" 7 invisible ways exercise improves your life"

7 invisible ways exercise improves your life
By Jessica Cassity, upwave.com
Updated 1:09 PM ET, Wed April 16, 2014

We all know exercise benefits your body, but it also benefits you in ways you can't see.  Glance around the gym, and you'll probably see lots of people who are exercising in an attempt to shed pounds, tone muscle and look better.
But numerous research studies have uncovered many other benefits to working out -- ones that aren't necessarily visible from the outside.

Here, some of the awesome ways exercise can benefit your mind, body and soul:


It zaps anxiety.
Ever notice that you can start a workout feeling stressed and anxious, and end it feeling good? It isn't in your head.
Or, actually, it is: According to a new study from Princeton University, exercise appears to change the chemistry of the brain by causing the release of GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps quiet brain activity and minimize anxiety. The study found that people who ran regularly had a low reaction to stressful situations, even if they hadn't run in more than 24 hours.

It boosts immunity.
Regular exercise can reduce your risk of certain serious health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. It can also decrease your chances of developing -- and getting stuck with -- more common illnesses, such as flus and colds. (According to one recent study, colds lasted 43% longer for people who exercised once a week or less.)

upwave: Boost your immunity in 5 days
It brings on better sleep. If you're having sleep problems, skip the pills and hit the pool, track or spin studio. According to one study, people who exercised regularly for about 10 weeks reported sleeping better than they had previously.
What exactly does "better" mean? In this case, it translated to dozing off faster and having a decreased need for sleep-promoting medication.

Full article here

Exercise reflections and the desire to change

Loving and respecting oneself is not just about looking pretty.  It even isn't about being pretty.  It is about working on the inner person as well as the outer person.  How does it relate to exercise? Well, I have a set goal in mind.  It has been that struggle reveals one's character.  I admit that I have not exercised in a while.  This blog it isn't about reflections of exercise, but I admit that I need to make this blog a more traditional one.  I need to change my title and my goals as well.  This isn't a traditional blog, I know.  I would like for it to contain more traditional content.  How does this relate to character?  Like this forum, there are changes that I need to make.  I need to be more honest about myself and also, how I view exercise in general.  Exercise in general, should be about fulfilling the inner person for exercise provides many benefits internally as well as externally.  Beauty does come from within.  I realize that it is difficult to apply to oneself, but it is true.  I have become self-conscious because of how I felt about myself on the outside and the inside.  With exercise, I feel more confident, more free, and more relaxed.  Physically, I become more fit, but as a person, I do become more fit.  Now having written all of that, I think it is time for me to put it in practice.

Taking a break.

Taking a break.

Why is Exercise Important?

Why is Exercise Important?
by Armand Tecco, M.Ed
Healthdiscovery.net


If you don't exercise, your muscles will become flabby and weak. Your heart and lungs won't function efficiently. And your joints will be stiff and easily injured. Inactivity is as much of a health risk as smoking!

Helps Prevent Diseases
Our bodies were meant to move -- they actually crave exercise. Regular exercise is necessary for physical fitness and good health. It reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases. It can improve your appearance and delay the aging process.

Improves Stamina
When you exercise, your body uses energy to keep going. Aerobic exercise involves continuous and rhythmic physical motion, such as walking and bicycling. It improves your stamina by training your body to become more efficient and use less energy for the same amount of work. As your conditioning level improves, your heart rate and breathing rate return to resting levels much sooner from strenuous activity.

Strengthens and Tones
Exercising with weights and other forms of resistance training develops your muscles, bones and ligaments for increased strength and endurance. Your posture can be improved, and your muscles become more firm and toned. You not only feel better, but you look better, too!

Enhances Flexibility
Stretching exercises are also important for good posture. They keep your body limber so that you can bend, reach and twist. Improving your flexibility through exercise reduces the chance of injury and improves balance and coordination. If you have stiff, tense areas, such as the upper back or neck, performing specific stretches can help "loosen" those muscles, helping you feel more relaxed.

Controls Weight
Exercise is also a key to weight control because it burns calories. If you burn off more calories than you take in, you lose weight. It's as simple as that.

Health discovery article

Exercise and Music-from Homework Assignment

Exercise and music
Exercise and music are what make the world go around; at least for me it does.  I feel so much better. I still have a long way to go.  My thoughts have lessened for the most part.  I am so happy and more content.  If only I have dieted and exercised before.  I realized that I want, need, and desire to lose weight, but for me and no one else.  I want to prove the naysayers wrong and myself right.  I am okay and I will continue to be okay.  Like I said (okay to paraphrase), exercise and music have made MY world go 'round.  I am so happy and no longer irritated for now.

Today's reflection 6/20/16

Exercises include lifting weights and walking qualify as exercises.  But does shopping?  I went shopping earlier this morning and I have wondered if one can burn calories by doing something as mundane as walking.  I have been on websites that may not consider pushing a cart an exercise, but I felt like I have burned a few calories today.  My weight loss has been of great importance for me. Low and slow are the ways to go.

Today's reflection

I am too worn out.  I have to prove myself right.  I can do it.  I will do it.  I have done so so far. There are things that I have to overcome like getting lazy and not getting up to exercise.  Fifteen minutes of exercise per day is a good start.  I don't want to stop.  It is in my head.  Now if I can just do it, then I know that despite the slow and steadiness, I will grow closer to my goal.