Fantastic Four reasons to exercise

From the obvious to things you might not have thought about, exercise can not only help you live longer, but live better!

From the obvious to things you might not have thought about, exercise can not only help you live longer, but live better!

Have you ever thought about all the different ways that exercise can benefit you?
If you’re not currently following an active physical regimen, maybe you will be after reading this Fantastic Four list of reasons to exercise.
From the obvious to things you might not have thought about, exercise can not only help you live longer, but live better!
1. Overall health – Heart disease is one of the top causes of death and regular exercise can help to keep your heart in good shape.
Exercise also can help you to fight off a whole bunch of other health problems.
No matter what you weigh at the moment, starting an exercise program can help you boost high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good,” cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two combination keeps your blood flowing in a healthy manner, which lowers the risk of heart diseases. Regular exercise can also ward off a wide array of health problems such as stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression and some types of cancer
2. Keeps weight in check — Regular exercise coupled with a sensible diet can help prevent excess weight gain or even bring on weight loss. Exercising causes you to burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn.
Some people think they don’t have time to work out, but even exercising three times a week for 30 minutes at a brisk pace doing things like strength training or walking on a treadmill can help your overall health. And exercise doesn’t have to be in a gym — it can be brisk house work, walking, etc.
3. Increases energy — Do you get tired just doing things like going grocery shopping or cleaning the house? Regular exercise can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance.
4. Exercise can be fun — Regular exercise can actually be fun. It gives you a chance to take a break from your daily life, enjoy the gym or outdoors or simply do physical activities that make you happy. Exercise can be a good way to socialize with family or friends.
Remember to consult with a doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you haven’t been active for a long time and-or have chronic health problems.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com