Maybe it has been on your ‘to-do’ list but you haven’t gotten around to it? Or maybe you’ve experienced an injury and just haven’t taken the plunge to start up again. Whatever your reason /excuse for not working out, I’m going to tell you why today is the day to start working out!
- Boost Happiness Levels
When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain. Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body and therefore make you feel happier.
- Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease Naturally
Exercise lowers blood pressure, reducing strain on the heart. It increases good HDL cholesterol that transports fat away from the arteries and back to the liver for processing; thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. So try and stay away from medicines and increase your exercise.
- Improve Memory
Are you constantly misplacing your keys or struggling to recall names? Exercising regularly can help jog your memory. A 2014 study found that aerobic exercise, like running or swimming, boosts the size of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning. Besides looking to brain food to boost your memory and mental skills, start breaking a sweat!
- Increase Self Confidence
Feeling down and not quite yourself? Exercising can help you feel better about yourself — no matter what type of workout you do or how fit you are. One study found that “the simple act of exercise and not fitness itself can convince you that you look better.” With so much emphasis on our outward appearances in society today, it’s comforting to know that one of the benefits of exercise helps people feel better about themselves and how they look naturally.
- Live Longer
Being there for our loved ones and enjoying as many special moments together as we can — that’s what life really is all about. Keeping your body happy and healthy to help you live a longer, fuller life is one of exercise’s biggest benefits. Therefore, it’s great news that research published in 2012, which studied more than 650,000 people, found that 150 minutes of moderate exercise (or about a half hour five days a week) increases your life span by 3.4 years.
These are just a few of the many other benefits to exercising. So don’t put it off any longer. Get out there and find an exercise routine that is perfect for you. It will be life changing!