We all know that we should exercise because it is good for us, but do you know just how good?

Lowers heart rate

The heart is a muscle. Aerobic exercise strengthens that muscle, so that your heart pumps blood more efficiently by pumping more blood with each beat. Since the exercised heart is more efficient, it transfers more oxygen to the body's cells more easily. This in essence can lengthen your life by several years

• Reduces the risk of heart disease

  Exercise reduces clotting in the blood, thus reducing the risk of heart disease. Those who do not exercise run twice the risk of developing heart disease.
  

• Reduces the risk of stroke

• Lowers blood pressure

• Reduces the risk of colon cancer

  Regular exercise helps regulate the digestive system.
  

• Promotes strong and healthy bones

  Exercise increases circulation and flow of nutrients to the bones, reducing the risk of fractures and osteoporosis.
  

• Stronger circulatory system and lungs

• Better skin tone

  Helps keep skin more elastic.
  

• Weight loss and maintenance

  Essential to both losing weight and maintaining weight loss, exercise increases the body's metabolism (the rate at which the body burns calories), as well as increase muscle which helps burn fat.
  

• Controls blood sugar

  Physical activity helps maintain the body's glucose levels, important especially for diabetics or those at risk for diabetes.
  

• Controls cholesterol

  Exercise increases the ratio of good cholesterol (HDL) to bad cholesterol (LDL) and also lowers triglycerides.
  

• Helps with pain tolerance

  By increasing the level of endorphins, the body's natural pain killers, exercise can help alleviate pain, such as PMS symptoms and menstrual cramps. The deep breathing during exercise brings more oxygen to the blood, which relaxes the uterus.
  

• Makes for easier pregnancy and childbirth

• Controls physical and emotional stress

  Not only does exercise reduce physical and emotional stress, but it can also alleviate bouts of anxiety or depression.
  

• Improves your intellectual capacity

  Exercise increases your productivity by helping to clear your head so you can approach your work refreshed and able to concentrate.
  

• Promotes flexibility

  Stretching exercises help elongate muscles, promoting flexibility.
  

• Reduces backaches

  Stretching exercises also reduce backaches.
  

• Promotes a younger and healthier body

  We spend money every year trying to maintain a healthy and younger body. Regular physical activity can help slow the aging process.
  

• Prolonged independence for the older person

• Strengthens immune system over the long term--less likely to get sick

• Regulates your body's waste system

  Relieves constipation by increasing intestinal activity and curbs bloating by increasing perspiration.

• Improves your sleep

  Since your muscles are less tense, you relax more easily at night. You fall asleep more quickly, sleep more soundly, and awake more refreshed.

• Gives you more energy

• Better health overall

• Gives an overall sense of well being

  Do you want to be happier and more upbeat? Exercise boosts your self-confidence by improving your strength, stamina, flexibility, appearance, and sense of control. physical activity not only helps remedy medical difficulties, but it also can prevent many of those same problems from occurring. Now, that you see the benefits of exercise, what's stopping you from getting started?