it!
Nike is right...Just Do It!
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