Benefits of Exercise to The Body

Over and over we hear about how great it is to exercise. Despite hearing so much about exercise, many of us don’t know the benefits of exercise. Exercising regularly comes with mental, physical, health, and emotional benefits to mention a few.

It can be really difficult starting out an exercise routine. To be sincere, it is even more difficult trying to keep up with that routine. Many people are very busy these days trying to make ends meet. Because of this, they don’t enjoy the benefits of exercise to the fullest.

In this post we will look at the different benefits you enjoy from partaking in regular exercise. By the end of this post, you should be convinced about developing an exercise routine for yourself.

What are the benefits of exercise?

We cannot emphasize enough how beneficial exercising regularly is to the human body. It goes beyond having ripped muscles and six-packs. The benefits spread to every facet of human existence. Ultimately, exercise helps you to lead a healthier and happier life.

Helps to control weight

As you grow older, there is a tendency to add more weight. This is because your body doesn’t synthesize fat as efficiently as it used to. As a result, excess fat is stored up in the body leading to an increase in weight.

The more regularly you exercise, the easier it is to burn off this excess fat. You must have heard people talk about burning calories, this is exactly what they mean. With an intense exercise routine, it becomes increasingly possible to maintain trim body weight.

We advise that you visit the gym regularly but it is clear that not everyone can make such trips daily. Even if you cannot visit the gym as frequently as you will like to, you can exercise at home. Don’t succumb to staying away from exercise because you can’t go to the gym. This is one of the greatest misconceptions ever.

The best way to lose weight is by being active all day long. Rather than taking the elevator, use the stairs. Instead of driving to the store down the road, take a brisk stroll. Make use of any opportunity to burn those calories. When it comes to exercise, consistency is the key.

Combats diseases and health conditions

Do you hail from a family with a history of heart attacks or high blood pressure? Are you currently at risk of these because of your body weight? Not a problem, with regular exercise, you can overcome these challenges.

Staying active helps to boost the production of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in your body. HDL cholesterol, as it is commonly called, is healthy and helps you to reduce unhealthy triglycerides.

With this, your blood flow becomes smooth and better saving you from the risk of cardiovascular diseases.  You can also manage several other health conditions and concerns through regular exercise. A few of these include:

• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Depression
• Several types of cancer
• Falls
• Metabolic syndrome
• Type 2 diabetes
• Anxiety
• Arthritis

This is besides the fact that regular exercise improves cognitive function and extends your life expectancy.

Better moods

Are you always moody and need a boost in your emotions? One of the emotional benefits of exercise is that it helps to improve your mood. Sometimes, all you need to blow off steam is an hour at the gym. In fact, it may just be a brisk stroll in the park and your mood becomes lighter.

Why does this happen? It is simple science. Your brain secretes a couple of chemicals once you engage in physical activity. These chemicals help you to relax, reduce anxiety, and make you feel happier.

Another reason why you may have been moody all this while maybe your looks. With regular exercise, you get to look better. This comes with newfound confidence and better self-esteem.

Improved energy and fitness levels

Do you feel worn out after a few house chores? After walking around the grocery store for a few minutes, do you feel really tired and out of breath? Nothing is wrong with you, all you need is exercise.

The more you exercise, the more energy you have. Your strength increases and your endurance levels spike. There is an explanation for this.

Basically, the more you exercise, the more nutrients and oxygen fill your tissues. This results in better working of your cardiovascular system. With your lungs and heart working better, your energy levels boost and it is easier to handle daily tasks.

Better sleep

As you grow older, another challenge you face is sleeping. It becomes increasingly difficult to snooze. What do you do in this case?

We do not advise you to turn to sleep pills. Rather, get down to the gym and exercise. Frequent exercise will get you the sleep you need. This is because you get really tired after your routine.

To ensure that you sleep early, don’t exercise when it is close to your bedtime. A few hours before it is better else, you’ll be too energized at bedtime.

A better sex life

Let’s not deny the fact that sex is really not appealing after you have had a long day at work. All you want to do at that point is drop on bed and sleep all night. The danger with this is that it puts a strain on your relationship if you have a sexual partner or spouse.

With frequent exercise, you can improve physical intimacy. This is because exercise improves your energy levels remarkably as a result, you have better confidence to perform your sexual duties. In fact, in women, exercise improves arousal. Also, men that engage in frequent exercise are less at risk of erectile dysfunction.

Social fun

The social benefits of exercise cannot be overlooked. Whether you like it or not, exercising is always fun, even if it is strenuous. Exercise allows you the opportunity to meet other people in the gym and unwind.

Generally, the activities in a gym will leave you happier each time you are done with your routine. It also improves your social skills as it allows you to mix with different people from different backgrounds.

Keeping up with your exercise routine

One of the reasons why we don’t enjoy the benefits of exercise fully is lack of consistency. Many of us, especially at the beginning of the year, resolve to engage in regular exercise. Sometimes we are only able to last for the first three to five days. After this, we are back to our normal lifestyle.

Here are a few tips to help you keep up with your exercise routine:

Add activity to your daily routine

There are several tasks we carry out daily that we can make more active. For example, don’t take the elevator, instead, take the stairs. Rather than send an email, walk to your colleague’s office. Wash your car by yourself. Park a bit further from your destination and walk the remaining distance.

Engage loved ones in more activity

It is easier to be consistent with your exercise routine if you have a partner. Speak to a few loved ones to join you on your fitness journey. On the other hand, you can organize a few social gatherings and include exercise routines. To make it easier, join a sports team or a dance class that you can be committed to.

Track your progress

Technology has made this very easy these days. With an app on your smartphone or a fitness tracker, you can monitor the details of your progress. This allows you to set fitness goals and watch how you attain these goals.

Add fun to your routine

The more fun you have while exercising, the easier it is to be consistent. Some measures you can take include watching television during your routine or listening to music. You can also spice things up by mixing up your routine. Be a bit more spontaneous rather than religious. Sticking doggedly to your routine will lead you down the road of boredom. So we advise that you combine activities.

Choose any-weather activities

There are certain activities that you can only carry out in certain kinds of weather. For example, you cannot run in the park on a rainy or snowy day. On such days, you end up relaxing from your routine, picking up again is very difficult. Rather than take such breaks, why not run on a treadmill or walk around in the mall.

Use the gym

The best way to remain motivated is to work out in the gym. Even when you are not motivated, you are likely to be when you see other people working out. You also meet people that help you push the limit and set higher fitness goals.

Benefits of Exercise – Conclusion

There are so many benefits of exercise than we can name in one post. What other benefits do you know about? Share them with us in the comments section below.