Why Exercise is a Must for You

Why exercise is a must for you? Here are the reasons:

1. Because you don't want to die a premature death.

   There are so many studies about deaths caused by obesity-related diseases. One estimate puts it at 300,000 a year worldwide, out of which 112,000 are Americans. But there is seldom any study to estimate the number of deaths caused due to not exercising regularly. Why?

   You would be surprised to know that most deaths caused by any disease could have been avoided by exercising regularly. In fact, many accidental deaths also could be avoided by exercising regularly. If you meet with an accident and you have a fit body, your chances of survival are much higher.

   So remember that lack of exercise is the biggest killer on earth.

2. Because you don't want to lose all your hard-earned money and become a pauper.

   When I relate health to money, probably you are thinking only of your usual medical expenses. Hardly do you realize that you may lose all your money (yes, all savings and all property) if you don't exercise regularly.

   I will tell you a true story to drive home the point. I was talking to a friend yesterday about her father. Her father was a perfectly healthy man till he was about forty. In fact he was proud that despite being a little overweight he never had any serious health problem. He was sure he won't ever have any of the major diseases, for even his parents were perfectly healthy in their late seventies.
   
   When he was about 41, he was diagnosed diabetic. It wasn't serious initially. But gradually it worsened and by the time he was 48 he had to take insulin twice a day. At 52 he had a major kidney failure, which forced him retire from his job at the university. He is 54 now. You would be surprised to know the amount of money his family spends to keep him alive: $5000 a week! Yes, he has been undergoing complete blood dialysis twice a week for last two years. Poor man (pun intended)! I am sure he wouldn't have seen this day if he had exercised regularly.

   Exercising regularly can save you from losing all your money someday.

3. Because you want to achieve your goals.

   Think of any highly successful person whom you would like to emulate. In 99% of the cases, he must be a healthy person too. In fact, you cannot achieve any real success without good health.

   Imagine you have an extremely important client meeting tomorrow. Your boss is away, and he scheduled this meeting because of his tremendous faith in you. And suddenly, on the meeting day, you fall ill. You are running very high fever and can't even get up from bed. What do you do now?

   Have you ever calculated the amount of time you lose because of illnesses during your life time? If you had used that time effectively, you would be much more successful than now.

   Everybody has a unique definition of success. It depends on the goals of one's life. Whatever your goals are, do you know that you may not be able to get there just because you don't take care of your health? Many people who achieve financial success fail to enjoy it because of bad health, and they wish they had started exercising regularly before it was too late.

   One of my friends, a project manager in a high-profile MNC, resigned last week. I remember how he used to be highly ambitious in college. And success he did achieve in his career. But before he is 35 he has had two heart strokes. He felt he couldn't take the pressures of his job anymore. He didn't want to live dreading the third fatal stroke everyday. So he left the job and is now living on his wife's income. I wish he had spent 30 minutes exercising everyday.

   If you exercise regularly, ill health will never stop you from achieving your goals.

4. Because your relationships are precious to you.

   Are your relationships affected by your health. It may not be obvious to you, but it doesn't mean the influence is negligible. A healthy body keeps you in good mood. The reverse is also equally true. Have you ever noticed how irritable you get when you are not keeping well. Sometimes you also feel depressed or frustrated because of bad health. And if your attitudes and behavior are affected so much by your health, that certainly affects your relationships.

   Besides indirect influence, don't you think you are attracted more towards a healthy person rather than a person in bad health? Why don't obese girls get a boyfriend? Would you like to marry a person who falls ill every other day, no matter how good he is?

5. Because you want to live a happy life.

   If your health affects your wealth, career, and relationships, it definitely affects your happiness. But even if you have a lot of money and you don't mind dying a premature death, would you be able to live a happy life if you aren't in good health?

   Can you enjoy watching the World Cup Soccer Finals if your head is thronging with pain? Can you enjoy the most delicious food, the most expensive designer clothes, or the most luxurious villa on earth if you aren't keeping well? Happiness is a function of both physical and mental health.

   Regular exercise will keep you fit to enjoy whatever you like.

P.S. - Health doesn't come only from regular exercise, but I believe, for most people reading this article, health and exercise are inseparably related.