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Exercise: Benefits Beyond Weight Loss

By Allen Wright
Dec 23, 2008
Exercise is good for you no matter what you do, but working at the right intensity can get you faster results. Exercises that lengthen muscles may be particularly beneficial for older people and some people with chronic health problems. Exercise not only increases longevity, but it also helps us feel better now. Exercise also bolsters your immune system. Studies show that moderate exercisers get 20 to 30 percent fewer colds than non-exercisers do. Exercise helps prevent heart disease and many other health problems.

Weight-bearing exercise is important for building strong bones. Weight loss and increased muscle tone can boost self-esteem. Weight bearing exercise also helps improve balance and muscle strength. - Furthermore, clinical trials have shown that physical activity may reduce blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive (having normal blood pressure) individuals, independent of changes in weight. We all need a little help when it comes to losing weight.

Spot reduction is a myth that exercise and training a particular body part will preferentially shed the fat on that part; for example, that doing sit-ups is the most direct way to reduce subcutaneous belly fat. If you're training for an endurance event like a marathon, when you might run 60 miles or more per week, you'll almost always see a decrease in your muscle mass. People who are out of shape or elderly should start aerobic training gradually. Stretching and weight training can also strengthen your body and improve your fitness level. Vary training and alternate easy and harder workouts.

Fat is hard to burn off because your cave person body thinks it may need the fat for a famine. Most of the energy derived from fat gets to the muscle through the bloodstream and reduces stored fat in the entire body, from the last place where fat was deposited. While ab exercises won't spot reduce fat from the belly, strong abs are important for keeping your body healthy and protecting your spine. People who don't get conditioning exercises end up storing much more of what they eat as fat than people who work out often.

Exercise is critical for strong muscles and bones. Exercises specifically targeted to strengthen the back can be beneficial in improving posture, and may even reduce kyphosis (hunchback) in people with osteoporosis. The idea is to gradually increase the length of your exercise sessions and their intensity. Exercise generates a considerable amount of heat - enough to make you feel like it's 30 degrees warmer than it really is. Exercise benefits health by reducing fat, stress and depression.
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