If you’re not exercising regularly, it can be hard to imagine why you should bother starting now. And if you are working out, it can be just as difficult to believe that more exercise would improve your life in any way. But whether you’re exercising or not, it’s important to know how and why regular exercise improves your health and well-being. Here are six of the many health benefits that exercise provides for everyone.
Exercise helps with weight loss
A lot of people think that exercise is a great way to lose weight, but what many people don’t realize is that even though you may gain muscle while weight training and cardiovascular exercises, they’re not going to help you to lose fat. While regular exercise can help you tone up your body and improve overall health, you still need to follow a calorie-controlled diet in order to shed fat. The key when it comes to weight loss is burning more calories than you consume on a daily basis.
Exercise boosts energy levels
Exercising on a regular basis has countless benefits. Not only does it improve your health and help you lose weight, but it also increases energy levels and makes you feel great. If you find that motivation is low, try adding an extra 30 minutes to your routine or try something new like boxing or Bikram yoga to kick-start your routine. The more often you exercise, the easier and more rewarding it becomes!
Exercise alleviates depression
A 2007 study found that regular aerobic exercise reduces symptoms of depression, even in people who aren’t predisposed to mood disorders. Participants experienced a reduction in depressive symptoms after just one hour per week over six weeks.
Exercise combats stress
It’s easy to let your stress get out of control. Without even realizing it, you can find yourself letting minor issues accumulate until they become big problems. Exercising regularly allows you to alleviate some of that stress by giving you time to breathe, relax and recharge. It gives your mind a break and lets you stop thinking about all that’s on your plate so you can concentrate on what really matters—the relationships with those around you. This can have a significant impact on both physical and mental health.
Exercise improves sleep
Sleep and exercise are almost twin activities in terms of how they affect our bodies. In fact, recent research suggests that regular exercise is as effective at treating insomnia as sleeping pills. According to a study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings , people who exercised between 25 and 60 minutes per day had fewer symptoms of insomnia than those who didn’t work out at all. And even better, it only took about six weeks for subjects to start reporting improved sleep quality. (1)
You are never too old to start exercising
If you think that exercising is for young people only, then you are mistaken. We all know how important exercise is for our body. It not only keeps us healthy but also helps in keeping our body fit and fine for long. While we should remain physically active throughout our lives, it does not mean that we cannot start exercising at any age.
Read up on it first!
Make sure you know what you’re talking about when it comes to exercise and its health benefits. Don’t overwhelm your readers with scientific jargon, but make sure they can understand your point (which is, after all, that they should exercise more often). Find some great resources online and cite them in your post; also consider bringing in a personal anecdote or two to illustrate your point. Avoid coming across as preachy—and keep your tone positive!
