Exercise

Physical activity can boost mental as well as physical wellbeing and change your outlook on life.  It could even prevent problems starting. It can lift your mood, help you deal with negative emotions like anger and bring you a general sense of mental wellbeing.

Self-image

**At the time of writing this article, Tom Venuto from Burn The Fat is including a special bonus report on Self Image Secrets if you buy his Burn The Fat program.  He covers the hidden reason why we sabotage our diet and fitness programs…just when the going gets good..and what you should do about it.  I particularly like his comments on page 12 where he really strikes home with the fact that everyone has been created equal and that we all deserve to have the body of our dreams despite what our ‘inner voice’ may tell us.  You can see the details of the Burn The Fat program by clicking here.

Studies have shown that people feel better about themselves once they start an exercise program.  Changes to body shape as you begin to lose weight and feel your muscle tone getting better improve your self image, which can boost mental wellbeing.

Exercise help you to see just what you’re capable of, giving you a sense of achievement.  learning a new skill or achieving a goal, however minor, boosts self-esteem and motivation.

Some of the other Benefits of Exercise

♥     Exercise prevents heart disease!

The average ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) is about 4.5.  If this ratio doubles or reaches 7, you double your chances of developing coronary heart disease.  You reduce that risk by as much as 50% if your ratio is 3 or lower.

The lowdown on cholesterol:  not all cholesterol is bad.  You have the good one (HDL-1 and HDL-2), the not so bad one (VLDL) and the harmful one (LDL).  To get your ratios, divide the total amount of your cholesterol by your amount of HDL.  The lower the ratio you have, the better.

♥     Exercise prevents osteoporosis!

Ponder the statistics:  28 million Americans have osteoporosis and of this number, 80% are women.  Only ¼ of this 80% know they have the condition and only half are being treated.  The annual osteoporosis bill to the United States is $14 billion.

Studies have shown that sufficient amounts of calcium and regular exercise build strong bones.  While genetics play a major role in developing the risks of osteoporosis, individuals can control some factors that will help prevent the problem.

Peak bone mass is attained in your 20’s.  Starting an exercise program while still young, even if you live in the fast lane, will help you avoid this bone disease.

♥     Exercise prevents diabetes!

People are still debating how much exercise an individual needs, but for people with type 2 diabetes, exercising three or more times a week improves fitness and blood sugar levels.  If you have type 2 diabetes and are overweight, exercise done with the following parameters would be of tremendous benefit: intensity of 60%-70% maximal heart rate, with duration of 30 or more minutes, 4-7 days each week.

The above benefits are only a few of the many advantages that an exercise/fitness regimen will provide.

There have been hundreds of documented reports that reveal how people’s lives have significantly improved and the remarkable transformation that their bodies experience after they made the decision to take ownership of their weight and fat problems.

Take a look at the section on Fitness for some great exercise ideas to help you get in shape and stay in shape!

To your good health,

Karen