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Weight loss is the main reason that people decide to exercise, but those who exercise regularly realize the benefits are much more than that. When you exercise, you’re releasing endorphins needed to be energetic and alert.
When you exercise, you’re also helping to strengthen your heart muscle and improve circulation – two improvements that will help beat fatigue and energize your day. Improving your muscle tone will help you burn more calories. It’s a win-win way to feel and look better.
Fatigue is a complaint doctors hear too often these days. It’s difficult to think that the antidote to low energy is to get moving, but that’s exactly the remedy. If you get up off the couch and begin to move around, you’ll have more energy. In fact, research has proven you can increase your energy level by 20 percent by engaging in regular exercise sessions even if they are of low intensity. So… you don’t have to work out in a frenzy to reap the benefits; just move.
Along with the complaint of fatigue, lack of sleep also seems to be a common problem among men and women today. If you don’t get enough sleep, your energy for the next day is zapped, and it’s much more difficult to focus and get your tasks done.
Lack of sleep can also lead to depression which further lessens your desire to get up and exercise or to stick to a healthy diet plan. Lack of sleep can also wreak havoc with your food cravings, causing you to crave and consume food higher in refined carbohydrates and sugar.
You can avoid nights of sleeplessness by engaging in a physical activity like walking. Don’t exercise too close to bedtime though; a few hours before should be fine.
One of the main benefits of regular exercise is to prevent serious health conditions and reduce anxiety and stress. There are many diseases that medical researchers have determined are helped by exercise, but here are a few of them.
Heart disease may be prevented by exercising as regular exercise lowers your blood pressure and regulates your cholesterol. Maintaining a healthy weight in addition to exercise may prevent cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.
If you suffer from the pain of arthritis or are prone to sore, stiff joints, exercise can help to reduce the pain and build muscle strength. You’ll also experience less stiffness in your joints when you exercise regularly.
Researchers have also determined that certain types of cancer may be prevented by engaging in regular exercise – especially for women. The hormone estrogen plays a big role in the development of breast cancer. Exercise can actually reduce blood estrogen and help lower your risk of breast cancer – along with other cancer inducing conditions like high insulin levels.
You can avoid nights of sleeplessness by engaging in a physical activity like walking. Don’t exercise too close to bedtime though; a few hours before should be fine. One of the main benefits of regular exercise is to prevent serious health conditions and reduce anxiety and stress. There are many diseases that medical researchers have determined are helped by exercise, but here are a few of them.
Heart disease may be prevented by exercising as regular exercise lowers your blood pressure and regulates your cholesterol. Maintaining a healthy weight in addition to exercise may prevent cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.
If you suffer from the pain of arthritis or are prone to sore, stiff joints, exercise can help to reduce the pain and build muscle strength. You’ll also experience less stiffness in your joints when you exercise regularly.
If you suffer from the pain of arthritis or are prone to sore, stiff joints, exercise can help to reduce the pain and build muscle strength. You’ll also experience less stiffness in your joints when you exercise regularly.
Researchers have also determined that certain types of cancer may be prevented by engaging in regular exercise – especially for women. The hormone estrogen plays a big role in the development of breast cancer. Exercise can actually reduce blood estrogen and help lower your risk of breast cancer – along with other cancer inducing conditions like high insulin levels.
Besides playing a role in reducing breast cancer, you can also reduce your risk of endometrial and colon cancers.
Research is ongoing to see how regular activity may prevent other cancers, but it’s been established that the risk of developing many cancer types is over twenty percent lower among those who exercise than those who aren’t active at all.
Chronic diseases such as diabetes, back pain and asthma may also be helped by exercise.
Regular exercise helps insulin lower high levels of blood glucose, reduce the severity of asthma and the frequency of attacks and also strengthen back muscles to reduce symptoms of pain and stiffness. As someone who deals with back issues, I can tell you when I go to the gym faithfully (which is a challenge for me), my back is much more comfortable.
As with any type of lifestyle change, begin slowly – perhaps begin with a moderately paced 15-minute walk, and gradually build your strength and endurance level so that you can engage in more challenging activities.
This article was originally published on my site at http://thinstronghealthy.com/exercise-its-more-
than-just-weight-loss/
Helping You Achieve Major Wellness in Your Life!
Cheryl A Major, CNWC
Cheryl A Major lives in Westford and is a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. Her TV show, Thin Strong Healthy, airs on WestfordCat and is an offshoot of her blog http://ThinStrongHealthy.com Cheryl offers ongoing information and personal health coaching
to help you feel better and be healthier. Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CherylAMajor.
She is also a full time residential Realtor with Coldwell Banker with more than 25 years experience.
Questions? Email Cheryl at cheryl@thinstronghealthy.com and be sure to put Health Question in the subject line. Your question and its answer will be included in a future article
P.S. Check out all the free recipes for great tasting healthy eating in the Recipe Section at http://ThinStrongHealthy.com
