While recently reading Coven Bailey's newest book, "Smart Exercise", I realized I was chanting "Yes! Yes! Oh yes! It's true, it's true."

What was I reading? " We're born with a fabulous machine that is able to repair itself almost like magic. All you have to do is exercise, and your machine gets healthier. Imagine owning a car that tuned itself up every time you drove it! Your wonderful body machine will run better and better the more you exercise it. I think exercise can cure almost everything.''

Well, "everything" is a bit of an exaggeration, but I do believe Covert is right. People that exercise regularly are healthier, heal faster, and live "better'' (if not longer) than the average person.

Being fit also makes up for imperfections of the body. I am challenged with one leg that is shorter than the other, curvature of the lower spine and collapsed arches which cause strain on my knees. If I did not exercise, these imperfections would create daily fatigue and pain for me.

Here are three aspects of exercise that may get you on your feet-- or keep you on them.

Weight bearing exercise increases bone density making them stronger. Fit people heal better and faster. Increased bone density and healthy blood flow improve healing.

While teaching a racewalking class recently, we passed a guy jogging with his arm in a sling. One of the walkers commented, "Either he's a nut or a very dedicated runner." If he had been pushing fast and hard, swinging that injured arm, I would have voted "irresponsible nut".

But, he was jogging at a moderate pace (by the looks of him, I suspect he normally went at a pretty good clip). He held his arm secure. Instead I thought, that injury must be an inconvenience and a hassle right now -- a stress enhancer. He's doing the one thing guaranteed to release his stress -- move his body !

Even when you don't work hard, just getting "out there" relieves stress.

Therefore, it would seem fair to conclude; a fit person gets fewer colds and flues. This appears especially true when an individuals fitness program is tied into a balanced lifestyle and healthy attitude toward fitness. Too much exercise is just as hard on the body as too little. (This topic is so important, I will address it in a future issue in more detail.)

We don't actually have numbers to support the fact that fit people live longer, but I know they do live better each day. On the flip side, we do have the statistics and numbers that show unfit people die younger and suffer from more degenerative diseases than their fit friends.

In the past, viruses and germs killed millions (polio, TB, Black Plague), today we're dying of degenerative disease like cancer, diabetes, heart disease (often called "lifestyle diseases").

Sedentary people lead life at a lower quality, with less vitality. A fit 70 year old can live independently, go for walks, shop and have fun. (OK-- forget the 70-year-old-- how about a fit 40, 50, or 60-year old?) Day to day it's really about quality of life. Can you afford not to exercise? Start slow, but start. Walk, bike, swim -- whatever it takes.

Don't have time? Remember, we make time for what's important. What's more important than your health?

CALL US: 888.LIF.WALK

Kate is a senior partner with CLC, Inc.