Exercising Extends Life?

     Even though I don't practice being healthy 24/7, y'all know that I'm a health nut.  Hey, we're all human, and Thanksgiving and Christmas come around every single year.  Especially if you're a woman like me, those chocolate cravings are killers.  One thing I do try and make sure I do is exercise.  My motives may be because of the fact that I pay $40 a month for a gym membership and don't want it to go to waste and to look like one of those girls on the cover of the Victoria's Secret magazine, but hey, that's a start!  However, I'm starting to feel differently about my motives after I read this article.  Now I'm not so jealous of those twigs that can eat anything they want without working it off and not gaining a pound as a result!  CNN has an article about exercising extending the span of your life.  Here's the kicker...it extends your life EVEN if you're overweight!  The other good news is that you don't have to spend hours a day at the gym for your exercise to count, you just need "150 minutes a WEEK of moderate-intensity exercise." That's only two and a half hours of your whole week that will tack on 3.4 years to your life! Wouldn't you sacrifice a couple of extra hours a week to gain three and a half more years of life?!  Now imagine how many more years you can add to that number if you were to exercise more frequently at a higher intensity!

     Okay, for you people just starting out and this is your first time getting out there and exercising--take it slow! I was getting a little bit excited over the fact.  Start out by walking 30 minutes a day for three days a week.  Make a conscious effort to drink a little more water today than you did yesterday.  One step at a time will help you not just go on a health kick for a month or two, but it will help you make a lifestyle change: literally.  You'll be feeling awesome, looking great, and adding years to your lifetime; ALL from exercise!  I know, the next thing you're going to tell me is that you dread exercise, and you usually give up far to quickly.  The key to this is to start off like I said above with 30 minutes of walking, 3 days a week.  Do that for a couple of weeks, then keep adding days.  When you get up to walking for 5 days a week for 30 minutes, go up to walking 45 minutes for 3 days.  Build up to five days, and then maybe consider adding in small weights.  Walk a little faster each day.  Start cutting out certain things in your diet like white grains or high fat items.  Making little changes at a time will help you ease into this lifestyle change and make it a permanent thing and not just a three-month diet.

     Just writing about this is getting me all fired up!  I want to get to the gym NOW! Too bad I have work in about an hour.

     I hope this helps those few people that do check out my blog!
Until next time,
Tory

Link to the CNN article:
http://www.thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/06/exercise-lengthens-your-life-even-if-youre-overweight/