The Surprising Benefits of Exercising Your Body
Keeping fit might seem like an exercise in futility, especially if you’re doing it on your own. It’s easy to lose motivation when you don’t have people to push you along and you feel like you aren’t really getting anywhere with your fitness goals. But research shows that exercise, even if you aren’t losing weight – offers surprising mental and physical benefits that can really improve your quality of life, even when you feel like giving up. Discover how exercising your body can change your life for the better here.
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Stress management is not just about reducing emotional, psychological, and mental stress. Our bodies get stressed too in reaction to environmental conditions.
Exercise is one way we can reduce physical stress on our bodies while still addressing emotional stress as well. According to Dr David Copelin (MSc, PhD), a senior lecturer at The University of East London’s Department of Sport Science and Physical Activity, exercise helps with issues such as sleep quality, energy levels, and even muscle function.
These factors collectively reduce your levels of physical stress regardless of your age or fitness level—which is all good news for you! So when you’re stressed out about all things work-related, make time for an invigorating workout instead.
Exercise increases muscle strength
A healthy body means fewer aches and pains. As you get older, it’s important to continue exercising your muscles so they can stay strong—meaning you won’t feel achy later in life. Stronger muscles also have increased endurance; you won’t be as exhausted after walking upstairs or doing yard work. And stronger muscles are less likely to tear, sprain, or break—meaning you can take on more strenuous physical activity without fear of injury. Better yet: Not only does exercise reduce muscle soreness by strengthening your muscles, but it can actually shorten recovery time following an injury (making them better able to withstand strain).
Exercise decreases back pain
Evidence is starting to suggest that exercise can also help alleviate low back pain by strengthening and conditioning your core, which can improve stability and reduce muscle tightness. In fact, it’s not uncommon for doctors to prescribe exercises like stretching, strengthening and aerobic activity for their patients with low back pain. Exercise can also increase your range of motion and flexibility, making it easier to move around. This has benefits that go beyond just decreasing back pain; for example, a study in Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports showed that after only three months of weekly lower-body strength training (using a weight machine), women had significant improvements in strength and mobility as well as improved quality of life compared to those who didn’t exercise at all.
Exercise improves sleep
If you’re having trouble sleeping, exercise might be just what you need. According to a study conducted by researchers at Appalachian State University, people who exercised regularly were likely to sleep better and longer than those who didn’t—no matter their age or whether they had a preexisting condition like heart disease or diabetes.
Exercise improves mood
It’s hard to be cranky when you’re sweaty. Scientists are still trying to understand why exercise causes such a dramatic change in our mood. Exercise may increase levels of certain neurotransmitters in your brain, including serotonin and dopamine. It also helps that endorphins—the feel good hormones—are released during a workout, and these chemicals will leave you feeling more relaxed, at ease, and focused. Besides mood swings and blue Mondays, though, it’s unclear how much physical activity really affects your mental health . So don’t rely on exercise as a cure-all if you suffer from clinical depression or anxiety disorders; they require professional help.
Exercise strengthens the heart and lungs
Exercise strengthens your heart and lungs, giving you a healthier cardiovascular system that’s better able to pump blood and oxygen through your body. This, in turn, keeps your body well-oxygenated and prevents all kinds of lung diseases. It’s also an important part of staying mentally healthy: exercise reduces stress, anxiety, depression and makes it easier to cope with anything life throws at you. The release of chemicals like endorphins during exercise create feelings of happiness as well.
Exercise may prevent diabetes
Keeping your body fit doesn’t just give you more energy—it may actually prevent diabetes. Even if you have a history of diabetes in your family, regular physical activity can significantly reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Researchers followed more than 120,000 adults for an average of 13 years; they found that those who were physically active had a 15 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who weren’t as active. Experts believe exercise lowers blood sugar levels and reduces inflammation, which makes it easier for your body to use insulin and maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Exercise boosts self-esteem and confidence
Getting in shape isn’t just about looking good—it’s also about feeling good. Many people who exercise regularly report a boost in their self-esteem and confidence, particularly as they see results. Plus, regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety. If you exercise, chances are you’ll feel better about yourself than if you don’t (and not just because you look better). It may be possible to work out some stress or even an episode of depression by taking on a strenuous workout regime. In addition to keeping your body strong and healthy, moving your body can keep your spirit strong too!
Exercise strengthens bones
Muscles in our body are constantly using old bones and discarding them, to keep our bones healthy we need to have strong muscles. The more active we are, the stronger our muscles will be which leads to healthier bones. Stronger muscles also mean you have more power which helps with your everyday activities as well as a sports activity. If you are building up strength at one point it doesn’t mean you need more rest time, instead, your body just needs to build up more muscle tissue on your bones. This can help decrease the risk for osteoporosis later in life along with many other benefits. With such an important function it is no wonder exercise benefits us so much for things other than sports.
Being more active improves overall health
While many people view exercise as a means to lose weight or get more toned, it actually has major benefits outside of these parameters. Being active improves circulation and lowers bad cholesterol while also strengthening bones and building muscle. Exercise can improve your quality of life in so many ways—and living a healthy lifestyle all around should be viewed as extremely important, even if you’re trying to lose weight. The bottom line is that moving more will help your body function at its peak for years to come, so get up and move! If you don’t have time for formal workouts each day, just being more active throughout your day can go a long way in helping you reach your fitness goals. For example, try taking public transportation instead of driving every day.
You’ll not only save money on gas but also on parking fees and insurance premiums (not to mention wear-and-tear on your car). Taking walks during lunch or walking up stairs instead of taking an elevator are easy ways to burn calories and stay fit without dedicating large chunks of time each week to formal workouts. There are tons of easy tips like these available online; simply do a quick search on Google for ways to burn calories or tips for staying fit. You’ll find hundreds of ideas within seconds!
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