Having trouble starting an exercise regimen or continuing the one you began? Try thinking about the many health improvements exercise offers—such as a better mood, less stress, renewed energy, a healthier heart and a lower risk of disease—rather than how many pounds you’ll drop. In a recent Ohio State University study, women who focused on the health benefits of a regular workout reported feeling more energetic and motivated while exercising and less exhausted afterward than those who focused on how their appearance would change. They also enjoyed their workout more and were more likely to continue with it!
[photo: Cheryl Empey]
Grab a pen! The American Heart Association found that of the 69% of women who set an exercise goal in past 12 months, just 22% achieved it. So, what did the successful women do that the others didn’t? Nope, they didn’t hire a pricey personal trainer. They simply wrote down their goals, used calendars to manage their time and tracked their progress with paper charts and online trackers.
Exercise doesn’t only slim you down, it fills you with energy by increasing blood flow and boosts mood by triggering a flood of feel-good endorphins. And now a new Princeton University study suggests that folks who exercise are also less prone to stressing out than their couch potato counterparts. The reason? Exercise helps our brain grow new cells that react calmly in stressful situations.
Find that you’re less active during the colder months when blustery weather makes it hard to bike, hike, garden, swim and do all your usual outdoor exercises? Then, you’re also missing out on the great benefits from being active—such as a stronger heart, more energy, a smaller waistline, a brighter mood and less stress. Luckily, there are lots of easy, inexpensive ways to make indoor workouts just as enjoyable as outdoor ones:
Feel like you’re too pooped to work out? It may not be your body that needs recharging—it could be your mind. In a British study, volunteers who were asked to do a mentally tiring task before riding a 
Playing with your cat or dog doesn’t just strengthen the bond you share, it’s key to keeping your pet’s weight down, which can add years to its life. And animal experts say that getting even the laziest furry friend up and playing is easy. The trick? Play the way they like to play! Think you’re doing that already? Maybe not. For… 
Think you’d by happier if you got a nose job, won the lottery or became famous? Surprise! A new study shows it would actually make you miserable! The proof: When University of Rochester researchers 
According to new University of Western Ontario research, cranking up the volume of your favorite up-tempo work-out tunes makes exercise feel less strenuous, 
Weather too cold to exercise outdoors? Schedule too crazed to fit in an indoor workout? Here are easy ways to tone your body in minutes a day, says Loyola University’s Center for Fitness special programs director Kara Smith: