I don’t know what the criteria are for determining what is worthy of a “study,” but it’s looking to me like the more National Enquirer-like a subject is, the more likely it will be “studied.”
For example, a recent study found that just thinking about exercise was nearly as effective as actually doing it.
Apparently, researchers observed 2 groups of people for 4 weeks, telling one group to imagine they were exercising, while the other group could daydream as they wished.
After the 4 weeks the exercise dreamers were allegedly physically and mentally stronger.
All I have to do is dream…
Now before you get all excited, expecting that you can just dream your way to fitness, just because a group of people (who may have been more fit than the others to begin with!) showed signs of being stronger after visualizing sit-ups doesn’t negate the need for you to move your behind.
Because exercise is probably the most important thing you can do to help ensure a long, disease-free, slimmer existence!
Here is just a brief summary of the wildly impressive health resume of exercise:
The impressive resume of regular exercise
1- Watch the pounds melt away
This is the most obvious--exercise burns calories and that means losing weight and keeping it off.
2- Happy heart
Exercise helps improve your circulation and strengthens your heart. This can lower your blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.
3- Joint pain? What joint pain?
The stronger the muscles are around your joints, the more pressure they take off those joints and the less arthritis pain you have.
This can also mean needing fewer pain pills or anti-inflammatories, and hence a lower risk of ulcers, gastritis or liver damage too.
4- Squeaky clean innards
Your lymphatic system is your "inner vacuum" that filters out and eliminates the wastes around your cells.
But unlike your blood which is pumped through your body by your heart, there is no "pump" for your lymph...so YOU have to be the pump with regular exercise!
5- More 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!
6- Better sleep
Regular exercise can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep.
7- Better sex
Studies show that exercise can help raise the arousal level in women and help lower the risk of ED in men.
8- Natural antidepressant
Exercise promotes the release of neurotransmitters and endorphins in your body.
They're Nature's antidepressant and they have absolutely NO side effects! Plus the increase in body temperature and release of stress during exercise can have a calming effect on any anxiety you might be suffering from.
Now let’s switch gears and take a look at…
The Excuses!
Now that you've (hopefully) gotten the idea that regular exercise is essential, let's look at the most common excuses not to exercise and how you can overcome them.
1) "I hate to sweat!"
In addition to regulating your body temperature, sweat is also the vehicle for eliminating lots of toxins from your body.
If those toxins instead remain inside of you, that can lead to inflammation, pain, low energy and really bad breath and BO.
So think of it this way--the less you sweat the more you resemble a clogged toilet on the inside (and smell like one too). I hope that’s motivation for you.
2) "I don't have the time."
If you have even watched a TV show or poked around on Facebook this week, you have time to exercise, period.
Note that you can exercise while watching your favorite shows! Just put a TV in front of the treadmill or do some squats, push-ups, sit-ups or free weights in front of your living room TV.
You can also take a walk on your lunch hour at work, take the stairs instead of the elevator or park far away from the entrance at the mall.
It's easy to squeeze in exercise if you use your imagination.
3) "I feel self-conscious at a gym."
Who said you had to exercise at a gym?
There are DVD programs out there for all levels of fitness and activity. Buy one, put it in your player in the privacy of your own home and hit the Play button.
That’s how I started martial arts training, by the way. I did Billy Blanks’ Tae Bo in my living room and was inspired to start karate.
Plus there are reasonably priced pieces of equipment you can use in your house—free weights, a medicine ball, a mini trampoline, kettle balls and resistance bands.
And remember walking around your neighborhood is free (besides the cost of sneakers).
4) "I get bored/It's no fun."
If you get bored with exercise or it feels like drudgery, you need motivation.
Get an exercise buddy. Not only will you talk and laugh the time away, but you'll be far less likely to skip a workout if you have someone relying on you to show up.
Be sure to pick an activity that you actually like. If you detest running, please don't bother trying to run. Walk instead. Or take a dance class if you like to dance. Or do yoga. Just pick something.
5) "I get out of breath while exercising."
This is usually due to conditioning, and the more you strengthen and condition your body, the less winded you will get over time.
Exercise-induced asthma is also an issue for some people. If that is the case for you, then vitamin C supplements can help. Start with 2,000 mg a day and see how you feel.
6) "I get sore muscles."
If you and the couch have been BFFs for a while, you can expect to have sore muscles when you first start exercising. The soreness will subside as your body gets more accustomed to moving.
However, be careful not to go too gung-ho at first and injure yourself. Build up slowly and smartly.
7) "I'm too old/It's too late."
You are NEVER too old and it's NEVER too late to improve your health!
This is a picture of me (in the middle, with 2 of my dearest exercise buddies) after I earned my 4th degree black belt last August at age 55.
Yeah, it’s never too late.
Just be sure to get your doctor's OK, especially if you have health challenges or haven't exercised in a long time.
8) "I have no energy for exercise!"
Lacking energy is most commonly a result of how good (or bad) your digestion is and/or being low in vitamin B12.
Nothing your body does demands more energy than digestion, so if yours is not going along so well, it can be sapping your energy faster than the speed of light.
Plus vitamin B12 is crucial for your body to generate energy from fats and carbs!
Step one to improving your digestion is to eat meals your system can tackle easier.
I will teach you exactly how to do this in the Great Taste No Pain system. It’s simply a matter of pairing foods together in your meals that your stomach can break down more efficiently. When your stomach can carry out its prep work better, that means easier digestion all the way through, fewer digestive problems and MORE ENERGY!
You can also try digestive enzymes like Digestizol Max. Boosting your body’s own enzyme supplies with a complete enzyme formula like Digestizol Max can make a dramatic improvement in your digestion!
This is especially true for people who are over age 50, have had gastric or gallbladder surgery, or have used acid reducers.
And if it’s B12 you may be running low in (and nearly 1 out of 4 of us is), Hydroxaden 2.5 vitamin B12 spray is a quick, convenient way to get what you need.
I always make sure to use Hydroxaden before a workout and I wouldn’t be without it!
It’s time!
It’s time to stop dreaming about exercise and start DOING it! No more excuses.
Please do it. Now. I know you can, and you couldn't do anything nicer for yourself.
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
