We live in a polluted environment, are constantly bombarded by fast food in every corner and much drawn to the couch potato lifestyle. As a result of this, many of us tend to lead out-of-shape and unhealthy lives that prevent us from becoming proactive individuals that we were meant to be.

However, there is still hope. And that hope lies in the wonderful tool of exercise. Exercise should be a part of everybody�s life. It can help us become more fit and healthy. There are so many advantages we can gain from exercising. It increase one�s energy levels, burns body fats and reduces insulin output which is the hormone that makes us store fat and crave carbohydrates. Fat is burned from all body stores. Not only that fat that we can see externally but also the dangerous fat that accumulates around our internal organs such as the heart and liver. Performing some form of physical activity daily will significantly boost your �basal metabolic rate��the number of calories your body burns in order to keep you alive. By having a high metabolism, you burn calories 24 hours a day�even while you sleep! You can literally turn your body into a fat-burning machine!

This has many benefits: With a strong metabolism comes a strong immune system. When you burn fat, the toxins are released into the bloodstream, and are quickly carried out of the body through sweat. This inoculates you against the probability of developing cancerous and diseased cells. Therefore, hard exercise�that makes you sweat�is very good for you.

Exercise also helps to regulate the amount of insulin released into the bloodstream. Insulin is commonly referred to as �the fat-making hormone.� Its job is to metabolize blood sugar into energy. But too much insulin in the bloodstream keeps your body from burning stored fat. Years of an overworked pancreas�the organ that produces insulin�can lead to �onset (type 2) diabetes.� However, if you use�burn�more calories than you consume, you significantly reduce the chances of developing this disease.

Exercise can also help control other problems, such as: Sleep apnea, moodiness, stress, decreased energy, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol and others. There are too many benefits to list here. But be assured that this tool can help you become a fit, stronger, disease-free, and overall healthier person.

In addition to this, it helps reduce stress and reduces the risk of many serious diseases as well. Exercise also greatly increases the sense of well being of a person.

In contrast to this, people who do not exercise are prone to laziness; develop poor time management and poor organization or motivational skills. And worse, we develop poor physical condition that would succumb to ill health.

There are many types of exercise to choose from. There are the aerobic exercises whose main goal is to keep the heart elevated for an extended period of time for the purpose of strengthening the heart and the lungs. These include easy to do exercises such as walking, running and jogging. Running is the quickest way to lose weight, because it burns many calories. It also tones your calves and thighs. Other aerobic exercises could include: Bicycling, hiking, basketball, swimming, golf, tennis, etc. Aerobic exercise should be done a minimum of 3 days a week, but 5 to 6 is recommended. The important thing is to pick something that interests you. If you like what you are doing, you will be more likely to stick with it.

Another type of exercise is the anaerobic exercise which includes weight training, strength exercise, and resistance training. It also includes toning and weight lifting. Through moderate toning, you gain muscle definition and increa