Exercise Benefits and Tips

Why should I exercise regularly?

1. Countless health benefits:
   1. Good for your heart
   2. Prevents osteoporosis
   3. Lowers High Blood Pressure
   4. Prevents Colds
   5. Reduces the severity of asthma (just start a lot smaller than other people and increase a lot slower too!)
   6. Reduces diabetic complications
   7. Promotes a healthy pregnancy
   8. Plays a role in preventing cancer
   9. Promotes brain health
   10. Helps prevent strokes
   11. Helps manage arthritis
   12. Helps prevent back pain
2. To loose weight
3. To de-stress
4. Has anti-ageing effects
5. Improves sleeping patterns
6. Good for the mind and soul (combats depression)
7. Improves oxygen and nutrient supply to all cells in your body.
8. Improves muscle strength, joint structure and joint function
9. Boosts energy levels
10. It can improve your physical relationship with your spouse (see how well I kept this PG13?)

(Sources: http://www.health24.com/fitness/Getting_started/16-474,31214.asp, http://www.nutristrategy.com/health.htm, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676 )

What is the right exercise for you?

You can do a great quiz over here:

http://just-for-mom.quiz.kaboose.com/27-what-exercise-is-right-for-you

My result was to do outdoor exercises.  So as a thought for myself, running, walking or cycling would be good options for me.  Running and walking cost the least amount of money.  I’m going to focus on running in my life.

What is the best time of day for exercise?

I read this in a magazine a couple of years ago, and I’ll never forget it:

Morning:	Cardio exercises (running, walking, cycling etc.)
Late Morning to Midday:	Co-ordination and balance exercises (Yoga, Dance etc.)
Afternoon:	Team sports
Early Evening:	Strength Training

Tips for sticking to an exercise routine:

1. Get exercise clothes you are proud to wear.
2. Schedule it into your calendar as a non-negotiable appointment with yourself.
3. Start slowly – do less than you feel you are capable of doing for the first few days and build from there.
4. Get your family and friends involved in your fitness.
5. Allow yourself to slow down if you feel you are not coping, but never give up completely.
6. Set goals that you think are just out of your reach.
7. Have fun with it.
8. Make it a routine… remember it takes 30 days to make something a routine.
9. Always exercise on the first day of the week.  If you miss the first day you will miss the rest of the week.
10. Reward yourself regularly

(Sources: http://happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2008/05/11-tips-for-sti/, http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=73, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fitness/HQ01543 )