Everyone is aware of the importance of exercise, but do you know why exercise is so good and important to you? Exercise benefits many different parts of your body, mind and life.
Do you want to feel better, have more energy and even add years to your life? Just play sports!
The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. Everyone really benefits from exercise, regardless of age, gender or physical condition.
Need more persuasion to get moving and make sports a regular part of your routine?
Here are 7 great ways exercise and sports can lead to a happier, healthier you.
Exercise provides weight control
Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or maintain weight loss. When you exercise, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. Simple exercise such as a brisk walk already has a positive effect on weight loss.
Regular trips to the gym are great, but don't worry if you can't spend a lot of time working out every day. Of course, any amount of activity is better than no activity at all.
To reap the benefits of exercise, you need to get more active throughout the day - take the stairs instead of the elevator, or do your household chores with a little more punch. Consistency is key, hence our preference for some form of exercise every day - even if only for 20 minutes!
Exercise improves your mental mood
Need an emotional boost of your mood? Or do you want to let off some steam after a stressful day? A session in the gym, outdoors, or brisk walking can help. Physical activity stimulates various chemicals in the brain that will make you feel happier, more relaxed and less anxious. It can also help you sleep better at night, which is important for maintaining an overall good mood.
In addition, you can also start to feel better about your appearance and yourself if you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.
Exercise fights diseases and ensures long-term health
Are you concerned about heart disease? Would you like to prevent high blood pressure? Regardless of your current weight, being active in sports increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol, and lowers unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Regular exercise helps prevent or manage many health problems, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- High bloodpressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- Stroke
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Cancer prevention
- Arthritis
It can also help improve cognitive function of the brain and lower the overall risk of death from various causes, especially those involving the heart.
Exercise increases your energy and strength
Are you already overheated by shopping or doing household chores? Exercising regularly can improve your muscle strength and increase your stamina.
Exercise supplies oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And as your heart and lung health improves, you have more energy to perform your daily tasks.
One of the reasons for exercising regularly is that it gives you energy. Rather than going for that second cup of coffee, a workout can help oxygen flow more freely throughout the body and give you a much-needed burst of energy to get through the day. It also increases your overall stamina, which can help you stay energized longer in the beginning.
Sport promotes better sleep
Do you have trouble getting up and keep snoozing? Regular exercise can help you fall asleep faster, sleep better, and help you sleep a lot deeper. Just make sure you don't exercise too close for it to sleep go to sleep, otherwise you may have too much energy to go to sleep again.
Sport brings an extra spark back to your sex life
Are you feeling too tired or too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy with your partner? Exercising regularly can improve energy levels and increase your confidence in your physical appearance, which can boost your sex life.
But there is still a bit more to it. Regular physical activity can enhance women's arousal. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have erectile dysfunction than men who don't exercise. In addition, sports men benefit from increased testosterone levels.
Sports are great fun… and social!
Sports and physical activity can be fun. They give you the chance to relax, enjoy the outdoors or just take part in activities that make you happy. Physical activity can also help you keep in touch with family or friends in a fun social setting.
So take a dance class, do a duo workout with a Personal Trainer, hit the hiking trails or join a soccer team. Find a physical activity that you enjoy and just do it. Bored? Try something new, or do a fun sporting activity with friends or family.
Finally, what it is about sports
Sports and exercise are great ways to feel better, improve your health, and have more fun. For most healthy adults, the recommendation is something like the following:
- At least 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic or cardiovascular activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. The guidelines suggest that you spread this movement over the week. Examples are running, walking or swimming. Even small amounts of exercise are beneficial, and the accumulation of activity throughout the day provides significant health benefits.
- Strength training for all major muscle groups at least twice a week. Examples are lifting free weights, using weight machines or doing body weight training.
Spread out your sports activities over the week. If you're looking to lose weight, hit specific fitness goals, or get even more benefits, you'll likely need to increase moderate aerobic activity to 300 minutes or more per week along with possibly dieting.
Of course, in case of doubt or medication, you always first consult with your doctor. So, remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you are concerned about your fitness, have not been exercising for a long time, or have chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or arthritis.
For the rest: sport & enjoy the many advantages!
Sources include AngleToner (link), MayoClinic (link), Sweat (link), WebMD (link)
