Need some motivation? Get plenty here! Here are ten very good reasons why should kick yourself in the butt and be inspired to start working out...right now!

Don't Just Sit There…Get to the Gym!

Excuses, excuses, excuses. You don’t have time to work out. You’ll start working out tomorrow. It’s raining. It’s snowing. Jupiter isn’t in the proper alignment with Mars. You come up with lots of excuses to avoid getting down to the gym, but deep down inside you know they are just that – excuses! Here are 10 reasons to get off your lazy butt and start working out today.

#1. Your Immune System Will Be Stronger

Working out helps you avoid and combat a long list of illnesses. People who work out regularly have less risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Exercise boosts high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (a type of cholesterol that flushes bad fats or low-density cholesterol out of the body) and lowers low-density cholesterol.

Working out also helps to prevent or lower blood pressure in those afflicted by the disease. No one can escape the common cold, but people who work out regularly get over colds faster than those who don’t.

#2. You Can Stave Off Depression

Any type of movement alleviates feelings of depression. In a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 156 men and women with depression were divided into three groups. One group performed only aerobic exercises, another group took an antidepressant and the last group performed aerobic exercises and took antidepressant drugs. All three groups showed a 60-70% improvement in depressive symptoms. This clearly indicates that exercise can be used instead of drugs in the treatment of depression.

#3. You Will Lose Weight

Weight loss is based on a scientific principle. In order to lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume. Exercise will help you lose weight because it burns calories. If you exercise and your diet remains exactly the same, you will shed those excess pounds. In addition to helping you lose weight, it can help you keep off the pounds you lost. A regular workout routine will help you burn extra calories and this will help you maintain your weight.

#4. You Will Feel More Energetic

If you aren’t in the habit of working out, every day, mundane chores can be taxing. A trip to the grocery store or a climb up a flight of stairs may make you feel like you’ve just run a marathon. However, if you work out regularly you will improve muscle strength and your cardiovascular system will be stronger. You will have more energy for shopping, cleaning, and just taking walks with family and friends.

#5. Your IQ Will Be Higher

Scientists have found a direct correlation between physical fitness and IQ. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Sweden studied 1.2 million Swedish men enrolled in the military. At the start of their service, these men were given physical fitness and intelligence tests. These tests revealed an IQ that was higher among those in the military than non-listed men. This increase in IQ was attributed to higher oxygen levels in the brain among those that exercise regularly.

#6. Your Sex Life Will Get Better

Engaging in exercise regularly directly affects your sex life. Females who exercise regularly are more easily aroused than those who lead a sedentary life. Men who work out regularly decrease the likelihood that they will suffer from sexual problems like erectile dysfunction.

#7. You Will Sleep Better

If you suffer from insomnia or have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, a regular exercise routine may help you overcome these problems. People who exercise regularly tend to fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply than those who don’t.

#8. You Will Feel More Confident

Any type of workout involves goal setting. Weight training, running, and walking all involve goals that you purposely set, or goals that you will set. The body naturally adapts to exercise, getting stronger and faster. So it doesn't matter if you set a goal or not, your body will want to do more. Today you will lift 50 pounds and next month you’ll lift 55. As you gradually improve, you’ll get more confident in your abilities. This confidence will transfer to your job, family, friends and friends you haven’t yet met.

#9. You Will Be More Creative

In a study published by the Journal Frontiers in Neuroscience, a group of participants who regularly exercised were compared to a group of non-exercisers. Both groups rode a stationary bike and then were given creativity tests. The group who exercised regularly scored higher in those tests than the group of non-exercisers.

#10. You Will Look Fantastic!

Exercise will help you lose weight, tone your body and feel better. Most people admire a slim, toned body, so it will help you become more attractive. You’ll feel better so you will smile more. A smile is contagious, so not only will people be attracted to you because of your body, they will be more drawn to you to find out why you’re smiling so much.

Tomorrow Never Comes…Start Today!

The time for excuses has come to an end. Working out has too many benefits to let an excuse come in between you and great health, better sleep, a higher IQ and more confidence. The next time you see that Jupiter is not in the proper alignment with Mars just say, “I don’t give a damn, I’m going to go workout anyway.”