The ability to handle and deal with the stresses of everyday life is easier to achieve for someone who is both physically and mentally fit.
We must make sure that we take time out to relieve the stress in our lives and give our bodies adequate relaxation by removing ourselves from the causes of our own personal stress.
It can be merely an hour spent doing relaxation exercises or even taking a hot bath.
Exerting yourself in physical exercise is often the catalyst you need to increase weight loss over and above purely dieting.
For anyone attempting to lose weight, the advantages of becoming fitter far outweigh any loss of personal time quite possibly spent reclined in front of the television.
It is not only beneficial to your body, especially when you are trying to cut back on your food intake, it also gives you something constructive to do.
You will find that exercise also decreases your desire for eating, increases your fluid intake and more importantly it will help your blood circulate much better.
You will also obtain the peace of mind that comes from realising your body is in top condition and ready to deal with anything that life can throw at you.
This feeling is priceless.
You will have a great feeling of accomplishment if at the end of every day you can look back and know that you have made an investment in yourself and your future health.
You will be able to see a difference in a relatively short space of time if you only add 20 to 30 minutes exercise into a daily routine.
Walking is a great gentle way to start an exercise regime.
Be prepared to walk more than you do at the moment.
In this age of modern transport it is far easier to use the car, get the bus or train.
If you need to use transport consider parking the car a little further away or getting off the bus a few stops earlier than normal.
Walking is one of the most suggested forms of exercises by the medical profession.
They believe in repetitive gentle exercise as opposed to a hard muscle building program in the gym which in some cases can do more harm than good.
A regular exercise regime will increase you energy levels which is one of the greatest benefits of a fitter body.
Further benefits in having a fitter body is an increase in self esteem and confidence in your appearance.
In a fit and healthy individual it shows in how they look, how they interact with others and the pleasure they get from their daily activities.
To complement your new found bodily fitness you will also have to ensure that your mental fitness is considered as part and parcel of the total package.
Many age-related mental disorders occur because we haven't taken the time or effort to keep our minds youthful and involved in any new learning processes.
By taking on new learning tasks we are forcing our mind to form new neural pathways.
We need these for the transfer of information from the mind to the body and in the construction of new memories.
If we don't keep the mind fit we lose the body fitness.
Another benefit is that it will enable us to participate as a productive member of society, hopefully, well into our retirement years.
For many older people, by keeping their minds and bodies active it will enable them to carry on in their chosen profession and continue to enjoy their lives to the full.
Remember, if you are considering an exercise or dieting program you should consider consulting your medical practitioner or nutritionist.