Getting active can be a challenge – but with these 12 proven reasons, you’ll be sure to get motivated and maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle:
1. Improved mood
Feeling down or lacking energy? Regular exercise can be an amazing mood-booster and help combat the symptoms of stress and depression.
2. Increased energy levels
Counter-intuitively, regular physical activity can improve your energy levels and help offset the feeling of exhaustion.
3. Better sleep
Solid sleep patterns are essential for good health. Exercise can help you fall asleep faster and create larger, more restorative bouts of deeper sleep.
4. Increased life expectancy
Studies have demonstrated that regular physical activity can significantly increase life expectancy.
5. Improved cardiovascular health
Regular exercise is necessary to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system. Doing moderate or intense physical activity can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome.
6. Improved memory and cognition
Exercise can help improve memory, concentration and overall cognitive function.
7. Improved body image
Engaging in physical activity can boost self-confidence and create a positive body image.
8. Increased bone density
Exercise is vital to maintain strong bones. Certain weight-bearing exercises can contribute to greater bone density, which is especially important for post-menopausal women and those at risk for osteoporosis.
9. Increased flexibility
Being sedentary or inactive can make muscles and joints tight and weak. Regular physical activity can keep you flexible, fluid and help protect your joints.
10. Improved digestion
Physical activity can stimulate the movement of food through your intestines, preventing indigestion, constipation, bloating, and other common digestive problems.
11. Reduced risk of diabetes
Studies indicate that regular physical activity can significantly reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
12. Increased libido
Regular exercise can help improve libido and sexual performance. Increased blood flow to the pelvic region can help improve sensation and arousal.
Overall, regular physical activity has numerous benefits that make a healthy lifestyle worth striving for. As the old saying goes, “A body in motion stays in motion.” Start moving today, and reap the rewards!
What are the benefits of getting regular physical activity?
1. Improved cardiovascular health: Regular physical activity strengthens the heart muscle and improves the body’s ability to use oxygen, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
2. Weight Management: Regular physical activity helps to regulate the body’s energy balance and can help to prevent excessive weight gained or excessive weight loss.
3. Stronger Bones and Muscles: Regular physical activity helps to build strong bones and muscles, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
4. Improved Mental Health: Physical activity helps to release endorphins, which play a role in mood regulation and can help to prevent depression and anxiety.
5. Reduced Stress Levels: Physical activity helps to reduce levels of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone.
6. Improved Sleep: Physical activity helps to regulate hormone levels, leading to improved sleep quality.
What are the long-term benefits of regular physical activity?
The long-term benefits of regular physical activity include improved cardiovascular health, strengthened bones and muscles, improved mental health and mood, weight management, and a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart attack, stroke, depression, and some cancers. Additionally, regular physical activity can also help to improve balance and coordination, reduce stress, improve sleep, and increase overall energy levels.
What types of physical activities are beneficial for long-term health?
– Aerobic exercise, such as jogging, walking, cycling, swimming, hiking, and dancing
– Strength training, such as weight lifting, body-weight exercises, Pilates, and yoga
– High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
– Flexibility training, such as stretching, yoga, and Tai Chi
– Balance exercises, such as single-leg stands and narrow-base stands
– Core exercises, such as planks, bridges, and bird dogs
-Calisthenics, such as jumping jacks and burpees
By engaging in any combination of these activities, individuals can benefit from improved physical, mental, and emotional well-being in the long term.
What is the difference between physical activity and exercise?
Physical activity is any activity that increases the energy expenditure of the body, including exercise as well as activities of daily living such as walking, vacuuming and taking the stairs. Exercise specifically refers to planned, structured activities designed to improve physical fitness, such as running, weightlifting and swimming. While both physical activity and exercise are beneficial to health, they accomplish different objectives. Therefore, it is important to understand the differences between them and how they can be incorporated into an individual’s lifestyle.
