Health and Fitness

Starting anything new can be a challenge — whether it’s an exercise regimen, a job, a diet, or a household routine.

Sausages fried in butter. Sugar-coated cereal. Strawberry milk. Sometimes a toaster pastry. That was the breakfast that many of us in my generation routinely had each morning, and no one gave it a second thought. And if you did, you were probably in the minority; a “health nut.”

Along with color-coding my closet and bookshelves, meal planning is one of my (seemingly unattainable) life goals.

No matter when you start, exercise can improve your health in just about every way. At the Greater Philadelphia YMCA, we have seen firsthand how exercise can change people's lives — here's a look at some of the benefits.