Why I Exercise?

I know that exercise is not the whole deal. I know I need to eat better as well. Nutrition is an ongoing battle for me, though, one that I'm determined to win. Sorry, I've been away a couple of days. I spent time with my sister and swam both days. I was exhausted when I got home.
Why should I or anyone exercise? Today, I happen to come across one of my old Shape Magazines. Shape does have good articles, although, they do promote diet drugs a little too much for my taste. But I came across this article about why should we exercise. The title is "Lace Up for a Better Life" and it's by Selena Yeager. She talks about not only the visible results but the inner results of exercising. The hot body can only go so far, I'd rather have the results from the inside out. So here are the reasons why exercise can better yours and my life.
1. More Exercise means fewer sick days at work: If you work out at least 30 minutes a day, you tend to catch fewer colds. Exercise prompts more white blood cells to circulate in your body and kills the disease carrying invaders according to a study in the American Journal of Medicine. I am actually getting fewer colds since I exercise more. Exercise also lowers estrogen levels which helps lower the risk of breast cancer.
2. Exercise helps you get better and more sleep: This, I am a firm believer in. Before I started doing any exercise, I would have a hard time sleeping at night and be very tired during the day. I was getting to where I had to have a nap along with my four year old son (he was two and three at the time). I like to exercise during the evening so I can blow off steam and it helps me relax and unwind.
3. You'll be a social butterfly: Although, I don't get to do this very much anymore, but I do love taking group fitness classes along with my P90X. My favorite is zumba. I plan on starting an exercise group to workout to P90X and other fitness programs.
4. Pick up the weights and you'll love your thighs: I, myself, love doing weight workouts. It helps me feel stronger. I can now see biceps in my arms and legs are smaller. Weight works. I need a structured program with weights though, I can't just go and lift weights. I find that P90X works with that. I know what is next and how many reps. to do. I love it.
5. Exercise helps improve your memory: I do find that I am able to remember stuff better when I exercise. I do get forgetful, though, when I'm tired and stressed. Exercise helps me deal with the stress, therefore, I'm able to focus more.
6. Exercise will make you happier: Before I started exercising regularly, I was not a very happy person. Partially, it was because I wasn't happy with myself and the way I looked. I now find that if I skip a workout, I become very cranky. I recently, have skipped a couple of days and had a meltdown on my husband over something really, really stupid. I find that if I don't exercise, I get really depressed.
7. Stress Won't Mess With You: I still have a lot of work to do on dealing with stress, but I do find that since I exercise more regularly, I deal with stress better. It doesn't get to me as much. That is because I have something to focus on and there for a little while, I can leave that stressful situation behind me. I wish my husband would do that. He bottles up everything inside. I'm worried that he's doing more harm to himself by doing that sort of thing. He doesn't have a release. ( I hope he reads this)
8. Kicking Bad Habits Will Be Easy: This one still requires work. I have found that exercise does reduce the cravings for a soda (which is my number one bad habit). I find that I really don't want to undo my hard work. I just don't want it. I actually crave water after an exercise session. I still cave in sometimes but I have cut way back on it. I'm more focused on my body and what it wants instead of what my head wants.
There are more reasons but that is all I'm going to focus on. I really love this article and I find that I'm getting a lot of the benefits this article says. This article was taken from Shape Magazine the October 2009 edition. I am finding that my old magazines are very useful. I used to get them for the success stories. One of these days I am going to be a success story. Well, I'm tired, so I'm gonna say goodnight all. :)