Five Reasons to Exercise | Get Up and Get Moving

With obesity rates setting or breaking records and no sign of declining, should be reason enough for us to get up and get moving.

Unfortunately sometimes that is just not enough. Recently the first lady, Michelle Obama, instituted her campaign entitled "Let's Move" in hopes of inspiring students to get moving.

Our brains are directly connected to our physical health therefore exercising not only benefits our bodies but our minds as well.

Losing weight is one of the many benefits that can come with exercise but just getting started can be difficult.

So starting with the though of just getting up and doing something that requires physical exertion is a great way to get started.

But before you get up and get moving, read on for Five Reasons to Exercise and get healthy!

In our world of technology we have more reasons than ever to stay seated on the couch or at the computer, we need inspiration to get up and move away, at least long enough to take part in some type of physical activity. Although there are hundreds of reasons, here are just five reasons to exercise.

Maintain a Healthy Weight: We all know the more we exercise or move around the more calories we burn. It can be exercise, work, dancing, playing, hiking or any number of activities that will all contribute to being able not only to lose weight but also to maintain a healthy weight.

Improving Brain Function: There are several studies available that link physical activity to not only improving brain function in older adults but for younger adults as well. The theory is basically that exercise or physical activity increases blood flow as well as oxygen to the brain and more recently it has been shown to reduce an abnormality of the brain associated with Alzheimer's.

Preventing Diabetes: Moderate exercise has been linked to a 50-60% reduction in the risk of developing diabetes as well as delaying the onset of Type 2 diabetes among those who are currently at risk. With over 8% of the US population having some form of diabetes, exercising seems like a good place to start in combating this debilitating disease.

Lower Blood Pressure: One in three adults in the US suffer from high blood pressure, among those over 3/4 of those are overweight, obese, or morbidly obese. Moderate exercise has been linked to lowering blood pressure in approximately 75% of those suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure.

Increases Stamina: Especially as we get older, we notice a decrease in our energy levels. One of the many benefits of exercise is we can increase those energy levels just by getting up and getting moving. It doesn't even have to be a long drawn out routine, we actually benefit from short, intense bouts of exercise. It not only increases our energy but also strengthens, maintains or develops our muscles as well as our stamina.

As I stated before these are really just the tip of the iceberg on reasons to exercise but it is a good start. Regardless of age, we all need to increase our activity so we can live longer healthier lives.

Michelle Obama's "Get Moving" campaign is a step in the right direction and I hope people everywhere take heed.

Stars like Beyonce, as well as Disney and the NFL have all teamed up hoping to inspire kids and adults alike to get off the couch and get moving.

So get inspired and find at least one of the Five Reasons to Exercise and get moving today!