The Gym: Stage 1
Even if you're not ready to begin a fitness program today, you can start thinking about what being physically active could mean by reviewing this information.
When you complete the activities in this stage, continue on to the next. Or return to The New You any time to work on this or another health area.
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Think About It...
Physical fitness helps prevent disease as well as anxiety. An active life can also help you sleep better and feel good about yourself. Other reasons to add exercise to your life include:
- Weight control - physical activity increases your metabolism and helps you burn calories more efficiently
- Better physique - exercise helps build muscle and tone your body
- Blood sugar balance - the risk for diabetes declines with physical activity
- Cancer check - exercise can help prevent colon and breast cancers
- More energy - being fit helps you convert food and oxygen efficiently, so you have more fuel for daily activities
- Cholesterol count - exercise increases high density lipoproteins (HDLs), the substance that helps clear cholesterol out of your blood
- Handle on hypertension - blood pressure goes down with exercise
- Bone benefit - weight-bearing exercise helps prevent the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis
- Heart health - your heart pumps better with physical activity
- Longer life - studies show fitness is linked to longevity
- Less stress - regular exercise can lower tension and ward off depression.
If you're not ready to become physically active now, you're not alone. Fewer than 20% of people trying to make a change are ready to take action at a given moment - it takes time. But you can move a step closer by simply thinking about becoming more active.
Continue to Stage 2>
