Cross section showing changes to internal organs after weight loss

Are you ready to start your own exercise plan? We have reviewed some of the most popular plans for beginners who want to try yoga, swimming, walking, jogging, and working out with weights. Remember to alert your doctor that you plan to start a new exercise routine, especially if you have not been active recently. Your specific biomarkers could be a factor in making your best choice of activity.

This series of images illustrates diet and lifestyle changes that help maintain cardiovascular health, and which may actually help improve existing damage. From left to right: 1) A woman eats an apple, with visible cardiovascular system and digestive system. 2) Fresh vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, are high in fiber which helps keep blood lipid levels healthy. 3) Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are better for heart health than trans fats and saturated fats. Good sources include those shown: nuts, seeds, olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids like those found in salmon. 4) A woman takes a vigorous walk with muscles, skeletal bones and heart visible. Regular exercise in combination with a heart-healthy diet helps keep your heart and blood vessels in top condition.

Regular physical activity makes you look and feel better. More than that, it keeps your body healthy, and a healthy body can fend off disease much better than an unhealthy body. If you need to lose weight, many experts feel that exercise is better for you than dieting, because it's sustainable over the long term and provides lasting benefits.

Stress can be a major factor in depression and anxiety, which frequently occur together. If you have depression it makes sense to alleviate stress as much as possible. Physiological stress is brought on by the action of your sympathetic nervous system. When you feel threatened or are in a dangerous situation, the sympathetic nervous system’s “fight or flight” response takes over. This happens primarily through adrenergic stimulation, which involves the neurotransmitters epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and others. Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis produces the “stress hormone,” cortisol.

Break the Cycle and Peel the Layers of Fat Off