We all know we’re supposed to exercise, yet many of us struggle to remain active. Exercise provides such incredible benefits, that each us should take a pointed look at moving more. You don’t have to be a size two, or want to be one, in order to get active. Finding time to walk more, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or free exercise classes are all simple ways to ease into exercising. While you find ways to change your life for the better, stay motivated with these eight marvelous health benefits.
1. Fight Health Problems
Exercise is a powerful tool in helping prevent certain health problems. Being active strengthens your heart muscles, as well as lowers your chances of getting certain cancers and arthritis. Exercise is also a useful habit in managing some conditions, including strokes, depression and metabolic syndromes. Finally, being active helps to keep your bones and muscles strong.
2. Boost Energy
Exercise can help to boost your mood, but it also helps you have more energy. Though it seems counter intuitive, spending energy exercising will strengthen your muscles so you have greater endurance. Between feeling less stressful and having more energy, being active can make a tangible difference in your overall health.
3. Sleep Better
Being active also aids in improving your sleep. By getting in the habit of physical activity, you’ll be able to fall asleep faster. Not only that, studies show exercise also helps you sleep deeper. By being more active during the day, your nights will go much smoother.
4. Achieve Goals
Staying active is a fantastic way to set achievable goals for yourself. Learning how to plan and stick to a goal is a critical life skill, and practicing can help you in other areas of life. Plus, meeting goals you’ve set for yourself is a helpful confidence booster.
5. Healthy Sex Life
Exercise is a significant factor for your sexual health, too. Improved energy levels also tend to extend to the bedroom when you’re getting active, though health benefits go beyond a better mood. Increased physical activity for women can increase arousal. Additionally, men who exercise are less likely to have erectile disfunction than men who don’t.
6. Live Longer
Exercise also improves your chances of living longer. Besides the health problems being active helps you avoid, those who are active for seven hours a week are 40 percent less likely to die early than those who are active for less than 30 minutes a week.
7. Extend Your Health
Exercise is also a critical part of keeping your body healthy later in life. Staying active keeps your balance and posture sharp, and also reduces the risk of falls. Particularly important for aging readers, even regular walks can help you stay firmly planted. Besides, if you start getting active earlier in life, you’ll retain your ability to live independently for longer.
8. Healthy Weight
Finally, exercise helps to control your weight. While weight loss doesn’t need to be a goal to reap benefits from exercise, keeping your weight in a healthy range has a multitude of health benefits. Some of these benefits include a lower risk of heart problems, plus lower chances of developing type two diabetes. Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity every day in order to maintain and improve your health. Even walks and easy hikes go a long way towards keeping yourself in good health.
Featured photo credit: Zhao ! via flickr.com
