Exercise - why bother?

There are hundreds of theories out there in relation to what exercise you should be doing to burn the most fat or to get the leanest legs or 'ripped' abs! I have one very simple philosophy, you have to do what works for you, what you enjoy and what gives you the best results. This might not be having the gorgeous body you dream of but exercise that makes you feel good inside. There have been some programmes on TV of late that have implied you don't need to exercise, this makes me MAD!!! Of course you do and the benefits are numerous.

How many of us look at the benefits of getting active other that losing weight or toning up? Well, here are a few important facts for you that most of us look over.
Regular activity halves your risk of getting heart disease.
Regular activity reduces your risk of having a stroke.
Regular activity lowers your blood pressure.
Regular activity reduces your chance of developing diabetes.

A study at Harvard university on 17,000 people found that those people who walked 5-10 miles a week had a 25% lower risk of heart disease compared to inactive people,

Cancer Research UK estimate excess weight causes up to 12,000 cases of cancer each year.

Strength and toning exercises performed three times per week helps to prevent age related loss of muscle that occurs after the age of 30. Most people lose between 2.3kg and 3.2kg of their muscle every decade and this means a drop in your metabolic rate and daily calorie burn.

Activity strengthens your heart muscle which allows it to pump blood more efficiently around your body with each heartbeat.

Activity increases your lung capacity so you can breathe in more oxygen with each breath.

Activity helps to keep your blood vessels clog free which helps to keep blood cholesterol and blood pressure in check.

Keeping active helps you to live longer. In 2003/2004 287,206 people died from diseases associated with a lack of exercise, 35,000 were directly attributable to physical inactivity.

Stretching exercises relieve stiffness, improve your range of movement and increase your flexibility.

Weight bearing exercises such as walking, running and dancing (to name a few) slows down bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis.

Regular activity is fantastic for reducing stress, anxiety and depression. Exercise helps you to relax more easily and feel better about yourself. Exercise releases endorphins that uplift your mood. The Mental Health Foundation advises that regular moderate exercise can treat mild to moderate depression as effectively as drugs.

All activities improve your posture, balance, strength, suppleness and mobility. Exercise makes you aware of body movement .

Regular activity makes you feel more energetic. You will be able to cope better with your daily routine and have energy to spare.

ENERGY - THE MORE YOU SPEND - THE MORE YOU HAVE!