Ever
been told, “Use it or lose it”? Well, don’t ignore it. It applies equally to health and wellbeing but it doesn’t need to.
We
often take our bodies for granted until a trip to the doctor presents news we
do not want to hear.
Simply
put if you don’t use and look after your body, you will end up losing it for
sure. Your lungs and your heart will run the risk of not functioning
effectively and efficiently after a while; your muscles will turn into fat and
become weak; your joints will become extremely stiff and prone to injury.
You
are probably thinking to yourself that you have heard this many times before,
but did you take any notice? This isn’t people with a vested interest who are
scaremongering, and exercise is not just about losing weight or building
muscles, it is far more important than that.
Consider
these benefits to regular exercise:
1. It helps you
to improve your memory
If
you have ever had a work out session you will find that you can think more
clearly after it is done. Your brain is not only getting more oxygen, but many
studies have shown that exercise actually boosts your memory and helps you to
learn far better.
2. It helps to
improve your posture
As
you get older and age specific degenerative diseases like osteoporosis set in
your posture will begin to suffer and common back ailments may set in. Then and
now, good posture is extremely important, and one of the best ways to ensure
you have this is to exercise the muscles that support your spine-from the abs
to all the other muscle groups along your spine.
3.
It energises you
As
counter-intuitive as it might sound, regular exercise actually energises you
throughout your day. In fact, following The Mayo Clinic studies, one of their
books, Mayo Clinic Fitness for Everybody,
stated that a lunchtime workout does leave you feeling more energetic and
productive for the rest of the day.
Not
everybody can do a workout, so if you are one of those who can’t, try making
sure you get some fresh air and a walk during your lunch break.
4. It will improve your self-confidence
Exercise improves and maintains your appearance
which, as superficial as it might sound, makes you feel better about yourself. Even
if the results cannot be immediately seen in the body, they will be apparent in
your attitude while it also increases your self-confidence in social
situations.
5. It helps you to De-Stress
Stress
is as certain as tax, whether you are the sensible type or not life will throw
situations at you. This in turn can take its toll on the mind, but exercise
combats this. Exercise releases the natural mood regulators endorphins, putting
your body and mind in a better position and giving you a safe stress outlet
valve.
6.
It helps you sleep better
The
National Sleep Foundation in America has released the findings from several
studies proving that exercising not only regulates sleep but helps you to sleep
better. Be aware however, they have also found that the best times to do this
are in the morning or mid-afternoon. This is because of the energising effect
of exercise so doing this too close to your bedtime may have the opposite
effect.
7.
It prevents you from getting sick too
often
A
study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine concluded that people who
exercise regularly tended to have milder symptoms when they were ill compared
with those who didn’t exercise.
8.
Increases your life span
This
one is a simple no brainer - regular exercise improves health which then
prolongs your life expectancy. It is true that sitting all day will actually
kill you.
9.
You will be happier
When
you put all this together, it makes for a much happier you. It’s not simply
about the runner’s high of a life filled with endorphin’s, it brings an
all-rounded change to your life. You simply need to make it a habit. The
University of Bristol found that on the days people exercised, their moods did
in fact improve.
The
body was not made to remain sedentary, and no good can come of keeping it so.
Exercise is extremely important, so strap on those walking boots or jogging kit
and go and pound some pavement!!
Sources of information provided in this Blog:
·
University of Bristol - The research, was published in the International
Journal of Workplace Health Management December 2008
·
British Journal of Sports Medicine July 2011 http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/45/11/896.short
·
The
National Sleep Foundation in America 2013 Sleep in America poll http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/exercise-and-sleep
·
Mayo
Clinic April 2013 - http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/fitness/basics/fitness-basics/hlv-20049447