| In a recent Time Magazine cover story titled Why | | | | give you a good aerobic workout, as well working |
| Exercise Won't Make You Thin, author John Cloud | | | | out on machines like treadmills, elliptical machines and |
| presented evidence to support the theory that the | | | | exercycles. You can avoid boredom in your fitness |
| more you exercise, the hungrier you get and the less | | | | plan by switching between different forms of aerobic |
| likely you are to lose weight. His arguments seem to | | | | exercise. |
| be aimed at getting people to give up exercise | | | | Strength Training |
| altogether. Unfortunately, the article provided very | | | | Besides the heart, other muscles in the body also |
| little insight into the positive connection between | | | | need a workout. Strength training with weight |
| exercise and happiness. | | | | machines and free weights can tone the muscles of |
| Even if a person's eating habits prevent weight loss, | | | | the arms, legs and torso. Yoga and Pilates can also |
| there's no denying that exercise is an important | | | | be used for strength training. Another advantage of |
| component of good health. It's well documented that | | | | training to build muscle is that it can help prevent the |
| aerobic exercise can make you feel happier because | | | | loss of bone mass and slow down the onset of |
| it increases the body's production of endorphins, | | | | osteoporosis. |
| which are chemicals that give you a feeling of | | | | Flexibility Training |
| well-being and even euphoria. Exercise can also help | | | | Being flexible can help prevent injury and can help |
| you sleep better, fight mild cases of depression and | | | | improve performance for aerobic activities. Stretching |
| boost your self-esteem. | | | | on a regular basis is one of the best ways to stay |
| Finding time to exercise isn't always easy, but for | | | | flexible. Most gyms offer flexibility and stretching |
| people who have desk jobs that require hours of | | | | class and there are also DVDs that can be used to |
| inactivity, it's critical to find a few hours a week for | | | | learn how to properly stretch. Besides stretching, |
| exercise. Creating a fitness plan is one way to make | | | | many activities promote flexibility, including karate, |
| sure you stay motivated to exercise on a regular | | | | dance, gymnastics, Pilates and yoga. |
| basis. A good fitness plan should include these three | | | | A well-balanced fitness program should include several |
| components of well-balanced exercise: aerobic | | | | sessions per week of each of these three types of |
| exercise, strength training and flexibility training. | | | | exercise. Remember that you don't have to be a top |
| Aerobic Exercise | | | | competitor in a sport to benefit from it - it enough |
| This type of exercise gives the heart a workout. It | | | | just to participate on a regular basis. Besides looking |
| consists of physical activities that quicken the pulse | | | | and feeling better, you'll gain a sense of |
| and breathing for at least 20 minutes. Biking, running | | | | accomplishment by taking on new challenges. |
| and swimming are great forms of aerobic exercise. | | | | Investing time in a fitness program is one of the best |
| Team sports such as tennis and basketball will also | | | | ways to ensure happiness and a sense of well-being. |