Many of us live our lives as caged animals. We are designed to move but many times we put ourselves in our suburban cage. Our bodies are designed for running across the savannas, but we live a lifestyle simply migratinging from the bed to the breakfast table; to the car seat; to the office chair; to the restaurant; to the living room couch and back to the bed.



We sit in the car. We sit in the office. We sit in front of the television. We use elevators and escalators and we even try to find the closest parking space to the mall so we don't have to walk those extra few yards. We are getting lazy.

It was not always this way. Not so very long ago, a man who worked on a farm did the equivalent of 15 miles of jogging every day; and his wife did the equivalent of 7 miles of jogging.

Right now, our daily obligations of work and home keep many of us tied to our chairs, and when want to exercise, we have to make a concerted effort. The majority of health experts are of the firm belief that the obesity problem is caused at least as much by lack of exercise as by any eating disorder. It is very important that people stay active.

However, that does not mean that a lap or two around the old high school track will offset a daily dose of donuts and high fat content fried foods. Exercise alone is not very efficient, experts say. They contend that if you just exercise and do not change your diet, you may be able to prevent weight gain or even lose a few pounds for a while - but - you will not see any real weight loss.

But, it is not something that you are likely to keep going unless exercise is part of an overall weight loss program. The more you exercise, the simpler it is to maintain your weight. Here are some tips on what to do every day to ensure you get the exercise you need.

1. Make sure that you get the sleep your body needs. Good sleep habits are important to exercise, experts point out. If you are tired during the day, you are much less likely to get any physical activity. Also, there is strong evidence that tired people eat more food as they use it as a substitue for the rest they should be getting.

2. Walk the walk. This is, without doubt, the easiest exercise program of all. Walking may be all you ever have to do, as according to some health experts, this is the best exercise for many, many people. Slowly build up to at least 30 minutes of brisk walking five times a week. Brisk walks have health and psychological benefits that are well worth the small effort. Make walking part of your routine and you will soon find that you will come to love the time you spend walking every day and the pounds you lose.

3. Walk the treadmill. When the weather is bad, you might not feel like going outdoors. But if you have a treadmill in the television room, you can catch up on your favorite shows while you are doing your daily good turn for your weight-maintenance plan. Most of us watch television anyway, and indoor exercise equipment enables anyone to turn a sedentary activity into a healthy walk. If you can't have a treadmill in the house, then get to the gym. Don't be afraid, just get out there and do it.

4. There is only so much time. Excuses aside, modern lifestyles are hectic and sometimes exercise takes a back seat. Health experts suggest a basic guideline for incorporating exercise into your schedule is of a very high priority.

Get as much exercise as you can without it cutting into your work or family life. Remind yourself that you are preventing many health problems both short and long term.

You deserve to take some time for yourself. Use your valuable time to do a little exercise so you can stay fit and healthy for life.