Why Exercise if You're Skinny?

This blog is some tough love for the skinny Minnies out there. The ones who have a "naturally high metabolism," can eat a bowl of pasta and a pint of ice cream in one sitting, watch TV and sit all day and grumble about climbing a flight of stairs. You know the type, and maybe you are the type. Supposedly diet and lifestyle keep these fitness anomalies in shape. And well into middle age they seem to be almost oppressively skinny without doing much work to maintain their figure. As blessed as these types may be your pant size isn't a get out of gym free card.  You still need to exercise. Why?

1. Sedentary lifestyles tend to lead to more injuries. If you're inactive your muscles don't know how to move and are more likely to overexert themselves when you do happen to move quickly or pick up something heavy.

2. Looking good isn't health. It can be a good indicator of health but real wellness is measured by your "inside and out" health. Exercise is important for keeping your body functioning properly, even if you can still squeeze into an XS from the Gap.

3. It makes you happy. Your brain is widely affected by physical activity. Exercise can make you more focused, less depressed, and more alert throughout the day.

4. You may not always be "naturally thin." Yes, that spell may wear off one day or your eating may catch up to you. If you've never worked out or been active it's harder to start later. Being active from a young age will develop the abilities your body needs to maintain a healthy weight even when your youthful metabolism wears off.

5. You never know when you'll need to lift something heavy. Being thin is great if you need to wear couture or walk a runway but real people need muscle. Even if you don't want to bulk up it's important to keep yourself toned because muscle is what holds us together.

6. Being underweight can cause just as many problems as being overweight. Working out keeps you metabolism going and you body processing and using energy. And it may require you eat more but you'll look and feel more nourished if you eat more of the right kinds of foods.