Why Exercise is so Important

Why Exercise is so Important!

Exercise is Key! Diets are no fun and they do not make you feel better immediately! I have and always will promote Exercise, Nutrition, and Rest as keys to a healthy lifestyle. When we Exercise, we get the Endorphins moving in our body and we chemically begin to feel better and more energized right away. Our body’s produce more serotonin when we Exercise which makes us also feel happier and more energetic immediately. So why not Exercise!

Exercise in the form of Resistance Training, Cardiovascular Training, and Stretch/Flexibility Training are the most important forms of Exercise for us.

The Resistance Training makes us structurally stronger, firmer, and more toned, plus it burns lots of calories. Resistance Training helps us to get stronger so everyday normal activities such as cleaning, gardening, doing laundry, cooking, yard work, mowing, trimming, playing with the kids, organizing, vacuuming, bathing, etc. will seem easier and easier! The muscle tone we build when we Resistance Train will burn upwards of 50 calories per pound of lean muscle mass more per day! That means we can even burn more calories while we sleep! The Cardiovascular Training strengthens our Heart, Lungs, and the rest of our Cardiovascular System plus burns lots of calories while performing the Cardio Training! The Stretching and Flexibility Training will help us to become less tense and more flexible the more we do it. Stretching also tends to help prevent or soften muscle soreness and stiffness.

Resistance Training (Anaerobic-without oxygen) can be done by working with rubber bands, resistance bands, dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, bodyweight, isometrics, medicine ball, stability ball, plyometrics, sprinting, resistance machines, cable machines, yoga, tai chi, swimming, water resistance training, High Impact Step Classes, etc.

Cardiovascular Training (Aerobic-with oxygen) can be walking, biking, elliptical training, hiking, soccer, Frisbee, jogging, stair-stepping, roller blading, skateboarding, stationary cycling, basketball, ice skating, roller skating, etc.

Why Weight Training?

As a Personal Trainer for nearly 14 years now I have had to consistently market the goals of my fitness businesses. Many prospective clients who answer my ads hit me with one hundred questions on the phone, via e-mail, Facebook, and in person. One of the most common questions I get, after I tell them what our sessions will consist of, is – “Why weight training?”

Usually when I mention weight training I get silence on the phone, a trembling voice, or a horrific and terrifying look. Many people, especially women, are scared of the whole weight training idea. They have this vision of becoming a massive ugly monster in their minds because of all the old days and old ways backwards thinking of weight training. That image of weight training needs to take a hike and the new image of weight training needs to come out and spread throughout the world. Weight training can change your life forever. With weight training you can attain any type of body shape you want. You can get very lean and toned, mildly lean and muscular, or ripped with big muscles.

Most of the time the key to the size of the muscles you will get, is in your food consumption. Professional bodybuilders lift heavy weights most of the time, but their muscles would never get huge without the large amounts of food they consume.

If you have been working out for a while with no results and you want to get some lean muscle, lose the gut and the rest of the excess body fat, then this article will help. You will learn to lift weights, perform cardiovascular exercises, and eat healthier. You will not eat to get huge muscles, just eat for a lean and fat free muscular look. If you have been lifting weights for a while, then read on to help you remember why you started in the first place and also you will know what to tell others when they ask you about weight training.

Question and Answer

Question: Some people who have tried resistance training (lifting weights) to lose weight have actually gained more weight at first. Why?

Answer: The reason for this is that muscle weighs more than fat and muscle is more dense (and takes up less space) than fat. People who start to lift weights will gain some weight in the beginning. This is healthy weight. It is muscle, which will in turn burn fat. Many people get worried when the scales rise and lose patience. Losing patience will only slow the fat burning process. Soon after that weight is gained, the fat will burn away. A medium is found!

Positive Benefits of weight training + cardiovascular training combos:

Helps regulate blood pressure and cholesterol.
Helps prevent heart disease and strengthen immune system.
If you want to go jogging with others, you do not have worry about stopping because you are out of shape.
Going clothes shopping is easier since you have a wider variety of clothing to choose from now.
You do not feel worried about a tight shirt showing off the huge rolls protruding from your stomach.
Helps strengthen bones, heart, and lungs.
You feel you have overcome something, which has plagued you for years.
You have more self-confidence now than you ever dreamed of having.
Your body is more versatile to take part in almost any chosen sport.
Helps in prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
Shortness of breath does not occur just from conversation with someone.
You can feel there is less stress on your knees without all that excess weight.
Going up and down small flights of steps does not make you lose your breath.
Your feet do not take such a beating anymore.
Helps improve and strengthen your body for all sports.
You sleep better because you are not inhaling large amounts of food before you lie down at night.