Veta Health encourages you to move more and make it count in April during Move More Month!
It’s no secret that regular exercise is important to living a long, healthy life. In today’s busy lifestyle, it can be hard to make time for regular physical activity, but not exercising can put your physical and mental health at risk.
The benefits of making physical activity a part of your daily routine definitely outweigh the disadvantages. Exercise can lower your risk for illnesses, help you maintain a healthy weight, and even help you manage stress! These are just a few of the benefits of exercising, plus some tips for making small adjustments in your exercise routine so you can be physically active every day, no matter how busy you are.
Physical activity is the most important factor in fighting illnesses and injuries. Exercise is the best way to fight complications from diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Regular exercise can even lower your risk for many different types of cancer.
Not only does exercise combat illnesses, but it can also keep you from becoming injured in the event of an accident. Strong muscles will help shield bones from being broken and better blood floor from normal exercise can help injuries heal faster. Regular activity can help increase your pain tolerance and ease chronic pain as well.
Many studies have shown a connection between activity and weight gain. Regular activity can help you manage and even lower your weight. By exercising, along with maintaining a healthy relationship with food, you’ll increase your metabolic rate; with an increased metabolic rate, your body will use more calories and burn more fat.
Combine aerobic and strength workouts to balance fat loss and muscle gain. Working out in multiple ways helps you keep the weight off that you’ve lost. Losing weight will decrease your risk for certain illnesses and, over time, exercising will become easier.
Alongside better physical health, living an active lifestyle can help you feel mentally positive as well. Studies show that regular exercise can reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress. Regular physical activity can even boost memory! Just half an hour of physical activity a day, no matter the intensity, can help you sleep better, promote mental clarity, and even help you face your fears. It can even positively affect your self-esteem.
Activity has such an effect on your brain that if you stop a regular habit of physical activity, you may even see a rise in negative thoughts and feelings. With exercise you’ll have a better outlook on life and more energy to do the things you love.
Integrating exercise into an active lifestyle can be difficult. To boost physical activity throughout the day, make small changes to your schedule and lifestyle. For instance, ride your bike to work instead of driving. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Don’t feel obligated to set aside an hour or two every other day to exercise; instead, exercise in small increments when you can manage it. Push-ups during commercial breaks on TV, a quick jog during lunch at work, and even walking or biking to and from destinations – it’s easy to trade in your inactive moments for active ones.
The most important note for maintaining an active lifestyle is to take those moments where you can find them. A little bit of physical activity is better than none, so make the time where you can find it to enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle.