The Many Benefits Of Exercise
0By Winston Salem in : Fitness Tips // Dec 25 2008
We all want to look better, feel younger, and live a healthy, happy life for a very long time.
Many of us wonder if there is a simple secret to getting better mental and physical health. We wonder if there is some magic pill that could help us achieve these goals.
How much would you pay for a pill that could provide all these following benefits to your body?
- lower your blood pressure
- strengthen your heart
- improve the oxygenation of your blood
- improve blood circulation
- reduce blood cholesterol
- relieve depression
- improve your ability to deal with stress
- make you look better
- improve your self esteem
- help you sleep better
- keep your blood sugar levels more stable
- help keep your weight down
- benefit your lungs
- keep your bones strong
- increase your muscle strength
- boost your metabolism
- reduce your risk of getting cancer
- feel more energetic
- improve your ability to mentally focus
- improve your complexion
- help you live longer
Wouldn’t you pay a lot to find the secret of getting all these benefits?
If there was a pill that could do all this for you, wouldn’t you like to get your hands on it?
The bad news is that there isn’t really a pill that can give you all these benefits. Not yet, anyway.
But the good news is that there is a very simple way that you can ensure that you get all these benefits.
Simply make sure that you get regular physical exercise!
We constantly hear about the benefits of exercise, yet many of us don’t really make a commitment to exercising regularly.
Why not? The simple explanation is that we get busy, and we get lazy.
We know that exercise is good for us, but it seems like too much trouble and too much work.
To really get the benefits of exercise, you have to make a commitment to doing it. You can’t just wait until you feel like it.
Switching over to a lifestyle that includes exercise does involve a decision, and a commitment to do so.
What sorts of exercises are best for you? That depends on what you want to accomplish, and on what activities suit you the best.
To improve the oxegenating capacity of your heart and lungs, aerobic exercises are the best. This means the kind of exercise where you tax your body enough to raise your heart beat rate to a target level.
To gain aerobic benefits for your heart, lungs and circulatory system, aim to do the type of exercise that will push your heart rate up to 50 % faster than than your rate at rest. To improve your aerobic capacity, exercise aerobically for about 20 minutes three or four times a week.
Swimming is a form of exercise that can greatly improve the oxygenating capacity of the heart and lungs. Swimming is ideal exercise for people who have problems running or walking because they experience joint pain.
In the water, this sort of joint pain is relieved, because the bouyancy of the water relieves the pressure on your joints.
Another type of exercise that many people find very beneficial for their brains is some form of mind-body exercise.
People who practice mind-body exercises regularly report they experience reduced stress, increased calmness, and greater clarity of thinking. There are many schools and variations of mind-body exercises, including yoga, tai-chi, and chi-gung.
For many people, the most easily accessible and universally beneficial form of exercise is walking. You can walk alone or with others. You can walk indoors or outdoors. A walk can be part of a formal program, or an individual ramble through a favorite neighborhood or nature area.
For people who want to prevent the loss of bone and muscle that occurs with advancing years, they should include some weight bearing exercise in their routines.
Whatever form of exercise you choose to do it is important that you continue to do it regularly. Exercising vigorously for three hours on the weekend will not make up for a sedentary lifestyle the rest of the week.
It is therefore important to choose an activity that you really enjoy. Don’t pick anything too strenuous to begin with if you are not used to exercising.
Aim to exercise at least four times a week or more, for at least half an hour at a time, up to an hour. If you are over forty, are out of shape, or have some medical condition, check with your doctor before undertaking an exercise program.
If you start a regular exercise program that you enjoy, your body will thank you, and your brain will thank you too! You’ll feel more energized both physically and mentally, and will be better able to handle life’s challenges.
