Why exercise?
The most important reason to exercise is to maintain your health.
Exercise does this in several ways.
It reduces your weight by burning calories.
It increases your muscle strength and tone.
It exercises your heart and blood vessels.
And it stimulates your body to produce good chemicals.
Other reasons: get away from your computer, desk, or couch; meet people;
if outdoors get some sunlight (for vitamin D) and appreciate nature.
What exercises should I do?
You have many options. Walking, swimming, and rowing are all good. Tai
chi is a low-stress yet effective exercise.
How much exercise do I need?
If you've been leading a sedentary life, even a fifteen-minute jog each
day will be a big improvement.
How should I get started?
When changing your exercise routine, it is very important not to make
any drastic changes. This is because exercise stresses your body. With
a steady routine your body develops resistance to the stress as needed.
If however you suddenly start running for
fifteen minutes a day when you haven't previously done much running, you
will stress your feet and the joints in your legs beyond what they're
used to, which can easily injure them. Instead of starting a jogging
routine immediately, begin by walking fifteen minutes and adding
one minute a day to your daily walk for a month to bring it up to
forty-five minutes. Once you've achieved daily 45-minute walks,
continue them each day at what feels like a brisk speed. As your body
gets used to the routine you will find your "brisk" speed gradually
increasing. Eventually your brisk walks will become so speedy you
will find breaking into a trot easier than speed walking. Congratulations:
you are now ready for a daily run.
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