This is so very true. I started running 3 times a week about 5 years ago and I can count on one hand the number of sever colds I've had. I don't think it's necessarily just working out, because I lifted weights about 4 times a week prior to that and only starting noticing a huge difference in the lack of getting colds when I began running. Running is amazing

 I work out pretty regularly, usually to my physical limits.  My boyfriend doesn't exercise at all.  I think I had the cold, only because my nose was runny for too days in a row.  My boyfriend has had the cold for over two weeks.  On several days during that time, he wasn't well enough to leave the house.  We're about the same height, weight and age and we both eat a pretty healthy diet (I'm vegetarian, he's not). 

Yeah, I think exercise makes a huge difference in our health.

When we work out and build a sweat, our body temp rises. The elevated temp helps to kill harmful viruses and bacteria that cause us to get sick.

Now this is something I can believe. I've been working out regularly every day practically for over ten years now. Lots of aerobic, then strength and stretching exercises. Can't think of the last cold I had, but it's been over four years, I think. In the ten years I've been a worker-outer-is that right?-I think I've had two colds. Pretty good, eh? Yet another benefit of regular exercise.

Is having a cold and having a case of pneumonia the same thing? For twenty plus years I NEVER experienced a cold or the flu however came down with pneumonia when I started working-out in a gym. (That's the God's honest truth.) I never went back and haven't been sick since. Co-incidence?

I work out 5 days a week and I have been feeling terrific. I work out to music for about 50 minutes-- and I belief it is hard to get sick when I feel so well. I think this study is right on and i encourage all people to "get a move on." As a psychologist, people frequently tell me they don't have the time to exercise, but truly it saves us a lot of time in the long run.

I already wrote my comment above Thanks Trisha

This year I started working out a lot to shed the weight that years of taking psych meds. helped me put on. I do 3 adv conditioning, 1 kettlebell session, 2 adv aerobics classes, 2 intermed. aerobics classes, 3 weight lifting sessions, 3 flexibility & stretching classes, and 1 Zumba class at the Y. This is the first year that I can remember since hitting 40 (I'm 49) that I didn't get the flu in September (or October now). And I have lost 53 pounds since April and have learned how to eat.

Since vitamin D is already known to increase immunity and decrease the spread of the flu (likely colds as well), what are the chances that being outside in more sunlight is really part of whats happening as well. Getting the exercise is important, but I think this should be looked into as well.

As you age you encounter fewer and fewer viruses that you have not already encountered and built at least some or perhaps complete resistance to. A child, having not encountered any of the common viruses, quite often seems to display symptoms of infection almost continually simply because they have not developed any resistance to the viruses now in very common circulation. A single virus may affect two different people in very different manners depending on what resistance they have developed against viruses of a similar nature in the past. So... stay healthy, that's always a good thing and certainly won't lessen your ability to fight off a cold, but don't expect a perfect result. As you age you will quite naturally experience less in the way of viral infections simply because you have already built up a resistance to most of those commonly in circulation.

I work out six days a week, strength training every day with 3 days of cardio. I have definitely noticed an improvement in my immune system function in the years since I started. Even if I get a cold, it is usually very short lived and I try to maintain my activity level (at a decreased level of intensity of course) while I am fighting the cold. In addition to my exercise I keep my diet healty and drink a minimum of three liters of water every day. Your immune system works much more efficiently when you are hydrated.

Believe it! I work out at least 3 times a week religiously. My wife works out maybe once a week, albeit she is trying to get more in. Admittedly hard to do with 3 kids. We have a cold in the house right now.. She's majorly run down as are 2 out of 3 kids. I have some nasal drainage but other wise fine enough to cook, and take care of things until everyone is better.

If everyone would get off their 'keisters' and work out, or just play hard, it makes a difference!!

This I beleive!

I began a running regimine about a year and a half ago. Currently I run a minimum of an hour 4 days a week - supplemented by an hour bike ride two days a week. I have lost 60lbs.

Prior to this I was a couch potato for 42 years. I would get 3-4 colds a year - lasting for a week or more. Since I began working out I have not had a single cold or been sick otherwise. I always figured it was my lifestyle change - this article kind of confirms it.

My experience is the same. I run 3 to 4 times a week and almost never get sick, or perhaps, it is so low grade that I don't notice.

Hopefully this article, and other dissemination of this information, will encourage a few sedentary people to get moving. I am kind of pessimistic about peoples ability to adopt a new life style. That is what it takes to be a person that exercises. Exercise has to be an integral part of ones life to stick with it long term.

I'm blessed to work for a company that truly believes in health and wellness and demonstrates this by providing a free state of the art fitness facility that is free and accessible 24/7, offers a reimbursement for outside fitness classes of $75 per quarter, and insurance discounts for participating in in wellness programs offered.

Something even cooler is that when I'm having a meeting with my coach (we don't have 'bosses') and it's all discussion, we go down to the fitness center and walk on the treadmills while we talk. How cool is that!

This story is so true. I've been working out at least 5 times per week for 10 years now, and I hardly ever get sick, and even when I do, I'm better in 2 days. Other sedentary people I know are down with sickness for a couple of weeks or more. People always laugh at me when I say that exercise is the cure for almost anything, yet this article backs me up.

I don't believe that it matters what type of exercise one does. Just do what you enjoy the most and do it as often as you can!

I think it's important to change immediately after having worked up a sweat. The times I have kept my sweaty workout clothes on inside an air conditioned building, I have ended up getting nasty colds.

The benefits of exercise!! Just another reason to get out and enjoy your body and health. http://www.wantabeachbody.com