8 good reasons to exercise
Exercise is the best drug out there! However it doesn’t come easy to us all. Some of us live for it & cannot go a day without it. Then there are others who couldn’t think of anything worse & struggle with even the thought of it. I hope this little blog motivates you and helps you to understand why it is soooooo important to keep moving and to stay active.
EXERCISE WILL HELP:
Boost happiness levels – We all know how good you feel after a hard work out or some form of exercise. Once you get over the ‘wow that was a hard session feeling’, you walk away feeling on top of the world. Exercise releases endorphins, which create feelings of happiness and euphoria. It is recommended to exercise if you suffer from depression or anxiety, or even just having a bad day. Get moving and release those happy chemicals!
Reduce Stress Levels – whether it was a bad day in the office, the kids are driving you mad, or life in general is stressing you out, I know most of us turn to the bottle to ease the pain. However the best medicine for this is exercise. Even if it’s just a short walk or maybe you can get to the gym and sweat it out – working out can reduce stress and boost the body’s ability to deal with existing mental tension.
Increase self esteem – Those with low confidence can gain confidence by simply doing a bit of light exercise, such as walking, jogging or even working in the yard. The simple act of doing something healthy and productive for yourself can ramp up your self-esteem. Regardless of weight, size, gender, or age, exercise can quickly elevate a person's perception of his or her attractiveness, that is, self-worth & self image.
Control your body weight - Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain and help to reduce weight. When you engage in physical activity & strength training, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. Regular trips to the gym are great, but don't worry if you can't find a large chunk of time to exercise every day. To reap the benefits of exercise, just get more active throughout your day — take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk to the shops instead of driving or rev up your household chores. Consistency is key!
Sleep better - If you can’t sleep and find yourself tossing and turning in the night, exercising can help. By strengthening circadian rhythms, exercising can help keep you more bright-eyed during the day and bring on sleep at night. It will also improve your quality of sleep.
Get an energy boost – it’s crazy to think when you are feeling flat, have no motivation and are super tired, that doing some form of exercise will actually give you a boost and you will feel more energized. It’s true tho. It gets the blood flow pumping and makes you feel awake and alive.
Helps with Osteoarthritis – Exercise, and especially strength work, helps prevent osteoarthritis. It also improves existing osteoarthritis by strengthening the muscles around the joints and reducing weight to take the pressure off joints. Ladies this is especially good for you!
Combat health conditions and diseases - Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent high blood pressure? No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. Regular exercise helps prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, a number of types of cancer, arthritis and falls.
