The Real Wonder Drug

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

11 Dec 2006 09:21 PM

Psychology Today, the magazine, is calling exercise the real wonder drug and who can blame them? The great part about exercise is that it comes with a host benefits beyond the obvious of getting you into good physical shape. Exercise gives your mood a boost and sharpens the mind. You get back more energy than you put out - even after a hard workout. Your sleep is better and far more sound and you are far more likely to awake feeling rested than exhausted. Your blood vessels and heart are kept in great condition and you can't replace what exercise does for your weight loss efforts.

Sounds pretty darn wonderful, doesn't it?

That's the thing about exercise it's not just the benefit you reap in the short term, it's the long-term gains that really make exercise so wonderful. For example, exercise stimulates your brain to release more endorphins as well as stimulating the pleasure centers of the brain and that seems to have some impact on decreasing your need for sweets - and imagine how that helps a weight loss program!

Still, there are more benefits from exercising to be had. Regular exercise, just 30 minutes a day, can boost and strengthen your immune system. It's not a short-term boost; it's a long-term boost. If you work out regularly, over the course of a year or so, your immune system will be stronger. You will fight off colds easier, you will bounce back faster and you can help avert such health problems like type 2 diabetes and more.

If exercise does all of these things - the question has to be asked - why are we not doing it more often? Shouldn't we be more likely to exercise than less likely? Unfortunately, we're a society of instant gratification - we're not patient enough to wait a couple of weeks to feel the effects kicking in. But seriously if you spend just three days exercising, then you're going to be feeling it and I'm not just talking about the soreness.

So here's my challenge to all of you who think about fitness and have always wanted to give it a shot - do it. Make a commitment - spend 30 days living and working out regularly and you'll feel the difference and if you keep at it - you'll find no goal is unachievable.

Are you up for the challenge?

Related Articles:

Fitness Tips: Anger & Fitness

Friends and Mental Health

10 Top Reasons to Exercise

Faith in Fitness

Is Your Body a Temple?

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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