Exercise. Three small syllables that can do your body, mind and spirit a world of good. I wondered, though, what exercise benefits motivated you the most. Here's what you had to say:

• 47 percent of you love how good exercise makes you feel. I think it's just great that so many of you find your reward internally.
  
• 40 percent exercise to control your weight. I know what you mean ... a tight pair of jeans certainly gets me moving!
  
• 9 percent are motivated by the reduced risk of chronic conditions. Exercise can help ward off so many conditions -- from heart disease to type 2 diabetes.
• 3 percent of you enjoy the energy boost exercise gives you.
  

My guess is that if there was an "all of the above" choice in the poll, it would have been the big winner. And that's the great thing about exercise. We don't have to pick and choose which rewards we get -- when you exercise, you reap all the benefits!

Are you still looking for the motivation to exercise? AOL Health has a rundown of the awesome benefits of exercise.

I'm trying to like running, really I am. Most of the time I do, and always, when I am done with my interval walk / run workout, I'm very glad I did it.

But sometimes, when I just don't feel like moving even an eyelash, let alone my whole body, I look for excuses -- any will do -- to skip my cardio workout.

Well, here's three less excuses I can use when I can't motivate my legs to move the rest of me into fitness. Apparently:

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When you think about the herb, thyme, what comes to mind? Probably rich, French country dishes, with so many calories and so much fat that it makes your hips bigger just thinking about it!

If you avoid cooking with this fragrant herb, though, you are missing out on thyme's amazing health benefits, like antioxidant power and antibacterial properties. Thyme is such a flavorful herb -- wouldn't it be nice to enjoy it in some healthy dishes?

Remember, you can substitute fresh thyme for dried in almost any recipe (just use a little less) to get more of the beneficial oils in the herb.

Wellness programs are gaining popularity with employers (about 1/3 of companies in the U.S. now offer them) and for many, it's a real blessing, after all who wouldn't want a free gym membership sitting out there that they can use or not, or free health screenings and flu shots available right on the job site?

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Time. Our greatest resource. I'll debate it with anyone. And I'll win.

Lack of it is responsible for most of what stresses us out. And taking it back is what makes us feel better. The idea of taking a few minutes to relax at the end of the day is possibly the most commonly given advice for recovering from a stressful day. Such a simple solution and so satisfying. But how often do you actually do it? Seems I witness more time spent complaining about now having time than taking time to shut up and relax.

And it makes a world of difference. However, those few minutes would not be quite as decadent for me if not for adding a glass of wine to the equation. Also pretty common, I know. Again, when's the last time? And it's not such a bad idea. In moderation, wine can actually be a good thing. It can even have an antioxidant effect. For some adding chocolate makes for the ultimate de-stress recipe.

So stop fretting that you don't have time or can't afford the calories and sit down with a bite or sip of something nice. For five minutes. OK, two. Whatever. The point is this: ridding ourselves of a day's stress isn't about large quantities of time, wine, chocolate or anything else. It's about coming up with your perfect recipe, whatever that may be. Just so long as it's small and simple.

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I recently started running again. Since completing the Kona Marathon six years ago this month, my stride has been very sporadic. I bought my first house, had my first kid, moved across the country and bought my second house. I lost my focus and began getting a workout in any way I could and with a variety of activities.

That hasn't been a bad thing, necessarily. But I realized a while back how much I missed the mental benefits of running. It may be hard on your knees, but it's sure great for your head. All exercise is supposed to be. But I've never experienced anything like the clarity, absence of depression and pure elation that running induces.

And for those of you out there that think running isn't for you or have tried to run a mile and given up, please reconsider. Save for those dreaded laps in junior high gym class, I had never incorporated running into my active life before training for that marathon. In my experience, the payoff is well worth the painful beginnings. Pretty soon, you'll hit your stride. And it doesn't matter if it's a slow one, either. Habitual marathoners are a whole lot thinner and faster than I am, but I've got a head that's every bit as healthy as theirs.

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Here at That's Fit, we've talked a bit about the merits of sunlight and Vitamin D, but a recent article at Prevention really sums up a number of reasons to "light up your life." You'll likely be well aware of some of the benefits of getting the right amount of light, but I think some of them will surprise you -- at least, they surprised me!

For example, did you know that you can use sunglasses to prevent jet lag? Or that using bright lights at night can affect your sleep?

Check out the gallery to see how light can help you improve your health.

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When I was about 35 pounds heavier, I used to think about my body all the time. I was constantly fretting over the parts I didn't like, wondering how I was going to change, stressing over food and agonizing over clothes. I was all-consumed. I spent so much time thinking about my body, that I kind of lost track of the more important things in life. I certainly must have been far less productive and thoughtful to others than I am now as well.

Throughout my fitness journey, which truly began when I started teaching group fitness classes at 15 years old....I have had many great and not-so-great moments with my body. I even enjoyed a few great years in my teens as a bulimic. Whoopee! (That was really the low point.) Having said that. Along the way, I've learned to enjoy a variety of challenging exercises and balance my fitness. I also learned to appreciate and enjoy produce more than Cheetos. I got a grip on eating right and now I never fret at all over what I put in my mouth. I simply make great choices most of the time.

