The weather is finally getting cooler, but that’s not an excuse to stay inside! This is the perfect time to get out and exercise – walk around the neighborhood or local park, play outside with your kids or take to one of the thousands of hiking trails in our area.Most of us associate exercise with a desire or goal to lose weight. It’s true that increasing your exercise – in combination with a healthy diet – may help you shed those excess pounds, but the benefits of an active lifestyle as a habit go beyond losing weight.Once exercise becomes as regular as going to the grocery store or watching your favorite TV show, you will reap the long-term benefits of an active lifestyle. Here are three key reasons to make the switch from a sedentary to an active lifestyle:1. Stress ReductionEven minimal exercise can stimulate the production of endorphins in the body. Endorphins are chemicals released by the brain during exercise that help reduce stress, lift mood, improve sleep, and help with chronic pain.2. Heart HealthHeart disease is the #1 killer in our country. Exercising 30 minutes a day/5 times a week is enough to help you prevent heart disease. Start with a little each day and work your way up to the recommended amount of exercise.3. PreventionRegular exercise as part of an active lifestyle reduces your risk of many common conditions including heart disease, hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes and obesity. Regular exercise also boosts your immune system making you less likely to succumb to the flu and common colds that run rampant this time of year.Whether you work out from time to time or haven’t been active in years, one thing remains true: there is no time like the present! Start today. Find an activity you enjoy and make it a part of your regular routine; start slow to prevent injury and increase at your own pace. Your body will thank you!