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Staying fit is a matter of discipline and staying focused upon the goal you want to achieve. I have taught physical education as a specialist for 33 years. I have always believed that you should practice what you preach and I developed my own regimental exercise program. There are a myriad of benefits that you glean from exercising regularly. Staying fit and exercising is one of the best stress relievers that you can find. The trick is not to stress yourself out trying to find a way to make time to exercise. It is also a fact that exercise, particularly weight lifting, helps to improve muscle tone as well as increase bone density. People who exercise regularly have lower levels of cholesterol. You feel better because you look better. Your self image is improved and you feel good about yourself. I get up each morning and before I do anything, I take twenty minutes to work out. I use a set of 10 pound weights and work out my total body. The results are amazing. My doctor tells me that my cholesterol levels are equivalent to those found in someone in their early twenties. Not bad for a fifty-seven year old woman. My workout consists of three sets of twelve shoulder presses, upright rows, and side laterals for the shoulders; three sets of pec flys for the chest and 30 push-ups, 50 squats and 36 straight leg lifts for the legs, bicep curls, kick-backs for the triceps, and side-bends, sit-ups and leg lifts for the stomach. You can make your own plan but this works for me and I reap the benefits from disciplining myself to do this each day.

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