Do you exercise?
Exercise is important for everyone, regardless of age or gender, but women have an extra incentive to stay fit, as resistance training really does help us keep our bones almost as strong as Wolverine's. It also doesn't take as much time as you think: 30 minutes a few times a week (I know this is impossible for some people).
Benefits of exercise include:
1. Weight control (along with a healthy diet), which also can help with --
2. Manages (or even helps prevents) certain health conditions and diseases.
3. Endorphins give us an emotional boost. Not quite as much as an orgasm, but there can be a legit "high."
4. More energy!
5. Improves sleep patterns.
6. Raises self image and self esteem.
on edit:
7. It something you can do with family and friends.
= new reply since forum marked as read
And running isn't the only exercise you can do. Walking is a great alternative (and much easier on the joints). I like to walk with a purpose, though. I do my errands on foot (store, library, university) and it really is a wonderful way to get your blood moving without pushing yourself so much. And I DON'T do that dopey power walking! 
but the neck injury has caused me so much grief I would certainly tell anyone who has had a head injury in a wreck that whiplash can come back to haunt you even 2 years later. I wish I would have demanded physical therapy right then. I have the best physical therapist, when I told her the neurosurgeon said I may never get use of my neck back she blurted out a bad word and has been sending me to colleagues for second and third opinions. We shall see what happens. 
I stopped to get iron (everything I grow is acid-loving 
) and I ended up with another fuchsia ...
It's not really gardening if they're all in pots. Even if some of them are in really BIG pots! (and small ones ... also started three more bonsai today HELP ME!)
Mid 40s here, too but it's been going on for 30 years. Trying the PRP because I've had my lifetime limit of cortisone shots. Today was my third and final injection - I'll let you know in 6-8 weeks if it worked! It's being used for soft tissue and bony problems; if your insurance covers it, it's worth investigating since it has the potential to heal damage.
Last edited Tue Jul 17, 2012, 05:52 PM - Edit history (3)
I'm an extremely active person, have lived in rural areas all my life, (but was not always in a rural area when I was working), power walk at least 3 miles almost every day, vegetarian (mostly whole foods but like some processed soy products, fruits and veggies, cheese, occasional fish), take complete EFA oils every day, natural multi-vitamins every day, non-smoker, no "recreational" drugs, light to moderate alcohol use, no soft drinks that have HFCS in them, eat very little sugar except for occasional binges almost never eat anything with artificial ingredients, drink a lot of only purified/well/spring water, occasional stevia sweetened soft drink, 100% fruit juice, coffee, and (mostly occasional) alcoholic drink, avoid chemicals like the plague, and blah blah blah ad nauseum.
I'm a little below average weight for my height, been called a disgustingly happy person, generally sleep well, vitals (BP, pulse, blood oxygen, cholesterol) are in normal range, all my lab tests are normal or better, mammogram no lumps, have not had a cold or flu for about 4 years, never do flu vaccines, no STD's, no allergies, always have lots of energy. I have no problem spending 4-6 hours frolicking in a warm ocean and can generally backpack 10 or more miles a day on a medium difficulty trail with a 35-40 lb pack without collapsing.
I have 2 grandchildren, have all my teeth, 20/20 vision, don't need reading glasses, have almost no gray hair (what I do have was primarily the result of when my boys were in their teens.
Knock on wood. Every day that I wake up with no health problems is another awesome day.
Coffee is my addiction drink 3 - 4 cups every morning, tried to give it up years ago, but that turned out to not be an option.
I may not be the brightest candle on the altar, but at least I'm pretty healthy for now.
Can't say if exercise and reasonably good diet over the past 20 years has been responsible for my good overall health up to this point, but it seems to work for me, and I'm definitely going to keep on doing what I'm doing until I can't do it anymore.
The thing is, I spent a good part of my life working in a profession where substance abuse was part of the general accepted lifestyle, and when I was younger I pretty seriously abused my body with cigarettes, lots of strong herb, sporadic and often excessive non-addict cocaine and alcohol abuse, with bouts and binges of other substances, stayed up late and too often all night.
I'm probably lucky to be alive after that, and maybe my healthy lifestyle now is the reason I am.
30-40 mins of cardio, 30-40 mins of free weights/machines. 4 days per week min.
I know I'm light on cardio.. I'm lazy 
totally agree with your listed benefits... I would add, helps maintains bone mass, more important for older
females than males, but helps guys, too
definitely helps with sleep.
I think if more people exercised, there'd be alot less drug prescriptions written.
My GF stopped exercising 6 mos. ago.... feels crappy now, always tired, doesn't sleep well, etc.
we used to do 2 mile walks together.. now it's me and my IPod 
This is not me. It's someone I love:
Does it look he's not getting enough exercise? It didn't stop him from suffering from a genetic disease, for which he must take prescription meds.
I also have a disease for which I take a pound-o-pills daily. No one knows exactly what causes this kidney disease, but it isn't lack of exercise.
Those of us with chronic illnesses didn't do it to ourselves. Really.
Not aimed at you, o2012 - and I purposely made the photo creepy when I made it anonymous because it made me laugh
