Exercise
Many people ask if exercise is
important and then they ask why it is important. Exercise has many benefits to
your health that some people do not realize. Some of these benefits include
controlling your weight, reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease, reducing
your risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. It also reduces your
cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Exercise also strengthens
your bones and muscles. It improves your mental health, memory, and moods. It
helps with balance and flexibility. Exercise also increases your chances of living
longer.
Exercise is great for your heart.
It helps strengthen the hearts muscles and it helps to increase the heart’s
pumping ability. These help the heart to function more efficiently and with
greater ease. Exercise also makes the blood flow through the heart more
efficiently. It also helps lower and regulate your blood pressure. This in turn
allows the heart to beat more easily and move blood through the arteries with
greater ease. When it comes to cholesterol exercise helps lower triglycerides,
and raises your HDL which is your good cholesterol. When it comes to blood
sugars and exercise, exercise helps stabilize and reduce blood sugar levels.
This in turn reduces heart disease risk and promotes a healthier heart.
When starting an exercise program
you need to start slow. If you don’t work out at all or you have health issues,
you need to consult your physician and see if exercise is alright for you. If you don’t work out or get any kind of
physical activity during the day start with going for a walk to the end of your
street and back, or aim for making it around the block once. If this seems like
too big of a goal you can do little things such as taking the stairs at work,
or going for a walk at lunch time. If
you are moderately active I would go to the gym and meet with a personal
trainer. Most of the gyms will do a free goal assessment. They will show you
how to use the equipment and talk about what you want to achieve and they can
show you what types of exercise to do to get to your goal. If you work out multiple times a week I would
maybe try a class you have not tried before. Mix up your work outs a bit. This
will give the muscles you work out all the time a break. And will also activate
other muscles that you may not have been using.
Over all the health benefits of
working out, out weight the risks. Exercise helps people feel better not only
physically but mentally as well. Physical activity will help boost one’s self
confidence. It will also help them start their day off on
the right foot. Exercise is known as a great stress reducer, and mood booster. If you
ever question if you should work out or not think about all of these benefitsJ
Mandy Wink
Certified Personal Trainer
Diet Consultant