Motivations to Move!

Sorry, I'm not talking about relocating--except to move your bum off the couch!  This post is all thanks to the Mayo Clinic [5], who has very kindly put together 7 great reasons to exercise on a regular basis. 

1. It helps with weight control by burning calories.  It also, depending on the exercise, can be a great outlet for stress and a great alternative to eating your troubles away! Many moons ago, I used to take a kickboxing class and let me tell you, NOTHING was better than standing in front of a punching bag working out all your frustrations.  I hear roller derby is also great for that!!
2. Did you know that exercising regularly can help raise your HDL's?  That would be High Density Lipoprotein--aka "good" cholesterol--not Hot Dashing Lover, but while I'm thinking about it, the second definition would be a GREAT way to get some regular exercise!  hubba!hubba!  Anyway, yep--raises your HDLs AND it lowers your triglycerides!  By doing so, it helps lower your risk of developing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (that's just a fancy, schmancy way to say heart disease and strokes).  Plus regular exercise has been linked to managing Type 2 Diabetes, depression, arthritis, and even some types of cancer!
3. Exercise--regardless of regularity--is a mood booster!  As previously mentioned, it's a great way to relieve a bit of stress and can help give you a bit of focus for your problems.  Will walking save the world or solve all your problems?  No, but if something is weighing heavily on your mind or you're not sure which road to take, exercise has been shown to release the chemicals in your brain that help you relax and feel happier.  Next time you're a bit stressed, give it a go--what do you have to lose (other than a bit of weight, some triglycerides, and a bit of tension)?
4. It's also an energy booster.  I know it seems crazy, but exercising regularly gives you more energy.  It seems like an oxymoron and certainly the last thing you want to do when you're exhausted, but exercising (even a little) will help give your dragging booty a pick up!  Do you tend to get sleepy after lunch or mid-afternoon?  Try a quick walk--even if it's just around the block or up and down the hall a couple of times--it's amazing effective!
5. Regular exercise is also a key component to sleeping better and more soundly.  Of course, don't run 3 miles right before bed, otherwise you'll be too energized to sleep!  I certainly notice that when I'm being good and exercising regularly, I get much more meaningful sleep--and I fall asleep much quicke---zzzz...  ;-)
6. Getting your mojo back!  Yep, exercise (I knew I'd find a way to use a Hot Dashing Lover!!) can help improve your sex life. Aside from making you feel better about yourself, giving you more energy, and putting you in a better mood, regular exercise can lead to enhanced arousal for women and less erectile dysfunction in men.  So put down the Viagra and take up a spinning class!
7. It's fun!  Okay, so you have to make it fun.  No one says that you have to be a slave to cheesy 80s fitness videos or being saddled with an Arnold Schwarzenegger-look alike in the weight room. Get out your hula-hoop (alright, go buy one), join a roller derby team (Go Bonita Apple Bomb!), or grab some friends and create your own Pilates session.  If you make it fun, you're a lot less likely to back out or find excuses not to go!

So, that's it!  7 great reasons to strap on a helmet, dust off your bike and go for a ride!

~a bit of salt for your lime and tequila (to prevent scurvy and post workout, of course!)