Exercise In Your Life

Probably the most important lifetime habit is active exercise. Body parts need to be used to work well. By adding a few minutes of exercise to your day you can add years to your life.

Without exercise the muscles tend to get flabby. The bones become brittle. The heart muscle becomes soft. The weakened heart muscle is less able to respond to the needs of stressful situations. The body cells cannot use oxygen as efficiently. The reflexes decay and falls and accidents become more likely as we get older.

Exercise is the key to many health risk factors. It helps weight control, decreases cholesterol, lowers pulse and blood pressure, helps counter stress, and helps prevent depression. It increases physical reserve, improves stamina during the work day, and promotes personal confidence.

Your exercise program should be pleasurable, and almost all people obtain a deep satisfaction from their exercise program once it becomes a regular habit. It is the initial undertaking and perseverance that is difficult. Many people use the excuse “I don’t have enough time.” Exercise is the one activity you can do that will add time to your day. It increases your stamina and the amount of years you are on this planet.

Exercise should be regular, a least four times a week. It is recommended that you focus on aerobic exercise so that it conditions the heart and the oxygen utilization mechanisms. This means steady exercise for at least fifteen minutes that is sufficient to raise your heart rate and break a sweet.

When first beginning an exercise program it is important to remember to start gradually. This allows your body to prepare for the next level of activity. Be gentle in the beginning, increasing your activity slowly as you feel the ability and the desire. If the exercise you are doing causes discmfort, you are progressing too rapidly.

If you are going to be your own health advocate, you need to exercise. The exercise that you chose to do doesn’t really matter. Many people enjoy jogging, but it doesn’t have any particular advantage over any other types of exercise. Some sports such as basketball and soccer can give a great aerobic workout. You particular choice is much less important than choosing an activity that gives you pleasure. It is important to pick something you feel you can stick to for a long period of time/ Schedule the activity into your routine, just like brushing your teeth every day.