Exercise Makes Me Happy

Benefits of a Regular Exercise Routine:

1.  Allows you to feel more confident with your body
2.  Improves your sex life
3.  Improves circulation
4.  Boosts your mood
5.  Prevents bone loss
6.  Helps you sleep better by falling asleep faster and sleeping more soundly
7.  Prevents and manages high blood pressure and cholesterol levels
8.  Helps manage stress by boosting good endorphins and regulating hormones
9.  Helps with pain management
10.  Increases muscle strength
11.  Helps in the battle to quit smoking
12.  Reduces risk of stroke and coronary artery disease
13.  Delays the aging process and maintains quality of life
14.  Allows seniors to maintain their independence longer
15.  Provides a way to share activities with family and friends
16.  Counters anxiety and depression
17.  Releases tension
18.  Improves memory and brain function
19.  Stabilizes blood sugar levels
20.  Burns fat and calories
21.  Improves learning
22.  Keeps Alzheimer's at bay
23.  Improves the complexion of your skin
24.  Lowers your resting heart rate
25.  Aids in weight loss
26.  Boosts the immune system
27.  Enhanced sport performance
28.  Reduce risk of some cancers
29.  Improves self esteem
30.  Allows you to meet new people
31.  Brings you to new places and locations
32.  Provides you with opportunity to explore
33.  You are able to try new activities
34.  It allows you to push your body to the limit
35.  Exercise makes you happy :)

Exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy... happy people just don't shoot their husbands.  -Elle Woods, Legally Blonde

Get Motivated | Do the Work | See Results

Enjoy some of my motivational finds of the day... What motivates you to do more?  Thanks to all who provided these pictures and quotes as inspiration and motivation to people like me!  My goal is to be a fitspiration to others in order to see individuals live their life, the best that it can be!  

oxox, Em

Are Fashion Models "Too Skinny"?

A new, controversial Israeli law has taken effect as of Jan 1, 2013.  The law bans models who are "too skinny" in an effort to focus on health and wellness.  In a perfect world, I think the idea is great... but will it hold its weight?

The law requires models to prove they have maintained a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 18.5 for 3 months prior to a fashion shoot or show.  This means that a 5'8" woman can weight 119 pounds minimum or a model who is 5'10 can be no less than 129 pounds.  The law also requires advertisers to disclose if they have retouched or doctored the photos.

I could not be more thrilled with this law.  I truly believe that young innocent women look up to fashion models and try to emulate their look, style, and of course, their thinness.  Another point to look at, it takes the pressure off the model herself.  Instead of "dieting to death", a model can focus on a healthy, balanced diet and exercise to get the look they want.  Not to mention, most models are still kids themselves, a lot even being under 16!  I only wish we knew how often these lovely young women have honestly been told... "you just need to lose a few more pounds"... but do they really??

Despite all of us who want to congratulate and provide praise for this act, it has also brought a lot of controversy. Some critics say that this law is misguided and is focusing on weight instead of health.  They say it is doomed to fail due to the muscle of the fashion industry.  

Unfortunately designers are the true artists and they want to see women who look like young boys and it will take an awful lot to change their vision.  Can we change their minds with a law?

Even if the media is not the reason of so many cases of Anorexia and Bulemia, can't this law only help in the fight to help those with an eating disorder?  I know this is only a step in the right direction, and the next thing to do would be to educate the population, but so far that approach just hasn't worked yet either.

So what do you think... Are models too skinny?  Are the underweight women shown in the media serving as the main role model for innocent young people?  And do you think that a fashion model should be required to maintain a minimum weight and should even be turned away in the event of being "too skinny"?

oxox, Em

*pictures from google