I was once challenged to say what I do for a living without saying what I do for a living.

I responded, “I tell people what they don’t want to hear, but need to hear.” Sound about right?

And although the initial focus of my coaching is about diet and nutrition, the questions I usually ask go way beyond, “What are your typical meals and what supplements do you take?”

Because the next most important variable in someone’s level of health after their diet is their lifestyle habits.

And you probably know what I’m getting at. REGULAR EXERCISE.

Like it or not, it’s an undeniable fact that if you want any chance of a long, disease-free life and to maintain a healthy bodyweight, you must engage in some form of exercise.

There is no “magic pill” that will negate the need to move your body, so stop getting sucked into the fancy ads for the latest gimmicks.

Now, when it comes to exercise, motivation is the key! And there’s no motivator in the world like RESULTS!

Here’s what I mean:

The amazing benefits of regular exercise

Most people know that exercise burns calories and that means excess weight comes off (and stays off!).

But that's just the tip of the iceberg!

Here are 8 other reasons to get moving:

1- Heart health

Not only does exercise help improve your circulation, but it also strengthens all your muscles, including your most important one--your heart.

It can also help lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol and prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Sounds a lot better to me than taking dangerous statins or hypertension meds.

2- Joint pain relief

The stronger the muscles are around your joints, the more pressure they take off the joints—which is great news for anyone with joint pain and stiffness, arthritis or fibromyalgia.

In fact, in a Tufts University study, arthritis patients who did strength-training exercises reported a 43 percent decrease in pain!

So if you're taking pain relievers on a regular basis, you could feel a whole lot better if you just get moving. 

Plus your stomach and liver will thank you very much because they pay the price from the pain drugs.

3- Squeaky clean innards

Your lymphatic system is your body’s "inner vacuum," designed to filter out and eliminate waste from around your cells.

One of the ways it “dumps out your inner trash” is through your sweat.

So if you don't like to sweat and use that as your reason not to exercise, you are likely harboring a whole lot of cell waste and garbage inside of you. (This can take the form of some nasty BO, by the way.)

4- Depression relief

Exercise encourages the release of feel-good neurotransmitters and endorphins in your body.

They're Nature's antidepressants and they have absolutely NO side effects!

5- Combat stress

Exercise is by far the #1 most effective stress-reliever in existence.

Stress is an underlying factor in most sickness and disease because it hampers your immune system functioning and causes elevated cortisol levels.

6- Gut health

Two studies out of Finland have shown that doing endurance exercise three times per week can help improve your gut health!

The researchers observed both a decrease in proteobacteria (gut bacteria that cause inflammation) and an increase in friendly bacteria called Akkermansia, which is associated with a stronger metabolism!

Your gut houses 80 percent of your immune system, so when it’s in good health, it supports strong immune function and disease prevention.

7- Better sleep

By strengthening circadian rhythms, regular exercise can help keep you more bright-eyed and alert during the day and bring on better quality sleep at night. 

And of course, you’ll be avoiding the dangerous side effects of sleep drugs!

8- More energy

Although exercise requires energy, it also creates energy!

Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your cells and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. When you have strong heart and lung function, you have more energy!

So now what do I do?

Now that you appreciate what exercise can do for you, you may be overwhelmed and not know where to start.

First of all, it’s important to get your doctor’s OK, especially if the couch has been your buddy for a while.

Then here are 4 tips to help ensure your success:

1) Improve your digestion 

Many people say they lack energy to exercise, but what they don't realize is that their energy level is affected by how good (or bad) their digestion is.

The best ways to promote tip-top digestion are to eat meals that your body can easily break down and make sure you have the enzymes for the job.

Keep your meals simple—pair proteins OR starches (not both together) with vegetables and healthy fats (like real butter and olive oil). This will give your body a variety of essential nutrients while at the same time making your stomach’s job easier and paving the way for better digestion.

Having enough enzymes is crucial too.

Unfortunately, people who have a poor diet history may have diminished their body’s ability to produce adequate enzymes for digestion because their system has been overstressed trying to break down highly processed foods for so long.

Plus people who are over 50 or have had gastric or gallbladder surgery are also behind the 8-ball.

If you suspect you have an enzyme issue, Digestizol Max can give your body the help it needs.

Digestizol Max’s complete blend of 15 enzymes helps your body tackle whatever you’ve eaten and encourages smooth, efficient digestion.

2) Boost your energy

Vitamin B12 is a crucial player in your metabolism that generates your body's energy from fats and carbohydrates.

Unfortunately, it's also an extremely common deficiency--especially with vegetarians, people who use antacids, people who have had gastric surgery, and the elderly. And when you’re low in B12, trust me, you’ll be dragging.

To ensure that you have enough of this vital nutrient, a vitamin B supplement like Hydroxaden 2.5 is just what you need.

Hydroxaden 2.5 is a convenient vitamin B spray that gives you the 2.5 mg of B12 suggested by many health experts, plus vitamins B2, B3 and B6. Just five sprays under your tongue each day is all it takes.

3) Start smart

One of the most common reasons people quit an exercise routine is they go gung-ho in the beginning, get hurt, then stop.

Start slowly and build up gradually.

I’m a perfect example here. At this point I’ve run three full marathons, but I didn’t run 26.2 miles right out of the gate.

I started by walking on my treadmill in the morning before work. Eventually I incorporated some jogging, and then it just built up from there. 

And though I’m a 4th degree master blackbelt in karate, I switched to mixed martial arts two years ago to expand my skills and challenge my body, and I’m now a brown belt in that art.

Oh and by the way, I’ll be 62 in August!

It’s never too late, my friend. 

4) Make it fun

Here are some proven ways to make exercise more fun:

• Get a buddy. You're more likely to stick with exercise if you have someone else counting on you to show up. Even the dog can be your buddy—take him/her for a brisk walk every day.
• Join a fitness class. You’ll meet people in the same boat as you and make new friends.
• Multi-task. If you love TV, watch your shows while you're on the treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical.
• Seek the advice of a personal trainer. They can suggest activities for you that work with whatever physical limitations you may have.
• Blast your favorite music. My favorites while on the treadmill are Tom Petty, Rod Stewart, the Rolling Stones and CCR. 

Open up YOUR whole new world

Once you begin moving your body, a whole new world can open up for you... where you can feel (and look) better than you have in YEARS!

Don't settle for a sickly, overweight, and medicated existence, when there is so much you can do to turn that around. 

Start now. 

To your health, 
Sherry Brescia