Why exercise?

I was asked, “Why exercise?” My response was simply, “Why wouldn’t you?”

The benefits are far reaching and endless. The American Heart Association sent out a mailing in the last couple of weeks that list benefits of daily physical activity. They classify activity as: walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, aerobic dancing and skiing among others. The key in their view is that you perspire moderately, breathe a little heavier without being out of breath and some fatigue in the muscle groups used. They agree with the train smarter, not harder method of using your pulse rate as an indicator of the effort being used.

Their list of benefits includes:

• Reduces the risk of heart disease by improving blood circulation.
• Helps keep weight under control.
• Improves blood cholesterol levels.
• Helps prevent and manage high blood pressure.
• Helps prevent bone loss.
• Boosts energy levels.
• Helps manage stress.
• Releases tension.
• Improves the ability to fall asleep quickly and sleep well.
• Improves self-image.
• Counters anxiety and depression and increase enthusiasm and optimism.
• Increase muscle strength, increasing the ability to do other physical activities.
• Provides a way to share an activity with family and friends.
• Establishes good heart-healthy habits in children and counters the conditions [obesity, high blood pressure, poor cholesterol levels, poor lifestyle habits and more] that lead to heart attack and stroke later in life.
• In older people, helps delay or prevent chronic illnesses and diseases associated with aging and maintains quality of life and independence longer.

With study after study coming out demonstrating the benefits of exercise or the consequences of not exercising with titles like:

• Obese Children Show Early Signs of Heart Disease
• How Exercise Lowers Cardiovascular Risk
• Exercise Improves Thinking, Reduces Diabetes In Overweight Children
• Aerobic Exercise is Best Fitness Program
• Exercise Reverses Aging in Human Skeletal Muscle
• Fitness in Young Adulthood Protects Heart Health in Middle Age
• Aerobic Exercise Helps Maintain Muscle In Elderly
• And many more – some have been shared in this column during the past weeks.

For those wall flowers that keep coming up with excuses, I invite you to find one credible study that indicates that exercise in moderation is not good for you. Share the study with me. I do not think you will find a credible study that can come to that conclusion.

If you think you are too: old, fat, out of shape, uncoordinated or unhealthy – there are studies that indicate exercise can improve your quality of life. Certainly you may consult with your personal physician and I am certain you will need to start  easy and work your way into a program – however every day you wait is another day lost to not improve yourself and your quality of life. What have you got to loose?

Bottom line – give yourself the best opportunity to enjoy and improve your quality of life – train smarter, not harder and get active.

Now, let’s see you meet those fitness goals throughout 2008 and beyond!

Valdosta is the home of many people who are running marathons, 26.2 mile events. In the next few weeks, results of these individual’s will be posted in this column. Be on the lookout, you will recognize some of the people.

February 9^th, the Student-Athletes of VSU will be presenting a Relay event. There are five (5) legs of the relay, and a team can be from 3 to 5 members to get the full distance completed. The distance covered will be 10K or 6.2 miles, but each leg will run approximately 1.2 miles. If there are less than 5 people on the team, members will have to run multiple legs. There will be awards in team categories, team names and team T-Shirts. This is a family event, keep that in mind. There is more information to come on this event in the coming weeks.

There are weekly, FREE activities for the runners and cyclists in the area. Runners can show up at Get Active Running and more on Saturday and Sunday morning at 7AM for all-comer runs from 1.5 to 8 plus mile runs. For more information on the runs, check out the web page www.getactivevaldosta.com , call or send an email. Cyclists can meet for rides on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information on the cycling rides, check out the web page at www.azaleacitycyclists.com.

Do you have results you want to share about yourself, a loved one or friend? Do you want to share what motivates you to being active? Send an email to me at Get Active  Running and more.

If you have questions about your walking, running or other training, drop me an email and I will do my level best to answer your questions. Check out www.getactivevaldosta.com to get connected. Listen to the Get Active South Georgia radio show on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7PM on Talk 92.1 FM to receive additional information or to ask questions

Thank you,

Todd & Alice Smoot

GET ACTIVE 
Running and more

GET ACTIVE SOUTH GEORGIA as heard on Talk 92.1 FM Tuesdays 6 to 7 PM
GET ACTIVE SOUTH GEORGIA  as read weekly in the Sunday VDT - look for us
www.getactivevaldosta.com
3200-C North Ashley Street
Valdosta, GA 31602
229-219-0010
229-219-0012 (F)

In the long run, one must have goals to succeed.

"To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift" Steve Prefontaine