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If you are a health-conscious individual, you may do a little "food math" in your head to determine if that piece of chocolate is worth eating. Or perhaps on the weekend you wonder how beneficial a beer might be. Food such as these can be enjoyed in moderation, but have you ever been curious as to how good or bad it is for you?

That's where this list of the good and the bad of seven common foods that we consume every day comes in. Included among chocolate and beer are foods like red meat, nuts, coffee, eggs and even wine. For example, did you know that moderate drinking of brews can help protect your chromosomes from radiation exposure (like x-rays). As for a negative, beer can also cause gastroesophageal reflux which leads to heartburn.

These are just a few; the list is full of pros and cons for all those foods! Like this one about nuts: Several studies are cited which indicate lowered risk for gallstones the more you eat them. However, they're also high in calories -- only a dozen cashews pack well over a hundred calories! Check out the rest here for more information.

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If you're spouting off the health merits of wine as you defend your drinking practices, your defense may be weaker than you think. Why? Because it's now clear that alcohol-free wine has the same benefits as the real deal. It has only 15 to 25 calories per four-ounce glass too. Compared to the 90 calories found in a glass of chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon, this wine might just come out on top.

Although some health benefits of wine have been linked to alcohol, removing the alcohol is now considered a plus, says Joy DuBost, a food scientist for the Institute of Food Technologists.

"While it does appear that alcohol in moderation decreases the effects of cardiovascular disease," she says, "it can also increase your calorie intake; triglycerides, which is another blood lipid; your blood pressure; and possibly your cancer risk. You have to look at the total picture."

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Sometimes it may feel like you just can't win against science. For diabetics, at least, there's some new information that contradicts twenty years worth of thinking: too much good cholesterol is bad.

A biochemist and his team at the University of Kentucky say that too much HDL in the blood causes the molecules to bind with myrisitc acid. This long-chain fatty acid increases the risk for cardiovascular disease. So instead of helping the heart like in other people, "good" cholesterol actually works against diabetics.

Given the slew of press concerning the healthier variety of cholesterol, this comes as a shocker. We've seen medicines, diets and a dozen tips to raise HDL. Now they're saying stop? Well, actually researchers urge diabetics to not try and lower their levels -- talking with your doctor should probably advised. Hopefully this study will help them understand how to tackle the issue and make good cholesterol good again!

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It's the holidays: time spent with family, friends, and... food! As suggested by this article entitled "6 Reasons to Slow Down while Eating," cooks can see their delicious creations devoured in a fraction of the time it actually took to create them.

But if you click through, you'll learn half a dozen benefits you can get from changing the pace. After all, it's not a race, so savor it! Leading the pack is #1: Slowing down can prevent overeating. It has been proven that your brain needs a bit of time before it can tell the rest of your body it's full after eating. If people would take it slower, they could realize they're full before they overeat.

Easier digestion is another benefit. The whole process begins with the mouth, so if someone is rushing through a meal and only half-chewing their food, that makes it harder on the rest of the body. And of course gastroesophageal reflux can be a result of eating too quickly as well. That's heartburn for everyone else, but those of you familiar with it are probably already aware of how important slow meals can be. Check out the other reasons here!

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Yet another advantage to drinking green tea can be added to the list. In addition to benefiting skin conditions, cardiovascular health, and a slew of other things, researchers are claiming there's a connection to prostate cancer.

Having five cups or more daily could possibly cut the risk of advanced prostate cancer in half. While that seems like a lot of tea, people in Asia routinely consume such large quantities. It's also worth noting that men over there get this cancer a lot less frequently. Researchers say this study is not a guaranteed fix or anything, but back it by claiming they "are just presenting our results. But the study does point to the hope that green tea reduces the risk."

More clinical trials are needed to confirm this preventive ability. Either way, green tea gets one more plus on the list!

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Is there anything yoga can't do? It tones, it strengthens, it stretches -- according to this past post by Rigel it may also help you find love (well for those who manage to avoid 'inappropriate yoga guy'). I was musing earlier today during my walk to work about all of the benefits I noticed when I was practicing yoga on a regular basis (I admit that for various reasons most of us who fall off the bandwagon would understand, it has been a while since I've been to a class). I remember feeling more limber, more energetic yet relaxed, and just generally had an enhanced feeling of well-being.

I began to wonder if yoga can also make you look good. I mean beyond the obvious tightening benefits, are there any yoga moves that will improve the shape of your body or perhaps improve the overall look of your face. Every time I used to leave yoga class I noticed that all of the participants, myself included, had a lovely glow about them. Was that just due to the excessive heat, sweating and exertion or could there be more to it?

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Some people wouldn't think sex could provide you with a dozen health benefits. But sexual health is just as important to keep up as anything else for your body, and here are 12 reasons which back that claim up! One of the most tangible results is weight loss.

Yes, you can burn calories from doing it. Lots of calories... 200 in about 30 minutes, in fact! That's like doing 30 minutes of low impact aerobics (results vary with weight). Another benefit is that sex is a pain reliever. The releasing of endorphins and corticosteroids has been known boost moods and "alleviate chronic back."

Got insomnia? It fixes that too. Coupled with increased self-esteem, intimacy, even longevity by some accounts, sex appears to be a regular panacea. But don't try and substitute it for other healthy activities (so keep eating your veggies) -- just think of it has having all these extra perks!

The 12 Benefits of Sex:

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