Though many people think of exercise as a way to lose weight, there are dozens of benefits to being physically active on a regular basis.  Cardiovascular training will strengthen your heart and lungs as well as burn fat and calories.  Resistance training will strengthen your muscles, increase bone density, improve your posture and increase your metabolism.  Regular exercise has been shown to reduce heart disease, osteoporosis and certain cancers.  But exercising regularly does more than just make your body fit-there are mental and emotional benefits as well.  Weight lifting can increase self-confidence; regular exercise can reduce stress and even alleviate depression.  And if you find a fitness activity that you really enjoy – like belly dancing, trampolining, or roller-blading, you have so much fun that you don’t even notice that you’re exercising!

Here are a few other benefits to being physically active:

Immunity – Your body’s immune system is more powerful than any medication you can take.  Keeping your body healthy and balanced is a great way to keep your immune system at its best.

Finding your Healthiest Weight – Regular fitness helps you maintain a healthy ratio of fat to muscle.  As muscle is the prime determinant of your metabolic rate, the more muscle you have, the higher your metabolic rate, and more likely your weight will fall at the low end of your set point (healthy weight) range.

Preventing Heart Disease- Cardiovascular training will strengthen your heart muscle, and increase your heart’s endurance.  It may also reduce your risk of heart attacks, as it raises your body’s HDL (good) cholesterol, and it may also reduce high blood pressure and lower your resting heart rate.

Osteoporosis-Weight bearing exercise, such as walking and resistance training is an effective way to protect against the loss of bone density.  When you force your bones to carry more weight on a regular basis, they respond by retaining more of the minerals that keep them sturdy and strong protecting you from the degenerative disease of osteoporosis that causes your bones to weaken and become more porous.

Injury Prevention – When muscles are deconditioned, tight, or out of balance with opposing muscle groups, the risk of injury is greatly increased.  A weak back is more likely to become injured even during simple tasks like carrying groceries.  By increasing your muscles’ strength and range of motion, you decrease your risk of becoming injured.

More Benefits of Fitness:

• Increased energy
• Better Sleep
• Improved mood
• Improved Self Esteem
• Great stress relief

Jay Raymundo

Certified Personal Trainer

NRG Fitness Inc.