2012

The new year is upon us and one of my many resolutions was to write daily in this blog bringing my readers a plethora of health and fitness information.  Well, we are five days into the 2012 and this is my first post. (sorry folks).

Someone very near and dear to me passed away Tuesday after a tough, long struggle with cancer.  This person was a hero in my eyes.  I am speaking of my cousin Mike who left us at the very young age of 48.  Mike had a real zest for life, doing exactly what it was he wanted to do for himself and his beautiful wife and daughter.  He was so strong thru this battle and always had a smile for everyone.

Mike read this blog from day one and from time to time would give me some personal feedback, which I appreciated so much.  Mike, I know you are an angel looking down upon us all, I love you dearly and will miss you very very much!!!  Your spirit will be here with us forever!!!!!!!!!!!!


Now onto the real business at hand, "health and fitness".  How many of you made a New Year's resolution of eating healthier and exercising?  Did you know this is the #1 resolution in the country?

I am going to list a few important reasons to get off your GLUTES and get moving!!!

1.  Exercising slows the aging process.  Meaning if you exercise regularly (meaning 3 to 5 days a week) age-related disabilities - like arthritis, circulatory problems, muscle atrophy etc.  Any type of exercise that makes you breathe hard has the same effect as running or cycling.

2.  Boosting your metabolism is something everyone should be interested in.  Your metabolism is what burns calories daily.  Doing 45 minutes of vigorous exercise will burn calories up to 14 hours.  (moderate exercise means working hard enought to break a sweat and you're able to talk but not sing) (vigorous exercise means you're breathing hard and you have to pause to catch your breath every few words)

3.  If you want to ease pain move your body.  Muscle stiffness and knots can cause real discomfort.  Moving daily helps to release the tension and lactic acid build up in the muscles.  Just moving 10 minutes a day releases stress (STRESS is not good for our bodies at all!)

4.  People who exercise on a daily basis got less colds.  Why again exercise releases stress, stress causes the immune system to get weakened.  When you work out daily this helps to maintain a healthy immune system, I can go into this scientifically but will spare you.

5.  Bring down blood pressure.  Walking, hiking, cycling, swimming all these things considered exercise will help reduce both the systolic and diastolic pressure.  Exercising helps to build a stronger heart the stronger your heart the more efficient your circulatory system will be.  Meaning the heart will not have to work so hard to pump the blood thru your body as you build up the heart muscle during exercise.

Don't forget the most important muscle in our bodies is our HEART!!!  Keep it healthy by doing something good for it, eating right and doing aerobic exercises to keep it strong!!!

6.  Who wants to have a sharp mind?  Well it has been found that exercising helps to reduce the risk of dementia and will slow the progression of alzheimers.

7.  Easing depression without medication.  Just 30 minutes of exercise will boost the mood in people who suffer with depression.

8.  Lowering your blood fats, short bouts of exercise help lower your triglycerides after you eat a meal.  If you can't commit to 30 minutes a day, then do 10 minutes three times a day.

9.  Making your day to day living easier (who doesn't want that?)  Older people who walk at a moderate pace everyday and did some strength training every week find it easier to get in and out of chairs, up and down stairs, in and out of tubs and carrying groceries.  This is just keeping a healthy function of life.

Now that you have read a few reasons to get that body moving, go on get up and turn on some music and move that BODY!!!!!!