Weight Loss Health Benefits

The Beneficial Side of Exercise (and How to Kick Into Gear!)

If you want to lose weight, you have to do more than simply eat less. Exercise is an important part of a weight loss program. Exercise is beneficial to everyone, regardless of whether they need to lose weight or not. Making physical activity a priority in your life can enhance and enrich your life in a number of ways.

What Can Exercise Do For Your Life?

Exercising regularly can allow your body to be more limber. It also builds strong muscles and helps to keep joints stable. Exercise improves the posture of the body and is effective at reducing chronic pain. Exercise is also an excellent way to relieve stress and it is beneficial as a sleep aid. In turn, exercise is not just helpful for the physical well being of an individual, but for the emotional well being as well.

Exercise plays a role in reducing the risk of developing heart disease. It can decrease blood pressure as well as lower the level of bad cholesterol (LDL). At the same time, regular exercise can increase the level of good cholesterol (HDL). People who exercise consistently are less likely to develop high blood pressure or hypertension.

You do not even need to do strenuous activities to reap the benefits. Walking every day can improve the function of the circulatory system. It is also a low impact form of exercise. Exercise helps to ensure that the arteries are in excellent shape as it works to rid them of fatty build up that can lead to clogging and therefore heart disease.  

Exercise also is a positive factor in the reduction of other types of diseases. Examples of these include adult-onset diabetes, colon cancer, breast cancer and osteoporosis.

Many health reports have found a link between a variety of health related problems and a lack of physical activity. In particular, hypertension and Type II diabetes. Exercise and the immune system have also been found to be closely connected.

Use Caution to Start

If you have not been active for quite some time and are now ready to lace up your sneakers, it is advisable that you first see your doctor for a complete physical. It is also important that you start slow when it comes to your exercise regimen, bearing in mind any health problems that you have. This is particularly the case if you are a male over the age or 40 or a female over the age of 50.

How Much Exercise is Enough?

There are differing views on how much exercise a person requires. According to the World Health Organization, one hour every day should be adequate for most people, in order to maintain a healthy body weight and to remain in good health overall. Most importantly, you must listen to your body. If it is telling you that you are doing too much then slow things down a little. Find a pace that you are comfortable with, no matter what form of exercise you choose.

Make Exercise Fun!

Exercise can be as enjoyable as any other activity you engage in. Try different exercises, vary your routine. Do not fall into an exercise rut. You are more likely to continue to exercise if you add plenty of variety. Mix it up, combine solo activities with group activities. If you can, exercise with a friend.