1) Fitness and exercise prevent heart disease. That is a proven fact, and yet more Americans than ever are suffering from obesity and type two diabetes are considered an epidemic in the United States. If you are overweight, and especially if you are obese, or if you've been diagnosed with diabetes, then listen to your doctor and begin a regular fitness and exercise program. You'll be glad you did.

One of the benefits of fitness and exercise, as any physician will tell you, it that fitness and exercise help control blood sugar. A diabetic who takes medication daily may find that less medication is needed with a regular fitness and exercise program. Many diabetics who stay with fitness and exercise programs find that they are able to quit the medication and get their diabetes under control in a totally natural way.

Triglycerides are also too high for most Americans. High triglycerides are linked to heart disease, including heart attacks and strokes. A great natural way to reduce your level of triglycerides is to simply begin and stick with a fitness and exercise program, while eating a sensible diet. Triglycerides at too high a level are also linked to high blood sugar, and it is common for diabetics to have high triglyceride levels. Therefore, in this case fitness and exercise can take care of two potential health risks at the same time.

Many people have marveled at the way being over weight has become an American way of life, and wondered what caused it. Many point to sedentary lifestyles, working in front of computers, and watching too much television. In addition, many Americans eat diets high in fat and carbohydrates. Whatever the root causes fitness and exercise can be a major part of the cure for this problem. Engaging in physical activity, increasing the heart rate, and just getting active can help a person loose weight, control triglyceride levels and improve diabetes and should not be ignored. Parents should restrict time spent by children with video games or watching television and encourage them to engage in fitness and exercise the way children in past generations have, playing games like baseball, basketball and jump rope. Children who learn the benefits of fitness and exercise at an early age will go into adults, who enjoy fitness and exercise, lead healthier lifestyles and tend to live longer, healthier and obviously happier lives.

2) Fitness and Exercise Gain Popularity

Fitness and exercise are gaining popularity in our culture for many reasons. Reactions against the sedentary lifestyles Americans have lived for decades, a rash of type two diabetes with people engaging in fitness and exercise to improve their conditions, parents encouraging youngsters to get up and away from the television and work out, and the baby boomers, pursuing fitness and exercise as they age, to allow them to enjoy their advanced years. Regardless of the reasons, many Americans take fitness and exercise very seriously.

Ways, in which Americans engage in fitness and exercise activities are varied and show the diversity of both the population and their interests. Many people go to gyms or athletic clubs. Others participate in sports events that they enjoy. Fitness and exercise activities can include bowling, racquet sports like squash, golf, summer softball leagues, horseshoes, hiking, horseback riding, and many other fun things to do. Fitness and exercise activities in American have many faces.

One of the most popular fitness and exercise activities is simply walking. Many people of all ages enjoy taking a brisk walk every day. This simple fitness and exercise activity can be done by almost anyone. So many Americans are walking these days that magazines are published devoted to the activity. Generally Americans are not as organized as their European cousins when in comes to walking. In Germany, one of the most popular weekend fitness and exercise activities is the volksmarch, or people's march. When a volksmarch occurs, people of all ages gather together to take a day long, or half day long walk through a town or a country location, stopping to share a meal along the way. They combine fitness and exercise with social activity, and everyone has a great time.

Americans may not be ready for the volksmarch yet, but they find many other fitness and exercise options to their liking. Golf is more popular now than any time in history. Tennis is making a popularity comeback. Even martial arts are fitness and exercise choices for many. For Americans the important thing about fitness and exercise is to do something and make sure that the something you do is something you enjoy. Fitness and exercise will lead to a longer and healthier life, and give a great deal of fun to the participants along the way.

3) Fitness and Exercise-- Can Extend Life

Physical fitness and exercise can extend life, and perhaps fitness that is even more beneficial and exercise can ensure that a person's years of life are more productive, more pleasant, and more enjoyable, and who would not want their years of life to be enjoyable? Fitness and exercise seem like a small price to pay for such great rewards.

The first step in a fitness and exercise program is in deciding what type of exercise you enjoy. Fitness and exercise needs to become a lifestyle and that are more likely to happen if you engage in activities you consider fun. Do you enjoy swimming, hiking, walking, running, racquetball, tennis, golf, or any other sports? Are you the type of person who enjoys lifting weights, or using the Stairmaster machine at the local gym? Everyone has different tastes when it comes to fitness and exercise. Deciding on the activity that is right for you is the first step.

Next, make sure that you don't overdue it. Many people rush into a fitness and exercise program and over due it the first day, leading to sore muscles and aching backs. When that happens, they are much less likely to continue their fitness and exercise program. Moderation is important in a fitness and exercise program. Also, if you are extremely out of shape when you begin your activity, you need to start out at a slower place than you would if you were moderately in shape. If possible, get advice from your doctor or another healthcare professional or physical fitness instructor before beginning your fitness and exercise program, and find out what is right for you.

For many people ten minutes of brisk walking every other day is enough to get started. This can gradually be advanced to fifteen minutes, and then twenty. The important thing with fitness and exercise is to stay with it. The more you do, over time, the more "in shape" you will become and the more you'll be able to do. Right now six months seems like a long time, but if you begin a fitness and exercise program now, six months will come and go quickly and you'll see a noticeable difference in your fitness level, your stamina and the way you feel.