When You Are Exercising:
Your body burns fat to produce energy, which will help you maintain your weight or lose weight more easily
Your heart pumps more blood and extracts more oxygen, which helps prevent heart and lung disease
Your pituitary gland produces endorphins, which reduce stress, elevate your mood and moderate your appetite
Your bones get stronger, slowing bone loss that can come with age
Your bones become less susceptible to certain cancers
It isn't easy staying motivated to exercise, especially if you're a beginner. If you're trying to make exercise a habit, you may be surprised to learn that even veteran exercisers can lose motivation. Some of the most common factors that decrease motivation are:
Here are a few tips for making exercise a part of your daily routine:
Adults should exercise as early as possible. Sometimes if you wait until the evening, other things come up.
Plan indoor and outdoor activities that you and your kids enjoy.
When shopping at the mall, take a couple of laps before you head home.
Instead of spending hours on the phone talking to friends, make walk/talk dates.
Lift arm/hand weights while watching TV.
Do sit-ups before getting in the shower.
If you can't spare 30 minutes at one time for exercise, split it into three, 10-minute segments.
For More Information
For more information about the Healthy Family Adolescent Weight Management Program, please contact the Sara Lee Center for Women's Health at (336) 718-3780 or call toll free (888) 218-1234.
