Too lazy to exercise? It's easy to come up with excuses to skip that trip to the gym. But when it comes to staying fit, the benefits go way beyond a toned body. Here are some health facts to get you going:

1. Increasing Your Metabolism.

As we age, our muscle strength weakens. This rate of muscle loss will be much faster if we lead a sedentary lifestyle. Since muscle tissue burns more calories than fat, a decline in muscle tissues means that our metabolism dips. This explains our tendency to put on more pounds and why it becomes more and more difficult to shed them as we grow older. Here's how strength training will help: Strength training slows down muscle loss, rebuilds muscle and ups your metabolism.

2. Building Strong Bones.

Strength training or weight-bearing workouts also helps keep our bones strong by boosting bone density. In women, bone loss starts as early as when we're in our thirties, and this loss will be even greater after menopause. So by training with weights you'll actually be preventing osteoporosis in the long run.

3. Boosting Your Immune System.

Aerobic exercise gets your heart pumping and improves your blood circulation. When you have good circulation, disease-fighting antibodies can be transported efficiently around your entire body to fight off foreign bacteria and viruses. In fact, studies have shown that regular exercise can help lower your risk of developing colon and breast cancer.