Whether you’re nine or ninety, it’s important to always have an active aspect to your lifestyle. It may be racquetball or tennis, or something as simple as walking. You’ve heard it over and over again, from your doctor or parent or significant other, and maybe you’ve meant to heed their advice. But what’s the big deal anyway? What could be so great about exercise? Read on to find out.
- Control your weight.
The more active you are, the more calories you burn. And if you burn more calories than you take in, you lose weight. If you keep a good balance between the amount of energy coming in and the energy burned, you’ll be able to maintain a healthy weight. - Exercise helps prevent diseases.
If you have trouble with blood pressure and/or cholesterol, controlling your weight may help control these problems as well. Besides that, being active boosts the high-density lipoprotein (HDL), also called the “good cholesterol,” and lowers unhealthy triglycerides.Additionally, according to the Mayo Clinic, “regular exercise helps prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes…[and] some types of cancer.” - It improves stamina.
Every time you exercise, your body adjusts to the effort it has to make, becoming more efficient each time and using less energy for the same amount of work. As a result, you may feel that you have more energy than before. - Enhanced flexibility can help reduce the risk of injury.
Stretching exercises help keep your body limber so that you can bend and twist more easily without risk of hurting yourself. They can also help improve your balance and coordination and maintain good posture.If you have any tense areas in your body, such as your lower back or neck, doing certain types of stretches may help loosen these muscles and relieve some of that pain. - Strengthen and tone muscles.
Resistance training, such as exercising with weights, develops muscles, bones, and ligaments to improve strength and endurance. Your muscles then become more firmed and toned, making you not just look better but feel better. - Your mood may improve.
Exercise has been shown to reduce stress and lift moods. It can even help you sleep better. Though it may be tough going through it, the pay-off is well worth the effort.