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Top Ten Reasons You Should Exercise
1. Weight Loss and Management: Regular exercise
along with diet modification is the single most effective way to
lose and maintain weight. If enough calories are not expended through
exercise, over a period of time one will gain weight. Exercise helps
to burn calories and is the only way to reduce weight despite the
false promises made by manufacturers of "magic weight-loss
pills".
2. Lower Rate of Disease: People who follow a
healthy lifestyle including a regular exercise program have a
lower rate of disease than people who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
Weight gain and an inactive lifestyle over a period of time can
lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, certain
cancers and other health problems. Just beginning an exercise
program which includes strength training and cardiovascular exercise
3 to 5 times a week can lower the rate of these diseases.
3. Improves Conditions such as Arthritis, Diabetes, and
Cardiovascular Disease: Exercise has an "
insulin-like" effect in the body and may reduce the need for
diabetes medication. Exercise also helps to maintain body weight
which is an important factor for those living with diabetes. Asian
Indians living in the United States have a higher rate of
cardiovascular disease because of their unhealthy diet and sedentary
lifestyles. Studies have shown that regular physical activity may
play a role in managing blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Exercise also is beneficial to those living with arthritis as it can
improve flexibility of their joints and muscle tone.
4. Stress: Our life is full of stress; whether
it's getting married, having a child, looking for a new job,
or wondering if you should eat that extra samosa since you've
already had three. One way to relieve that stress is to move around
and sweat! Whether it's biking, hiking, running or dancing, exercise
is one of the best ways of providing relief for stress.
5. Depression: Most of us have at some time in
our lives felt the blues. Exercise is one of the best ways to combat
depression. Exercise increases your energy, lifts your spirits and
just makes you feel good. Exercise induced endorphins cause a
euphoric state, thus, improving mood and alleviating depression.
6. Improves Muscle Tone, Strength and Stamina:
Those who do not participate in a strength training workout at least
twice a week will lose up to half a pound of muscle mass every year
after the age of 25. This means that over the years, simple tasks
such as picking up keys off the floor, carrying groceries and
climbing up the stairs will be performed with more difficulty as
muscles become weaker. Those not performing cardiovascular type
exercises will have decreased stamina over time and will easily
get out-of-breath when moving around.
Lowers Risk of Osteoporosis: Women are more
likely than men to develop osteoporosis. Besides taking adequate
dietary calcium, performing weight bearing exercises is the single
most effective way to prevent getting osteoporosis. Yet, we Asian
women tend to shy away from lifting weights. A weight training
program over time will not only prevent you from developing
osteoporosis but will also improve bone density in those with
osteoporosis.
8. Better Sleep: Now who doesn't want that?
Exercise induces fatigue and promotes the quality of sleep. Those
who exercise regularly also have less trouble falling asleep and
suffer less from insomnia.
9. Improves Immune System: Research shows that
long-term, moderate amounts of exercise boosts immunity and
significantly increases natural killer cell activity, the immune
system's first line of defense against viral infections. Those who
exercise regularly and on a long-term basis report getting fewer
colds and illnesses than their sedentary peers.
10. Improves Overall Quality of Life: With
reduced chances of suffering disease, better sleep, improved immune
system, increased energy and self-esteem, better muscle tone,
increase in strength and stamina, less stress, controlled weight
and increased longevity…is there anything else better than
exercise to improve the quality of your life?
DISCLAIMER: The material provided in this article is
for information only and not to be substituted for medical advice.
Please contact your health care provider for any medical or health
related concerns. Always consult your physician before starting any
exercise program.
Aarti Patel is certified by the American Council on
Exercise (ACE) as a Personal Trainer and Lifestyle and Weight
Management Consultant. |
