Exercise can be defined as a movement that requires your body to burn calories. There are many types of physical exercise people enjoy. Swimming, running, jogging, or cycling are only a few examples from the long list.
And while we all know that regular exercise is crucial in staying healthy, implementing them in our busy schedules is an entirely different story. Or is it? Contrary to popular belief, finding time for exercise is actually pretty simple. All it takes is a little motivation.
And here’s where we come in. In the article below, you’ll find the list of ten exercise benefits that should convince you why finding at least 30 minutes per day to exercise is worth sacrificing one episode of your favorite TV show:
Weight Loss
Not everybody is happy with their weight, and it is not a rarity to see commercials promising you fast results. However, you have to be careful because most of them don’t work as they are advertised.
The only safe and natural way to lose weight is through regular exercise. It will help you burn calories so that you will lose the extra fat accumulated in your body. You can also choose a diet plan that goes well with regular exercise, ensuring you get the most out of your workout.
And if you want to go one step further, you can get in touch with a personal coach, such as Lucas James – a personal fitness trainer in Scottsdale, Arizona. And don’t worry, you don’t have to live in Arizona to get in touch with his team as they offer online services.
Improved Mood
Low self-esteem is a big issue for many people. However, regular exercise can help you boost your mood and make you feel more confident about yourself.
During and after physical activity, your body releases endorphins – the hormones that make you feel better, happier, productive, and energetic.
Decreased Risk of Health Problems
Some of the most severe health problems are cardiovascular diseases. These include heart attack, stroke, and other circulatory problems. When you do some physical activity, you reduce the risk of developing these diseases.
According to the Harvard Medical School, physical activity can reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease by up to 50 percent compared to people who are not active.
Stronger Bones
Strong bones protect you from fractures and other injuries. Physical activity can increase bone mass, helping you with preventing bone loss as you grow older. According to WebMD, most people start losing bone mass faster, when they are over 50 years old.
Improved Health
Experts agree that regular exercise is one of the most efficient ways to improve your overall well-being. Even when you do a light physical activity such as yoga or stretching, it will reward you with a long list of benefits, including better sleep, improved mood, increased energy levels, and more resistance to stress.
Disease Prevention
Besides the obvious health benefits, regular exercise also helps prevent cancer, diabetes, and other debilitating diseases. According to Harvard Medical School, if everyone did 30 minutes of physical activity every day, we would have 2 million fewer cases of diabetes and 5 million fewer cases of heart disease in the United States every year!
Energy Boost
As mentioned before, physical activity, makes your body release endorphins, giving you the much-needed mood and energy boost. When you exercise, you will not feel the need to overeat or use drugs, like alcohol and tobacco, to feel good.
Instead, you will feel so good that you will want to keep exercising. That is the moment when it becomes a habit. Eventually, regular exercise becomes a part of your daily routine, making you feel more energetic and productive.
Better Sleep
Sleep is undoubtedly one of the essential things in our lives. We all need sleep to feel refreshed and energized. And if you have problems falling asleep, getting some exercise before going to bed should relieve all your troubles.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine showed that doing some physical activity is an effective way to improve your sleep quality. The study compared two groups of women. The first group did no exercise, while the second group went for a walk for 40 minutes every day before going to bed.
The group that exercised regularly fell asleep faster, and had a higher quality of sleep.
Reduced Stress Level
When you are stressed, your body produces cortisol, which is a stress hormone. Cortisol affects your body and can cause many side effects, such as headaches, abdominal fat, and weight gain.
When you exercise, you also release endorphins, which make you feel good. Besides this, regular exercise helps your body manage stress better, so you will feel less stressed during the day.
Productivity Boost
If you have a sedentary job, walking or doing physical activity during breaks can increase your productivity and help you finish your tasks faster.
Exercise also improves your concentration and boosts your memory. When you go for a run, do yoga, or play some ball during breaks, your brain releases GABA and dopamine hormones. These help your brain regulate better and make it more focused on the tasks at hand.
It is a well-known fact that you can only benefit from regular exercise. Physical activity boosts our mental and physical health, makes us more productive, and decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
And you know what the best thing about it is? You don’t need to hit the gym five days a week to reap the benefits of exercise. All you need to do is sacrifice at least 30 minutes a day to go for a walk, stretch, or do push-ups.
It’s not much, especially when you consider that it’s the length of an average Netflix show’s episode. And you can be sure that you’ll benefit more from exercising than watching another show.
