Prison is not for the faint at heart. To succeed at doing time, inmates need to develop coping mechanisms such as not showing fear, maintaining health, and passing time. A regular workout routine can help in all of these areas 1. Maintaining Health A daily workout keeps the body in shape. By varying the body parts that get exercised each day, an overall workout will be achieved by the end of each week. It’s important to include aerobic movement as part of the daily routine to keep the heart strong and healthy. Prison food is notoriously high in worthless calories. A structured and consistent workout routine will counteract the results of such a diet. 2. Stress Reduction The Mayo Clinic reports a regular workout routine that is consistently carried out reduces stress. Prison is intense and can be scary. Many inmates develop anxiety and depression as a result of having their freedom taken from them. Brain chemicals produced and released through exercise can alleviate or reduce those symptoms. 3. Exercise Reduces the Appearance of Vulnerability While prison is not like the movies where people are murdered constantly and the guards look on for fun, fist-fights do occur and there is always going to be an element of personal danger behind the prison walls. If other inmates see someone working out daily and keeping in shape, that prisoner will appear less vulnerable as a target for violence. Staying in shape will also help protect an inmate if he gets into an altercation. Final thoughts:  Staying in shape will also prepare an inmate for the challenges of re-entry to the outside world. You might be interested in: Prison Health video about A Day in the Life of a Correctional Nurse