Regular Physical Activity Can Help....

Why be physically active? What's in it for you? The American Heart Association, American College of Sports Medicine, and Shape Up America have brought you 12 ways physical activity can help...

1. Everyday Energy – Give you the energy to do the things you want to do such as spend quality time with friends and family.

2. Mood Monitor – Reduce feelings of stress, anxiety and depression.

3. Sound Sleep – Improve your sleep, giving you the rest you need to enjoy daily activities – on the job and at home.

4. Peak Performance – Clear your head so that you can approach work refreshed and able to concentrate.

5. Enhanced Self-Esteem – Boost self-confidence by improving your strength, stamina, flexibility, appearance and sense of control.

6. Weight Watch – Shed extra pounds and abdominal fat – the fat most closely linked to heart disease – and maintain a health weight.

7. Heart Health – Reduce risk of hear disease, or improve physical functioning if you have had a heart attack or bypass surgery.

8. Cholesterol Count – Increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol and lower triglycerides.

9. Cancer Check – Reduce risk of colon cancer.

10. Handle on Hypertension – Lower high blood pressure and risk of stroke.

11. Blood Sugar Balance – Control blood sugar (glucose) levels if you have, or are at risk for, diabetes.

12. Bone Benefit – Improve bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures as you get older.

Reason enough? You don't have to start out strong just start with as little as ten minutes a day. Eventually you'll want to be active most days of the week but you have to start somewhere so start now.

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