Exercise is vital for heath!

“Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.” ~ Plato

The human body was made to move. Our bodies actually need exercise in order to function properly and efficiently. Many of us take our bodies for granted. In today's world there are machines, appliances and technology that can do most of the hard work for us; leaving people today to live a more sedentary lifestyle. This lack of movement in our country is the reason about 28% of our adult population is obese and about 15% of our children are obese. Obesity is not only due to a fact that many people here in the US are over eating and eating food that is not healthy, but it is also due to a lack of activity.

There are many health benefits to living and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I know it seems obvious, but many people are oblivious or ignore the facts, and still chose not to exercise, eat fast food, and go to bed on a full stomach. It is important that we begin to truly understand what it means to live a healthy lifestyle and how we can achieve this lifestyle. Many people think you have to go to the gym for hours on-end, or only eat food that tastes bad, but this couldn't be farther from the truth! Living a healthy lifestyle is learning how to make healthy choices all day long and figuring out what works best for you. The benefits are then endless!

One benefit of living a healthy lifestyle is you are playing a part in preventing diseases. Regular exercise or physical activity can help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases. It also been proven that exercise can reverse and eliminate many of these diseases. It can also improve your appearance and delay the aging process.

There are many other benefits of exercise. It can increase the stamina of the heart, lungs and the mind. It strengthen and tones your muscles. It is good for your bones and can help prevent osteoporosis. Exercise improves your flexibility and balance, which can also help in preventing injuries. And of course exercise helps lose and maintain a healthy weight.

The biggest benefit to exercise and living a healthy lifestyle is it improves your quality of life. When we live a healthy lifestyle we are ultimately taking care of ourselves. It reduces stress, can lift your mood and will help you sleep better. You will feel satisfied, strong, and accomplished when you set goals and accomplish them.

It amazes me that Plato hundreds of years ago wrote this quote, and it probably pertains to today's world more than in his time. Yet his insight is still valuable! We must move, exercise, get outside, go for a walk, go to the beach, do yoga, run, play sports, jump rope, and play with our children, we must take care of ourselves now to prevent injury and illness in the future! We can help change the staggering statistics of obesity in the future, especially for our children, by being the example today.