This might seem like an odd question, but it is something that people ask quite a bit.  ”Why should people exercise?”  What is the point!?  Why put your body through all that tough work?  The good news is…if you are asking this question, then you are already moving in the right direction, and you will not be disappointed with the answer.

It is no secret that most people are overweight, especially here in America.  Even children are overweight.  Being overweight mostly happens because of two things, an unhealthy diet and little or no exercise.  There is a reason why diabetes and heart disease is affecting the U.S. like an epidemic, and it is because of those two reasons. Most of us already know that exercising is good for losing weight, and can help you avoid heart disease, but what are some other benefits that exercising has to offer.

Exercising helps…

1. Release stress – Exercise releases endorphins, which makes you body feel good.  It also helps decrease stress hormones like Cortisol.  If you have stressful life, you definitely want to exercise, because stress often leads to weight gain.
2. Sleeping – Exercising can help you sleep better at night, which also helps your body feel better and helps to release stress.  Be aware, sometimes if you workout before you go to bed, it can actually keep awake.
3. Boost your energy – Exercising helps you pump more oxygen into your body, which helps your heart, lungs, blood circulation, and helps pump nutrients into your tissues.
4. Back issues – Not all…but a lot of back pain is caused by people being overweight.  Exercise can help release the load (from you belly) that your back is carrying.
5. Sex life – If none of these other reasons motivate you in wanting to exercise, than this reason should.  Most people complain about a lost flame in their sex lives, exercise can help rekindle that fire.  Exercising helps with longevity and stamina.  Lets be real, what the body goes through during sex can be very exhausting, but if you have a healthy exercise routine, then your body may be more equipped to handle those intimate times.
6. Self-esteem – There is nothing worse than being lazy and having a low self-esteem.  Get active!  Try to find a sport or a hobby that allows you to get outside, you’ll be amazed how better you feel about yourself when you accomplish some personal goals.

Remember, exercising is not just for people who are overweight.  Exercising is for everyone, no matter what your weight is or how old you are.  If you have the mental capacity are physically able to do some type of exercise, than I encourage you to take care of your body.  Believe it or not, exercising can be a lot of fun; you just got to find out what you like to do.  Do not let laziness sneak into your life, because you will regret it later on in your life.