You may be someone who is not looking to lose weight or bulk up, but having a regular exercise schedule is important for many different reasons aside from controlling your weight. Want to feel better, have more energy, and even add years to your life? Then exercise is key. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. Everyone benefits from exercise, regardless of age, gender, or physical ability.
Check out some ways below that regular exercise can enhance your life.
1. It can make you feel happier and boost your mood.
Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier, more relaxed, and less anxious. Exercise has been shown to improve your mood and decrease feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress. It produces changes in the parts of the brain that regulate stress and anxiety. It can also increase brain sensitivity for the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine, which relieve feelings of depression. Additionally, exercise can increase the production of endorphins, which are known to help produce positive feelings and reduce the perception of pain. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem. Even just going for a brisk walk can boost your mood!
2. Exercise promotes better sleep.
Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster, get better sleep and deepen your sleep. Just don't exercise too close to bedtime, or you may be too energized to go to sleep. With regard to sleep quality, the energy depletion that occurs during exercise stimulates recuperative processes during sleep!
3. Exercise can be fun!
Contrary to popular belief, moving your body can in fact be fun! Exercising gives you a chance to unwind, enjoy the outdoors, or simply engage in activities that make you happy. Physical activity can also help you connect with family or friends in a fun social setting. So try some of our group X classes, bring a friend to the gym, hit the hiking trails, or join a local sports team. Find a physical activity you enjoy, and just do it.
4. It's good for your muscles and bones.
Exercise builds and maintains strong muscles and bones. Weightlifting stimulates muscle building which over time increases your muscle mass, making you stronger and thus helping you maintain muscle mass as you age. As people age, they tend to lose muscle mass and function, which can lead to an increased risk of injury. Working out on a regular basis is essential to reducing muscle loss and maintaining strength as you age. Additionally, exercise helps build bone density when you’re younger, in addition to helping prevent osteoporosis later in life.
5. Exercise controls weight.
This is probably the most common reason people workout, but it's an added benefit to all the other benefits listed above! Exercising regularly prevents excess weight gain and can maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. Exercise is crucial to supporting a healthy metabolism and burning more calories per day. It also helps you maintain your muscle mass and weight loss.
Exercise is a great way to feel better, boost your health, and have fun. For most healthy adults, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. As well as strength training at least two times per week. So get to the gym this week, have some fun with it, and feel all the amazing benefits of your hard work!
