We all know that regular exercise is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle, but did you know there are several life changing benefits that often get overlooked? Let's dive into some of the most powerful benefits of regular exercise with this blog post.
Not All Benefits are Measured with a Weight Scale
The main reason most people in America exercise is to lose weight, with muscle gain being a close second. And while that can be measured on the scale, the other benefits aren't quite as easy to measure, which is a large reason why they are often overlooked.
Quite possibly the most impactful benefit is your lifelong health. Individuals who exercise regularly reduce their chances of heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and many more health conditions. In this study, researchers determined that regular exercise helped delay the onset of 40 chronic conditions / diseases. If you were to ask someone what they care more about, losing 10 pounds or never getting cancer, they would be crazy to say they care more about the 10 pounds. Chronic conditions can negatively impact all aspects of your life, including mental health, physical health, your ability to work, and many more. Plus we would need an entire separate blog post to cover the exorbitant cost of health care.
While on the topic of finances, let's talk about another benefit that may positively impact your pocketbook. Individuals who exercise regularly tend to have more energy throughout the day and are able to handle stress better. These benefits are easily recognized by individuals who make it a regular habit of exercising in the morning before starting their workday. According this research article, they measured an average 8% increase in overall productivity when employees started a regular exercise routine. That may not seem like much, but sometimes that extra bit of energy, positive attitude, and increased productivity is all it takes to get that next promotion or big raise.
Last but not least, how can one put a price on their overall happiness? Improved mental health is another amazing benefit of regular exercise. This article indicates that regular exercise can help ward of depression and anxiety. In fact, there are four bodily hormones you've probably heard of before that promote happiness: Serotonin, Endorphins, Dopamine, and Oxytocin. Want to know which of these four gets released during exercise? Endorphins are the primary chemical released, but the body also releases smaller amounts of Serotonin and Dopamine as well. That's right, three of the four happiness chemicals are released when you exercise! So it's no wonder that hitting the gym regularly results in overall better mood and happiness.
Final Thought
We all know that exercise is a good thing for the body, but rarely do people consider all of the benefits received from making exercise a part of their regular routine. The benefits we've touched on are not an exhaustive list either. Research is continuing to identify additional benefits associated with exercise, so what are you waiting for?
We hope this article helps motivate you to get off the sofa and start moving your body. If you are in the Atlanta area and new to exercising or just ready to take it up a level, FitPro Station can help by matching you with a fitness professional to help achieve your fitness goals. Click here to learn more.