There are many benefits to exercising on a regular basis. One very important benefit is longevity. Inactive people are twice as likely to develop heart disease as those who exercise on a regular basis. Exercise also lowers blood pressure. The harder you exercise, the more your body’s cells will increase their ability to use oxygen, which gives you more energy. Exercise helps you lose weight by burning more calories. Even without cutting calories, a 200 pounds person who walks a mile and one half a day at a military pace (120 steps per minutes) can burn enough calories to lose 14 pounds in a year.