by Tamu Browne

Created on: May 18, 2009   Last Updated: May 22, 2009

There just might be a magic pill that adds years to your life. This pill does not however come in a tamper proof bottle but instead is clothed in a sweat suit, on you! Exercise is especially beneficial for those of us who may be a little or a lot outside of our weight range for our height. So how much weight should one lose to begin the journey to improved health? The answer is a simple formula. Lose 10 percent of your body weight.

There are numerous reasons why losing ten percent of one's body weight is a great idea but here are the top ten reasons.

Physical activity lifts your spirits. The Mayo Clinic found that regular physical activity lessens depression and anxiety and is a mood booster. Exercise is also important in preventing and managing Type 2 Diabetes. Burning body fat increases the body's insulin sensitivity, resulting in better glucose control. Studies have shown that persons who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes can reverse the disease with regular exercise. Aerobic exercise has also been proven to lower high blood pressure and is an integral part of the regimen for managing hypertension. Exercise lowers cholesterol. For clog free arteries, regular exercise increases the amount of HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) and lowers the amount of LDL (the heart stopping cholesterol). Exercising helps to increase blood flow throughout the entire cardiovascular system, breaking free clots and increasing the efficiency of bold flow. Regular exercise can also increase activity under the sheets. The extra boost of energy that is a by-product of exercise, translates into more energy for amorous affairs, while as exercise transforms the figure, one's confidence and desirability also increase. A good night's rest. It has been found that exercise helps one to slumber peacefully. Ten percent loss in body weight can also help prevent osteoporosis. Keeps you limber as you age. Exercise keeps joints, ligaments and tendons flexible, thus maintaining mobility despite aging. A National Cancer Institute study found that vigorous exercise reduced the risk of breast cancer after menopause. Researchers have found that regular exercise slows the progress of Alzheimer's disease.

These are all compelling reasons to begin the quest to reducing one's weight by ten percent. Does the quest begin with a frantic rush to the gym, to pound the treadmill frantically? Studies have found that it matters little the type of exercise one engages in, be it cycling, walking, swimming, or running up stairs. What truly matters is that whatever the activity, it must be done regularly for at least thirty minutes daily, at least five days a week. The goal is to get your heart rate up in order to burn calories and that excess fat.

To maintain the svelte figure in the long run, it is imperative that one stick to the program. This does not mean however that it must be regimented. The best advice is to incorporate exercise into one's every day routine, for instance park farther from the mall door, or make a date with friends for a brisk scenic walk. Do whatever it takes to prevent exercise from feeling like a horrid chore. What is certain, is that as you walk more briskly, and huff and puff you will be motivated to keep going by the positive changes on the outside and the lifesaving changes on the inside.

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