Weight Loss is Not the Only Result of a Good Exercise Program

Let's face it; there is not one person in this country that at some point hasn't said to themselves, "I need to lose a couple of pounds." I have seen some of the "best in shape" people even say that and of course I am thinking, "where are you going to lose it from?" Even if you have no knowledge what so ever of working out, weight loss, exercise, fitness or nutrition, you probably know that a good exercise program will help you lose weight and that it, the exercise program, is a good thing for you. Beyond just the normal losing weight reason to motivate yourself to get off the couch and start exercising and performing weight routines along with cardiovascular activities can benefit you in many other ways as well. Most people look at doing cardiovascular activities as a means of torture.

To think about going for a jog is like asking some people to spend an entire week with their mother-in-law. For those of you who are not married yet, that joke will make more sense when you get there. A good committed cardiovascular exercise routine brings more to the table then just losing weight, or fitting into those pair of jeans you haven't worn since high school. A good cardiovascular exercise routine helps build a strong heart.

Think of the heart as nothing more than a muscle in your body, albeit a very important muscle. If that muscle is weak, you will feel and be weak. If you make that muscle strong you will feel and be strong. Cardiovascular exercises help strengthen your heart. Let's say for instance your normal resting heart rate is 60bpm (beats per minute).

When you do a cardiovascular exercise you are raising your heart rate above that resting rate which means your heart is pumping faster and harder to get your blood to flow throughout your body. Over time as you continue to exercise your heart it will get stronger and reduce your resting heart rate. This means your heart has to work even less to move your blood throughout your body.

This in turn can lengthen the life span of your heart. Just like other muscles in your body when you exercise them, they will get stronger. A strong heart has been proven to reduce various types of heart related diseases such as strokes, heart attacks, blood clots and the list goes on and on. Even if you do not lose a pound, just look at the benefits cardiovascular exercise brings to your body specifically the heart. Here is the best part. You do not need to work yourself to near death on a treadmill to receive these benefits.

You should perform an exercise that you find fun and that you will stick to. For instance I like to ride the bike. I maintain a good pace that my heart is working harder then it would be a rest. I listen to some music while I ride to keep me going and that is my routine. I will ride the bike three times each week at twenty minutes a clip. I feel better for it and I know it is doing my heart good.

Choose an exercise that will keep you motivated and that you will have fun with. If you like to walk, go ahead and walk, just pick up the pace a bit. Find what you like and as Nike says, "Just do it!".

About the Author:
Mr. Tucker is the senior editor for Weight Loss Nation, an online resource where you can learn more about weight loss, fitness, nutrition and exercise.