Exercise for Health and Appearance

There are a lot of different fun types of exercise, depending on your preferences - such as jogging or walking  in the morning, playing basketball or any other sport with friends, taking classes, working out in a gym, or dancing at home to fitness videos.

Image via WikipediaPhysical exercise is beneficial because it helps maintain and improve ones health from a variety of diseases and premature death.  It can also make a person feel happier and increase ones self esteem, preventing and alleviating depression or anxiety. It has also been shown in many studies that people who live an active lifestyle live longer than those who don’t. And regular exercise contributes to increased blood flow, improving skin tone and elasticity - so it can even make you look younger!

The best exercise plan should incorporate both cardiovascular and weight training exercises. Alternating between these helps burn calories and increase the muscle to fat ratio that will increase ones metabolism and help with weight loss as well as general overall health.

A person who has never worked out before should begin gradually. (And be sure to consult your doctor or healthcare practitioner before starting any new exercise program.) Doing it too much at once can lead to injury. Endurance - like Rome - will never be built in a day!

But beauty is not only about having muscles which is what people can see. It is also about enhancing the beauty within. We talk a lot here about different aspects of exercise, but one that we don't mention that much is how beneficial exercise can be for your state of mind.

Here are some things one can do everyday to stay beautiful and healthy:

• Reading books and other interesting and challenging reading material more often keeps the mind sharp just like working out keeps the body in shape.
  
  
• Work no matter what kind it is produces stress. One can reduce this by taking the time out to do something special for yourself like lying in a hot tub, shopping or watching a movie. Studies have shown it is a great stress reliever and helps one looking young.
  
  
Image via Wikipedia
• Exposure to pollution is something you often cannot control. However, you can control what you put on your skin. Choose all-natural and non-toxic beauty products, and get yourself a shower filter to reduce your exposure to pollutants and chemicals in the water. There are many great natural beauty products available today, and you can find some more information and suggestions here: http://www.newholisticliving.com/toxicload.html.
  
  
• Another way to stay healthy is to give up some vices. Many people smoke and/or drink. Smoking has been proven to cause lung cancer and other diseases as well complications for women giving birth. Excessive drinking has also shown to do the same.
  
  
• For people who don’t smoke, it is best to stay away from people who do since studies have shown that nonsmokers are also at risk of developing cancer due to secondary smoke inhalation.
  
  
• Lastly, it is best to always start the day with a positive outlook. Just as studies have shown that exercise makes a person feel happier, smiling produces the same effect! A smile can do a lot and it is contagious in a positive sense. It brightens the day of not only one but others as well.