We talk about the benefits of doing something, we often focus on one or two things about it that creates a benefit. For example, why get a job? To pay the bills would likely be the answer most of us give. Yet when we get a job that we enjoy or are successful at, we receive more than just a weekly paycheck. We may receive benefits such as health insurance and access to a fitness program. We receive self-esteem and personal pride. We receive the capability to achieve goals and more.

The same can be said for physical exercise. It's important to maintain your fitness and health. Regular exercise also contributes to maintaining your weight, building healthy muscle, bones and joint flexibility. Exercise also helps us feel better about ourselves, strengthens our immune system and can actually help improve cognitive function and creativity.

I'd say that's a lot more than one benefit most people are so concentrated on: battling obesity. Exercise benefits the brain. The brain benefits the body. The more I exercise, the better I do overall - not just in my health, but in my diet choices during the day, during my sleeping at night and when I am working or trying to be creative. Exercise benefits the whole person, not just one part of it.

Exercise Benefits the Brain

If you were wondering how exercise benefits the brain specifically:

• Increases the flow of oxygen enriched blood to the brain
• Increases growth factors that create new nerve cells
• Promotes synaptic plasticity
• Promotes cognition by increasing dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin to the brain

So the question isn't really what exercise can do for you, but why don't you exercise more? Exercise does so much for a person and it benefits the whole person. How does exercise benefit you?

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Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. Ryan Lochte's parents were both swimming coaches and helped him achieve his dream of representing his country in the Olympics.

Meet Ryan Lochte

Ryan started swimming competitively at the age of 9. His parents were swimming coaches and his mother was his first coach with his father taking the primary role as he grew older. In 1992, he watched the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain where Pablo Morales won a gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly. Ryan was inspired from that point forward and wanted to represent his country in the Olympics.

Ryan signed an endorsement contract with swimwear company, Speedo, that is reported to be the longest ever for a male swimmer. In high school, Lochte was a four-time all-state selection and also played for the Spruce Creek High School basketball team. He plays basketball, skateboards and surfs in his free time. Ryan names his father as the most influential person in his life. He's always been there for me.

Why Root for Him?

Ryan demonstrated he can succeed in Beijing when he completed one of the greatest performances in swimming history at the 2006 FINA Short Course World Championships in Beijing. Ryan won five medals (three gold, one silver and one bronze) only 10 days after competing at the NCAA Championships in Atlanta, Ga.

Ryan was named the NCAA Male Swimmer of the Year for the second time in his career last season for the University of Florida. He capped off his collegiate career with four stellar performances at the NCAA Championships in Atlanta and successfully defended his 200m IM title in an NCAA and American record time of 1:40.55. Ryan also set the NCAA record in the 100m back while swimming the opening leg of the 400m medley relay. His seven career individual NCAA titles ranks first in school history.

Ryan is also coming off a superb performance at the 2004 Olympic Games with a gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay and silver in the 200m Individual Medley.

Performance Record

• 2006 NCAA Champion - 200m IM, 400m IM, 200m backstroke
• 2006 NCAA Male Swimmer of the Year
• 2006 SEC Champion - 200m IM, 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly
• 2006 FINA Short Course World Champion - 400m medley, 200m backstroke, 200m medley
• 2004 Olympic Games 4x200m Freestyle Relay - 1st
• 2004 Olympic Games 200m Individual Medley - 2nd

The U.S. Swim team trials take place from June 29th to July 6th in Omaha, Nebraska.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, the Bay Area of San Francisco would likely win a challenge to survival of the fittest and Seattle's metropolitan residents would likely come in second.

The American College of Sports Medicine brought in an expert panel of 26 health and physical activity specialists to measure the health and fitness index of 16 different cities. For the Bay Area of San Francisco, they included San Francisco, Fremont, Oakland and Hayward. The study found that an above average number of citizens in the area exercised regularly.

The study takes into account the area's available of amenities such as parks and fitness clubs. It also found that 32% of residents eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. More people there were also likely to have health insurance and fewer people had chronic health problems.

If you're curious as to where your city came in the list, in order they ranked:

• San Francisco
• Seattle
• Boston
• Washington
• Atlanta

Following those top five are: Philadelphia; Chicago; Dallas; New York; Miami; Phoenix; Indianapolis; Houston; Los Angeles; Riverside, Calif., and Detroit. My area comes in number 8, which is strictly middle of the road based on just 16 cities.

Improving Your Chances

If you want to create a personal study for yourself, consider how often you bike somewhere rather than drive. Consider your access to local amenities: swimming pools, parks, outdoor recreation and more. What percentage of your diet is made up of fruits and vegetables? These are all markers of living healthier and making fitter choices whether it's local to the area or individual.

I'd rank fairly high in most of those, but I could definitely eat more fruits and vegetables.