Exercise the Subject of Exercise

¶ … Exercise

The subject of exercise has been consistently brought to the forefront, as it is the focus of increasing attention and discussion. This however is nothing new, as interest has begun to wane, with it suddenly becoming topical once more. To answer the question of: who exercises and why, requires understanding the various reasons for an individual choosing to exercise. Once this takes place, it will provide the greatest insights as to the overall benefits and drawbacks of exercising.

Who Exercises?

Simply put, exercise is any bodily activity, which enhances / maintains physical fitness, and health / wellness. It consists of two popular types: aerobic and isometric. Each of these can be of three different intensities to include: light, moderate, and vigorous. The people, who are considered to be active, would be those that exercise at least three times a week for 20 minutes a day. (Wellikson, L., 1987, pg. 216)

There are a wide variety of individuals from all walks of life who exercise. This can vary from participating various sports (such as: football, baseball or running) to taking a brisk walk. In some cases, individuals are choosing to exercise as part of a consistent effort, while at other times this could be considered a reality of everyday life. For example, someone who is exercising as part of their career would be doing so for different reasons, in comparison with an individual who chooses to do so. In this case, individuals that are required to exercise as a part of their career; must be able to deal with the rigorous challenges that their body could be forced to endure (i.e. A solider or professional athlete). This is important, because it shows how someone will exercise based on a necessity for their career field. Where, there could be those individuals who are exercising, yet they might not enjoy it. When you compare this to someone who exercising because of personal choice, they are doing so for: health reasons, socialization and enjoyment. This is significant because it shows, how there are wide variety of reasons as to why someone will exercise. In some cases, it is for a host of motivations, while others is based on select factors.

Why do people exercise?

There are a wide variety of reasons as to why someone will exercise some of the most notable include: weight control and improved circulation. The way exercise helps to improve weight control is from increased physical activity, which helps to augment the effects of: burning calories and fat. Individuals from a number of different backgrounds will exercise for a host of different reasons. In some cases, there are people who are not obese, but will exercise as way to maintain their current weight levels. However, there are also those times that overweight and obese individuals will exercise. In this situation, the exercise along with a combination of proper diet can help to reduce the load in people who are overweight / obese. Where, this increases the risk of certain illnesses such as: type 2 diabetes and hypertension. (Frontera, 2006, pg. 101) This is significant, because it shows how exercise is used for a variety a reasons. While they are basically the same (to improve / maintain health), the fact of the matter is, that each person has different motivations as to why they are exercising.

A second reason why people are exercising is: to see improved cardiovascular circulation. This reduces the risks of: stroke, heart disease, and other cardiovascular problems. (Frontera, 2006, pg. 100) As it has been proven by research, that exercise keeps blood vessels "young" and it prevents the arteries from becoming clogged. At the same time, this helps to improve blood circulation, as it increases HDL cholesterol production (good cholesterol). This in turn, reduces and removes LDL (bad cholesterol) from the arteries, thereby negating the buildup of plaque, which could block them (leading to a stroke or heart attack). (Goodger, B. 2005, pg, 41). This is important, because it shows how exercise can help improve the underlying levels of health in all individuals. As result, this is biggest reason why everyone will exercise, as they want to improve / maintain this in some way.

Conclusion