What does being active do for me?

June 23, 2020 – By now hopefully the theme of our blogs in June has made sense. We have moved through the stages of returning to exercise, starting a normal exercise routine, and given ideas of how to get around the excuses of time management to make sure we get our exercises completed. But why are we doing all of this? Usually by the time we start exercising and reach 3-5 weeks of trying to get a new routine we struggle to keep it up. If we can push through for a total of 6-8 weeks your chance of making a real and sustainable change to your routine is at an all time high.

So what are the benefits of staying healthy and getting in all those minutes of exercise?

1. 1. We are happier. Chemicals are released in our bodies which improve our mood and feeling of well being.
   2. We can lose weight. By increasing the amount of calories we burn throughout the day we can begin to drop those quarantine pounds.
   3. It is good for our muscles and bones. Exercise helps us to keep our muscles and bones strong. This ensures that they are being used appropriately and can delay any health issues for weakness in these areas.
   4. It can give you more energy. Most of us struggle with how much energy we have for all we have to do throughout the day. Instead of reaching for the sugar or caffeine which provide quick and inefficient energy boosts, try getting in your exercises for a pick up.
   5. It can help keep chronic disease away. We discussed this for your bones and muscles earlier, but what about your heart and lungs. These are no different. Exercise helps us to maintain a healthy balance in our body.
   6. It can help with your skin. By exercising we produce antioxidants which can help to improve how our skin looks and feels.
   7. It can help your brain health and improve your memory. Exercise increases blood flow to your brain and produces chemicals which aid brain cells.
   8. It can help you relax and improve your sleep. By increasing your body temperatures with exercise it can actually help your lower them for sleeping.
   9. It can help with your pain. Getting things going and moving can help to reduce joint stiffness and pain.
   10. It can promote a better sex life. By exercising and feeling better about ourselves we can be more into sex. It can lead to more frequent and better quality sexual encounters.

These are great reasons to start exercising. You can use these to fight off the excuses we create in our heads. If you want to start to experience these benefits sooner rather than later, please reach out to Witte Physical Therapy and Witte 24/7 Wellness for further resources and help for you to reach your fitness and wellness goals.

References

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-benefits-of-exercise#section10