It kind of defies logic that you could get MORE energy from exercising.

Doesn't walking a couple of miles wear you out, not raise your concentration and get you moving?

For most people this is the case. They walk, run or exercise only to find themselves whipped, sore and bruised.

It doesn't have to be this way. You don't have to go through your life with little energy--just enough to make it through the day and then crash on the couch.

I've spoken to many long distance runners and athletes who have supported what I know as a trainer and athlete--they all say that they feel GREAT after a long run or a tough workout.

So why are you feeling beat up?

I'll tell you in the simplest terms possible--your body isn't adjusted to activity.

In the first two parts of this series on body awareness, I spoke about how food affects your energy levels. Now I want to address how the physiology of exercise can tune you into what your body is doing when you workout, so your energy levels will skyrocket.

Yes, that is entirely possible.

The awareness of your body functions and how they create energy lead to a very tangible and logical connection between why you should start some exercise routine and the direct affect that routine has on your quality of life.

Increasing your body's knowledge and addressing your energy levels and how they build through exercise will take you to a level of heightened awareness and to the enriched and energized daily experience of good health and fitness.

Here's the meat of it.

When you don't exercise, you're muscles take a break. Sort of like everyone does on the weekend. Not working? Forget answering the phone. Same with your muscles, not working out? They're not doing squat.

It's a simple analogy... the only exception to it is that YOU go back to work on Monday. Your LAZY MUSCLES don't start work again until you put them to work.

So here's what happens while they are taking this extended vacation.

In each of your muscle cells there are little organelles called mitochondria. These little guys make the energy for your cells to use in their everyday functions, including your activity and exercise. That stuff is called ATP.

When you are inactive, your body gets smart and the number of mitochondria are reduced. If your not using them and don't need them all, your body gets rid of them. Sort of like corporate layoffs or downsizing for efficiency.

So here you are, inactive with fewer mitochondria, and you decide you need to do something about your health and start to exercise. What happens at first is that you feel like garbage after you exercise, because your body hasn't made the energy adjustments yet. You are still in hibernation mode.

After some time and when exercise becomes a routine, your body realizes that you're back on the go and starts to create more mitochondria to handle to workload and supply enough energy for you.

So now you have more mitochondria, more energy, feel better after you exercise and your body has adjusted to a state where your energy stores are readily available. Those mitochondria don't just stop producing energy when you stop exercising, they're now there to stay--just as long as you continue to exercise.

The most exciting part of this process is that you'll know when this all has happened. You'll feel lighter. You'll be more focused. You'll smile more. These special little mitochondria can help with depression, mood swings and binges. All you need to do is move around a bit, get your body adjusted to some exercise and you'll feel fantastic!