by Michael Framberger

Can becoming Happier make you Healthier?
Can Becoming Healthier make you Happier?
Can becoming Happier and Healthier make you Wealthier?
The answer to all three is YES!

Exercise is a proven depression buster and, along with good food choices, is one of the best ways to combat stress and illness. The benefits of exercise include reducing your risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis and obesity. It helps keep joints, ligaments and tendons flexible helping to avoid injury and can help reduce the effects of aging. Exercise improves oxygen uptake and improves mental well being and circulation. Exercise increases your endurance and energy levels; jump starts your metabolism and helps you sleep better. You can show significant reductions in disease risk factors in as little as six weeks, and many people can reduce or eliminate many common prescription drugs. Research indicates that over 75% of all physicians’ office visits are due to conditions that are stress related. In one recent study, people diagnosed with clinical depression had a 47% reduction in symptoms after 12 weeks of moderately intense aerobic exercise three to five times a week.

But, I am not clinically depressed you might say. Wonderful, then you can improve even more. Exercise will help tone you and make you look better. When you look better, your self-confidence will improve and you will feel better. When you look and feel better, you will be better. Increased self-confidence will improve all areas of your life and that will in turn make you happier. It will improve your relationship, including your love life!

But what about Wealthier? True wealth is Happiness and Health. However, there is also considerable evidence that being fit and mentally well adjusted will contribute to material wealth building. You will pay less in medical bills by being healthier, miss less work and be more productive while at work, be able to work longer and enjoy it more. Repeated studies have shown that thin, healthy people earn more and are more likely to get promotions. Increased self-confidence and energy are often cited as the reasons, and the more fit you are, the greater your chances for advancement.

So, how do you achieve the magic described? It is not available in pill form so you have to get out and sweat. If that doesn’t sound like fun, you are not doing it right. Exercise for the sake of exercise can be boring, discouraging, and difficult to continue. Getting involved in a running, biking, swimming, or triathlon club can be a richly rewarding experience. It will not only lead to improved health and happiness, but will allow you to make new friendships and develop a sense of community. Many of the clubs donate significant proceed to charities and the events allow programs in your community to supply significant financial and medical support for those that need it most. Your participation in organized events not only improves your happiness and health, but also builds a life legacy, in that your contributions are cherished by those who are touched by your efforts.

You simply cannot achieve that by sitting on the couch and watching television, or surfing the internet. So, what are you waiting for? Do some research and find a club in your area to participate in. Encourage your co-workers to join you in a fund-raising event, make it a wellness activity for the company, and have a company-sponsored team. It will build camaraderie and mutual respect and give the company some added publicity and good will. Get your family involved so that your children get into the exercise habit and avoid the childhood obesity epidemic. Making exercise a family focus will mitigate many of the problems faced by children today. It will allow you to spend quality time together and it will start them on a road to happiness, health and wealth.

So remember—Get Happy Get Healthy Be Wealthy—It’s Your Choice!

If you can’t Run, Bike and Swim, watch for Walk, Trike, and Paddle coming soon!