You may find the idea of exercising on a regular basis as completely unappealing. You have got to know by now, everything you’ve read, everything you’ve heard on TV, even your health care providers are telling you to exercise to lose weight and stay fit.

Study after study shows exercise to have huge benefits. Not is it only good for the body but it’s also good for your mind and spirit.

Earlier this month I wrote a post about why you should exercise. Since tht short time I’ve found a few more reasons why it’s so important for you.

My favorite is exercise boosts brain power, well into your later years. There are thought that it may even help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and a few other mental disorders. It’s no mystery how this happens. Exercise improves the way you transport oxygen to the brain. Increased levels of oxygen carrying blood cells in the brain increase you abiity to focus, to think, and to be alert. There have been studies, in fact, about the importance of physical activity and mental ability.

Exercise also improves your sex life. If you think about exercise to boost your blood flow because of the improvement of oxygen uptake it makes sense then that the ability to increase and control penile blood flow also increases.

Exercise can helps to prevent back problems
Certain exercises such as resistance work, yoga, Pilates and swimming all help to develop strong spinal muscles. This not only improves posture but it also means that you have less risk of developing temporary or chronic back problems.

You can eat more calories when you exercise.
I have a friend who jogs 6 miles 7 days a week so she can eat her half packet of M & Ms and not worry about gaining weight. Most of us should think of exercise as helping us NOT to GAIN weight. However, people who train for marathons and compete in major physical programs such as rowing or rock climbing will need to consume extra calories just to maintain their weight.

People who exercise regularly have fewer colds.
That is important to know during the winter cold season . I’m sure I mentioned it before but exercise does boost the immune system. People who exercise have a higher concentration of white blood cells than non-exercisers. White blood cells help to combat flue, colds and other airborne viruses.

Exercise is an important part of my life. When I’m on deadline and stressed I sometimes take a 20 minute fast walk in the neighborhood. That seems to clear my head and I’m able to get more done following the walk. Scheuling time for exercise isn’t easy but I will do it because it keeps me flexible and it makes me feel like I have some control over my body shape.

What about you. Do you exercise regularly?  What are your reasons for exercising? Anything like mine? Let’s put our own list together for exercising and see if we can arrive at a few unique reasons of our own.

To your healthy aging

Ruthan

Ruthan Brodsky
Health & Business Writer
http://ruthanbrodsky.com
http://fromretirementtocareerchange.com

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Filed under: Fitness and Nutrition

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