Exercise & Fitness (Staying Active)

Next on your list: begin a more active lifestyle. While this is a big step, it doesn’t have to be a hard one. No matter your age or physical ability, starting an exercise program is a no-brainer. You’ll get healthier, live longer and improve the quality of your life.
Science can keep us alive well into our 80s and 90s, but the quality of those years in future is dependent upon how well we take care of ourselves…now in our present times.

So, the sooner we start exercising, the sooner we start burning calories, building bone and muscle and feeling more comfortable in our bodies. But what exactly does this mean? How much exercise and what kinds are the most beneficial and the most tolerable?

What we all should know is that exercise is not merely a repetitive motion of body parts. It’s much more complex than that.
Well, it’s not hard at all. If you have a few hours a week to dedicate to your body, you can have all the benefits of an active lifestyle. We will break down the four elements of an exercise plan and show you how much exercise you need to get in shape. And you can accomplish this in under four hours a week.

The four components of a longer, better and active life:
1. Aerobic Training: This improves lung and heart efficiency, utilizes calories, builds bone and muscle to a limited degree, increases levels of “good” natural chemicals (e.g. endorphins), elevates good blood lipids (HDL) and decreases the bad ones (LDL and cholesterol).
2. Strength Training: Increases lean muscle and therefore improves body composition, increases bone density, increases resting metabolic rate, firms and gives contour to the body, and of course, makes you a stronger person (inside and out!)
3. Flexibility Training: Increases the length and elasticity of muscle-tendon units, decreases the soreness associated with other forms of training and prevents injury in both training and daily life.
4. Relaxation Training: Decreases anxiety, decreases blood pressure, increases concentration, improves posture and provides a ton of other great benefits!