By Jim Rollince

For hundreds of years, athletes from around the world have used exercise as a means of staying in shape and improving athletic abilities. Obesity runs rampant throughout our society today, while most people don’t run at all! It’s no longer just the athletes that need to exercise, but each individual should take part in a regular exercise routine. Nothing you’ve not heard before, right? Exercise to stay healthy. Otherwise, you will fall captive to the obesity that plagues the nation. But a healthy body isn’t the only reason you should exercise. In fact, studies have shown that exercise helps your mental and emotional health as well.

According to the University of California, regular exercise helps those that suffer with chronic depression and anxiety. Depression affects thousands of people throughout the nation each year. Most spend hundreds of dollars on depression medication each year, while still suffering from side effects of the medication. Those who opt not to take medication on a regular basis deal with the consequences as a daily struggle. Anxiety and other emotional and mental struggles also hinder people from living life to its fullest.

With regular exercise, the struggle people face from these illnesses may lessen, even if for a small period of time. For those that struggle with anxiety, the biochemical reaction in the brain that occurs during exercise releases stress. This release helps anxiety to calm down. Depression is helped by exercise because it helps people to feel better about their bodies and lives. These seemingly small things go a long way for those that suffer.

However, even if you do not struggle with chronic illnesses like anxiety or depression, exercise will still improve your mind and emotional well-being. Exercise teaches discipline, helps sustain motivation, and promotes a healthy outlook on life. These simple aspects, when properly applied outside of exercise, will vastly improve your overall well-being.

“But I have too much going on to exercise!” It’s just one of the many excuses people use. When it comes right down to it, though, exercise can be done anywhere at any time. A quick search on the web can show you that you can exercise outside or inside, at work, school or even at that uncomfortable family dinner. While space will not permit to get into the nitty-gritty details of the various places, times and ways to exercise, let’s review a few traditional and non-traditional ways to exercise. Consider yourself warned, though. Once your read these different kinds of exercises, it will not leave you with much of an excuse to continue neglecting exercise.

For those of you with a gym membership stashed away in your wallet, consider using it on a regular basis. Chances are, you pay for it each month. And really, with all the hoops and fees you go through to cancel it, it’s less of a hassle to simply go to the gym regularly. At the gym you will find treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes and an array of other equipment exclusively there for your use. Going to the gym everyday shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours out of your day. Set the DVR to record your favorites shows, watch them on the weekend and get out to the gym at least four times a week.

Now, some can’t get to a gym or simply can’t afford a membership. That’s ok! You don’t get out of exercising simply because you don’t have a gym membership. Today, there is an entire market for home gym equipment specifically designed for people like you. Is some of it expensive? Absolutely. But there are even things you can do when you don’t have the money to invest in a home gym. Remember grade school? There’s this thing called a jump rope. You can get a good one for less than $5 at the store. Use one of those for 30 minutes a day and you’ll likely sweat more than you ever did at the gym.

You have enough time, energy and money. The only thing that keeps you from exercising regularly is yourself. So, make up your mind, get off the couch and make your life what you’ve always wanted it to be.

Jim Rollince can be reached at jimr@gymsource.net