Fitness for Life: How Exercise Boosts Long-Term Health
Have you been feeling a bit tired, stressed, and out of shape lately? Meet exercise, your new best friend! Physical activity is never going to let you down. We aren’t talking simply about looking good in selfies (although that’s a nice added bonus)! The goal here is to create the conditions that have you feeling healthy from the inside out.
Physical activity allows you to feel energetic, lively, and strong all day long. In fact, small steps you take towards your physical health are going to have a much larger impact later when you hit your forties.
- Keeping that Ticker Happy!
Your heart loves that exercise even more than you love your fast food! When you get that body moving and begin to feel out of breath, your heart is actually going into overdrive, pumping new blood.
Adding cardio to your daily routine gets your heart pumping a lot more often. Soon, you begin getting used to the activity. It makes your daily tasks much easier (like climbing stairs without getting out of breath). In the long run, regular activity reduces the risk of heart troubles such as high blood pressure and heart attacks.
Even just 30 minutes of dancing, jogging, or brisk walking every day can work wonders on your cardiovascular health!
- Wave Goodbye to Those Pesky Pounds!
Everyone under the sun knows that exercise can help you lose weight. The good news is you don’t need to run marathons or toil for hours in the gym to see the benefits. You can invest in simple activities that bring you joy, such as playing tennis or gardening. As long as you are sweating, the purpose is being achieved!
The more consistent your workouts, the better the results. Consistency is only going to come in if you begin to enjoy yourself!
- Muscle Power = Superpowers!
Want to be super mom or super dad? Want to keep lifting your own groceries for as long as you are alive, chasing your kids (or grandkids) and staying active as you age, able to enjoy all outdoor activities as you did throughout your life? It’s all possible!
There’s one small catch. You have to keep those muscles strong. Simple strength exercises are going to be enough. Start small with body weight workouts and then gradually progress onto lifting weights or yoga. This will make you feel confident and strong, whether you’re 25 or 85.
- Your Bones Mean Business
Yes, we mean that! Your bones shouldn’t be taken for granted. Activities like walking, swimming, sitting, or even lying in bed all require the use of several bones in your body. A consistent exercise routine can strengthen your bones, prevent fractures, and help you avoid osteoporosis.
Next time you are dancing to a favorite song, remember; you are giving those bones of you’re a little dance party of their own!
- Food for the Brain
Exercise is quite literally food for the brain. If you have been feeling stressed, anxious, or down in the dumps lately, there is no better mood booster than exercise. Moving your body can trigger happy chemicals in your brain. These lead to feelings of calm, relaxation, confidence, and positivity.
That’s not all! Exercise can also help you stay sharp and think fast (even when your hair turns gray). Regular exercise helps your brain rewire and improves neural plasticity so you are able to keep your memory fresh and acquire new skills no matter how old you are.
The best benefit? Sleep! If you are a night owl, and wish to shake up that circadian clock back into normal function, try exercise. Regular physical activity improves your sleep quality, helping you fall asleep faster and longer.
A Few Tips to Make Your Fitness Sessions Fun
Worried you don’t have the time to spend at the gym? Relax! You can establish a great exercise routine even within the comfort of your own home. You could choose between;
- Taking daily walks around the block.
- Dancing around the kitchen while waiting for dinner.
- Opting for personal training sessions in the form of online workout sessions.
- Joining a local sports club.
- Playing with your pets or kids outdoors.
Make it a Lifelong Commitment
Fitness should be forever. It should last you almost throughout your whole life, quite like a loyal friend. The goal isn’t to create the perfect and most difficult routine that has your joints aching the next day. It is to pick something that works for you and brings you joy, and then keep doing it for as long as you can!