21 Jul Top 9 Reasons To Exercise Regularly
Top 9 Reasons To Exercise Regularly
Reduces the risk of disease
We’ve all heard this one before… research tells us that regular exercise can reduce the chance of developing coronary heart disease and stroke. Increasing your physical activity is also associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, asthma, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer.
Mental health/reduces anxiety & depression
Whether it’s an emotional lift or you just need to blow off steam, exercising releases ‘feel-good’ brain chemicals into the body making you feel good and improving your mood. It can also help reduce muscle tension helping you relax.
Improves balance & mobility
Poor balance & mobility are often the cause of falls & loss of independence. Exercising helps sharpen our reflexes which are our first line of defence against falls, slips, trips and collisions. Regular exercise helps improve balance and increase muscle strength, preventing injury.
Weight control
The body requires a certain amount of energy (calories) to perform its primary functions such as breathing, digesting & pumping blood around the body. Any extra calories the body doesn’t use for these functions can be used up by extra physical activity preventing it from being stored as fat. Exercising increases the amount of muscle you have. This makes the body work harder, which increases your overall energy expenditure during the day, even when you’re not working out.
Sleep better
People who exercise regularly tend to fall asleep easier & stay asleep longer. Helping them feel more alert and energised for the day.
Improves self-esteem
Exercising helps to improve the condition of our body. It helps us feel stronger physically and mentally. It helps us look better and gives us a sense of accomplishment, which then gives us a positive attitude. This leads to the belief & self-confidence to take on any situation.
Stronger bones
Weight bearing and muscle strengthening exercises like sports, running, walking, dancing and lifting weights help build bone strength. Doing regular exercise helps to slow down the rate at which we lose bone density as we age.
Social & fun
When you have fun while exercising you are less likely to feel pain and more likely to do it regularly. Team sports, meeting friends for a walk, frisbee down the beach with mates, dance lessons, group exercise classes and small group weight training can all double up as a social occasion too.
Energy boost
It doesn’t have to be a flat out high intensity workout, low impact activities like riding or walking to the shops or school can have a big effect on energy levels. Exercising improves the blood flow that carries oxygen and nutrients to the muscle tissue, which then increases their ability to produce more energy.
